A Merry Humblebrag Christmas to you!!

If Corey and I had not been so wrapped up in fantasy football and jewelry prep, respectively, the following
would have been our Christmas letter to you:

credit: corey and his cell phone

Seasons Greetings to our family, friends, neighbors, work colleagues we like, senators, president, 

visiting dignitaries and bearded milkman!

Oh how this holiday season crept up on us this year!  We Lucases like to stay busy throughout the year and that means sometimes it seems as we're looking down at a summer Saratoga racing form 

three months go by and it's time to roast that holiday ham!

This year Corey was promoted from technical recruiter at his company to owner.  Of course this came with a 500% increase in pay which finally gave us the opportunity to buy that seven bedroom house on the beach in Puerto Rico we've been eyeing for years.  Spring in "the Puerto" as us locals call it ;) is absolutely magical. 

He also picked up his hockey stick and laced up his skates for the first time in two decades for a little recreational fun in the Saratoga men's league.  The NHL got wind of his reemergence and signed him to a three-year deal with the Canadians!  Obviously, this is just a part-time job.  His real passion is for web-based system development.

credit: same celly

Stacie has landed her first QVC special for her felted wool jewelry to air during this Christmas season.  Actresses Angelina Jolie and Helen Mirren have even endorsed her natural alpaca line which is now selling so fast she has had to hire local teens 

to do most of her felting.  But although she has more work than time, she still manages to paint murals on 

several of the city's graffiti covered buildings.

Oliver joined the Navy SEALs and is planning his first secret mission later in January.

Best wishes to all, except those work colleagues we don't like, for a happy and healthy New Year!

The Lucases

Car accidents and colonoscopies, they go hand in hand

First I would like to say I did not realize how close we are to Christmas, not that this adds any additional stress, I just can't believe every single year it's like BAM.  Christmas is here.

Second, I got into a car accident last week and even though I'm fine I still want to talk about it.

And if we have time maybe we should start a dialogue on how I can transition better.  Mmmkay.

So this accident.  Yeah.  Last Tuesday I found myself hanging out on a telephone guidewire after someone turning left from the opposite lane didn't see me coming.  These things happen so fast. 

It wasn't a very complicated accident: there was a break in one lane of traffic and she tried to rush a turn into my lane.  I was right there so she hit me on my driver's side near my front wheel and pushed me right over the curb.  I was still going forward so I ended up on the guidewire.

Guidewires have a little more give than solid wood telephone poles; it was a soft landing.

We both were fine, I mean aside from our stomachs being lodged in our throats.

Those crazy nerves.

Our cars, however....no.  They were not fine.

Actually, I don't know what happened to her car.  She seemed to have some fender damage but I didn't stick around to chat about it.  I followed my car out on the tow truck.

It's funny how one second you can be driving along, singing your favorite Mariah Carey Christmas song, and then the next be sitting on the side of the road with your bumper clinging to life while you frantically dig through your glove compartment wondering why you didn't keep your registration and proof of insurance together so they'd be easier to find in the mess of fliers and napkins and receipts from your last four oil changes.

Fortunately, besides the obvious negative aspects of being in a car accident:

• $6,000 in damages
• horrible, horrible deductible to be paid six days before Christmas
• slightly stiff neck
• nervous that every car in the world is going to find a way to hit me

I have noticed a few positives:

• surprise day off the next day!
• Corey got my favorite pizza and two desserts!
• all of the mechanisms on one of my front wheels will have to be completely replaced, which means there is a 50% chance the squeak I hear from up front when I make right turns will be gone!
• I get new engine parts!
• my rental car has new fancy technology that lets me lock, unlock, and start without taking the keys out of my purse!

The whole experience was a little traumatic, it was my first real accident (I don't include my sister backing into me in the driveway or my other sister's clueless co-worker bumping me and then trying to tell her dad it was my fault), but so far it hasn't been an entirely negative experience.

If this is how I respond to nearly totaling my car I wonder how I'll feel about colonoscopies....

All I need for Christmas are spatulas....and puppies

"Oh it's been, like, three years, maybe I should post again...."

A little dramatic, Stace. 

Please excuse, my mind is on other things.

Like how can I postpone Christmas a month.  Just one month, maybe two.  Three at the very most.  This year I just need more time.

None of my shopping is done.

None of my shopping has even been started.  So let's see what we can do about starting a campaign to prolong the Christmas season....yaaaaaay!

And in the spirit of giving, but mostly getting, here is my wish list to Santa.  With your help and that of about a million of your friends he will have two extra months to scrounge together a pretty decent load:

1. Puppies

Srsly, I put this is at the top of my list every year.  Someone will get the hint sooner or later.

2.  Fleece lined leggings

I'm cold.  Always.

3.  Spatulas

We have nothing with which to flip our pancakes.

4.  Purdue gear

A girl can never have enough memorabilia from the best school in. the. world.

5.  2013 Calendar

So I don't have to continue to use the Peru Central School calendar although it is helpful to know when it's taco salad day.

6.  iPhone

See this post on my smart phone dilemma. 

7.  Argyle dog sweater

I'm sick of my dog being so naked all the time. 

8.  Snowshoes

I like walking in nature when there is two feet of snow on the ground.

9.  Colored tights

I'm told this is a new thing to do.  I'd like to be with it but not too with it, so no fuchsia.  Teal is okay.

10.  More puppies

For real.  I would like. more. dogs.

...

I think that's a good place to start.  And if there happens to be enough room in the big guy's bag he can feel free to throw in an iPad or tablet of choice, I'm just sayin'.

But, since I don't really need anything I'll settle for a few spatulas, some sugar cookies in the shapes of stars and candy canes and quality family time.

You know I'm a sucker for family time.

...and cookies.

So get busy Santa.  You only have two months.

Three at the most.