So, I need to update. How do you get back into blogging? I used to post everyday or so in high school & college, but now I’m lucky if I get in 5 posts a year.

Anyway, here’s what’s been happening this year (nothing super amazing):

• I started allergy shots — would rather get stuck 100 times and be done than buying medicine for the rest of my life.
• We got a new 55″ LCD TV (upgrade from a 32″) and TV stand and it’s awesome.
• I got my ears pierced for my wedding and can finally wear dangly earrings. I know I’m like the last person in the world to do this
• I went on a Craigslist spree and got a bookcase, headboard for the guest bedroom, bedroom set for the master bedroom, and 2 console tables.
• Mike’s brother got married.
• We got a new kitchen faucet.
• I joined MyFitnessPal in an attempt to be healthier. If you’re a member, feel free to add me!

That’s about it for now. Time to finish laundry/cleaning and playing The Sims 3!

Like I do every year, a what-I-got post for the archives:

Aunt Ann and Ed:
- Pottery Barn beach towels, candle, candle holder, decorative matches, and basket

Dad:
- Bed Bath & Beyond gift card

Grandpa and Mary:
- wedding/house money

Ross:
- stuffed Uglydoll

Mike:
- Ponyo Blu-ray
- Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway Blu-ray
- Victoria’s Secret gift card

So I don’t forget … what I got this time

Aunt Ann and Ed:
- Amazon.com gift card
- black umbrella

Grandpa and Mary:
- MoMA Gorillapod tripod
- MoMA Ramen Spoon & Fork
- Master of Illusion/Rob Gonsalves 2010 calendar
- Gap gift card

Uncle Chris and Mary:
- Owl City “Ocean Eyes” CD
- hanging toiletry bag
- colored thread eyeglass holder

Grandma and Bob:
- wedding money

Ross:
- Harry & David multigrain tortilla chips

Mike:
- 10-pound dumbbell set (5 pounds each)
- Planet Earth Blu-ray
- remote keyless security system for my car!

Dad:
- wedding money
- stocking: Best Buy gift card, Harry & David strawberry jam, Harry & David pear chips, Emily Post on Weddings book, Starbucks gift card

Mike’s mom:
- green sweater
- UP Blu-ray & DVD
- Scene It? The Simpsons Deluxe Edition

Mike’s dad:
- Hanson “3 Car Garage” CD
- Hanson “I Will Come to You” CD single
- L-O-V-E framed picture
- Frontline (for the kitty)

On December 7, 2007 I sat down to write a big update post, but never got around to finishing it lol. What I did manage to write is below, ’cause frankly I’ve forgotten anything else I was going to say, and I think the Gmail fiasco is at least worth mentioning:

My Gmail and eBay accounts got hacked.
Yep, that’s right, the worst nightmare for millions of Gmail users happened to me. I still don’t know why or how the hacker figured out my not-so-easy-to-guess password, but early last month I woke up one morning and couldn’t log in. I could still access Reader and Groups and whatever other services I was automatically signed in to, but not from another computer. I filled out numerous Gmail help forms, and as the days went by, only received automated replies.

To expand on the above paragraph … I also foolishly used the same password for both my Gmail and eBay accounts. The hacker obviously knew this too and decided to link them together and scam people by selling fake PS3s. In the end, it took about a week for me to get my Gmail account back (practically torture since it contained all my email) … but eBay was amazing and restored my access in literally 5 minutes. I’ve since changed my passwords and started using Thunderbird so I don’t have to funnel everything into Gmail, among other things. Here’s a screenshot I took of my account immediately after regaining access:

And “Tengjiao Ji” can die

Here’s what I got for Christmas!

Aunt Ann and Ed:
- stocking: cookie-scented candle, Starbucks gift card, The Complete Worst-case Scenario Survival Handbook, jumbo cherry candy cane, chocolate biscotti, Orbit gum (2 packs), and various food/candy items
- Amazon.com gift card

Grandpa and Mary:
- 2009 horse wall calendar
- Across the Universe Blu-ray
- fair trade silk purse from Thailand

Uncle Chris and Mary:
- label maker
- Urban Outfitters fingerless gloves

Grandma and Bob:
- money

Ross:
- Wall-E Blu-ray

Mike:
- Friends: The Complete Series Collection DVD box set
- Cold Stone gift card

Dad:
- trip to Tampa

Mike’s dad:
- Schmitt t-shirt
- Christmas bandanna

Mike’s mom:
- necklace

Is it just me, or did Christmas come really fast this year? Anyway, here’s what I got!

Aunt Ann and Ed:
- stocking: Blistex, Basis vitamin bar, Orbit gum (2 packs), mini kleenex (3 packs), Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End DVD, and various food/candy items
- Starbucks gift card
- Gap gift card
- brown Gap sweater

Grandpa and Mary:
- Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind DVD
- MoMA Hug Salt & Pepper Shakers
- MoMA Stacking Coasters
- wooden Christmas decoration

Grandma and Bob:
- moose PJs
- teal hand-knit scarf

Uncle Chris and Mary:
- TuneBuds
- The Italian Job DVD
- motorized coin sorter (and extra coin wrappers)

Ross:
- Simpsons Movie DVD

Mike:
- bi-color LED blow on-off candle
- mono/kissing disease plush microbe
- HTTPanties (413 Requested Entity Too Large)
- Castle in the Sky DVD
- Sleepwatching (Vol. 1) DVD

Mike’s mom:
- basket of vanilla shower gel, bubble bath, lotion, bath salts
- stocking: chocolate, date nut bread

———————————————

And for graduation (which we basically combined with Christmas):

Grandma and Bob:
- official JMU diploma frame

Uncle Chris and Mary:
- necklace
- small wooden “running horse” box

Grandpa and Mary:
- money

Aunt Ann and Ed:
- money

Mike:
- Shrek 3 DVD (with Donkey beanie baby)

Lois:
- Barnes & Noble gift certificate

Amy:
- Diana Krall “From This Moment On” CD

!

I got a flu shot 2 weeks ago, and my upper right arm still hurts from it. The pain subsided for awhile but didn’t disappear completely, and now it seems to be back in full force. Is this normal? This is the 2nd flu shot I’ve ever gotten (voluntarily ’cause it seemed like a good idea … no one said I needed one), and last year everything was fine.