For Flashback Friday today, which is the last day of NaBloPoMo (more on that later), I bring you:

Little Miss Pantyline

There are couple things I should point out with this photo. First, the obvious, hi! Strawberry Shortcake underpants. Second, do you see the big chalk circle on the floor? Notice that the kid is not INSIDE that chalk circle when no doubt, that’s why it was drawn on the floor? Listening skills. Never quite my thing.

Also, check out my hand. The fat, stubby, sausage looking things are fingers. They are also the reason my mother made me take piano lessons. Simply because she was hoping my fingers would stretch and I’d end up with pretty, long, skinny, tentacle like hands. Yeah, Mom. No dice. They’re still short and stubby even with all those lessons.

Any guesses on where I’m looking? I’m not really looking at the camera. The other girls are looking straight ahead clearly paying attention to any instructions being given. Me? Not so much.

So there ya go! Another glimpse into my childhood which has no doubt, formed me into the woman I am today. Except that I don’t wear my underwear like that.

Not since last week.

This is for the people that complain about my not posting enough photos of Sirabi, better known as Rara. I cropped this in because she’s sensitive about her weight. For good reason.

Innernet? I have a confession.

I am an addict.

My name is Pocklock and I’m addicted to Starbucks. I am powerless over Grandé Skim White Mochas.

Voices in my head have these conversations about Starbucks. They say things like:

“You’re in the car a whole 3 minutes earlier than you were yesterday. You should stop for Starbucks.”

“You went the gym this morning. You deserve a Starbucks.”

“You had a shitty day filled with meeting after meeting after meeting and nothing got done. You should go to Starbucks.”

“Did you just hear that traffic report? Another flipped over tractor-trailer? Stop at Starbucks. You’re going to be late anyway.”

I have to believe that this is similar to what goes through a crack-addicts head while they walk down the street they used to meet their dealer on for a fix.

“If the next two traffic lights are green, I’ll stop at Starbucks. Okay. Well, if the next one is green. Or yellow. Or if the next car to cross the intersection while I’m sitting at this red light is black, I mean blue, then I’ll go to Starbucks. Wow! How’s that for irony!”

“Hey, you need gas. It’s either gas or Starbucks because you’re late. Oh look, there’s a landscaping truck blocking two pumps. Starbucks is only the next driveway. I bet after you get your coffee, the landscaping truck will be gone and you can just swing right back in here!”

Sick, right? I need an intervention. Do you know of any Starbucks rehab? Preferably a 28 day program complete with detox?

But then again, doesn’t treatment only work if you want to quit? I kinda like this habit. It’s warm and creamy and tastes so good. And it fills me up replacing breakfast and keeping the hunger pains away until lunch. And it’s 4 points!

Don’t bring me any Dunkin’ Donuts crap. I’ve graduated.

It’s sorta like graduating from taking Percoset to shooting Heroin between your toes.

I bet Mama’s proud.

I’m finally feeling it, people! Getting bit by the bug. Jumping on the bandwagon.

I have the Holiday Spirit!

This. Is. Huge.

I’m typically the closest thing that resembles a real, live Grinch. I hate and hate and hate right up until Christmas Eve and then I’m all, awww, Chrismukka rocks.

This year is all different. I’ve got the fever (the feeevvahhh!).

We’re planning on taking down all our decorations from the storage space this weekend and getting started on the house. It’s too early to get a tree; although I’d love to go buy a fake one, EHH will have no part of that and I want to wait as long as possible so not to have to deal with one extra day of vacuuming up the dropped needles. We can put the lights on the deck outside, put away the non-Chrismukka mantel decorations and put up the garland and stockings.

I can make cookies! And listen to the Christmas music channel on Sirius while we decorate! And light my pine Yankee Candle!

(Who the hell is this person that’s hijacked my blog?)

Everyone at work is noticing my better mood. Twice people passed me in the hallway today at work and said, “You’re smiling! How strange.” And one even stopped at my desk and asked me when the aliens were returning the real me. Ha! Grinchyness be gone!

I’ve watched every Christmas special this year: Charlie Brown Christmas, Shrek the Halls (which was hilarious), Christmas in Rockefeller Center, and The Grinch so far. I love them all. And with each one I get more excited about the holiday.

My Mom always calls me when they do Christmas in Rockefeller Center. It’s a special show to her because when she was still pregnant with me, just 2 weeks before I was born, she remembers lying on the couch watching the tree lighting as I kicked away. She calls, tells me it’s on, and then tells me the story. I smile. It’s our official kick-off to the season.

So bring on the shopping, the crowds, the wrapping, the classic TV specials, the pies, the cookies, the eggnog. I’m ready!

Tell me, what’s your holiday kick-off moment?