The Good News

So I've shared the bad news of my Christmas break (water slowly claiming my kitchen floor), now for the good.

This is my Christmas present. Hooray! I love it. Troy totally surprised me. We've talked about getting a second car, but I'd been putting it off because it's such a hard decision. So he just made the decision for me. Yay! It drives beautifully and has all kinds of fancy things about it. It even talks to me. Well, I talk to it and it just repeats the command, but it makes me feel special nonetheless.

100!

I just realized that my 100th post is a repost recapping my not-so-impressive blogging year. Fitting and yet depressing.

Blog Year in Review

Take the first sentence from the first post you made each month and string them together.

Where to begin, where to begin. Well I'm back home now. I know I haven't posted in FOREVER and I've been just as bad at checking every else's blogs, but I promise I'll try to get back on the wagon. That's right, I'm on a roll. Well, my nose is all better. I certainly have not been a good blogger, but lately I've "rediscovered" my computer, so I'll really try to do better. Last weekend Troy and I went camping on the beach in San Clemente with his sisters and their families. Wow, what a busy girl I have been. I know it's been a long time. I should stop saying I'll do better posting because I never do get any better. I have to interrupt my checkbook balancing (and blog silence) to say that I am in love.

That's right, there are only 11 sentances. I didn't post at all in March. Can you pick up on a theme? I'll stop opening with "I'm a bad blogger" and just get right to the point.

Welcome Home!!

There are some things in life you should just expect: taxes in April, fireworks in July and, apparently for the Petersons, floods in December.
Last December our neighbor had a leak in his bathroom and all the water came to my living room. All turned out well just in time for us to leave for vacation.

Jump ahead to 2008. Yesterday we returned home to find this

There is water under the tile and the base cabinets stink of wetness. But there was no water dripping anywhere. I talked to my neighbor (sharing the other wall this time) and she had noticed a wet spot on the exterior stucco but nothing more. I decided to trace the water line on the tile to see if water was still leaking. When I got up this morning the water marks had expanded, so that meant I had to spend my day sleuthing. As I was standing in the kitchen contemplating my dilemma while eating leftover pizza for breakfast, I heard the sound of rushing water in the wall. I touched the wall to see if it was wet and found a little drip of water coming from under the faceplate of an outlet. I immediately unplugged the microwave (thank goodness the water didn't gush as I was warming my pizza), threw on my slippers and ran to the neighbor's to see if she had just ran water in her bathroom (which is on the second story of that wall). She had!

Great, I thought. I have poo water under my tile. However, after more testing, we concluded that the tubs and toilets in our bathrooms were safe, but that we share a drainline from our vanity sinks which must have a hole in it. Workers were called and after doing this

to my kitchen wall, we found the problem--a gaping hole in the pipe.

Of course the master plumber is out of town until tomorrow so until then I had to put the sink out of commission because I'm such a creature of habit that I accidentally turned it on for .5 seconds before realizing I was filling my kitchen with more water.

Oh well, if I look on the bright side, I'll start the new year with a new pipe. (fingers are crossed for good luck!)

Twilight

I have to interrupt my checkbook balancing (and blog silence) to say that I am in love. Well, it's a given that I'm in love with Troy, but this is a new, additional love.

I saw Twilight last night (I know, finally) and LOVED it! Erica, I must say that I didn't get you're thing for Robert Pattinson, but yeah, now I totally agree. I'm listening to Bella's Lullaby from the movie right now and am just so happy. I love things that make you feel that way. I absolutely must see it again and again and again. Now I have to read the book again. Just thought I'd share my excitement with the universe.

Here I am!

Take the Quiz here!

It's probably true. Not to exciting, just trying to do what needs to be done.

Tag Christmas Style

The Christmas spirit is spreading. I spent one night last week getting my Christmas layout ready, so get ready for December 28! Mande tagged me so let's see if I come up with anything new.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper for sure. I like to wrap and I like how they all look under the tree.

2. Real tree or Artificial? I grew up with real, ugly trees and loved it, but have a cheap-o artificial now.

3. When do you put up the tree? Thanksgiving weekend.

4. When do you take the tree down? A day or two after new years.

5. Do you like eggnog? Ick.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Umm, I think I loved getting new Barbies. I remember being really excited the year we got beanbag chairs.

7. Hardest person to buy for? My dad.

8. Easiest person to buy for? Usually Troy. He's good at telling me what he'd like.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? No. My house is too little--no where to put it.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Neither. No one wants a picture of just Troy and I.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I'm sure there are lots, but I've probably blocked out the memory.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? I saw one on ABC family a few years ago that I really liked, but I don't know what it's called. It has Will from Will & Grace in it but he's not gay and has long hair.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? November

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Probably. Work has a white elephant party so I'm sure I've re-gifted a few items.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Tear bread. Ooey gooey calories.

16. Lights on the tree? Essential.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Oh, I was just browsing my Christmas playlist and am getting so excited. Just check back Thanksgiving weekend and you can see them all!!!!

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? It depends on which family we're partying with. We don't celebrate my ourselves

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? I think so.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel and Troy hates it.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? PJs on Christmas eve when we're with my family; the rest Christmas morning

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Standing in line and stupid department store commercials.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? For looks--red. For sentiment--all the random stuff we've hung on the tree since I was 3.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Christmas day dinner--all the traditional stuff. My family has a Jesus dinner on Christmas eve and eat semi-Jesus food (fish sticks, veggies, pitas) by candlelight. I love it.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? If I could answer that I'd have a lot of happy relatives. Probably something practical.

I tag Trish.