Christmas 2009

Well Christmas is over and 2010 is almost here. I should be sad, but I got some great loot from Santa and I'm actually ready for 2010. Santa Jeremy was very good to me this year. Check out all of these presents! (No, they weren't all mine!)



Jeremy managed - once again - to completely surprise me with my presents. One of the biggies was new bikes! From the day we moved into Southwood I said that I wanted bikes. There are so many trails out here that are great for cruising on a bike. Plus, I have been told there are some great trails around Tallahassee. I have no personal knowledge of these since I haven't owned a bike since I was in elementary school. But I have it on good authority that the St. Marks Trail is a fun one. So we will eventually have to work our way up to biking it. But right now, I ride for 10 minutes and my butt is killing me. I guess I need to condition my butt to enjoy sitting on an itty-bitty bicycle seat. Anyone know any exercises that will help? ;-)

Jeremy did a great job picking out my bike too. I love the color and design he picked for me! Unfortunately, I don't have any photos, but I will try to take some and post them later. And at some point this weekend we have to go pick out our helmets. I know I'm going to look like a complete dork, but safety over fashion right? Unless you're Carrie Bradshaw of course.

Jeremy also came through with my Shootsac! I LOVE it! And he found the pattern I really wanted: Classic Fling. I didn't have much confidence - I hate to say it - because when I went to the Shootsac website prior to Christmas I didn't see either of my favorite patterns. I was devastated. But I should know to never doubt Jeremy. He found the one I wanted on another website and purchased it. So surprise number two!

And the best surprise of all? Well, it was actually from the parents, but Jeremy had a hand in it. My own MacBook Pro!!!!!!! Oh yes, pigs are flying. I never in a million years expected to get this laptop! But it is AMAZING!!!! I feel like such a cool kid now. I think there may have been dual motivations for the laptop - I think my father-in-law was ready to get his Dell laptop back that I had absconded with awhile back. But, whatever the reason, I'll take it!

Oh, I almost forgot my Christmas Eve present from Jeremy. FOOTIE PAJAMAS!!! Now, compared to bikes, or a shootsac, or a laptop, I'm sure footie pajamas don't sound like much. But the pajamas were one of my favorite presents. They are AWESOME! So comfy AND practical - they do a great job of keeping my feet warm. I honestly don't care if it looks like I've reverted back to being a toddler. I love my footie pajamas!

And to top it all off, my wonderful husband woke up extra early on Christmas Eve and went to Publix to find me a cooked turkey! There was just a small lack of communication when it came to food prep for the holidays. I just automatically assumed we were having turkey for Christmas dinner at Jeremy's parent's house. But, I guess steak is their tradition for Christmas - which is what I was planning on cooking for Christmas Eve dinner. So I was devastated thinking that there was no way for us to have turkey considering it was late on the 23rd. But Jeremy went online, did some research, made some calls, and found me a turkey. A big, wonderful turkey! So my mom and I spent the 24th cooking the rest of the sides and we had a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for Christmas Eve. It was wonderful. But not nearly as wonderful as Jeremy for going out and finding me my turkey. I couldn't ask for a better husband!

So Christmas was all it should be - family, yummy food, fun presents, and lots of happiness. It really was a Christmas miracle - no one got on each others nerves!! And I think part of that had to do with this little one: Lucky.



Yes, my parents went out and bought a puppy two weeks before Christmas. But that little dog brought joy to us all. We were all a little worried about how Kai and Sequoia would handle having a new baby in the house. But they were amazingly great with the puppy and although Lucky was a little intimidated by Kai he still tried to play with her. Mom and dad have a handful with Lucky, but he sure is worth it. So I will close with some photos of the cutie!





One of the three dogs:



Lucky sitting for a treat:

The Night Before Christmas

Here is a different spin on the famous poem "The Night Before Christmas." It is written in legalese, so some of you may not find it amusing and may even wonder if I've lost my mind. But after three years of law school and another four years practicing, I (and most of my attorney-friends I'm sure) find it downright hilarious . . . as well as frightening. Yes, this is how lawyers really speak. Scary, isn't it? Well here we go. And if nothing else, you can have a good laugh at my expense!

The Night Before Christmas in Legalese

Whereas, on or about the night prior to Christmas, there did occur at a certain improved piece of real property (hereinafter "the House") a general lack of stirring by all creatures therein, including, but not limited to a mouse.

A variety of foot apparel, e.g., stocking, socks, etc., had been affixed by and around the chimney in said House in the hope and/or belief that St. Nick a/k/a/ St. Nicholas a/k/a/ Santa Claus (hereinafter "Claus") would arrive at sometime thereafter. The minor residents, i.e. the children, of the aforementioned House were located in their individual beds and were engaged in nocturnal hallucinations, i.e. dreams, wherein vision of confectionery treats, including, but not limited to, candies, nuts and/or sugar plums, did dance, cavort and otherwise appear in said dreams.

Whereupon the party of the first part (sometimes hereinafter referred to as ("I"), being the joint-owner in fee simple of the House with the party of the second part (hereinafter "Mamma"), and said Mamma had retired for a sustained period of sleep. (At such time, the parties were clad in various forms of headgear, e.g., kerchief and cap.

Suddenly, and without prior notice or warning, there did occur upon the unimproved real property adjacent and appurtenant to said House, i.e., the lawn, a certain disruption of unknown nature, cause and/or circumstance. The party of the first part did immediately rush to a window in the House to investigate the cause of such disturbance.

At that time, the party of the first part did observe, with some degree of wonder and/or disbelief, a miniature sleigh (hereinafter "the Vehicle") being pulled and/or drawn very rapidly through the air by approximately eight (8) reindeer. The driver of the Vehicle appeared to be and in fact was, the previously referenced Claus.

Said Claus was providing specific direction, instruction and guidance to the approximately eight (8) reindeer and specifically identified the animal co-conspirators by name: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen (hereinafter "the Deer"). (Upon information and belief, it is further asserted that an additional co- conspirator named "Rudolph" may have been involved.)

The party of the first part witnessed Claus, the Vehicle and the Deer intentionally and willfully trespass upon the roofs of several residences located adjacent to and in the vicinity of the House, and noted that the Vehicle was heavily laden with packages, toys and other items of unknown origin or nature. Suddenly, without prior invitation or permission, either express or implied, the Vehicle arrived at theHouse, and Claus entered said House via the chimney.

Said Claus was clad in a red fur suit, which was partially covered with residue from the chimney, and he carried a large sack containing a portion of the aforementioned packages, toys, and other unknown items. He was smoking what appeared to be tobacco in a small pipe in blatant violation of local ordinances and health regulations.

Claus did not speak, but immediately began to fill the stocking of the minor children, which hung adjacent to the chimney, with toys and other small gifts. (Said items did not, however, constitute "gifts" to said minor pursuant to the applicable provisions of the U.S. Tax Code.)

Upon completion of such task, Claus touched the side of his nose and flew, rose and/or ascended up the chimney of the House to the roof where the Vehicle and Deer waited and/or served as "lookouts." Claus immediately departed for an unknown destination.

However, prior to the departure of the Vehicle, Deer and Claus from said House, the party of the first part did hear Claus state and/or exclaim: "Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!" Or words to that effect.

-- Author unknown

Cars, Cars, Cars

I have been such a slacker lately. But with so many things going on in my life right, blogging has sort of been put on the back burner. And for that, I'm sorry. I don't have too much to report right now. But my car is in the shop - AGAIN. It's time number 5 I believe since September. It's getting a little ridiculous. But, I would rather get some of these issues fixed while the thing is still under warranty! It all started off with a window problem. My windows go down about a half an inch when you open the car door (due to the convertible top). But then it happened that they wouldn't go back up when the door was shut. That's how this mess all began. And then there is the tiny irritation of the steering wheel radio control not working properly. Each time I would take the car in, they would "fix" it. But once I got it home, I realize it wasn't actually fixed. But through all of these visits to the shop, I have gotten to "test drive" quite a few VWs. I guess that's helpful. I mean, if I'm in the market for a new car, I can knock three off my list of ones to test drive.

Let's see. The first car they loaned me was a beauty. It was the Tiguan. And they gave me the LOADED Tiguan - even better! I absolutely loved this little SUV. It drove great! We had test driven the Touareg at one point and were devastated to realize we didn't like it. It was just so heavy of an SUV. It didn't have much pick up. It was very disappointing. Because if we were going to replace Jeremy's 4Runner, we really thought the Touareg would be a logical choice - then we'd be a VW family. ;-) Anyway, the Touareg is off the list. So after our unfortunate experience with the Touareg, I was skeptical about driving the Tiguan. But I was pleasantly surprised by it. It drove great - not too heavy, but you also didn't feel like you would fly off the road with a small gust of wind. In all honesty, the Tiguan is probably about the same size (and in fact, looks very similar) to the Honda CRV. But I LOVED the Tiguan's sunroof - the whole roof of the car almost was a window. It is so amazing!

So fast forward a few weeks and my car is in the shop again. They tell me they are going to give me a loaner car and I got all excited - thinking I'd get to drive the Tiguan again. Wrong. No such luck. This time I get a base model Passat. I know. I have become a car snob. But come on! No Serius Radio?!? How am I to live???? I was very distraught. Plus, the breaks squeaked really loud. So I didn't get as excited about this loaner. But it was still nice that they offered me a car rather than making me get a rental like the people in the building before them (ahem, BMW).

(BTW, I don't recall this being what the Passat they gave me looked like. It didn't feel so . . . ergonomical. Hmmm....)

Now for the third time, I have been given a loaner car. And this time they were bringing the car to me, rather than me having to drive out to them. FINALLY! I was told via email that I was getting the Tiguan again. I barely slept last night because I was happy (ok, that's an exaggeration, but you get my point). So imagine my disappointment when they show up and it's not the Tiguan, but another Passat. :-( However, this time it is the Passat Wagon. WTF?!? You want to put me in a station wagon????? But then I took a deep breath, and realized "wow, this thing looks nice!" And it is! I just hope that I get to keep it over night so I can properly drive it. I'm in utter shock. Me. Liking a station wagon. Wow. But it's pretty nice. And at least this time they gave me a top of the line one, rather than base-model. Yes, I'm a snob. I've already acknowledged that. Deal with it.

So through all of this I have gotten to test drive three different VW models. I think I may be a VW expert. But through it all, I still love my little baby. She's the best. And I hope they send her back to me all patched up.

Sorry you had to sit through a post about cars. I promise I'm not being paid by VW! But this is what is on my mind today. That's all I got.