I've already forgotten what the clover thing means.

I'm mostly checking in just because I'm trying to stall another 10ish minutes before my mother's virtual zoo will be able to help out Mrs. Claus again for the chance to pick up a Christmas item that somehow trains animals (huh?), and she's busy trying to finish someone else's book before they leave tomorrow. [That's kinda Christmas in Iowa in a big nutshell, in a way.]

The Red Green Show is playing in the living room (which honestly brings me back to my middle/high school days, late Sunday nights in ways I'm too tired to express tonight), and I have a stack of books from my caring relatives. Also, I have grand memories (and photographic documentation) of the slightly-faulty gingerbread house we grandkids assembled yesterday. Post-it "condemned" sign out front, I love you most of all.

I'm sorry that you're not here to eat one of the Oreo truffles, or the ice cream dessert, but frankly that leaves more for me. Go eat your own holiday dessert tradition, and then give the baker a hug, because really.

I'm sleepy and full of sugar. I just almost used a comma improperly. I'm gonna go watch the Canadians, and close out this Christmas.

wants it to be this time tomorrow, even if it means being cramped on a plane

I almost rhapsodized about "a plane...CALLED FREEDOM!," but I thought that might be laying on things a little thick, especially while typing on the work computer.

Did you know that I'm not packed? Like, at all? (As in, there are spare shoes still stored in my luggage because I have way too many and no other place to store them.)

THE ANSWER IS CLOVER.

just like you

I need to buy a car because I hate asking for rides to the airport.

I also need to do a quick copy of all blogger posts before hitting the publish button, as I'm tired of them getting eaten.

I used to have more, but now I don't care. Go listen to the Doctor Who cast sing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," because it is a thing to behold.

because it needs to be noted somewhere...

My hair looked awesome today. (Probably because I was grouchy and my computer wouldn't work, so I needed a happy thought, but still.)

(London fangirl says YES)

Am I really down to choosing my new phone between the one that has nearly all the features I want....and the one that doesn't, but is global ready?

Numbers I can't remember under pressure: my PIN

(Actually, that's about it. I really, really, REALLY cannot remember my PIN number at any time other than when I key it in at the checkout. Thanks for nothing, after hours phone number.)

My name is Hannah, and I obsess over unimportant decisions before reaching a conclusion.

(and we'll call that how to get around the previously drafted and unending post about my current search for a new phone)


Here's a fun game for the holidays: read all your blog posts from three years ago and making a list of all the things you still haven't accomplished. Notable items: moving to London, gaining a pony, finishing that 50 states music mix set. I did institute a new nickname for Mr. J, so that evens things out.

I have a spot on my leg that is not only swollen and scabbed over from bleeding, but also surrounded by a large bruise. If someone could let me know what mutant robot bug bit me in night, that'd be great.

I should've asked for a new Edward Gorey calendar for Christmas.

Because how will I get my fix of small children dying elsewhere? I work in children's theater, sometimes I need Neville and his ennui.

Did you know that one of my three results from the personal survey thing the company made us fill out said that I need to work in an environment where I feel emotionally supported? Because that might explain why I get frustrated sometimes.

Songs I'm in love with right now: Julie London's "Cry Me a River," "Grace Kelly" as redone by The Whiffenpoofs, and really anything that removes the Littlest Angel soundtrack from my brain after shows. Fifteen shows down! Twelve to go!

HI MOM!

A fringe effect of my conversations with Angelfish about her upcoming wedding would be all the time I've thought about my someday nuptials...which is a little odd, what with the not being sold on marriage for myself.

beneath the pale moonlight

There's much I could say about what a great day today turned out to be, but instead I'm going to declare my love for "Save the Last Dance" by The Drifters. Excuse me while I put this on repeat to fall asleep to with the rain.

also cool, bowties

You know what's cool? Fuzzy socks. In this case, of course, I use the definition of "cool" that means "actually warm, because the apartment complex hasn't turned on the heat yet."

We're out of milk, which was quite a problem at all the meals of the day, but not enough to pull me out of a pajamas to run to the corner store. (The only thing that did put me in real clothes? Remembering I had a Borders coupon that was about to expire. If I'm going to buy people's Christmas presents one at a time using the weekly percentage-off coupons that keep popping up in my email, I need to stay on top of each one.

When did all the handles break off my old church mugs? Perplexing. Also, I'm going to keep drinking this hot chocolate until it's gone, 2007 expiration date or not. (Don't worry, Mom, just a few more packs to go.)

Unrelated to any of the above: I did my first touring booking this weekend, and it even involved me standing on a stage in a costume and singing things, plus my usual lurking in darkness and pressing buttons. Fun fact: it was easier to take in a costume to fit me than to let it out to fit the understudy. (Person this information alarms the most: the costume designer, who really wants to stop dealing with buttons popping off daily, among other things.) Being a techie is way more awesome in my world (buttons!), but I do miss getting a costume.

Hey! My arm's bleeding! I'm gonna deal with that.

and the light

I had something I wanted to post, but then "Move On" from Sunday in the Park with George came on, and anything else I could have is gone. Sorry.

snark busters

We opened the Christmas show today, which went fine. (Better than fine and thus worth noting: we had a full house of groups, and they were all seated by start time at 10:30. CRAZY TALK.)

Better-better (Betterest? I don't know the best way to offend the English language here) than fine was taking part of filming for St. Luke's sermon series that led to me being with a small pack of Victorian-clothed people walking around downtown Houston this afternoon. Also, the geese!

My fancy picture frame-clock combo currently reads sixty-six degrees, so I guess the heat isn't on inside yet. It's at least warmer in than out at the moment, which is a monumental plus from this morning.

this is so not me getting ready for the day

Sometimes I wish we had real internet at home (rather than sketchy unsecured wireless picked up from around the complex) so I could take care of things like plane tickets and Christmas shopping without needing to take a bus in to work.

I pick my brother's Christmas presents based on what books on his list sound interesting, then try to read them before I hit the north.

I bought a Lego set for my cousin (he's eight; he won't read about it here), and I look forward to helping assemble it at Christmas, just like all the previous years of his older brother receiving Lego and K'Nex sets.

While Black Friday did take care of many presents on my list (side thanks to K1 down time for providing me brainstorming time), there's still quite a bit to go. Please excuse me while I email my mother for advice.

k,thx

I'm thankful for family up north, friends in the south, a job that never turns boring, DVDs on sale for $2, and the knowledge that I'll eventually go to sleep again. First though, third helping of stuffing.

I know we'll be fine, but...

It's less than helpful that everyone who hears you're cooking your first turkey (friends, family, the person behind you in the Walgreens checkout) makes the same "tsk, ohhhh" sound before telling you you'll be fine.

Also, I refuse to feel like less of an adult because I don't own a turkey baster.

I collected these in my head throughout the day.

Another sign I'm not mature enough to get married yet: I kinda want to walk down the aisle to a slowed-down, strings version of The B-52's "Rock Lobster."

Thanks, Butterball website, for informing me today that I should've started defrosting my bird last Friday. I DID NOT HAVE A TURKEY THEN, HOW COULD I DEFROST IT? (Guess who's getting up at 6:00 to fill her sink with cold water and a 13 lb. turkey?)

I was concerned for my pan of brownies, until I realized the strange smell coming from our oven each time I opened the door was the scent of clean.

We cleared the recycling into my room to make insta-extra space for everyone coming to Thanksgiving, so it looks like a bag woman lives next to my bookshelf. Note to self: take out the recycling while you have a company van borrowed.

new-y new-new

(because we all know I prefer to do posts this way, anyway)

* I cleaned our stove last night in anticipation of cooking a giant turkey in it in two days. Also, because we'd never cleaned it since moving in, and perhaps that's why it burns things so often. My cold was much closer to gone before subjecting it to heavy duty aeresol cleaners.

* If I had realized it wasn't going to completely restore to factory settings, I would not have bothered trying to back-up all my files before getting my keyboard back into working shape. Plus side - I now have everything backed-up, AND it all needs to be reorganized, what with how I threw on everything regardless of whether it was already on the portable HD or not.

* Even if the leftover opening cheese and fruit had been okay before, it certainly isn't now that it's been out and unfridgerated since 9 a.m.

* How have I not finished a black Friday shopping list by now?

run, walk, hop, or fly

My computer background is currently Hermione in a PR still for HP7, not because Hermione is awesome (though she is), but because it was the one with the most recognizable London landmarks in the background. Greetings, Tower Bridge and City Hall!

I almost called Tower Bridge "London Bridge" instead. Clearly I've been away for too long. TOO LONG.

I got approved for my two big vacations of the season today, but this somehow led to me stage managing more mainstage shows. We can probably all guess how I feel about that. In the same meeting I also somehow ended up defending the children's theater programing to the artistic director. So that was a nice afternoon.

Why is no one offering HP6 as a Black Friday deal? I was sure this would happen! As it stands, the only thing I'm interested in is S1 Community for $12 (because that's worth the Modern Warfare episode alone). What am I supposed to do with myself if not stand in line at 3 a.m. with a stomach full of turkey?