She got me again.....

When I returned from the scrap booking weekend, I hurried to put the completed layouts into the new album so I could take it to work the next day and show it off. After I made several STUPID mistakes, I now have the new album and a Christmas album started. Unfortunately, Barb didn’t have a one page layout for the first page of the new album so I’m proud to say I made my own all by myself. I used a quote from Oscar Wilde “Memory is the diary that we all carry about with us” and although it’s not all that fancy, I think it looks pretty good. I used my new tool (I can’t remember the name of it) that Barb gave me for my birthday to cut out the letters, added a few flower blings and some glitter for sparkle. I was so excited that I did it on my own and realized maybe I could be a big girl and create layouts without the help of big sister. I decided that I would set up a work station, so I now do my scrap booking downstairs on the big round poker table. It’s already a mess and very unorganized with paper & cardstock strewn across the table, my rolling tote propped up on a chair next to my seat and just generally chaotic.

I’ve already created a “Rack em up” layout with pictures of family members playing pool. It took me hours and it’s not even that great but it’ll do. I have also started another layout that’s very pretty but don’t know what the title will be or what pictures I’ll use. I guess you’d say I’M HOOKED! Are you happy now Barb?

It's all about me.....

My birthday week:
Sunday, Feb 1 - Jim & I had a Superbowl party and my girlfriends brought a cake and presents and had a birthday celebration for me. It was fun with tons of great food and, of course, drinks!

Monday, Feb 2 - I had scheduled a vacation day from work, had a dental appointment in the morning and went out to lunch with Mom and stopped by Jim's work so she could get her glasses adjusted. Doesn't that sound like a great vacation day from work?

Tuesday, Feb 3 - Work and Barb & Pam came over that evening for a little visit.

Wednesday, Feb 4 - Birthday celebration for me and Christine at JCI and out to Tony's on Main for dinner with Barb, Pam and a pretty impressible showing from the Pedrotti, Zimmermann, Miller & Muresan families.

Thursday, Feb 5 - THE BIG DAY - Went to Espino's in the Chesterfield Valley for lunch with a large group (or as large as you can get with an office of 15!) and Pedro had a margarita waiting for me when I got there. What a guy! I hardly ever go out to lunch and I don't usually drink , but for some reason, Pedro mentioned margaritas at the birthday celebration and I guess it stuck. Anyway, we toasted my birthday and he even paid for my lunch which was very nice. Too bad, I would've rather had him come over to the house (again) to take a look at our TV/DVD/Wii/Sound system set-up. He's been over here a couple of times fixing our computer or wireless or whatever. Thank God for friends when the only family member you know can get the job done lives in Michigan!
My birthday night, Jim, me, Debbie, Mike, Pat & Steve went to see Cirque du Soleil's Saltimbanco at the Family Arena. We had bought the cheap seats and got a discount through Emerson where Pat works. Ends up there wasn't many spectators so we got moved down and had great seats. Lucky we didn't buy the $100 tickets! It was a great show, just as you'd expect if you've ever been to a Cirque du Soleil show.

Friday, Feb 6 - Janet & I left for Kinderhook Lodge in Barry, IL ( not far from Hanibal) for scrapbooking with Barb, Pam, Bridget and about 20 other ladies. It was a very nice place with plenty of room and good food. I was proud of the new wheeled-bag & tool tote I got myself from Jim for my birthday and the new tool Barb gave me is amazing! She's really trying her hardest to get me sucked in just like the sand dollar pictures and mini-gardens. Once again Barb came through with some awesome layouts to make it easier for me since I'm still a beginner. I'm claiming "beginner" forever! I had to let her cream me in Scrabble as payback! Anyway, we had alot of fun and it was great just being together. I love you Barb & Janet.

So I had a great birthday week with the best family & friends.

Okay, here's the moment you've been waiting for - the breakdown:
8 gifts
3 e-cards (2 from Jim)
12 birthday cards (3 from practical strangers like insurance guy, etc.)
5 e-mail well wishers (1 from Jim & 1 from K-HITS)
4 telephone calls

I'd say a pretty good year!

Movies

I've already reported on " Marley and Me" which was a great movie even with the extra stress of being laughed at for crying.

Jim & I went to see " Bedtime Stories" with Adam Sandler last weekend and, although it was a children's movie, it was pretty good. Jim picked it because he thought " Benjamin Button" was a chick flick.

A couple of my friends and I saw " Benjamin Button" last Wednesday night and we thought it was very good and Brad was as hot as ever - especially the younger, James Dean look. I didn't realize it was going to be a tear-jerker too so I was glad I could cry freely without being ridiculed.

Mom & I went to see "Gran Torino" yesterday after going out to lunch. I warned Mom before we went that there would be cursing so she could change her mind if she wanted to but she said it was okay. As the movie started and Clint Eastwood took the screen I leaned over and told her that he reminded me of Ronnie - " a crabby old man". He had this unhappy scowl on his face most of the time and when his Asian grandma neighbor called him a "rooster" I knew I was right. Anyway Mom & I both liked the movie.

I think I've reached my limit for movies and won't be going again for a while....

The End of Holidays

It's been a very busy holiday season and this is my last day of 12 days off in a row. It's been great not having to get up early, staying up late, being able to stay home, going shopping, having lunch with friends and basically living the life of a non-worker. I think I could get used to it! But alas, I must get back to reality tomorrow morning because JCI needs me!
The holidays were great and even though Max gave a brief account, I will give my short version.
Christmas Eve was at our house and the participants were - me, Jim, Angie, Brian, John, Patrick, Matt, Meagan (who snuck out pretty quick), Mom, Ron, Janet, Mike, Jackie, Greg, Matt, Sharon, Alicia, Scarlett, Zachary, Crystal, Jessica, Mike, Max, Aunt Marie & Uncle Tony. We had our usual hectic games and plenty of good food.
Christmas Day we went to Ron & Janet's for an open house and had a great time visiting with Janet's family and Gene & Maggie. The food was over the top as is typical for Janet.
Dec 26 Joyce, Scott, Devon & Madison came into town and we had another game night here in which we played the Christmas games before breaking out the cards for the inevitable poker game.
Dec 27 as Max reported, we went over to Matt & Sharon's for a fish fry. It was funny the way Matt improvised a walk-out basement by using the window as a pass-through. He was frying the fish outside under his deck because it was raining. More games & poker rounded out the night.
Dec 28 we went back to Ron & Janet's for more fun & games. We played electronic Monopoly that Devon & Madison brought along. Devon was the banker who ran debits & credits on each players' card but some people missed the cash aspect. Once again, we ended the evening with poker.
Dec 29 me, Joyce, Mom, Janet, Devon & Madison all went out to lunch and to the movies to see Marley & Me. I read the book a couple of years ago and loved it. I knew it was going to be a tear-jerker so I brought my kleenex with me. Everything was going fine and I was crying discreetly with my kleenex in hand. That's when I saw Devon looking & laughing at me which got me to laugh at her laughing at me and then I was laughing & crying at the same time & blubbering like an idiot! Thanks, Devon. We came back to the house afterwards and played electronic Life which was very fun. I'm liking these new fangled versions!
Dec 30 The Smiths left to go home and I relaxed on the couch most of the day.
New Year's Eve Jim & I went out to dinner (and ran into Mike & Jessica) and to the Ameristar Casino where we ended up running into friends.
New Year's Day I met a few friends for lunch & shopping at the mall.
Jan 2 was spent packing up the Christmas decorations and by the time I was done that evening, not only were my feet killing me, it seemed like my whole body was sore! It's alot of work but I love all the decorations and wouldn't have it any other way. Although Jim says I have too many decorations, he contributed to my collection by giving me 3 large nutcrackers this year. I also got a rock 'n roll nutcracker holding a guitar from Angie and Janet surprised me with a Negro nutcracker! I already had a pretty large collection so take note -- NO MORE NUTCRACKERS!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm Obsessed, Too!

The past couple of weeks have been very busy with Christmas decorating, shopping, parties & wrapping. In the midst of all this busy-ness, I've discovered that there is another way I take after my big sister, Barb. Boxes!!!! My name is Jean Miller and I'm a hoarder. I save boxes of every shape and size. There's really no reason so I guess you'd say it's an addiction. While wrapping presents recently, I went to the cabinet to pick out a few boxes and when I opened the cabinet door a flood of boxes fell onto the floor. As I was picking through for the perfect size, I muttered to myself, "God, I'm obsessed!" Jim happened to be walking by and asked what I said and when I told him he said, "Yeah, I know." Some of the boxes I have saved are from gifts I received from Officers at JCI over the years. Now, in my defense, they are not your ordinary, run-of-the-mill boxes. They are very fancy smancy boxes. How could I possibly throw them away? I thought this is the perfect time to use some of these boxes up and free some space for the ones I'm sure to receive at our January Board meeting when our new 2009 Board of Directors come to town. So I used a silk-lined, leather-look box to wrap Angie's music video. I used a golden, swede look to wrap Johnny's I-Pod Touch. I used a wooden beauty to wrap gloves for Brian. See what I mean? You wouldn't throw these exquisite boxes away either!
Last night I was looking for a box to wrap some slippers for Meagan and when I found a dark blue, crinkled box with a brass clasp I knew it would be perfect. I brought it to my wrap station (the family room ottoman) and opened it up to put the slippers inside and found a bunch of smaller boxes inside. It was too much trouble to take them out so I just stuck the slippers in a gift bag. I really don't know what I'll use the teeny, tiny boxes for, but if anyone needs some, I have plenty.

I also have the regular shirt boxes in 3 sizes that I keep in another cabinet. So far I've used 2 of them. And I can't forget the shoe boxes, copy paper boxes (with nice lids) and regular cardboard boxes that I have in the garage just in case I need them for something. Last weekend, I happened to notice that there were a few boxes on top of the freezer in the garage that I didn't recognize. When I asked Jim what they were he told me he saved them in case we might need them. So there! I'm not the only one!

The problem is that since we will be opening gifts here on Christmas Eve, I'll probably inherit most of the boxes back.....