A Grinch Stole My Christmas--Literally!

I refuse to turn into my friend Dana. I also refuse to let Ben take over this blog with only sports-related musings. I love sports (as much as the next girl), but our Christmas was almost ruined! Well, maybe just the decorating part of Christmas.

A few weeks ago, Ben ventured to the basement to fetch our Christmas decorations. Three huge boxes later, we were ready for set-up.

Large, pre-lit Christmas tree: check

Mini Christmas tree from college days: check

Garland: check

Nativity: check

Last year, Ben and I spent hours shopping for Christmas decorations. I was very specific about what I wanted in a tree: it needed to look very real (I have insane allergies that keep me from enjoying a real tree), it needed to be a particular shape to fill out a large corner in the living room, and it needed to be nice and tall. Well, we found the perfect tree. High five, Ben;)

The garland came from my mom's house. I can't remember if I asked permission to take it! Sorry, mom. It is lush, blends well with my tree, and is covered with mini pinecones. My mom is an amazing decorator and she has tons of Christmas decorations that she alternates each year. I think, at this point, she doesn't even realize the massive amounts of Christmas paraphernalia that fill her attic. I actually noticed yesterday that Carrie sneaked out with some old garland, too!

Now, my nativity scene is very important to me. It was a wedding present from our dear friends Emily and Greg, and her parents Doc and Mrs. Ruth. I love it; it made me feel very grown up to have my own nativity scene for our first (married) Christmas together.

What could be missing, you ask? Ornaments.

So, I sent Ben back to the basement. Nothing. So, I went down myself. Nothing. I tore the house apart, looking in every closet, box, and hiding place. Nothing. After a week of this exact same process, I called our landlord. In order to prepare for their expanding family, Will and his wife Georgiana recently moved from the apartment above us into a beautiful home. I just knew that our Christmas ornaments were sitting in a (labeled) box in his attic. Yep, you guessed it: nothing.

I know our ornaments came from Target or Garden Ridge, but there was a sentimentality attached to those ornaments. It took me weeks to get over the loss. Our tree stood bare in that perfect corner for the longest time. I refused to do anything about it--except send Ben back to the basement and harass Will by phone and text.

This week, my mom came to the rescue. She refused to let the tree stand empty for the entire holiday season. It's impossible to pout now--pictures to come!

Sports Epigraphs: Louisville Cardinals Men's Basketball

"Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."
--Proverbs 16:18

F'in Fantasy Football; or, Playoffs?! You Kiddin' Me?

I play in two fantasy football leauges--one with friends from law school, and the other with the crew of flunkies I acquired at college. In both, I'm screwed.

I feel like this at least once a week, if not more often. This week, I picked up Denver's defense/special teams. In both leagues. But Ben, you might be saying, they're terrible. Aha, I would have replied before yesterday, they are playing the Kansas City Chiefs, a dismal 0-3 team that simply cannot move the ball. Thus, Denver's D is going to have a great week. WRONG. The Chiefs torched the Broncos, earning me a whopping 3 points in one league. What a pack of ninnys.

Also, I have Anquan Boldin in both leagues. He's been stellar for the first few weeks of the season. Last week, I even traded Peyton Manning to get him. Of course, immediately after the trade, the Arizona Cardinals get practically shut out for the first time this year. And, to add insult to injury, Boldin suffered a serious injury and God only knows when he'll be back (he did manage to score a TD before being crushed--every cloud has a silver lining, I guess). Is it bad that the only thing I was worried about when I saw this was how it would affect my fantasy teams? Probably.

Deep breaths. Sorry, had to get that rant out of my system. Lynn listens to me bitch and moan about fantasy football just about every week, but I think she's just humoring me and doesn't understand the earth-shattering import of making the Stupid Panda Jerks playoffs two years in a row. God knows the internets do.

UPDATE 12/1/08: The Indian Goggles will be in the SPJ Playoffs, competing for the gaudy panda bobblehead traveling trophy currently held by Ross Love.

UPDATE 2: Lost! Gah! Ross Love pulled it out but only because his opponent left 130 points on the bench, mostly from Brandon Jacobs and DeAngelo Williams. Yes, that team was stacked.

Monasticism on Two Feet

"Running is one of the only activities that you can begin with little or no planning. You can simply stand up and begin to run. That's what I did."
--Marc Parent, The Very First Step

Like Mr. Parent, I work at a desk. I read and write for a living. I do not labor with my hands or earn my keep with the sweat of my brow. Languor and impassivity seep into my body with every passing day. That is why I have started to run.

Like Mr. Parent, I find the simplicity of running alluring. Its austere qualities draw me toward it. You need only shoes and a path. You need not equipment or experience or talent. The clouds--shortness of breath, jagged pain in the side--can be enjoyed and savored for their silver lining--unassailable feelings of triumph, improvement in well-being. The sounds of running, measured clop clop clop footfalls and rhythmic labored breathing, hypnotize and push me forward. Running is asceticism personified.

Like Mr. Parent, I have only begun. I may falter but I will recover. I may never be good but I will never again be soft.

Things I've Pondered While Bored at Work Today

1. Burning Out vs. Fading Away
2. Correlation = Causation?
3. My Records > Records of the K.G.B.

Favre Watch!

Last night, I couldn't sleep and decided to watch some TV. Since we'd been out of town at a wedding all weekend, I didn't really keep up with the goings-on around the world of sport. Turning on the TV, I flipped to ESPN.

They talked about Brett Favre. Having to run a lap. FOR FORTY-FIVE MINUTES.

Apparently, Favre and Jets center Nick Mangold muffed a snap and coach Eric Mangini made them both run. I understand that it was one in the morning, but did NOTHING else happen yesterday? This whole Favre grab-ass has been infuriating, not only because Favre has whored himself out at every opportunity, but also because he's found a very willing john in ESPN. It's just another step toward all media becoming US Weekly. What's next?

"Thanks, Stu, Chris Mortensen here. I'm at Hofstra University at the Jets' training camp, and Brett Favre has misplaced his keys. Again, Brett Favre has misplaced his keys. I spoke to Favre, and he told me that he usually places them on top of his dresser, but they weren't there. He said to me, 'Chris, I can't believe this. I looked in the Wrangler Jeans I was wearing last night, and they weren't there either.' Favre now plans to retrace his steps over yesterday evening in hopes of recovering the missing keys so the assembled media may take pictures of him as he arrives at practice in his F-250, personifying everything that makes America great. I will keep you posted with new developments. Back to you, Stuart Scott."

Fingers crossed.

I Hope This Embarrasses You, Ben

This week, Ben and I celebrated our first anniversary! It absolutely feels like last week that my musicians started playing Linda's Song...and I sobbed my way down the aisle to meet Ben (all the Felicity fans out there might recognize this song as "Ben and Felicity's Piano Theme").

So many people have said that the first year is the hardest, but I have to say, this was a wonderful year. I loved coming home to Ben after a long day at work, spending the weekends being lazy, sharing our home with lots of friends, and starting some of our own traditions. I am so lucky that Ben loves me, because I can be hard to love (just ask my sister...or my students). And I think Ben is just perfect. Seriously.

Our celebration was postponed a few days, as Ben was busy taking the bar exam (pretty good excuse, I thought). But, on Wednesday we ate a delicious dinner at North End Cafe' and enjoyed the top of our wedding cake.

Here are a few pictures from our favorite day, o7/28/07

Our monogrammed aisle cloth that my mother designed

Seeing Ben for the first time made me very happy

Mr. and Mrs...can you pronounce it? Spell it?

First (and only) moment alone...

At Talon Winery, a Lexington vineyard where our reception was held

If you can't tell by those pictures, I adore you, Ben. Happy Anniversary!