Just so you know

We're in sunny Florida for the Thanksgiving holiday! There was snow on the ground when we left Friday.

I don't have anything else to say. I just thought you'd like to know that.

It's snowing

The snow is really coming down outside. Which, you know, normally I love. But we're supposed to be leaving for Florida tonight and it would be nice if the roads were drivable. So I'm hoping it's just a short downfall, followed by no rain or ice whatsoever.

Naturally, on the week when I really needed to be getting packed and ready to go, both for Florida and then China, I have had a two-day migraine. Today is day three and I'm hoping it doesn't come back like it did yesterday, because I REALLY need to get stuff together. I need to pack cold weather clothes for the second leg of my trip, all of my face stuff and tooth stuff, cameras with chargers and batteries, books, bathing suits, and everything else I'm forgetting.

And then all I need to do is laundry, cleaning the kitchens (I have two), vacuuming, scrubbing the floors, taking out the garbage, setting up food and water for the cat, etc. etc. etc.

So I'm going to go finish my coffee and get to work. And hopefully the snow will just accumulate enough to look pretty. I don't intend to do all this work for nothing!

It's a conspiracy!

I was chatting with some fellow Dancing with the Stars fans last night during the results show. And at one point, talk of conspiracies came up. Some people seemed to think that the results are rigged. Other people thought that there was just a lot of gentle manipulation going on. I tend to frown on conspiracy theories in general. There is one conspiracy I really do believe, though, and that's the vast conspiracy of NFL fans who will borrow all of their friends' cell phones and email to vote for Warren Sapp in the finals.

So if you, like me, do not think Warren deserves that trophy, let's form a conspiracy of our own! Use every email address you have to vote for Brooke or Lance (preferably whichever one does a better freestyle). Text in those votes! Use every phone line you can get to. Let's break the NFL conspiracy that gave Emmitt Smith a trophy and almost gave one to Jerry Rice!

(All of this is, of course, negated if Warren has the best freestyle. But really, what are the odds?)

DWTS Semi-finals!

Because I know you've been waiting for my analysis of this season's Dancing With the Stars (and when I say you, I mean mostly my parents), here we go!

Last night's semi-finals were exciting, shocking, and just downright good television. I think everyone was shocked at Brooke's poor performance on the first dance. I blame the choreographer. Really, Derrick, if this is the type of thing you have in mind for the freestyle, you need to rethink your strategy. We've seen it happen before: a female dancer makes it to the final, only to be sunk by her choreographer in the end (Laila Ali, Stacy Keibler). And I have to say, I was surprised at him, because his routines have been so excellent the rest of the season. Thankfully, the salsa routine salvaged the night for her. I don't think she'll have any trouble getting to the finals.

Poor Cody. He's trying so hard. But despite the huge talent of his partner, not to mention her large base of male fans, I just don't think he's going to get to next week. While he's improved tremendously since the beginning, he's just not good enough. And missing two weeks with his partner didn't help. I feel for him, I really do, but unless his fans rally in a big way, he's going home tonight.

Warren. Ah, Warren. So much fun to watch, we forget you lack the technique. And unlike Joey Fatone, who Kym previously took to the finals, you really haven't gotten that much better over the season. Which is not to say you're not incredibly fun to watch. That's probably what's going to get you to the finals. But win? I think not. Not unless you practice, practice, practice, and even then, it's a long shot.

And then we come to Lance. Back in week one, I predicted that Lacey had what it took to whip this boy bander into shape, and hello! Did you see him last night? Twenty seconds into his first dance, I said, "The judges are going to say this is the best dance so far tonight." And they did. Absolutely amazing work. And just when you thought it couldn't get any better, they came out for their jitterbug and he rocked it with one shoe missing! I am sure this is only a small taste of the treat we'll get if Lacey gets to choreograph a freestyle routine. And I can't wait to see it.

So, to sum up, it'll be Warren, Lance and Brooke in the final. And it's going to be a good one. Stay tuned!

Countdown

Less than five days until we leave for Florida!

We have put the children on notice that if the house is not clean by Friday, we won't leave until Saturday. You would think this would have caused a frenzy of cleaning and the general putting away of things. So far, it hasn't. I suspect what will happen is that Friday afternoon, they will realize we were serious.

We shall see...

Bad or even worse

Yesterday, Hubby warned me about taking my computer online while we're in China. Apparently, everyone in his company gets terrible viruses from the network there. As far as whether or not the hotel network is safe, he doesn't know.

So now, I either have to stay offline (except on his computer in the evenings), or risk my computer crashing or worse. What kind of choice is that, I ask you?

Rainy day reading

There is something about a rainy day I just love. Maybe it's the calming rhythm of the drops hitting the windows. Maybe it's knowing that I don't have to go out in it. Either way, rain makes me almost as happy as snow does.

My favorite thing to do on a rainy day, besides sleep in, is curl up with a good book. Yesterday, I breezed through the book Twilight, which had been recommended to me by no less than 5 people. Today, since I don't have the sequel on hand, I will pick up one of the many paperback mysteries I have waiting on my bookshelf and read at least one page before the children have something more pressing for me to do for them.

So, how about you? What's your favorite kind of rainy day reading?

Changes and years

I was chatting on Facebook with a girl who graduated from my high school the year after I did. She remembered me, said I looked just the same (oh, how I wish I could pass for 17), and then commented that I had always been quiet.

Me, quiet? It's funny how you forget things about yourself. Once she said it, I realized that of course she would remember me that way. I really WAS quiet back then. Years of being told I had nothing to contribute by boys in my class made me clam up. It took me almost all four years of college (at a women's college) to get over that. And even then, some of my professors told me I was too quiet.

But you know what I learned? Everyone else is just as insecure as I am. And the positive responses far outweigh the negative when you talk to a new person for the first time. I love meeting new people and talking to old friends, and once you get me started, I hope you have some spare time because I WILL talk your ear off.

It turns out, she and I probably would have been good friends back then if I had been willing to talk to someone I didn't know. At least I get a chance now!

And now for a song

I feel like singing this morning, so here's a little Steven Curtis Chapman for ya!

What I feel is telling me this world's gone crazy
But what is real is God's still on His throne.
What I need is to remember one thing:
That the Lord of the gentle breeze is Lord of the rough and tumble,
And HE is the King of the jungle.

New IB post!

I have a new post up over at Inspired Bliss! Come check it out!

Scary

Here are some pics from Halloween!
The little one dressed as a cow again.
The six year old wanted to be something scary. I'm scared. How about you?
My twelve year old dressed as (let's see if I can get this right) a Visorak from Bionicle. He passed his alien costume down to his brother, who ended up winning the scariest costume prize!
He also won two prizes bobbing for apples (and hopefully not too many germs).