Today has been my day of thinking big thoughts. Who knew it would be today, but it is.

I was thinking that watching a movie or TV is like seeing other people's imaginations. You know how what your imagination comes up with when you read a story is never quite the same as what other people imagine? And movies are nearly never exactly like what you imagined? Movies and art and really every art form are like a window into somebody else's imagination. Music, poetry, they all fit into this context. And all art forms are viewed through the lens of our own individual imaginations too. (I warned you about the big thoughts.) I would really like a device that could make a movie of what others are seeing when the read. Imagine five people reading the same story. Wouldn't it be cool to see how the five movies differ?

I was also thinking that it is great that my kid gets all A's but wouldn't it be better if her curriculum was challenging enough that she made all C's? Isn't that really learning? Shouldn't that be the goal? Wouldn't a 9-year-old doing 5th grade work and making C's be achieving more than if she were acing the 3rd grade work?

There may be more big thoughts later. Stay tuned.

We had to take a NYC bus between airports on our way overseas once. When the bus stopped in the Jamaica neighborhood, a Rasta guy got on with a huge model ship. It looked like a Spanish galleon, sails and all, and had to be 3' wide and almost as tall. He just sat there with it on his lap for the ride and nobody acted like this was unusual at all.

Well, I do live by the ocean. Something about the sea just speaks to my soul. The beach is always changing. No two days are alike. I am never as calm and peaceful as I am at the beach.

BUT, I love snow. I love, love, love it. I ask for it every Christmas. So I think the ideal situation for me would be to live at the beach in the summer and mountains in the winter.

Why is there a Hannah Montana song in my head?

I really hated anything where they used team captains to pick teams. I still have nightmares from always being the last one picked. I hope we have become a more enlightened society and they don't pick teams that way anymore. A has never mentioned it, but then she is all athletic and stuff and wouldn't be the last picked anyway.

But the worst ever is Red Rover, Red Rover. A hasn't even heard of that game. Thank you Jesus! I was always the weakest link, so I always got hurt, physically and emotionally. But listen to this - the other day we were trying to explain the game to A and I said you pick the weakest link to run into so you'll break the line and Hubby said "or the prettiest girl." Awwwwwww. Did you hear that? "or the prettiest girl" With one phrase he healed a lifetime of emotional scars. Go Sweet Baboo. <3

Jo. Amy was a little snit. Oh, wait. Beth.

I had an earworm for the last couple of days and just got it out. So thanks LJ. Thanks a lot.

Here's what bugs me. The continuous loop of music at the beginning of a DVD. Makes me want to run screaming, naked through the streets. (Dave, remember you are a preacher.) So, so annoying.

"Her name is Rio and she dances on the sand...." Damn!!!!!

Since I'm wasting my morning off anyway, thought I'd try to get other's involved in the procrastination. Answer the questions and repost or make a pumpkin pie. You choose.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper through most of December / Gift Bags on Christmas Eve
2. Real tree or Artificial? Real - Half the fun is the hunt
3. When do you put up the tree? ASAP after Dec. 1
4. When do you take the tree down? First week of new year
5. Do you like eggnog? Mmmmmmm, egg nog.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? A big cardboard playhouse
7. Hardest person to buy for? E. Roy Epperson (aka Daddy)
8. Easiest person to buy for? Hubby <3
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, and an Advent Wreath. We are all about the Jesus.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Neither - Thanksgiving cards by snail mail
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Heh, heh. Like I'm gonna answer that.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Three way tie - A Christmas Story, original Grinch, A Charlie Brown Christmas
13. When do you start shopping? Earlier and earlier each year
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes. Please do not judge.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Yorkshire pudding and cranberry salad
16. Lights on the tree? White or Multi-Colored? White and TINSEL, so much tinsel
17. Favorite Christmas song? Hark the Herald Angels Sing
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? HOME
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Yep, Comet's my favorite
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? One present on Christmas eve - the family game. Then we play it! Everything else on Christmas morning.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? They start the Christmas music on November 1st! NO Christmas ANYTHING should begin before Thanksgiving is over. Except, apparently, this survey.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Shiny, shiny, vintage kitsch
24. Favorite food for Christmas dinner? See #15
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Snow, it's what I want every year.
26. Who is most likely to respond to this? Dave
27. Who is least likely to respond to this? Pepper

I think that, sadly, the iPod has rendered the album mostly dead. We tend to download what we like these days without listening to the rest of the album. And even before the mp3 I was guilty of just listening to the songs I liked on the albums I bought. Annoys the crap out of hubby. So in light of that confession, I give you the top 10 albums I'm most likely to listen to all the way through, in no particular order.

PoT USA - The Presidents of the United States of America
Prince - Purple Rain
Decemberists - The Crane Wife
Barenaked Ladies - Gordon
Gin Blossoms - New Miserable Experience
Norah Jones - Come Away With Me (for snuggling)
U2 - The Joshua Tree
Willie Nelson - Stardust
Nick Drake - Pink Moon (for bubble baths)
Squirrel Nut Zippers - The Inevitable Squirrel Nut Zippers (for cleaning house)
I Love Beach Music ('cause I got to represent)

Oops! That's 11. In honor of Spinal Tap. Here's what's funny: almost none of these are my favorite bands. Huh.

A fire in the fireplace... a good book... a glass of wine... quiet... Oh, sorry. Drifted off there. I have to say soup. Hubby says he knows it's Fall when start cooking soup. Soup is the answer to most of life's difficult questions. That other stuff is REAL nice though.

Vampires, of course. Shiny, happy vampires. What a silly question.