The Last Day...

2006 is about to be over. Some people think that making a resolution for the new year is the way to go tonight but I disagree. I think that just puts more pressure on you to do something you don't really think you could do unless you make a special promise to yourself. Well, instead of making a resolution we focused on completing business for 2006. That's right, if you check our geocaching record you will notice that we hit our target of 50 caches found!

We are still unsure of what our plans for this evening will be, but we wish you all the best for 2007 and may you reach whatever goals you set for yourself next year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Merry Christmas to all!

Well it is finally here, Merry Christmas everyone!! So far we have been busy visiting family the last two nights and the feast will continue at Scott's Mom's this afternoon. Last night were able to finally increase our geocaching record to 47 found! Due to my rather busy work schedule the past couple months we haven't had the time to go caching. But last night we stopped in Pickering to find one that we first tried to find last summer. Problem was that it was in a very busy location. But being Christmas eve we found that it was much quieter and we were finally able to check this cache off our list. Only 3 more until we hit our goal of 50 for this year.

I think we'll try to do a drive by the house this afternoon to check on the progress that is being made so check back tomorrow for an update on that! I hope everyone has the time to spend with their families today. Here are some pics of mine from the last couple days.

Winter Wonderland....NOT!!

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...snow?

Well, it's almost here. Tomorrow is the big day and in southern Ontario it looks like our winter wonderland will be a bit late this year. It won't be here for Christmas day, but maybe Boxing day will bring us the winter weather everyone wants. I don't mind snow if I don't have to drive in it but since we have so much visiting to do, and there is always work to go to, I like that there is no snow yet. Today in the GTA it is sunny and 7 degrees celsius. Driving home from work today I actually got to put up the sun roof on my car and blast the music (Trans-Siberian Orchestra of course) and, except for the music, it almost felt like it was April, not December.

One more sleep, I can't wait, I can't wait, I can't wait.......

Two More Sleeps!

On the Eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me...another opinion?

So yesterday Scott answered what inquiring minds wanted to know about how he feels about various Christmas topics. I have to interject about #9 which asked were you allowed to open a present on Christmas eve?

Growing up at my house it was tradition, or bribery (I'm not sure which) but we were able to open one gift on Christmas eve. You see my parents were in the church choir and that meant that they had to attend church twice on Christmas eve, the early service and the late one. Of course we had to go too. So, to hold us over until Christmas morning, and to convince us to go to church twice in one day they let us pick one gift to open early. It was always a big decision as to which one to open. The big one, the small one, the one you have been staring at for the past week and just can't figure out what it is....what to pick?!? Of course Mom would steer us away from the really big things until Christmas day.

Some of my favorite gifts over the years were the things that I felt I had waited forever to get. My first Cabbage Patch Kid and my keyboard were the two I remember the most.
Another thing that I loved was the tradition that we could open our stockings as soon as we woke up, but we had to wait until my parents got out of bed to open the stuff under the tree.

About my favorite Christmas dessert, I would love to agree with Scott about my Mom's Christmas pudding - but I can't. Everyone raves about her Christmas pudding and rum sauce (I think Scott forgot to mention the rum sauce, that's probably why he likes it so much!). Even though it looks funny, once you try it you forget what it looks like and ask for seconds. It always seemed like something I might grow into when I got older. Well my hair is turning gray and the pudding hasn't grown on me yet. Give me some cheesecake or bumbleberry pie anytime and I'll be happy.

Now that we are grown up we make new traditions, because as Scott said they must start somewhere. Maybe this year is the year that you should start some new tradition that your kids will remember when they write their own blogs thirty years from now.

The 2006 Holiday Edition of Getting to Know Your Friends!

On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, a silly quiz.

Normally I don't care for these "getting to know you quizes", but since this is a Christmas one, I will give it a go. I am challenging anyone that reads this to do their own.

Now on wth the quiz...

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Egg Nog because you can have Hot Chocolate anytime, but Nog only comes this time of year.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Santa wraps everything now, but when I was younger, he left a few things un-wrapped.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? White looks nice and that's what we have at the moment.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? Nope.

5. When do you put your decorations up? Not before December 1, that's the rule.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Since I can't choose dessert, I guess I would have to say turkey with potatoes, stuffing and lots of gravy. There was a time when I really didn't care that much for turkey, but now I kind of like it.

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? Family and food! Lots of both.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? The truth????

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? No, never! Presents should be opened Christmas morning.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? A variety of old and new ornaments. Some Disney, some Simpson's and a mix of others.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? LOVE IT!

12. Can you ice skate? Not very well.

13. What's the most important thing about the Holiday's for you? Being with family and friends.

14. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Steph's mom's Christmas pudding!!!

15. What is your favorite holiday tradition? I don't really have one, maybe it's time to start one. Tradition has to start somewhere.

16. What tops your tree? An Angel.

17. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving? Would it be wrong of me to say receiving?
18. What is your favorite Christmas Song? Have a Holly Jolly Christmas by Burl Ives.

19. Candy Canes? Yes please!

20. Favorite Christmas Movie? National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

That's all for now. Three more sleeps until Christmas! Have you been naughty or nice? Only Santa knows for sure!

Holiday Movie Viewing

On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, some really great Christmas movies.

Here is a list of some of our favourite holiday movies. Some are classics, some are destined to become classics, and the others, well we just like them.

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. I look forward to watching this movie every year. Who can resist Christmas with Clark, Ellen, cousin Eddie and the rest of the Griswold clan.

A Christmas Story. This is the one about the kid that wants the Red Ryder BB gun. I remember when this movie first came out. I was 12 years old and at that time, you had to be at least 14 to get in to see this movie. My friend Brandon and I went to the theatre one afternoon to see if we could get in, and wouldn't you know we got in. All they asked was how old we were and what year we were born? We told them what they wanted to hear and in we went. This is one of my all time favourite movies.

Miracle on 34th Street, the original version, in Black and White. Another true classic that proves there is a Santa Claus.

Bad Santa. This one is not for the kids, but Billy Bob Thornton puts in a classic performance.

Trailor Park Boys Christmas Special. Another one not for the kids, and not for Steph either. She can't stand the Trailor Park Boys, but I think they are hillarious!

There are many more movies I could list here, but I am going to leave the rest to you.
Happy Holiday viewing!

Christmas Music

On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave me the gift of music.
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, according to Johnny Mathis (and many others).

As a kid growing up, Christmas day at my house was filled with the sound of music (actual music, not the movie of the same name). All day long, the likes of Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Burl Ives, Peggy Lee and many others too numerous to mention could be heard singing about Winter Wonderlands, Santa Claus Coming to Town and having a Holly Jolly Christmas.
These tunes will always have a nostalgic place in my heart, but I have discovered that there is much more out there.

These days it seems that everyone and anyone can have a Christmas album. While browsing through the Christmas section yesterday at Best Buy I saw Christmas albums from Harry Connick jr, Mariah Carey, Dianna Krall and even Twisted Sister!!! (yes, We're Not Gonna Take It Twisted Sister).

Steph really enjoys the Trans Siberian Orchestra and they have really grown on me as well, but one of my favourite Christmas albums is called a Twised Christmas by Bob Rivers. Bob is a DJ in the states and he does parodies of popular Christmas songs. Chances are you have heard his work and don't even know it. Songs like Walkin' Round in Womans Underwear and It's the Most Fattening Time of the Year belong right next to the classics in my opinion.

Whatever your tastes for Christmas music are, they are just that, yours. Enjoy whatever you want to durring the holidays and let others enjoy it as well, because Christmas is about giving.

Before I go, one more thing. Earlier I mentioned that everyone and anyone can have a Christmas album, well here is proof that it happens...

Surviving the mall

On the seventh day of Christmas and you're going to the mall? What a brave soul you are! Everyone should work in retail at least once in thier life. It gives one a new found respect for people - some who deserve it, and some who don't! So on that note, some advice for surviving your trip to the mall.

• Leave your kids at home. Some people may think this is harsh. But you will be able to move faster if you are not dragging your kids through the busy mall. Plus you can actually shop for them without asking for several bags to hide what you just bought. And you won't have to buy extra things that they have picked up and won't let go of.
• Go early in the day. You'll get better parking, the mall will be less busy and the store clerks less cranky.
• If the clerk tells you there are none left of the item you are looking for, there is a good chance they are not lying to you. But if it makes you feel better they will go to the back to "look" for you and grab a quick drink and come back to tell you the same thing.
• If the clerk tells you there are no boxes left that fit the item you are buying, there is a good chance that they are not lying to you. Feel free to throw a fit if it makes you feel any better. But the boxes will not appear if you say "really, are you sure there's no boxes back there?"
• If the clerk tells you that there is a line up you must wait in, there is a better than good chance that they are not lying to you. You are not more special then the other customers in the store, no matter what your mother told you. You waited until the week before Christmas, you must all suffer the same.
• When the store closes, go home. Don't wander around for another 15 minutes deciding if the recipient will like it or not. The clerks have already worked long enough and there is a good chance that they have some cleaning up to do before they go home and spend some time with their families.

And if you choose to ignore this advice, you should be prepared to become one of THOSE people that we in retail call "special". There are legends written about you and like those classic Christmas stories, your visit to our store is relived every year when the season starts again.

Gift Giving for the Shopping Challenged

On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...some "thoughtful" gift ideas. It is getting near the end of your Christmas shopping experience, and you still haven't found that perfect gift. Here are some gift ideas for that person on your list who has darn near everything, or is just plain hard to buy for. All of the ideas you are about to receive were found on e-bay. Don't believe me, check them out for yourself.

First up, something for that folically challenged person on your list... the Midnight Black Mullet Wig. "This auction is for an AWESOME better quality mullet wig......very POPULAR!" A better quality wig! I guess if you want to be the envy of the tailor park, this is the way to go!

How about some Vertical Darts for those Horizontally Challenged Drinkers, Who needs to expend all the effort of chucking darts at a dart board when you can drop them and let gravity do the hard work?

How about the Dashboard Jesus Bobble Head. With God as your co-pilot, what could possibly go wrong?

Maybe you know someone who needs the Artificial Intelligence kit. I know a few people who could use this little gem!

Or maybe you just need to get someone a RANDOM BAG OF CRAP. Need I say more?

Happy Shopping!

Crazy Christmas House

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, a Crazy Christmas House.
At this time of year, many people go all out decorating their houses with lights and various other decorations, but some people take it a little too far.
The Griswolds have nothing on these poeple.

A Glorious Feast!

On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...something delicious to eat!

One of my best memories about Christmas growing up was the food! My mother use to go all out, preparing for days, sometimes weeks ahead of time.

"DO NOT TOUCH BEFORE CHRISTMAS OR SANTA WON'T COME!" (Direct quote, word for word, kids will believe anything)

Cookies, brownies, chocolates of many kinds, home-made bits and bites, potatoe chips and dip, veggies and dip, crackers with cheese and kielbassa!!!
(I'm starting to drool just thinking about it, excuse me while I wipe off the keyboard)

The goodies would go out just shortly after breakfast, and the feast was on!!! An all day smorgasboard, all you can eat buffet, just help yourself.

"No thanks, I don't need a plate, I'll just sit right here at the table."

Only problem was, by the time dinner rolled around, no one was hungry. Oh sure we ate, turkey and ham (ham for me beacuse I wasn't too fond of turkey) and mashed potatoes and stuffing and dinner rolls and some sort of vergetable (again, not for me, the ham ate all the vegetables I needed).

But no mater how much we ate all day there was always room for desert! Pies or cakes, and the most glorious desert we ever had was the year that the fudge didn't turn out like fudge, it was more like a really thick syrup, and let me tell you it was the most D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S ice cream topping I have ever had!

So forget about all the dieting, there's plenty of time in January for that. Just enjoy all the treats that come but once a year!

Alice the Christmas Cat

On the third day of Christmas....MEOW!!!!!!!!!

Today is about our cat Alice and how she loves Christmas. Sure, maybe she doesn't know who Santa is - but she knows that turkey is tasty, presents mean paper to play with, and that under the tree is a wonderful place to take an afternoon nap. So here she is trying on her reindeer antlers, which I know she doesn't enjoy, but it amuses me so she has to do at least once a year.

Since we don't have any kids (yet - ok Mom?) our pet is our child. So from our family to yours, we hope that you have many memories of the funny things your kids do during the holidays!

Trans-Siberian Orchestra

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me...the Trans-Siberian Orchestra!

If you are looking for some good Christmas music I would like to recommend you check out the very cool Trans-Siberian Orchestra. It's a little hard to describe but they are basically a plugged in orchestra with loud guitars, singing some variations on classic Christmas carols and new holiday music. They can be both powerful and soothing. Last year Scott and I finally got to go see them in Toronto when they were here on tour. It was very cool. They have such a stage presence and put together quite a light show with the music. Anyhow they are my favorite cd's in my Christmas collection.

Check out these samples of their music:
Ghosts of Christmas Eve (Audio)
Wizards in Winter (Video)

Matt Damon Does Matthew McConaughey

This is really good! Nothing to do with Christmas but it is funny none the less. Enjoy!

12 Days of Christmas Starts Today!

Well, here it is....the most blog worthy time of the year. Today starts Scott and Steph's 12 days of Christmas! That's right, everyday for the next 12 days we will post something about Christmas for your reading pleasure.

Today's topic is our Christmas tree. Growing up my family always had a real tree, but living in apartments for the past 8 years I have grown to see the benefits of artificial trees. Yes, one day I would like to have a real tree again but the practical side of me knows that artificial is where it's at for me right now.

For the past 7 years that we have lived together Scott and I have had a pretty nice 6 foot fake tree. I am always anxious to put it up as soon as December 1st arrives. (That's the rule, not before December 1st.) Anyhow, since we moved into this smaller apartment until the house is ready there is barely enough room for all our "stuff"and definately no room for our regular tree. I was speaking to the girls at work about this problem and one of them had a smaller tree that she did not need for this year. So here is a shout out to Sue, who loaned us a smaller tree for this year.

THANKS SUE - YOU'RE THE BEST!!

And just so she doesn't feel left out here I have to mention Jackie, she didn't do anything special, but she just likes to be noticed.

Christmas fun is coming...are you ready???

Stay tuned!

While you are waiting for the fun to begin, take a look at Sarah's blog Useless Information and check out her post called Hairball in Easy Listening for some truely hillarious fun!

Our House

Greetings all and welcome to December! In the past few days it has finally started to feel a lot more like Christmas. The weather has turned cold, the malls are busy and we went to my work Christmas party last night. Today we decided to take a drive by the house since soon it may be too cold and buried in snow to get a good look. Here are some pics that we took. Looks like they have made some good progress since it's not scheduled to be done until May.

Above is the front view and below is the back view. There are three floors. You walk in on the main floor and there is a garage and front entry way. Behind that is a laundry room and rec room with patio doors to the backyard. The second floor is the dining room and living room in the front, and kitchen with breakfast area in the back. The third floor is two bedrooms in the front and the master bedroom with ensuite bathroom in the back.

Anyhow, we were getting some complaints from some of you who use this blog to avoid doing your work during the day. You say that we are slacking off on the updates, so I hope this holds you over for a little while :-)