as a wise tot once said,

"Patience Jackass". Yes, the tot was me and no, I'm not practicing what I preached. I suggested we let Eric open one present this evening. Then I thought it would be better if we each opened one. One turned to two. Eric went first. We played a joke on him and gave him a hint that his new guitar was an updated Squier.




Boy, was he surprised to open the Squier box and find a sunburst Stratocaster with gold hardware.

Cosme's turn...



"Sweet!" Cosme opened his GPS and golf clubs. The funny thing about the clubs is he saw the package and thought it was a fountain for the flower bed. (He thought that sounded like something my mother and I would scheme up after the whole "doesn't he need a bench for his birthday?") Yeah, I got a picture of his expression as he opened the clubs but his eyes were shut - I figure after posting the karaoke shot I'd go easy on him.

my turn...

I opened my photo printer (which might have come in handy during the Christmas card dilemma...see post below) and a digital frame. Score!

signed, sealed,

not delivered. I didn't get my Christmas cards out. I waited until the last minute to get a picture made. Since we couldn't agree on a picture, nobody has a card. So here's the alternative...



MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

(Hey, that's faster than the USPS could deliver anyway!)

Yes, there's a story behind the cards not being sent out (make note of this entry). Anyway, I won't get into all that. This picture wasn't nominated for the card but it will go into a frame somewhere in this house. If you'd like to see the other pictures, check out the Flickr link.

party like it's...

well, last weekend. Cosme's office's Christmas party was last weekend. (Yeah, my hair's red but the glow of the ribbons on the tree are making it red to the extreme.) We stayed at the party a while and then headed to Wild West. Yes, you read correctly. This duo headed to a c&w bar. The crazier part of that story is we were dancing to hip-hop as well as c&w. By the way, Cosme did the Cotton-Eyed-Joe for the first time. (I couldn't believe he hadn't learned it in elementary school. I learned it in p.e. - and that was in the city!) Anyway, a few hours later (as well as a few drinks later) Cosme braved the crowd and told me to pick a song for his moment in the spotlight...yeah, karaoke. I gave him three choices: Elvis, The Cult or Johnny Cash. Needless to say, he chose The Cult. So, a little "She Sells Sanctuary" it was. He was told there were people in the back making the typical headbanger hand gestures while bobbing their heads. It was a total rockstar moment. Yeah, yeah, I admit that I was hollering and clapping. The next day he was saying he couldn't believe he got up and did it. Guess what, he can believe it now because one of his co-workers got a lovely shot of it.

Exhibit A:

and why


does it matter what Oprah thinks? Oh, that's right, it doesn't! I don't know what's more pathetic...that people need to take advice from a rags-to-riches talkshow host on everything from books to politicians OR that those people (such as Oprah) believe us people without celebrity status cannot think for ourselves. Seriously, what makes Oprah's opinion of who the next Presdient should be any different from Melanie's...nothing. If I could say one thing to Ms. Winfrey, it would be this, "please shut up and go away. your ramblings on don't mean squat in life outside Harpo." So, Oprah, Barbra, Sean Penn, Ben Affleck, etc...believe it or not, the majority of Americans have minds of their own and don't need your input...thanks anyway.
I would get started on Brad Pitt and his quest to save the world with our help, but I'm so sick of it all I can't bring myself to ruin a perfectly good morning.
UPDATE: at Mom's request, the picture of Oprah Winfrey was removed because "it doesn't deserve to be posted".

biscotti

I made it today for the first time. It was so easy and pretty tasty. (It's topped with almond bark.) I'm ready to try out all sorts of variations now!

and from out of nowhere

came the zombies...pitchfork-wielding farm zombies. No, not really.
This was on my way home from taking Eric to school. The fog was really bad for a couple of days. I thought this land on 521 would offer an eerie picture. Breakfast was being served on the other side of the highway.

remember the ornaments

I posted a few days ago? Well, here's what became of them. I decided to put them on a frame. To give you an idea how small they are, the frame is for a 2-inch square picture. I just put pretty paper in there for now but it will be the gift tag for Brittany's birthday present.

i think i see a light


at the end of the tunnel...well, this tunnel anyway. The body work on the car should get started in the very near future. happy times.

for those who knew



I was looking, here's the picture. This is the new tree...minus the ornaments (that comes later today). The 9' looks so much better than the 7'. (I know the ribbon is messed up. It will be fixed.) The old tree was as tall as the cabinet to the left - not good.

does it get

any cuter than this?

I found these miniature ornaments at Hobby Lobby. Yes, I hate that store but I went in to check out the Christmas trees. (I didn't find anything I liked-no surprise.) Anyway, I saw these and HAD to get them to put on a gift for Brittany. Who knows if she has any use for them...but aren't they the cutest?

kermit

Remember this guy from an October 6th post? A while back he was all nestled in the handle of my garbage can. Either he never left or he's back. I'm guessing he never left. So I have a pet frog. Anyone who knew me circa 1980, knows how much I loved The Muppet Show, Muppet magazine and more than anything, Miss Piggy. From now on he will be referred to as Kermit. Yes, since he lives in my garbage can Oscar would be a more fitting name, but that's so Sesame Street. Please. I hate frogs and he's so ugly but since he won't go away...

control


We saw Control last night. It was good. Depressing, but good. I really liked it.

stinkbug

This wall is at the corner of Louisiana and something. I've always thought it would be a good backdrop for a picture. So here's the backdrop and the only willing subject - a stinkbug.

tattoo you

was the weekend's theme. I could have worked around posting it this way and I know this is backwards, but that's the way posts post, the way the cookie crumbles, the way it is. So, scroll down a few posts to start at the beginning. Ready? Okay.

So Cosme and I drove back to Shaw's the next morning for his tattoo. He has been wanting this tattoo to cover up a homemade tattoo he got when he was 17. He was very patient and sat in the chair and endured the pain for two hours.

It was funny because he'd been sitting for so long. The guy started cleaning his arm up and told Cosme, "Okay, the outline's done". He made a few adjustments. The original had lots of red and blue in it but Cosme didn't want color. So, here's the final product. You can barely see the old stuff.

store front


I thought the packaging on these things were really cute.

old truck


waiting at shaw's




so we didn't


make it to Austin. Instead we went for dinner at the Strip House. After dinner we ended up at Shaw's for tattoos. We had about an hour wait. Mindy and Cosme had their tattoos picked out so we sat and patiently waited...and played around with the camera. (Hellooo, you know I brought the camera!) Well, Mindy was first. They called Cosme next but he didn't have his drivers license. He was so mad. Well, Mindy almost chickened out because she thought she would pass out. She said she really wanted to do it but she didn't want to pass out. I told her it was her turn and if she really wanted it, then just do it. She sent me next door to get some apple juice, just in case.
Well, everything was fine. Mindy didn't pass out and now she has a cute little anchor on her butt...joke. She has a little butterfly. It's very girlie. See for yourself...
So, Cosme didn't get his but we did manage to get a few pictures before the night ended. (Which was right after Mindy got her tattoo.) By then, everyone was so tired. I know Cosme and I both fell asleep on the way home. That was nice! Usually, I'm the one driving home.


Oh well, I've tried to add a couple of pics we took while waiting but something's not working. Speaking of butts... I guess I'll try again later.

haunted house

With only a black light to shine on what lurked ahead, they entered the hallway to be frightened by a creaking door and floating ghost. Next was the entrance to the trail of screams so many chose to take. I was seated at the entrance to warn them of the danger that lurked ahead.

As they worked their way through the maze, they came across an old pumpkin patch with what appeared to be a worn out scarecrow. Little did they know, this scarecrow was full of life. There were many screams and a few cries but the whole time...I was laughing, even a couple of snorts came out. It was so much fun. We had people hiding in the walls with slits cut in the plastic. It was so dark in there, it was crazy. I took the pictures before the lights went out (obviously). We had black lights everywhere, a smoke machine going, a witch's pot glowing, a gorilla breaking out of chains and several masked madmen. Cosme started the night as the scarecrow and Eric was in the wall. Eric left to have food and fun at the festivities in the hall next door and his place was filled in the wall. During our break, Cosme gave Eric the scarecrow position and Cosme put on Eric's outfit and a mask and hid in the haunted house's graveyard. It was so much fun. I've been working so hard the past couple of days to help up at the church. I'm exhausted! Today I'll help take everything down but I can't stay long because I have to come home and get everyone ready for this weekend. WHEW! I'm tired. Well, I have one more shot from last night. It's of the three of us after the event. You can tell how hard Cosme and Eric had been working.

I realized after this picture that I need a new pose. Every picture is the same. Me on the end with my head tilted upward as if that will make me appear as tall as everybody else. It's just not happening.



I'm still here

I've been so busy I haven't had time for my camera. I should have a few of our Halloween pics tonight and LOTS of pics after this weekend.

honestly...

tell me what you think. I found this dress and thought it looked like me. I like the style, color, length and price. I like it. So, should I keep it? I really like the dress but am not real sure about how it looks on me. Keep in mind I will wear some sort of short black jacket with it.

Here's a close up of the fabric.

sweet goodness

is what I came up with yesterday. I made a spice cake and couldn't decide what to cover it with. I started playing around and came up with this. I didn't think it would work on the cake, so I spread it out on wax paper, cooled it in the fridge and now this is what I have. Imagine a not-totally-firm praline. Oh yeah, like I said, sweet goodness. How am I supposed to walk by it all day and NOT have a piece each time? It's totally going in the garbage...just one more bite.

lauren's hair

Pics of Lauren's hair (done by Brittany) can be found on her blog. The link is on the left.

on a scale of 1 - 10,


how foolish do you think I feel wearing these? Yeah, about a 10. They're my new Shape Up Shoes and are supposed to do all sorts of great things. They're my new house shoes...when I'm alone. "What the heck is that?" - Eric saw them for the first time yesterday. I'm supposed to focus on the flat part to walk on so it feels like I'm walking in heels with no heel. I really didn't think they'd fit. You order a size smaller than what you'd normally wear (rounded down if it's a half size). So, when I ordered a size 7 for my 8 1/2 - 9 foot, I was shocked to see they really fit. And, if it weren't for the funkiness of the bottom, they'd be really comfortable.

torn down

While out driving, Cosme and I came across an old house being torn down. It was all roped off with caution tape. I saw this chair and tv out in the yard and really liked them. There was garbage in the yard and in the street around the house. A page out of an old book was out on the side of the road. I liked the way it looked too.

it's baaack


Everybody can quit worrying, the red is back. Today I had the red streaks put back along with a trim. Now let's see if I can keep my hair from frizzing out.

soar



Last night was the ceremony for the junior high kids to be inducted into the National Junior Honor Society. I was lucky enough to get one shot of Eric looking my direction. Cindy and Dodo also came to watch. Afterwards, we went for dinner.

a tree frog

was waiting for me when I took the garbage out. Can you imagine how I jumped? The handle was actually up in the "locked" position. He was in there pretty snug. No, I didn't get close to take the picture, I held my arms out and snapped away until I got one with him in it. It would not have been a pleasant sight if he'd jumped out at me.

do you know

what makes a bad situation worse? I do.


yikes

It was so early I didn't even have Chapstick on. Wait, it was so early, I hadn't even had a Coke yet! Here's a picture of me at the beach this morning. (No, I couldn't smile.)

where was I?

It may appear to be the moon, but I was actually at the beach this morning. I don't like water and I don't like birds, but I like the beach when it's cool and breezy. I decided to head out there with my camera after dropping Eric off. It started to get a little warm around 8:30 so I left. Here are a few of the things I saw.

i've always loved


this car. I think it's been parked in the same spot for 10 years. It's parked at some office that appears to have been out of commission as long as the car. Isn't it cute?

i drove


and drove and drove, with camera in hand. This is what I found. As big as Houston is, I couldn't find anything I felt like looking at today. I found this horse in Angleton. There's something about it I like...and it's not the mohawk.

Eric's got spirit,


yes he do, he's got spirit, how about you? This is the garter Courtney gave him for the homecoming game. (I forgot to get pictures of the mum he gave her.) They decided not to go to the game since their seats were in the student section.

I think I was always the anti-school spirit. I never had any school spirit. The Jersey Village Falcons didn't get squat from this chick. I went to one football game, one pep rally, bought one yearbook...you get the picture. I even had my friend Jamie take my senior pictures to avoid going up to that school on my time off for a portrait in a pink fuzzy thing. (By the way, I think Jamie's pics rocked-unlike all the others.) Oh well, maybe if the school colors hadn't been purple and gold...

nowhere

I guess, since this is considered the "Bridge to Nowhere", I went nowhere today. Actually, I go nowhere twice daily. I've always hated this bridge but I think it's interesting...in that 70-year-old bridge kind of way. I think it might have even been ranked the most dangerous bridge in Texas a couple of months back. Whatever...here's a picture of it.


Oh, CMA was here first thing.

okay now

I don't think CMA has ever experienced the wrath of Melanie. For the most part, I'm an easy-going person. Okay, so I'm abnormally shy and quiet, but I'm nice and easy to get along with. I don't like to make waves. BUT... Every once in a while, after too much build-up, that little gasket blows and somebody ends up on the receiving end of an ill-tempered rant.
[Enter CMA Communications]
I have a tv with some stations that aren't as clear as they could be. No, it's not urgent but I am paying for their services. They were scheduled to come the morning of 9/10/07. Never showed. Rescheduled for the morning of 9/12/07. Never showed. Rescheduled for the morning of 9/21/07. Never showed. Now they are rescheduled for the morning of 9/28/07. IF they actually show up, it probably won't be ugly. Now, if I get another no-show...it's so on. (What do they say "it's on like Donkey Kong"?)

Thank you for letting me vent.

west of the brazos

Earl's surprise party was at West of the Brazos in Damon. We later heard that was the biggest crowd this place has ever had. (Remember, it's in Damon...probably 1/2 the size of Maypearl.) Here are a few of the pics.