This post is to follow the blurb I had at the bottom of my post from Christmas Day. If you don't have a digital camera, or if you have a digital camera and know your stuff, or if you're already bored reading this, this post isn't for you ;)
So...here's what happened on Christmas. Our camera is a few years old, and we have always liked its performance (it's a Canon SD800 IS, if you're interested). However, recently, some of the shots have been a little blurry, or the lighting is a little weird, or whatever. So after the Christmas Day festivities Narasimha was absent-mindedly messing with the settings to see if he could figure out why these annoying things were going on. I think he was tired after the long day, and he happened upon the option to "format card." To say the least, the meaning of this action is lost on me. However, Narasimha says even now that he knew this was bad. He scrolled from the preset function of "no" to "yes" and pushed enter. Immediately the camera screen said "no files found." Which is bad. 2 seconds earlier we had several hundred pics saved on our disk. And they were all gone in an instant. He tried to retrieve the pics, and even downloaded some free retrieval software from the internet. Nothing worked. He found the number of a company who specializes in retrieving lost stuff, but when he called first thing Friday morning found out they were closed for the holiday until Monday. However, what he found out on the website was that there was some special reading software you could buy for $75, and if that didn't work, you could send your card to them and they would try to get it off for between $75-200-ish. Ouch. And, we weren't sure we'd get our disk back if we had to send it to them, and those are pretty spendy as well. Not to mention, no guarantees of success.
So we waited over the weekend, and Narasimha called first thing this morning. He talked to a guy who said it sounded like if anything would work, this thing called a "reader" (or something like that) would do it. No use sending it in. It looked for some reason like the computer wasn't reading our files (are you lost yet, because I was a while ago...). So we went to Staples this afternoon, and bought this like $15 thing. And it worked for the most part - Yay!!! Some of the pics have like inverted colors, and we're missing some we think, and some of them only load like half way for whatever reason. But I think we have about 90-ish% of our pics in tact. We're very thankful!
A few things we walked away from this now knowing: First, memory cards have a "lock" function. I knew that, but never used it before. This is good because you have to "unlock" (with the push of a little lever thing) to be able to do anything to your card besides add to it (so take pics, etc.). It's probably a little annoying and cumbersome at times, but it safeguards against accidental slips. Also, if anything (camera, computer, etc.) has technical functions with preset answers - you tell it to do something and it brings up 2 answers, no and yes for example, and one of them is highlighted - the one that is highlighted is generally the "right" answer unless you know what you're doing, or you're actually trying to do something specific. Our whole problem would have never happened had Narasimha went with the preset answer "no" for his little disk formatting escapade. This may seem obvious to some or all of you, but I am what you would call technologically challenged, and these little reminders will likely be helpful to me in the future.
Any suggestions or things to add? I hope this never happens to any of you.
*Note (as of 12/30): Locking the card doesn't actually work. When the card is locked (at least the one we have) it won't take or delete pics or make formatting changes. So nevermind that "advice" from above.
Showing posts with label Random. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Random. Show all posts
Monday, December 29, 2008
Friday, December 5, 2008
27 Things About Me In No Particular Order
Note: This idea was stolen from the blog of a friend. Betsy did this first and I'm copying it now - hope that's ok Betsy! :)
1. I play the trumpet, and I started in the 5th grade.
2. I have been to India 3 times and Mexico once.
3. I love to paint my nails but have never had a professional mani/pedi. And I don't want one - I'd rather do it myself.
4. I cried the day the last original Friends was aired. And I'll probably cry during the last ER.
5. I love my family more than I can articulate, though I don't tell them nearly enough.
6. Though sometimes we want to beat each other over the head, I love my husband more than I ever could have hoped for and I can't imagine navigating life with any other person. I am so blessed to be married to my best friend.
7. I love volleyball. I would play it all the time if I could. But I'm truly not that good at it. I am a better coach than I am a player.
8. I don't pray nearly enough.
9. I would rather have a few close friends than a million blah acquaintances. I am so thankful for the people I can truly call friends (you know who you are).
10. I like to scrapbook but am waaaaay behind.
11. I am a perfectionist - 100%. Sometimes it's annoying.
12. I have a hard time admitting fault, and an even harder time apologizing.
13. I have somewhat of a weakness for designer handbags.
14. I am a Christian. Every thing I learn about Jesus makes me realize how little I actually know.
15. I did not grow up with inside pets, but now have 3 inside doggies, and can't imagine my life without them.
16. I cannot have a baby. I have known this for over 2 years now and sometimes it still devastates me more than I can describe.
17. I love children. No matter to age, gender, personality - every single child is a special little person in their own way. They make me smile.
18. It is my plan to get a Master's in Nouthetic (Christian) Counseling someday. I have only taken one class, but truly feel it's my calling in life.
19. I enjoy formulating intelligent answers and arguments.
20. I like the taste of nearly every food on the planet except sauerkraut. If I don't like a food, it's generally because I don't like its texture. And I might even like sauerkraut - I haven't had it since I was like 6.
21. I like to read just about anything, and I'm a fairly fast reader.
22. I have names for my future children picked out. And I have bought a ton of baby/toddler clothes.
23. I wish I had a clean house. I could organize anything (including a pile of garbage), but if you saw my house, you'd never know it.
24. I like to write. And I like to blog. Maybe I'll write a book someday.
25. I believe God has the adoption of children in our family plan. We hope to adopt a child from an orphanage in India sometime next year.
26. I've always had a tough persona, and I think it surprises people who have known me for a long time to find out how sensitive and spiritual I really am. I could cry at the drop of a hat these days, but still have a hard time letting myself cry in front of others (even my husband).
27. Today is my birthday :)
Note #2: This is my 100th blog post :)
1. I play the trumpet, and I started in the 5th grade.
2. I have been to India 3 times and Mexico once.
3. I love to paint my nails but have never had a professional mani/pedi. And I don't want one - I'd rather do it myself.
4. I cried the day the last original Friends was aired. And I'll probably cry during the last ER.
5. I love my family more than I can articulate, though I don't tell them nearly enough.
6. Though sometimes we want to beat each other over the head, I love my husband more than I ever could have hoped for and I can't imagine navigating life with any other person. I am so blessed to be married to my best friend.
7. I love volleyball. I would play it all the time if I could. But I'm truly not that good at it. I am a better coach than I am a player.
8. I don't pray nearly enough.
9. I would rather have a few close friends than a million blah acquaintances. I am so thankful for the people I can truly call friends (you know who you are).
10. I like to scrapbook but am waaaaay behind.
11. I am a perfectionist - 100%. Sometimes it's annoying.
12. I have a hard time admitting fault, and an even harder time apologizing.
13. I have somewhat of a weakness for designer handbags.
14. I am a Christian. Every thing I learn about Jesus makes me realize how little I actually know.
15. I did not grow up with inside pets, but now have 3 inside doggies, and can't imagine my life without them.
16. I cannot have a baby. I have known this for over 2 years now and sometimes it still devastates me more than I can describe.
17. I love children. No matter to age, gender, personality - every single child is a special little person in their own way. They make me smile.
18. It is my plan to get a Master's in Nouthetic (Christian) Counseling someday. I have only taken one class, but truly feel it's my calling in life.
19. I enjoy formulating intelligent answers and arguments.
20. I like the taste of nearly every food on the planet except sauerkraut. If I don't like a food, it's generally because I don't like its texture. And I might even like sauerkraut - I haven't had it since I was like 6.
21. I like to read just about anything, and I'm a fairly fast reader.
22. I have names for my future children picked out. And I have bought a ton of baby/toddler clothes.
23. I wish I had a clean house. I could organize anything (including a pile of garbage), but if you saw my house, you'd never know it.
24. I like to write. And I like to blog. Maybe I'll write a book someday.
25. I believe God has the adoption of children in our family plan. We hope to adopt a child from an orphanage in India sometime next year.
26. I've always had a tough persona, and I think it surprises people who have known me for a long time to find out how sensitive and spiritual I really am. I could cry at the drop of a hat these days, but still have a hard time letting myself cry in front of others (even my husband).
27. Today is my birthday :)
Note #2: This is my 100th blog post :)
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
A (Long) Change
I just axed off most of my hair. I have been thinking about cutting it for a while, and did, until about an hour ago, have very long hair (when straight it went to at least my lower back). Then I thought, well, if I am going to cut more off than just a trim, I should really do something with it. So I decided to do Locks of Love.
I got to the place, and I had thought that they needed 8 inches - turns out they really need 10. But before they cut it they put it in a ponytail, and then they cut straight across from that. Then when it's off, it's all jagged, so they have to even it out (the hair around your face is an inch or 2 longer than what's in the back). So I lost 10 + 1 or 2 inches - right around a foot of hair. It was pretty long before, so I think it's still about shoulder length.
After I got it done, I went to Narasimha's office to show him (he didn't know I was going to do it). I thought it would take him a minute to get used to, and then he'd like it. Turns out, he doesn't. I knew he liked my long hair, but figured, it's just hair, right? I'm sure he'll get used to it in time.
So now I will start growing my hair out again - in a few years it will be the same length it was earlier today. Now I'm going to hit the shower before Narasimha gets home so I can try to make it look good, and maybe that'll help talk him into liking it. Although next time I do this, I think I will straighten my hair before I go - I think because my hair is wavy/curly, I probably lost at least an inch, maybe 2, more than I would have if my hair had been really straight when they cut it.
I got to the place, and I had thought that they needed 8 inches - turns out they really need 10. But before they cut it they put it in a ponytail, and then they cut straight across from that. Then when it's off, it's all jagged, so they have to even it out (the hair around your face is an inch or 2 longer than what's in the back). So I lost 10 + 1 or 2 inches - right around a foot of hair. It was pretty long before, so I think it's still about shoulder length.
After I got it done, I went to Narasimha's office to show him (he didn't know I was going to do it). I thought it would take him a minute to get used to, and then he'd like it. Turns out, he doesn't. I knew he liked my long hair, but figured, it's just hair, right? I'm sure he'll get used to it in time.
So now I will start growing my hair out again - in a few years it will be the same length it was earlier today. Now I'm going to hit the shower before Narasimha gets home so I can try to make it look good, and maybe that'll help talk him into liking it. Although next time I do this, I think I will straighten my hair before I go - I think because my hair is wavy/curly, I probably lost at least an inch, maybe 2, more than I would have if my hair had been really straight when they cut it.
How long it was on July 4, 2008.
How long it is after my cut - although it is straight here and I really won't straighten it very often.
Update as of 8:30 PM: Narasimha has decided that it "isn't so bad" now that he has seen it done. I kinda like it, and it feels so light!!! And easy! And sometimes something a little different is just fun :)
Friday, July 25, 2008
ISTJ
I just took a quiz on Facebook, and it asks you a bunch of questions, and then assigns you to a personality type, using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. I got the results of ISTJ. Based on the quiz, I am Introverted (vs. Extroverted), Sensing (vs. Intuition), Thinking (vs. Feeling), Judging (vs. Perceiving). I definitely agree with the Introverted and Thinking, I can kinda see the Sensing, and I don't know what I think about the Judging. I think the whole picture is probably pretty accurate, because I did a web search on my type, and some of the details they listed for people of this type describe me to a T (results I found on Wikipedia here).
I think there's a book out about these types, and if you can figure out what type you are, and the types of some of the people close to you, you can kinda interpret your interactions (say with like a spouse, child, close friend, etc.). I don't read into it too much, but I think if used/considered appropriately, it might be kinda fun and maybe even helpful in some ways.
If you're on Facebook and you want to do this, you have to add the application (you can get the link off my page), and if you don't have Facebook, I am sure there are tests on the internet you could find.
Do you know your "type"? Does it describe you well? If you know me, what do you think about my results?
I think there's a book out about these types, and if you can figure out what type you are, and the types of some of the people close to you, you can kinda interpret your interactions (say with like a spouse, child, close friend, etc.). I don't read into it too much, but I think if used/considered appropriately, it might be kinda fun and maybe even helpful in some ways.
If you're on Facebook and you want to do this, you have to add the application (you can get the link off my page), and if you don't have Facebook, I am sure there are tests on the internet you could find.
Do you know your "type"? Does it describe you well? If you know me, what do you think about my results?
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Wacky Wednesday
I know it's been a while again...I've been working on some things that are taking some time. Eventually I'll post those, but for now, here's something I did yesterday...
I used to like to mow. At our old house, our yard was about the size of a postage stamp, so even if I weed-eated around the whole house and the whole fence line, and mowed the whole yard with a push mower, I was done in like 30 mins. Now we have a big yard, which I love for some reasons. It's great for the dogs and potential kids, and we live in the country, so it's quiet and peaceful, and is actually one of the main reasons we decided on this house. But wow is it ever painful to mow. By the time I'm done weed-eating here I can't feel my arm (because the machine is so heavy and it takes forever) and then you have to push mow around like a million trees, a swing set, and a very long fence line (inside and outside). And then the riding part after all this takes at least a few hours. To do the whole yard well probably takes at least 5-6 hours.
So anyways, I always put it off as long as I can. I bet our neighbors don't like us because a few of them have Better Homes and Gardens yards. Yesterday it just had to be done. So I cheated, and skipped the weed-eating and push mowing, and was just going to do the rider in the front. I just wanted to be done, so I was driving the mower about as fast as it would go. Narasimha was in the back yard grooming the dogs. We have a ditch that goes along the road in the front yard, and it's curved, and then there's this (not well-kept, of course) landscaping thing in the front right at the top of the ditch, and it has these big bricks going all the way around the outside of it. Ok, now stay with me if you made it through all that... I was mowing, and I went down into the ditch, and back up, at a funny angle, headed toward the bricks from the landscaping. I was turning to go along side the bricks, and I accidentally ran into the bricks, mower full speed, with my front tires turned, and the mower leaning at an angle as it was turning out of the ditch. When I hit the bricks, the mower stopped instantly. I was tipped to the side like the mower was, and the next thing I know, the impact of the stop has put me on the ground, on a hill, beside my mower with the blade still very much moving. The mower is new, so since I fell of and my weight was off the seat, it shut off pretty quick. But still, the first thing I thought as I was landing (and I was landing about as fast as I realized I was falling) was that "I'm going to get mowed!" And then I wondered, without me on there leaning away from the ditch to keep it up, if it would just roll onto its side, right onto me. But, none of the above. As I was getting up I didn't even bother to see if any of the neighbors had seen me, I was so embarrassed (although now I wonder if they did).
I am thankful I didn't get hurt, although my elbow is a little sore because I think I landed funny on my arm. It probably could have been really really bad, but it's not, so it just makes for a random and funny (hopefully, since I put it here for you to read) story about my Wednesday.
I used to like to mow. At our old house, our yard was about the size of a postage stamp, so even if I weed-eated around the whole house and the whole fence line, and mowed the whole yard with a push mower, I was done in like 30 mins. Now we have a big yard, which I love for some reasons. It's great for the dogs and potential kids, and we live in the country, so it's quiet and peaceful, and is actually one of the main reasons we decided on this house. But wow is it ever painful to mow. By the time I'm done weed-eating here I can't feel my arm (because the machine is so heavy and it takes forever) and then you have to push mow around like a million trees, a swing set, and a very long fence line (inside and outside). And then the riding part after all this takes at least a few hours. To do the whole yard well probably takes at least 5-6 hours.
So anyways, I always put it off as long as I can. I bet our neighbors don't like us because a few of them have Better Homes and Gardens yards. Yesterday it just had to be done. So I cheated, and skipped the weed-eating and push mowing, and was just going to do the rider in the front. I just wanted to be done, so I was driving the mower about as fast as it would go. Narasimha was in the back yard grooming the dogs. We have a ditch that goes along the road in the front yard, and it's curved, and then there's this (not well-kept, of course) landscaping thing in the front right at the top of the ditch, and it has these big bricks going all the way around the outside of it. Ok, now stay with me if you made it through all that... I was mowing, and I went down into the ditch, and back up, at a funny angle, headed toward the bricks from the landscaping. I was turning to go along side the bricks, and I accidentally ran into the bricks, mower full speed, with my front tires turned, and the mower leaning at an angle as it was turning out of the ditch. When I hit the bricks, the mower stopped instantly. I was tipped to the side like the mower was, and the next thing I know, the impact of the stop has put me on the ground, on a hill, beside my mower with the blade still very much moving. The mower is new, so since I fell of and my weight was off the seat, it shut off pretty quick. But still, the first thing I thought as I was landing (and I was landing about as fast as I realized I was falling) was that "I'm going to get mowed!" And then I wondered, without me on there leaning away from the ditch to keep it up, if it would just roll onto its side, right onto me. But, none of the above. As I was getting up I didn't even bother to see if any of the neighbors had seen me, I was so embarrassed (although now I wonder if they did).
I am thankful I didn't get hurt, although my elbow is a little sore because I think I landed funny on my arm. It probably could have been really really bad, but it's not, so it just makes for a random and funny (hopefully, since I put it here for you to read) story about my Wednesday.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Green Ride
Ok, so I guess if you want to be technical it's actually blue and silver. But I wasn't talking about the color green...I was talking about that new trend our society has of labeling environmentally-friendly things "green." And environmentally-friendly this is...
We bought a new little motor scooter today. For those who may know, it's called a 2008 Yamaha Vino 125. We thought about buying one a few years ago when gas prices started spiking, but couldn't afford it at that time. I think now it's likely we'll make up money spent in saved gas (although that could take a while). This little thing gets over 90 mpg! And, it goes at top speed about 60-65 miles per hour (though comfortably for 2 people you could probably expect 40-45 mph). Not bad.
These things are popular this year - we had to drive a few hours (which is a long ways in Iowa) to be able to find a place that had any left.
It also reminds us of India - there these things are the main source of transportation, from anywhere to single people to full families (I have seriously seen 5 people - dad, mom, and 3 kiddos - on one no bigger than this more times than I could count). The roads are so overcrowded there that having anything bigger than this is in many ways a disadvantage - these weave in and out of traffic very well.
So, this little guy easily fits both of us, and for those times that we just need to make a trip into town, and don't have much to carry going or coming, we can ride this. It will likely function as Narasimha's work car when the weather is good.
And, it's fun to ride - you know, with the wind and mosquitoes flowing through your hair :) It'll have to do for now - someday I fully intend on being a "biker babe" with a Harley :) So, now we both have to start studying for our motorcycle license.
Kinda cute, right? :)
We bought a new little motor scooter today. For those who may know, it's called a 2008 Yamaha Vino 125. We thought about buying one a few years ago when gas prices started spiking, but couldn't afford it at that time. I think now it's likely we'll make up money spent in saved gas (although that could take a while). This little thing gets over 90 mpg! And, it goes at top speed about 60-65 miles per hour (though comfortably for 2 people you could probably expect 40-45 mph). Not bad.
These things are popular this year - we had to drive a few hours (which is a long ways in Iowa) to be able to find a place that had any left.
It also reminds us of India - there these things are the main source of transportation, from anywhere to single people to full families (I have seriously seen 5 people - dad, mom, and 3 kiddos - on one no bigger than this more times than I could count). The roads are so overcrowded there that having anything bigger than this is in many ways a disadvantage - these weave in and out of traffic very well.
So, this little guy easily fits both of us, and for those times that we just need to make a trip into town, and don't have much to carry going or coming, we can ride this. It will likely function as Narasimha's work car when the weather is good.
And, it's fun to ride - you know, with the wind and mosquitoes flowing through your hair :) It'll have to do for now - someday I fully intend on being a "biker babe" with a Harley :) So, now we both have to start studying for our motorcycle license.
Kinda cute, right? :)Saturday, April 12, 2008
Lazy Saturday
Today I am home alone. Narasimha is putting in some extra hours in a neighboring town, so he's working all day today, which means I'm at home alone on this dreary and snowy day. There was a "dusting" of snow on houses this morning when we got up, but still no major accumulation (thank goodness - it's APRIL!). Of course I have my 3 pooches keeping me company, and right now they are reflecting the weather outside and are asleep on my lap (Bella) or at my feet (the boys). One exciting thing for us today is that we sold the car that Narasimha has been driving to work (a "junker") and so he will start driving full time the truck we inherited from my parents. This is either a good town to sell junk cars, or we priced too low - we sold the car after having a sign in the window for only 3 days :) We decided that if Narasimha would voluntarily work more Saturdays, it would be better to get that out of the way before we had children, so we could have more family time then. So, I am getting caught up on some things around home, and am seriously considering joining my dogs and their perpetual nap on the floor. Narasimha will be home in a few hours, and then maybe we'll get some sort of a life (or maybe not) but for right now it's just a lazy day.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Christmas Meme
I was tagged in a blog from a friend and fellow blogger to answer the questions on the Christmas Meme. I normally get a few of these each year in my email (and have this year too), and always intend to fill them out, but put it off long enough and then never end up doing it. They're fun, so I'll post mine here too :)
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Mostly red and silver wrapping paper (all the same, changed yearly) which matches our tree decor - although I do use bags for grab-bag gifts or irregularly shaped things sometimes.
2. Real tree or artificial? Fake for sure. I love the smell of real ones, but I can get that in a candle, and then I don't have to deal with dead needles, bugs/mice (potentially), the tree holder leaking, getting rid of the tree at the end, etc.
3. When do you put up your tree? Since we do fake trees, anytime AFTER Thanksgiving - even the next day would be ok with me. But this year we've been slow, so maybe tonight.
4. When do you take the tree down? Um, any time after Christmas is fine - although hopefully by New Year.
5. Do you like eggnog? Yeah, although not as much as Narasimha does. I won't buy it for him until after Thanksgiving though. I also like to use it as coffee creamer, or sometimes I put it in French toast mix instead of milk.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? One that sticks out is my microscope set that I got in like 5th grade - I was a science dork.
7. Do you have a Nativity scene? Yes - and that is one "Christmas" decoration that I have considered leaving out all year around, although I would move it to a more central location in December.
8. Hardest person to buy for? Definitely my dad, although the older my little brother gets, the harder I am finding it is to buy for him too.
9. Easiest person to buy for? Narasimha - he likes everything!
10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? The ones I probably hated receiving the most, not that they were necessarily bad, were clothes as a kid - never seems like very much fun (some kids probably like it - I was a tomboy).
11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Snail mail, although if my list keeps getting longer and the price of stamps keeps going up, I might reconsider (though I don't think I'd ever change my practice).
12. Favorite Christmas movie? There are a few cute ones, but I don't know that I have a favorite. Narasimha and I started a tradition of getting a new Christmas movie each year to watch on Christmas Eve after we get done with everything else.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? In a perfect world, I would be done, or at least know what I'm getting everyone, by Thanksgiving. I don't like to put that off, because I do not like shopping with an agenda. This year, I am still far from finished.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I don't think so.
15. Favorite things to eat at Christmas? Anything with salt (not much of a sweet-tooth).
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear on the fancy one, colored on the fun one. Right now we only have a fancy one, but someday we'll have both.
17. Favorite Christmas song? I like almost all Christmas music - except some of the secular music, or nice Christ-centered songs redone "trash-ily" by secular artists. I am also not a big fan of taking something very traditional and really changing the melody. But back to the question - I really really love "O Holy Night" ever since I started really listening to Christmas music, and in the last few years I like "O Come Emmanuel" a lot too.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? The last few years we have done our Christmas on Christmas Eve at home, Christmas day with my family at their house, and then my grandparents' on separate weekends sometime around Christmas. This schedule working on any given year in the future will be contingent upon N's call schedule.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yes, but only if I sing "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" in my head.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? For each other - Christmas Eve. With my family - Christmas morning.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? The secular-ization - taking "Christ" out of "CHRIST-mas." Also, the strong focus on gift buying and how material we as a society make the celebration of Jesus' birth.
23. What is the "corniest" family tradition you do, or miss doing? I can't really think of anything "corny" - my dad is always a goof when we're opening presents - does that count?
24. Ugliest Christmas Decoration ever invented? Anything over-done. Actually, the thing I hate the most is those huge bubble things people put in their yards, with the lights and fake blowing snow and stuff - I think those are really tacky.
25. Which looks the best, theme trees or homey trees? There's a time and place for both, although my definition of "theme" would be any certain color-combo.
26. What does Christmas mean to you? Jesus willingly coming here - we are celebrating our God in the flesh. Without His coming, we wouldn't be able to celebrate Easter, or go be with Him in heaven when our time here is done. What a special and amazing thing - if I sit and think about Jesus here, walking on our earth, and everything that means, and all the prophecy fulfilled, it's almost more than I can wrap my head around.
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Mostly red and silver wrapping paper (all the same, changed yearly) which matches our tree decor - although I do use bags for grab-bag gifts or irregularly shaped things sometimes.
2. Real tree or artificial? Fake for sure. I love the smell of real ones, but I can get that in a candle, and then I don't have to deal with dead needles, bugs/mice (potentially), the tree holder leaking, getting rid of the tree at the end, etc.
3. When do you put up your tree? Since we do fake trees, anytime AFTER Thanksgiving - even the next day would be ok with me. But this year we've been slow, so maybe tonight.
4. When do you take the tree down? Um, any time after Christmas is fine - although hopefully by New Year.
5. Do you like eggnog? Yeah, although not as much as Narasimha does. I won't buy it for him until after Thanksgiving though. I also like to use it as coffee creamer, or sometimes I put it in French toast mix instead of milk.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? One that sticks out is my microscope set that I got in like 5th grade - I was a science dork.
7. Do you have a Nativity scene? Yes - and that is one "Christmas" decoration that I have considered leaving out all year around, although I would move it to a more central location in December.
8. Hardest person to buy for? Definitely my dad, although the older my little brother gets, the harder I am finding it is to buy for him too.
9. Easiest person to buy for? Narasimha - he likes everything!
10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? The ones I probably hated receiving the most, not that they were necessarily bad, were clothes as a kid - never seems like very much fun (some kids probably like it - I was a tomboy).
11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Snail mail, although if my list keeps getting longer and the price of stamps keeps going up, I might reconsider (though I don't think I'd ever change my practice).
12. Favorite Christmas movie? There are a few cute ones, but I don't know that I have a favorite. Narasimha and I started a tradition of getting a new Christmas movie each year to watch on Christmas Eve after we get done with everything else.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? In a perfect world, I would be done, or at least know what I'm getting everyone, by Thanksgiving. I don't like to put that off, because I do not like shopping with an agenda. This year, I am still far from finished.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I don't think so.
15. Favorite things to eat at Christmas? Anything with salt (not much of a sweet-tooth).
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear on the fancy one, colored on the fun one. Right now we only have a fancy one, but someday we'll have both.
17. Favorite Christmas song? I like almost all Christmas music - except some of the secular music, or nice Christ-centered songs redone "trash-ily" by secular artists. I am also not a big fan of taking something very traditional and really changing the melody. But back to the question - I really really love "O Holy Night" ever since I started really listening to Christmas music, and in the last few years I like "O Come Emmanuel" a lot too.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? The last few years we have done our Christmas on Christmas Eve at home, Christmas day with my family at their house, and then my grandparents' on separate weekends sometime around Christmas. This schedule working on any given year in the future will be contingent upon N's call schedule.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yes, but only if I sing "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" in my head.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? For each other - Christmas Eve. With my family - Christmas morning.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? The secular-ization - taking "Christ" out of "CHRIST-mas." Also, the strong focus on gift buying and how material we as a society make the celebration of Jesus' birth.
23. What is the "corniest" family tradition you do, or miss doing? I can't really think of anything "corny" - my dad is always a goof when we're opening presents - does that count?
24. Ugliest Christmas Decoration ever invented? Anything over-done. Actually, the thing I hate the most is those huge bubble things people put in their yards, with the lights and fake blowing snow and stuff - I think those are really tacky.
25. Which looks the best, theme trees or homey trees? There's a time and place for both, although my definition of "theme" would be any certain color-combo.
26. What does Christmas mean to you? Jesus willingly coming here - we are celebrating our God in the flesh. Without His coming, we wouldn't be able to celebrate Easter, or go be with Him in heaven when our time here is done. What a special and amazing thing - if I sit and think about Jesus here, walking on our earth, and everything that means, and all the prophecy fulfilled, it's almost more than I can wrap my head around.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Word Combinations
I think it's really funny when people combine words - this is a trend that I first noticed a few years ago when I was in college. I think my friend Kelsey was the first person I ever heard do this. For example: gigantic and enormous = ginormous. Fantastic and fabulous = fantabulous. Chillin' and relaxin' = chillaxin'. You can even do it with names, as they do for the A-listers in Hollywood. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are often called "Brangelina" when referred to as a couple - there are many more examples of the name combos. Here is my shot at it: Narastina spent their fantabulous weekend chillaxin'. Too bad that didn't turn out sounding as cool as I'd hoped - haha :) Anyone else want to try?
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