I saved a life...yet again.

I did it again. I saved another life. Yesterday I donated blood with Candice. We went to IHop with her brother before-hand then met up at the Red Cross. The 50ish year old guy that drew my blood was being trained, so I knew he obviously hadn't stuck many people and I could tell he was nervous. Being a former phlebotomist myself, I was patient, trying not to show my slight nervousness considering that the needle gauge when you donate blood is ginormous. I felt bad, it took him forever, and when the blood started going through the tube when he finally stuck me, he was excited. I asked the girl that was training him if I was his first one, she said 'yes' - yowza.

Candice, Jared, and I raced to see who could fill a pint of blood the fastest - I dominated with 4 min. 35 sec. biotches! Here's me and Candice showing off our blood donating guns.

Christmas Traditions

My family is big on Christmas tradition and don't like to mix it up much - ask any brother-in-law. Christmas Eve is the 'big night' when we all get together and have a turkey or ham dinner and invite a family over. Now that our family has gotten so big, we don't have other families over as often. Then we all gather around the tree and read a christmas story and the kids open one present.

Growning up, on Christmas morning we were not allowed to go downstairs and open presents until we were all gathered on the stairs and mom would take a picture of us...which typically consisted of mom and dad arguing about something for 10 minutes before the picture was taken. (I apologize to all involved about this picture, but keep in mind, it's not as bad as the other gems I could have chosen...also, I look the worst, check out my mullet). This year, it was just me and Nicole. Notice Nicole's devil horns - maybe she was confused and thought it was Satan's birthday.
This is the first year that Noelle has not been here for Christmas. Needless to say, it was a little rough on both of us. She opened a few presents before they left for American Falls. Here's Josie helping Noelle.
Then on Christmas day, we don't really do much. We play with our new 'toys', which in my case, was an iPod Touch (which conviently had a defect so I couldn't do anything with it anyway, I went to exchange it at Costco, and of course, they were out of all of their iPods) then in the evening everyone comes over and we open the presents under the tree. Most years some of us go to a movie. Sinny(mom) and I went to The Curious Case of Benjamin Button...or in Sinny's case, The Curious 'Life' of Benjamin Button. I really liked it.

The Dangly

Ok, so nothing has really been going on lately. I was sick all November with a chest cold and was finally feeling better, but now suddenly I've got a head cold. I feel like maybe my immune isn't working, maybe I have AIDS or something. Anyway, I was thinking, what should I get Nicole for Christmas. Nicole has many interests: Movies, pop verisons of Disney songs, the cats, and 'danglies' (just like how it sounds. It's truely an art form and Nicole is a pro, refer to an earlier post of Nicole dangling in live action). It all started with Scroungy. At one point, mom had hung him over the back porch light to dry and in the process, burned off a limb. He eventually went MIA.

There have been many over the years: Simba, Lamb Chop, Charlie Horse, Pinky...and most recently - Bluey. Call me crazy, but maybe it's time for Bluey to retire.

Birthday

We won't mention my age, but I had a birthday this week. All my sisters, except for Steph (because she lives in beautiful Pocatello) took me to the Jim Brickman Christmas concert on Tuesday night. We went Olive Garden before the show, which is always yummy. Originally, Kirk was going to go but ended up scheduling a work trip at the same time...so poor Ross had to tag along as the only guy. And then at the concert, Josie kept crying so Noelle had to sit on the side, and then Laura ran to the restroom right before the concert started and got back right after the lights went down and they wouldn't let her back to her seat until intermission. So it was just me, Ross and Danielle for half the concert. At one point, Ross looked at Danielle and I with an almost painful look on his face asking where Laura was. I know he just wanted to be at home watching a game. Sorry Ross. Anyway, it was a fun night. Thanks guys!

Then yesterday, Candice came to my office with my favorite homemade oreo cookies and a homemade present. So that's why she was taking pictures in my car with all my pairs of glasses. Thanks Candice! It's on my wall, Biotch.

Ca-raaaazy

This is long, so, prepare yourself...This weekend was JAM PACKED. Candice and I have been planning on going to SLC to see Coldplay for a while now, and it just so happened that Twilight came out on the same weekend. We were going to stay at Steph's house in Pokey so I purchased tickets for Twilight on Oct. 31st for the Friday night showing in Pocatello for the three of us, along with Marlee and her friend Sheridan. All day Thursday I kept thinking I really wanna go to the midnight showing. So when Candice called, she said her sister wanted to go to the midnight showing too. Then mom caught wind, and had to come along. Steph was so bugged that I was going, she couldn't resist, and ended up going with Marlee and Sheridan in Pokey. I've never gone to a midnight showing before, and yowza, it was an experience.

Then Candice and I went to Pocatello on Friday and we all went to Twilight on Friday night, and it was insane again. I really liked the movie, I thought for the budget they had, they did a really good job. There were scenes that I felt were crucial to the story, that were scapped, but otherwise, I loved it. When Robert Pattinson was cast, I was not thrilled, but he'd kinda grown on me over the last year...and as Candice said about his version of Edward, "I would totally make out with him".

Then yesterday, Candice and I went down to the Coldplay concert in SLC with Kirk and Danielle. Candice was a little bored on drive down and look pictures of herself wearing each of my 8 pairs of sunglasses, this was slightly disturbing:

Saturday morning Candice informed me that my hair was going to be curled. I usually straighten it so she and Marlee had to curl it for me. I kinda liked it. Now I just need to learn how to curl it myself.

The concert was awesome! They're really good live, Chris Martin's a funny dude. Candice made her own Coldplay jacket from scratch and wore it to the show. After the concert, we were walking around the venue and people kept staring at her thinking Chris Martin had given her the jacket, it was hilarious. Some people came up and asked if he gave it to her or where they could find one. A couple girls even put it on to take pictures in it.

Then, I discovered No Doubt are planning a tour for 2009. HOLY CRAP!

Thanks Candice for coming and Steph for letting us stay at your house, yet again.

*Cough*

I've had a gross chest cold for a week and a half now. My voice has sounded horrible for 6 days and counting. Last Thursday Dr. Buhrley told me I wasn't allowed to assist, so I had Noelle come in and help. All I wanted to do was nothing over the weekend, but no, I had to go to Pokey for Lincoln's blessing. He's cute so I forgive him.

I sounded kinda like Sophia Bush - Brooke from One Tree Hill. So Russ, being the OTH fan that he is, had me say a string of OTH phrases: "I'm B. Davis", "P. Sawyer", "Tree Hill Ravens", "Clothes Over Bros", "I want a Mexican old lady baby", "my mom had me beaten up at my own store".

In case you don't know what Sophia Bush sounds like, here's an example:

Playlist

I'm sure many of you pause or mute my playlist when you check my blog, I often do that when I visit other blogs. But if you don't, don't be surprised if you hear Chirstmas music, you're not being punk'd.

For me, this is not early. When I was a kid, I would start listening to Christmas music in October. Of course, back then, we had one CD player and that was in the family room. So I'd have to curl up on the couch and listen to it on a Saturday afternoon when no one was watching TV. Now, I can Ipod it up and no one's the wiser.

One of my favorites is this hearbreaking ballad. Don't lie, we all love it. We can't help it. Apparently, Christmas brings out the gay in all of us (not that there's anything wrong with that).