My college chorus director is a musician whose talent and musical style I admire probably more than any other person I've had the pleasure to sing with. He was strict and disciplined, but fun to work for. He demanded a lot from us, but also went out for beers with us (once. In Europe.). His was the first classical chorus I'd ever been part of; he introduced me to that musical world, and I've never given it up. Choral music is now such a huge part of who I am. (In fact, I just got the schedule for next year's Festival Chorus, and learned I was selected for a small ensemble who'll sing at the Deaconate Ordination in February, yay!) I hope to always sing in some capacity, but especially in a large, trained chorus. Complete with the black skirts/white tops, and standing on risers. :)
Last week I got to feeling really sappy and wistful about my college choirs -- I'd been listening to a Christmas CD we recorded in '93 -- and I Googled this professor, found him, and hesitantly sent him an email. I wanted him to know that I was thinking of him with gratitude for all he taught me, at this very musical time of year. I was always kind-of in awe of (read: intimidated by) him, whether he deserved that or not. So it's very special to me that he wrote back this morning. His note was sweet, just one old friend wishing Christmas blessings to another -- no hint of any conductor's ego (which I do believe he had a touch of, at one time). He said he'd kept up with my whereabouts through a mutual friend, which touched me. He cared enough to know I'd married and had a baby. It kind-of sounds like a celebrity crush, doesn't it? Maybe it was, in a way.
I'm going to be smiling about it all day. :)
Edited to add: I just think it's so nice when the holiday works the way it's supposed to -- bringing old friends together again, you know, Auld-Lang-Syne-style. Things like this email, however small it may be, signify the importance of the modern-day Christmas for me. I hope you have many similar blessings this year.
Wednesday, December 21
Monday, December 19
Me and my big red nose
| You Are Rudolph |
 Sweet and shy, you tend to be happiest when you're making someone else happy. Why You're Naughty: You sometimes stick that nose where it doesn't belong Why You're Nice: Christmas would be a sad affair without you! |
Tee hee! These are funny. I definitely stick my nose where it doesn't belong sometimes. In fact, I just stuck my nose in Ikea for half an hour. Shouldn't have done that! Ended up buying something for myself! At this time of year! BUT... the prices there justify everything. Ikea rules.
Pass the Lysol, please
We are living in the House of Sick. AJ started it by all of a sudden throwing up last Monday night, without much of a warning at all, except that he begged me for a 2nd nap that afternoon, which is HIGHLY ununsual. He went to the doc, was tested for strep, and determined to have contracted a bug.
I DO NOT LIKE BUGS. I WANT TO SQUISH THIS PARTICULAR ONE, HARD, WITH MY SHOE.
He was feverish all day Tuesday, better on Wednesday and Thursday, but then on Friday he developed the weeeeeirdest manifestation of a virus that I've ever seen: skin splotches! Daycare called to ask if they could give him a little Benadryl to see if "these little spots on his face" would go down. They did, but kept reappearing all day, coming and going, on various parts of his body. Bizarre. They look like bug bites, only bigger. They only seem to itch once in a while. I called the doctor's office again and they assured me it's probably just part of the bug. Wha-huh? I've never heard of this. Anyway, they said as long as he didn't have a fever and was eating and drinking normally, all's well. Of course, it's not "all", because he LOOKS so sad and disfigured! He's had those spots on his eyelid, his ear, his legs, his widdow bottom... poor leper! :( And if by "normal" eating they mean he takes one or 4 bites of whatever I've given him to ease his cries of "EEET! EEET!" and then picks at the rest or moves it from his plate to his tray to the dog and back again, then yes, he's eating normally. Saturday he seemed fine. Meanwhile I'd gotten a cold. Lost my voice. And Saturday night we both must have passed it to Husband because he threw up and had the shivers.
Yes, yes Mr. Andy Williams, it IS the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!
Sunday AJ started displaying a REALLY runny nose. And coughing. And Sunday night right before bedtime.... MORE SPOTS!! Damn you, Bug, I thought you were on your way out! I found some Aveeno oatmeal baby bath and it did the trick -- no more spots this morning. But man!! This bug actually attempts to EAT babies! Yuck!
We are desperately trying not to infect all of our friends -- deciding to skip two of the holiday parties I would actually like to attend -- and hoping that the leprosy doesn't appear on us grown-ups, at least until after we've hugged all our relatives on Christmas Day.
A very Snotty Holiday to you and yours.
Season's Coughings.
...On Vomit and Blitzen!
Peace!
I DO NOT LIKE BUGS. I WANT TO SQUISH THIS PARTICULAR ONE, HARD, WITH MY SHOE.
He was feverish all day Tuesday, better on Wednesday and Thursday, but then on Friday he developed the weeeeeirdest manifestation of a virus that I've ever seen: skin splotches! Daycare called to ask if they could give him a little Benadryl to see if "these little spots on his face" would go down. They did, but kept reappearing all day, coming and going, on various parts of his body. Bizarre. They look like bug bites, only bigger. They only seem to itch once in a while. I called the doctor's office again and they assured me it's probably just part of the bug. Wha-huh? I've never heard of this. Anyway, they said as long as he didn't have a fever and was eating and drinking normally, all's well. Of course, it's not "all", because he LOOKS so sad and disfigured! He's had those spots on his eyelid, his ear, his legs, his widdow bottom... poor leper! :( And if by "normal" eating they mean he takes one or 4 bites of whatever I've given him to ease his cries of "EEET! EEET!" and then picks at the rest or moves it from his plate to his tray to the dog and back again, then yes, he's eating normally. Saturday he seemed fine. Meanwhile I'd gotten a cold. Lost my voice. And Saturday night we both must have passed it to Husband because he threw up and had the shivers.
Yes, yes Mr. Andy Williams, it IS the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!
Sunday AJ started displaying a REALLY runny nose. And coughing. And Sunday night right before bedtime.... MORE SPOTS!! Damn you, Bug, I thought you were on your way out! I found some Aveeno oatmeal baby bath and it did the trick -- no more spots this morning. But man!! This bug actually attempts to EAT babies! Yuck!
We are desperately trying not to infect all of our friends -- deciding to skip two of the holiday parties I would actually like to attend -- and hoping that the leprosy doesn't appear on us grown-ups, at least until after we've hugged all our relatives on Christmas Day.
Peace!
Thursday, December 15
Reading Me
"The Whole Internet" has been tagged by several people to do this reading meme. And I? Am the Internet! I've loved reading other people's literary memories, and it's reminded me of all sorts of childhood things I might never have thought of again. So, here's me, via my history with books and reading:
1. The first book I remember reading was "Raggedy Ann and the Cookie Snatcher." I could recite it, actually, at age 3 or 4. (Only now do I fully understand JUST how many times my parents must have read it to me!) My parents tape-recorded me doing it and I am SO thankful they did. It's fun to listen to.
2. My parents read to us a lot. Not only at bedtime. Some evenings we had a family book-reading time, where Mom or Dad would read aloud from James & the Giant Peach, or similar chapter-books. That's the only specific one I remember (help, Sis) -- but I do know it made a huge impression on me and I plan to do the same with my kids.
3. In First Grade, our reading groups were classified by birds and by colors. The best readers were Red Cardinals (my group), and the other kids were Bluebirds.
4. I do NOT dog-ear the pages of books (only magazines), nor can I abide writing with any sort of INK in a book. Pencil only, if required!! (This also applies to music -- even music I own.) My friend Melissa used to torture me by telling me she'd been in the bathtub with her paperback and showing me all the pages she'd folded over. *shudder*
5. My teacher in 5th grade made us do book reports, but she let us choose the books from her reading shelf, which I thought was so cool. (Just like with a toddler, you give them Choices and they respect you!) "Are you there, God? It's me, Margaret" was in high demand, and I got it at one point -- I just loved the huge selection this teacher kept on-hand.
6. Growing up I never could read or study with any background noise. By necessity, I have learned. I can now read to the tune of Monday Night Football, (or baseball or hockey), or to the sounds of Xbox or PlayStation2.
7. The first (and practically only) romance novel I ever read was called "Night Jasmine" and I ADORED it. However, I've never read it a 2nd time, nor have I ever been much interested in romance novels.
8. Or mysteries. Although, another young adult author I read and loved was John Bellairs and his mysteries. They were pretty dark, for kids' books, but I felt like they were more grown up than most of the mysteries I'd tried. They're now being compared to Harry Potter.
9. Moving on, to high school and grown-up reading: Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca. I chose it for a project in freshman English, and was LOVING IT, when my friend, Kate, decided to ruin it for me by saying, "You know how it ends, right?" And SPOILING it before I even could say "No" or cover my ears!!
10. Huckleberry Finn: I laughed out loud during a reading period in junior English class, which somehow impressed my teacher. She said that when literature moves someone to outward expression, that is a good thing. (And I agree!) I often still laugh out loud while reading. My husband gives me quizzical looks.
11. I have tons of books on my shelves that I've "been meaning to read" for years. Atlas Shrugged, Corelli's Mandolin, A Man in Full, Skinny Legs and All, several Jane Austens, and Jane Smiley's "Moo," are just a few.
12. I've read, or started to read, 6 of John Irving's books. I liked him at one time, but I think I've outgrown him. My favorite was "Owen Meany," but the 2nd time I read it (after several of his others), I couldn't even finish.
13. I admit it: I liked Jan Karon's Mitford series. I want to live in Mitford, really. I'd have to convert, though, and go to Father Tim's Episcopal church.
14. I didn't read Walden until just after college. At the time I was walking in the mornings along a beautiful nature trail, so it doesn't strike me at all strange that I totally cried when I got to the famous parts. I could anticipate them coming up as I read it the first time, since I'd heard them before. They still touch me every time:
--"Every morning was a cheerful invitation to make my life of equal simplicity, and I may say innocence, with Nature herself. I have been as sincere a worshipper of Aurora as the Greeks. I got up early and bathed in the pond; that was a religious exercise, and one of the best things which I did…. The morning, which is the most memorable season of the day, is the awakening hour."
--"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived."
--"Our life is frittered away by detail. An honest man has hardly need to count more than his ten fingers, or in extreme cases he may add his ten toes, and lump the rest. Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand.... Simplify, simplify."
...most people have done 15 things or more, but I'm worn out! Thanks for reading.
1. The first book I remember reading was "Raggedy Ann and the Cookie Snatcher." I could recite it, actually, at age 3 or 4. (Only now do I fully understand JUST how many times my parents must have read it to me!) My parents tape-recorded me doing it and I am SO thankful they did. It's fun to listen to.
2. My parents read to us a lot. Not only at bedtime. Some evenings we had a family book-reading time, where Mom or Dad would read aloud from James & the Giant Peach, or similar chapter-books. That's the only specific one I remember (help, Sis) -- but I do know it made a huge impression on me and I plan to do the same with my kids.
3. In First Grade, our reading groups were classified by birds and by colors. The best readers were Red Cardinals (my group), and the other kids were Bluebirds.
4. I do NOT dog-ear the pages of books (only magazines), nor can I abide writing with any sort of INK in a book. Pencil only, if required!! (This also applies to music -- even music I own.) My friend Melissa used to torture me by telling me she'd been in the bathtub with her paperback and showing me all the pages she'd folded over. *shudder*
5. My teacher in 5th grade made us do book reports, but she let us choose the books from her reading shelf, which I thought was so cool. (Just like with a toddler, you give them Choices and they respect you!) "Are you there, God? It's me, Margaret" was in high demand, and I got it at one point -- I just loved the huge selection this teacher kept on-hand.
6. Growing up I never could read or study with any background noise. By necessity, I have learned. I can now read to the tune of Monday Night Football, (or baseball or hockey), or to the sounds of Xbox or PlayStation2.
7. The first (and practically only) romance novel I ever read was called "Night Jasmine" and I ADORED it. However, I've never read it a 2nd time, nor have I ever been much interested in romance novels.
8. Or mysteries. Although, another young adult author I read and loved was John Bellairs and his mysteries. They were pretty dark, for kids' books, but I felt like they were more grown up than most of the mysteries I'd tried. They're now being compared to Harry Potter.
9. Moving on, to high school and grown-up reading: Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca. I chose it for a project in freshman English, and was LOVING IT, when my friend, Kate, decided to ruin it for me by saying, "You know how it ends, right?" And SPOILING it before I even could say "No" or cover my ears!!
10. Huckleberry Finn: I laughed out loud during a reading period in junior English class, which somehow impressed my teacher. She said that when literature moves someone to outward expression, that is a good thing. (And I agree!) I often still laugh out loud while reading. My husband gives me quizzical looks.
11. I have tons of books on my shelves that I've "been meaning to read" for years. Atlas Shrugged, Corelli's Mandolin, A Man in Full, Skinny Legs and All, several Jane Austens, and Jane Smiley's "Moo," are just a few.
12. I've read, or started to read, 6 of John Irving's books. I liked him at one time, but I think I've outgrown him. My favorite was "Owen Meany," but the 2nd time I read it (after several of his others), I couldn't even finish.
13. I admit it: I liked Jan Karon's Mitford series. I want to live in Mitford, really. I'd have to convert, though, and go to Father Tim's Episcopal church.
14. I didn't read Walden until just after college. At the time I was walking in the mornings along a beautiful nature trail, so it doesn't strike me at all strange that I totally cried when I got to the famous parts. I could anticipate them coming up as I read it the first time, since I'd heard them before. They still touch me every time:
--"Every morning was a cheerful invitation to make my life of equal simplicity, and I may say innocence, with Nature herself. I have been as sincere a worshipper of Aurora as the Greeks. I got up early and bathed in the pond; that was a religious exercise, and one of the best things which I did…. The morning, which is the most memorable season of the day, is the awakening hour."
--"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived."
--"Our life is frittered away by detail. An honest man has hardly need to count more than his ten fingers, or in extreme cases he may add his ten toes, and lump the rest. Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand.... Simplify, simplify."
...most people have done 15 things or more, but I'm worn out! Thanks for reading.
Imagine this
I know it isn't anywhere near Epiphany yet, but I've been listening to my old college choir recordings of Christmas carols and concerts, and remembered this, one of my favorites. Its soaring harmonies and reverent, whispering ending illustrate the lyrics beautifully:
Can you imagine? Little Baby feet? Of God?
Kind-of takes my breath away to think about it.
Three Kings stood at the gate,
Each with a crown on head.
The serving man bowed down,
The inn was full, he knew.
Said he, "In all this town is
no fit place for you."
A light the stable lit,
There lay the mother meek.
Said they, "This place is fit,
Here is the rest we seek."
Come in, Come in ye Kings,
And kiss the feet of God.
Can you imagine? Little Baby feet? Of God?
Kind-of takes my breath away to think about it.
Wednesday, December 14
Cells on fire
I completely zoned out last night. I watched VH1's latest countdown show, the 101 Top Kid Stars hosted by ex-Brady and celeb-reality clown, Chris Knight. Complete waste of time. Then flipped it to Carrie Bradshaw and the tame version of her girls over on TBS. Husband said I had seen the episode before, but I had no recollection. After that I just HAD to see the conclusion of last week's Queer Eye, which was "to be continued." I don't know why, it wasn't even that good.
I guess it was a thinking break for my mind, but by the end my eyeballs were burning. I guess brain cells sizzle when they die.
I guess it was a thinking break for my mind, but by the end my eyeballs were burning. I guess brain cells sizzle when they die.
Tuesday, December 13
You're not supposed to blog about work.
So, the thing with work that was chapping my hide late last week? Kinda puffed up into a big, festering mess yesterday, and then un-puffed again and mostly went away. But right during the puffiest part, I panicked again.
I don't know why I react so violently to client conflict. I guess it's just because I simply h-h-h-a-a-t-t-e confrontation in my personal life; I work to avoid it. Probably to a dangerous level: I can pout silently until I'm about to explode with anger, just waiting for the risk of conflict to subside. So when my work demands that I meet conflict head-on -- to the point of forwarding all calls to my cell phone so I can't even let the difficult ones go into Voice Mail and call back when I'm ready! -- all in the name of Customer Service, I guess that bugs me.
Conflict exhausts my psyche. It frays my nerves. Further aggravated yesterday by the fact that I was at home and AJ had gotten into the CDs while I was on the phone, but since it was a client, I couldn't exactly pause to say, "No-No, honey."
There's a disconnect here.
I am not able to be fully present for my clients (ugh, what a sick thought that I even want to), nor, more important by far, be fully present for my son.
I have been distressed about it, thinking this was the end of the line and there was no option but to go back to the office 5 full days a week. But my logical Husband suggested a compromise. Why not continue working 2 days/week at home, but put AJ in daycare anyway -- just finish my work fast enough that I can pick him up at, say, 2:30 or 3 on those days. That just might work. Full investiture in work, during work, and full attention to AJ when work is done. I kind-of knew that by the time he reached this age, the work-from-home arrangement was going to need tweaking. So, there we are. I'm considering it.
I don't know why I react so violently to client conflict. I guess it's just because I simply h-h-h-a-a-t-t-e confrontation in my personal life; I work to avoid it. Probably to a dangerous level: I can pout silently until I'm about to explode with anger, just waiting for the risk of conflict to subside. So when my work demands that I meet conflict head-on -- to the point of forwarding all calls to my cell phone so I can't even let the difficult ones go into Voice Mail and call back when I'm ready! -- all in the name of Customer Service, I guess that bugs me.
Conflict exhausts my psyche. It frays my nerves. Further aggravated yesterday by the fact that I was at home and AJ had gotten into the CDs while I was on the phone, but since it was a client, I couldn't exactly pause to say, "No-No, honey."
There's a disconnect here.
I am not able to be fully present for my clients (ugh, what a sick thought that I even want to), nor, more important by far, be fully present for my son.
I have been distressed about it, thinking this was the end of the line and there was no option but to go back to the office 5 full days a week. But my logical Husband suggested a compromise. Why not continue working 2 days/week at home, but put AJ in daycare anyway -- just finish my work fast enough that I can pick him up at, say, 2:30 or 3 on those days. That just might work. Full investiture in work, during work, and full attention to AJ when work is done. I kind-of knew that by the time he reached this age, the work-from-home arrangement was going to need tweaking. So, there we are. I'm considering it.
Monday, December 12
...and I STILL haven't done any shopping!
Another weekend gone by and still no Christmas shopping done, YEAH! I am challenging myself this year, that's what. I want to see how long I can go before I FREAK OUT and start howling with the nervous. Prediction: Not Much Longer!
Friday, December 9
A Christmas Survey
Colored lights or white lights?
On the tree? Colored. I like a "family" tree with family ornaments, and I grew up with colored lights. Now, on the house? If we did lights outside? All white.
Real tree or fake tree?
Fake fake fake. Grew up with fake and that was part of the tradition, putting the branches together! :) It's such a hassle to get a real one. And so expensive. And the darn pine needles in the carpet make me crazy.
What is your least favorite thing about the holidays?
(Stole from a friend): Overwrought renditions of Christmas carols by pop stars.
(And mine:) The stress of so many parties that I feel obligated to attend.
What is the one thing that you would like to see under the tree this year?
Lots of fun toys for AJ
What is your favorite thing to do/build in the snow?
Snow ice cream was a favorite when I was a kid!
What is your favorite holiday drink?
I love me some Gluhwein! My friend Mark made this one year for us, and it was deeeelicious. Packs a punch, though, so beware!
What is your favorite holiday smell?
Actually, the smell of morning coffee used to always remind me of Christmas.
Who is your favorite reindeer?
Rudolph, duh!
What is your Christmas Eve ritual?
When I was little, we went to Granny's for a present exchange, and I learned later that it's a very German tradition to open presents on C. Eve. Which fits, 'cause that side of the family was German. Now we don't really have official ritual, except that my sister and I always like to hop in bed together (at least for a little while) and giggle and anticipate the next morning. Don't guess we'll do that this year… could be a bit awkward since we both have husbands now!
Are you a Friday after Thanksgiving shopper?
No way, no how.
What is your favorite holiday food?
So many foods, so little time. I might have to say "sand tarts," this version of the Italian wedding cookie my Granny used to make (and now my sister makes), but I generally prefer salty to sweet, so it might be Chex mix… I could go on and on with this question, really. :)
How did you find out that Santa wasn't real?
I don't remember.
Who do you want to be under the mistletoe with?
My husband. Or AJ. Although, don't you remember the days when you really had a crush on someone at the Christmas parties? My college friend (Mark, the same one as the Gluhwein story) used to have a party every year and he'd climb up big trees in order to get plenty of mistletoe to hang. I remember that feeling of wishing to be "accidentally" under it with someone… it never quite happened as romantically as I wanted it to, sigh.
Have you bought all your presents yet?
Are you kidding?
Do you spend Christmas with a lot of family?
When we go to Florida, I do! One year it was like a revolving door of family members coming by for present exchanges. Mom's side, then Dad's side right after. Then off to Aunt's house for dinner! Crazy!
Do you still make snowmen and snow angels?
If it would ever snow I'd totally make a snowman.
What's your favorite Christmas movie?
Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase
What do you plan to do for New Year's Eve?
As little as possible.
What's the weirdest thing you've ever gotten for Christmas?
2 years ago when I was pregnant, we got a miniature (toy?) car, like a model car (a Hummer), from DH's grandparents. ?! We didn't even know it was a boy yet so we couldn't figure out if it was for us or the baby.
What's the most expensive thing you've gotten for Christmas?
I guess last year my laptop was my Christmas present.
How early do you wake up on Christmas morning?
It's always been early. 6-ish, 6:30-ish.
What do you usually get in your stocking?
Lipstick, candy, nail polish, gift cards, cash. I LOVE stockings. We have ours in a different room than the tree and we always go, "Oh! We still have stockings to open!" after the other presents are done. It's a nice little post-lude!
Hey, feel free to play along if you like. In Comments or your own blog. Let me know, I love reading about other people's traditions.
On the tree? Colored. I like a "family" tree with family ornaments, and I grew up with colored lights. Now, on the house? If we did lights outside? All white.
Real tree or fake tree?
Fake fake fake. Grew up with fake and that was part of the tradition, putting the branches together! :) It's such a hassle to get a real one. And so expensive. And the darn pine needles in the carpet make me crazy.
What is your least favorite thing about the holidays?
(Stole from a friend): Overwrought renditions of Christmas carols by pop stars.
(And mine:) The stress of so many parties that I feel obligated to attend.
What is the one thing that you would like to see under the tree this year?
Lots of fun toys for AJ
What is your favorite thing to do/build in the snow?
Snow ice cream was a favorite when I was a kid!
What is your favorite holiday drink?
I love me some Gluhwein! My friend Mark made this one year for us, and it was deeeelicious. Packs a punch, though, so beware!
What is your favorite holiday smell?
Actually, the smell of morning coffee used to always remind me of Christmas.
Who is your favorite reindeer?
Rudolph, duh!
What is your Christmas Eve ritual?
When I was little, we went to Granny's for a present exchange, and I learned later that it's a very German tradition to open presents on C. Eve. Which fits, 'cause that side of the family was German. Now we don't really have official ritual, except that my sister and I always like to hop in bed together (at least for a little while) and giggle and anticipate the next morning. Don't guess we'll do that this year… could be a bit awkward since we both have husbands now!
Are you a Friday after Thanksgiving shopper?
No way, no how.
What is your favorite holiday food?
So many foods, so little time. I might have to say "sand tarts," this version of the Italian wedding cookie my Granny used to make (and now my sister makes), but I generally prefer salty to sweet, so it might be Chex mix… I could go on and on with this question, really. :)
How did you find out that Santa wasn't real?
I don't remember.
Who do you want to be under the mistletoe with?
My husband. Or AJ. Although, don't you remember the days when you really had a crush on someone at the Christmas parties? My college friend (Mark, the same one as the Gluhwein story) used to have a party every year and he'd climb up big trees in order to get plenty of mistletoe to hang. I remember that feeling of wishing to be "accidentally" under it with someone… it never quite happened as romantically as I wanted it to, sigh.
Have you bought all your presents yet?
Are you kidding?
Do you spend Christmas with a lot of family?
When we go to Florida, I do! One year it was like a revolving door of family members coming by for present exchanges. Mom's side, then Dad's side right after. Then off to Aunt's house for dinner! Crazy!
Do you still make snowmen and snow angels?
If it would ever snow I'd totally make a snowman.
What's your favorite Christmas movie?
Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase
What do you plan to do for New Year's Eve?
As little as possible.
What's the weirdest thing you've ever gotten for Christmas?
2 years ago when I was pregnant, we got a miniature (toy?) car, like a model car (a Hummer), from DH's grandparents. ?! We didn't even know it was a boy yet so we couldn't figure out if it was for us or the baby.
What's the most expensive thing you've gotten for Christmas?
I guess last year my laptop was my Christmas present.
How early do you wake up on Christmas morning?
It's always been early. 6-ish, 6:30-ish.
What do you usually get in your stocking?
Lipstick, candy, nail polish, gift cards, cash. I LOVE stockings. We have ours in a different room than the tree and we always go, "Oh! We still have stockings to open!" after the other presents are done. It's a nice little post-lude!
Hey, feel free to play along if you like. In Comments or your own blog. Let me know, I love reading about other people's traditions.
Things I'm grateful for
...Coventry Carol
...Starbuck's Peppermint Mocha
...Project Runway
...Fridays (the day, not the restaurant)
...Rachael Ray's French Bread Pizza Rustica recipe
Things I'm Not Grateful for:
...the blind leading the blind
...being solely accused when it's a shared mistake
...Christmas medleys
...project management. I signed up to write, not be a tech wizard.
...work, in general
Sorry, it's Gripe About Work Day. I'm ticked because a project I was put in charge of is not going as smoothly as it should. It's partly my fault, for not catching certain errors, but there are others who put their eyes on the very first documentation, and signed the agreements, who should have noticed the goof-ups, too. I was never really trained in the back-end technical stuff (nor do I have much interest in it). I came to this department because I wanted to write. To be honest, I wanted an easy-ish job (not that writing is easy)... one that would allow me to work from home part-time, because I have a child now and need to be able to focus my attention on him when I'm off-duty. I wanted to be able to leave work at work. I also wanted a position that would allow me to USE the skills that I have.
Instead, I was not surprisingly asked to become a project manager, and I guess that's fine, I agreed to it -- but I wasn't given the same training that the other project managers got. I went to no classes. I wasn't quizzed. I was just expected to figure things out. Thankfully I get constant help from my very kind coworkers along the way, but it's a bit unfair to ask me later, when something's gone wrong, "Why did you let this happen?" IT'S BECAUSE NO ONE EVER TAUGHT ME NOT TO. Not to mention, the least knowledgable programmer is the one they paired me up with on this particular project. So he didn't catch things, either. (Blind leading blind.)
ANYWAY. Sorry. I had to collect my thoughts on that matter. It's not as big a deal as I'm making it out to be. But I got a tad depressed about it all last night, when I got online to cruise the local job listings, just hypothetically you know, and realized I don't really even have a marketable skills set. I mean, yeah Customer Service and yeah "good communication skills," but I'm a master of nothing. I graduated college with honors but I feel qualified to be a receptionist. Or an "executive assistant." (I can set up lunch dates with the best of 'em.) But even the Exec. Ass't jobs I read required 3-5 years experience. Blllllllllah. Hate work. Not even this particular job, I just hate the general life-fact of work. I don't know if I'll ever find the kind of job that is "So much fun it doesn't feel like work." Ha ha ha, I laugh in that statement's general direction.
...I should concentrate on the Pizza Rustica and Project Runway instead, huh?
...Starbuck's Peppermint Mocha
...Project Runway
...Fridays (the day, not the restaurant)
...Rachael Ray's French Bread Pizza Rustica recipe
Things I'm Not Grateful for:
...the blind leading the blind
...being solely accused when it's a shared mistake
...Christmas medleys
...project management. I signed up to write, not be a tech wizard.
...work, in general
Sorry, it's Gripe About Work Day. I'm ticked because a project I was put in charge of is not going as smoothly as it should. It's partly my fault, for not catching certain errors, but there are others who put their eyes on the very first documentation, and signed the agreements, who should have noticed the goof-ups, too. I was never really trained in the back-end technical stuff (nor do I have much interest in it). I came to this department because I wanted to write. To be honest, I wanted an easy-ish job (not that writing is easy)... one that would allow me to work from home part-time, because I have a child now and need to be able to focus my attention on him when I'm off-duty. I wanted to be able to leave work at work. I also wanted a position that would allow me to USE the skills that I have.
Instead, I was not surprisingly asked to become a project manager, and I guess that's fine, I agreed to it -- but I wasn't given the same training that the other project managers got. I went to no classes. I wasn't quizzed. I was just expected to figure things out. Thankfully I get constant help from my very kind coworkers along the way, but it's a bit unfair to ask me later, when something's gone wrong, "Why did you let this happen?" IT'S BECAUSE NO ONE EVER TAUGHT ME NOT TO. Not to mention, the least knowledgable programmer is the one they paired me up with on this particular project. So he didn't catch things, either. (Blind leading blind.)
ANYWAY. Sorry. I had to collect my thoughts on that matter. It's not as big a deal as I'm making it out to be. But I got a tad depressed about it all last night, when I got online to cruise the local job listings, just hypothetically you know, and realized I don't really even have a marketable skills set. I mean, yeah Customer Service and yeah "good communication skills," but I'm a master of nothing. I graduated college with honors but I feel qualified to be a receptionist. Or an "executive assistant." (I can set up lunch dates with the best of 'em.) But even the Exec. Ass't jobs I read required 3-5 years experience. Blllllllllah. Hate work. Not even this particular job, I just hate the general life-fact of work. I don't know if I'll ever find the kind of job that is "So much fun it doesn't feel like work." Ha ha ha, I laugh in that statement's general direction.
...I should concentrate on the Pizza Rustica and Project Runway instead, huh?
Thursday, December 8
Joy in his feet (and sleep in my eyes)
I'm debating whether or not I can afford a wee little thirty-minute snooze. I think I can. I felt like I got good sleep last night -- I had vivid dreams -- and I had my however-many-ounces of coffee that I always have (I think it's about 18), but for some reason my eyes are tired this morning. Must be the weather. Overcast, cold: My favorite. Where's my blankie?.....yawwwwwn... there it is again, I'm just so drowszzz... *zzzonk. head hits laptozzzzzzzzzz.....ooof, snufflzzzzz, mmmymmmymmmmymmymmm....snort, twitch. shaking head.* See?
Want to hear something cool? AJ boogied with the Peanuts gang the other night when we watched the Christmas special on TV. He wasn't much intrested in it, besides Snoopy, who is, of course, a word that we know, DOG. But after barking with him once or twice it was right back to his books and toys on the floor of the living room. Except -- when the kids all starting bobbing up and down, turning their little cartoon heads left and right, and Schroder played "Linus and Lucy" on the piano, AJ got up and Danced. Round and round and stomping his little feet with happiness. :)
Want to hear something cool? AJ boogied with the Peanuts gang the other night when we watched the Christmas special on TV. He wasn't much intrested in it, besides Snoopy, who is, of course, a word that we know, DOG. But after barking with him once or twice it was right back to his books and toys on the floor of the living room. Except -- when the kids all starting bobbing up and down, turning their little cartoon heads left and right, and Schroder played "Linus and Lucy" on the piano, AJ got up and Danced. Round and round and stomping his little feet with happiness. :)
Monday, December 5
The weatherman's my Santa Claus
Thank you, Mr. Weatherman, for giving me the best Christmas present a girl could ask for: a very rainy Saturday, and cold, so that my Darling Husband was forced to postpone his leaf-raking extravaganza, and instead cozied up in the house with me and AJ, listening to Christmas tunes, walking around in sock-feet, and putting up the tree, all together family-like, the way it is Supposed to Be.
I am very, very grateful. And warm inside. :)
I am very, very grateful. And warm inside. :)
Thursday, December 1
Roll call
When AJ has to go down for his 4:30pm nap, which is becoming less and less frequent of late, since he's doing pretty OK on just a 2.5-hour midday nap (so growing up!!), he usually lays quietly in the crib and plays teacher. I say that because he calls out, as if from a list, each and every name of his loyal friends and relations:
"Mama?"
"Ah-ba-dah?" (Napoleon.)
"Dada?"
"Beer?" (Bear.)
"Lola?"
"Jo Jo?"
"Beer?"
"Mama?"
"Polie?" (also Napoleon.)
"Paci?"
"Bob?" (The Builder.)
"Lola?"
"Bop?" (Baby Bop. Distinguishable from Bob.)
"Ba-dee?" (Barney.)
...and then, even down to the lowliest of the low, his friend,
"Boo-boo?" (Poo Poo.)
No kidding.
I sit by the monitor and grin.
"Mama?"
"Ah-ba-dah?" (Napoleon.)
"Dada?"
"Beer?" (Bear.)
"Lola?"
"Jo Jo?"
"Beer?"
"Mama?"
"Polie?" (also Napoleon.)
"Paci?"
"Bob?" (The Builder.)
"Lola?"
"Bop?" (Baby Bop. Distinguishable from Bob.)
"Ba-dee?" (Barney.)
...and then, even down to the lowliest of the low, his friend,
"Boo-boo?" (Poo Poo.)
No kidding.
I sit by the monitor and grin.
Thankyaverymuuuch
My. House. Is. Decorated. For Christmas!! Yippie!
All that's left is the tree, and I admit that IS a big-ticket item, but I get more wigged out about all the other knicky-knacks and where do they go, and what do I take down and replace with something Christmas, and where should I hang garland or tie ribbons, etc. -- at least the tree is contained in one spot and I know where it goes and what goes on it. I've been puttering around the house this morning (sorry, Boss-man, but I also took 2 client phone calls) and realized just now... hey! I'm done! Pass the bubbly.
Decorating tip -- my Christmas gift to you: Use fresh coffee beans in your hurricane-lamp candle holders. Like this:
They smell all homey and delicious -- a nice, sweet compliment to your Yankee Candle "Mistletoe" candle burning in the other room -- and look pretty good too, if I do say so.
All that's left is the tree, and I admit that IS a big-ticket item, but I get more wigged out about all the other knicky-knacks and where do they go, and what do I take down and replace with something Christmas, and where should I hang garland or tie ribbons, etc. -- at least the tree is contained in one spot and I know where it goes and what goes on it. I've been puttering around the house this morning (sorry, Boss-man, but I also took 2 client phone calls) and realized just now... hey! I'm done! Pass the bubbly.
Decorating tip -- my Christmas gift to you: Use fresh coffee beans in your hurricane-lamp candle holders. Like this:
They smell all homey and delicious -- a nice, sweet compliment to your Yankee Candle "Mistletoe" candle burning in the other room -- and look pretty good too, if I do say so.
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