two reasons why today was awesome.

1. We had a snow day. I haven't had a snow day since I was in high school.

2. My new bobby hat for my 19th Wardens outfit came in the mail. First RCRD bout of the season is Saturday—so effing excited.

the 2011 post-holiday reading list aka books i got for christmas

1. What Would Jefferson Do? - Thom Hartmann - I'm already 1/3 done with this book and it's terribly fascinating, while at the same time terribly depressing. Even having been an AP History student in high school—books like this leave me feeling gypped. Only in my adult life have I discovered how incredibly interesting history is, especially American history. The current re-writing of my favorite founding father by the conservative right is a particular pet peeve of mine. In reading a book like this, you realize why they're rushing around trying to change how people remember the man like Jefferson.

2. FDR - Jean Edward Smith - This is the FDR biography and I've been meaning to read it forever. Now I have no excuse.

3. Traitor to His Class: The Privileged Life and Radical Presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt - HW Brands - I'm very excited for this one. Another FDR tome, I'm kind of forcing myself to read FDR first and then this. I am absolutely fascinated by Roosevelt's concern for the middle and lower classes over his own—and have long been a fan of the theory that his experiences in Warm Springs with both people with disabilities and people living in poverty effected his approach to issues of class and financial equality during his presidency.

4. The Making of Fantastic Mr. Fox - Wes Anderson - Too many things I like together in book form for this to be anything but, well, fantastic.

5. Simple Times: Crafts for Poor People - Amy Sedaris - Can I be adopted into the Sedaris family, please?

merry merry. happy happy.

Dollar Store Secret Santa has been going on since college and now the group is larger and each year stockings more and more ridiculous.



The rules are simple:

- When picking names you can't get yourself or your significant other
- Items in the stocking have to be under a dollar

This year, I got Matt D and he got me. And it's fair to say, he got me good.



In my stocking was:

• 6 crafty paper hats (one pictured)
• a grow-an-ostrich in a plastic egg
• a weird foot shaped foot scrubber
• 2 small plastic skulls
• a wooden exclamation point
• a monkey covering his eyes
• a ramones-esque skull sticker
• 2 koosh-ball looking animals
• 2 stick on mustaches
• HOME in sequins (Matt D read this as a creative spelling of "homey" apparently)
• a pair of pom pom keychains (one has since been given to Matt D as a symbol of our friendship)
• a tiny box of angry bunny stickers
• a dog that kind of looks like a lion
• a child size Miami Dolphins shot glass
• a matchbook of small candles
• a wooden letter K with markers to color it
• glittery monkey stickers
• a nail file (because Matt D enjoys torturing me with flashbacks to Black Swan)
• a modded Jake The Cowboy sticker book with Jake Gyllenhaal's face and added commentary
• AND... the complete 98° discography. Three in my stocking and the last two wrapped as a present and marked "OPEN THIS LAST". That last one took a lot of dedication and apparently a lot of scouring through the bargain bins at Record Archive. Now, whenever we carpool with MAMA's house—I'll bring the tunes.

And poor Bill had to wait through stockings and presentes before he was allowed to open the 3+ foot tall present Anna carried in for him.

By the time we were done with Christmas, it was barely over an hour until the New Year—which we rang in with Christmas Crackers, paper hats and champagne.

Kind of wished someone had asked me to talk about Jefferson at this point—for my own version of Drunken History.

Oh, and PS: Still finding confetti EVERYWHERE.

on the whovian calendar: it's the year of the eleven

Happy 2011, everyone!



This makes me so happy!!!

happy happy 2010.

2010. Sometimes it felt like it was flying by and others where it was positively dragging itself as though it's legs were broken. But when I look back at pictures, it's only the flying bits—which I am incredibly grateful for. I'm fortunate, in many ways. But what I remember most about 2010 is how fortunate I am for the amazing people I have in my life.

There were a few firsts this year. First high school reunion, first trip to Denver (and first professional-type convention). I had my first try-out for roller derby and thusly my first knee injury (meniscus tear). Still, I got my first derby name (Frankie Dee Bruisevelt)—and my first time out as a non-skating official. With the obvious exceptions, firsts are fun.





Then there are the things that happen every year. Holidays, birthdays, sunny days in San Diego in the middle of July. For the third year, Comic Con week was the thing I looked forward to the most and was not disappointed—a week in my favorite city with my favorite people surrounded by our favorite things. There are few things better than that.



We had True Blood Sundays and a game night here and there. Shenanigans abound. These are the people I know I can count on.




It was also the summer (or year) of Scott Pilgrim. I don't think a movie has quite dominated my life in such a way. Jason Schwartzman signed my phone and I got to meet Edgar Wright outside a classy old theatre before the sneak preview.

And as far as the furry friends? It was a year of first there too for the smaller one. Clark had his first therapy visit, his first agility trial and a bunch of first place ribbons. And Maggie's had her best year yet. Coming from a neglectful home, learning to be a dog and relax and play has been a process. But this year she's come out of her shell. It's nice to be able to take her more places. I think she enjoys it too.

Happy, happy, near year and here's to a lovely 2011.

you've got a bit of a panda vibe going on.

Along with the Whovian episode and the Jedward disaster fest, this ensemble (with Cee Lo Green) has entered my top three episodes of Never Mind The Buzzcocks.

"Pandas are absolute wankers."

i said hey! what's going on?

One of my favorite pre-holiday events?



The annual Val visit and the dinner that we celebrated it with.

Where else can you sample shepherd's pie, mac and cheese and/or taco boats, find out that Anna's bed only holds five adults and get a 4 Non Blondes song stuck in your head forever?