Another short post today. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!! LOL....Rich and I are going to his mum's house again tonight. We're going out to the pubs around the village. Tonight is Fancy Dress (costumes for all the Americans, lol) night, so Rich and I decided we would dress up. Due to my new haircut, we've decided to go as Velma Kelly and Billy Flynn from the film and the broadway musical Chicago. I'm really excited!! I hope everyone has a wonderful day tomorrow and night tonight! Be Careful everyone!! I hope to see you all blogging again in the New Year!

No trivia today, but will have that back soon! I'm blogging late today, because I've been quite busy today. This will be just a short post tonight. Rich and I had a wonderful Christmas :) Thank you to everyone for the tags and comments. I hope you all had a great Christmas! I'll go into more detail about it later.

I got my hair cut today. Its kind of a cross between Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger) a la Chicago. I took some photos of it, but they aren't very good. Our webcam has been acting up. Anyway, you can view the photos here and here. I did have them on the page, but it doesn't seem to be loading too well, so you can see them by clicking on the links.

Well, that's all for today!! Back tomorrow with more!! Buh-bye!

TODAY IN HISTORY:

December 24, 1948 - For the first time ever, a midnight Mass was broadcast on television. It was held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City.

FACT OF THE DAY:

Santa Claus wears red and white clothing, not due to those being Christmas colors, but due to a 1920's Coca-Cola advertising scheme in which Santa advertised Coca-Cola and wore Coca-Cola's colors. The theme has stuck ever since!

Last post before Christmas. Just to let you know, I probably won't be online for the next few days. We'll be at my Mother-in-law's house for the Christmas holidays and won't return to our home until Sunday. So it will probably be Monday before I'm back. I have loads of stuff to do today, so I won't be able to do the things on my blog that I wanted to. Rest assured, I'll be getting up the linkie blinkies I don't have on Monday. Also, for those who are waiting on personalized blinkies....I promise, you'll have them by Tuesday at the latest!!

Okay....onto the Tuesday This-or-That!!

1. Opening presents...rip 'em open with all abandon, or carefully open, preserving the pretty paper for recycling?

Difinitely carefully opening. Its not so much that I want to recycle the paper (although I usually do, lol), but I just cannot stand to tear paper. Just one of my pet peaves.

2. Do you and yours take turns, opening one gift at a time, or does everyone just rip into everything at the same time?

Well, my family usually take turns, but Rich's family just all go at one time. Not sure yet how Rich and I will do it with our children (when we have them), but I like the idea of taking turns....that way, you get to see what everyone else got ;)

3. If you get something you don't like...do you try to return it, or keep it so as not to hurt the giver's feelings?

I always keep things.....even if I don't like them. I figure I'll eventually use it, or someone else will come along and fall in love with it and I can just hand it over.

4. Do you spend the holiday at home (yours or someone else's), or do you go out and eat, see the newest movie, whatever?

At home. Whether with my family, Rich's family, or just at our house, I think we'll always do it this way. I just don't like the idea of going out.....it doesn't seem very cheerful to me. I like being with family :)

5. What do you do with Christmas cards after the holiday is over? Save them, or toss them?

Well, this is a toughy, because I save them, but Rich throws them out. So, its a bit of a war over what happens to them, lol!!

6. Cook Christmas dinner, or does someone else do that?

I've never actually cooked Christmas dinner myself. Its always been my mom or sister, or Rich's mum. I'm actually looking forward to a couple of years down the road when I'll have to cook Christmas dinner myself. I think I'll enjoy it :D

7. It's Christmas Eve, and you have run out of wrapping paper. Do you go out and buy more, or wrap the rest of the gifts in the Sunday comics?

I go buy more....although the thought of me actually running out of wrapping paper is funny. I always buy way too much wrapping paper. Its a bit of a running joke about the amounts of wrapping paper that always wind up in my closet after Christmas!

8. On Christmas morning...up at the crack of dawn, eagerly anticipating the loot...or would you rather sleep in?

I'd probably rather sleep in, but I know I won't get to. Everyone else will be too excited for that. Its not that I don't look forward to Christmas.....its just that I need my sleep, lol!!

9. Do you want a white or a green Chrismas?

I WANT A WHITE CHRISTMAS!!!!!! (Just hoping the good Lord was listening there, lol) We're expecting a green Christmas here in sunny England, though :) Its decided to warm up quite a bit the last couple of days and the forecast is calling for sunshine tomorrow.

10. Going to church on Christmas...yes or no?

No.....Rich is not very religious and even though I do have strong beliefs, I don't want to go by myself. Besides, my beliefs are pretty much my own and combine bits of all sects and religions, so I don't think I'd really feel comfortable anywhere. I will, however, have some quite time to meditate and think of how the Lord has blessed me and my family.

Okay....so there you have it! I want to take this time to wish each and everyone of you the best holiday season!!!

TODAY IN HISTORY:

December 23, 1823 - The poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" by Clement C. Moore (" 'Twas the night before Christmas...") was published.


FACT OF THE DAY:

Boris Karloff is the narrator of the seasonal television special "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."


Good Afternoon Blog World!! Hope everyone is having a great Monday :D I have another headache today :( Hopefully it'll be all better before Christmas. I sent out some Christmas cards this morning and I've been working on a few other things in PSP 7. I had planned to put up some more linkie blinkies this afternoon, but now I think I'll just go and lie down for awhile. If there is anyone who would like me to link to them and doesn't notice your linkie, please email me with your linkie blinkie and the address. After tomorrow, there will probably not be any more posts this week, as Rich, Isabel, and I are going to my mother-in-law's house for Christmas. We won't be back until Monday. I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas!! I may be back later with more, but for now....I think I'll go and have a lie down.

TODAY IN HISTORY:

December 20, 1848 - The first medical school for women, founded by Samuel Gregory, opened in Boston, MA. The Boston Female Medical School later merged with Boston University School of Medicine.

FACT OF THE DAY:

Mosquito's are attracted to the color blue twice as much as to any other color.

I've uploaded some more photos to our MSN Community. That's still not all of them, but I have a bit of a headache today.....okay, a lot of a headache, so I'm not going to stay on long today. Also, my flu is coming back.....ugh! This is only going to be a short post as well. Rich is at his Office Christmas Party and will be in late today, but hopefully will be home soon.
I'll probably post more tomorrow.

Okay, I have a few pictures uploaded to our MSN community. I only got 9 uploaded so far, because I'm having to scan them in and then upload them and I need to stop and go and make dinner. Rich and I are both hungry :D So if I get a chance I'll come back later and upload some more, but if not, I'll finish them tomorrow!! Again, if you'd like to see the photos, you'll need to join our private MSN community. You can do so by going here. You will not be able to immediately view the photos, as I will need to approve your application, but I will do that as soon as possible!! Have a great evening!!

TODAY IN HISTORY:

December 19, 1932 - The British Broadcasting Corp. began transmitting overseas with its "Empire Service" to Australia.


FACT OF THE DAY:

Walt Disney named Mickey Mouse after Mickey Rooney, whose mother he dated for some time.

Well, now, I know its not Tuesday, but I'm going to do the Tuesday This-Or-That anyway. Here goes....

1. Christmas dinner: turkey or ham (or something else)?

Both. LOL....I know that sounds greedy, but we've always had both for Christmas. I know that this year we probably will only have Turkey, cos I'll be celebrating with Rich's family, but in my heart, I'll be eating ham as well, lol!!

2. Candy canes or chocolate?

Chocolate, definitely. I like candy canes, but nothing compares to chocolate!

3. Fruit basket or fruitcake?

Fruit basket. Sorry if I offend anyone, but fruitcake is just the nastiest stuff!!! *Yuck* I really hate it!!

4. Mulled cider or mulled wine?

Mulled cider. I like wine, but not as much as I like cider!

5. Eggnog or hot chocolate?

Again, both!! I really like eggnog, but I gotta have my chocolate!! So, I'll just have a cup of both, please!

6. Holiday cookies: homemade or store-bought?

Definitely homemade!! I may try to bake some cookies myself this year. I love homemade cookies!

7. Roasting chestnuts or popping corn?

Never roasted chestnuts, so I guess I'd have to say popping corn. I really like popcorn and it does go nice with Christmas =)

8. On the buffet table: veggie platter or cheese tray?

I guess a cheese tray. I like veggies, but I prefer my veggies to be hot. I've never been much of a raw veggie eater.

9. Apple or pumpkin pie?

Apple!! Gotta be American about it, lol!!

10. Christmas Day breakfast: before or after gift-opening?

After gift-opening!! I mean, what's the point of eating before you get your gifts anyway? Its not as though you would actually taste anything you ate before you found out what your gifts were, lol!!


Anyway, that's my This-Or-That! I am now going to go and try to upload some wedding photos to our MSN group!! I'll come back and post when they are uploaded!

(Cont'd from previous post)

When we got back home, we spent the rest of our time in the US celebrating Thanksgiving with my family and spending time with them before we had to leave. On the day we left, my mom and other brother took us to the airport in Atlanta. We were to fly from Atlanta to Chicago, and then from Chicago to Manchester. The flight leaving Atlanta going to Chicago was delayed due to weather in Chicago, so we missed our connecting flight!! And there is only 1 flight leaving Chicago going to Manchester per day, so we had to spend the night in a hotel. We got a discount on it, but still had to pay for our room. The flight for the next day was booked, so we were worried we wouldn't be able to get home then either, but there was a flight coming into Chicago from Las Vegas that was delayed by 2 hours, so there were 67 people who wouldn't make their flight, therefore, we (and everyone else who had missed the flight from the day before) were able to get that flight. Also, we were bumped up from Economy to New Economy due to the inconvenience.

When we got home, we found out that our computer wasn't working again. So we had to call an engineer to fix the problem and it was just yesterday that they were able to get the problem repaired. Hopefully now we'll have no more troubles.

Rich was off work sick yesterday and I've had a bad cold as well. I think we may have a touch of flu. Yuck!! He's back in work today and I'm online trying to get caught up on things :D I've redone the graphics on my blog (as you can tell, lol) and am going to try to make a page with Christmas blinkies!! I'll let you know when I get those gathered!

I've been job hunting since I got back to the UK. No luck so far, but hopefully something will come up soon!! I'll be sure to keep you informed!! Got to go get ready to meet Rich for lunch, but may be back later!! Bye 4 now!!

TODAY IN HISTORY:

1903 - The first successful gasoline-powered airplane flight took place near Kitty Hawk, NC. Orville and Wilbur Wright made the flight.

FACT OF THE DAY:

John Wilkes Booth shot Lincoln in a theatre and was found in a warehouse. Lee Harvey Oswald shot Kennedy from a warehouse and was found in a theatre.


Hello Again!! LOL....Well, Rich and I have finally made it back home and have our computer repaired. Lots of things to mention from the last month, lol!! First of all, as mentioned previously, I am now Mrs. Lynn :D The wedding went wonderfully. We had a coule of mishaps with the music, but nothing very bad. I had planned to post the photos today, but my hubby has taken the photo album to work, so it will have to be tomorrow! Sorry about that to all those who are waiting on photos!

Let's see....some details about the wedding. Well, I had 3 attendents; my sister was my Matron of Honor, my step-niece was a bridesmaid, and my niece was the flower girl. Rich didn't have any attendents. My Dad walked me down the aisle and gave me away. My best friend from High School, Kristy, held the bride's book for me. We had 2 passages read at our wedding, one by my mom and one by a friend of the family. Rich got a surprise between our vows and the exchanging of the rings, because I sang to him!! I sang "At The Beginning" by Richard Marx and Donna Lewis. I almost started crying during the song and Rich had tears come to his eyes, as well. We didn't have many guests (about 20), but we did have a wonderful wedding!!

After the wedding, we went off to New York to get my Spousal Visa. It took 4 hours to get the visa, 2 1/2 hours standing in line with about 500 other people in a tiny, tiny room; about half an hour for the interview and approval; and an hour for the visa to be printed. Not a bit of trouble getting it, so that was good. We stayed with my brother and his family while we were there. They live in Pennsylvania. We stayed 2 days and got to see some places in Penn. Rich really liked it there :D

(cont'd)