chicago '08

The dip was awesome. Under appreciated, but awesome. I can't say it rescued Thanksgiving from the dismal setting of the Custer Park Community Center, but it was tasty. I also lost the annual Trivial Pursuit game. Why do people insist on putting marshmallows on perfectly good sweet potatoes?

My niece, Lilly, was a definite highlight of the trip to Illinois. She was 2 in August, and this trip was the first time I had a chance to really see her talking. She clearly preferred me to Hugsband, which was awesome. "Come on, Aunt Rach. Let's play." She bit me on the arm once, but I think it was a love bite.

My family decided not to have Thanksgiving in anyone's home. Instead, one of my aunts rented a community center in the boondocks (and not the racially-charged boondocks from the Sunday funnies- that would be more exciting). Ick!!! It will still be nice to see my family, but I don't see how it could possibly feel homey and comfortable. We'll soon see. Here's hoping that my spinach/artichoke dip will be enough to enliven the party!

Why do I call him hugsband? It was his idea. It looks like I wrote 'yous hugs-band' and then tried to fix it.  

My burst in holiday spirit led me to pet abuse. Why do people insist on taking holiday pet pictures? I could not help myself, and hugsband even helped. I attached some that can be used as evidence in the Humane Society's case against me. Notice that there are no holiday pictures of Simon. He was freaked out by the lights and wouldn't hold still for a picture. I thought about feeding him a sedative...

An indication of how cute Simon is. Please notice tiny orange speck of adorableness. 

Merry Ferret Christmas! 

This is Simon dancing and whistling a very distorted version of the Muppet Show Theme. 

I am getting sentimental about Christmas. I blame my swiftly approaching 30th birthday. As a grouchy, busy atheist, I never bothered with a tree or other decorations. This October we bought a fake tree- a hideous, gaudy fake one. I love it! It came with the lights already attached. Quel convenient. I started to decorate today, which definitely violates my mother's not-'til-mid-December rule. Then again, if I did things her way, I'd have everything dismantled, dusted, and repackaged for storage by 6pm on December 25. So far, I put on garland. Tonight, I plan to blast my Motown Christmas CD, make mulled cider & wine, and add the ornaments. I wish I had a million of those bird clips from Smith & Hawken. Wish? Did somebody say 'wish'? I like the idea of decorating the tree with woodland creatures or, at least, tacky approximations of them.

Yesterday those conniving squirrels tipped over my birdfeer post and made off with my peanut feeder. Today I found it on the neighbor's porch, hidden under a deck chair and nearly empty. It's back in its rightful place with a woodpecker happily filling his red belly.

Hugsband has a supersoaker, with which he eagerly banishes the squirrels from our porch- squirting and yelling "Hey, fatty!! Take off!!” Obviously, the weekend only guard-thing isn't working. He may need to quit his job to man the guns full time. After all, who wants to see a titmouse go hungry because some obese, greedy squirrel downed a whole gallon of sunflower seeds?

There is one exception. We allow "One Arm" to eat his fill without watery retribution.

A joke from a 10-year old with autism:
him- Why can't the 11-year old go see the pirate movie?
me- I don't know. Why not?
him- Because it's rated AAAArrrrrgh!
me- (laughs) Where did you hear that?
him- From the Pirate on Sponge Bob.

A 7-year old with autism, when instructed to ask his friend a question:
him- Hey, buddy, what's your third favorite girlfriend from Ms.L's class?
friend- (without hesitation) Sally
him- Yeah, she's a good one

Bye, internship applications. Do me proud! One interview scheduled, (hopefully) 6 to go.  

The best Christmas song? Ave Maria by Stevie Wonder, hands down.

There are 2 beautiful trees in the parking lot at work. One is yellow, the other red. They are quite determined to have the last leaves in the area- everyone else is stick-y and dreary. Good show!