Christmas Ideas

I don't know about you, but I have the worst time Christmas shopping for my parents.  Make that shopping for presents in general.  I have trouble for birthdays and Mother's/Father's Day too.  I usually just resort to flowers and candy and then and I.O.U. for dinner somewhere where I pay.  I have yet to take my parents out for dinner.  They're not the "dining-out" kind of people.  At least not to the restaurants I patronize.

But I want to make this year different and I think I have a wonderful idea.  The probability of my parents reading this is pretty low, near impossible, so I'm going to share my idea.  My mom wouldn't even now where the on button is on the computer and if it's not a power-tool, my dad won't use it.
 
Mom and Dad usually head into the city (ie. St. Cloud) once or twice a month and when they go, sometimes they hit the movie theater.  In the past, they have even done a double feature.  Not one right after the other, but maybe lunch or a little shopping at Menard between flicks.  Even though they don't eat out much (mom prefers home cooking), they do love Bonanza.  I can't believe those are still around.  I guess it's the "small town" version of Old Country Buffet. So here it is.... a date in a box.

The Waite Park theater is a Marcus Cinema Theater.  I'll stop in at Elk River this weekend and pick up a gift card.  I'll also buy some movie-themed snacks....buttered popcorn bags, Raisinettes, chocolate covered peanuts, little Diet Pepsi bottles, things like that.  I'm also going to get a Visa GiftCard from the bank and I'll print off a picture of a steak dinner and attach the gift card to the pic.  (It's a long trip to St. Cloud just to get a G.C. for Bonanza.)

Mom loves to bake, so I'm also going to put a couple bags of dates (ie. the fruit) in the box too.  A little play on words that good for digestion and regularity and maybe a little flatulence.  I'm not going to supply the candles though.  Dad has to do some work too, you know!

Any other ideas you might have, I'd love to hear them.

Tipsy Jules ......21+.

Wow.  Keeping a blog is much harder than it looks.  I guess I lack inspiration about things to talk about.  Todays topic is the weekend I just had.

Friday was our Holiday Party for my FT job.  (Side note: I also have a PT job....that Xmas party hasn't happened yet.  Stay Tuned. )  We had it at LaCasita, which is a yummy place that has a Happy Hour Salsa Bar and $1 off House Margaritas.  Get a bunch of dental people together and we turn into lushes.

The evening started out well.  The first Strawberry Margarita went down smooth and fast.  Hey, I was thirsty.  This is probably a good time to tell you a little about my drinking habits.  I have none.  I drink few and far between.  I don't need alcohol to have fun but if I do choose to drink, I prefer girlie ones to beer.  My poison of choice is Mailbu Diets, Colorado Bulldogs, or Amaretto Sours.  I try to be responsible; to not drink and drive.  I've never really had a headache, much less a hangover after a night of drinking.  The thought of hanging my head in the toilet and puking does not sound very fun.  So I consider Friday night to be a milestone.

I wasn't planning on having anymore except they made Dr. T's wrong.  She asked for a Melon Margarita on the rocks instead of blended.  And instead of having them toss it down the drain, I took it.  It all went down hill from there.

The Fiesta Party was wonderful.  Great fun, great gifts.  The company party ended and the after-party began.
It was too early to head out on the town, so a bunch of us girls headed to someone's house just to hang out.  What to do to pass the time you ask?  What else but do shots while playing "Scene It! The Disney Addition".  A little Strawberry Smirnoff, Grey Goose, and some kind of grape Vodka that tastes like expired Dimetapp.  Unfortunately, there is proof of our misdeeds.  There was a camera or two.

Ten O'clock came around and it was time to hit the city.  C.'s husband was nice enough to be our chauffeur.  He dropped us off at the Wild Onion and picked us up later.  A very good driver might I add.

Once we got there, all restraint went out the window. With a sober cab, I finally had a chance to let loose.   Let's see if I can count.  Between 4-7pm, two Margaritas.  Between 7-10pm, at least six-seven shots plus some mixed drinks.  Between 10-2pm, six more.

1.)      Cherry Bomb:   Tastes like a cherry tootsie pop.  Places high on the list of yumminess.
2.)      Apple Pie:  Not memorable.  I know it was green in a short glass.
3.)      Chocolate Cake:  I've had better.  This is a lick, shoot, suck.  The aftertaste is supposed to taste like    chocolate cake.  I could only taste sourness from the lemon.
4.)      Lemon Drop:  I'd pass next time.  Again, a lick, shoot, suck.  Too much sourness!
5.)      I believe there may have been another Apple Pie.  I can't be too sure.  I remember seeing green glasses again, but I don't know if I did it or not.
6.)      Starburst:  This one was another yummy one.  Should have had another.

During this whole time, there was great music playing.  Stuff that you could actually dance too.  And there were cute guys surrounding us on all sides.  I won't talk about that.  That's another entry entirely.  I  don't want to give all my secrets away.

Some of us slept over a C.'s place.  We were in now condition to drive ourselves home.  Saturday was an experience too.  I've never felt so exhausted.  I could almost compare it to having the flu.  I didn't get sick, but just wanted the sun to go away so I could sleep.

I know this isn't what I'm supposed to say....especially online where people might get the wrong impression.  It's taboo.  Someone talking about there drinking parties doesn't look good.   But I am very proud of myself.  I finally did something that was out of character.  I tried something and had new experiences.  I can now say that I had my first hangover and I'm not going to feel bad about it.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving.   Not my favorite holiday but it's somewhere on the Top 5 list.  I'm not much of the turkey person.  I'd much rather prefer a Christmas ham.

Holidays aren't what they used to be.  I remember when everyone (aunts, uncles and cousins) would head Up North the Grandma and Grandpa's for the important holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter with the occasional Fourth of July). 

Everyone had their place at the table, even though I was usually stuck at the kiddie table with all the other cousins.  Everyone slept in their designated beds.  When there weren't enough beds to go around,  we just slept 3 people to a queen size bed.  Boy/girl parings meant blankets down the middle to make a dam so that there were no cootie's exchanged.  

Those are the memories I remember most fondly.  When your 10 years old and after Grandma tucks you in with 3 quilts and a comforter and we all say our bedtime prayers with holy water on our foreheads and all the adults go to sleep, that's when the giggles start. 

Times have changed.  My generation is older, although I'm still stuck at the kiddie table.  Grandparents are gone and extended relative's families have gotten bigger with cousins getting married and having their own kids.  People now have to celebrate with in-laws.  With people doing their own thing, it's quieter.  There's no more slumber parties and giggles at 1 am.

Tomorrow it'll only be my sister and I.  We'll try to do something (that doesn't include watching football) but I only have a Jenni-O Turkey Roll.  Remember me and that turkey.....there's no fricking way that I'm going to make a whole turkey.  Otherwise, trying to stay traditional.  Real mashed potatoes, not out of a box.  Pull apart finger rolls, not loaf bread.  Homemade sweet corn, not out of a can.  Homemade pumpkin pie, not from Perkins. 

Hopefully, Christmas will have more family!

Piano Bars

Last night I went out to the Shout House with 2 gals I work with at the Y.  It was a blast.  This was my first visit to the Shout House although I have been the Bonfire on Grand Ave in St. Paul numerous times.  I've heard from various people that the Shout House is way cooler than the Bonfire.  I've always thought that the Bonfire was a great way to have some fun on a Friday night.  So I enlisted Kristina and Carissa to join me so I could experience the Shout House and do a side-by-side comparison.  So here it goes.

Bonfire

• There are many locations throughout the Twin Cities.  Grand Ave tends to have the best crowd out of all of them, younger and rowdier.  Some locations don't have Dualing Pianos, ie. Blaine.  Woodbury leans toward jazz bands.
• Usually don't have to pay a cover to get in mainly because it's considered a "restaurant" and not a "bar".
• They have signature drinks and food.  Wood-fire pizza and martini's!
•  Cowboy decor.  If you look up at the ceiling, chances are you are going to be looking at a bull made out of a hockey goalie pads.  If you get to sit at the LONG table, it has cowhide upholstery.
  
• Music is more old school.  Only 2 musicians play at a time, but may switch out at end of shift.  One guy at Grand thinks he's Prince, but doesn't do a very good impression.  The Janis Joplin lady's pretty good.
• Songs by request.
• They restaurant is open all day but the piano's don't start until the 9 o'clock hour.
  
• Seating is all around and usually available.  Tables, booths, bar-stools.  Standing room only in bar area.
  

Shout House 

• Only one location in Minneapolis, located on Hennepin Ave between 6th and 7th Street.
• Crowd tends to be more rauncy.  Birthday songs tend to lead to sexual embarrassment, mostly doing the Hokie Pokie with your boobies or dipstick.
  
• Music is more rock-n-roll.  Fast and upbeat.  Four musicians rotate throughout night.  Sometime all playing at the same time, 2 on piano, and 1 on guitar and 1 on drums.  
• Songs by requests too.
• The facility doesn't open until 5 pm  or 6 pm, depending on the night, and the pianos play the whole night.
  
• Seating is sparse and tables are teeny.  There are two long bar-tops and bar stools along the perimeter of the seating area.  Otherwise, it's standing room only.
  
• Decor is basic, nothing fancy.  There are two giant mirrors behind the pianos so you can have a view from whichever directions you are sitting/standing.
  
• Not much of a menu.  I never saw one.  No specialty drinks, just order the usual from the waitress or one of the two bar on either side of the stage.
• Some nights there is a cover charge after 9 pm.  Friday night is College ID night and you can get in without a cover.  Hint:  You can flirt with the cashier at the door and get in with a college ID that's 9 years old and still get in for free.  Don't go stealing my move now.
• Not only do they play instruments, but the stage security can dance!  Moonwalk, Mr. Roboto, the Worm, and Arielle the Little Mermaid (that was hot!).
• Did I already mention the the stage security guy was hot!

Either one you go to, you're going to get entertained.  A night out with the parents...go to the Bonfire.
Out on the town with a date....go to the Shout House.

For more information, go to www.theshouthouse.com    or    www.axelsbonfire.com  and see for yourself.

Christmas Wish List

My mom called this last weekend and asked me what I wanted for Christmas.  My reply was not for anything fun or spontaneous  like a new Wii game or tricked out rims for my Lumina.  It was responsible and practical.  I want a new washer and dryer, preferably front loaders.

I remember when I would look through the JCPenny Holiday Catalog and I would circle everything that I would like to get.  Everything that was "girlie" was pretty much circled.  But somehow on Christmas Eve when we opened out presents, I didn't receive a single thing that I had picked out.  I got clothes and coloring books.   As a little girl, I didn't want clothes or coloring books.  I wanted the Barbie Malibu Mansion, a new Lego set, a Kid Sister, a Sing-Along Tape movie on VHS or a 6' giant teddy bear!

Don't get me wrong.  I'm was never unappreciative.  I loved what I got just for the simple reason of them being presents.  I've just come to realize that today,  I would love to get clothes.  A girl can never have enough clothes, whether it's pajamas, jeans, blouses, long underwear or shoes!  And coloring books....I wish I could color all day and think my day was productive.

Even though all the carefree days of being a kid are gone,  I'm still considering a letter to Santa to get my washer and dryer.

Cough Drops

As our flu season has hit us hard with H1N1, so has the cold season.  I usually get at least one cold each winter and this cold is kicking my butt.  Sinus congestion (which I never get), chest congestion.  Thank goodness for Tylenol and elevators.

Another thing I am thankful for is cough drops.  I didn't realize all the different kinds there are.  I've always been a cherry girl, never lemon.  While I was at Cub the other day, I noticed that they have Halls Honey Berry.  Yum!  I bought 3 bags just in the event that they would be discontinued.

A gal at work had me try Halls Kiwi Apple.  Sounds good, but not so much.  It starts out nice, but then it turns into a sour mess.  I'm not one who likes anything tangy or sour.  However, if you like the Carmel Apple suckers, this is the cough drop for you!!

Blog Themes

I've been thinking that maybe my blog should have a theme.  My life is boring.  It's work, eat and sleep.  Nobody really wants to hear about that.  Besides, there's a federal law called HIPAA that prevents me from sharing anything interesting and worth sharing about patients. 

So what else in my life is worth taking about?  Movies!  I love movies.  I rent DVD's from Netflix and even check them out at the library.  I will sit inside on a sunny day and watch the LOTR trilogy just so I can see some hot elves run around in tights.  I'm easily entertained.  There doesn't need to be a great plot worthy of an Oscar. 
Pigs will fly before a Judd Apatow movie wins an Academy Award.  Oops, he did for Pineapple Express.  I think I just saw a pig in my skylight.

Very First Post

Tonight I went out to dinner with a couple of friends from high school.  We hadn't seen each other for a few month and it's always nice to get together and catch up.  Much to my surprise, everyone knew everyone else's business.  I was totally out of the loop.  I try to keep tabs on people through Facebook; but it's usually just status updates, not detailed stories.  I missed out on new cars, spouses getting laid-off, new job promotions, traffic tickets and ear tubes.  Geez.

"Julie, it's on my blog.  You need to start one."

So hear I am.  Trying it out.  We'll see how it goes and if I can keep it up.