Saturday, December 31, 2011

525,600 minutes

























Monday, December 26, 2011

36 to 37

lots of snow days
so much snow
crawling under the sink in the Christmas Story house because Daddy's gonna kill Ralphie
attending a private Sting concert for free
onion rings at the drive-in with my goddaughters
nieces who get in the car for a "day of fun" and say "I'm so excited!"
lots of hiking
that month when it was freaking hot
the best U2 show ever
saying "hi Edge" and having Edge wave back
the "impossible" marathon
the Hubby who let life be turned upside down for four months to make the impossible marathon possible
countless iron pills and protein shakes
running start snuggle hugs from my nephew
new glasses
a vehicle that hit 100,000 miles
legs that have roughly the same amount of miles on them
dance recitals
birthday parties
cookies
hot cocoa
trips to the orchard
being part of a live link up to the International Space Station
Hubby's poetry reading
sitting with a cup of tea and a book
actually getting flowers to grow
so many green tea lattes I lost count
Thanksgiving dinner
a month of living on fudge and peanut butter balls
watching my grandpa's eyes light up when I presented him with a container of pfeffernuss
goddaughters who made me the coolest owl blanket ever
receiving a recording of my dad reading 'Twas the Night Before Christmas
hugs and kisses
laughter
hope
faith
love

36, you'll be a tough act to follow.
But I think I'm up for it.
37? Let's start today.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

yesterday and today and tomorrow

Yesterday I was so excited to go over to my Grandma's house to make Christmas cookies. The kind that have frosting and sprinkles, and are shaped like Christmas trees and stars and Santa.



I spent so much time, hours maybe, sitting by the Christmas tree, just looking at it because it was so beautiful.

I could not wait for Christmas Eve. My mom made cocoa, and I curled up next to my dad so that he could read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas to me. Then I picked out the absolutely perfect cookies (the ones I made with Grandma) to leave for Santa, and set them out on the coffee table, right next to the cocoa.

On Christmas morning, the first order of business was to check on the cocoa and cookies. And they were gone!



Today I am so excited for my nieces to come over to my house and make Christmas cookies with frosting and sprinkles. And I am so excited that they will take them home to leave out for Santa on Christmas Eve. (Although I save a few to leave at Grandma's grave. I know she likes them, too.)

And I spend as much time as I can, just sitting by the Christmas tree, looking at it because it is just so beautiful.

And I would love to sit down next to my dad and hear him read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas to me. Even though I'm 36, and would probably be sharing the space with his grandkids.

And I'm so tempted to leave some cocoa and cookies out for Santa on Christmas Eve, because I do believe that when I check on Christmas morning, they'll be gone.



And it really seems that the more things change, the more they really just don't. And there's really no reason to wish for what's past, or miss it, or remember when. Because really, it's all here with you, right now, today. Everyone and everything that you've known and done and believed and been has gone into making this moment, right now.

I guess that's a little piece of the magic. And, really, the best present of all.



Merry Christmas.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

it was supposed to be about the lights...

Hubby and I went to see one of those big, drive-through holiday light displays; the kind that have Santa and snowmen and knights fighting a dragon and aliens all made out of lights. You know, in order to better understand the true meaning of the holiday season. With knights fighting a dragon. And aliens.

And most people were perfectly happy to drive through and look at the glowing koala and the red-eyed kangaroo (exchanging gifts, of course). But I felt this compulsion to park the car and get out. I'm not sure why. It was really cold. And it was that one day that we had snow. But still, out I got. And I'm so glad I did, because I found the Christmas trees.









They were small. From the car,they just looked like trees with lights. And probably not many people really saw them. Especially if they just drove on through. But each one was decorated differently, and was just so beautiful. And they made the numb fingers and toes totally worth it.

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Sunday, December 18, 2011

snow time

Yesterday the weather cooperated.



I woke up to snow. Covering the ground. And I smiled, non-stop, because of it.



And I put on my hat and scarf. And I pulled up my Christmas playlist. And I went out and played (ran) in the snow. And I smiled non-stop because of it.



Today the snow is gone. Of course. It was sunny and just warm enough to melt it all away.

But I'm choosing to optimistic that it will be back soon.

I smile just thinking about it.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Do you ever get the feeling that you've just walked into a James Taylor song?



Or is it just me?

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Do you ever get the feeling....

that you're being followed by a yellow submarine?



Or is it just me?

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

snap, crackle, pop...

Do you ever just want to scream? Long and loud?

Why can't we?

Seriously.

Why can't we?

Why is it that it is okay for other people to treat us with meanness and spite, with rudeness and disrespect, like we are no better than trash under their feet, when they have absolutely no clue?

And are we really supposed to be kind and civil and take it?

And why is the person designated to have our back in these situations completely invisible?

And why are we not allowed to have our own backs, and stand up for ourselves?

And how long am I reasonably expected to keep this up before I fully and completely snap?

I think the answer might be 12 years....

But I'm trying. Really. I'm trying.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

I am eternally cold.

Hubby and I went one town over to see how they kick off Christmas.



It was kind of lovely. It was cold; finally feeling like December. Really very Christmas-y.



Until I could no longer feel my fingers. Which took about 2 minutes. Which might be a record for me. Because I am always cold. Always.



So we had to go warm them up. Luckily there was a finger warming up place right nearby.




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Monday, December 5, 2011

I guess "happy holidays" means different things to different people

So, I asked my lovely co-workers to help me out by bringing in their old catalogs and sale advertisements. I'm working on an activity in which we'll compare how much various items cost in 1932 and how much the same type of items cost now.

I received lots of Menards, Kohls, and Target ads from the Sunday paper. But a few catalogs caught my eye.

This one, in particular, looked interesting...



The Vermont Country Store catalog was like a little treasure chest of yester year. So many things that I remember my Grandma owning, or that I played with as a child could be found within it's pages.

Things like this Christmas candle chime thing that used to fascinate me when I was small. I could watch it for hours!



And ohmygosh, it's a Slush Mug! These were so awesome!



And don't think we didn't consider ordering our very own Muumuu!



This brought back memories of making our own radio shows when we were kids.



You can order Necco Wafers, rotary phones, that pot holder loom thing (that I would spend hours weaving but could never figure out how to remove from the loom...)... All kinds of wonderful treasures!

But then, as I continued to skim through the catalog, this picture caught my eye...


It was on a page with things like Smith Brothers Cough Drops and medicine to stop shingles from itching. And I thought "Oh how funny! Didn't they realize what that looks like?"

And then I looked a little closer, and... Wait. What!?!



I guess they did realize what that looks like.

All right then!!

So. If you've not yet finished your holiday shopping, The Vermont Country Store might just be your one stop shopping gold mine.

Take it from this testimonial:




(Thank God I looked through all of the catalogs before I moved forward with the project.....)