Happy Holidays from the Perry's!

Christmas cards didn't happen for us this year. I've discovered it's difficult to accomplish things during the holiday season without a car. Anyway, I hope a digital holiday greeting is the next best thing. Here's to a wonderful Christmas to all!

Favorite Holiday Films

I love the Christmas season for many reasons, but one of the best things is watching my favorite holiday films. I realized this year just how many favorite holiday movies I have. Here is my top 10 list:



1. Charlie Brown Christmas
Why? It's a classic! And when Linus tells Charlie Brown the true meaning of Christmas I always get a little choked up. This movie epitomizes the true spirit of Christmas for me.

2. Elf
Will Ferrell in an elf suit! This is one of my favorite movies to quote. "I like to smile, smiling's my favorite." "I'm singing! I'm in a store and I'm singing!" "I like to whisper too." "Santa! I know him! I know him!" And the list goes on.

3. Emmett Otter's Jug Band Christmas
One of the lesser known muppet holiday specials, this one has been a staple in my family for years. Kermit even makes an appearance!

4. Miracle on 34th Street (the original)
Another Curry family tradition. It's witty and touching. It reminds us that Christmas is a state of mind that should be felt all year round, not just once a year. And if the federal government can acknowledge the existence of Santa Claus, it must be so!

5. While You Were Sleeping
This makes my list of top movies in general, but the fact that it is set during Christmas makes it a must-watch as I kick start my holiday spirit.

6. Home Alone
What can I say? I love when he fools Joe Pesci and the other guy into thinking he has a house full of guests with all the mannequins. I think of that part every time I hear "Rockin Around the Christmas Tree." Why exactly did they have all of those mannequins anyway? I also like his heart to heart in the church with his neighbor. Something about his grandparents buying him a sweater with a giant bird on it. "I'm in the 4th grade, a guy can get killed over something like that." It also has some great music!

7. Love Actually
My favorite part is the pageant at the end. I'm a sucker for the Mariah Carey song and also for all the kids dressed like sea creatures during the manger scene. I especially love when the kid in the octopus costume gets wedged in the car between Hugh Grant and "Natalie." I giggle through the whole thing.

8. Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer
One word. Hermie. He's just so passionate about his love for dentistry!

9. Serendipity
This movie always makes me want to go to New York at Christmas. And go ice skating...Someday it'll happen.

10. Tie between Mickey's Christmas Carol and A Christmas Story
I haven't seen the first one in years, but it was the first rendition of "A Christmas Carol" that I ever saw and it's stuck with me. And what can I say? The pink bunny suit in A Christmas Story is pretty much amazing.

What's your favorite holiday film?

Cat in a Box

I stole this from my friend Kate because I love it.

The following takes place in 1994...

Can the limitations of 90's technology stop Jack Bauer from saving the world?

Food, Water, Heat...Basic Cable?

Justin hooked up our rabbit ears and new digital converter box today so we can stop being Amish and get a few basic channels of television. I actually watched The Office "live" on television for the first time all season! So exciting! He is now back in my good graces after this morning's boot incident.

Random Rants on a Thursday

Today’s post was going to be about how amazing my husband is for putting up all our Christmas lights on his day off yesterday. (As I walked around the corner on my way home from work, I was met by a beautiful light display on our house. Super exciting!) But, today’s post is no longer going to be about that because he fell rapidly out of favor this morning. First off, he made fun of the fake uggs I was wearing to walk to work. I should know by now to ignore him and wear whatever I want, but one can only be called “boots” so many times before a negative complex starts to set in. So, I changed into my heels and left the house only to get about two blocks before I realized that I left my keys at home. I stomped up the porch steps hoping that my two-year-old temper tantrum would elicit some type of sympathy from Justin, who was walking out the door. I did my best pout-y face, laid a guilt trip on him about never driving me to work, and stomped off with keys in hand expecting a nice offer of a ride in return. NOTHING people! No offer(something about being “late” to his own job – whatever!), only some nonsense about “I don’t even get a kiss?” A kiss? Bah! Make fun of my boots, make me walk to work my heels (in the cold!) and expect a kiss? He may have gotten an obscene gesture instead as I walked crankily down the street. (I'm not proud of it.) I think I have shin splints now from walking in my heels, not to mention the mini-run in my nylons (which I know are “Fashion Don’t #1” for style conscious women, but they couldn’t be helped today.) I’m over it now, but Christmas lights or not, Justin's still on my list! And tomorrow I'm wearing my boots - teasing or no! :)

Farewell Four-Wheeled Friend

(Not my car, but this is what the scene looked like)

I had to say goodbye to my car last Friday. It had been sitting in front of the house dead for almost 3 months, but I'd been in too much denial to do much about it. It was basically my fault that the car stopped working (mostly due to gross negligence on my part). We decided an operation was way too expensive for an 8-year-old car with a lot of miles on it, so we pulled the plug. I ended up donating the car to a non-profit organization and watched it get towed away for the last time on Friday. I definitely had a mini-outburst when I saw the tow truck pull away from the curb with my poor, sad, dead car.
Now Justin and I are officially a one-car family. Fortunately, I walk to work, so a car isn't necessity in my life (a HUGE blessing!) I definitely miss the little things though. For example: Justin won't take me to Target. He insists that no matter what I go in for, I always spend more money than necessary. He is willing to spend more $$ for the same product at Longs than allow me to set foot in a Target. It's awful! Target is like Disneyland for adults! I love it! To get there I either have to steal his truck when he isn't looking or beg someone else to take me.
I'm making light of the situation, but inside I really am sad about my car. :( It's the first time in 13 years of driving that I haven't had a car to call my own. I did learn a good life lesson from the situation though - I need to make time to take care of my personal life! And let this be a lesson to all of you - a) don't ignore a service warning light and b) make sure you change your timing belt every 90,000-100,000 miles! Don't let bad things happen to good cars!

A first look at Firstlook

My brother-in-law Jeff and his cousins started a band earlier this year. They're all really musical, so many of our family functions turn into some type of jam session anyway, so it just seemed natural for it to happen. Firstlook just finished recording their first 6-track CD and they are planning to kick off a small tour next summer. They're just starting out, but I'm really proud of them! And, as the wife of their band manager, I feel like I share some responsibility in helping them achieve future success.

You can check out their newly revamped myspace page and listen to an album preview now!

Seattle

Looking back over 2008, I realized that I've gotten to cover a lot of territory attending various conferences for work. This year I've been to Austin, Las Vegas, Kansas City, Salt Lake City, and now Seattle. Seattle's a pretty hip town that kind of reminded me a lot of K Street in Sacramento, only with bigger buildings and more rain. It was a short conference, so we didn't have a lot of time to sightsee. We managed to make it down to Pike Place Market just as they were closing up for the night. We also stumbled across the original Starbucks where I went in and ordered a pumpkin hot chocolate - a drink I randomly made up (it wasn't bad) - and took the obligatory "I'm in the first Starbucks" photo!

Normally I attend conferences by myself, but this time I went with two other people from my division. I tend to revel in my own company, but it was nice to have people to enjoy meals and walk around with. I stayed in a hip W Hotel that kept most of the lights turned off and played techno dance beats in the lobby and elevators, which gave me some moderate concerns about my safety, but I had a great window seat in my room and had some nice quiet moments staring at the pretty lights down below. I also had the chance to walk around a bit downtown and check out some of the holiday decorations.


And here I am enjoying my "original" Starbucks drink by the Macy's. Yay Seattle!

Belated Thanksgiving

Our Thanksgivings are always a full day of family fun. We usually start off the day in Lafayette where, if we're lucky, my mother-in-law Lynn makes us swedish pancakes (reserved only for special occasions). Then we head over to San Mateo where Justin's alma mater, Junipero Serra High School, hosts an annual alumni water polo game. Justin's only missed one year since he graduated in 1998 and that's only because we spent that year in Costa Rica.

Sommer and I usually find a way to avoid actually watching the match (except for a few well timed hoots and hand claps) and this year was no exception. We took Jeff and headed to Starbucks. Prior to that outing though, we realized that the three of us have pretty much the same haircut and highlights (thanks to us having the same hairdresser - yay Stephanie!) thanks to the dad of Justin's friend Andy who couldn't tell Sommer and I apart for a minute. This is our "we have the same hair" pose - ask your hairdresser for "The Perry."

After the game we headed to Hayward to "Grandmom's" house where there is always an amazing dinner. I've narrowed my favorites to green bean casserole and this sweet potato concoction that is to die for. While there, I made Justin take some pictures of the Firstlook jam session. Their debut cd is done and in the process of being duplicated now! You can hear a preview of it on their myspace music page. Hooray!

After dinner we headed back to Lafayette. When we finally decided we were hungry again, Jeff, Sommer, and I headed out for a snack. NOTHING WAS OPEN! It was the saddest thing ever, but we came home and we all played a role in making tacos. And Justin and Sommer schooled Jeff on the couch.

I feel pretty lucky to have so many great family members! My husband (even though he annoys the crap out of me sometimes :)) is my best friend. I love Jeff and Sommer like they're blood and of course Mike Nunan is my in-law hermano to the second power. As is the norm, my family has to go it alone on Thanksgiving, which always makes me sad. But I love you mom, dad, and Aunt Pat and I am so thankful for you! I am a lucky girl in many ways. :)

5 Years Ago...

I'm sitting in the lobby of a Seattle Hotel feeling overwhelmed by the Christmas spirit. It's odd because I have a long list of blog topics that I haven't gotten to, but I can't seem to get the memories of the one holiday season I spent in the retail industry out of my head. It could be because two songs on the hotel dance/pop/muzak soundtrack were tracks on the Limited Too Christmas soundtrack that was on repeat for about 8 weeks of my life back in 2003. I took the job at the Limited Too during what I call "the dark days" of Justin's and my life. We had recently moved back to Stockton and through no fault of our own, both ended up jobless around the same time. I knew I need to make some cash fast, so I headed to the mall in early November, hoping to pick some hours doing retail sales. I was 24 years old and had never done retail work before and was feeling kind of low. I mean, I had been a big fish television producer in the small pond of Yuba City and now I was a nobody about to indenture myself for $6.75 an hour during the most materialistic time of the year. A few stores were hiring, but the Limited Too called back first. I went into my interview with two other girls (both in high school). I knew I had found my niche when part of the interview consisted of a pop culture quiz (I happen to be a vault for random celebrity and entertainment knowledge) which I totally aced. As the oldest person working in the store (even older than the managers), I usually got the most sales, could work the most late shifts, and therefore, got the most hours. Not gonna lie, it was tough working in the mall during the busiest shopping season of the year and not have the money to buy anything, but it was FUN! I loved being immersed in tween culture, listening to one girly pop song after another, and serving the needs of the customer. As soon as the holidays were over I started working a temporary full-time job on top of my 15-20 hours a week in sales and, though working two jobs got a bit tedious, I ended up staying there for 6 months until I got a more permanent (and more "lucrative" - ha!) job at The Record. Although it was a rough time in our lives financially, I look back on my Limited Too days fondly and sometimes wish I had the flexibility to go back and pick up a few hours here and there. Although now I'm 29 and would basically be a grandma in Limited Too land!

Here are some trends that were big in '03:
Step back Jonas Brothers, we sold pens, pillows, etc. saying "I love Justin," "I love Ashton," and "I love JC" (as in the other NSYNC'er). I totally have "I love Justin" socks and a pen (for obvious reasons). :)
Hilary Duff's sophomore album (No Miley Cyrus here!)
Lizzie McGuire
Jesse McCartney
The Cheetah Girls (High School Musical didn't exist yet - I wish!)
The early stages of the pop/punk rock comeback look
Initial purses/bags/wallets