Dexter

During Thanksgiving Tara, Jason and I got hooked on a series on Showtime called Dexter. We watched the first 4 episodes streamlined from Netflix via their Xbox to the tv. I liked it enough so far to re-join Netflix temporarily and started watching the rest of Season 1 (streamlined onto my laptop). I feel so high-tech said the she who has texting turned off her cell phone. Season 2 will be streamlined on my laptop. Season 3 is old skool - dvds via snail mail, LOL. Season 4 is currently on tv, so I started recording those. I hope they repeat so I can get them all.

per Netflix: "Playing a sympathetic serial killer might sound like a stretch, but former "Six Feet Under" star Michael C. Hall pulls it off in this macabre drama about a likable forensics expert who channels his violent tendencies into knocking off miscreants. Dexter Morgan (Hall) seems so harmless, in fact, that neither his girlfriend (Julie Benz) nor his cop sister (Jennifer Carpenter, Michael C Hall's wife in real life) suspect the true nature of his extracurricular activities."

Based on a book titled, Darkly Dreaming Dexter, by Jeff Lindsay.

Thanksgiving 2009

A great time was had at Tara and Jason's for Thanksgiving. Wednesday I left my apartment at 2:30pm. Made good time in that normally on Saturday a.m. I make it in 3 hours. Wed before Thanksgiving 4.5 hours. We had a feast on Thanksgiving day at Jason's mom's, Carole.

I made some Hot Crackers and Garlic/Dill Oyster Crackers for the Decker gang. Rory sure does like the oyster crackers. To the surprise of all of us, Friday he wanted to try a spicy cracker. I picked one out that only had tiny red pepper flecks. Tara, Jason and I stood around and watched him eat it. He didn't ask for water, but Tara or Jason got him some anyway. He was eating that hot cracker and drinking some water. WTG, Rory!

This is cute. Whenever Rory wears his footed sleeper he asks "where are my toes?". Also, at 2years and 2months old the kid is a whiz on the iPhone. It was fun watching him change screens, play games like School Bus. Between the two of us we figured out the passcode to either get into the iPhone games or the iPhone itself. We surprised Jason on that!

Friday I met Carolyn for lunch on the way back to Dallas before I left Austin. 3 hours to get home.

http://picasaweb.google.com/thomtxt/Thanksgiving2009?authkey=Gv1sRgCK_e3ueO7qDIrwE#

Give From the Heart

In my family I just buy for the kids - all 2, my niece and now my nephew. Like my dad says we have enough and don't need a lot.

I really get into donating gifts to those in need. This year I am doing the following:

1. My apartment leasing office collects new toys for the Marine Toys for Tots campaign ( http://www.toysfortots.org/ ). Just like last year when you donate a toy(s) you get a voucher for the Residents' Holiday Dinner mid-December. This year I purchased a couple of reg $12 retro-looking Barbies on sale for $3. So will donate those.

2. The Family Place (http://www.familyplace.org/Page.aspx?pid=191) is shelter for women and and children. They are looking for people to adopt-a-family. My request for a small family was granted for a woman and her child. There's a list provided. You buy what you want from this and also supply wrapping paper, bows and tape. I take the items to The Family Place, and they make sure it goes to your adopt-a-family.

3. Women's Communities Association is looking for people to donate items for women living alone and women living in nursing homes. They have two donation drives a year - summer and winter. Their goal this winter is
300 shawls/blankets; 300 socks/footies; 500 boxes of Tissue wrapped in red wrapping paper or in a red bag. So I may visit Sam's and check out the boxes of tissue in bulk.

4. My work has adopted two elementary schools - one in Dallas and one in the ' burbs. They are looking for school supplies, certain articles of clothing, children's books, basketball, tissues, etc. I sure do love the books, so we'll see what I end up buying for this donation.

I do this selfishly, yes I said selfishly as it makes my heart feel good to help others in this way. During the summer, a department at work collects new toys to give to children in local hospitals for their birthday.

By the way, Black Friday shopping is something I avoid!

November B-i-n-g-o

Well no one at our table won anything tonight. Lawanna was out due to not feeling well. Sandra, my neighbor, sat with us. I couldn't find my dabber. I will be scouring around for it. So looking forward to December!

Cake Wrecks

I waited to post this today because it's Patti's birthday, and she likes to decorate cakes!

While browsing at Border's bookstore looking for a book to spend my coupon on I saw this book called "Cake Wrecks". HAD to check out the website. It's a blog! http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/ . I added it to the "I Follow" there on the left.

Here's the book: http://www.amazon.com/Cake-Wrecks-Professional-Cakes-Hilariously/dp/0740785370/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256339034&sr=1-1

Ladybug, Ladybug

I've heard ladybugs are good luck.

Very recently I have had two land on me - each time whilst I was on holiday. One at Talladega AL for NASCAR race one weekend, then one while at Disney World the next weekend.

Wonder what I'm going to win/do next?!