two dolla

my holiday decorating style

Holidailies is kind of saving my butt by providing writing prompts throughout this little writing contest for all of December. Today’s prompt: Describe your holiday decorating techniques.

None. Seriously. That’s it.

Growing up, my mom always wanted the Christmas up around her birthday (the 7th – happy late birthday, ma) and sometimes that ended up not happening until the weekend before Christmas.

I got my very own first Christmas tree two Christmases ago at Target for $2.50 and a nice set of bulbs for $1. I put it up that year and since then, it’s kind of taken residence in a large white box from Ikea.

It wasn’t until late last week, when we realized at work that we didn’t have a Christmas tree in our department. And since The General bought a bigger tree for our apartment, I decided I could take this one to work.

Now, it’s sitting on an empty desk, wearing a Santa hat on top, two blue bulbs for eyes, and a paperclip chain that looks like a smile. And its name is Julia Stiles.

I’m starting a movement that all Christmas trees should be named Julia Stiles.

if it works, i’m a fan

I do my best to keep up to date on all of the latest ideas on different ways to beat or even control any type of cancer. I’ve seen too many people effected by one strain or another in ways that never end pleasantly. And if that could eventually come to an end, I can’t imagine too many people would complain if it were that easy to start treating diseases that effect so many dang people.

A company called Cryo-Cell has buddied up pretty recently with the National Institutes of Health in an effort to bulk up their research:

They will conduct an exploratory study to determine if stem cells collected from menstrual blood can be used in the potential treatment of breast cancer.

It sounds extremely gross. I’m totally with you on that. But all of a sudden, things seem a whole heck of a lot less gross when you think about the good that something as limited in its invasiveness as that can wind up doing.

I don’t know a lot about Cyro-Cell, its history, or anything of the like. It just gets me a little excited when companies are as excited as they are about the different type of groundbreaking activities they have in mind. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that it’s really going to do a lot of good.

links for 2008-12-08

• Reyes opts to become a free agent
  No, Denny's Grand Slam, no! Eh, he's never been a favorite of mine – I just love his name, that's all.
• YouTube – Jizz In My Pants (from last night's SNL)
  Not quite as good as Dick in a Box, but the brief appearances of Justin Timberlake make it very close.
• ESPN – Sources: 4-15 Minnesota Timberwolves consider firing Randy Wittman
  And temporarily replacing him with Kevin McHale on the bench… Hey, I'm usually free most evenings, Mr. Glen Taylor. Just sayin'.
• Meetings could be Twins' starting point | twinsbaseball.com: News
  Winter meetings are at the Bellagio? I hope they announce all the blockbuster trades while standing in front of the fountains.
• News: Deer hunter a reluctant celebrity
  And this was even before SNL talked about him last night. I was so hoping they'd actually mention "Sedalia".
• Rays Willing To Trade Bartlett?: MLB Rumors – MLBTradeRumors.com
  The Rays want to talk about trading Bartlett. And they've already talked to the Twins about getting Delmon Young or Denard Span. I VOTE A BIG FAT NO.
• Dog Photo Contest | StarTribune.com
  You can be damn sure I'm going to be bothering all of you to vote for Riley and/or Kentucky once this contest starts up. (And if you have cute dogs, pretend you didn't see this!)
• wcco.com – Will Smith To Attend Movie Premiere At Southdale
  Dear Will Smith: I hope you hate Edina as much as I do. Somehow, I don't think that's possible. XOXO, Wendy
• ThinkGeek :: Personal Soundtrack Shirt
  I'm not sure why, but I feel like I need this shirt. Not enough to buy it or want it as a gift, but I'm just thinking about appropriate it would be for me to wear absolutely everywhere.