Secret Santa

Turns out... I was David's Secret Santa and he was mine too!!

Christmas Eve Traditions

Our family always has the big Christmas celebration on the Eve of the big day. Typically all the families, including out-of-towners and friends of family, will congregate at my Tia Vera & Tio Jose's house. We will eat Tamales and Posole, but I don't eat the Posole and I only really like the pork tamales. We will play games, catch up with the family and around midnight we open presents before everyone goes home. Christmas Day, on the other hand, is usually reserved for one's immediate family and it involves eating left over tamales, opening presents and sometimes going to the movies.

When I was much younger, we had a tradition where my sis Melissa, my two cousins, Amanda and Sami, and I would put on a "show" for the grown-ups. Looking back now it was probably invented by the grown-up as a way to keep us out of their hair during the secret planning of the show. We've done skits and songs ranging from a recreation of the "10 Days of Christmas" to Cyndi Lauper's "Girl's Just Wanna Have Fun".

I don't know exactly when this tradition died, but it has been many years since we've done any kind of show. We all got too old, and too cool... and we tried to pass the tradition on to the younger generation of cousins, but it never caught on.

So, last Christmas my cousin Amanda made up a new tradition for our Christmas Eve celebration. I think its called "Gifts of Praise" or something, but basically everyone writes down little messages for other people in the group. The messages are supposed to be anonymous and when everyone has written their "praises" on the pieces of paper. We get together and pass the basket around so the praises can be read aloud to the group. Tears flow and Christmas cheer is spread before the present opening begins.

This year for some reason I was feeling particularly emotional and I could not stop crying... see picture below. I loved my praises, and for remembrance sake and a little bit of vanity here they are:

• Monica, Thank you for your gift of adventure. You make me feel young and proud...and scared at times.
• Monica, we're really going to miss your charm and wit. We wish you the best these next few months. You are the favorite of the family so come back soon.
• Moke, I'm so happy when you drive into town all the way from Dallas. Also, I'm so happy that you love Rev so much & love playing with him all the time. (Meli)
• Moke, learn to read to yourself!!!!
• Dear Monica, you're such a riot to be around. You put everyone in good spirits. We miss you so much when you are away. Come back to us soon. We love you.
• Monica, Like Amanda we want you and need you closer to home.
• Moke, You dare to dream big and you succeed!
• Monica, Thank you for always reminding me to laugh & cry, remembering the silliest memories. I appreciate you calling to share day. Your smile brightens my day.

... Here come the waterworks again!!

Dancing Queen...

April and I just celebrated one month of dieting with Pizza Party 2008! I only lost 6 pounds and I'm pretty sure I gained some back last night, but it was totally worth it. Along with the pizza and drinks, we watched two movies that were filmed in Sydney and I loved them both. 

The first movie was Muriel's Wedding (1995) with Toni Collette. April has already seen it before, but she said it was a cult classic or something and convinced me that we had to watch it before my trip. 

Basically, Muriel has always wanted to get married because she thinks that will mean she is as good as her friends. She is considered the "fat un-cool friend" and her family has its own drama. So after her friends abandon her, she moves to Sydney to start her new life (kinda the same as me). The movie has it all, and the soundtrack is Abba music. When Muriel is in Sydney she tells her friend "Since I've moved to Sydney, I haven't listened to one Abba song. That's because my life is as good as an Abba song... as good as Dancing Queen." So I recommend everyone go see Muriel's Wedding the next time you can't decide what to rent at Blockbuster. 

The other movie we saw was called Candy (2006) with Heath Ledger. This drama was also really good, but basically the exact opposite of Muriel's Wedding. It's a love story between Dan (Ledger) and Candy (Abbie Cornish) who are addicted to heroin and it just goes through their journey to try and get clean, but the addiction is tearing them apart. "When you can stop, you don't want to. When you want to stop, you can't". So watch this one if you're in the mood for something heavy, but it was very good and one of Heath Ledger's last movies. 

Miss Cupcake: New Aussie BFF

I was Googling information about this Aussie paste/spread called Vegemite. I heard somewhere that it had been banned from the US (not true) which immediately intrigued me... and somehow I stumbled upon this YouTube video about Americans trying Vegemite for the first time. 

This lead me, as YouTube can, to other Vegemite videos... and then Australian food... then Australian words... then Americans trying to do Australian accents and somehow I found this: 

I started watching Miss Cupcake (or Jasmine, as I later found out) because I wanted to hear what a true Australian accent sounded like, but then I got sucked in and started watching more and more of her videos. (Watch "Confessions of a Cupcake" and "Harassment on YouTube"... very interesting!) 

Before I knew it, two hours had passed and I'd visited her Myspace page and read her blog, and I started feeling slightly like a stalker. But I more so started to feel like I wanted to be her BFF when I move to Sydney. She's pretty, funny, (maybe) kinda shy and she has brown hair and eyes like me! Who knows, maybe I'll send her a friend request or something. 

I'm only half serious of course, but I am getting very excited/nervous about my move. Excited about the experience, but nervous that I won't have a friend to share it with. For example, when I try Vegemite for the first time (which I am certain I will), who will be there to video it and post it on YouTube?

Miss Cupcake, keep posting videos because I love them! 

Countdown

Sunburned Country

Much to April's dismay I have not started reading Stephanie Meyer's "Twilight Series"- I'm just not sure how to feel about Vampire love. I have however just started a new book about Oz. It is Bill Bryson's travel book called "In a Sunburned Country". I have only read the first two chapters, but so far I'm conflicted...

Sure its funny and has a lot of interesting facts that I'm sure I will drop into conversation at some pub in Sydney to a local who henceforth refers to me as "that American girl". But it is also freaking me out!

Bryson talks about how Australia has more things that can kill you than anywhere else in the world. Hello!?! So I keep thinking that I am going to be malled by a shark, or poisoned by a jellyfish, or bitten by a spider that crawls into my ear while I sleep. And that's only if I survive the 15 hour flight or the 110+ degree heat. Great something else to worry about...

I will let you know how it turns out. And April I will read "Twilight" next (maybe!).

Note From the Blogger

My identity has been stolen and privacy has been compromised!! On November 4th of this year, without my knowledge or consent somebody hacked into my blog site (is that what its called?) and posted the most ridiculous, self indulgent, and only partially true blog.

Do I need to get a new social security number now? I have already burned off my finger prints (a fact that has made typing somewhat of a challenge) ...

Surprisingly I traced the whereabouts of this hooligan to someone in my immediate family. Oh, the shame!!

PS- Thanks for the awesome blog Sis. It's almost as good as yours: moregreens.blogspot.com Loves it!!

My Sister is Awesome

For those who haven't had the pleasure of meeting her (my sister, that is), let me assure you: she is awesome. Not only did she set up this nifty blog for me, but she also let me steal her ID when I was not yet legal in order to get a belly piercing, fed me delicious homemade chicken noodle soup, let me help her build her new bed last month, and fed me various toys before I was old enough to realize that crayons and legos are not meant to be swallowed. Nope, there is no one quite as exceptional my sister.


No no, not that sister. Though Deedee (the one in the middle) is the youngest of the bunch and a very happy soul, she is not the sister I am referring to.


What? Why are we looking at a picture of David? He's not even a girl. While David is my favorite (and only) brother, this again, is not the sister I am referring to. Now where did her picture go...

Yes, that's her! My favorite sister. She can be harsh.


She can be soft.

She can even be sad.


But most of the time, she's just plain ole awesome. Thanks Melissa!