December 2005 Archives

This year our Christmas was bitter sweet. The sweet parts were really terrific, but the failing health of some elders in mine and Flounder's family added some perspective.

Flounder's Grandfather had a mild heart attack last week, and while being treated in the hospital, doctors discovered that his bladder cancer has returned. He is 96 years old and there are some questions about how to treat his ailments. He will be undergoing a probing proceedure today, and he is heavily in our thoughts. My Grandma S had a very frightening nose bleed that appears to have been acused by uncontroled blood preasure. She should recover quickly if she follows doctors order -- but she is a feisty one that likes to be on the move. Prayers welcome.

I had a delightful time with the Storybook Family (Flounder's fam)all day Christmas Eve. Storybook Father and I teamed up against Storybook Mother and Jords (sister) in a rousing game of pinochle. SBF and I dominated! Am I proud? Oh yes! Actually any chance to bond with my future Father-in-law is a good time to me. For as long as anyone can remember, STF has had to work on Christmas Eve (not to mention almost every day in December leading up to it). It was joyful and novel holiday simply because he was present. Church was beautiful and the merry gathering that followed with stuffed with gifts and good times.

Christmas morning Flounder and I went to visit my Dad. It was one of the nicest visits I have had with that part of the family in a long time. Everyone loved the items we bought them. This was especially important to me because I designed a bag for my step-sister (to who I am not close) and after purchasing it I was afraid I was out of touch with what a teenage might want. Fortunately I got it right. Goodtimes were had and we still had a leg to go!

Once we arrived at Mi Mama's, Flounder, Micah, and I had our traditional Christmas meal of fried dough. Lord is that stuff good. We opened a bounty of gifts, cleaned up, watched a film and them Mi Mama began making dinner. Needless to say it was delicious. It was a fun and familiar end our Christmas travels. Mi Mama knows how to do Christmas!

It took Flounder and I three trips to get all of our haul from the car into the house. I was the happy recipient of 2 beautiful wraps and 1 amazing scarf, a set of heavenly 500 thread count sheets, a down blanket, some warm weather gear, a french styled utensil holder and 2 great handbags to name just a few items. The most unexpected gift came from my Grandma S. Yesterday I visited with both Grandma H and Grandma S. GmS received a cell phone from Flounder and I this season and I took the time to train her on how to use it. She can now successfully make and receive calls. The woman is in her 70s, so we are taking baby steps, but I digrees. During my visit I received a Meyer Lemon tree. How delightful! I have to quickly figure out to care for it (there might be a grow light involved) but if I do a good job the little tree with bare Meyer lemons. The plant is already covered in immature green lemons on their way to ripening. I think I can feel some lemon chicken coming on!

This year I really felt the Christmas spirit. I plan to be like Scrooge at the end of Dicken's tale, by keeping Christmas in my heart all year through.

Quote of the Day:
"Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world. Some people laughed to see the alteration in him, but he let them laugh, and little heeded them; for he was wise enough to know that nothing ever happened on this globe, for good, at which some people did not have their fill of laughter in the outset; and knowing that such as these would be blind anyway, he thought it quite as well that they should wrinkle up their eyes in grins, as have the malady in less attractive forms. His own heart laughed: and that was quite enough for him."
Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

Personally I really appricated what Ben Stein had to say on CBS Sunday morning this past week. Here is an exerpt:

"Next confession: I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees. It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, "Merry Christmas" to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away."

Quote of the Day:
"You don’t really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his parents every time around - and why his parents will always wave back.”

William Tammeus

Whoo Hoo! I just got back my final grade for English 101. I am officially an A student. *happy dance, happy dance*

Quote of the Day:
Learning by experience often is painful- and the more it hurts, the more you learn.
-Ralph Banks

I have signed up for my second class at Montgomery College. I have not gotten back my official grades from ENG 101, I am looking forward to ENG 102. Maybe next Fall (which will be very importantly after the wedding) I will take two classes! But lets not get crazy. I am pleased with my progess, but I think this coming class will take even more time and effort on my part. It's good for me. Builds character and such.

I am enjoying my break from school at the moment. Classes don't kick back up until late January. I am taking advantage of the down time, though it feels a little odd not to have homework looming in the back of my mind. It's amazing how quickly we adapt.

Quote of the Day:
"Do noble things, do not dream them all day long.”
Charles Kingsley, 1819-1875

Flounder and I have done it again. We exchanged some of our Christmas gifts way before the actual holiday. I love my new red leather jewelry box. Flounder is receiving a few smaller gifts from me this year. Since we will be making the rounds to visit both our families starting this Friday night, I am dolling out a small gift at each location. I have let him open 3 gifts from me already. The lucky kid has 3 more to go!

We are adding Mi Mama and Gma S to our cell phone plan this year for Christmas. Flounder and I took them to pick out the phones they will receive as their Christmas gift. That was a task. I am honestly not sure if Gma S is going to be able to handle the little dumbed-down flip phone she picked out. Only time will tell. Mi Mama on the other hand is well on her way to falling love with the Razor phone she picked out. How cuting edge is she?

It has been totally dead at work for the past week and I don't expect that to change until 2006.

I have been spending most of my time preparing for the holidays so I haven't had much to write about in this space. Look for more goal-oriented writing in the coming year.

Quote of the Day:
"Fortune does not change men, it unmasks them."
Suzanne Necker

I have a classic problem. A closet full of clothes and nothing the wear. The vast majority of mr clothes that fit are fit are only appropriate for warm weather. I have been cycling 1 sweater, 1 sweater set, a few short sleeve blouses and 3 pairs of pants for 2 months now. I am bored and looking a bit shabby. I can't wait to take advantage of the post-Christmas sales. Bring on some soild basic duds! I seriously don't care if the items I purchase are too big in a month I want to spend January feeling good about my fashion choices. This brings us to my New Years resolution. I want to step it up in the fashion department. I have spent too many years putting too little effort into my appearence. Don't expect a fashion plate over night. Incremental changes are key. Perhaps J. Wo would like to go shoe shopping with me.

Quote of the Day:

Like so many Americans, she was trying to construct a life that made sense from things she found in gift shops.
Kurt Vonnegut (1922 - ), Slaughterhouse Five

It is so very cold today. The blast of arctic air I experienced this morning made me think of my future sister-in-law Jords living up in the great white north of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Brrr! I am hating the cold.

On the bright side, the Christmas tree is up, decorated and casting it's lovely warm glow. One of the beauties of having a smaller home is being able to see the tree from anywhere on the main floor. Oh, how I love it!

Quote of the Day:
Great is the human who has not lost his childlike heart.
- Mencius (Meng-Tse), 4th century BCE

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe was really terrific. I was not in the least be disappointed, which is pretty amazing considering the love I have for the book series. I hope the start working on Prince Caspian right away!

I will admit, there were moments when the film seemed to be channeling the Lord of the Rings. There were event moments that appeared to be stolen from the from the first Lord of the Rings movie. However, the film makers would have been very heard pressed to have come up with a better way of making this film.

My Top Five Favorite Things About This Movie:

1. Mr. Tumnus (I admit I have a bit of a crush)
2. Mr. Tumnus's Cave
3. He-Beaver and She-Beaver (so cute! such effects! Love!)
4. The Stone Table Scene (awful but pretty perfect)
5. The Gryphon Assult

If you are at all inclined to see this movie, GO!

Quote of the Day:
(the title of this entry is a favorite quote from an unexpected character)

I have finished my first college course in 8 years and I am very proud of myself. Yay me! Last night was my last class for English 101 and tonight I am going to bask in my own glory. English 101 is history! I can think of no better way to celebrate than going to see The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe! Hurrah!

Flounder will be working most of this weekend (just call me a Mac-widow), so I will be taking some time to go to the gym, wrap up Christmas gifts, make some treats and possibly drop in on a party Mi Mama is throwing. Sunday afternoon Flounder and I planning to pick out and cut down our Christmas tree. I can't wait to decorate it!

I have lost that loving feeling for my diet. Lets be real here, I lost it a few months ago and I have been adrift ever since. It's not that I stopped caring about my weight and my health. I just stopped taking action. It's like a light switch was flicked off, shutting down my resolve.

I am not writing about this issue because I am looking for advise. Rather I am hoping that by documenting my situation, by writing it down I might be able to find a solution to my stagnation.

I feel a little hopeless and more than a little embarassed that I have stumbled yet again.

The number of pairs of shoes I own.

Saturday I got to watch Santa Claus is Comin' to Town, my most favorite of the stop-motion Christmas Specials. I was a kid all over again as watched young Kris Kringle and the Winter Wizard sing the "one foot in front of the other" song while teaching the Winter Wizard to walk. I was singing and doing a little dance. I think I scared poor Flounder. But, oh boy! I was happy.

This Thursday is the last time english class meets for the semster and I can't wait for it to be over. Not because the class was terrible but I really want to be able to focus on Christmas and wedding stuff. This coming weekend we are going to get our Christmas tree and I can't wait.

This weekend, when I am not decorating the Christmas tree I will be writing Christmas Cards. Yep, it's going be very festive at our place.

Quote of the Day:
Narrator: Poor, misguided folks. They missed the whole point. Lot's of unhappiness? Maybe so. But doesn't Santa take a little bit of that unhappiness away? Doesn't a smile on Christmas morning scratch out a tear cried on a Saturday? Not much maybe. But what would happen if we all tried to be like Santa and learned to give as only he can give: of ourselves, our talents, our love and our hearts? Maybe we could all learn Santa's beautiful lesson and maybe there would finally be peace on Earth and good will toward men.
- Santa Claus is Comin' to Town (1970)