Do they know it's Christmastime at all?

I think they call it the Christmas hangover, not due to binge drinking but binge yule-tiding. Too much too soon with no tolerance for all the action. Four days later and I still can't bring myself to make a new to-do list. Remedies anyone?

Okay, so I've been watching this new sitcom on TBS called "My Boys" for the last couple months. It's about a tomboy sportswriter and her gaggle of male friends plus her token female friend. Being a tomboy myself, it's nice to have someone on tv to relate to. But here's my point: They had the most fabulous season ending I have seen in a long time. It wasn't huge or mind-altering, just great. All of the episodes are online if you are interested...

Thankful. Grateful. Blessed.

More beautiful moments...

... waking up to a clean kitchen because I stayed up an extra 15 minutes to do the dishes
... hearing a gasp of horror from my SIL and seeing a look of shock from my husband as I opened up a scarf that looked too much like a nightie from my MIL - hilarious!
... laughing with my mom and sister
... having my mom tell me that she saw the gift from me under the tree and hoped it would be exactly what it was - Yes!
... knowing that I have a year-long break before I have to do this again

So, have a great Dec. 26th, which should probably be the best day of the year as you bask in the glow of the Christmas that was...

Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Not that many years ago, I believed in a perfect Christmas - not that I had had one, just that it was possible. Now I'm coming around to the notion that the perfect Christmas is the myth thrown at us by commercials while a really great Christmas is obtained by stringing together beautiful moments...

... watching the children put together the manger scene at church
... crying to "Breath of Heaven" at church because a year ago I didn't know the kind of loss that I know now
... watching four little kids rip into gifts with reckless joy
... seeing my nephew charge around in his new spidey suit, complete with foam, defined pectoral muscles and biceps (I suppose this borders on disturbing as well)
... having that same precious boy give me a kiss goodbye because he's finally old enough to really know me
... seeing a friend get excited over a gift my mom and I had spent a lot of time putting together
... driving home from the rowdy activities, talking and laughing with Punky while a very tired puppy groans from the back seat for us to keep quiet

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

The love we found we carry with us so we're never quite alone

Okay, I think I'm out of my funk. It finally occurred to me last night when Punky was done with his last final of the semester and was a happy man again-I've been trying to be happy for two! He's been an ornery bear for months, not all the time, but most of it.

How lovely to have him back!

Last night I watched the Muppet Christmas Carol while Nuschler curled up in a cute golden ball on the couch next to me. I traditionally watch this movie with my kid brother, but we don't seem to have time to fit it in with both of our mad Christmas schedules. Nusch has no Muppet appreciation. I may have to make boy wonder watch it with me on eve of eve.

After a few years of racing around for Christmas and only being alone with my husband in the car (not a great time/place to exchange gifts, enjoy each other's company), we started carving out time on eve for each other. And we watch White Christmas. It's tradition.

My mom and I spend a day each December making cookies and watching Christmas movies, usually If You Believe, a Lifetime movie that rocks. We also watch Home Alone and marvel at the bad parenting skills and ridiculous government service mishaps.

And, while I appreciate classics like A Christmas Story and the Grinch, I really love the Family Stone. Nothing shows the reality of Christmas like trying to fit in with a tight, slightly dysfunctional family.

And a Happy New Year.

I keep writing posts and then not publishing them. Everything I write feels too personal, too open, too superficial.

Have a happy Christmas if I don't talk to you sooner!

Parents are people, people with children

I caught "Free to be... You and Me" on Sunday morning and taped it before running to church. I started watching a little of it last night with Punky until he threw his hands up in protest at the overly Seventies tunes.

I was raised on this program, this type of thinking. Punky has a more live and let live so leave me alone in my shell attitude, while I would like to start protesting for equality. I get warm fuzzies just watching this program and hoping that, one day, we as a human race will support each other equally.

I also started my Christmas shopping yesterday. I have been thinking about it for a month, so it wasn't too hard. There are a few people I need filler stuff for, but I'm doing well. But let's take a moment to discuss customer service.

For the most part, when I have a customer who asks for my help in picking out the perfect product, I know what I am talking about. There are a handful of products I don't use or have no customers on, but otherwise I know what I'm talking about.

I walked into that department store that has a softer side. Went into the tool department and asked for the perfect new gadget for the man who has every tool. The salesman looked at me like I had two heads. Dude, you work here! I called my dad, who knew exactly what I should buy (for him and the in-law) and when it would be on sale.

Then I went to the big book store and asked for a suggestion for the man who loves books by a specific author. They found the saleswoman who reads that genre who successfully answered my questions to prove she really does know the genre and picked out the perfect book.

Which I then ordered from the little, local book store. Hehehe. Still, that is customer service.

Run away with me

I love movies. I love the way movies draw me in, make me feel and think and rethink. I love terrible movies that make me laugh and important movies that make me cry.

Punky and I bonded over a terrible movie on our first date and I often think our connection wouldn't have been as strong had the movie been good. Every year, a cable channel shows all the Bond movies during the Holidays. Punky loves watching them while I sit by, asking for clarifications of logic and complaining about poorly written female leads.

But we went to the new Bond last night. The buzz made me excited about a Bond we could both love. The opening chase scene was incredible, but believable fun. The bad guy was creepy, but dynamic. The female lead was smart, but clearly not a trained spy and it therefore made sense when she needed help.

And Bond? Perfect. I'm not sure Daniel Craig is ready for Shakespeare, but as Bond he performs mostly through looks and delievers one-liners without the icky aftertaste. Both in the movie and in Hollywood, he has to prove himself worthy of double-O status and he does. The coolest thing? He screws up. Big time. But we see why and we watch him work through how to fix the problem (wish we could see that in other parts of the newspaper). And, okay, the man is hot.

And as a Bond movie? Sure, there are sizable holes in the plot, but nothing like the last few Bond movies. Nothing out-of-control illogical. Just lots of fun.

Raindrops keep falling on my head

If you saw me/talked to me/was near me on Wednesday night, I apologize. I had the beginning of a migraine that took me down for the rest of the evening and lingers still. I believe it started with a cheese stick, but I am still trying to figure out what I ate.

I was not warned that aging means your body suddenly, and without warning, reacts differently to situations/substances that are usual. I'm still missin' my lattes.

The only good thing about migraines is that they remind you how absolutely FANTASTIC it is to not have one.

In other news, I finally got to take down the large display table in my livingroom that has been there for 6 weeks. I moved Nuschler's gigantic pillow back to it's normal spot in front of the window. He's a happy, happy puppy.

Snow is falling, snow on snow

While sliding around the sloppy Duluth roads this afternoon, I listened to Sarah McL's new Christmas cd. Once my tree is up, I'll be spending a lot of time with that music, enjoying the pretty lights.

Due to mucky roads, my evening cleared. So I put on the mulitple layers and shoveled. Nuschler would bark at me and I would chase him with a shovel of snow to dump on him. Once everything was clear, I let him loose to run around the yard. After a few laps around the garden, I caught my breath under a bare tree and looked at the deep purple sky.

I'll be singing a different tune in February, but for now it's snow, glorious snow!

Hanging around

Last night, Punky was called out for an emergency computer fix up north. He got back this afternoon and is now passed out with the puppy. Thus, I am trying to be quiet.

I'm no good at being quiet.

I can think of a million things I would like to get accomplished today, but most of them involve a flurry of activity around the house (not quiet) or throwing in a movie and putting things together (equally not quiet). You forget the little noises of life. The microwave, the floorboards, doors, the swish of your pants as you walk. All very noisy.

So I'm relaxing and breathing. Quietly.