Warm Fuzzies

It's been a lovely Holiday season - in so many ways so very different from previous years. While each year has been delightful in it's own way, this year has been filled with lovely warm fuzzy type things that fill me with contentment and peace. O/our pre-Christmas activities were busy in a good way, and once vacation began everything improved!

Christmas Eve dinner at The Mountain Branch Grill & Pub (click here) with extended family was just wonderful, both the food and the company. Master chose the Roast Duck for me which the Chef prepared perfectly. Master's own 1# Pork Chop was delicious if a bit dryer than the last time W/we were there. I'm sure the immense crowds of Holiday revelers had something to do with that. Everyone else enjoyed their meals as well, and the evening was a success!

Christmas morning was a traditional morning complete with a child anxiously "dying" to open gifts, sleepy parents wishing for more sleep, a yummy breakfast, and a shared happiness all around. A bit later as naps and gift-enjoying set-in I baked some cookies and set out a tray of crudites while Master created delectable smoked salmon appetizers. After a big breakfast this was more than enough to hold eveyone until dinner of pork crown roast, garlic mashed potatoes, asparagus, and a simple romaine lettuce salad with balsamic vinagrette. Complimented by a lovely geverztraminer, and finished with a pecan pie and a mixed fruit pie, all were completely satiated. A rousing game of Scrabbble was the perfect ending to the day. (My 75 year-old mother may seem sweet and gentle, but don't let that fool you - she's cut-throat at Scrabble!!)

This Holiday W/we've also made time to see a couple of fun movies, National Treasure (click here) and The Golden Compass (click here) and have thought about seeing more. Such a beautiful change of pace for U/us to be able to sit back and relax a bit, do the things W/we want to do, and not feel overwhelmed and undertimed. Sadly, O/our Terps didn't win their Bowl game, but the Redskins are doing well (knock on wood) so W/we take the good with the bad.

Last night W/we spent a hilariously good time at a Holiday party. Such wonderful friends, well-known, and just-met! Just watch out for those spiders and their world wide web!!!!!

W/we're so blessed with such wonderful friends, and as 2007 ends and 2008 begins, W/we are grateful for those many blessings in O/our lives. Hoping that the New Year brings the best that life has to offer for each of you.

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Gift Wrapping

One of my students asked me today why I was so jolly. I'm glad she noticed that I was friendly and cheerful and took the time to speak to each student. But I wish all my employees were equally "jolly" everyday. I'd like the students to consider cheerfulness the "norm" rather than the exception. Anyway, I reminded her that we only have one life, and it's so much more funner to be happy than to be unhappy. So I choose happy!

All the gifts for the employees are wrapped and ready to go. No, I didn't use the wrapping paper in the picture above. Didn't think it would be appropriate in my particular workplace. Pity.

Looking forward to making some cookies and fudge, as well as completing the decorations at home. Thank heaven Friday is the last day to work until January!

I'm working very hard at being very good about gifts this year. Experience has taught me that the less patience I show the longer I must wait to open gifts.

Wish me luck!

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Knowing Ourselves

Arena (known to self and others) accepting, cheerful, giving, helpful, loving	Blind Spot (known only to others) able, bold, calm, caring, dependable, dignified, extroverted, friendly, happy, idealistic, intelligent, kind, modest, observant, quiet, reflective, relaxed, self-conscious, sensible, sentimental, shy, silly, spontaneous, sympathetic, trustworthy, warm, witty
Façade (known only to self)	Unknown (known to nobody) adaptable, brave, clever, complex, confident, energetic, independent, ingenious, introverted, knowledgeable, logical, mature, nervous, organised, patient, powerful, proud, religious, responsive, searching, self-assertive, tense, wise

Dominant Traits

72% of people think that Daddy's Little Girl is caring
61% of people agree that Daddy's Little Girl is loving

All Percentages

able (11%) accepting (27%) adaptable (0%) bold (5%) brave (0%) calm (11%) caring (72%) cheerful (16%) clever (0%) complex (0%) confident (0%) dependable (11%) dignified (16%) energetic (0%) extroverted (5%) friendly (44%) giving (38%) happy (16%) helpful (16%) idealistic (11%) independent (0%) ingenious (0%) intelligent (16%) introverted (0%) kind (16%) knowledgeable (0%) logical (0%) loving (61%) mature (0%) modest (22%) nervous (0%) observant (5%) organised (0%) patient (0%) powerful (0%) proud (0%) quiet (5%) reflective (11%) relaxed (5%) religious (0%) responsive (0%) searching (0%) self-assertive (0%) self-conscious (5%) sensible (5%) sentimental (11%) shy (5%) silly (5%) spontaneous (5%) sympathetic (16%) tense (0%) trustworthy (27%) warm (22%) wise (0%) witty (5%)

Created by the Interactive Johari Window on 29.7.2008, using data from 18 respondents.
You can make your own Johari Window, or view Daddy's Little Girl's full data.

The link above doesn't always work, so I'm inserting this link in hopes that it will always take you to my window.

If you haven't shared your choices in my Johari Window I hope you'll do so now. It's always good to know how we are perceived by others.

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Quick, Call AAA!

The gift buying is just about done, the greetings sent, time for wrapping, mailing, and decorating. In the midst of this we're dealing with life's difficulties, and trying to turn any negatives into positives. I'm sure something good can come of Santa's "Flat" if he's open to the possibilities!

I'm thankful for the Christmas music which warms the spirit and brings a smile, for the friends we talk to, spend time with, open our hearts and homes to, and make plans with. So many ways to pamper ourselves and fill our hearts. I'm grateful for all our friends!

I'm Thankful For:

I am thankful:

For the wife who says it's eggs 'n bacon tonight, because that means she is home with me, and not out with someone else.

For the husband who is on the sofa being a couch potato, because he is home with me and not out at the bars.

For the teenager who is complaining about doing dishes, because it means he is safe at home, not on the streets.

For the taxes I pay, because it means I am employed.

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For the mess to clean after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends.

For the clothes that fit a little too snugly, because it means I have enough to eat.

For my shadow that watches me work, because it means I am out in the sunshine.

For a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning, and gutters that need fixing, because it means I have a home.

For all the complaining I hear about the government, because it means we have freedom of speech.

For the parking spot at the far end of the parking lot, because it means I am capable of walking and I have been blessed with transportation.

For my huge heating bill, because it means I am warm.

For the lady behind me in church who sings off key, because it means I can hear.

For the pile of laundry and ironing, because it means I have clothes to wear.

For weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day, because it means I have been capable of working hard.

For the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours, because it means I am alive.

Live well, Laugh often, & Love with all of your heart!

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I'm Dreaming Of A White Christmas

Beautiful snow all day, Christmas shopping after work, and receiving a Christmas card from a dear friend and mentor from my High School days (daze?) ;)

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Today has been just lovely, and so easy to count my blessings! I was blessed to see the beauty of the snow covered tree limbs along the roads. Life is good.

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I must admit that while in Barnes & Noble I saw a book entitled "Lost Subs". I was excited to see a book about the lifestyle in a mainstream retailer; followed instantly by fear and worry that a submissive was lost - how sad - and omg if someone else could be lost then perhaps it could happen to me too! Oh no!

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So of course I felt compelled (if a bit trepidatious) to look more closely at this book, if for no other reason than to find out how to make sure that I never become a lost submissive!

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Imagine my utter shock, dismay, and ultimately relief to find out this book was about sunken submarines!

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oops!

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On The First Day Of Christmas

Greeting cards to share with friends and loved ones, gifts to consider and purchase for special friends, decorations inside and out to plan for and arrange, and best of all, doing it all together!

Really, on the first day of christmas my true love gave to me, himself!

Enjoy the cartoon, and your preparations for this winter holiday season, whatever holiday tradition you observe!

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