Call me now baby, I'd come a running.

I'm bad at games.

In my high school French class we would play "around the world" with French vocabulary. Whenever I knew the word I would of course have to gasp. By the time I had finished gasping the other person would usually have said the word.

Last night at family home evening we played "spaz". The person to get rid of all their cards first wins. I had most of the deck for most of the game. The saddest part was that Adam beat me, even after he took pity on me and took all but ten of my cards. Yes, the entire deck still ended in my hands. But a heart-felt "thank you" to Adam, for at least attempting to help me keep my dignity intact.

It's not just games. I am actually rather terrible at most things. Which is probably where the joke "the only thing Emily is good at is being bad at everything" originated. If nothing else I am very good at being bad at things. Which I think gives a little self-esteem boost to everyone else.

So if your self-esteem is ever lagging remember, I'm on call. I'll be there. For you.

And just in case you think I am throwing myself a pity-party, I'm really not. I like myself. A lot.

In which I read "Harris and Me" again and laugh so hard that I choke on my own spit.

In which I meet Harris and am exposed for the first time to the vagaries of inflation.

In which I become a farmer and meet Vivian.

Wherein Harris introduces me to work and I meet Ernie.

In which war is declared and honor established.

Where I meet Buzzer and learn the value and safety of teamwork.

Wherein I learn some more physics, involving parabolic trajectories, and see the worth of literature.

In which we educate two horses, and I learn that the one blamed is not always the one guilty

In which I discover love only to have my heart broken and in revenge I fry Harris's business.

In which Harris discovers speed...and the value of clothing.

-Harris and me, Gary Paulsen (Of The Hatchet fame. Which is actually quite random seeing as how Harris and Me is hilarious and The Hatchet is the most boring book know to man.)

I'll be the one to show you the way.

Have we discussed my absolute and undying love for "Kings of Leon"? Favorite of all bands second only to "Arcade Fire"? And even then, only on some days? It began with ''Because of the Times'', their third album, as it were. The first song I ever heard was ''Knocked Up''. Yes, the very song that features such lyrical gems as "always mad and usually drunk, but I love her like no other". And then along came ''Charmer'' and I hated it...now "Charmer" reigns supreme. It was one of my eighteen things. Meagan and I sing it at the top of our lungs all the time. That is the thing with "Kings of Leon", they grow on you. Listen to them long enough and hate turns to love. Bad things turn to good things. The true love way. Which is why this bow wearing, badmitton playing, snow cone eating fiend loves this:

(Also, I think they are all sort of adorable)

Oh, and I have problems with drinking milk and I am the one who always complains. Not that this is something to brag about, or anything.

This little piggy...

I used to love this mask.

I referred to it as "scary pig".

For reasons that I assume are somewhat obvious.

Be careful what you wish for...

This movie(Coraline) was quite great. Actually, it was quite amazing, being the first hand-made film in 3-D. I watched all the "making of Coraline" mini movies and they have someone who knits all the little sweaters and such. Which is pretty crazy, if I do say so myself, which of course I do. Plus there are loads of other random tid-bits also pertaining to the making of.Also, I like Neil Gaiman a lot...a lot. So you sould probably go see it...and even more probably read the book. Oh, and the movie has some really good music, including a kind of haunting/creepy children's choir. Because I know that's a huge pull.

Don't say you hate me.

This is Gideon. He is a gem of a boy.

We have funny conversations. Like today when I told him that Dad likes me better than him.

Me: Dad likes me better than you.

Gideon: No, he likes me the best.

Me: Well, let's just look at the facts. Who did Dad give an airhead to? Me. Who did Dad put on a time-out? You. That means that Dad must like me best.

Gideon: Fine, but Devin likes me better than you.

Me: No, Devin talked to me on the phone longer than he talked to you, so he likes me best.

Gideon: (in disgust)Why would he like a girl?

Me: Girls are bomb. Mom and Dad like girls best.

Gideon: No!

Me: Yeah-huh, they have five girls and only three boys. If they liked boys best they would have had another boy.

Gideon: No, Dad likes boys the best because they are cool and Mom likes girls the best because they are pretty.

Me: You think we are pretty? Okay, I like you again. (long pause) Don't you like me?

Gideon: Like you, not love you.

Me: You don't love me?

Gideon: (huge sigh) Fine, I do.

This was all in fun. I promise. But seriously, I really am the favorite. Also, note his little "I love you" sign cleverly hidden in his serious Guitar Hero playing. Truly precious.

After all there's only 23 sleeps til Christmas.

I am getting way excited for Christmas.

That's all.

I've got plenty to be thankful for...

I love lists. So here is a Thanksgiving list of things that I am thankful for...
- Rampage, so many happy hours filled with virtually nothing.
- High school Musical 3, It was, to use a word of Rachel's, BOMB!
- Loupe's crazy cleaning sprees, if she thinks she can make me want to clean, she is wrong and should brace herself for disappointment.
- Gum, and by default...
- Drama, because that is were I started playing with my gum.
- My Pillow, because it is on my thankful list every year.
- Pushing Daisies, a moment of silence for our canceled show.
- How grouchy Meagan is in the morning, it can be so funny.
- How Traci knows all these random bits about everything and everyone and sometimes shares them with me.
- Lord of the Rings marathons, one ring to rule them all...
- Christian Bale.
- Code names, Sneaking Fox, Pancho, Mousy, Drover, Emergency Room, Pinpiggy, the list go on.
- Loupe in general.
- Thanksgiving foods that I don't eat, yams, cranberry sauce, pecan pie...The sight of them is very comforting in the fact that they are always there and that I never eat them.
- Sisters! Sisters, sisters, never were there such beloved sisters.
- The aged Ps, the things we talk about...
- My ward, except I don't really appreciate the stake taking a big chunk of it.
- Devin, because he's "a really cool pimp"
This list reminds me of a song:
"This is the song that never ends it just goes on and on my friends..."
only I would change it to "this is the list that never ends..."

Love That Dog.

Sometimes I have long and in depth conversations with my 14-year-old, deaf dog, Shasta. I do not bear my soul to Shasta in the traditional sense, with me doing all the talking and her doing all the listening. Here is how it works: I talk, I pretend she answers, I talk some more. Also, Shasta and I only "discuss" things of little or no importance such as, the weather, politics, and things that annoy me. Nothing very soul bearing-ish.

This is her.