Erin posted an adorable picture of Lana.

Quick go look!

Cute cute cute!

Here are some gifts left in previous years by the Christmas Elephant:

Michael got what every good geek should have wanted this year: A Monty Python Cow Catapult!

In the spirit of the season, here is my favorite carol:

Adeste Fideles laeti triumphantes,
Veníte, veníte in Bethlehem.
Natum vidéte, Regem Angelorum:

Veníte adoremus,
Veníte adoremus
Veníte adoremus Dóminum

Deum de Deo, lumen de lúmine,
gestant puellae viscera
Deum verum, genitum non factum:

Veníte adoremus,
Veníte adoremus
Veníte adoremus Dóminum

Cantet nunc io chorus Angelórum
cantet nunc aula caelestium:
Gloria in excelsis Deo:

Veníte adoremus,
Veníte adoremus
Veníte adoremus Dóminum

Ergo qui natus, die hodierna
Jesu, tibi sit glória
Patris aeterni Verbum caro factum:

Veníte adoremus,
Veníte adoremus
Veníte adoremus Dóminum

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

“Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”

Happy Birthday Natalie!

(Image totally stolen from her father’s Picassa album)

I’m a frequent buyer from Amazon, so we get a lot of packages delivered by UPS. I’ve actually really liked the guy that delivered packages for the past couple years–he laughs when I scramble madly to the front door yelling, “LOOT! LOOT! LOOT FOR ME!”

However, we seem to have gotten a different driver in the past couple months.

A driver who decided that instead of leaving packages against the house where they’d be hidden, and on the deck, where they’d be sheltered from the weather, he’d leave them on the side door (Grandmom’s door), which has only a small cover. Which meant that for the past couple weeks we’ve come home to find packages sitting in the snow.

Michael called Friday, and they said they’d make a note of it. Tuesday–the day of the snow and rain and bad traffic–we came home (very late) to find my book sitting in the snow.

So I called back today to ask if they could make a note not to leave packages on the side porch.

Not only was the woman I spoke with very polite and helpful, I actually got a call back later in the afternoon from the local manager(?) apologizing for any inconvenience and stating the packages will certainly be left on the front deck in the future, because it is UPS policy to leave packages out of the elements and out of sight.

He was also extremely nice.

I have to say that although finding packages exposed to the elements was upsetting, I was very pleased with their response to my call.

So thank you UPS for taking responsibility.

So, I’ve been looking at my sidebar, and I think I need some more reviews.

Your task, should you choose to accept it, is to review me (Michelle), and post it on your blog. If I like your review, I’ll post an excerpt and link to it.

Gina, you’re already on the sidebar, from a comment a couple years ago. :)

The poll is up. I limited it to fifteen, and tried to vary the genres and not let a single genre dominate the list.

For me, this is a much harder list and choice. No on here stands out for me the way Paul Robeson does on the male list. :)

The house smells like Christmas tree! What a wonderful thing to wake up to!

I got nothing, so here’s a look some of at yesterday’s search terms:

fashion victims
Bet they were soundly disappointed when they didn’t get pictures.

things that can make you mad at the work
What kind of person is this that they can’t come up with their own list?

please leave a message and we
We will what? Cry at the thought of missing your call? Celebrate because we didn’t have to talk to you? Erase your message without listening because we don’t really care?

lenny ********
That’s strange. Someone was searching for a friend I haven’t been in contact with in years. I’d like to find him myself.

what did real pirates wear
Lavender taffeta party dresses. With tiaras.

random latin phrases
Inter arma silent leges

tofu, gas
Yes, tofu does cause gas. Get thee behind me vegetarian!

Same as best male voice, only female. I’m again soliciting names for the list.

Etta James
Julie Andrews
Enya
Dolly Parton
Ella Fitzgerald
Tina Turner
Barbra Streisand
Judy Garland
Amy Winehouse
SARAH VAUGHAN
ROSEMARY CLOONEY
NINA SIMONE

First person to put a screechy pop singer like Mariah Carey on the list will be disinherited.

Michael was reading through the news off his phone this morning and asked a question I didn’t quite parse.

Michelle: Would I like a battle turtle named after me?
Michael: Would you like a BAT or a TURTLE named after you?
Michelle: I’d rather have a battle turtle.