I resolve to be resolute.

Every year, I make the same resolution. And every year, I break it.

That resolution? To floss more.

Yep. I'm not a good flosser. There. Now you know.

This year, I don't think I'm going to make any resolutions. Goals, yes. Plans, of course. But not any start-on-January-1-and-break-by-January-15 resolutions. I think I'll take a year off.

What about you? Do you make resolutions? Have you ever kept a resolution? What are your goals for 2009?

It looks like we have some passionate people here.

“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes ‘Awww!’”

- Jack Kerouac

They were the cool kids. But somehow, we tricked them into being our friends.

At least that’s how it felt at first.

Mark and I bought our house in May 2003 and that fall, we got serious about church shopping. After choosing our church based on the latest Sunday morning start time (just kidding – but seriously, how great is an 11:15 service for two non-morning people without kids?), we were quickly invited to a Sunday school class.

I remember walking into the class the first time, the couple we sat with that day and some of my early impressions of the class and the people in it. But I don’t remember meeting Zac and Mandy. I remember noticing them - they were in leadership. (You know, in charge.) But I can't recall when - or how - exactly we became friends.

The day I do remember is the one that began to seal our hearts together: the day we decided to plant a church together.

From that day forward, we transitioned seamlessly from friends to family. Well, seamlessly except for a snoring incident during our fishing trip to Canada.

Mark and I were one of six couples – three in our twenties, three in their forties and fifties – that planted a church in a nearby community. That group of people was as tight as could be for a period of time, planning and praying, meeting and ministering. That period of time did not last forever, though. And while I still have bruises and scars from that time, I’m so very thankful that through it all, we only grew closer to Zac and Mandy.

We have spent hours in prayer and worship and Bible study and ministry. And we’ve cried together and shouldered each other’s burdens, growing all the while through the pain. But we’ve also laughed our heads off and come up with pages of inside jokes and favorite quotes. We’ve gone from “young marrieds” to not-as-young parents. We’ve gone through job changes, career changes, health problems, family issues and so much more. We know each other’s personalities and tendencies, we know the many ways we are so alike and we just laugh at the few ways we are different.

When we were in the midst of the church plant’s failure, Zac and Mandy were described – not favorably – by another church member as “passionate people.”

And they are. Oh, they are. But in a way that is only glorifying to God and inspiring to those around them. They live life with gusto, whether we’re discussing the ideal thermostat temperature, the winning characteristics of Dorothy Lynch salad dressing or God’s plan for our lives. I love that about them.

Zac and Mandy moved to another state this fall, and I miss them so much. But we got to spend Sunday evening with our friends, and I'm thankful for that time. I'm thankful for their friendship. And yes, for their passion. I love these passionate people.

What are you passionate about?

I hate speed bumps. (Okay, not really.)

Does your family like to tell the same handful of stories over and over and over again until everyone can recite them beginning to end? Mine sure does. And so does Mark’s.

One story that always makes me laugh is about the day Mark was born. See, he was born just 16 months after his brother – he’s what we call a “surprise” baby. (Not an “oops,” not a “mistake” – a pleasant surprise! Well, that’s what I call him. I don’t think I want to know what his mother called him, especially when she had two babies in diapers or, years later, two teenagers in trouble!)

Despite the relatively short span of time between my brother-in-law’s birth and my husband’s, it seems that the hospital had gone through some changes during that time. The most notable change: a speed bump in the parking lot.

A speed bump that my father-in-law found going top speed, rushing his in-labor-almost-gonna-have-this-baby-NOW wife to the emergency room.

A speed bump that we still hear about, at least once a year.

Unless you count sports plays, my in-laws don’t really analyze anything. Lucky for them, I do. And I think that speed bump represents more than just a pile of concrete in the parking lot of St. Luke’s. I think it represents the funny little way God has of slowing us down and making us pay attention.

When we were dating, I noticed that every time Mark would drive over a speed bump in a parking lot, he’d grumble, “I hate speed bumps.” Ev-er-y time. Since then it’s been a little joke between us that when we drive over speed bumps one of us has to say it. Not because we really care so much about the jarring effects those mini-hills have on our car (okay, so Mark cares), but because it’s one of our “things.”

I know it’s not funny to anyone else. But it makes us chuckle.

Thinking about that, I wonder about how many inside jokes and deeper understandings and rich experiences we’ve gained because of life’s speed bumps. And I think about how much we would have missed without those reminders to slow down and pay attention.

Maybe speed bumps aren’t so bad after all.

One thing I know for sure – I am eternally grateful that God chose to give my in-laws a speed bump 32 years ago in the form of a third son. He is the love of my life, my best friend, my favorite person, a good man, and the best daddy Photobaby could ask for.

Happy birthday, Mark. I love you.

Theater movies are expensive. Rental movies are cheap.

When you compare $18 (for two) to $1, it’s a pretty easy choice. And that’s why, when I sat down to make my list of “favorite movies of 2008,” I ended up with a list of “favorite movies of 2007 and 2008.”

And then I realized, as I searched my blog for my recent movies reviews, that if you wanted to hear about the movies I watched this last year, you could do the same thing.

So I’ll keep it brief. The best movies I saw in 2008 were Definitely, Maybe, 21, Juno, Mamma Mia, Dan in Real Life, Waitress and Hairspray. And I won’t lie. I also quite enjoyed Made of Honor, 27 Dresses, Fool’s Gold, Enchanted, Ratatouille and What Happens in Vegas.

Now, on to a more interesting list (I hope): the movies of 2008 that I haven’t seen, but want to. And again, this is more a list of movies from the past couple of years, since I typically wait until they’re out on video. In no particular order, I’d like to see…

• Rachel Getting Married
• Burn After Reading
• Wall-E
• The Dark Knight
• Iron Man
• Hancock
• Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2
• This Christmas
• Nothing Like the Holidays
• Michael Clayton
• Eagle Eye (we’re renting this over the weekend)

What were your favorite movies of the last year? What movies would you still like to see?

Disturbing discovery.

Did you know that if you type in your address at Google Maps, it will show a picture of your house?!? That's insane! And frightening! And, well, I don't know what else, but I don't like it.

Does that freak anyone else out?

Movie Review: Gal pals, a goat house and Greece

As a birthday gift to me, Mark generously said he would watch any girly movie I wanted. So we rented Mamma Mia.

Just in case you don’t know the premise, this musical about a girl trying to find her father before her wedding is based on songs by ABBA and until recently was a stage production. Both Amber and Smitty have seen it on stage and enjoyed it, so I had high hopes for the movie version. Plus, it stars Meryl Streep, and she’s pretty much fantastic in everything.

I was not disappointed. Mamma Mia was great! I told Mark it was like a Disney cartoon for grown-ups – it was pretty and magical and fun.

My favorite part was the friendships portrayed by the two generations of women in the movie. Meryl Streep’s character, a single mother, is reunited with her two best friends from younger days, and Amanda Seyfried’s character, a young woman about to marry, has her two best friends by her side as bridesmaids. The two trios love each other with abandon and sincerity, supporting the main characters when they face difficult decisions and their repercussions – and also just plain having silly, girly fun!

I love that...I want that...I need that.

My least favorite part of the movie was poor Pierce Brosnan’s singing. He was wretched, and all I’ve heard is the final product. I can’t imagine how he sounded before coaching and rehearsal and any digital enhancing!

Another part of the movie I liked was the Greek chorus. During several songs, random people around the main characters would join in the singing or step in as backup vocals. A couple times, the main characters looked at them strangely, as if to say, “What the…? Oh, it’s the Greek chorus. Okay.”

All in all, this movie was a lot of fun. I agree with my mom, who said it’s a “feel-good movie,” and I say rent this one today. Just don’t turn it off after the final scene – the credits are just an extension of the movie with more singing, dancing and fun!

What are your favorite movies about friendship?

A Day in the Life and a Holiday Greeting

[This is the Christmas letter I sent this year. I wanted to avoid the usual listing of events, bragging and boredom. But I wasn't clever enough to come up with something real funny or rhyming. Still, I don't think it's too bad...]

As I walked in the door, Mark said, “Okay, here’s the deal.”

I scanned the room, searching for Annalyn. When I didn’t see her, my mind started racing. Where is she? What’s happened? Did she finally succeed in grabbing a handful of Maggie’s fur? Or sinking her little teeth into a lamp cord?

Not noticing my panic, Mark kept talking. “I was in the kitchen, loading the dishwasher, and Annalyn was playing in the living room. I stepped into the garage to throw something away, and when I turned around, well, she must have made a beeline for the kitchen...”

[At this point, we should take note of two things. First, Mark was loading the dishwasher – yay! Second, Annalyn is one fast crawler – um, yay?]

Mark went on to tell me that in just those few seconds, Annalyn had made her way to the cats’ food and water, dumped the water and the food, and was proceeding to put pieces of cat food into the water bowl.

[Side note #2: Annalyn has recently learned to put items into containers, as opposed to her previous skill of only removing items. So not only is she able to dump an entire basket of toys on her head, she can then put one of them back in the basket.]

Of course, my immediate reaction to Mark’s story was to ask the question any concerned mother would have: “You took a picture, right? Tell me you took a picture!”

Umm, no. It turns out that Mark was more concerned with picking cat hair out of Annalyn’s hair [Side note #3: The girl’s hair is finally growing!] and giving her an unscheduled but much-needed bath.

And that right there sums up our life these days: Annalyn exploring the world and wasting no time in her quest to cause chaos, while Mark and I try to take care of her while capturing every moment. So our prayer for you this holiday season is that you will care for each other and capture the sweet moments…even through the chaos and cat food in your hair.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Love,
Mark, Mary & Annalyn

Open the gift!

I want an iPod for Christmas. And a colorful scarf and some black boots and a Cricut and a zoom lens for my camera and a professional housecleaner. And some diamond earrings.

I’m pretty sure I won’t be finding any of those things in my stocking, but that’s okay. On Sunday, our church had our annual Christmas program, and I was reminded of a few more valuable gifts I’ve been given.

Every year, our pastor shares the same message during the church's Christmas program. He describes several extravagant gifts he's seen in catalogs and online, and then he talks about the greatest gift of all, the one that so many leave unopened year after year.

Though my brain can hardly comprehend it, my heart is awed and thankful that the God who created our world came as a baby to save us from ourselves. I opened that gift almost 20 years ago, and no bracelet or CD or pony could ever eclipse the wonder and beauty of that present from God.

God has given us many other gifts, too, including the two my pastor focused on this year: peace and forgiveness.

Peace is hard to come by during this holiday season. Between parties and cookies and presents and bills and shopping and cooking and decorating and cleaning, well, it’s difficult to find a moment to remember why we’re doing any of it in the first place. It’s not easy to take a deep breath and meditate on God’s love and the peace that passes all understanding. It’s easier to go, go, go until we reach the point of breakdown, exhaustion and “I can’t wait for the holidays to be over.”

I pray that we find peace in the midst of our Christmas chaos.

Forgiveness is even harder for me. Accepting forgiveness of my sins in general was easy when I asked Jesus to live in my heart two decades ago. As a child, my biggest sins were picking on my little brother and lying to my parents about practicing piano. But these days, my sins seem so much larger, so much more serious, so unforgivable.

Oh sure, I know God has forgiven me. But for so many mistakes, I have not forgiven myself.

And on top of that, much as I hate to admit it (since it’s yet another sin I need to confess and accept forgiveness for), I hold anger and bitterness toward other people in my heart. People I need to forgive. People who don’t deserve my forgiveness…any more than I deserve God’s forgiveness.

I pray that we can forgive and be forgiven during this season of love.

We’ve all been given the gifts of salvation, peace and forgiveness. So what are we waiting for? Let’s open those gifts already!

One year I got real ambitious.

Two years ago, I decided to be a crafty girl. I wrapped all our gifts in brown craft paper, tied them with red ribbon (okay, and some yarn) and added a homemade gingerbread man as a tag. And when I say "homemade gingerbread man," I mean a wooden painted thing to which I added puff paint and hot glue. You can see my handiwork above.

Please note that those lovely gifts are piled on our deep freeze in the garage. Because my cats, loves of my life after my husband, daughter and every other person I've ever met, like to eat paper. Especially when it's wrapped around a gift.

I can't even remember what I did last year. My brain was still on maternity leave at that point.

I considered doing the craft paper again this year, with green ribbon/yarn and Christmas tree tags. But even though I still have a jumbo-sized roll of the paper, it sounded a little too ambitious for this year. So I bought coordinating paper and tacky bows...and have yet to complete the wrapping. About 2/3 of my gifts are piled, wrapped, on my freezer (where else would I store the Christmas gifts?). The rest are sitting in various places in the garage, mocking me and wondering when I'm going to realize Christmas is just TWO DAYS AWAY. (Oh wait, no, it's tomorrow. Hmph.)

Maybe by the time you read this post, I'll have gotten my act together and wrapped those last few gifts. Maybe. If that miracle happens, I'll include a picture of those bright and festive boxes stacked on my freezer.

Because what says "Merry Christmas" like a pile of freezer presents?

What's your wrapping ritual? Do you do matching paper? Do you prefer bags and tissue? (Oh yeah, I think that's what I did last year - all bags, all the time.) Are you all wrapped and ready for the big day??

I thought it would be different.

My child has never met a stranger. I don't know if it's her God-given personality or some residual effect of being cared for by a revolving panel of nurses in the NICU. Either way, she's a people person (like her mother). Even in the last few weeks as she's started to be a little clingy to Mark and me, Annalyn is still as friendly as can be to every person she encounters. Cashiers, church nursery workers, Salvation Army bell ringers - really, everyone. They all love her, and she loves them. Granted, she's constantly telling these people, her friends, "Bye-bye!" But that's just because it's the only real word she knows.

So I was convinced that her first visit with Santa would go well. Annalyn would be that rare child who would not be scared of ol' St. Nick. She'd smile up at him and say, "Woof! Bye-bye! Bah, bah, gubah!" And he'd laugh his jolly laugh and say, "Merry Christmas, sweet girl! Of course I'll bring you a giant cat that won't mind getting its tail pulled!"

The reality? Not so much. I honestly didn't even see Annalyn look at Santa. But considering how awkward he was with her on his lap (seriously, Santa?), I'm not surprised she was not at ease. And quickly started crying her head off.

The grainy pic above is the free one they were giving out. I wish they would have captured the moment about 11 seconds later when she actually started crying. Not because I enjoy seeing her cry! (What kind of parent do you think I am?! The kind that can't help but grin when her sweet darling baby girl sticks her lip out and cries when she doesn't get her way? That kind? Oh...wait...) No, I wish I had that picture because it really defines this experience.

Poor child. I thought I'd be a bad mom if I didn't give her this classic childhood experience. Turns out she would have been happier if we'd have stayed at home and watched The Grinch.

What’s the big deal about a BB gun, anyway?

I may as well start with the bad news. I have never watched A Christmas Story or It’s a Wonderful Life. I don’t know what’s wrong with me, and please don’t think less of me.

I’m not sure how I’ve escaped these classics in my 30 long years, but it’s true. I have. Feel free to discuss that amongst yourselves.

While you wonder how I’ve managed to live such a deprived life, I’m going to make a list of movies that are not necessarily Christmas-themed movies, but do include a Christmas scene. I feel like it’s such a movie cliché to have a holiday scene, but I’m actually not thinking of many on my own. Specifically, I feel like I’ve seen a lot of movies about Christmas in New York, but I’m not really coming up with much. So, can you help? Here’s what I have so far:

• The Family Man
• While You Were Sleeping
• The Holiday
• Bridget Jones’ Diary
• Serendipity
• Smart People
• The Family Stone

And while I’m at it, just for good measure (and to assure that yes, I have seen some Christmas movies), here are my favorite traditional Christmas movies:

• How the Grinch Stole Christmas (animated, not Jim Carrey, for crying out loud)
• The Santa Clause
• Holiday Inn
• National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
• Elf
• Miracle on 34th Street
• A Charlie Brown Christmas
• A Claymation Christmas Celebration
• Frosty the Snowman
• Home for the Holidays (actually about Thanksgiving, but still one of my favorites)

Okay, now, help me out with that non-Christmas Christmas movie list! (Please?)

Lessons learned...or not?

I wanted so badly to be friends with the popular girls.

There were four of them. C had been my best friend in second grade, and we’d been close until fifth grade, when L moved to town. L was rumored to have been a child model, and despite her braces, she was beautiful and exotic. J moved next door to L the summer before sixth grade, and somehow her giant red-rimmed glasses made her cool. The fourth girl, A, was the first (though sadly, not the last) frenemy I had. She even created a We Hate Photo club in the third grade. Those four girls became a close-knit group – some would call it a clique – in sixth grade.

And I wanted to be a part of that group. I didn’t understand how it is. Not yet. So I tried hard to be their friend, to wedge myself into their circle, to reclaim the friendships I’d had before everything got so confusing, so middle school-ish.

At the same time, my friend Elizabeth was just about the most fun person I knew. She could rat her bangs up higher than anyone else in our whole school, and she was a brilliant dancer. (Okay, so I may not have known she was brilliant back then, but I’ve seen her perform since then, and believe me, she was gooood.) She had the tendency to be a bit hyper, and for some reason we called her Lizzie and sometimes even…Lizard Lips.

I don’t know, people. It was middle school.

Anyway, Elizabeth and I shared a lot of good times, whispering and giggling about boys, passing notes, having slumber parties. But when her parents divorced and I learned she was moving away with her mom, I experienced a moment of clarity. And regret.

I realized what I’d done, and it was ugly. I’d spent so much time and energy focused on those popular girls (Do they like me today? I can’t believe they all gave me “hate” letters on the same day! Are they going to the dance? Can I sit with them at lunch?) that I’d wasted the last precious days with my good, true friend, Elizabeth.

Now, we still had some good times. We had more slumber parties and letters and phone calls. But while I could have been cherishing my time with a dear friend, I threw my heart into friendships that were no more real than the romance novels I snuck out of the library.

Elizabeth never said a word about this to me. She never pointed out that it was pointless and even hurtful to worry so much about girls who treated me badly when she was right there all along. And even though we lost touch after high school (Elizabeth moved back to our town before we graduated), it was so fun to get an e-mail from her last year after our reunion. I could actually hear her voice in all the exclamation points and the way she signed off “Love, Liz.”

So today – on Lizzie’s birthday – I want to wish her a happy, happy day! I am thankful for the years we spent as BFFs and I still love her like a sister (LHLAS isn’t nearly as catchy as LYLAS).

Remembering those middle school days, I can’t help but think of how I do the same thing to God that I did to my friend. Even though I know He’s there and loves me for me, for real, I keep looking to others for approval. (Did my boss like that report? Does my husband think I’m pretty? Do my readers think I’m funny?) Interesting how I ignore the real things in pursuit of the artificial. I’d like to think I only had to learn that lesson once. But now that I think about it, maybe I’m still learning.

What about you? Do you find yourself looking for love in all the wrong places?

Our Family’s Falala Favorites

Mark and I have a tradition of buying one new Christmas CD every December. This is great in theory and certainly fun, but since we only listen to this music for about a month, we don’t necessarily need 15 new songs each year. So I decided to take the albums (Ha! I said “albums.”) we have, add a few classics that we were missing, and make a family favorites mix tape.

Just kidding, it’s a mix CD.

I also had this brilliant idea (now where have we heard that before?) to make copies of this Christmas compilation, craft up some snazzy covers, put them in a festive basket and hand them out to our holiday visitors.

Great idea, except we don’t typically have any visitors. Well, sure, my parents come over for dinner or a few friends spend the evening playing cards with us. But it’s not like we have that Hallmark movie type of house, where neighbors and friends just stop by for hot cocoa and caroling.

So, I junked that idea and burned a CD for us. Wanna know what’s on it? Here you go:

• Jingle Bells (Brian Setzer Orchestra)
• Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree (Brenda Lee)
• Deck the Halls (SHeDAISY)
• The Little Drummer Boy (Tonic Sol-Fa)
• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Harry Connick, Jr.)
• Christmas in Sarajevo (Trans-Siberian Orchestra)
• Gloria (Michael W. Smith)
• Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer (Elmo & Patsy)
• Linus & Lucy (Vince Guaraldi Trio)
• Sleigh Ride (Boston Pops Orchestra)
• Winter Wonderland (The Andrews Sisters)
• My Favorite Things (Julie Andrews)
• God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (Barenaked Ladies/Sarah McLachlan)
• Santa Baby (Madonna)
• Santa Claus is Watchin’ You (Ray Stevens)
• You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch (Thurl Ravenscroft)
• Christmas, Don’t Be Late (Alvin & the Chipmunks)
• Last Christmas (Wham!)
• Mary’s Boy Child/Oh My Lord (Boney M)
• O Holy Night (Martina McBride)
• Baby, It’s Cold Outside (Ella Fitzgerald/Louis Jordan)
• White Christmas (Bing Crosby)
• What Child is This (Jim Brickman)
• Carol of the Bells (John Williams)
• The Christmas Song (Nat King Cole)

And the songs that didn’t make the cut but certainly get an honorable mention:

• Do You Hear What I Hear (Whitney Houston)
• Mary, Did You Know (Wynonna Judd/Kenny Rogers)
• The Hanukkah Song (Adam Sandler) - Sorry, it's funny to me every time.
• Wonderful Christmastime (Paul McCartney)
• It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Johnny Mathis)
• Merry Christmas, Darling (The Carpenters)
• Silver Bells (Anne Murray)
• Same Old Lang Syne (Dan Fogelberg) - by far, the saddest Christmas song, but I like it.

This year’s new song that I am looooving (and downloaded and am determined to sing at next year’s church program and have been practicing, iTunes-karaoke-style, so loud one night that I woke up Photobaby) is You’re Here by Francesca Battistelli.

And the Christmas CD I wish we could have bought this year and is on my wish list: Ring the Bells by Travis Cottrell.

Several of you have mentioned your favorites over the past month. Anyone else want to chime in with your top tunes?

If you were a crayon, what color would you be?

I have been on a lot of interviews. A lot. This statement might lead you to believe I’m a job hopper, but that’s a topic for another day. Today, I will share with you a few of my most interesting interview experiences ever. Or, if you prefer to hear it in my Sandlot voice, EV-ERRR.

My best interview experience was for a job that lasted four months. After having a face-to-face interview with the hiring manager at an ad agency, I had a conference call with two team members who worked in other cities. I loved that call. Talking with Dan from Des Moines and Liz from St. Louis was fun; I really connected with these people! If only I’d gotten to work with them every day instead of the drones in my local office. And if only I’d had even a passing interest in agriculture, the agency’s bread and butter.

My worst interview experience was last year after being laid off. I’d applied and interviewed for a job at the headquarters of a service fraternity. I wasn’t what the manager was looking for, but he liked me. So he referred me to his colleague at another fraternity headquarters based here in town. After a few e-mails back and forth with this guy’s assistant, we finally scheduled an interview. For the day of a snow and ice storm. In the middle of a terrible sinus infection.

I went anyway – after all, I couldn’t afford to pass up any opportunity for a job. Somehow I made it to the office in time (difficult with the snow and ice), but the interview had a rocky start when I declined to shake the director’s hand for fear of passing along germs. He didn’t like that so much. (Believe me, he would’ve liked the infection even less, but try telling him that.) For the next 45 minutes, this man pored over my resume, grilling me about every move and decision I’d made since my junior year of high school.

“Why’d you go to Truman? What made you decide to go there?”
“How’d you decide on communications as a major?”
“Why do you want to work in non-profit? How did you even hear about that kind of career?”

And then the best part, he asked me about every single job, “Why did you leave this job? Why did you take this job? Do you regret it?”

And then! Then he asked me, regarding leaving one job, “Were they surprised you were leaving? Did they care? Did you even do a good job?”

Seriously. I mean, questions are great. And honestly, reflection on my crazy career path is healthy for me and understandable for a potential employer. But you should have heard him. He was MEAN about it. It’s like he was digging for DIRT, or just an excuse not to hire me.

I couldn’t even leave after he was finished wringing me out. I had to take three tests, proving that I could write a letter, design a newsletter (in a version of Quark I was not familiar with) and talk about my hero.

I have never been so relieved to be finished with an interview. And never so shocked (SHOCKED!) to receive a job offer. After all that, that man offered me a job. I was so thankful to have gotten another job offer, so I could say without hesitation, “Thanks, but no.”

I don’t want to leave you on a bad note, so I’ll tell you about another good interview. After writing about fertilizer and vaccines for two months, I realized I could not stay at the second ad agency, no matter how much I loved our PR department. Fortunately, a friend and former volunteer from the non-profit I worked for after college hooked me up with an interview at another charity. Sitting in that room, with the executive director and hiring manager, I felt so at home, at ease. Because for the first time in my career, I truly knew what I was talking about. Thanks to my time at a non-profit, combined with a couple years in advertising, I was so completely qualified for the position they needed to fill. And it was just so great to talk non-profit after being in the materialistic world of advertising. I loved that interview. And in so many ways, I loved that job.

Here’s a question for you: have you ever had an exit interview? Did it go well? Was it a disaster? Spill it!

‘Cause I’m a giver, I’m a grinner, I’m a lover, and I’m a sinner…

As today is my birthday, I hope you’ll indulge me as I ponder…well…myself.

I have learned many, many things in my 30 long years, but the most important is just exactly what Myers-Brigg Personality Type I am.

Okay, so this isn’t exactly the most important thing I’ve learned, but it sure beats the pants off anything I crammed into my brain during the semester from you know where, the one that involved Biology, Experimental Psychology AND Statistics! So, just go with me, okay? I mean, it IS my birthday.

Ahem.

Based on the results of two official Myers-Briggs tests in college, a few books and articles I’ve read on the subject and one completely unofficial test I just found online, I am an ENFJ (Extraverted iNtuitive Feeling Judging).

ENFJs are known as the givers who have “tremendous charisma by which many are drawn into their nurturant tutelage and/or grand schemes.” Drawn? Like into a web? I don’t know about that, but you might recognize this “grand scheme” characteristic in both Amy and me, as we often have brilliant ideas. One site also notes that while ENFJs have a higher than usual ability to manipulate people, they almost always use that power for good and not evil.

"Almost always," she says with a glint in her eye.

On a slightly happier note, a different site points out that ENFJs are typically good at anything that captures their interest. However, that interest-capturing thing is key, because though they love planning things and get excited about future possibilities, ENFJs “may become easily bored and restless with the present.”

ENFJs love people and want to help people. In this same vein, they wear their hearts on their sleeves and may be more easily hurt than others. One description notes that, “ENFJs often take on more of the burdens of others than they can bear.”

Loyal, straightforward, honest, energetic and organized (or fussy, as one site says) are other traits this personality type usually possess. However, though they’re outgoing and comfortable with many kinds of people, they may feel alone even in a large group, because they tend to keep their true selves hidden.

Umm....GUILTY! I can definitely be fussy, and I have certainly felt alone in a crowd. More than once, honestly. And overly sensitive? Oh yeah. And wait, let’s not forget that despite my grand schemes, I get bored after all the planning. (I believe I’ve mentioned my lack of follow-through, right?)

At least I’ve got the people person thing going for me. Seriously, I love reading personality descriptions. Even the bad – or at least uncomfortable – parts. Because, let’s face it, if I’ve learned one true thing about myself in three decades, it’s really that I like to talk and read and talk some more about myself.

Thanks for indulging me.

But now, what’s YOUR personality type? Find out here. And if you’re an ENFJ, too, you’re in good company. No, I don’t mean (just) me! According to TypeLogic, famous ENFJs include none other than King David and Abraham Lincoln, not to mention Michael Jordan, Diane Sawyer, Peyton Manning and Lauren Graham. Oh yeah, and Ronald Reagan, Sean Connery, Andy Griffith and Oprah Winfrey.

You can also find out what personality type your BLOG says you are with Typealyzer, which analyzes blogs and decides what MB type the author has. I can’t vouch for its accuracy, however, because according to this site, I’m an ESFP. ESFPs are known as the performers who “live in the present moment and don’t like to plan ahead.” Umm, really? I don’t think so. According to this site’s definition, ESFPs also enjoy work that helps people (true) and tend to avoid conflict (also true). Basically, this analysis was half right.

So who are you? Who, who, who, who? (I really gotta know.) Take the tests and tell us your results!

Couldn’t I just take cookies this year?

“Oh, no! Another December birthday?” After all the right responses, this was Mark’s reaction last March when I told him I was pregnant. Fortunately, his math was wrong and Photobaby was due on Thanksgiving (and then had the good sense to be born even earlier, avoiding all major holidays).

Mark’s reaction is understandable, as his birthday is four days after Christmas, and mine is seven days before. Now, both our parents worked hard to ensure our birthdays were special and not just lumped into one umbrella December celebration. And my family had even more obstacles in that arena than his, because I wasn’t even the only person (in our family) born that month. Growing up, my granddad and a cousin both had December birthdays. These days, three of my cousin’s kids have December birthdays. So, all in all, it’s just a really busy month.

And it’s a cold month, too, in both sense of the word. I don’t know how many of my birthday parties were cancelled due to bad weather or bronchitis.

But the worst thing about being born in December is the candy cane.

In recent years, Christians have tried to commandeer the candy cane, saying it was invented as a Christian symbol and represents our rock solid foundation in God, Mary’s purity, Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, and even Jesus’ name.

Because what Jesus really wants for Christmas is a piece of candy shaped like the English letter J.

These theories have been proven incorrect by many sources, including Snopes, but I won’t lie. Even if all this were true, I would not like the candy cane.

See, when your birthday is in December – the busiest and most expensive month of all – your parents’ only reasonable choice for the treat you take to school on your big day is an 88-cent box of miniature candy canes. Not cupcakes, not snickerdoodles, not even a box of Christmas-themed Little Debbie snack cakes. Candy canes.

And for a child who doesn’t like peppermint and does like pretty much every other treat known to man and may or may not have a birthday party depending on the whims of Mother Nature and this year’s flu bug, well, a box of candy canes is just a big ol’ birthday slap in the face.

Now, I’m not saying that having a December birthday is all bad. I mean, how many people can say they came home on Christmas Day in a big, red stocking? At least to my parents, I really was the best Christmas gift ever. Second to Jesus, of course. But still – cool story, right?

I’m just saying – if you happen to know someone born in December, save your peppermint sticks of evil. Give them your leftover cookies from last weekend’s cookie exchange, regift that plastic Nativity scene from the office white elephant party, or even slap a tacky gift card in their hand.

Just don’t give them a box of candy canes.

[Confession: While I do believe gift cards are less than optimal ways to express your love and appreciation for a person, I will be giving at least two and possibly three of them this year. So you know.]

Concert Review: Reckless Kelly

On Saturday night, Smitty, Mark and I went to a concert. The opening act was strange - a bunch of old guys who didn't sound old. Until they talked. And then they sounded old and corny. But their music was okay. However, they played forever.

Then again, I was being an old lady - tired at 10pm!

The main act made up for it, though. It was a band called Reckless Kelly. They sing kind of alternative country rock - you can listen here and come up with your own genre label.

Reckless Kelly was good. So good I didn't mind staying out past my bedtime. Past Mark's bedtime. Past most people's bedtime, I think. I mean, people don't normally stay up until 1am, right?

They do? Huh.

Well, anyway, the band was great. Fun, upbeat, different. Good pick, Smitty.

[The picture above is not from Saturday's concert, unfortunately. I forgot my camera. This pic is from the Big & Rich concert Smitty, Mark and I went to a few years ago.]

What's the best concert you've ever gone to? What's the latest you stay up these days?

Looks like there's a cold front coming in...

I have found myself looking for a new job many times…and many times it has been in the winter. As a matter of fact, I have left four jobs in December. Well, technically, I left my last job in October when I delivered Photobaby, but I was job-hunting in December.

My point is that when I’m in winter job-searching mode, I should freelance as a meteorologist. Because if I have an interview, odds are the weather’s gonna be bad.

What about you? Tell me your craziest interview story, and I'll tell you mine.

The halls are as decked as they're gonna get.

For the past couple of years, I've been a real Grinch when it comes to decorating for Christmas. Well, I guess a "real Grinch" would take someone else's decorations down, while I just never bothered to put any up. But you get my point.

This year, I figured Photobaby deserved better. Never mind that we don't have many visitors these days, and we aren't hosting any of the family get-togethers this year. I should do this just for us, right?

Which I did. But I'll admit...I was also a little motivated by BooMama's Tour of Homes today. You can visit her site and see tons of homes and how people all over are decking their halls.

And right here on my site, you can see how my house Santa suited up for this year's Christmas.

Mark's mom made this felt snowman for us several years ago. The last time we put it out for Christmas, my cat Peanut went cuh-razy for it! She would grab its scarf with her teeth and drag it back to our bedroom to, well, I'm not sure what she planned to do with it. But she was determined. Thankfully, time has helped her move on. She hasn't touched it this year.

We don't have a fireplace. So we hang our stockings on the entertainment center. Unfortunately for Mark, a 42-inch flat screen won't fit in his stocking!

I had a hard time taking a good picture of my tree. When I let my flash go off, you couldn't see the pretty lights. When I turned the flash off, the picture was blurry. I came to two conclusions. First, I'd go with lights and blur. Second, I really need to take a photography class.

And finally, BooMama suggested we include our favorite Christmas recipe with our Tour of Homes posts. So, here's a picture of the deeelish cookies I took to a cookie exchange on Saturday. Here's how I made them: I went to HyVee, bought two packages of break and beak cookie dough, baked them and put them on my pretty red cookie plate from Hallmark. Yep, I'm a regular Martha Stewart.

How do you decorate for Christmas? Check out some real pretty homes here.

There's a blog conspiracy.

Do you read Stuff Christians Like? It's written by Jon Acuff, and it's about, well, stuff that Christians like. It's occasionally serious, consistently true, and almost always HIGHlarious. (I say "almost always" because it really is serious sometimes. But when he goes for funny, oh my, it is FUN-NY.)

Well, Jon's birthday is next Friday (December 19), and there's a blog conspiracy to help him celebrate in a most ridiculous way. Stacy from Louisville is asking all Jon's fans and readers to send him a birthday card. But not just any birthday card - preferably a ridiculous one. Like a re-gifted (re-carded?) Christmas card you got in the mail today. Or a flower and puppy card from that stationery your Grandma gave you for your birthday. Or a get well card you meant to send to your Aunt Linda. Whatever. Just send a card.

If you read Jon's blog (or think this is a sweet/funny/good/terrible idea), send him a card today. He'll love it. Perhaps he'll even write about it on his blog. And speaking of, feel free to put this on your blog, too. Stacy says so. Here's his address:

Jonathan Acuff
PO Box 4522
Alpharetta, GA 30023

Because I'm a giver.

If I’m doing the math correctly (and this is a big "if"), today is the first day of the twelve days of Christmas. In honor of this momentous occasion, I will not sing the song’s verses out of order. Although, I don’t really plan on singing them in order, either. Nope. Instead, I’m going to give you 12 webby, bloggy gifts.

Don’t get excited. I don’t mean the kind of extravagant giveaways that the real bloggers have. Just some links to a few fun sites you might not know about.

Because I’m like that. Unh-huh, I’m a giver.

1. You can call me Al, and yeah, I think I’ll call you Betty. Paul Simon and Chevy Chase star in my favorite music video of all time, found here for your viewing pleasure.
2. Looking for a way to organize your home? Or maybe just an amateur website with psychedelic colors and a cartoon spokesperson? Look no further than FlyLady.
3. Just how bad was that dessert at the Cheesecake Factory? You can find the dirt – and the number of points you consumed – at Dotti’s Weight Loss Zone. (Don’t be alarmed by all the purple and the ads. Ignore them both and scroll down to find tons of good info.)
4. Now for a cute site that also helps you with our upcoming New Year’s resolutions (well, at least that’s what I’m wishing for on January 1): Hungry Girl. Lots of recipes, healthy products and fun facts here.
5. Enough diet talk! Let’s get down to the important stuff. Like TV. Miss your favorite episode of The Office? Don’t worry – you can get the play-by-play at Television Without Pity. Sure, you can always watch the missed eps online. But does Hulu come with snarky commentary? I think not.
6. We’ve established that several of you (See how that makes it sound like I have so many readers? Ha!) are word nerds like myself. So I feel safe telling this group that I’m also a big fan of fonts. Anyone else? Take this quiz and see just how big a fan you really are.
7. If you’re looking for information about a certain movie, don’t just trust my reviews. Check out Christianity Today’s movie review section for a Christian perspective on today’s most popular films.
8. Need a chuckle? This site posts pics of crummy church signs. Pretty funny stuff, I say.
9. My fellow fans of a capella, as well as those of you strangely obsessed with fantasy movies, will get a kick out of this. Those of you – Mel, I’m talking to you – who are one but not both may or may not get said kick. [Thanks to Mandy Conforth for posting this on her blog.]
10. What would the 12 Days of Christmas be without a couple lookalikes? First, there’s Jewel and Yvonne Strahovski (from the TV show, Chuck). Next, I think Sela Ward and Melora Hardin (from The Office) look not necessarily like twins, but definitely like sisters.
11. A big ad agency came up with a list of 10 new words to describe some of the crazy behaviors in today’s tech-obsessed society.
12. And last but not least (or perhaps), for all my readers in the market for a man or a laugh (or both), your search is over. I give you Real Men of Jesus.

So, tell me, other than this list of wonder, what's the best Christmas gift you've ever gotten?

Is it just me...?

Has anyone noticed that I'm a little obsessed with high school? I mean, it really does not matter how old I'm turning on my next birthday; I am perpetually 14 years old. Except for the times I’m 15…or 16…or, well, you get the picture.

I’m not really stuck in the past. Yes, I enjoyed high school (for the most part) and have mostly forgotten (suppressed) the bad things about it. And I do like teeny-bopper movies. Annnd...I’ve been known to read a young adult novel or two. But honestly. It’s not like I want to go back to that time in my life.

I think it’s just that the high school and college years are so overly emotional and dramatic that they automatically create distinct and potent memories. At least they did for me.

And so, when I think of my favorite stories, they often come from that time in my life. Maybe I should spend some time telling you stories about my 20s, though. Just so you don’t get together and do an intervention or something.

Although…I haven’t written it yet, but I’ve got a big Young Photo post coming up in a couple weeks. So, look forward to that. That, and a review of the HSM movies, should I ever give in to my inner 14-year-old and watch them.

What about you? Do you have an age that you revert to, even if just in your mind or your prominent memories? Or your movie choices? It could be that, too...

Musical Yearbook

Hearing the Eagles makes me think of high school. It makes me think of riding in my friend David’s old brown Chevette, listening to Seven Bridges Road and Heartache Tonight and Hotel California.

It turns out those songs weren’t released on the same record, so that tape we played over and over must have actually been a mix tape.

The Eagles make me think of high school. Then again, so do the Spice Girls.

What music takes you back to high school?

It Would Probably Be Quicker to Dye My Hair

Last summer I was pregnant and spending my evenings alone, as Mark was already working evenings. So I’m not sure what stopped me from watching “The Starter Wife,” a miniseries on USA. It wasn’t good taste or wise judgment. I know it wasn’t that. For whatever reason, though, I didn’t watch the show.

That all changed when I ventured into the world of Hulu.

Based on a novel that is the epitome of “chick lit,” Starter Wife was first a miniseries and, as of this fall, a regular series on USA. It stars Debra Messing as the wife of a movie producer who gets dumped by her husband and then by her so-called friends and Hollywood society perks. But don’t cry for her, Argentina. As with most stories in this genre, our plucky heroine pulls herself up by her Jimmy Choo bootstraps – with the help of her few loyal friends and new love interest(s), of course.

I readily agree with the Wall Street Journal on this one; it is “pure fluff.” And I can’t argue with the Seattle reporter who wrote, “It's probably unfair to say that flanking Messing's character with a rich drunkard and a gay husband is a throwback to ‘Will & Grace’ but how can a person not notice?”

Really, the premise of the show is silly, and the writing was largely clunky and clichéd. But after watching the first three hours of the miniseries last night (and staying up past my bedtime – good job, Photoqueen), I’m pretty sure I’ll watch the rest tonight just to see if the predictable ending comes true.

I’m not sure what about this show has caught my attention. I could be watching Arrested Development or West Wing or any number of shows now available online. I could be doing laundry. (Okay, not really.) I think it might be because I just love redheads. No, not like I want to marry a redhead. More like I want to be a redhead.

Anyway. That’s what I watched when I discovered Hulu. Anybody else watch this show? Or read the book? Or have an inexplicable desire to devour fluffy chick lit/flicks like a box of cake donuts? Or want to dye your hair a fiery shade of red? Anyone?

The Danger of Reruns and Hulu

Last year’s writers’ strike was a terrible event for all involved. Actors were out of work, writers were out of money, and suffering most of all, viewers like you and me were out of entertainment. Thankfully, just as we were all about to give up hope and the great art of television forever, the parties in dispute came to an agreement.

I won’t pretend to know what that agreement entailed. Actually, I won’t even pretend to know exactly what the whole strike was about in the first place. But I think it had something to do with online television shows. And money. It definitely had to do with money.

No matter what it was about, though, I’ve noticed since then that more TV shows are available online. And for free! It almost makes me want to give up my VCR.

Just kidding. We’re using that thing until it dies. (And considering it’s been around since Mark saved up his allowance to buy it in 1989, that could really be any day now. Any. Day.)

As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve really tried to keep the number of shows I watch regularly to a minimum this year, in an effort to keep my television addiction – I mean, affection – under control. It’s an effort that’s worked pretty well so far and has been helpful when it comes to vital tasks like blogging and laundry. The downfall of that choice, however, is that when one of “my shows” is a rerun, I have nowhere to turn for mindless distraction.

Enter the holidays. And weeks of reruns. And a little website called Hulu.

Now, it’s not that I have lots of extra time or much free time at all. And I certainly haven’t crossed everything – or much of anything – off my December to-do list. But when faced with the thought of watching NO television last night, well, I just couldn’t handle it.

So I watched last week’s episode of The Office. Heh. Funny stuff, that.

And then…then, I turned to Hulu. Hulu, who says, “Watch your favorites. Anytime. For free.” Um, hello? What’s better than that?

So, I clicked. And vegged. And most certainly did not do any laundry. Two hours and 20 minutes later, I made myself log off. And dragged myself to bed.

And dreamed sweet dreams about my new friend, Hulu.

Stay tuned for scenes from next week’s very special episode of “How Photoqueen Wasted Away Another Evening.”

Do you watch TV online? Or do you DVR? Anyone else have an ancient VCR? [For those of you tempted to ask, no, I do not have an 8-track player or a turntable for those big, floppy CDs. I do, however, have a cassette player. So now you don’t have to ask.]

Product Review: Sweet Mint Orbit Gum

I tend to be a real stick in the mud when it comes to gum. Do not ask me to buy a different flavor. As a matter of fact, I get a little flustered if the packaging of my favorite gum changes. And don’t even get me started on how hard it is to find cinnamon Trident at the store these days (virtually impossible, if you’re wondering).

But if someone offers a piece of gum, well, you can’t just turn it down. That would be rude. And possibly foolish, in the case that said person was offering said gum as a polite way to say, “Whew! That pasta salad sure was garlicky, wasn’t it? I mean, dude. I can smell it from here.”

So today I tried a new kind of gum. And I liked it. It was like tossing a handful of butter mints in my mouth after devouring a piece of wedding cake and pretending that the mints were the calorie-free kind. But without all the calories. And the wedding cake.

Orbit’s Sweet Mint gum is good. Try some.

Gimme a break, gimme a break. Break me off a piece of that _____ _____ _____.

I do NOT have a crush on Andy Bernard! I don’t. I’m serious.

However, I love (LOVE) a capella music. Every year, we buy one Christmas CD, and last year’s purchase was the holiday album of Tonic Sol-fa, a four-man a capella group from Minnesota.

So, based on my love for the a capella, you might – like Chelley – assume that I love Andy Bernard from The Office. After all, he is quite the vocalist (see this video for proof, and thanks to Chelley for the link).

But I don’t. Okay? So quit.

I have possibly found Chelley’s future husband, though. Actually, I’ve possibly found her 10 potential future husbands. And their names are Straight No Chaser.

(Thanks to Peter Shankman for bringing this group to my attention!)

Maybe you all have heard of this 10-man a capella group that started at Indiana University back in the 90s? Apparently, the group had a reunion a couple years ago, put video of their old concerts up on Youtube, and almost immediately went viral.

Straight No Chaser sings fun stuff like “Teen Sensation Medley” and “Sitcom Medley,” serious (?) stuff like “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye" and "Lion Sleeps Tonight,” and holiday stuff like “The 12 Days of Christmas” and “Carol of the Bells.” But beware! Once you get started watching these videos, you might just get hooked and lose an hour and a half of your life.

Or maybe that’s just me. (But don’t even tell me you don’t like this one.)

What about you? Do you like a capella music? Do you own a pitch pipe? Are you actually a member of a barbershop quartet?

Edited: I finally found their website. I must have been crazy or blind this morning. Here it is, with a full history on the bio page.

Believing God

I ordered this devotional by Beth Moore, and I can’t wait to start it. Her Believing God study was one of the best I’ve ever done, so I know reading a snippet each day will be encouraging and possibly just as life-changing as the study.

I’m not ready for Christmas and certainly don’t want to wish away my days…but I can’t wait for January, when I get to start this book!

What's your favorite Bible study or devotional or class or learning experience?

Attention, Blog World! Photoqueen Needs Your Advice.

I said to Mark, "I'm looking for a picture where Annalyn looks real innocent."

He said, "Good luck. You might need to go back to the beginning."

So I give you innocent Annalyn - also known as sleeping Annalyn.

Really, she is a sweet girl. But she's also full of spunk and personality. That really came in handy when she was born almost two months early and needed strength and determination and will just to, you know, live. So I'll never be sad about her feistiness. However...

However, as she is transitioning from innocent babe to willful toddler, I'm not sure how to teach her to be a good girl. A sweet child. A well-behaved kid.

This morning, the three of us were snuggling in bed and Annalyn kept playing with Mark's and my hair. She's always liked doing that, and it's kind of cute. Until today, when she decided to forget how to be GENTLE (which we've taught her in regard to cat hair and human hair) and to start YANKING.

It hurt, okay? I know she's little, but it hurt.

We tried speaking sternly. We tried distracting her. We tried smacking her hand and then even spanking her bottom. (Please, if you are anti-spanking, don't lecture me. Just give me tips on alternative discipline!) NONE of this worked. I'm not even kidding, she just looked at us and giggled her head off.

Apparently, hurting Mommy and Daddy and getting in trouble for it is high-larious.

So...advice? Anyone? Please?

"It's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.”

Quote from Abraham Lincoln

Happy birthday to my friend, Amber! You can call it your second 29th birthday all you want, but you have to tell me know how it feels to reach this landmark. (Please…tell me I’ll survive my day coming up!)

Six years ago, I quit my job and moved to Lawrence to start graduate school. I enrolled as a full-time student and a graduate teaching assistant, and it was one of the scariest things I’d ever done. Thankfully, God knew I’d need a friend and sent Amber to Lawrence at the same time. For that one semester – the five months that seemed so long, but was really such a short span of time – Amber was my bestest friend. She was the only person who knew what I was going through with teaching, with classes, with the crazy people in our program. Without her, I might not have made it.

Amber and I were so much alike that we just gelled from the beginning. I already told you that we started talking because she noticed my “hey, I’m a Christian” fish ring. So right away, we knew we had our faith in common. But we also had similar small-town roots and strong Type A personalities with perfectionist tendencies. (Correct me if I’m wrong on that one, Amber!) The best part is, though, that my friend, Amber, is funny and smart and sweet and considerate and still, even six years after I abandoned graduate school and Lawrence, one of my dearest friends.

You might want to call her Dr. Amber, though. Because unlike me, she stayed in school. And this year, she earned her Ph.D. and is now a professor at James Madison University in Virginia. I know she’s making a difference in her students’ lives, teaching them and mentoring them and encouraging them, just like she did at KU. Because she’s awesome like that.

So, happy birthday, Dr. Amber. I love you and wish you a happy, happy 29th! (That’s two “happys” for your second 29th, you know.)

Buy More Books.

We all know the world is suffering a recession right now. Banks and the automakers are asking for bailouts, and retailers are shouting in pain, even as we enter the month-long holiday frenzy. Publishing, struggling with ever-changing technology and media, is not immune, though some have said before that books are recession-proof.

So I guess it should not be surprising that this week, the largest Christian publisher, Thomas Nelson, was forced to lay off about 10 percent of their workforce. Reportedly, Random House, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Borders are suffering this week, too. This, of course, saddens me for the individuals whose lives are being affected. It's easy to read a story about the economy and think about the big picture; it's more difficult to allow myself to think about the people behind the story. The people who don't know how they'll pay their bills or feed their families or ever retire. I'm sad for those people, because I've been there and could someday be there again.

But I'm also sad for the publishing industry, this world of books that I so want to be a part of. (Even if I ended that last sentence in a preposition.) I'm sad for the company that kindly gave me an informational meeting in October. And to be honest, I’m concerned about what this means for my future career possibilities.

So, as you go about your Christmas shopping, I urge you: Buy More Books!

** crickets chirping **

What? Are you remembering my confession that I prefer to check books out of the library? Or thinking that we could probably make arguments to buy most any product as a way to boost the economy? Or do you think that we shouldn’t buy anything this season and save our money under the back porch or the guest bed?

Okay, okay, these are all valid points. Well, maybe not the hiding the money thing. I don’t know how well greenbacks hold up when under dirt. I realize I’m not exactly the poster child for supporting the publishing industry, a sad hypocrisy when compared to my love of books and desire to work in editing. But I’ll have you know that both Photobaby and my grandma are getting books from me this Christmas, and my niece and nephew will both receive a Borders gift card. So, I’m trying here.

What about you? (Seriously.) Do you think books are good gifts?

A book is a gift you can open again and again.
~ Garrison Keillor

Do give books - religious or otherwise - for Christmas.
They're never fattening, seldom sinful, and permanently personal.
~ Lenore Hershey