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We’re heading in to the big leagues people!
Today’s episode is the token sad one. With the holiday season in full swing, I was reminded just how empty it is here at The Mall. Go to any other mall around town and you’ll walk in to a place that looked like Santa and his reindeer threw up all over it. There is stuff hanging from the ceilings, decor lining the walkways and most likely a section cordoned off for The Big Guy himself.
Not here. There is nothing. Not a wreath or string of lights or anything. I guess I shouldn’t expect that there would be. In fact I’m not even sure the management company of this mall does anything at all! But walking in on Monday to find nothing changed – and the dark, drab hallways still dark and drab – was actually kind of sad.
I took a walk on Tuesday. Needed to get out of my chair and move around a bit so I figured, hey, why not mall walk! Usually my British friend goes with me but she was at the other office. So it was just me. Thought about talking to myself as I walked – I would have fit right in! It was so quiet that I could hear every distinct tip tap of my heels on the floor and then hear the echo of each one.
Here’s a couple of shots of the long empty hallways. Notice there is absolutely no activity.
Lower level
Upper level
I, however, decorated my cube. Someone’s gotta bring some holiday spirit to this place!! Some of the little holly bits fell off while I was putting it up and the Brit used those to decorate her cube.
Garland running along the top of my cube
Vs.
Holiday holly on the Brit's cube
Other tidbits:
As I was walking in to work this morning, I saw a guy putting money into one of the dusty candy machines here. I thought, “No, he’s not…is he?” Sure enough, he took the handful of old stale stuff that came out and popped it all in his mouth. GAK! I think I threw up in my mouth a little when I saw it. He was a security guard so I wondered if perhaps it was some kind of training regimen he was putting himself through (like in the military when they purposely gas the soldiers so that they know what it feels like). Regardless, it was nasty.
The Brit, Bob, and I had lunch today at John’s. It’s becoming a Friday tradition. I had spanakopita and fries. John’s fries are awesome! Anyway, we talked about all kinds of things and had a rather lovely time. The conversation ranged from 80’s music videos to age differences in our relationships to gross bathrooms to the military to splitting pants. I believe the word “poo house” was used at one point. We laughed a lot and it was great.
Special guest this week: the Air Force! At today’s lunch, there was a table of Air Force personnel sitting next to us. Offut Air Force Base is not too far from here and I guess they wanted to see what all the fuss over John’s was about. It was one woman and 4 men. And let me tell you, all the guys were hot and the chick looked like Julia Stiles. Not bad to look at over the lunch hour! Hey – I may be married but I’m not dead! 😉
Until next week, consider yourself ANNEXED!
I heard 2 stories today (thanks Rhonda!) that were good reminders as to what this season, and what every season, should be about. Christmas is not about all the gifts or cookies or lights or movies. It’s about helping each other and demonstrating love, in whatever way we can.
Here are the 2 stories:
“I just got this message from my friend who is a receptionist at Westroads Hyundai and this just happened as she sat there and watched. A lady in the waiting room was talking to the Service Rep about her car needing brakes badly and said it would have to wait because she was broke. Another gentleman overheard the conversation and pulled the Service Rep aside. He told him to put the brakes on and put it on his bill and to not tell her who paid for it. He said tell her God was looking out for her. True story…just happened.”
And the second one:
“My friend is in Italy and had her purse stolen on Tuesday. So she’s at the Consulate getting a new passport and she’s 1 euro short of the cost and doesn’t know what to do, after standing in line etc. The lady behind her gives her the money. My friend says give me your address so I can pay you back and she said nah just pay it forward!”
Amen to that and here’s to paying it forward!
Having been a mom now for 14 months, and seeing my daughter interact with other babies/toddlers, I’ve determined a few things.
I have 2 stories to back this up too:
1. Famous Footwear
One Saturday afternoon in August, CJ and I went shoe shopping and brought Munchkin with us. He needed new volleyball shoes and I needed both vb and running shoes. He tried his on first while I entertained Munch. Then we switched. While I was wandering the aisles, Munchkin suddenly yelled out some gibberish. Another toddler in the store, that was a couple of aisles away, answered her! We laughed and the other girl’s dad even came over and said, “Wow, they’re talking to each other – and I think they know what they’re saying!”
My guess –
Munchkin: “Hey! Let’s ditch these parental units and go get some booze.”
Other Girl: “Right on! I’ll create a diversion and then we both run!”
2. Cousins
My sister has 3 kids – a girl and 2 boys. The youngest boy, Ben, is just 7 months older than Munchkin. On Thanksgiving, they were really getting in to playing with each other. They jibber-jabbered all day and no one thought much of it. Then towards the end of the day, as we were cleaning up, Munchkin wandered in to the kids’ play room at my mom/dad’s house and grabbed a book. She brought it out and placed it on the bench in the kitchen. Ben took an immediate interest in it and they started looking at it together.
As they were flipping pages, they were “chatting”. We laughed at how much they were talking to each other and wondered if they understand what was being said. Just then, the book got knocked over behind the bench. Ben pointed to it and said something along the lines of, “Moosh eak ah suh tay!” Munchkin replied with, “ook” and immediately walked around to the back of the bench and tried to get the book! It was like he had just commanded her to do something in Baby-ease and she did it!
So there you go. My theory has been proven. Babies talk to each other in Chi-man and are plotting to take over the world, one mommy and daddy at a time.
CJ and I enjoy sending Christmas cards and every year we send one with a family picture on it.
Here we are in 2006 (our first Christmas as a married couple):
2006
We looked so in love, didn’t we? Also notice that I’m practically strangling Samson to get him to hold still (he was almost a year old). We actually had a treat balanced on top of the camera so that he would look in that direction. When I let go he lunged for it and knocked the tripod over. Goofball.
Then we thought we’d be creative and do one highlighting just how naughty Samson was as a puppy (yet, so darn cute! I just want to snuggle up to his wittle fuzzy face…):
2007
And then we got really creative and did a retro card (1950’s theme):
2008
I had to Photoshop several different pics together for this one. I took the base image of me and the tree and then added in CJ and Samson from different pics. I also digitally added in the fireplace (we don’t have one).
And then Munchkin came along and we had to add her to the mix!
2009
As mentioned yesterday, we originally wanted Samson in this pic too but gave up after a while.
Each year it gets harder and harder to come up with new ideas. And it becomes even harder to actually get them to turn out now that we have a spunky labrador and active toddler to contend with.
So we decided to split it. I took the pics of CJ with Munchkin and CJ took pics of me with Samson. There were still some mishaps and frustrations (for example, we have a new camera and CJ was having issues getting it to take the pic when he wanted it to) but in the end we got what we needed. We had to once again use treats to keep Samson in place and we used The Wiggles to keep Munchkin still. So if it looks like she has a glazed look in her eye, it’s because she’s engrossed in Captain Feathersword.
Here are some of the outtakes:
Munchkin walking in front of the camera
Munchkin in the shot again..carrying her Elmo book
Blurry CJ talking
You’ll have to wait to see the final card. Don’t want to give it all away just yet!
Team Trader Mom 