I’m a bit of a blog junkie

So, I read blogs. And when I read a blog I like, sometimes I look to see whose blogs that blogger reads as well. Then, I read their blogs. And my eye wanders to their “blogroll” on the side bar… and so on, and so forth. I have even been known to go through the archives of blogs to “catch up” on the many months they blogged before I started reading their blog.

I know many of you, if you are like Scott, have a burning question for me: Do you actually KNOW these people?

Like I told Scott, “Well, no… but you just have to read this post. Or any of the day-to-day posts like this one. And suddenly, you feel like you do!” Or, of course, there are the blogs that are just so funny, that it doesn’t matter if you know the author. Funny is funny. Even Scott likes it (sometimes) when I read him posts from blogs like this one.

And so, without further ado… I bring you… My List of Favorite Blogs by People I don’t Actually Know. You knew there had to be a list coming, right?

• Antique Mommy - Absolutely, positively hilarious. Yes, I read the archives and yes, I keep up on her comings and goings. A particularly funny post.
• Rocks in My Dryer - I call her Shannon. She doesn’t know this. I’m too intimidated to comment on her blog and tell her I’m on a first-name basis with her because, well, I’m afraid she’ll find MY blog and say “oh”. A good place to start is with her favorite posts.
• BooMama - Haven’t read the archives, but I do drop by on occasion. She’s a funny one! Example.
• Everyday Mommy - Again, I pop in from time to time to see what’s cookin’.

There are more. Antique Mommy and “Shannon” are my two regulars, but when I get chance, I go through Works-for-Me-Wednesday (hosted by Shannon) and I wander down bloggy lane for while.

Burning question number 2: What is Works-for-Me-Wednesday? Answer.

Burning question number 3: You know these are all Stay-At-Home-Mommy blogs, right? Answer: Yes. They are clean, entertaining, and heartwarming. I aspire to become a good stay-at-home mom one day myself, so I consider this “research”.

-Anne

That Christmas Spirit…

I thought I’d feel It right after Thanksgiving. The silly songs were playing on the radio, the “perfect gifts for the people who have everything” were on sale at every store, and I even helped my family cut down Christmas trees in the mountains. But, I just didn’t feel It. I just felt sad to leave my family, sad the pies had been eaten, and sick with the flu.

I thought I’d feel It on the 1st of December because, well, it was December! I didn’t then, either. I was busy with work, getting the house in order, and adjusting to Scott’s new school schedule (he promises to post about it soon).

But today? Today I FEEL it.

I haven’t been to a single store since before I went to CA two weeks ago, so I haven’t partaken of the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping. I haven’t turned on any of THOSE stations on the radio, so I haven’t heard the latest Rudolph jingle, either.

In fact, I feel a bit like the Whos down in Whoville, because my Christmas spirit came without the trappings and bows.

Let me explain.

I mistakenly left the nativity scene my mom made me in CA, bringing our total of Christmas-y decorations down to one. That’s right, a single Christmas item in our entire house. I replaced our cheery yellow fruit bowl on the kitchen table with our deer and snowflake glass dish several days ago and haven’t thought much about it since. Now, before you all rush to give me Christmas-y trinkets and tassels and tinsels for Christmas, know this: Christmas came just the same.

I woke up early this morning and spent some time writing Christmas cards, corresponding with old friends, and agonizing over finding the *perfect* gifts for family members. Scott got caught up in it, too. As we reflected on our relationships with family and friends, it hit me right between the eyes. The “Christmas” feeling that I relish each year during this season is about love. Pure and simple.

My best Christmas memories include helping my mom with Christmas preparations - thus giving us a chance to chat, our favorite pastime - , scheming with my brothers to “go in” on gifts for my parents and for each other, and spending hours wrapping presents. The latter really shouldn’t take hours, the wrapping jobs aren’t anything to shout about when I’m done, but I love thinking about the giftee opening the present and hoping that they’ll know I picked it especially for them.

At any rate, I highly recommend seeking out some Christmas spirit yourself. It’s warm and toasty and a perfect companion on a cold Ohio evening.

Ok, Scott is a perfect companion as well, but you can’t have him! And, with his Biochem test knocking on the door, it’s just Christmas and me tonight.

Whistling in Westborough

Woo-wee! There was a stiff wind today! Its howling woke me up this morning before the alarm did. Let me tell you, that takes some doing.

Weather.com says that in my zip code, the wind was 45 mph. I could have sworn it blew through our house faster than that. It’s important to explain, here, that our windows are actually thin, drafty sheets of ice in disguise.

We were given three pieces of advice from our neighbors when we moved into Westborough:

1. It’s the best deal in Columbus. You’ll love it!
2. The windows suck. They are supposed to be replaced soon.
3. They’ve been saying that for years. Plan on covering them with plastic in the winter or you’ll end up paying to heat up all of Columbus.

Gulp. Ok. Well, how bad can they be? We bought the thickest painter’s drop cloth plastic we could find, cut it to more than cover each window and secured it with an elaborate clear packing tape job. Surprisingly, it didn’t look too bad.

Enter 45mph winds (at least). The plastic/packing tape concoction blew right off our enormous front window so 35 degree chill rushed into our family room. We brought out the big guns: duct tape. After a two-man secure-and-tape mission, we thought we had it under control. But, when we turned our backs on that window (just for a second), we heard the ominous sound of tape relinquishing its hold. That gusty gusty wind had gotten the better of us!

Enter handyman. Friendly, but not too helpful because the “replace the awful windows proposition” is apparently stuck in the bureaucracy stage. Technically the lawyers are “approving the proposition”. Hmmm… I think I’m better off looking at the store for “super duct tape”.