BUMegan's Blog : Christmas

somebody's got a case of the mondays....(on a wednesday!!:)

BUMegan — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 14:36:00 GMT

I'm back at work today, after a long and WONDERFUL break. (and much needed!) My twin sister Erin and I were home for a week and it was really good to just hang out and do nothing.

The drive home on Friday was boring, but I've done it so much that it's super easy now and I think Erin really appreciated that I drove. (I drive so much for work nothing really phases me anymore!) Caitlin had her party the day after we got back, and it was good to see some of her friends. I really like the people she hangs out with, even if they were REALLY loud;) Friday, Saturday and Sunday were all lazy days...it was rainy and gross on Saturday, but I did get what I needed to get done, which was good. Sunday, Erin and I FINALLY had a lifers reunion. It was AMAZING!! I am so, so lucky to have such wonderful friends from home. We finally all got to catch up, which who even knows when the last time that was! I didn't get to see Brian or Ryan, so hopefully the next time I'm home we can meet up with them!

Christmas Eve was a lot of fun, my family has a funny tradition for that day-we play board games, watch movies and order pizza. Its kind of a weird thing to do, but we've been doing it for so long, I think it's too late to change it. (And it's definitely one of my FAVORITE things about Christmas, sooo.....) Christmas is always with my mom's side of the family, and I'm glad we got to see all of them. Erin, Caitlin and I are usually the only kids there, so we try to make our own fun. ;)

All in all, break was really fun-everytime I go home, I realize how lucky I am to have such a wonderful family-they truly are people I enjoy spending time with, and such wonderful friends. Getting to see everyone was enough of a present for me!!! (I did get some VERY nice presents, new running shoes, some really pretty jewelry and a lamp for my nightstand!! let me tell you...it was a great Christmas;))

Crazy to think, however, that it's 2008. I'm not the biggest fan of resolutions, because I think they never last anyways. I do have some things I want to accomplish this year, some things I'd like to do for myself. I'm ALL about new life experiences, and trying new things, etc. I think thats the best way a person can grow-and you only live once, so why not?! 2007 was a crazy year, but very good and I can only hope that 2008 will be just as good. I'm excited to see what this year holds for me:)

I hope everyone enjoyed their breaks, or will continue to do so, since some people I know are still out!!

One last thing-if anyone saw Sweeney Todd, please let me know if you liked it. I saw it over break and I'm still not sure how I feel about it...

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas...everywhere you go....

BUMegan — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:33:00 GMT

So, it snowed. A LOT. Indy is still covered in snow, but really, I'm more than ok with that. I have always been a fan of snow in December, especially around Christmas. It never happened too much when I was growing up (that I can remember) so it's nice to think we WILL have a white Christmas this year. (Even though I'll be in St. Louis, they have the same weather. I know you were worried;)

This weekend was really relaxing and fun. Mom and Dad (sans the little sister) came for a quick visit. My twin sister, Erin, works for the Indianapolis Children's Choir as the Outreach Manager and they had their annual concert on Friday and Saturday. Mom, Dad and I went to see them perform and I must say I was REALLY impressed. This was my first time attending an ICC event, and they are TRULY an amazing group of kids. All the choirs were really impressive. (Yep, I even know the differences between them! Who knew it could be so complicated?! I sure didn't.....) After the concert, we went and got pizza and beer (donato's and 312 (goose island in Chicago-SO good!) ) and hung out and watched Christmas movies. It was dad's birthday, so I baked him a cake and we celebrated that night. It was a quiet evening, but nice and SO fun to hang out with my parents. Erin and I are really close to them and we always have a good time together. However, because of the crazy weather that covered the Midwest on Saturday, Mom and Dad cut their trip short and left about 9:30 that morning. I really didn't do a lot the rest of the weekend, but it was nice regardless.

This week promises to be pretty quiet. Admission Decisions are getting mailed on Thursday, so I'm sure we'll be getting some phone calls in the meantime. Friday is our last official day of work before break, and i am MORE than ready to go home and spend time with friends and family. ALL of the lifers will be back, and I'm so excited to see them and hang out. Caitlin too, will also be having a reunion of sorts with her friends (who are now both in their last year of high school and first year in college) at our house on Saturday. HA! Can't wait for that! :)

Other than that, we'll go shopping with Dad on Sunday or Monday (always a tradition with him...waiting til the last second!:) and Christmas will be at our house, as it is every year. All this talk of break has me really excited and very happy-so to end, I hope everyone enjoys their winter breaks and good luck with your exams etc. this semester. If you are a senior-I hope your letters of acceptance are coming in and good luck with all the schools you've applied to!

A few quotes, from a couple of my favorite Christmas movies as a way to end:

Harry Bailey: A toast to my big brother George: The richest man in town.

Zuzu Bailey: Look, Daddy. Teacher says, every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings.
George Bailey: That's right, that's right.
George Bailey: Attaboy, Clarence.

Flick: Are you kidding? Stick my tongue to that stupid pole? That's dumb!
Schwartz: That's 'cause you know it'll stick!
Flick: You're full of it!
Schwartz: Oh yeah?
Flick: Yeah!
Schwartz: Well I double-DOG-dare ya!
Ralphie as Adult: [narrating] NOW it was serious. A double-dog-dare. What else was there but a "triple dare ya"? And then, the coup de grace of all dares, the sinister triple-dog-dare.
Schwartz: I TRIPLE-dog-dare ya!
Ralphie as Adult: [narrating] Schwartz created a slight breach of etiquette by skipping the triple dare and going right for the throat!

Mr. Parker: Fra-gee-lay. That must be Italian.
Mrs. Parker: Uh, I think that says FRAGILE, dear.
Mr. Parker: Oh, yeah.

Have a good break everyone:)

Thanksgiving break...I wanna go back!

BUMegan — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 14:48:00 GMT

The Monday after a break is always rough. For some reason, today is ESPECIALLY rough for me. Not sure why, but I am super tired today. Erin and I drove back to Indy yesterday after a wonderful break at home. We were home from Wednesday until Sunday, and the break was MUCH needed.

Wednesday was dinner with the family and going out with friends from home. The group of friends from home has been around a really long time, and we refer to ourselves as the Lifers. I got to see Amy on Wednesday night, as we went out to celebrate being home and Thanksgiving. Thursday was family all day, and it was nice to get to see Mom's side of the family. Thankfully, we host dinner and it's really nice not to have to worry about going anywhere. Friday was a night out-we went to an Irish pub in St. Louis called McGurk's (I know...I know...I can't help it!!) and met up with a bunch of friends from home. It was really, really good to see all of them, especially Ryan, Brian and Peter. I'm grateful they made it out to visit, because I hadn't seen any of them in quite awhile. Overall, it was a really good night. I got to see most of the Lifers, and there was a band on Friday that played for awhile-love Irish music! (Justin, Amy, Ryan, Brian, Erica, Peter, Julie and Lis-Friday night was amazing. Thanks:)

Friday morning was also shopping for my dad and me. The TV at our apartment in Indy no longer works, so Dad and I braved the ridiculous amount of people Friday to find a good deal on a TV. I have to give props to Dad, because he's the one who ended up finding the one we ended up buying. It's AMAZING. I'll be sure to post pictures of it later. When we got home, the family ate breakfast and the girls went shopping for the afternoon. All in all-Friday was my favorite day of break.

Saturday was a lazy day, which I definitely wanted (and probably needed!!). Caitlin, my little sister (the baby of the family) is a really, REALLY big fan of Christmas and all that it entails. She decided that the family should decorate for Christmas after she got back from work on Saturday. Now, according to my mom, because it was her last Christmas before college, we should acquiesce with her wishes and put up the tree and decorate. So, a majority of Saturday was spent in the living room, putting the tree up (yep, we have a fake one) and decorating the entire house. That night, Erin, Caitlin and I went to go see a movie together. Erin REALLY wanted to see Enchanted, and Caitlin had said that or Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, so we decided on Enchanted. It is a really, really cute movie, for anyone interested. Very much a girl movie, and very sweet and romantic, but funny too and overall a movie I really enjoyed. Go see it!!

Overall, it was really good to be home. My family is very close, and I really love getting to spend time with them. (We generally have a really good time together, soo...) Now it's back to reading applications and concentrating on work. I think that after such a good weekend, though, it shouldn't be too bad of week. I hope anyone reading enjoyed their break as much as I did, and that you are refreshed for the rest of the semester.

To end-I just want to say how thankful I am for my family and friends and people I work with. The holidays, if nothing else, show me how lucky I truly am, and how blessed I am to have such wonderful people in my life. So thanks to all of you ;)