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The Commander wanted me to post this.

It is my own fault.

While all of you crazies were out running around and fighting the crowds before the crack of dawn, I was sleeping in. Why? Because my Christmas shopping is 97% finished!

I try to start early to make sure I have things purchased before the rush hits. I love shopping, but I don't love shopping with the population of a small city all in one place. And while I'm sure buying a ginormous TV for a couple of hundred dollars off is nice, we don't need a (another) ginormous TV. And to the man who was camped out in front of the electronics store since Tuesday...seriously?

I hope you all managed to get what you went for and no one got into a fist fight over the latest and greatest thing.

Enjoy your nap.

You Are a Discount Shopper

You love to get things as cheaply as possible. You live for sales. It's partially because you like to save money, but it's also because you like the thrill of finding a fabulous deal. Of all the types, you tend to shop frequently but rarely buy. You keep an eye on prices. Brand names are not that important to you. You know how to have style without collecting designer tags.

What Kind of Shopper Are You?

Product Review

When Mom Central sends out requests for product reviewers, I am very picky about what I throw my name in for. If I don't think I would like it or would use it, I don't ask to be a reviewer.

Recently, they asked for bloggers to review Priority Club.

I LOVE PRIORITY CLUB!

I asked to be a reviewer and so, here I am.

We have been members of Priority Club for years. Every time you stay in one of the 3,800 worldwide hotels, including Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza, you earn points (That never expire!). You can redeem the points for free hotel nights, brand merchandise, CDs, DVDs, gift cards, airline rewards, car rentals or you can donate to charities!

We haven't redeemed points for merchandise, but we have used the free hotel nights. When we went to New York City a couple of Aprils ago, we stayed in a Holiday Inn on 42nd street FOR FREE! Three free nights in New York City thanks to Priority Club.

A couple of perks you get in the hotels as a Priority Club member are free upgrades if they have room and (my favorite) if they have a bar, you get a chit for a free drink!

We also have a Priority Club Visa rewards card. We have racked up some points using that little thing.

I would highly recommend joining Priority Club. At least take a look at the website for more information.

Happy Thanksgiving, Y'all

You Are a Pilgrim

Like the pilgrims, you've felt persecuted for your beliefs from time to time. You have a strong sense of right and wrong. Your morality sometimes makes you feel out of step with the modern world. You may not go as far as moving across the world, but you still identify with the pilgrims. Well, except for the whole stealing land and killing Indians thing.

Are You a Pilgrim or an Indian?

I forgot to tell you about our award

You know the one - Parent of the Year. I usually win it by myself, but the other day, we both accepted it.

November 11th, Veterans' Day, we woke up to the aftermath of some icky weather. The streets were slick and there was some snow on the ground. We all got bundled up and headed out.

We dropped The Boy off at school and headed out to the grave yard to visit for a bit before we headed back to the school for the Veterans' Day program. The Commander stopped at his dad's gravestone and hopped out of the car to straighten the flag. He wasn't back in the car two seconds when his phone rang.

It was the school.

They were having a two hour late start due to the icy conditions. Please come get your child. And for the love of all that is holy*, listen to the radio station or watch the news channels to get the updates!

Good thing we did watch for updates. They ended up canceling school for the rest of the day. The Veterans' Day program was held on the 13th.

We scurried back up to the school and there he stood, out on the sidewalk, waiting patiently for his award winning parents to pick him up. Poor child.

I would like to point out that we are not used to schools being that concerned about the ice. In Oklahoma (I'm looking at you, Stillwater!), we slipped and slid all over creation to get to school and work. Heck, The Boy's school had a very icy sidewalk on the backside of the gym that a bunch of us had to use to get the kids into the before and after school care. I called the principal's office repeatedly about getting the ice cleared off of it and at least two moms fell and got hurt AND THEY NEVER DID ANYTHING ABOUT IT. And I wiped out at least twice on the ice at my old job (I'm looking at you, Oklahoma State University!) So this ice? Meh.

So thank you kind school for understanding that it takes some people a while to get it.

Just don't get me started on the whole "One hour late start EVERY WEDNESDAY" thingie. That's just crazy. (We only dropped him off early once on a Wednesday. Now we have a sign on the door to the garage to remind us.)

*Implied.

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By mid-November I always like to have an extra 15 pounds on me. - Diane Frolov and Andrew Schneider, Northern Exposure, First Snow, 1993

What's Up?

So my husband was giving me grief last night about not updating my blog. "Now I don't know what you are doing." he joked.

I think since he has lived in Iowa before, he would have some idea of what I've been up to.



That's right. Not a lot to do here. My work days have been cut down since harvest is winding down. Bowling once a week. Book club once a month. Picking up The Boy from school every day. Cooking. Baking. Jello making!

I would like to say that my house is SPOTLESS, but that ain't happening.

I read. I read a lot. I just finished "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn". I really enjoyed it. Next on my list is a book about Postville, Iowa. The kosher meat packing plant there got raided this summer and more than 300 illegals were carted off. The book is about when the Jewish people first moved into the town way back when.

I also have spent way too much money on rubber stamps and accessories to start making my own greeting cards. Jump back!

Right now, I'm up at the crack of dawn because somewhere in the bedroom is what I believe is a digital watch that has its alarm set for 5:45am and if I'm in a light sleep, it wakes me up. Sigh. Anyway, I can sit on my recliner and watch the sun come up over the snow covered corn field behind our house.

Yesterday, The Commander took us out for breakfast during a blizzard! (Not really, but it was coming down pretty good.) Afterward, he decided to drive around and look at the snow. We saw five deer run across the road from one corn field into another. They get pretty big here because of the free range corn grazing so we have to really keep an eye out when driving.

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Our high school football team played in the state championship game Friday. They came in runner-up last year, so they were really gunning for it. They started out terrible, picked it up quite a bit, but still ended up losing. They were down by two points with five seconds left and the attempted field goal was blocked. It was only their second loss this season. The team that beat them for the championship last year? They came back and killed them in the semi-finals this year!

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My computer's hard drive is almost full so I haven't been able to upload my photos lately. I am in dire need of an external hard drive, but I can't decide which one I want. I need to get off the pot and get one.

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So that's my exciting life.

Stop and Think

Please remember our men and women serving our country today.

And please keep the family of Scott Hagerty in your prayers.

Crazy kids

Almost every day after school the doorbell rings and it is usually one of four boys or the girl from across the street wanting to play with The Boy.

Today, The Boy and one of the boys, T, were outside doing whatever it is that they do out there and I happened to glance out at them while I was closing the window. They were playing with a water balloon launcher, but yet, they had no water balloons.

Woooosh. Something is launched out into the street.

Me - WAS THAT A ROCK?!
Him - Uh, yeah.
Me - DON'T USE ROCKS! Gah.

I ended up giving them a large bowl of green apples and tomatoes that were on their last legs.

Me - Here. Take these out back and shoot them into the field.
Him and T - Woooooooooooooooo!

Fast forward to supper time.

Me - Did you get hit in the back with a tomato?
Him - Yeah.
Me - Gah! That will stain. (I'm a mom. It must be said.)

Oh well. I'll shout it out. At least he has made friends.

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Boys don't make passes at female smartasses. - Letty Cottin Pogrebin

I'm a member of the nerd herd.

There Are 1 Gaps in Your Knowledge

Where you have gaps in your knowledge: History Where you don't have gaps in your knowledge: Philosophy Religion Economics Literature Science Art

Do You Have Gaps in Your Knowledge?

Go vote!

We Can't Predict Who You Voted For

According to our quiz, there's a 40% chance you voted for Obama. But that means there's an 60% chance you voted for McCain. You aren't very typical. You tend to be independent, and your vote is highly coveted. While we can't predict how you voted, there's a good chance you voted for the winner!

Did You Vote for Obama or McCain?

Some people are idiots.

(Note: this post speaks of feminine products.)

Always has a new pad and is giving away free samples. On the website, there is a Whadayathink? area where you can read reviews.

Here's some entries that will make you cringe...

Maria in Illinois says: When i got Alwasy Infinity (Spell the product right, fool. And capitalize!) She finishes with: i had no leeks or nothing (Try the produce aisle.)

Jessica in California says: i likedthat it was light but yet observant. (I'm guessing absorbent? Capitalize! And use your space bar!)

cc in Tennessee says: I had a coupon so I desided to try them (Spelling!)

Kristi says: I honestly wasnt satisfyed, the wings got caught on my bush and I bled all over my sheets D: if it were thicker longer and wider it would be perfect! (First - You kiss your mama with that mouth? Second - That's what she said!)

Ellie says: well i have a very heavy flow so this pad didnt work to well its bleeded through and everyone saw! but it makes me excitied to know i can wear a pad! (Oh no! It bleeded through!)

caroline from New York says: its that ineversee somethinlike this iwaet triet pleas (WTF? Was she typing with her toes?)

I stopped reading after that one.

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I am returning this otherwise good typing paper to you because someone has printed gibberish all over it and put your name at the top. - An English Professor, Ohio University

Honest!

She did it and so I followed suit. And I agree, what is with the photo not really jibing with the results? I'm honest, but evidently I also like to berate people? WTH?

And zero percent on courage? Whatevs.

Your result for The Best Thing About You Test...

Honesty

Honesty is your greatest virtue.

Honesty is the human quality of communicating and acting truthfully. This includes listening, and any action in the human repertoire — as well as speaking. And you? You cannot tell a lie. Both loved ones and strangers should trust you, because you won't (1) lie, (2) lie via omission, or (3) sit there and let lies be told. (Can you even let a sleeping dog lie?) All 7 virtues are a part of you, but your honesty runs deepest.

Your biggest risk is hurting the feelings of your most sensitive friends. However, most appreciate you for your candor.

Honest famous person: George Washington, if you believe the propaganda.

Your raw relative scores follow. 0% is low, and 100% is perfect, nearly impossible. Note that I pitted the virtues against each other, so in some way these are relative scores. It's impossible to score high on all of them, and a low score on one is just relatively low compared to the other virtues.

YOUR VIRTUES

30% Compassion

33% Intelligence

38% Humility

78% Honesty

50% Discipline

0% Courage

67% Passion

Take The Best Thing About You Test at HelloQuizzy