13: Making a List and Checking it Twice
1. I recently became interested in the word doodad. An etymology dictionary reports: "unnamed thing," 1905, chiefly U.S., a made-up word; as is doohickey (1914). Other antonyms for doodad are: Gizmo, thingamajig, and thingamabob.
2. The problem with watching a not so hot DVD movie is that because it's not memorable there's a chance I can forget I watched it and find myself watching it again.
3. The problem with thrift shopping is this: I don't mind wearing other people's clothing, in fact it appeals to my inclination to re-use and re-cycle, but I do mind wearing their perfume, which often is so strong that it doesn't wash out.
4. This is the place where I mention that a lot of deer hunting has been going on in my family but spare by vegetarian friends by not posting pictures.
5. I wonder why it took me 58 years to notice that a pretzel is shaped like a heart.
6. A google search informed me that a pretzel is of Medieval European origin and that pretzels used to be hidden on Easter morning just like eggs are hidden today. The three holes in the pretzel represent the Christian Trinity of "Father, Son and Holy Spirit," and they are thought to bring luck, prosperity, and spiritual wholeness. Who knew?
7. I once had a bumper stick that said "Why Be Normal?" that I hung upside down on my car, just to prove the point. I remembered this recently when a friend made a comment about me stopping in the middle of the road the day after the snowstorm to get out and take snow pictures (like the ones below).
8. I also had a recycling bumper sticker that said "Once is not enough" that I put on twice to prove that point.
9. My new imaginary bumper sticker warns "I brake for barns," which means I'm likely to pull over and take pictures of them. 
10. And today when I should have been baking cookies, I was writing poetry about the snow and taking snow pictures of cows and birds.
11. My sister Kathy does themed Christmas trees each year and names them. This year's was Christmas Blizzard (right). I think she could hire herself out to decorate other people's trees for Christmas.
12. I just got a Christmas e-card from recent Democratic candidate for Virginia governor Terry Mcauliffe and his family and thought for a moment that it was from one of my long lost relatives in Cork, Ireland who contacted me recently after reading THIS post.
13. What do you call people like my 17 month-old grandson Bryce who are afraid of Santa Claus? Claustrophobic.
Celebrate 13 Thursday on Christmas Eve HERE.
Comments
One of my favorite parts of Christmas is doing my tree. And naming it.
Thanks for posting the picture Col. It looks pretty here at Loose Leaf.
Good Thursday Thirteen... as usual.
p.s. To # 13. I'd call him smart.
Posted by: Kathy (sister) | December 24, 2009 9:24 AM
Cute list--I like the idea of naming your tree, although I am not that creative to come up with new names for them using the same ornaments! AND I SO agree with the thrift store perfume problem. Many of them around here use an air freshener that gets me from the moment I walk in the door and takes multiple washings to get out. It is almost enough to make me only buy new--but not quite! :) Happy TT and Merry Christmas!
tm
Posted by: Orneryswife | December 24, 2009 9:53 AM
Awesome list! I've watched a DVD more than once before and felt deja vu all the way through (and STILL didn't figure out that I'd seen it before!).
Posted by: Andi | December 24, 2009 9:54 AM
Colleen, I feel gypped. . .I wanted to comment on #2 and it wasn't there!
Posted by: Stuart Barden | December 24, 2009 11:30 AM
HAHA! That's not the first time I miscounted! I'll rearrange some things and get you a #2 pronto! (Sherry usually catches these things.)
Posted by: colleen | December 24, 2009 11:38 AM
As always, Colleen...A wonderful Thursday 13. I never realized that a pretzel was in the shape of a heart till you just told us...lol! And I had no ideaf it's origins....
LOVE those words like thingamabob, and thingamajig....Great Great descriuptives....!
Wishing you a WONDERFUL Christmas, dear Colleen.....LOVE that tree, by the way. It is so festive and so very inventive!
Posted by: OldOldLady Of The Hills | December 24, 2009 12:00 PM
#2. . .like in the movie, Groundhog Day, Phil the weatherman kept repeating that day until he got it right, it was deju vu to him but not to the others.
Posted by: Stuart Barden | December 24, 2009 12:29 PM
Bahahahaha! Claus-trophobic!!!! Good one Colleen ;0)
Merry Christmas.
Posted by: Bumbles | December 24, 2009 12:32 PM
Ha! I love the Christmas Blizzard tree. Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Brenda | December 24, 2009 12:41 PM
Kathy is mighty talented, Bryce you cutie . I was afraid too when I was little and last week.
Loved the doodad history. now I must use it all day!Blessed Christmas
Posted by: sandy | December 24, 2009 1:25 PM
You have a lovely Christmas tree! I love decorating Christmas trees especially when I have enough time to do it. Anyway, Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Posted by: Charles Bjørnsen Ravndal | December 24, 2009 2:54 PM
Have a wonderful Holiday!
http://iamharriet.blogspot.com/2009/12/have-happy-merry-and-more.html
Posted by: Harriet | December 24, 2009 4:28 PM
Merry Christmas! I hope you and yours have a wonderful time :)
NetChick sent me by to say hello.
Posted by: Nikki-ann | December 24, 2009 6:02 PM
You said, "I wonder why it took me 58 years to notice that a pretzel is shaped like a heart."
Turn the pretzel upside down and see that it is two arms crossed over the heart.
Good TT. Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Bonnie Jacobs | December 24, 2009 6:03 PM
I've ended up rewatching movies in exactly that way.
Posted by: Alice Audrey | December 24, 2009 6:56 PM
I loved your post! I had NO idea that the pretzel was in the shape of a heart or related to the holy trinity! I didn't know about doodad either but I bet I won't forget it!
Posted by: Irishcoda | December 24, 2009 7:22 PM
I noticed thingamabob on the Little Mermaid soundtrack. Now that you mention it, it's also my first time to realize a pretzel is shaped like a heart, lol... and I had some only days ago. Happy christmas!
Posted by: Hazel | December 24, 2009 7:57 PM
I need one of those bumper stickers in #9! Merry Christmas, Colleen :-)
Posted by: Janet | December 24, 2009 8:25 PM
Now that is a pretty cute list there! and interesting trivia about pretzels there, like really, who knew? :P
about the thingamabob, it reminds me of a song by The Real Group, an acapella group... I think you might like it! it's here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXnfFLQGc1Y
:D
Posted by: Grey | December 25, 2009 12:49 AM
I learn the most interesting things on your blog - I certainly never made the connection between pretzels and the Holy Trinity! I learned tonight that there is a connection between Adam Smith's famous "invisible hand" in the marketplace and the invisible hand of God in the affairs of humans. Mark Taylor is the author and the book is Confidence Games: Money and Markets in a World Without Redemption.
Posted by: Jeff | December 25, 2009 9:17 PM
Merry Christmas! Loved your TT. I love a good movie but not a bad one... maybe we should make lists so we don't see the bad ones again.
Posted by: CountryDew | December 26, 2009 7:24 AM
This is one of your better TT!! I never knew about the pretzel either. I don't even like pretzels. But I like what they represent. Think about the sand dollar??!! That story is very interesting too. xox
PS Everytime I hear doodad or thingamajig........I think of Daddo and never thought they were words.
PSS Missed you on Christmas.
Posted by: Sherry | December 26, 2009 8:56 AM
LOL at your "normal" bumper sticker. LOVE your sister's blizzard tree!
Posted by: Heather | December 26, 2009 11:37 PM