Monthly Archives: November 2008

In which I apologise, explain, and wish you a Happy Thanksgiving

By monnibo | Published: November 27, 2008

First off, sorry for the rant. It came from somewhere else, and somehow burped all over American Thanksgiving. Second of all, Happy American Thanksgiving to our continent-neighbours! (Sorry the image looks so angry… it was the only one holding an American flag!) Now, for my explanation: I am basically tired of how commercial the holiday season has become. I’m sure a lot of people are, and that’s not to say I don’t enjoy finding lovely gifts for my and my boyfriends’ families, or that I don’t love seeing their smiles when they open them. All that I really enjoy. The part I don’t enjoy is the obsession with spending, shopping, and over-consumption of useless products. Even my mom, who claims to hate Christmas shopping (and all shopping) said today, “I guess I need to start my Christmas shopping. Have you done yours?” I love spending time with family over the holidays (this will be my 4th Christmas in England), and I love the smiles, the chatter, the lights, the smells… I just don’t see the need for it to be SO focused on the gifts. In short, while they are a nice “perk”, they don’t need to be the whole cake. I think the whole thing was started by the Booking Through Thursday question. It was abut thanks: Today is Thanksgiving here in the U.S. Now, you may have noticed that the global economy isn’t exactly doing well. There’s war. Starvation. All sorts of bad, scary things going on. So–just [...]

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Running out of steam

By monnibo | Published: November 27, 2008

Have you noticed that as NaBloPoMo has gone on, my posts have gotten crappier and crappier? Ugh me too. I think I’m running out of steam. Near the start of the month, I posted nearly twice a day, just because I don’t like to make combo posts, I prefer to have one topic per post. I’m weird like that. But now, I’m doing tons of memes and little bits and bobs. Not that memes aren’t fun… but they aren’t exactly posts with substance. Today I should be doing Booking Through Thursday. But because it’s American Thanksgiving, the question is about thanks. Well you know what? I’m Canadian (damn proud) and we celebrated Thanksgiving back in October before Halloween (where it should be). Do you know why I’m a fan of October Thanksgiving? Because in November, it’s far too close to Christmas. Ever heard of “Black Friday”? (Who hasn’t?) Yeah, well, that wouldn’t happen if all Thanksgiving dinners were in October because then everyone would use the “after Halloween” marker for Christmas-beginnings. So there is my rant for today. I think that to avoid the stress of the holidays, everyone should start planning from November 1st. Hello November = hello Holiday season! Did you know that I leave for England on December 15th? This will be my fourth Christmas spent overseas with my boyfriend and his family. Is it weird that I still get nervous? Is it terrible of me that I just want a quiet Christmas with no family obligations? [...]

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Scattergories

By monnibo | Published: November 26, 2008

Beth tagged me for this one! Thanks Beth! Take up the challenge! Erase my answers, enter yours, and tag a few people. Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following. They have to be real places, names, things.. nothing made up! Try to use different answers if the person in front of you had the same 1st initial. You CAN’T use your name for the boy/girl name question & you can use the same answer twice. WHAT IS YOUR NAME: Monica BOY NAME: Max (what my parents would have named me if I was a boy) 4 LETTER WORD: Moth GIRL NAME: Melinda OCCUPATION: Mathematician A COLOUR: Maroon SOMETHING YOU WEAR: Mittens BEVERAGE : Mocha FOOD : Mousse SOMETHING FOUND IN A BATHROOM: Massage oil A PLACE : Montana REASON FOR BEING LATE: matching socks SOMETHING YOU SHOUT: MOM!! I’ll tag… Ruth, Chan, Anita, and Lezlie! But anyone can play along; leave your link here so I can visit you!

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Mail for Henry & Me*

By monnibo | Published: November 26, 2008

[Grab a cup of tea/coffee, there's some back story to this mail and Whiskers on Wednesday.] Back during BBAW (Book Blogger Appreciation Week), I was contacted by Amy of My Friend Amy regarding making awards for the winners. Later, Trish of Hey Lady! Whatcha readin’? contacted me to make a Queen Blogger award for Amy, for all her hard work during BBAW. Of course I was more than happy to pitch in! Then afterward, as a thanks, Trish & Amy sent me an Amazon gift certificate! It was completely unnecessary but I was quite thrilled! Thanks again ladies! P.S. please don’t think you’re obligated to send me gift certificates if I offer to make a graphic for you. A link/credit back to here is quite enough. Well, Amazon certainly has quick shipping! I was interested in the books… but that’s not what Henry was sticking around for…

Posted in Alongs, BBAW, Books, Pets, Whiskers on Wednesday | Comments closed

Have you ever…

By monnibo | Published: November 25, 2008

Found this meme on Julia’s blog! Have you: Gone on a blind date? No Skipped school? Yes Watched someone die? CSI… Been to Canada? All my life, baby! Been to Mexico? Yes. Recently for my dad’s birthday. Been to Florida? Yes. We swam with the dolphins in the Florida Keys. Been on a plane? Yes. Often. Been lost? Yes – my dad left me in the video store when I was a kid. Been on the opposite side of the country? Across the world to Japan! Been to the capital of your country? Not yet (it’s on my list!) Swam in the ocean or waded? Living on the West Coast! Cried yourself to sleep? Yes Played cops and robber? Yes Recently colored with crayons? Well, do markers count? I prefer them, they don’t snap in half or require sharpening. Did I mention I babysit my neighbours? Sang Karaoke? Yep, in Japan

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