It's the MOST Wonderful Day of the Year!

Twenty-six years ago at 16:31 (4:31pm), the most awesome person in the world was born: ME!


I'm still sick and it's gloomy and rainy outside. However, I did call out sick today so at least I don't have to work. I guess it all balances out. Anyway, happy birthday to me!

"Here's Lookin' At You, Kid."

While I have had many opportunities to watch Casablanca in full, tonight was the first time I came close to viewing 100%. TCM doesn't air commercials during the films they present so I did miss two bits of the movie because I had to go to the bathroom (water will do that to ya). However, the best part was knowing that my mom was watching the movie with me in Georgia. It was almost like spending time with the family.

My thoughts on the film? Well, I'm glad Rick did what he did in the end or else I would have thought of him as a douche and Elsa a flake who doesn't know what she wants. Classic movie? Ya betcha. Nonetheless, this movie ended perfectly.


I think I will be asking for a personal copy of this film for Christmas. Not too bad of a request considering it's a gift that keeps on giving, yes?


This could be the beginning of a great movie collection. 

Currently Casablanca By Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains, Conrad Veidt see related

My birthday is in 2 days! Woot!!

Almost every Thanksgiving weekend my birthday tends to be a big part of the celebration. We have dinner, play games, and then I get to open presents. Since college the presents have been removed almost completely because I no longer ask for much. The same goes for Xmas since I only like to get stuff that I need (or anything nintendo. ). This year my mom sent me a hand knitted sweater with matching scarf, mittens, and hat. All of baby pink and fluffy. I love how soft and warm it all is and can't wait to wait it soon.

As for this years t-day dinner, we had cracker barrell food to go which left us wanting leftovers that didn't yet exist. Today the boyfriends parents are hosting a t-day dinner now that our colds are subsiding and I plan on going despite my slight phlegm-y cough. (I know, disgusting right?) I just love having sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, fried rice, steamed broccoli, green beans, and whatever other veggie his mom makes. This mixture of Greek-Filipino-American food makes the past years thanksgivings so delish! It makes celebrating our bdays (his moms was on the 26th) all the more fun, and tasty.

So happy birthday to all sagittarians!! And happy thanksgiving weekend to all!

*I worked on thanksgiving morning and shared with the traveling public my wonderful cold. Mwa ha ha ha ha! That's what you get for traveling on a holiday.*
Currently
Super Paper Mario
By Nintendo
see related

Thanksgiving's cancelled

Due to everyone being sick this week, thanksgiving dinner has been cancelled.

The boyfriend's mom is terribly ill, along with the boyfriend and I, and so we will not be going to his parents house today for dinner/birthday celebrations. (it's his mom's bday today) instead we may attempt to go to a restaurant depending on how we feel. We only have a mild cold and right now I'm at work doing an early shift today so that I can enjoy the evening at home. I don't know what we will end up doing.

What am I thankful for? Not having the flu.

Netflix for iPhone

You can watch movies on your computer, tv, and have them delivered from netflix but you can't watch them on your iPhone. Sure I could rent movies through iTunes but I already have a Netflix account. How awesome would it be to stream movies and shows from Netflix straight to my iPhone! Then I could watch 30 Rock at work during my break!

Alas, Netflix has yet to accomplish this. Bummer.

"No, my first name ain't baby, it's Janet. Ms. Jackson if your nasty."

My girl Janet Jackson just released her Number Ones album and of course I had to purchase it! I went the mp3 route and downloaded it on iTunes rather than buy the physical album. I didn't want to be one of those who stopped buying CDs but the minute I got the iPhone I was hooked on the whole iPod extravaganza! Now I get all my music via the internet.

And boy she is AWESOME! There are some songs on there that I didn't have before, like Scream with Michael J., and What's It Gonna Be with Busta Rhymes. So I am ecstatic! Anyway, I'm jammin' to Janet this weekend and tomorrow she opens the AMAs! ^__^ Boo-ya!



Side Note: I worked out 5 times this week and my boyfriend said that was too much. :-P Oh well, I feel great nonetheless. ^_^

In the Navy (Update)

I was on the elliptical machine at the gym yesterday doing my thing trying not to get fat and I get a call from my recruiter.  


Recruiter: So how do you feel about leaving in January? 
Me: Sounds good.
Recruiter: How do you feel about leaving January 11? 
Me: That sounds great! 
Recruiter: Ok then, you're leaving January 11. 
Me: Woo-hoo! 


I now have a new ship date: January 11, 2010. Great Lakes, here I come!

Exercise

The boyfriend made it very clear yesterday that I need to make it a habit of running 5 days a week if I am going to be prepared for boot camp come March. Despite the pain, he says that in the Navy they won't care (which I am fully aware of this fact) and that I need to also not care and push myself more. Today I am meeting with my friend from work, Tiff, at the gym near the airport for a run on the treadmill. I would prefer to do this outdoors but this is Bayonne and well, I don't trust the drivers in NJ to not run me over. I have my Nike+ with me too so hopefully my need to record every run will continue to motivate me to run more often (it's slowly getting me to that point). Let's go running!

A Busy Sunday

Day of rest is more like a thing of the past in regards to the week I've had. I worked Monday through Friday and for the first time ever have a REAL weekend off only to do chores. :-P It wasn't so bad though. Yesterday I was busy cleaning out what I refer to the SUV as the Earth Destroyer 3000. I got to use my new Dirt Devil Kurv hand vacuum which did the trick but wasn't the best. I then cleaned the windows on the inside with every intention of going to the car wash when it started to rain. Then I vacuumed the carpet in all rooms of the apartment and scared the crap out of my cats.  


Today was no different, I took to doing the laundry and run some errands while the boyfriend fixed his car. We got that Turbo Snake (As seen on TV!) and boy did that thing do wonders on the bathroom sink! Our tub is still trouble but not as bad as before. It was so gross what came out of those drains though. The laundry was fun (sarcasm). I have successfully washed 5 loads, dried 4, and am currently drying load number 5. Thankfully the management here at the apartment complex lowered the price of the machines by 50¢ which saved us some serious change. I've been up since 0700 and am now on coffee cup number 2 (using Sugar In The Raw this time instead of Splenda and am pleased with the taste). Needless to say (but I will say it anyway) today has been quite productive.  


Currently watching the Jets play against Jax and hoping they win (the Jets of course). Glad to see that Tennessee is winning against Buffalo. Let's hope they take this one all the way. Go Titans! (And Jets!) ^_^

NCIS

I had made it a point in the beginning to not watch this show because I felt that these crime shows were becoming too common. Meaning that the stories were going to be repeated but just in different venues and nothing good would come from it. However, the boyfriend and I started to watch it anyway because we are bored of CSI and Law & Order and needed something different to entertain us. The show is alright and it does have it's moments of thrill but for the most part I'm not too keen on the cast of characters. I don't really care much for Tony or Abby but I can see why they are there in the show. One of my faves is Ducky, whose name I just figured out why he is called that. (And this is the point of this post)  


Ducky's name on the show is really Donald Mallard. Those who are aware of names of birds would know that Mallard is the proper name for Duck. And his first name is Donald. Get it? Donald Duck! Hahahaha!!! I just realized this yesterday while watching an old episode (the one in which Ducky is attacked at knifepoint by some crazy woman seeking revenge). When I told this to the boyfriend he simply rolled his eyes at me and proceeded to call me a dork. :-P I just couldn't help but laugh.  


*Just finished reading The Scarpetta Factor by Patricia Cornwell. My fave author. I met her on October 24 while she was going through security at my checkpoint (she was flying Virgin Atlantic to London). That's how awesome I am! I gave HER MY autograph! Boo-ya! (Technically I signed her boarding pass. Details details...)

Barbeque

My first week in NJ there was a "BBQ" at the apartments on campus where I was staying. As a southerner I was excited because it made me feel like I was at home. That was until I got to the "BBQ" and found it it was actually a cookout. Cookouts are when you grill hamburgers, hotdogs, and order pizza. A BBQ is when you gril a pig and slap some specially made sauce to flavor it up. Yes, it's a process of "very special meat served in a very special way depending on where you live." (Rhett & Link). All I'm saying to you Yankees out there is get it right and stop calling cookouts "BBQs." You're confusing the southerners who get excited for something that isn't gonna be there. Now I no longer eat meat (been just over a year now) but I do appreciate this song and wanted to share it all with you. These guys are hilarious and you can download many of their songs from their website for free (I know I have ;-)). Anyway, here it is the BBQ song by Rhett & Link!! Enjoy! *My fave quote: "Is Florida a southern state? No, it ain't." Too true!*

It's My REAL Friday

So for the past 3 years I've never had a weekend off from work (aside from the first 2 months of work but then after that I wasn't so lucky). So of course the common phrase one will hear from a TSO is "today is my friday" even if the day of the week doesn't correspond (i.e. a person's friday could be in actuality a Wednesday). So today is my Friday at work and it just so happens to BE Friday! Woot! I am so excited I can barely contain myself! So because it's friday, I will share with you these HIGH-lare-ious jokes told by my nephew Roman. Enjoy!

I Missed the Memo

Apparently it's ok to deny a person equal rights if you let the people vote on it. Despite the fact that the constitution says that "all men are created equal." I mean, it can't get any clearer than that. Apparently I didn't get the memo and Maine did?? Maine, you disappoint me. Please separate yourself from the States and go drift off into the Northern Atlantic and freeze your bums off...because you don't deserve equal rights either.  


Marriage is Love and is for EVERYONE

Marriage is love.

George Washington's Headquarters

During the Revolutionary War, George Washington had his headquarters in Ford's Mansion in Morristown NJ. At the moment the Mansion is under repairs and renovations until next Spring so unfortunately I was not able to go inside. However, I did get to look through the museum that lies behind it and saw a few artifacts and rare manuscripts that were made during that time period. One of which being an original copy of Common Sense by Thomas Paine. I finally have obtained my own copy. I'll get to reading it later after I finish my two novels I've started. Anyway, here is a picture of the Mansion. Enjoy!

(c) 2009 Lydia R. Gillis LRG Photography. Please do not copy.

My Family Tree

Today I found out about some very interesting information concerning my ancestors. One of them was a spy during the Revolutionary War!! Whoa! That is too cool! I also found out that the ancestors in question are proven to have served in the Revolutionary War and now all I have to do is prove that I am related to them. I don't think this will be much problem since my father had already done majority of the work for the past couple of decades.  I am just so excited that we have some new information! I forwarded the information to my father and now he's getting excited as well. To some this may sound cheesy but to us it means everything. Family history is a big part of who we are, where we came from, and more. Plus, I enjoy knowing our past. Hopefully I can pass then down to further Gillis generations. 

This has gone faster than I thought it would. I am just so excited now I can barely contain myself!! ^_^

Today I plan on going to see George Washington's Headquarters in Morristown, NJ. I don't know what to expect but I will be bringing my camera along for what I hope to be some very interesting photos. 

My Pedigree

Now that I've made it through one DAR meeting, I am faced with some serious homework. First off, the DAR meeting was wonderful. We learned more about the history of the Schuyler-Hamilton house and some artifacts of the time. Then we had tea/coffee and snacks in super fancy cups that I held with two hands so that I wouldn't drop it (I have butter fingers). I talked to some really energetic and wonderful women and even gave myself a quick tour of the Mansion. Next week I plan on going for the official tour and I will be bringing the camera as well.

Back to my lineage. Or Pedigree. Genealogy. It's a lot of work proving that you are the descendant of a Revolutionary War soldier. I need birth certificates, census records, family bibles, tombstones, etc. Anything and everything that proves that by blood I am related to the person in question and that they actually served in the War. It's a bit daunting right now but hopefully it will prove to be worth the journey. If anything, it's giving me something to do while I wait to start my career in the Navy.

So, do you know your pedigree? Your family history? Are you even interested?

Daughters of the American Revolution

For as long as I can remember my father has talked about our family history. He is very interested in general history but most especially our family's. He also has told us kids that our Gillis  history goes as far back in America as the Revolution. It wasn't until watching an episode of Gilmore Girls that I had even heard of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). After some contemplation I decided to go online and research the organization, what is required to join, and if there was a chapter nearby. I had my dad mail me whatever documents we had about our ancestry and contacted the local DAR. Today will by my first visit to one of their general meetings.

I had originally intended on going to one of their meetings on March 5. However, that was the day I found out about my stolen identity (which has been resolved). They don't meet during the summer and since I was going to leave for the Navy this Tuesday (has been moved to March 23 because I changed my job) I made the choice to check them out. I'm hoping that I do qualify to join because that would mean that all of the research my father has done on our family will be true. I'm not just doing this for myself but for him also. I think it would be a nice birthday gift for him if he knew 100% that these men in our family were true American Heros.