The Amazing Magic Ball!

This Christmas I bought David a magic ball from the Science store. He had expressed an interest in it during several visits over the last half year or so and I thought it would be fun to get it for him for Christmas. It's meant to be interesting to look and if you touch it the electric show changes inside the ball. It even has an audio setting and if you put it near speakers it will flash to the beat of the music. It's a very cool gadget. Well, anyways, trust Jon to find other "uses" for this seemingly innocent contraption. He discovered the following:

1. If you place your whole hand on the top, the electrical current inside the ball will focus on the palm of your hand and begin to burn it. He suggested contests to see who could keep their palm firmly planted on the ball for the longest amout of time.

2. If you touch the ball with one finger and touch another human being with the other hand you can give them a shock. If you touch them on their toes the shock is more painful than simply on the arm. Also, between the fingers is another area sensitve to shock.

3. If you touch the ball with one hand and then rub your finger along the arm of an unsuspecting victim you can actually burn the hairs off their arm. I know this to be true and I have personally experienced the burnt hair odor on my arm!

So, there you have it. A simple innocent Magic Ball has become an object of terror and weapon of destruction! Picture Jon holding the magic ball and trying to grab a screaming David and you will have an accurate picture of the serentity of a Christmas morning in the Mackie household!

We just came home from a great visit with the Coulters in Kamloops.

Good conversation, fun, games, reading and food. Very relaxing and very enjoyable! We dropped Jon off at Sun Peaks to stay with Jill and her family until after the New Year. So, as you can well imagine our house is devoid of the electrical current that seems to follow that boy wherever he goes! It's actually quite peaceful! However, we'll miss his energy before too long and look forward to his return!

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and all the best in the New Year!

New Job!

I guess it's time for a new post and since I haven't posted about my new job I thought now would be a good opportunity so I don't lose all my viewers!

I recently posted for a new position at work in another department. I wanted the job so bad I could taste it! It is more interactive in terms of interacting with students and the general TWU community. I've enjoyed my job in Accounts Payable for 2 1/2 years and felt that now it was time to move on to a new adventure, one more suited to my personality. Well, when I found out I was the successful candidate I almost fell out of my chair I was so surprised. I knew there were many applicants and a few that I knew and who I thought would definitely beat me out. So, it was a serendipity! By the way, that's my favorite word and it means "unexpected pleasure" (smile). I'll totally miss my co-workers and that will be an adjustment. I'll have to make sure an visit them - keep them in line! Anyways, my new title is Housing Office Coordinator and with the title comes a raise in pay AND an extra week vacation which is just the icing on the cake. It will involve all aspects of dorm living for students I think. Putting them in rooms, dealing with their complaints and other issues. A fair bit of conflict resolution I'm told. Maybe my psychology course will come in handy for this job! Today is their Christmas lunch which I've been invited to. Yikes, that's the only part I'm a bit anxious about - being the new girl on the block. Oh well, I'll deal with it! Anyways, I start on January 2nd and am anticipating a great experience.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas . . .

Well, I finally got some of my Christmas decorations out of the shed and into my livingroom. Kind of looks cozy don't you think? The boys love it when I finally get to it each year. I still have to put up my nativity set but that probably won't happen until this weekend. I also baked shortbread cookies and decorated them with belgium chocolate - hmmmmmm they're tasty! Come on over anytime and we'll have tea!