OK, this is random -- my boss is Facebook friends with a guy with my mother's maiden name. I wonder if we're related! Then I had to ask my boss who he was, thereby revealing my work time Facebook usage...

At my Cousin Philip's wedding we found out that the bride's Stepfather not only has the same last name but is from the same part of Illinois as our Grandmother's family. We are all profoundly grateful it is her Stepfather.

From the Onion:

If only they could tell us what the hell has happened to Cheney.

We are all profoundly grateful it is her Stepfather.

Seriously.

I think we're buying a live tree to plant this year. We won't actually be here for Christmas, so I dunno. But I think so.

I am Sue's opposite, though. I have no ornaments. We bought some awesome ones painted by our Navajo buddy; sand painted weaving combs and patterned balls. But we keep giving them away as gifts, so we're out again.

So I have one giant and gorgeous handmade one that I got in an ornament exchange (even though I didn't bring an ornament as I was an impromptu guest) and a set of wedding basket ones. But that's all.

I don't have any lights, either.

I need to send you some ornaments, Liese.

I also have too many lights. At one point, I had enough multi-coloured mini lights for my tree, as well as a white set, but I gave the multi sets to my mom and dad.

Did I mention that I also regularly buy ornaments for my parent's tree. It's a sickness!

This reminds me that I should get a bigger box for my ornaments, so I can get more ornaments! The question there is, if I wait until after Christmas, will the storage items go on sale, or will I forget to do it? Hmmm.

People with too many ornaments, I could send you my two year old. That would result in a fair amount of loss. At least, two down this year already, here.

Okay, here's today's Stoopit People award:

Apparently, a writer faked a request for a partial from an agent, without realizing that said agent only asks for full manuscripts to save time. Even better-- he said she'd requested chapters 4-6 which is just mind-bogglingly stupid. No agent, ever, in the history of publishing, has ever only requested a partial from the middle of a book.

[link]

I have ornament attrition issues as well. Between two kids and two dogs who like to play around the tree, the ornaments are always in jeopardy.

Considering that many people with Christmas trees have small kids, why don't they make ornaments out of stronger material?