Dear Santa. . . .

Of course we've all heard the saying, "Be careful what you wish for because you just might get it." The Christmas season has just begun, and thus begins the season for wishing and making lists for Santa Claus of all the things we want.

Last year at work we planned for our annual Secret Santa drawing. To lessen the headache of trying to think of something to buy for the person whose name we were assigned, we posted a list of the names of all the employees on 1 North and each person was responsible for writing something they wanted beside their name.

I mulled over this list for weeks before standing before it and writing down my wish for Santa. I narrowed my selection down to the one thing I had always wanted, yet still didn't have. I knew it was a long shot, but at least everyone else would get a good laugh out of it.

Someone tall dark and handsome. . . . .

I was right about my wish being good for a laugh. I had the entire unit buzzing about who to set me up with. When the day of the actual gift exchange came I ended up going home with a new hair dryer - not exactly what I had in mind. Little did I know that 4 months later I would get exactly what I had always dreamed of - someone tall dark and very handsome.

So it's true, be careful what you wish for because you just might get it. You may not get it right away. It may take awhile. It may take a long while. But if you're lucky, you just might get it!

Women Are From Earth, Men Are From Who Knows Where. . . .

Actually it's really Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus, but this is not a book, this is the real world with real people in it.

I suppose it really isn't quite accurate to say that all women are from Earth because I've certainly seen my fair share of women who were not operating on all four cylinders. But what I can say is that I sure am.

I'm a pretty down to Earth kind of girl (no pun intended). I know what I want, and depending on what that something is I'm usually willing to go out there and get it.

I mean what I say, and I say what I mean. I'm not about sugarcoating things and making them sound nice, although I firmly believe in tact. Some people have a naturally wonderful sense of tact while others leave something to be desired. Yet with a little practice, I really do believe, for the most part, that it is something that can, and should be done.

I'm honest, which goes right along with the aforementioned. I find little point in lying about anything because it's sure to just come right back around and further complicate the situation.

But men, that's a whole nother ballgame.

I don't understand them and sometimes I wonder if I ever will. Sometimes I play the fly on the wall game. People, men in this instance, make their way around me and then start running their mouth, not knowing all the while, that I'm listening. I may look busy, which actually is true, I am busy - listening to them! I hear the things they talk about and wonder how it is that some of us coexist.

Men, you can't live with them, and you can't kill them. . . . .

Harley Girl!

I never really thought of myself as a Harley-type girl. And it's not that there is anything wrong with Harley Davidson motorcycles. I've always loved motorcycles. I suppose I let myself fall victim to the stereotype that comes with those types of bikes. When I think of Harleys I usually think of rough, tatooed, old men with long unkept beards, and long straggly hair.

About a week ago Thumper and I were bored and so we just hopped in Bianca and started aimlessly driving around. We ended up in Chattanooga at the Harley Davidson dealership. I had never been there before and so I was a little excited to see what it was like. Thumper warned me though that we could not spend too much time in the showroom because of course, he would see something he wanted. Ironically, we were there until closing time. They practically had to kick us out.

While he was walking around talking to one of the salesmen, I found her. There she was, one of the most beautiful motorcycles I have ever seen. Modeled after motorcycles that were driven in the post-war era, the Crossbones looks like a bike you would see in an old 1940's movie. As Thumper came back around to where I was standing I pointed her out to him. For the rest of the evening we wandered around and would select a bike and ask me how I liked it compared to the Crossbones. Everytime my response was the same, "I like mine better." Apparently I said it so much that after sitting on it he was just as convinced as I was.

Thus it is that my perspective has changed. Harleys are a household name, the manufacturer of a very classy, well-made, very expensive, motorcycle. Now all we need to do is find some money so we can buy that beauty!

The Countdown Begins!

Only 41 days and counting till Christmas! As hard a decision as it was, I have decided to spend the holiday here in Tennessee despite the fact that I am not scheduled to work.

Normally, if I was not scheduled to work the holiday I would be hopping in Bianca and headed North. But this year with gas prices still in limbo, and my hunny here in Tennessee, it wasn't too hard to decide to just stay put!

And the best news of all is that I'm done with my Christmas shopping except for a few here's and there's for Thumper's stocking. I can hardly contain myself and the surprises I have up my sleeve for this year!

Phillies World Series Champs!

My sentiments exactly!