50 Day of Christmas

So I can't schedule myself to blog every day.  I know that.  But I do like finding something to say.

I enjoyed giving you "50 Day of Christmas."  Fifty days of, I hope, good vibes and fun in what can be a sometimes disheartening world.

Almost 50 days.  This post marks 49 posts.  I'm missing one.  It's one I want put some serious thought into.  I'm looking forward to giving you "Day 17" from December 8th.

Right now, my Christmassy family.  Love y'all.

"Superior Donuts"

I'm in this sweet little holiday show called "Superior Donuts."  It's by Tracy Letts.  The dialog is full of cussing.  The set features graffiti "Pu$$y" center stage.  A character gets mutilated.  There's a major fight scene.  The cops are kind of useless.  I play a senior-citizen homeless wino.

But it really is a sweet little holiday play.

It's sweet because the premise is that some people who seem lost in their directions in life finally find their ways to being the better people they want to be.  The bad guys get defeated.  We get to eat donuts.

It's little because it's fairly short, there are few set-change elements/costume-change elements, so the scenes should move along.

It's a holiday play because the setting notes say the play takes place in Uptown Chicago over a few weeks spanning from December thru January. The average person won't realize this until the last scene when a character says "I trust you have wonderful holiday time?"  But, since theater people in Huntsville are geeky people, I have learned that the "Chicago Comics Con" takes place annually in December; one of the show characters does Star Trek cosplay at the convention which is often referenced in the play.

So, see?  Sweet little holiday play!  (Come see me wear a droopy poinsettia on my hat and hear me cuss!)

So sad....

...when all the Christmas cookies are gone.

I Got Nothin'

So here's some photos that didn't make any posts.

 

Tagged

So, Tara tagged me on Facebook to do one of those "about me' things.

Ok, so......

Here's a bit about me!

3 names I go by:
1. Elizabeth
2. Lizzie
3. Beth

(Hey! Let's go out and seek a bird's nest.)

3 places I've lived:
1. Brunswick, GA
2. Germantown, TN
3. Huntsville, AL

3 places I've worked:
1. McDonald's
2. American Red Cross
3. Huntsville-Madison County Mental Health Center

3 things I love to watch:
1. The backs of my eyelids
2. Cat videos
3. The scene outside the window

3 places I've been:
1. Walt Disney World
2. Chicago
3. Crazy

3 things I love to eat:
1. Chocolate
2. Cheese
3. Did I already mention Chocolate?

3 favorite drinks:
1. Diet Cola
2. Tequila
3. Gin and Tonic without the Gin

3 things I am looking forward to:
1. Tomorrow
2. Christmas
3. More Chocolate

The three people I think will respond and accept this challenge:

You, You, and maybe You---
Now copy and paste and forward your answers.

Three Kings Day

The Three Kings arrived at our house very, very late.  Like, right-before-the-sun-came-up late.  I think I saw them riding out as I went to wake up the kids.  (Walks off, whistling....)

They brought each kid a pair of wind-up Christmas toys, a North-Pole-themed book, a lapel pin (eagle for MLB and Snowman Angel for DLG,) and large box of Lemonheads candy.  No, you may not eat candy for breakfast before school.  Please, don't run the toys on the breakfast table. You've read your books already? And each other's?

After school, DLG told me that a schoolmate didn't get a visit from the Three Kings.  Hmmm....  well, I said, I think the Three Kings visit you and MLB because they used to visit Carl & his sisters & brother.  When I was growing up, the Three Kings didn't visit your Uncle Bill and me, I said.

Their lives are so, so filled.  I hope that they always have the magic and dreams and joy.  Kids can never have too many people who love them.

Sale, Ahoy!

The kids were back in school so I FINALLY hit some after-Christmas sales. Ten days beyond, they're more like after-after-Christmas sales.

I'd been itching all week to get shopping, but my wild-things can be quite the gimme-gimmies in a store, if they're not bugging each other to death.

I like shopping by myself.  I can look over things, pick them up and carry them around, think about them, and then put them back.

Shopping after the initial rush is good.  By this time, prices are as low as they will get before things are packed up for the secondary market.  I don't NEED anything, so I prefer having my non-necessities cost at a serious discount.  There's fewer leftovers to chose from, so even less for me spend. This is all a good thing, even though I've been antsy for a week.

I still found bunches of useful stuff!

Hallmark:  60% off-- "Anna" ornament and "Olaf in Summer" ornament for DLG, "A Little Jingle" ornament for me, "Northpole" Itty-Bittys for MLB (Jaz the Penguin & Snowby the Bear,) another ornament for me to be either a Mother's Day gift or 2016 Christmas gift, the "Caring Place" glass butterfly ornament to be a Mother's Day gift to my mom, a Mexican-style cross ornament to hang in MLB's room, and a little something for Carl's birthday.

Hobby Lobby:  90% off-- small Frozen-style ornaments to use as favors for one of DLG's birthdays, some bandanas also for favors, a throw pillow, several tree skirts for mini & table top trees (tree skirts make good doll skirts,) Christmas-ish jewelry findings that could be used any time, Christmas mini ornaments that can be used as jewelry, interest-specific ornaments to use as show cast gifts, hats for the kids and a sparkly infinity scarf for me.

Michael's:  75%-90% off-- enameled frame ornaments shaped like yarn balls (for gift use if I ever get back with my knitting group,) some sidewalk chalk for MLB's birthday, another little goody for Carl's birthday, Christmas earrings, some little things for friend's birthday and a cute little springy ornament.

Wal-Mart:  75% off-- chocolate goodies, cake icing, ornaments for the kids next Christmas, a few trinkets for them for Christmas, a pair of clip-on poinsettia flowers to wear in the play, little storage boxes for the ornaments they make and the loose ones I buy.

Target:  90%-- little plastic toy ornaments for DLG's birthday favors, ribbon on charming wooden spools, a few little ornaments that would appeal to MLB or Carl.

Yeah.  I went N.U.T.Z.  Good thing everything was picked over.  I shudder to imaging how much more I could have bought at a mere 50% off.

Yeah.  Good thing.  I might be an incurable.

Last Day of Christmas Vacation

I'm lucky.  My kids adore school, and cannot wait to go back to school tomorrow.  Maybe we didn't do "stuff" over the break, but the excitement of Christmas kept them occupied.  We didn't go to the Galaxy of Lights, didn't take in the Tinsel Trail, didn't tour neighborhood decorations.  But we did enjoy each other's company.  We did relax and laugh.

DLG and I spent today finally getting some decorations up on her walls. I've had these glittery flowers I'd bought at after-Easter clearance a couple of years ago.  Now her walls sparkle and bloom. Her horse poster is up on the wall (it's a Disney Palace Pet, but still....)  My unicorn cross-stitch is hung by her door.  Her "rainbow" projector (a Christmas gift) shines; her brother's "old" reading lamp and alarm clock are by her bed.  Oh, and we cleaned up her room.  (Talk about disarray.)

Got her brother to tidy up a bit.  We set up his new CD/radio/alarm clock (set in military time.)  Set up his new reading light.  (Both gifts.)  He got a couple of small wildlife posters-- put those up, too.

And I swept the den and kitchen.  A month of Christmas cookies makes quite a sprinkle of crumbs.

Backpacks are reloaded.  Computer is charged.  Gym clothes are clean. Lunchbags ready to be filled in the morning.

Only problem?

No one wants to wake at 0500 hours.

Gifts for All

Today, the Catholic Church in America celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany.  We, here, have moved many major feasts to the Sunday of the week it falls in.  We're a very busy country, quite out of the habit of daily Mass.  Mea culpa.

The kids did not have Sunday School, I did not have Children's Liturgy of the Word, I was not scheduled to read.  Still, we got there early.  The kids were about to dash off to the choir room to get their Maginifikids missalette, when I suddenly knew I had to go with them.

Micki would be on a King-hunt.

For Epiphany, our church gets three kids to wear capes and crowns, and to join the procession with the gifts to present at the manger.  The adults seem to think it's cute.  The kids seem to avoid it.  My two did it last year. They declined Micki's offer to be kings again.  (DLG is not keen on being a "king" since she's a girl.)  Micki asked if I would look for the kings.

Carl asked when I knew I knew I was going to be helping with today's liturgy.  "Five minutes ago."

I recruited three kings, and got them decked out.  I explained to them what they would do.  I refreshed the head usher on what the kids would do.  I set up the book and stand at the ambo and altar.  I noted that no one was there for CLoW, so I had to alert folks on for that.  I counted readers... oh, there's one... but Janie said that her reading partner was sick, so I offered to do the second reading.  And the deacon's broken foot was aching him and it hurt to go up and down stairs, could the first reader bring up the book?  Well, Janie had already sat down, but since I was shepherding the kings, I'd carry the book.  My family sat in the pew behind the kings, so I could lead them to their spots for the offertory, and then cue when they were to join the recessional.

Father Louis' homily was about us bringing our gifts to the King of Kings. We have something more precious to offer than gold, frankincense and myrrh.  We can offer ourselves and our talents.

Glad to.

How To Train a Reader

First, sit the small child in your lap.

Next, open a book.

Lastly, read aloud.

Repeat.


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I started reading to MLB as early as I could, and he was enchanted.  He tried to eat or shred several books.  And only threw up on one.  They were all salvageable.

He quickly "decoded" & was self-taught reading by age three. When people asked for tips to help their kids, I'd shrug-- I just read to him, that's all.

I honestly didn't read to DLG as much as an infant.  She was very active or very snuggly; within moments of sitting down with a book, she'd be ready to bail.  With MLB in kindergarten with his shiny new diagnosis of ADHD & Autism, I just let things roll with her.

At Christmas, though, one book caught her attention: "Who Is Coming to Our House?"  It's the arrival of Mary & Joseph and the birth of Jesus, as told by a little barn mouse who is readying the other animals.  Maybe it was the sweet and soft realism of the animal illustrations.  Maybe it was soft and discrete voices I used.  Maybe it was just her time to settle down, now that she had this walking thing going so she could keep up with big brother.  Whichever it was, she wanted her gift from her Godfather Rick read to her everyday.  I have a lovely picture of my dad finally getting her to snuggle up for a story.  After that, she was always bringing her Paw-Paw a book.  (I bought, post season, a Hallmark ornament of a big polar bear reading to a little polar bear.  Aww....)

She self-taught at age four, and became proficient at age five when she got glasses for her near-sightedness.

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I grew up having books read to me.  I self-taught by kindergarten.  My house was filled with shelves and shelves of my parent's books.  I eagerly looked forward to ordering from my Scholastics flyer and reading my new books.  I was a library mouse.

With books being even more affordable nowadays, especially used books, I thoroughly indulge in buying books.  Mostly for the kids, but sometimes for me, the schools and as gifts.

My daughter received a boxed set of "Ivy + Bean" books for Christmas from my Mom.  She's read most of them by now.  My son received Book #12 in the "How to Train Your Dragon" series.  He's previously read 1-7; we only own two used copies, and the rest have been checked out from the library.  But I know how he loves to reread his favorite books....

UPS brought the HtTYD boxed set for him today.  It's like a FOURTH Christmas for someone.  Thank you, Amazon Prime!

There is a very happy Hairy-Hooligan deep in book 8.

NYD

So people go around making New Year's Resolutions.

I'm resolved that I'll do things when I'm good and ready.

Or when I just "haf" to.

But this year, I'm going work better on the use-it-or-lose-it plan.

First on that list is my food stuffs.  I'm pitching those five-year-old jars of homemade (not by me) pickles.  I've got better uses for those Mason jars.

Happy New Year, y'all.  Keep sparkling!

NYE

New Year's Eve, and I think back on 2015.......


I don't blog as much as I should because ___________.

A)     I'm busy

B)     I'm lazy

C)     I'm me

D)     All of the above


I'm busy.  Drive my kids.  Shepherd my kids.  Double check their schoolwork and backpacks.  Coddle them too much.  Teach them to do chores (and attempt to not re-do those things they do.)  Clean stuff.  Clean up after them.  Cook and shop.  Perform other duties as assigned.

I'm lazy.  Sweep only once a week (tops.)  Mop quarterly.  Clean bathrooms monthly.  Vacuum as needed.  Launder smaller loads more often or bigger loads less often.  Stalk Facebook and play solitaire daily.  Finish a new book within two days.

I'm me.  Get ideas and then forget them.  Worry about yanking someone's chain.  Wonder about even caring what others think.  Plan out things mentally.  Can't find some photo.  Endure PMS, the stalled-brain and the motivation shut-down.  Go to play rehearsal.  Spend sweet, comfortable time with Carl.


Isn't everyone, 365?

While Everyone Else Is Cleaning Up

I have many, many friends who have a compulsion to have Christmas put away before News Year's Day.

I put it off as long as possible.

I love the glow of my Christmas tree lights.  I love the tenderness of my creche.  I love the personality of my decorations.  I love the visual reminders to be kind.

While others have solid reasons for putting away in a timely manner, I shall put forth my reasons for waiting as long as possible.

I do not like to take down Christmas before January 6th, the traditional Three Kings Day.  With my play going into tech week not long after, I'll be too busy & preoccupied to do my efficient effort of packing away.

Christmas will stay up through the end of January.

Any longer than that, and I'll have to dust more.

Pin It

I accumulate Christmas pins.  And earrings.  I would say collect, but I don't hunt them down on the internet or shop in stores.  I mostly find them in the thrift stores.  I've fallen in love with their charms.

My first pin was a gift from my mom when I was in 4th grade.  A Hallmark pin of the happy little snowman holding a wreath and his little redbird friend.  I was impressed that my mom trusted me a piece of jewelry I was allowed to wear to school.  (My mom is a worry-wort.)  In high school, I got a few more as gifts-- teddy bears, enamel bells, and some Christmas earrings.  In college, my own Babchu bequeathed me her vintage Christmas tree pins, many she bought second-hand, too.

I finally realized that I needed a storage system.  The red box worked for many years holding everything; it swings open with four trays (that once held treats.)  Those boxes from the Santa Shoppe?  They have allowed me to easily see all of my earrings and tree pins.

My kids have taught me that life is too fun to wear boring socks.  I have a tin of Christmas socks.  Next year I plan to tote the purse my mom passed on to me.

Y'all, when I "deck," I "deck."

(Well, not all-out.  I'm rather picky with my sweaters......)

Avalanche!

My poor kids have it so, so rough.  They "had Christmas" with their dad's family in Ft. Payne on December 19.  They "had Christmas" from Santa at their dad's house on Christmas Day.  They "had Christmas" with my mom and brother in Decatur on December 26.  They "had Christmas" at our house on December 27.

Tons of stuff.

I'm grateful.  I'm grateful that the kids are so loved that they lack for nothing, even for things they don't know they want yet.

But, oh my! What a pile.....

Two Turtle Doves

If you count, today is the "Second Day of Christmas."

"Two Turtle Doves" you know.

So, Hallmark started a new "12 Day of Christmas" ornament series five years ago.  Carl's and my first Christmas was the second year of the series, and I just HAD to get the ornament for him.

He loved it!

(Even after I wrapped it in at least seven layers of papered boxes.  Which I did just to "grinch" him; he was proud of his impatience with waiting to open presents.)

We keep it out year-round, as I've mentioned before.

Our next year, we got lucky.  Hallmark re-issued "Day 1" and "Day 2" as a two ornament set for those late to the carol.  So I purchased the set and "Day 3."  We're caught up and I have a separate ornament just for Christmas.

I enjoy giving my family at least one ornament every year, and they enjoy getting them.  For Carl, it's the "12 Days of Christmas."  For MLB, it's the "Season's Treatings."  For DLG, it's "Making Memories."  I've been collecting, for myself, the "Commemorative Glass Ball" and the "North Pole Helpers."  I use great restraint to keep my additional purchases to less than ten more ornaments.

But this post is about two sweet little birds with sheet-music wings.

On the Feast of Stephen

My daddy would have turned 75 today.

I still miss him.

Year and a half, and I do miss him.  I have to accept he lived his life the way he wanted, and if that meant dying sooner than I would have liked, well....    I remember and cherish all that was wonderful and amazing and loving about him.  What was fallible and fragile about him, however, I won't forget.  I won't forget, because it helps me continue to grow into the better person he hoped for me to be.

My daddy would have turned 75 today.

Carl & I & the kids drove over to my mom's house to "have" Christmas. Wow! my mom & my brother spoiled the kids.  I built a tower of gifts around me as they opened them.  My dad would have enjoyed watching them.  We ate "finger" foods like cheese and crackers, but not any cheese and crackers; even trying to do "simple," my mom served baked brie and gourmet crackers.  She made mimosas.  In memory of my dad, a tumbler half-filled with bourbon was at the head of the table.

My daddy would have turned 75 today.

While the kids played, my mom pulled out a DVD of our "old home movies."  I hardly saw my dad in any of them; he was the guy with the 8mm camera.  Even with him "missing" from the reels, I knew it was him with the camera.  He not only would film people, he'd film the scene. Many of the movies were from Christmases, and there were almost as many frames of the tree and the china and the furniture.

My daddy would have turned 75 today.

My mom would make a big deal of his birthday, since it falls the day after Christmas-- laments about him not getting a cake or presents as a kid. (His sister said otherwise, and my dad admitted it, but it made my mom happy to make a fuss over him.)  If we couldn't be there on Christmas, she wanted us there on the 26th.  She'd make him a cake he liked-- Carrot cake, German chocolate, Italian cream (things my brother wouldn't eat.)

My daddy would have turned 75 today.

He loved Christmas!  My mom loves the decorating and the cooking and the presents.  My dad loved the enjoyment.  My mom would make special foods, and he enjoyed eating them.  He enjoyed hearing people compliment her cooking.  He enjoyed watching us open the gifts.  My dad never wanted anything special for gifts; practical things like socks or wood glue made him content.  But my dad was a great present selector!  He wrapped them perfectly... or deceptively......  He enjoyed the music the best, and would sing with joy.  My dad had a strong and beautiful voice, and he gladly shared with everyone.  But mostly, he enjoyed the wonder and joy of KIDS at Christmas.  We tease my mom about "loving" her grandkids more than her kids.  But in his less-over-the-top manner, my dad adored and cherished his grandkids as much.  He was happy with them sitting his lap.  If the baby was fighting sleep, his warm embrace and his warm voice lulled them.

My daddy would have turned 75 today.

I'm afraid that my kids won't remember him.  I hope I have enough pictures and memories to remind them (especially for DLG) of their precious, short time with their Paw-Paw.

My daddy would have turned 75 today.

I love you, Daddy.

Merry Christmas!

We are waiting to "have Christmas" when the kids are back with us.

My Carl is a love, and gave me my special gift today.....

Hmmmm....
small artisan box....
Le Real......
le animale....

artisan bag....
is that a cat.....

No!!!
Not a cat!
A rabbit!
Not just ANY bunny......

My very own
REAL
Velveteen Rabbit!

Do you see
how he dances
for joy!

When the fairy
kissed him for
the last time,
he became real.








He loves me.  My husband "gets" me and he so truly loves me.  We are real.

All Is Calm. But Not Quite So Bright.

This year the kids are spending Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with their dad.

It's only fair.

Our first year separated, I stayed overnight on the sofa.  Scott sang at the night Mass, and I was there for the kids, and shared their joy in the morning.  The next year, Scott sang as usual, but the kids stayed with me at my house; oh, the joy Carl had in being a part of a kid Christmas!!  Later, Scott came to get them for Christmas at his house.  And last year, we did the same, but sadly Carl was flirting with pneumonia, and so HEMSI's "sleigh" carted him off to the ER for breathing treatments.  The kids and I had a muted, but loving, Christmas morning before Scott came to get them earlier than planned.

But, this year, Scott wanted Santa to visit his house, and it's only fair.

It's quiet without the kids.  I have time to catch up on laundry, on blogging.

Carl and I have spent the day eating nothing but snack foods.  Can't do that around your kids.

I called, and they were happily decorating the tree, playing with their toys from Ft. Payne and planning a visit with some neighbors.

What's best for the kids, for others, that's only fair.

The kid in the manger tells us it's so.

Christmas Eve Eve

So, I offered up "50 Days of Christmas."

So, where are the other 15 days?

What happened to the last 2 weeks???

Um, life, kids and hormones?

Yeah.

(But I have the goods, they're just not committed.)