#74 God Don't Like Ugly ~Mary Monroe (great book)

#75 Lifeguard ~ James Patterson.

So I am thinking that I may be done for the year. I have another James Patterson book that I snagged from my parents that I can probably finish before Monday. 75 sounds like a nice round number however. We shall see. I need something to keep me occupied on the bus. I will be doing the challenge again in the coming year, however instead of doing what I did this year, which was tack on 10 books to the previous year (I think I was trying to read 68 books) I think I am going to do 50 books, with at least 5 of them being classics. So what are some of your favorite classics that are absolute must reads?? I have a few that I have tried but I get bored....I do need to expand my reading horizon however. I am up to suggestions!!

It was a quick trip. Friday Morning I flew into Phoenix, yesterday I returned home. It was a nice relaxing visit with my parents, sister, bro-in-law and cousin. We mainly watched football and movies. Not a bad way to spend a few days at all. Christmas was lovely and quiet. I was so very happy to be able to feel the baby move on Christmas Day. Scott is mad, he hasn't felt her move yet. My sister and I kept trying to get him to feel again but he was being stubborn. I took advantage because I won't get to feel her moving that much. I bet in Feb when they are here for Mardi Gras we will all be able to feel her kickin and a movin.

So here I am back in NOLA, it is time to dive into the craziness. Tonight it is a big show at HOB featuring Beatin Path, Bonerama and Cowboy Mouth. Musical heaven.

It never fails to amaze me. When I come to another city to see the differences. Yesterday I flew into Phoenix to celebrate the holidays. Apparently I brought the rain with me. Because the flooding by my home on Thursday wasn't enough. Thank god I am not the kind that melts. The differences I am talking about, are not just the ones we have experienced since Katrina. I noticed this even before. There is something missing in the air, the people. Just something. There is some charm that I miss. That is okay. There are other things that I get to experience here that I don't in New Orleans, the coffee brewing in the kitchen as my mom talks to my cousin. The dogs all wandering around, getting to see my sister soon. Each place has its own uniqueness I guess.

My sister called me yesterday with the news that I am going have a niece. I can't wait to meet the little girl!! :)

Today was beyond crazy with a VERY busy day at work and then 8 hours of shopping (yes shopping) and gift wrapping. I started and finished my shopping today. Thank god. ;)

We haven't even gotten past Christmas yet and I am super excited for Mardi Gras. Ya'll realize that in 17 days it is 12th night? Which officially kicks off the Mardi Gras season? We are 60 days away from Fat Tuesday...which means there is even less time before the parades roll. I love Mardi Gras. Hanging out with friends, yelling for the high school bands "You know your saaaaasssssy!!" making jumps to catch that really cool strand of beads or stuffed animal. Everyone around you just having an amazing time. It is hard to explain the atmosphere that comes over the city. I am not talking about the drunken antics on Bourbon St. No way. I am talking about standing on the Avenue.....in the neutral ground there are several families having a bbq. Ladders converted to stools so the kids can get higher up and catch the really cool stuff. Incidentally standing behind a family with kids on stools can work to your advantage...they can't catch all that cool stuff! ;) Also in 17 days? I can have King Cake.

#72 Lovers and Players ~ Jackie Collins

#73 Bergdorf Blondes ~ Plum Sykes

I am trying so hard to remember everything. Thursday night we had a little get together at the house. It was a lot of fun and it really got everyone in the holiday spirit. We had on the holiday radio station, as well as on the TV "A Christmas Story" that was on Mute. I made some mulled spice wine, there was apple cider and an abundance of cookies and candies. There was also a delicious and dangerous holiday drink that my friend Megan brought over. I am still not sure what is in it other than Cider, Apple Jack and champangne. You rim a glass with cinnamon and pumpkin spice and add the drink. It is yummy goodness. Friday we headed on out to the Maple Leaf to hear some music. It was actually a early night, as I was/am still feeling crummy. How early is early you may ask? Well...we left before the music was done. Let's leave it at that. Saturday was spent watching movies and sleeping. In the evening we babysat two of the sweetest cutest kids. 1-1/2 and 5 months old. I want kids like that one day. Later it was babysitting the boys in Bonerama. Okay...they didn't need a sitter, but they did play at Rock-n-Bowl. Which is not as much fun without my friends who dubbed it Drunk-n-Bowl. Sunday was more movie watching then carolling around the neighborhood with a bunch of the neighbors then out to Jackson Square for even more Carolling. If all this holiday cheer doesn't keep me in the mood, I don't know what will. I am doing all my shopping on Wed, which is a payday! I think I can get it all done then. I hope. We are having the Roommate holiday gift exchange on Thursday so I need their stuff done. This time of year is seriously crazy.

I don't even know how to start about this weekend. I really don't. I guess at the beginning...Friday night found Kristen and I at Cooter Brown's to watch the semi-final game for the Griz. They lost. I wasn't happy. We then went to the Maple Leaf and harrassed a few people. Saturday I spent reading. Watching a movie. Just relaxing. I was planning on going to the Howlin Wolf on Saturday night, but I had no energy and fell asleep at 9. Yesterday morning I was up at 6. I got a lot of cleaning and more reading done. This is were it gets interesting. I was down in our basement working on my laundry, I heard some yelling and it sounded like it was coming from the backyard. I stopped and peeked out and didn't see anything, I heard more yelling then a POP. I heard even MORE yelling and another POP. I ran up the stairs and yelled to Kristen "what the hell is going on??" she said, "was that shots???" we ran out onto the balcony and saw a neighbor standing outside. Kristen called 911 they said it had already been called in. We ran outside, and most of the neighbors were outside. Apparently two guys had been fighting right outside from our house, across the street on the park side. Both had taken off, one on foot, one in his car. We don't know if it was an attempted robbery, car jacking, a drug deal gone bad or what. We don't know if any of the guys involved were hurt...no clue. The good to come out of it all was we got to know some of our neighbors better. we found out about the neighborhood watch thingy going on. Also our neighbors 1-1/2 son loves me. He wouldn't let me put him down at all yesterday. Even to go back to his mom.

As the day wore on....I started feeling gross. Now today? That damn cold is back. I am not happy.

#71 The Nerd Who Loved Me~byVicki someone.....lame chick read

#72 Thanksgiving~by Janet Evonovich.....lame....lame....lame. Started and finished yesterday. it was one of her earlier books and was just awful

I have no recollection if I had mentioned the lead situation in my house on here or not. I also to lazy to go and look right now. So here is the run down. We live in a house that is at least 83 years old. We live on the top floor and there is an apartment, I think 4 bedrooms, downstairs. When we sign the lease there is something saying we were told all about the possiblity of lead in the house because of old paint. As long as we don't like the wall or eat the paint chips we are fine. Earlier this summer the outside of the house was sanded and painted. Apparently this created a bit of a lead problem. The dog that lived downstairs started experiencing some lead related problems. They had their son tested (I believe he is now 4) and he had high levels of lead in his blood. So they had to move out, like RIGHT THEN, but couldn't take their furniture. Not until it is cleaned. Seriously, the state would have taken their son if they had stayed one more night. They themselves were tested and they came back fine, no lead in system. The house was tested, and from the conclusions that we have all gathered is that it is in the soil outside. It was brought in when the dogs came in, or when their son came in. He played in the backyard alot. Our landlord had our apartment tested yesterday, and the results so far is we are fine upstairs. No high levels of lead at all. It was a HUGE relief to hear that. It had been weighing on all our minds lately. If any of us didn't feel good, we would all think Lead Poisoning. Of course we had planned on a massive cleaning before they came to do the testing...thinking we had a few weeks. I had about an hours notice. They got to see the dirty house in all its glory!

It started out slow, but all in all it was a pretty fine weekend!! It is even finally feeling like winter and the holidays. I think I have gotten out of the holiday funk.

Friday after work, I worked on my sister's blanket. Had an hour long conversation about what to have for dinner with Kristen. It was quite sad actually. She was in her room, I was in my room, we were yelling back and forth, I was too lazy to get up so I called her. Hey I was tired of yelling. After eating my frozen dinner I promptly fell asleep. I woke up at 10:45. Perfect timing, we went out to the Leaf for a little Big Sam and the Funky Nation. Had a good time, saw the regulars.

Saturday I spent running errands then went to my work Christmas party. Then I watched the Montana Grizzlies in the Quarterfinal match up against So. Illinios. Griz won. It was at Muriel's in Jackson Square. There was a wedding in one of the rooms, and they had a brass band for a second line. It was Treme Brass Band. So I got to harrass Uncle Lionel and Rob Espino. Somehow that evening I ended up on Bourbon Street. I rarely go there anymore. It was a good time.

Sunday was spent watching the Saints win. Decorating the house for Christmas. Chasing the cats from the tree, falling asleep while the Seahawks won. It was a great weekend. I can only hope that all 3 teams win next weekend as well!!

Just a few moments ago, I was sitting here quietly at my desk. The upstair office is set up a little interesting. You come up there stairs into an open area, there are 3 desks set up. One of my supervisors sits in this area. There are 2 small offices, one is the controllers. Then there is one bigger office, and myself and a co-worker share it. It is kinda tucked off in the corner. As I said, I was sitting here quietly goofing off on myspace when I hear it. My co-worker that I share the space with is cleaning off her desk. It was very faint, coming from my supervisors area. I still heard it however. I jumped up from my desk and ran into the main area. Literally ran. The HR manager was standing there talking to her. I scared the crap out of them both. They both looked at me like I was crazy then the HR lady says "oh jeez is Harry on the radio??" They both couldn't believe I could hear it from the other room, because the radio isn't up that loud at all. I don't know how I heard it...because my co-worker in here also has on a radio. It is like a homing beacon or something. I am not sure else how to explain it.