Presumed to be awesome.

We've had a lovely, low-key Christmas. I finally got around to doing some holiday baking, and there is now a whole array of yummy cookies on our kitchen table. Last night it was just me and my mom; I made some yummy gumbo for our Christmas Eve dinner and we got our festive on with some Malibu rum and pineapple juice!

This morning I woke up to Rhyan in the hallway yelling "WAKEY, WAKEY! Time to open presents!" :D The girls had a fun time tearing through the boxes and wrapping paper and after playing with their new toys for while it was blessedly nap time. Sadly my nap was a short one, as I had to get the turkey and the various turkey-dinner accouterments cooking. The turkey is now in the oven and everything else is done. Seriously, I've done enough cooking in the past 48 hours to feed a small army. Obviously, around these parts, food is the reason for the season! *g*

Like I said, lovely and low-key. Whatever winter holiday you celebrate, I hope you've also had a lovely one, surrounded by those you love. And if you haven't yet, help me spread a little holiday cheer!

October already??? How the heck did that happen? Seriously, this year is just zooming by. But, I do gotta say that I'll be happy to see summer and its hellish temps gone. Please to be bringing on Fall now, Mother Nature!

I've been cranking out the resumes and werking the job search this week. And, seriously, this shit is exhausting. It's just damn tiring to be "selling" yourself all the time! Yes, I'm fabulous, now hire me dammit! *sigh*

In betterer news, the Phoenix AIDS Walk is this Sunday and now not only is my mom walking with me *loves* but my 7 year old niece, Rianna, is also walking! She told me today that she's invited to a birthday party on Sunday, but she'd rather do the AIDS Walk with me because that's more important. So proud of her!

In other Octoberish news, I really want to go see this burlesque show! They have a show on Saturday and then a Halloween show on October 30th. Any locals wanna go with me?

Also, relevant to none of the above, I really want a Datman T-shirt!!! Jeremy Shockey tweeted about getting a new Datman shirt because he had worn his old one out with too many washings! Haha! He's fabulous! So is that t-shirt! *wants*

I had a lovely holiday weekend. I drove down to Tucson for the 4th and spent the day splashing around in the pool, eating yummy food, and drinking delicious adult beverages with the familia. I also got a much needed hair cut from my cousin, who set up the back porch as an outdoor salon and styled and cut just about everyone's hair, all while wearing a bikini and high heels. She has an excellent rack so I think that this would make for a very lucrative business idea! Hell, I'm her cousin and so not interested in her rack in any prurient sense, and still tipped her well for the value added service. *g*

I was offline all weekend, so I'm probably behind on everyone and everything. If something terribly exciting and/or important happened in your life in the past five days, please do let me know.

Otherwise, it's occurred to me that there are a variety of assorted things that I've yet to ramble about here, so I think I'll do that now.

:: Last Thursday the D'backs (finally!) fired A.J. Hinch as Manager and GM Josh Byrnes. If you've not picked up on my deep and abiding hatred for A.J. you've just not been paying attention. I literally let out a whoop of joy when I got the text about the firings. A.J. should never have been managing a major league team and we shouldn't be keeping around a GM who thought that hiring him was a good idea. So, yeah, I'm pretty damn happy that they're both gone. I think Kurt Gibson was the right choice for interim manager and I'm curious to see what the franchise decides to do going forward. No matter what they do, I don't think it's possible to make a worse choice than A.J. Of course, getting rid of the faux-manager and the idiot GM in no way is going to solve all of this team's problems. Let's face it, we're a fucking mess. But it's certainly a good start, and I'm glad to see the D'backs ownership finally make that move.

:: I'm not sure what it is with me and technology lately, but the Electronic Gods seem to be angry with me. First it was my laptop that had a complete meltdown. Almost $200 and two weeks later, and it's finally back and in working order. Then today I discover that my iPod has apparently suffered some type of stroke. It's still playing, but my screen is completely out and the menu function doesn't work; so I can only play what I was playing when it was last working properly. Now y'all know that I love Adam Lambert like WHOA, but I'm thinking that at some point soon I'll want to listen to something else. I found a used, but functional iPod on eBay at a relatively cheap price that I'm hoping will hold me over until I potentially get an iPhone next year. But, seriously, what do I need to do to get back in the Electronic Gods' good favor again???

Speaking of electronic gadgets, though, I did order that Flip video camera and it should be arriving this week -- here's hoping it's resistant to this electronics curse I'm suffering under.

:: I got caught up on Friday Night Lights yesterday, and, really, I don't think it's possible for me to love this show any more. Coach Taylor continues to be one of my favorite male characters on t.v. right now. Also, Coach Taylor soaking wet on the sidelines is a beautiful thing! And the Riggins brothers continue to be well intentioned but incredibly stupid and I don't know what it says about me that I obviously have a soft spot for that kind of thing! And I want to be Mrs. T when I grow up. Seriously, she's just awesome in every way. And I'm really liking the diversity in the new characters and I'm enjoying the layers that are slowly being added to these new faces. In short, I LOVE THIS SHOW!!!

:: Another show that I'm really diggin' is Drop Dead Diva. It's pure fluff, but it's enjoyable fluff. And I love that the main character is plus size, and yet the show isn't treating her or her story lines as if "plus size" is the only or even the main defining characteristic.

:: IN FOUR DAYS I WILL BE GETTING MY GLAM NATION ON!!!!! Louisville this weekend! So exciting!!! *throws glitter*

Oh, man, I just enjoyed the most epically lazy Sunday! It was fabulous!

I did very little else other than read, watch baseball, make yummy fruit smoothies for lunch, and goof around with The Nieces. It was a lovely day!

I did do a bit of trip planning that didn't involve Glam Nation tour stops. Namely a long weekend in San Diego in early September for a family wedding. This would be little fun at all if not for the fact that the wedding is at a gorgeous resort (spa time!), there will be an open bar (drunk time!) and I'm thinking of taking The Nieces so they can have a day at Sea World (fun time!).

Also, when Diana's Grove came up in conversation with my mom, she remembered me telling her that this was the last year the Grove would be operating and said she'd really like to go for a weekend. I think this is truly awesome! She really wants to go! So we're making plans to go for the Feast of Persephone in late September. It's so cool to see her so excited about this! And I'm absolutely thrilled to be able to get back to the Grove one more time. <3

In all, this has been a damn good Sunday.

Christmas was, for the most part, lovely.

Christmas Eve was somewhat less than lovely as it was spent at my aunt's house and I've decided that's the last time that's going to happen. There are some people I tolerate at holidays because, dammit all, they're family, and despite their various flavors of crazy and even some out-right fucked-up-ness, I love 'em. But, I will NOT spend another holiday with her creepy almost-but-not-quite-ex-husband, being his typical asshole self, and making everyone around him either uncomfortable or furious. There is simply not enough alcohol in the world for me to adequately deal with that shit. So, first resolution for 2010, no more holidays with assholes who are not family and I therefore do not have to tolerate.

Christmas day, however, was wonderful. The Nieces (and their parents) came over on Christmas morning and while the adults caffeinated, they ripped into their holiday loot. There were bikes and skateboards and books and games and all kinds of nifty things. They were both beside themselves with glee. There was menudo for breakfast and later I cooked up a humongous pot of gumbo for dinner. Cultural mash-up FTW!!!

In the better-late-than-never category: thank you to all of you who sent lovely holiday cards! I loved getting such wonderful reminders of the amazing people I have in my life! Y'all ARE the "merry and bright" part of the holidays and every day! *mwah* I'm also very sorry that I didn't get my holiday cards out this year. Please know that I love you all and wish you all the love and laughter possible in the year to come!

So, other than catching up with family and eating more yummy food than is probably advisable, the rest of my holiday weekend has been spent reading Yuletide fic! It's been awesome!!!

Here are some of my favorites so far:

Fandom: Black Dagger Brotherhood (Ward)
- Gifted (Butch/Vishous)

Fandom: Dark Hunter series (Sherrilyn Kenyon)
- it all started out as such an ordinary day (Dev Peltier/Sundown)

Fandom: Nightrunner series (Flewelling)
- Taking What the Gods Send (Alec/Seregil)

Fandom: Glee
- By Far the Most Volatile (Kurt/Puck)

Fandom: American Idol RPF
- Sensory Overload (Kris/Adam)

- I Can't Turn This Around (Kris/Adam): Amnesia!Fic. Just really well done, paced perfectly, with great character development. So good!

- They Come in Threes (AI/Merlin Crossover, Kris/Adam, feat. Merlin): This was absolutely DELIGHTFUL!!!

- Just a Kiss (Adam/Tommy)

Not Yuletide, but still eminently rec-able and thoroughly satisfying reading:
- On Skin (Adam/Tommy, R) by janescott

- Even the Losers Get Lucky Sometimes (AI/SYTYCD: Adam/Jakob Karr, NC-17) by mosca: Finally!!!!! \o/ Attention fic writers: MORE OF THIS PLEASE!!!!!

So, there you go, lots of good stuff to read! Now I need to get back to my lovely holiday weekend, which will of necessity have to include a little more productivity and a lot less awesome fic reading today. *sadface* My brother, sister in law, and the girls are moving in this week, so I need to get the office moved and the house ready for tripling the number of inhabitants. Dear gods, this is going to be insane! But, you do what you gotta do, right? Anyway, hope y'all are having/have had an equally lovely holiday weekend! *mwah*

I'm pretty sure I reached my quota of crazy sometime Monday afternoon, and somehow the crazy keeps coming. *shakes head* I've been working insane hours and just managing to keep my head above water, but I think I've talked The Boss into hiring another law clerk and a litigation paralegal more minions, so hopefully I'll be able to dig myself out sometime before the new year!

In other craziness, my brother, sister in law, and the girls will be moving in with me and my mom next week. They just got word that the short sale on their house went through and they need to be out of their house by the first of December. Their options are limited, so it looks as if they'll be living here for a while. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I can help them out, and I love my nieces like nothing else, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to go slightly out of my mind with so many people in the same space.

In better news, dance continues to be made of pure awesomeness. We're choreographing a killer swing to Adam Lambert's For Your Entertainment. It's insane, but I'm having so much fun with it! I also managed to get back on track with the trainer. He righteously kicked my ass on Saturday. I hurt like hell the next day. It was awesome. *g*

I also finally managed to get caught up with Sons of Anarchy this past weekend. Holy hell. That show rocks so hard. Gemma, Clay, Tara, and Jax KILED ME DED in that last scene. All of them are just so awesomely fucked up and complicated, and yet there's something in all of them that I just can't help but love!

White Collar rocks pretty hard too. How much do I love Neal and Peter? Lots. Lots and lots. ♥

I am, however, still woefully behind on Supernatural with very little motivation to get caught up. *shrugs*

So, due to aforementioned craziness, I feel completely disconnected from everything and everyone. So talk to me people! What's up? *g*

Thank you so much for all the birthday love yesterday! The texts, twitters, posts, v-gifts, cards, and emails absolutely made my day! And all of you absolutely MAKE MY LIFE! Seriously, I am blessed beyond measure with the most amazing friends and I am grateful every day that you're in my life.

My birthday was pretty damn awesome. First there was the weekend of birthday shenanigans with my L.A. girls, which was all kinds of fabulous. Then last weekend hewet_ka_ptah came up on Saturday for a day of mojitos and shopping. She managed to get me hooked on Drop Dead Diva and we had a great time doing some long overdue catching up and hanging out! Then on Tuesday night, annkiri made a layover at my place on her way back home and any time spent in her lovely company is a good time!

Yesterday I came in to work late, so that I could squeeze in a few more hours with Becca. When I finally did get to the office, there were beautiful flowers waiting for me on my desk. They are making my office smell so good! The staff bought me a carrot cake, which we delved into at lunch. After work, my family took me out to dinner to my favorite Mexican restaurant. There were, unsurprisingly I'm sure, many margaritas involved in the birthday celebrations! Rianna was super excited to give me the birthday card she picked out for me. It played the chicken dance song when you opened it up, so Rianna and Rhyan spent the evening dancing around to my birthday card! It was hilarious! My brother and sister-in-law obviously know me well, because their birthday presents to me were a bottle of Patron tequila and Sprinkles cupcakes! *laughs* They just needed to have it delivered by a hot stripper and it would have been all of my favorite things in one awesome gift!!! My mom also knows me well, as she got me the perfume I've been wanting for forever and not one, but FOUR gorgeous bags! (I've got a ridiculous thing for purses!) I had a difficult time deciding which one to use this morning! But it's a problem I like having. :)

And while not technically birthday related, highdreams made me an amazing Adam header and saved me from me technical ineptitude by customizing my layout for me! Check it! moonmelody!!! I love it muchly!!!

Speaking of Adam and all my birthday-related awesomeness, this weekend _lisalisa_ and I go to the Kansas City show, which is definitely my birthday gift to me. I am so excited I can barely contain myself!!!

So, yes, my birthday rocked. And I'm expecting no less from the year ahead. Who's with me? :)

My weekend was completely hijacked by The Elder Niece Child. I had planned on taking her to see Up last night and we did and it was fantastic. But then she decided she wanted a sleep over. Which we did, and considering she was nearly asleep by the time we got home from the movies, it was far less exhausting than a sleep over with a 6 year old can normally be. But then we woke up this morning and she announced that she needed pen and paper in order to MAKE A LIST OF THINGS TO DO TODAY!!! On the one hand, HILARIOUS, because this child SO shares my DNA. On the other hand, her list effectively pronounced the demise of my Sunday "to do" list. So, instead of laundry and grocery shopping and a car wash and oil change and lazing about reading Adam/Kris fic, my Sunday was spent at the McDonald's play area, and going for ice cream, and then hitting up the bookstore (see what I mean about the shared DNA???), and then, and then, and THEN. She had a whole LIST full of "and thens"!!!

Now the weekend is practically over, and I'm just getting started with that laundry and my "to do" list went woefully undone.

But, thankfully, ( Adam Lambert is still FABULOUS and makes everything better! )

Also, rumor has it that Adam's Rolling Stone cover will involve nothing more than Adam's fabulousness, a strategically placed snake, and an apple. Please, gods, let this be true!!!

( And, finally, Kris is so wee! )

Wait! Baseball post script! First, dear D'backs bullpen, if you can please stop blowing huge leads in late innings I might be able to love you again. Until then, you will continue to receive my disdain. Second, though, way to go boys for sticking in there and finally putting up the W after 18 innings!!! \o/ Dear gods, I thought that game would never end.

Friday my brother, mom, Rianna, Rhyan, and I all went to the D'backs/Dodgers game. The girls were all decked out in their D'backs gear. The cameraman loved Rhyan and Rianna because we were on the jumbo tron 5 times during the course of the game! Seriously, every time I looked up, there we were. It was a bit disconcerting after a while. Rianna, of course, thought it was the coolest thing ever. And Rhyan was just busy lapping up all the attention she could from everyone around us. Good times!

( Family night at the ballpark! )

It was a good game, with the D'backs winning it 9-4. In the first week of season, the only two games that the D'backs have won have been the two games that I've been at. Obviously, I NEED to be at the ballpark more often! For the good of the team, of course. *g*

We had great seats, just behind the home dugout. So, naturally, I took lots of pictures. Although I didn't take as many as I normally would have, as I was trying to keep up with a very wiggly 1 year old who was hamming it up for the jumbo tron!

( Hot baseball players!!! )

Saturday was spent working. I'm going to be in trial for the next two weeks, staring Tuesday, so I spent most of the day at the jail going over last minute details with my client. For the record, spending the afternoon at the county jail is NOT my idea of a fun Saturday! It was an awesomely rainy and cloudy day, too -- the kind where you just want to curl up with a good book and laze about the house. We don't get very many of those 'round these parts, so it felt like a wasted opportunity. *shrugs* Oh, well. You do what you gotta do.

Today, however, was significantly better as I decided to ignore work for most of the day! We celebrated Easter in our non-religious, candy-filled way at a park. Lots of good food, kiddos having fun with their Easter egg hunt, more desserts than should be legal. Good times! :)

( Rianna and Rhyan in their pretty Easter dresses! )

I hope y'all had a great weekend too!

Should you ever, for whatever reason, find yourself with a book that has been partially or completely submerged in water, or, really, any other liquid substance, do not, under any circumstances, attempt to accelerate the natural drying process by placing said wet book in a device otherwise used for cooking purposes, such as, for example, a microwave oven.

( Should you choose to not heed my warning, the disastrous results will likely look something like this. )