http://www.pleonast.com/user/matthew_and_brooke recent pleonast.com entries by user matthew_and_brooke en-us http://www.pleonast.com/user/matthew_and_brooke?l=5&entryID=616554 For the last week or so I really thought we were going to Disney World in the fairly near future (next month.) Then it turns out we're not. The costs just kept getting bigger and bigger... and the benefit kept getting smaller and smaller (we would have had only 1-2 days of park time, which in turn would diminish our hang-out-with-friends time). Anyway, it was a nice thought while it lasted. But life goes on. My cell phone (tracfone) is coming due in about a month, and I noticed tonight that for the same price as my usual 1 year of service card I could get 1 year of service, double minutes and a brand new (to me) camera flip phone. I don't use my cell phone much, but I like to keep one active (for winter driving, as well as traveling), and my old one is, well, OLD. As such, its battery life is pathetic. So I'm getting me a shiny new phone. :) Oh, and I found a coupon code for $3 off my order, so it's actually *less* than my 1 year of service card, and I got free shipping. So,... 2009-01-07 http://www.pleonast.com/user/matthew_and_brooke?l=5&entryID=613900 Well, we had a white Christmas by just about any definition, unless you require the snow to actually be falling while you're opening presents... but that's too OCD even for me. There was definitely snow on the ground. (That would've been hard to avoid, with the 13-16" storm we had just a few days before). On our way to Grandma's house we drove through a little snow squall. It's kind of like a "sunshower", only with snow. It was bright and sunny, and then there was snow/freezing rain at a pretty good clip, with a lot of wind... but you could still see plenty of sunlight. We were back in the sunshine within a couple of miles. So we had a properly white Christmas. It has been nice to have everyone together. Daniel's "down south" now (RI and Mass.), but everyone that's left is coming over to my house for dinner tonight, and one last night of fun and games. Then the rest of our visitors leave around the crack of dawn tomorrow. I noticed the other day th... 2008-12-29 http://www.pleonast.com/user/matthew_and_brooke?l=5&entryID=611797 Just out of curiosity, how would you define a white Christmas? Snow on the ground, or snow in the air? Either way, I root for no snow in the air (or on the roads) on Christmas, since we'll be driving over to Grandma and Grandpa's house for it. I know, I know, it's just 10 miles, but when you wind up in a ditch, it isn't very consoling to know how short the trip was. 2008-12-22 http://www.pleonast.com/user/matthew_and_brooke?l=5&entryID=609868 I have already received two early Christmas presents. Both of them are practical, and both very much appreciated. Our Dad had a phobia of giving practical gifts ever since he saw an episode of the Bob Newhart show when Bob gave Emily something practical and she hated it. Personally, I like practical gifts. They make me smile and think of the giver every time I use them, so the more practical the more smiles! The first one was a Bundt pan. I asked my mother in law if I could borrow hers, but she brought me a brand new one instead. :) I made a very pretty cake with it for company that ended up canceling after the cake was already in the oven... so poor us, we had to feast on it for 3 days. I should post the recipe. I think it's what I'll bring to lectures lunch next year. It's called "Lady Hermoine's Chocolate Sunshine Cake." There's a story behind that... actually, a whole novel. My Mom's got me started on a series of mysteries with a bunch of recipes scattered thr... 2008-12-16 http://www.pleonast.com/user/matthew_and_brooke?l=5&entryID=606404 So I was checking the news just now. I read an article about a man who is losing his position with the Salvation Army because he is marrying outside of the organization. Then I glanced up and saw the banner ad at the top. I had to laugh. From Pleo 2008-12-05 http://www.pleonast.com/user/matthew_and_brooke?l=5&entryID=604725 What's new around here... First, an article of "news." Couple waits till marriage for first kiss. If only we'd known this was news worthy, we could've made headlines 7.3 years ago. In other news, we've had some unexpected company for the last week or so... Matthew's folks were having some work done on their house, and it made a chemical smell invade their house. Since Matthew's Dad is sensitive to chemicals, he had to evacuate immediately, so he called and asked if he could come over till the smell abated. Well, it hasn't abated yet! It's better, but not safe for him. I'm just glad we could provide a safe haven for them. And Abigail has *thoroughly* enjoyed the extra time with Pepaw and Grandma. As far as Max is concerned, the more (people to pet him), the merrier! It's snowing outside! The forecast says less than an inch accumulation, but I think we might get a little more. It's already covering the street and the sidewalk, and it started about an hour ago. We... 2008-12-01 http://www.pleonast.com/user/matthew_and_brooke?l=5&entryID=601643 I like my doctor. She's actually a FNP or a PAC, I forget, but she's my medical provider. I liked her before today, but today at my check up, she took off a skin tag off of me in no time flat. It only hurt a little bit. (No anesthetic) It was the one on my face, if you've seen me in the last several years. The one that EVERYONE thought was a crumb, though how I would get a crumb that high on my cheek is beyond me. I know medical stuff of any nature can gross people out, but I am just happy that I have my face back to myself. Matthew couldn't even tell where it had been. I can, but part of that will fade, and it's smaller than a freckle. Anyway, I can cover that with make up. I'd have to wear more make up than Dolly Parton to cover up a whole skin tag. On a wholly unrelated note, I woke up this morning convinced that it was 2 days before Christmas, and I hadn't bought ANY presents. I started to panic. As the fog lifted, I realized that I hadn't bought any presents becaus... 2008-11-21 http://www.pleonast.com/user/matthew_and_brooke?l=5&entryID=601168 While looking for one thing (crayons), I found another (my wedding rings). I had just given up on my wedding rings, because the last time I remembered seeing them was in a hotel room on our way back from Ohio in April. I figured I'd left them by mistake, and rather than report it the maid had taken them for herself. (I had called to check if they'd found anything) But on a search for a box of crayons, I saw a bit of the ribbon they were hanging on around my neck. I picked it up, and lo and behold... Anyway, so I'm happy. :) Never did find the crayons. Update: I did find the crayons. And I have been wearing my (deceased) grandfather's wedding band in the meantime, so it's not like I've been entirely ringless. It's a bit bigger than mine, but that's why I wasn't wearing mine on my finger at the time, it was too small. 2008-11-19 http://www.pleonast.com/user/matthew_and_brooke?l=5&entryID=600483 This happened about 2 weeks ago now, but with lectures and the sick child, I forgot to write about it at all. Wednesday night, it was fairly cold outside. As one of our members came in late, in with him popped this rather large orange and brown striped cat. He was in a hurry to get in out of the cold, and he went straight up the aisle, all the way to the front where my husband was leading singing. As a matter of fact, we had just finished singing "All Things Bright and Beautiful... creatures great and small" when he popped in. Matthew noted that, and then mentioned "preaching the gospel to every creature. As you can imagine, the appearance of the critter caused no small commotion, but before too long he was removed bodily from the building. But he had no intention of giving up that easily. Apparently, someone came in really late, during class, and the cat came in with him. (I was in the safety of my cat-free classroom by this point. I am allergic to cats, the l... 2008-11-18 http://www.pleonast.com/user/matthew_and_brooke?l=5&entryID=598454 We had a lovely, if crazy, weekend. Friday night, they arrived, as well as her and her, with Anaja and Katie, to stay with us, shortly before our singing... I would have to count, but we probably had more people from away at the singing than locals. Which is fine. :) The singing was very nice. Abigail actually arrived at the singing straight from an afternoon at Grandma's house. Grandma mentioned that her voice was raspy all afternoon, but I didn't think much of it. She didn't want to sing at the singing, but I figured that was part of her standard shy act. She was acting shy, but fast became friends with Anaja and Katie. She even requested for them to sleep in her room with her. There's a much longer version of this, but basically, she awakens at 3 AM with a rather dramatic episode of difficulty breathing. I was on the point of taking her to the emergency room when Matthew suggests outside air would help. I should mention that with all the people and activity in the house tha... 2008-11-12