1. Family - The list of family members has grown this year due to the addition of a new baby (who is adorable) and a new spouse (who is adorably sweet to my cousin). Also, I have spent a lot of time with the Jumpin' Husker Family - with trips home in April, July/August and November/December. Hopefully this trend will continue in 2008.
2. Babies - Beyond my cousin's latest addition, there have been a lot of babies in my life in 2007. Three colleagues, one cousin and one close friend (with whom I share most initials with). It has been a delightful year for newborns.
3. Books - I have well surpassed my goal of reading 52 books in 2007, along with my goal of reading at least 5 'classics.' With 10 days left in 2007, I think it's safe to say that I may even reach my secondary goal of reading 90 books (only 6 more to go) for the year. Through this personal challenge, I have discovered many favorite new-to-me authors, along with many favorite new authors. Again, I hope to continue this trend in 2008.
4. Friends - And I've officially turned into a Hallmark card, but I do appreciate those of you that listen to me whine, kick me when I slump and encourage me when I fail. I know that this trend will continue in the year to come.
5. Celebrities - Without their trainwrecks of lives, I would not appreciate my own as much.

Well, with that I bid thee adieu for 2007, and wish y'all a happy 2008!

1. Media boycots are fun. I managed to stay away from most things local and news-related all weekend.
2. I did manage to read 3 books over the weekend: Thursday Next: First Among Sequels, Ella Minnow Pea and The Gum Thief.
3. I highly reccommend Ella Minnow Pea.
4. The other two books were good, but I really enjoyed Ella Minnow Pea.
5. I walked to work today. Didn't have to as the bus is still running. I just felt like it.

1. I am currently dealing with the aftermath of a tragedy that occurred on our campus last night. Still trying to figure out how to handle the situation personally, so please bare with me.
2. Finals week ends tomorrow.
3. Reason #1 million why I did not enter the media world: The coverage of above-mentioned incident.
4. I really could use a bread bowl of soup from Panera today.
5. Call me if you want to discuss any of above.

1. Read at least 5 more books. Should be easy for me to do, as I will be hanging around the Jumpin' Husker Ferret apartment for a week+ for the holiday break.
2. Dunk objects in melted (vanilla-flavored) almond bark. Nothing says "Happy Holidays" like a almond bark covered pretzel or Oreo.
3. Find a holiday appropriate gift for my supervisor and colleagues. Almond bark covered goodies may play a big part.
4. Rearrange the Jumpin' Husker living room. Just cuz.
5. Watch Season 2 of Robot Chicken on DVD. Picked up a copy of this on Tuesday night's girls night of retail therapy.
6. Walk. Seriously. I need to get better at taking care of myself.
7. Finish my holiday letter to friends and family. I'm working on it. Just cannot figure out how personal to make it.
8. Disturb MoSus more. Dude. It's so easy to cause her distress. Just share awkward dream memories.
9. Add more music to Emma. Last night's agenda: Listening to the cool kid's selected music and comedy already loaded on Emma while doing laundry and reading. I must say that my sister's significant other has pretty good taste in music and in comedy. (Demetri Martin makes me giggle out loud.)
10. Update my resume. While the search for closer to home employment has begun, it has not yet been successful. One of my 5 Resolutions for 2008 will be to try and change jobs and/or scenery. Sounds like I may have some blog entries that will not be just lists...in 2008, that is.
11. Determine a time, date and location for a 'real' vacation in 2008. I  visiting SD and Nebraska, but I think it could be nifty to take a real vacation to a new place next year. Even if it's only for a long weekend.
12. Make goodies for (1) the departmental holiday gathering next Thursday; (2) the supervisor's holiday fiesta next Friday; and (3) the Christmas Day with the Rogges on Christmas Day. For 2 out of the 3, I probably should try to make something that's not too sugary. As there will be people at those events with way more baking/candy making ability than me.
13. Invest in a personal lap top. It's about time that I move into the late 20th century afterall.

1. New favorite work procastination game: Renaming TV shows and movies with the word 'vagina.' As in nip/vagina or A Shot at Vagina with Tela Tequila.
2. I am somewhat obsessed with my ipod. I bought her a few new attachments yesterday. (Her name is Emma.)
3. Seriously. The weather is messing with my mental health at this point. How can I be dreaming of a white Christmas in 80 degree weather?
4. Papercuts suck.
5. The mall cops at the Mall of Louisiana have segues.

1. Heathers
2. say anything
3. Chasing Amy
4. The Muppet Movie
5. Wizard of Oz
6. Pump Up the Volume
7. Almost Famous
8. Young Frankenstein
9. High Fidelity
10. The Breakfast Club

1. I picked up Superbad and Pirates of the Carribean 3 on DVD yesterday. It's beginning to look a lot like a DVD-a-thon Christmas for me.
2. New favorite recipe found in You On a Diet: Spicy chili. It's really not that spicy, but it is rather tasty.
3. Yup. I made chili last night. Even though it's well above 80-degrees in temperature with a lot of humidity. I mean a lot of it.
4. Hopefully I will get ahold of some almond bark this week, so that I can spend the weekend making yummy holiday treats to share with my coworkers.
5. Honestly. It.is.over.80.degrees.in.December. I'm not sure if I believe in global warming, but I do believe in annoying weather trends. And this is one of them.

1. My parents wanted to move me into high school out of the sixth grade, but we decided to chuck the idea because I'd have trouble making friends, blah, blah, blah. Now blah, blah, blah is all I ever do. I use my grand IQ to decide what color lip gloss to wear in the morning and how to hit three keggers before curfew...

2. I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that.

3. I love you. And not, not in a friendly way, although I think we're great friends. And not in a misplaced affection, puppy-dog way, although I'm sure that's what you'll call it. I love you. Very, very simple, very truly. You are the epitome of everything I have ever looked for in another human being. And I know that you think of me as just a friend, and crossing that line is the furthest thing from an option you would ever consider. But I had to say it. I just, I can't take this anymore. I can't stand next to you without wanting to hold you. I can't, I can't look into your eyes without feeling that, that longing you only read about in trashy romance novels. I can't talk to you without wanting to express my love for everything you are. And I know this will probably queer our friendship - no pun intended - but I had to say it, because I've never felt this way before, and I don't care. I like who I am because of it. And if bringing this to light means we can't hang out anymore, then that hurts me. But God, I just, I couldn't allow another day to go by without just getting it out there, regardless of the outcome, which by the look on your face is to be the inevitable shoot-down. And, you know, I'll accept that. But I know... I know that some part of you is hesitating for a moment, and if there is a moment of hesitation, then that means you feel something too. All I ask, please, is that you just, you just not dismiss that - and try to dwell in it for just ten seconds. Alyssa, there isn't another soul on this fucking planet who has ever made me half the person I am when I'm with you, and I would risk this friendship for the chance to take it to the next plateau. Because it is there between you and me. You can't deny that. Even if, you know, even if we never talk again after tonight, please know that I'm forever changed because of who you are and what you've meant to me, which - while I do appreciate it - I'd never need a painting of birds bought at a diner to remind me of.

4. Life's like a movie. Write your own ending.

5. Courage! What makes a king out of a slave? Courage! What makes the flag on the mast to wave? Courage! What makes the elephant charge his tusk in the misty mist, or the dusky dusk? What makes the muskrat guard his musk? Courage! What makes the sphinx the seventh wonder? Courage! What makes the dawn come up like thunder? Courage! What makes the Hottentot so hot? What puts the "ape" in apricot? What have they got that I ain't got?

6. You hear about some kid who did something stupid, something desperate; what possessed him? How could he do such a terrible thing? Well, it's really quite simple, actually. Consider the life of a teenager - you have parents, teachers telling you what to do, you have movies, magazines and TV telling you what to do, but you know what you have to do. Your job, your purpose is to get accepted, get a cute girlfriend, think up something great to do with the rest of your life. What if you're confused and can't imagine a career? What if you're funny looking and can't get a girlfriend? You see, no-one wants to hear it. But the terrible secret is that being young is sometimes less fun than being dead.

7. You CANNOT make friends with the rock stars. That's what's important. If you're a rock journalist - first, you will never get paid much. But you will get free records from the record company. And they'll buy you drinks, you'll meet girls, they'll try to fly you places for free, offer you drugs... I know. It sounds great. But they are not your friends. These are people who want you to write sanctimonious stories about the genius of the rock stars, and they will ruin rock and roll and strangle everything we love about it.

8. All right, you win. You win. I give. I'll say it. I'll say it. I'll say it. DESTINY! DESTINY! NO ESCAPING THAT FOR ME! DESTINY! DESTINY! NO ESCAPING THAT FOR ME!

9. What came first, the music or the misery? People worry about kids playing with guns, or watching violent videos, that some sort of culture of violence will take them over. Nobody worries about kids listening to thousands, literally thousands of songs about heartbreak, rejection, pain, misery and loss. Did I listen to pop music because I was miserable? Or was I miserable because I listened to pop music?

10. Well, Brian, this is a very nutritious lunch. All the food groups are represented. Did your mom marry Mr. Rogers?

1. A full fridge and pantry make me a very happy girl.
2. Lesson learned from Scrabble: There aren't that many words with multiple "I"s in them. I see a Successories postcard in my future.
3. Can the Writer's Guild Strike end soon? I really, really miss my non-reality TV shows.
4. I feel the need, the need for...spending too much money at Target. Any takers?
5. I have a new office friend. His name is Runner. And he is a random gift from Judy. Thanks, Judy!

1. Change will not be happening as quickly as I had hoped.
2. I  the 25 Days of Christmas on ABC Family. (Tonight: Snow and Santa Baby.)
3. My friend Rachel makes me feel like an underachiever. (Received her family holiday card today. Her daughter is adorable!)
4. Laundry is the bane of my existence.
5. Target has a lot of good DVDs on sale this week. I have a feeling I will be spending money soon.