Ticklin' the Ivories

We got our piano today! Yay! Unfortunately my right hand is a little sore from something or another, so I can't play very long, but it is not terribly out of tune, so DH and I are having fun tinkering on it. We've pulled out the old piano books and are having to learn all the old familiar tunes again. I am sure that this was meant to be, as it has been raining all day and stopped long enough for us to move it into the house. Maybe we can have a carolling party next year!

Call me iPodded

DH gave me a purple iPod shuffle for Christmas! You can now call me officially iPodded. We still enjoy using the iPod mini that I gave him for his birthday back in '05 - still works like a champ and we love using it in the car on long trips. I will love using my shuffle at work, though. Love the little clip too - that way I can leave my desk and still be plugged in. Here's a pic of me sporting said iPod as well as my new glasses. Hope everyone got something that they wished for today!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Spirit

DH had been saving a very special Christmas display to show me and SIL for about two weeks now. So we drove by this house yesterday night (without a camera) and had to go back by tonight to take some pictures. It was off of Peachtree-Dunwoody and had NO LESS than 40 of those inflatable yard displays!! No kidding! It also included lights, some music, and a rotating propeller on the Santa in a plane. Also, our fave Midtown house with "Angry Snowman" is up again this year, so we of course had to go by and see that one too. Turns out the lights with Angry Snowman are synchonized with music - we didn't see the sign that says "Tune into 94.5 FM" sign in the front lawn until this evening, so we listened in the car, and sure enough it was synchronized to a Christmas tune as well as Bohemian Rhapsody - hilarious!

Tonight, we are at home baking sugar cookies and my Mom's yummy sugared pecans. The house smells great and it is certainly helping us get into the Christmas spirit!

In Memory of Bailey

Santa Paws

Santa Paws came a little early and brought Thoth his Christmas outfit. I meant to make this a lot earlier this month, but in working tons this week towards a deadline on Friday, I needed to take a little breather and do some creative activity before I crashed for the night. Here is Thoth sporting his new bandana. He doesn't seem to mind it too much, plus I made it even looser than his normal collar. I hope he doesn't decide to chew the thing off. At least he'll be handsome and presentable when the in-laws come to visit this weekend. Like he isn't already...

My new glasses are ready so I hope to swing by the eye doc's office sometime tomorrow to pick them up. I'll be sure to post a photo of my new specs tomorrow!

All I want for Christmas...

...is a piano! That's right, we're getting a piano for Christmas! Our friend Val has an old Wurlitzer console, black lacquer, that we'll be getting in two weekends. Very exciting, as DH and I have been wanting one, just not willing to pay out the wazoo to get one. I don't have a photo currently, but will post one as soon as we get it. Yay!

Snowball fight!

Okay, so it's been pouring rain all day, not snowing. But at least I can have some fun and pretend...

Some of my coworkers have recently amused me with Jib Jab links, so I had to make one of my own today. Enjoy!

http://www.jibjab.com/sendables/view/ldpzqK3TeENArSfHx8oRdLW9

Getting to Know Me - Christmas Edition

I got this from Dely today, so here goes...

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper - I esp. like brown paper w/fancy ribbon

2. Real tree or Artificial? Real – even our cat likes it

3. When do you put up the tree? Around sis’s birthday (4th) or a little after

4. When do you take the tree down? Epiphany or whenever we need to take it to the tree recycling place

5. Do you like Eggnog? It’s okay – I like boiled custard better. Not spiked.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? One of my memorable ones was the Strawberry Shortcake strawberry carriage with the snails pulling it – it smelled like strawberries too!

7. Do you have a Nativity scene? Yes – a Jim Shore one and I love it. Took me years to find one I liked. FIL and SMIL gave it to me for Christmas a few years ago.

8. Hardest person to buy for? Dad and FIL

9. Easiest person to buy for? David

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail, but sometimes an additional email w/photos goes out to family.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? A rock. (I thought that would sound like a good answer!) But it was really just representing “Something heavy” that was waiting for me in the garage – a firesafe (that I actually asked for) that my parents didn't want to carry upstairs. You know you’re getting older when you ask for a firesafe for Christmas!

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? A Christmas Story – “You’ll shoot your eye out!”

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I try to find things all year – I hate shopping the week before!

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I don’t think so.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? My friend Tim's homemade English toffee. And sugar cookies, esp. with sugar chunks on top.

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Currently clear, but maybe blue one of these years.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Most all of them. I like to play "Joy to the World" really loud on the piano.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Both. Prefer to be home for Christmas, though.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yes. (It didn't ask me to actually name them, did it?)

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Currently a brass star ornament, but it’s temporary until we find or make something that we really like. I grew up with an angel on top of our tree.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas Morning. More like Christmas afternoon now that we all sleep in. But crack of dawn when my sister was little.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Mall traffic (which is why I don’t go) and cheesy versions of perfectly good Christmas songs on Muzak

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? We try to pick ornaments that symbolize events or things in our lives, so I guess just the ornaments themselves are my favorites.

24. Do you have a stocking? Yes, but currently no mantle on our fireplace, so we have to get creative as to how/where to hang them up.

25. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Anything my Mom cooks, MIL’s lamb roast, or anything FIL puts on the smoker.

26. What do you want for Christmas this year? A Wii would be cool, but I don't think that's happening with supply issues and all. And probably not the Nikon D80 'cause it's too expensive. Sparklies, purple iPod, and an ink jet printer would be nice. And world peace, of course.

O Christmas Tree

We finally got our tree last night - about a week later than we had hoped, and the pickings were getting slim. But we are happy with our "Dougie 4" and will hopefully finish getting it trimmed up nice tonight. Thoth enjoyed sniffing it down thoroughly - hopefully it will still be standing when we get home this evening!

Thinking about "O Christmas Tree" reminds me of German class in high school, when we learned traditional Christmas songs in German, but also the classic "O Tom the Toad" - it was a fun one to sing at that high-school age. If you're unfamiliar with this version, you can check out the lyrics here: http://www.scoutsongs.com/lyrics/tomthetoad.html. (I had no idea that this was considered a "scout" song!)

Holiday Parties

We had our flurry of holiday parties this past weekend - one with work and one with our good friend Val who hosts a fabulous annual get together full of yummy treats. Our work party was at the New World of Coca-Cola, which we finished constructing earlier this year, and it was a great time. The space looked great, the food was fantastic, and we had a great turnout of both employees and clients. Plus it was a nice excuse to get dressed up! Val's party had several delicious cookies, one cinnamon sugar one that tasted almost like the Biscoff cookies you get on Delta that I need to get the recipe for. The other favorite of mine is the English toffee that her DH makes - to die for!

Bucky for Mayor!

Found out this morning that Bucky won his runoff for Mayor of Norcross! Congrats, Bucky! Bucky Johnson was Director of Bands at GT for most of my time there, and did a great job.
http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/main.asp?SectionID=6&SubSectionID=84&ArticleID=7967

I also forgot in my post last night to wish my dear sister a HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY! :) (It was on the 4th.)

I (heart) the GT Wesley Foundation!

We had our biannual board meeting at the Wesley Foundation tonight. Lots of complements on the renovation work that we did this summer to the main fellowship area. Being head of the building committee, that made me very happy. There's still lots to do, with the kitchen renovation hopefully happening this coming summer 2008 - keep your fingers crossed that we continue to move our alumni and friends to contribute to this worthy (and much needed!) cause. DH and I spent a lot of time in this building during our time at Tech, and it is a very meaningful ministry to us and many of our friends. Architecturally speaking, this building was designed by Sam T. Hurst and Paul Heffernan in 1959 and built in 1960. It is a significant piece of architecture on campus - very different from any of the other buildings. If you're interested in making an end-of-the-year donation, check out the website: http://www.gtwf.org/. You can even make donations online now! Ah...technology...

Great food at Shaun's

I had a great meal last night with the AIA Atlanta Tour Committee at Shaun's Restaurant in Inman Park. It was our end-of-the-year thank you dinner for all of the volunteers this year. The flatbread appetizer was tasty, as was my diver scallops entree and chocolate tart dessert. A little on the expensive side for me (but I wasn't paying), but definitely worth it if you want to treat yourself: http://www.shaunsrestaurant.com/

Milestone for Mysti

My good 'ole car Mysti reached a milestone today on the way into work. At 9 am EST on the North Ave. exit ramp, she rolled over to 100,000 miles! I got her with about 20,000 miles in June 1997, after coming back from Paris, so it's been just over 10 years that I have had her. (Incidentally, DH's new car Nixie that we got at the end of March this year rolled over 10,000 miles earlier this month - love the Civic!) 100,000 and still ticking...

Happy Turkey Day, Everyone!

I hope everyone enjoys a good meal with family and friends. Drive safely, too. We will be having turkey and yummy pies at DH's Grandmother Clo's house. (No animals were harmed in the making of the above greeting...)

Snack dogs

I will be the first to admit that I do not take to "snack dogs" well - you know, the small, hyper, yippy, need-to-make-up-for-my-small-size kind of dogs. (I believe I first heard this term from David's cousin Dawn, because they would be a snack for her huskies - kidding, of course!) I am more of a working dog fan, like retrievers (although *some* fall into the dumb/hyper category), labs, border collies, corgies (they're the smallest I go), and of course Great Pyrenees (like my dog-niece, Bailey). I do, however, have to say that Jennifer's friends, Danielle and Jonathan, have two of the nicest Chihuahuas I have ever met (and may ever meet). Here's a cute photo of Leia (aka Baby Girl) and Brynn. They're so cute you just want to eat them up! (Just kidding!) We dog-sat some while we were in Charlotte this past weekend. Here's also a photo of Bailey with her "Wanna Biscuit?" ears on.

Speaking of snacks, there's going to be some of my favorite snacks this coming Turkey Day at David's grandmother Clo's house - can't wait for one of her homemade pies! She makes the best meatloaf and biscuits I have ever had too, but her lemon chess is the absolute best!

Fun in Charlotte

We are having a great time visiting Jennifer in Charlotte. Last night we met up in Greenville at The Handlebar to see the Mad Tea Party (out of Asheville) and Asylum Street Spankers (out of Austin TX) - great show and venue! Christina is a master at playing the musical saw. Also, the food and service up front was fantastic too. I highly recommend giving them a try if you're in the neighborhood.

Today we shadowed Jennifer around a little with her job and did some Christmas shopping. Looking forward to a yummy dinner tonight - I think we are trying Indian!

Escape Artist

Here's Thoth, looking to escape out the front door again. David and I were cleaning house this evening, taking things outside to dust off, etc., and of course Thoth had to take the opportunity to sneak out the front storm door (not latched all the way) and wander out into the darkness (and wetness - it actually showered a little this evening!) without his reflective collar on, of course. Guilty as charged! Luckily he is not very good at "running away" from home, and we found him in our next door neighbor's yard.

We're visiting Jennifer in Charlotte this weekend, meeting her tomorrow night in Greenville to catch two bands that we like very much, playing at The Handlebar - Mad Tea Party and Asylum Street Spankers! Yay!

Leaf blower

The leaves have started to fall. Last fall, DH and I finally gave in to buying a leaf blower after 3 falls of raking leaves in our yard by hand. I don't know what took us so long! I am really loving it now, and although I am disappointed that I have given in to using "demon electricity" (as one of our favorite bands, Asylum Street Spankers, refers to it), it saves me a ton of time and makes me feel like I am keeping up with the Joneses in our neighborhood. Don't get me wrong - I still don't think we'll be getting that "Yard of the Month" sign any time soon... (Speaking of the Spankers: Do you have neighbors that like to use their leaf blower/chainsaw at 8 am on a Saturday morning? Check out the Asylum Street Spankers song, "Leaf Blower" - it is hilarious!)

The drought has wreaked havoc on some of our plants and trees in the yard. I can tell now which branches on trees have died, etc. But I don't think we have lost anything major. Spring will tell. Here's photos of one of our hydrangeas and one of our dogwoods (red) with our across-the-street neighbor's yellow tree in the background.

Shop 'til you drop

So Cyndi and I hit 3 dress shops today to look at wedding dresses for her and bridesmaid dresses. I think we both agree that we shopped 'til we dropped today. We did find a few promising dresses, so at least we have a few picked out that we can show the others. Time for bed!

Canstruction 2007

Okay, so we didn't get a prize, but I still think our Canstruction was really cool! Go Aqua Teen Hunger Force! Here's a photo of me with our masterpiece at the gala this evening. In all, the whole Rosser gang did a great job - not only did we field a team (go Captain Becky!), we also had 4 other employees in leadership roles organizing Canstruction Atlanta 2007. Great job everyone!

On another topic, I have the distinct honor of being Matron of Honor (that makes me sound old!) for my friend Cyndi's wedding next summer. We're going dress shopping tomorrow! Yay!

Wire Wrapping

Thought I'd show off two of the wire wrapping pieces that I have made. I learned how to make these two bracelets at classes held at Bead Bayou, a bead shop up in Cumming, GA, that I discovered through my friend Val, who is extremely crafty and actually showing some of her jewelry at a friend's art gallery this holiday season. They were both not to difficult to make, as the pattern was repetitive on both and once you got started were easy to move along. I had fun making them, and even made the first one again for my sister's graduation gift!

Canstruction build-out went well this evening. David and I were able to help construct Master Shake and Frylock before giving up our shifts to other teammates. I'll post a final picture of our masterpiece after we attend the award gala tomorrow night. Keep your fingers crossed that it stays standing tonight for the judging tomorrow morning!

Temperatures

Brrr! It's starting to get cold here and the temperature is supposed to drop to "unseasaonable" freezing temps tonight. I am really starting to miss Hawaii now! In talking with my cousin's in-laws who live in Oahu, I was surprised to learn that it never gets hotter than 95 degrees there, year round. Must be nice. Here's a nice photo that my sister took of me and David at my cousin's wedding with the sunset. (Ignore the ugly fence.) Really missing that weather!

Speaking of weather, here's the nerdy bit of info for the day. We had a Lunch 'N Learn with Owens Corning about their rigid insulation today and they told us about a handy calculator online if you ever need to calculate the R-value of a metal stud wall with insulation assembly - cool tool for us architect-types - check out this Oak Ridge National Laboratory site. Okay, enough of the nerdy stuff.

Build-out for Canstruction is tomorrow night, and I am very excited! Look out for the final photo on Friday...

Canstruction under construction

Today at work, my coworkers and I who are participating in Canstruction did a practice build-out at the office. The final build-out will be at Underground Atlanta Thursday night, with the opening gala on Friday night. We're building the three characters from Aqua Teen Hunger Force (from Adult Swim on Cartoon Network) - Master Shake, Frylock, and Meatwad. It's going to look pretty awesome - here's a preview photo.

Lena also posted her Hawaii photos today: http://picasaweb.google.com/heungl/Hawaii102007102707.

Testing 1, 2, 3...

I thought it was finally time I tried this blogging thing, since I realized this week that I have a few blogs discovered over time that I really enjoy reading, and for some old friends, it's been the only way I've been able to keep up with their lives recently (sad, but true). So here's my attempt at keeping friends updated about what's going on with me. Here's our handsome cat, Thoth, sporting a very dashing bandanna that I made for him recently. (Does making accessories for my cat make me a bad cat mom? I didn't make him wear a Halloween costume, but then again, he IS a black cat...)