I had a really wonderful Christmas. When we went to my grandma's for the big family celebration, my dad came as Santa and the little kids really thought he was real. They kept giving him hugs and tugging on his sleeve to ask him if they were getting any more presents. Raina even thanked him for the presents she got in the morning. She also asked him where his sleigh was, and why she didn't get the doll she wanted. But my dad masterfully handled all the questions, and I think all the kids will believe for another year.

Dad is really shining this Christmas. He also got me and Audra tool boxes and screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers, and all those things. He said that now he can't always be there to fix everything for us, but he can try and give us all the tools to fix them ourselves. It was such a Hallmark moment.

The rest of the gifts were excellent as well. I got a lot of books, always a good thing, and some pants and sweaters, and a jewelry box. Which is useful, because Eric got me a diamond necklace. It is funny, because I used to be so scornful of jewelry, and now I am all entranced by this sparkly thing around my neck. But fear not, the old Amanda is not completely gone, because at least I'm still happy that it's not around my finger!

I'm in Cleveland for another 8 days yet, so if you're around give me a call or email. I am looking forward to seeing everyone!

# : 12:02 AM : :

I'm so excited. This weekend I finished all my Christmas shopping, wrapping, and candy-making (baking already having been finished and mostly eaten). Buying presents is so much fun when you can afford them! Unfortunately I can't write what I bought, since many of my giftees read my blog. But it was a fun adventure, especially

• The oddly-shaped present that wouldn't fit in any boxes, so I had to use my engineering skills and modify a box to fit
  
• Another oddly-shaped one about which the cashier asked me "What are you going to use this for?" ... I was worried, but I remain confident that its recipient will enjoy it.
  
• Running out of wrapping paper in the middle and braving the Tysons Corner Borders to buy more
  
• Running out of wrapping paper again at the end and having to patch together the ends I picked up off the floor (sorry, Emma!)
  

I personally think the people who are getting homemade truffles are very lucky. I made six kinds:

• Orange, covered with cocoa and cinnamon
  
• Coffee, covered with cocoa
  
• Hazelnut, covered with chopped hazelnuts
  
• Peppermint, covered with crushed candy canes
  
• Raspberry and white chocolate
  
• Raspberry and dark chocolate
  

I can't decide which is my favorite. They are all amazingly delicious, even if they are not quite as pretty as the Godiva ones. And even after making up gift bags, there are plenty left, so if you are nice to me you can get some extras.

People who know me well will be shocked to learn that truffle-making is such a chocolate immersion that even I couldn't eat chocolate for a few days afterwards. Luckily, my appetite has returned.

# : 10:31 AM : :

Since so many people are going to be in Cleveland for New Year's, we clearly need to have a party. So mark your calendars!

Last year's party was a lot of fun, and I think we should pretty much repeat the same thing this year. I am perfectly willing to plan the party and provide a lot of the food, as long as we get to have a dress-up party. Because we're adults now and adults get all snazzed up for New Year's, right? (Well, maybe not... my parents tend to play Rail-Baron and fall asleep at 12:02 if not before. But I want to be a cool adult.)

So, let me know if you're interested.

# : 3:10 PM : :

This Java tutorial is so incredibly cool:

View the Milky Way at 10 million light years from the Earth. Then move through space towards the Earth in successive orders of magnitude until you reach a tall oak tree just outside the buildings of the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in Tallahassee, Florida. After that, begin to move from the actual size of a leaf into a microscopic world that reveals leaf cell walls, the cell nucleus, chromatin, DNA and finally, into the subatomic universe of electrons and protons.

# : 12:15 PM : :

Alan Sokol, a physicist, decided to make a point about the sloppy logic and lack of concern for reality that is evident in many liberal arts departments. So he wrote a completely ridiculous paper and got it published. He simultaneously published an article explaining that the paper was a parody, and hilarity ensued. You can follow the whole saga here. I think it's worth reading (or skimming) his parody article, because if you can slog through the postmodernist speak, it is clearly evident to anyone with minimal scientific or logical training that the paper is a load of crap.

His Plea for Reason, Evidence and Logic is clear and easy reading, with many good points, so at least read that.

# : 12:13 PM : :

I really don't grok politics or war. But Card, in his books and his articles, makes them accessible to me. When he writes, I can understand strategy.

Here's an article of his on the war in Iraq and the presidential election. A quote:

Think what it will mean if we elect a Democratic candidate who has committed himself to an antiwar posture in order to get his party's nomination.

Our enemies will be certain that they are winning the war on the battleground that matters--American public opinion. So they will continue to kill Americans wherever and whenever they can, because it works.

It's really good. Read it all.

# : 1:58 PM : :

This is great. I will admit that I gave up on it and didn't get it until I had major hints. So click here for some hints.

# : 10:58 AM : :

I'm taking yoga at my gym, and I'm addicted. It's funny how some of the easy poses look really hard, while many of the hard ones look easy. This is a good thing, because I am motivated to keep trying on the hard ones since I feel sure that I should be able to do them. And every now and then I'll catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and think "who is that person doing that neat pose?" then realize it's me! That is a really neat feeling - when I took dance classes in high school, I was terrible at it and watching my reflection was painful. But now I have something that involves coordination and that my body can actually do! (I can even do a back bend!)

Balancing poses kick my ass though. I am the only person in my class who can't balance on one foot, apparently - the tree pose is very difficult for me, even if I only raise my foot to calf level and leave my hands at my sides. I am still amused by it, and trying to rise to the challenge. The neat thing is how different the poses feel depending whether I do them left or right - we did half-moon this week and I couldn't do it *at all* with my right hand and foot on the ground. Even using a block under my hand, I could only get my left foot a few inches off the floor, and trying to reach up with my left hand made me topple. So I gave up and tried it on the other side, and it worked immediately.

# : 10:13 AM : :

OK, I don't think many people I'm exchanging presents with read my blog, but here is a bit of a list anyway.

• I have a wish list at Amazon for books/dvds. You can find it by searching on my name.


• Picture frames, especially 5x7. I have all sorts of pictures of Adam and nowhere to put them.


• Accessory dishes. I have big and small plates and big bowls in yellow and blue. I need small bowls and maybe some other fun dishes. Deep red (the Kat color) would probably coordinate best.


• Stuff for my barren apartment, maybe neat candleholders or something.


• I have finally been convinced that accessories can make an outfit. So I am looking for stylish necklaces and bracelets.

# : 10:02 AM : :

I think that is what Brian and Kat should do with their kittons.

# : 9:55 AM : :

This moron decided to drive, breastfeed her infant, talk on her cell phone, AND take notes on the steering wheel all at once. Unfortunately, she was pulled over before she could remove herself from the gene pool.

# : 3:09 PM : :

Women Who Won't

This guy is great (and the Britishisms make it funnier). He has a good point: why do women get to just decide that they don't feel like working? It pisses me off, because the lazy women (who are legion) give businesses a great reason to discriminate against all women.

# : 9:48 AM : :

I am such a sap, I love all of the kitschy Christmas stuff. But I know the person who built this Advent Calendar, so I am promoting her. You can make a username and password, then every day you can go back and uncover another picture.

# : 2:54 PM : :