Two down, Four to go

I am happy to say that i am right on track to meet my goal of maximum blood donation in 2011. I went last week and have discovered that 6:30 on a random week night is totally the time to go because no one is there. Most of the phlebotomists were cleaning up, doing paperwork, and resetting for the next day while myself and another gentleman were donating. We were all playing Jeopardy out loud along with the tv when the category History of the American Red Cross was announced. No lie. It was hilarious, but also kinda warm and bonding, to be sitting at the Red Cross and hear 12 people call out Who is Clara Barton? at the same time.

a touch of whimsy

One thing that i love about the whole Christmas season -which for me goes from the day after Thanksgiving through Epiphany- is that there are always a few whimsical moments to be found.
For me, the actual holiday of Christmas holds religious significance, but i also delight in the surrounding atmosphere of magic and wonder.
Take this photo of my Dad's Christmas tree, for example. Do you notice anything a tad unusual?
Something like a lit, animatronic alligator stalking the tree skirt? Cause that's what it is. My dad had a lit palm tree in his front yard that after a few years of Florida weather has gone kaput so for Christmas my stepmom got him this gator to light and protect the garden.
I think he likes you...
Dad has really embraced the whole Florida-living scene (though the lack of palatable crabcakes makes him a bit cranky) so it is no surprise that wrapped up for me under the tree this year was Pappy, the Choc-o-gator.
Yes, a giant solid chocolate alligator.
It is hilarious.
On the back of the box we find out that Pappy is 14 inches long and made of a POUND of chocolate. [i also enjoy that the manufacturers feel compelled to tell us that the picture isn't real sized even though the dimensions are listed right there] He will make a tasty treat to share with my team on Team Day -which means that by the time you read this we will soon be consuming Pappy - YUM!
In my stocking at my Mom's i received perhaps the most whimsical who-thought-of-that?-i-want-to-shake-their-hand novelty candy i've ever seen:
a gummi kabob!!!
Can you believe that it occurred to someone to not only make these enchanting Christmas figures out of delicious gummi, but then to skewer them together onto one kabob of tasty joy? Genius, people. Genius. And the icing details are fabulous.
Check out that reindeer's mischievous expression and the poinsettia on the hatband of the snowman's hat:
Delightful.
Finally, i'd like to share with you a present that made me laugh so hard i almost peed-  
What are they? you ask, And why are they so funny?
Because, they are wooden blocks of the periodic table!
Isn't that ridiculous?
We've been thwarted at trivia more than once by questions about elements (you might recall that we missed winning $250 by the atomic weight of Holmium) so Jason and Kate gave me these blocks to play with, i mean, study. At a time when health, economy and the world in general feels so serious, i love finding nuggets of whimsy. What made you smile this season?

Open letter to my #1 Fan

Dear Olga - I am sorry that there haven't been as many updates here as promised while i have keys to a house with internet. I know we both thought you'd have hours of reading material during the third shift. I had good intentions, really i did. It is just that the house with AC and internet also has a few other things, like a ginormous tv and cable and Wii. I have played so much Wii Boxing and Wii Swordplay (on Wii Resort) every single night that i can barely lift my arms above my head. My mii (who looks just like me) is about to become a professional at both things and i just can't deny her dreams. Yes, it makes me sweaty and makes my triceps ache, but she's soooooo close to crossing the 1000 point line. Did i mention the cable? I have been swooning over Food Network all week and am delighted to find that they have another channel all about cooking. I watch, i learn, i absorb, i dream and then i go home to the itsy, bitsy little kitchen in my apartment and i sigh. Plus, last night, on my way to the Blogger Dashboard i stumbled on something called Sporcle. I'm sure it has been around forever, but you know how far i am from the center of the universe. It is full of trivia quizzes and you know who loves trivia quizzes, right? I got sucked in on some literature things -gosh i love books- and time stood still. When i realized it was 12:45am i started to go back to Blogger, but a tab marked MUSIC made itself known and you know that i love music even more than i love books. Name bands, name singers, identify songs by music clips: all with a countdown clock. [you'll be delighted to know that i can type 9 of Duran Duran's 12 albums in 38 seconds, btw] At 2:30am it occurred to me that i had to get up for work in 4 hours and i wasn't even in my own house yet. Know that i haven't forgotten you and i still love you. After all, you are my #1 fan, Olga. Keep the faith and there might be pictures of chickens in your somewhat near future (once i figure out how to spell the lead singer of Dire Strait's name: knopler, knofler, knopfler, knofler...) Much love and high regards, Niki

Trivia Bowl XXVI

For the second season in a row, Team Marge made it through the quarter and semi-finals of Final Score Trivia, Maryland and competed in the Trivia Bowl today. We weren't able to field our entire team as Jason and Kate are on vacation; however, we still kicked a**. I am somewhat flumozzled to report that we tied for FOURTH PLACE! It had to go to a best of 3 tie breaker, where we were tripped up by the atomic weight of Holmium. I am so glad that i didn't realize that we were guessing that question for $250 cash as i probably would have had a heart attack. No cash for us today, but i am so pleased with fifth place as my goal was to be in the top half of the pack. Congrats and thanks to Karen, Nancy, Jason, Kate and Chris for a fun season. Maybe some day we will have our whole team present - then they'll see some serious geek power.

meet the Team Marge mascot

During the birthday frenzy last month Jason and Kate gifted me my very first Build-A-Bear creation.
It was a Hello Kitty.
A tanned, South Pacific Hello Kitty. Wearing a grass skirt. And coconuts.
Kate suggested she could be the mascot for Team Marge, so off she went to Applebees for Friday night trivia.
Isn't she adorable?
She enjoys their dessert shots, especially the mousse.
When Karen saw her she said, she can be our Hello Marge, which made me laugh like an insane person so i took to calling her Luau Hello Marge.
A week later, newest team member Chris suggested Luau Aloha Marge, which i also liked, so i've decided to go with Aloha Hello Marge, cause how ridiculous is it to have hello in her name twice?
 She is a welcome addition to the team for her sunny disposition and her extensive knowledge of 13th century Popes.

Good Luck, Team Marge

Do you remember when i started playing trivia at Applebee's a few months ago? Well, my team won enough points to go to the quarter finals last Saturday where we came in 5th and advanced to the semi-finals last Sunday. At that game we also came in 5th (do you see the pattern of us scraping past by the skin off our teeth?) and advanced to the Trivia Bowl tomorrow. Obviously as i am in Oregon i am not playing, but Karen, Nancy and Jason (and possibly Kate) will represent Team Marge at Trivia Bowl 25 in Ellicott City. I am beyond shocked that we made it this far and am proud of my teammates. Good luck to them and GO TEAM MARGE!!!!!