who keeps eel bones around the house, anyway? no one, that's who.

i don't know about you, but i am somewhat bothered by the best buy commercials-the lady competing with santa and being saucy about it...i feel sorry for santa. is that strange? there is just something about elderly people, and respect...especially santa. i realize it's a commercial. i realize that santa isn.....(tell your children to skip this part) isn't real. but still, maybe it's the underlying theme behind it. the commercialism and competition at the expense of another just to be a winner.

most people know that i am not a crazy-big-jewelry wearer, but i do sport the smaller beads and more practical necklaces. i found some bead jewelry that i actually like the looks of, AND not only that, but it goes to help aids in rowan. one of my friends from kanakuk kamp (where i used to work for many summers), her name is joy (appropriately) and she has a heart for missions-especially in africa. please check out the site here, you might find something that you like, and it will certainly go toward a worthy cause. you know how sometimes there are organizations you are leery of, well, i actually read joy's blog about her time there, and she has some pictures posted in which she is planting trees with the widows and girls there-i am humbled by her commitment to love and serve in rowan. go joy!

new topic. i just saw a drano commercial on t.v. that made me want to watch Lord of the Rings tonight...i guess you'd have to have seen the men with the battering ram. oh, and i am really kinda dying for the hobbit to hit the screens (the rumor is that the trailer will be before the tin tin movies...smile). also seen on t.v. today was charlie's angels, only it wasn't the original angels...so i didn't watch the entire thing (kinda like the duke cousins...just not the same). does anyone really miss the fashion of the 70's?

i would VOMIT if i went to this gym! (and not from over exerting myself)

i had to open the windows today because there was lingering smell of dehydrated onion-which is not good once you're done dehydrating it! well, that has caused bruno and chaco to do a whole lot of barking. so finally i said, "guys, that is not the holiday spirit, you really need to stop now." chaco turned around and said, "but mama, we're saying merry Christmas type things..." and turned to growl again at the slamming car doors below.

and the only thing that really sounded good for dinner tonight was chinese/japanese and homemade eel sauce...only i found out why one of the web sites said it is rarely made at home (because normally it is made by dipping the eel bones in while simmering the other ingredients.)..ixnay on the eel bonesay...so instead i added a hint of citrus. smile. love it! and instead of the usual asian delivery guy, there was a hispanic man, which struck me a little weird, because usually when i go to a chinese restaurant, there are only chinese people working there...keepin' it in the family. so i prepared my plate and whipped out my handy dandy personal chopsticks (made in china and brought back by a friend who went on a mission trip). i love pulling them out to use every once in awhile. they are SO superior to the cheapies that you have to break apart.

yes, as a matter of fact, they do have their own carrying case. deal wid it!

and the fortune cookie-will prove to be true.

i am hoping to do something unique and fun this weekend-it's all about creating new traditions, right?

so, one of the gifts i got this year at school was a twin set of coffee mugs for on-the-go. well, i had one awhile back, but the lid broke and then it got lost at summer school. well, every time i was about to get a new one at bed bath and beyond, i talked myself out of it for trying to be practical. so i had this other travel mug that had a sunken hole, and it spilled on me a couple of times, so maria decided to help me out! love it and use it all of the time!

and the great thing about a twin set is that they always know what the other is thinking!

i also got this great set of utensils (which have the super-power of not melting; they're like shadrach, meshach and abednego in the fiery furnace), which i again have not trouble finding use for (in fact, i used one of the spoons tonight to make my fake eel sauce without the eel)...

the mixing bowl is perfect too, because it pours-pancake batter!

 and a third gift which i have put to use already since being home this break for obvious reasons:

sometimes a kiss just makes everything better.

the 4th gift was the tree, and sweet stationery-which i am prone to use quickly.

tomorrow i will be doing some preparing for this weekend. yea! if anyone is in the dallas area, looking for something a little different to do on Christmas eve, let me know.

julie