Streak Picks

The two other sports fans in the house are a little hooked on participating in ESPN's Streak for the Cash competition.

Basically, you pick from two options for a sporting event (either a winner or point margin or something unique) and after that competition is complete, you move on to your next pick. The object is to get a streak of winning picks. If you get one wrong you just keep trying to get back into a winning streak again. Each month, the person who gets some crazy unobtainable amount of consecutive wins gets cash. Then a new month comes along and you try again.

With apps on their phones, they can "participate" pretty easily. And often.

I prefer old school streaks, like my weird life events.

Lately, as I previously mentioned, I have had a "streak" of dreams about getting a puppy. This past week, a puppy mill in nearby Clark County turned in a couple dozen small dogs that will need homes soon. Is this a sign from God that we should get a puppy?

Well, no. The puppy dreams have now morphed into something worse.

Last night I dreamed Carter had a new baby brother (we are not getting one of those!!). If that wasn't weird enough, we named him Linus. I haven't seen Charlie Brown's Christmas this year so I wasn't influenced by that. But today, I started a new book for book club and a character in there is named Linus!

Now that's a goocher!

If you aren't sure of what a goocher is, let me refer you to the great movie Stand By Me...

Any strange coincidence can be a goocher, in my opinion. This was the second one this week, though, and I will get a little nervous if I have a streak of them!

The Vikings continued their streak of beating themselves. Oh they managed to pull off a win but it took overtime to do it. Since the Packers don't play until Monday night, I got to watch the game on TV here. And yell at the team "in person"! They just can't seem to get it together. At this point we are just hoping to break the "losing season" streak.

Skol!

After getting some baking done, I did manage to keep up my Hallmark Christmas movie streak. I have enough movies DVR'd for a daily viewing, but will I have the time during the work week to do so? I hate to break the streak, but I'm pretty confident I will waste no time starting over.

I'm pretty committed that way. (Or as the eye-rolling Scrooges in my house would say, I should BE committed!)

Bah humbug.

9 Ladies Dancing

Thanks to my productive decking the halls day on Thursday, I was able to enjoy today in a relaxing and mostly festive way.

I had only two things on my real "to do" list: Make Christmas cookies. Go to a Christmas Dance recital. Yes, for real.

I wanted to make sure I saw Miss Emily– the girl I mentored in confirmation – dance. Plus you might say it was my "daughter fix" since I knew at least 8 other Academie de la Danse girls performing. Easily enjoyed seeing "9 ladies dancing," as the song goes!

After seeing the Atlanta Ballet perform The Nutcracker, oh way back in December of 1997 when Carter was in my tummy, I have loved that musical and seeing holiday dances and concerts in general. Today wasn't quite the same caliber but so entertaining nonetheless. Loved it and was glad I got to go.

Emily did a great job, too, and even performed one number rollerblading (figure skating). Awesome. Her mom – my "half" sister Chris –and I were both very proud.

After the recital, I made another holiday stop delivering Christmas cookies to my friend Becky. Her dad died the day before Thanksgiving so the holidays have already been stressful. I knew she wouldn't have had time to make any cookies yet so I brought her some, along with some hugs and a listening ear. We had a nice visit, considering the circumstances.

Got home in time to eat supper then beat hubby in cards. But then we played a second game and he won. Why can't I quit while I am ahead?

Did not play a rubber match. Instead Jim watched the Badgers and I went downstairs to watch a DVR'd Hallmark movie. Who do you think enjoyed their "show" more??

Carter had to work tonight and just got home. I think I'm still ahead in the "best day" department.

I might even dance about it a bit.

Friday Fax

Just a few facts from Friday...


Sleep Deprivation: Why do I keep staying up past my bedtime? Well that could be a Carter question, too. I know I've been wrapping up a few projects but Carter has been on homework overload... plus a few interruptions. The other night he should have come straight home after Pep Band instead of going to a hockey game and getting home even later than we did from the hoops game. He claims he didn't get any sleep that night. Then last night, he got called into work so it was another late start to homework. Tonight he has a friend over so who knows when they'll get sleep but I bet they won't be up before 10 a.m. I hope I'm not either but that's just wishful thinking. My mind will start working long before my body is ready to get out of bed!

Funny Stuff: I can't believe I forgot to share this last night funny moment from bell ringing. A guy walking into the store says, "Do I stink? I just got done butchering a cow." I was just about speechless but then, remembering I was wearing my reindeer hat, I responded: "Well as long as you don't gut a deer next." (I'm just glad he really didn't stink. I don't think I could handle the butcher odor without keeling over the kettle!)

High School Drama: Not all drama in high school involves cliques and rivalries in school. We see it in sports, too. Tonight, our girls basketball team traveled up to Marathon to take on the rival Red Raiders. Last year, we had to break a tie with them to take the conference championship title. This year, minus some star seniors who graduated, I think the girls just wanted to prevent a stomping. Jim and I drove up and, like the other Royals fans, were pleasantly surprised that our "young" team could put up a good fight. We even led at halftime. But then lost ground, lots of ground, in the third quarter and it was just a dramatic fourth as both teams fought hard – and sometimes got called for a foul doing it. Ha. In the end, we lost, but I hope the girls felt good that they could hang in there. Now, we just need our three injured players to heal and we can get somewhere!

Think Pink: Two of my nephews are expecting baby girls this month. Well, their ladies are expecting! I do not have any great-nieces (just great ones in general) so I was excited to hear one has arrived and is healthy. It would be best if the second one arrived much later in the month. Either way, it's going to be fun to start shopping in the pink department. Hope both Matt and Tim feel as blessed about parenthood as I do.

Most days.

But the weekend's here so no complaints! Sleep tight!

Seasonal Dis-Order

Did you know that 3 weeks from today is Christmas already?? With Thanksgiving falling so late in the month, I feel behind and disorganized with my holiday traditions and "To Do" lists.

So I took today off to get it in order!

I'm not kidding. Plus, I have some vacation time coming to me and I would rather use than lose it. Frankly, it was one of my more productive days – especially holiday-wise.

This morning, I got my Christmas letter done, printed, stuffed in envelopes (while watching a Hallmark movie, of course), then mailed from the Post Office while I was in town running errands. When I got home, I put up the "skinny tree" in our living room corner and decorated it. Decked a few halls and called it good.

This evening, I had my second shift of bell ringing. Carter had to play in Pep Band for the boys basketball game so I flew solo (but did not sing solo, just lip-synced a bit).

True story. I wore this hat last night and maybe had one compliment. Apparently all eyes were on Carter. So tonight I wore it again, hoping to call attention to the Red Kettle even without the presence of a handsome teenager. It worked! I'd say 9 out of 10 people said they loved the hat AND they dropped some love in the bucket!

Sometimes silly can lead to success.

Plus, it was a very warm hat, so I was successful in the anti-freeze department as well.

Things are starting to look orderly.

Different Kind of Bucket List

I have learned that one of my most valuable possessions is time. I have also learned that it is even more valuable when I share it.

That is why each fall when I get the call about bell ringing for the Salvation Army's Christmas Campaign, I say yes. It's the least I can do. Even signing up for multiple shifts in potentially frigid temperatures is nothing to complain about compared to the man, woman or child who desperately needs a winter coat.

Hopefully, enough coins and bills drop in buckets during the season to "do the most good." They added another slogan to their signs this year: "For them. Every drop in the bucket counts."

I agree. While I was ringing in the season of THE Son with MY son this evening, we witnessed quite the range of giving. I enjoyed seeing parents encourage their little ones to drop money in the bucket. I hope it instills a habit and joy of giving throughout their lives.

I enjoyed, too, spending two hours with my son. Not his idea of a good time, but it was good to sort of catch up a bit and annoy him with the Christmas music playing from my tablet. I told him, "At least I didn't put my GLEE Christmas music on there." That was met with an eye roll.

Wow, he can be a Grinch when he is overtired and hungry!

When we were done, he went through the Chips drive-thru for a burger and fries. I had every intention of going straight home, but the sign at Culver's announcing "Eggnog Shakes are Back" beckoned me to their drive-thru.

Ended up having an eggnog shake appetizer followed by a main course of popcorn and a Hallmark Christmas movie when I got home.

I head back out to Red Kettle land tomorrow evening, this time without my Scroogy sidekick. I will be lonely but maybe some new music will fill me with GLEE.

We'll see what does the most good!

God said to Noah...

If you ever went to Sunday school or Bible Camp, you know that catchy song, "God said to Noah, there's gonna be a floody, floody..." Try getting it out of your head once you remember!

Found these words of wisdom today just in time for the stressful holiday season. And really, it doesn't HAVE to be stressful. These are good words of advice for ANY season of your life...

Number 1 is important in any and all situations!

I like number 2 because it reminds me that even if I think other people's lives are perfect, they have their own struggles, too. The grass may just appear greener on their side of the fence. We are all human and all in the same boat.

I think number 4 is important. If something happened and I had to have the strength to take care of someone else, for example, I don't know that I could do that right now. Stay fit physically AND mentally AND spiritually!

Always struggled with number 5. Have always cared too much about what other people think. Should just make sure God is pleased with me... then Mom, hubby, son and so on...

Number 8 is perfect for a wanna-be runner like me. My motto is: You go slow, you go far.

For me, number 9 means sit back and relax and tune in some Hallmark holiday magic! (Maybe with a bowl of ice cream even...)

I often say "stop me before I volunteer," but number 10 is right on the money. So many successful ventures happen because of people with big hearts, not necessarily big resumes. It does take a village sometimes. (And, unfortunately, someone's gotta be the village idiot. I hate when I draw that short straw!)

Amen to number 11. I don't know why I bother asking, "why me?" sometimes. Obviously, it's part of God's plan. It's really none of my business what that plan is. I mean really, do I think I could do better?

Trust me, I've tried. That's why number 7 is important. Always have two arms nearby for a hug of support – or two fists to knock some sense into you. Just know that I am here for each of you... you choose what capacity!

Time to build my "arky, arky..."

Handling the Holidays

Yes, this is a total commercial message, but it's fitting on cyber Monday, right?

I mentioned awhile back how successful essential oils have been for me. Depending on the oil, the blend and the application, I can sleep at night, I can run without hip pain and I don't have to cough all night when the congestion season hits.

And that's a just a few "cures" for me.

I am placing my December order on Tuesday night so I thought I share with you a few examples of doTERRA essential oils that may help you handle the stress of the holidays... along with the germs and the overeating, etc. Just click on image to view it larger.

Check out the website I have listed (www.mydoterra.com/robynaustin) or email me (purplepridera@yahoo.com) if you aren't sure what might work for you.

If now is not the time for you, I do place orders every month because there's always someone new who is discovering the magic of essential oils!