"Santa Clause is Coming To Town"

     Today is the perfect day to blog.  It is snowing outside at such a rate that I will, most likely, NOT go outside today unless for an urgent reason.  I am relieved!  Last night, around 11pm, I finished with the last little details of what was needed for the Holiday season!  Ah, such wonderful ectasy!  I got my groceries and finished getting all the presents I needed!
     Today will be a day of cleaning, laundry and organization as I prepare to have twelve people in my house, Monday night, for our Christmas dinner.  The only regret I have for this particular meal is that I will NOT be making anything from scratch.  With my family only here a short time, I wanted to take preparation down to a minumum and so the turkey will be the only thing that isn't already pre-made or "instant."  I find it sad that I got a wonderful mixer for Christmas, but I won't get to use it yet!  I am making plans to use it soon, I promise...
     The kids are all abuzz today!  With snow falling and the prospect of Santa coming to our house tonight, the children are in heightened spirits!  I am truly looking forward to placing some cookies out for Santa along with a little milk.  The stockings will be hung on the wall and the restless children will be so anxious that it may take a while to put them to sleep!  I know the feeling...last night I was so excited about FINALLY being done that I was antsy for it all to begin.  Alas, I must wait a few hours more.
     Be anxious for Santa's arrival tonight with the joy of a child.  In that same manner, be anxious for Christ's return.  Will you be on Jesus' naughty or nice list?  Remember that this is a season of presents and giving and getting, but more importantly remember that this is the time when we celebrate the birth of Christ and how, in the midst of our human chaos, came a baby.
     If you haven't seen Louie Giglio's "The Twelve Words of Christmas" video, I recommend it.  If you want, you can borrow mine.  Merry Christmas to all of you and God Bless!

Christmas Shopping and...TRON

     Okay, so yes, I went and saw the 3D version of TRON this evening and I'm left disappointed.  A) I have no idea what was really going on during the entire movie-was it a game, was it an alternate reality?  I don't know!  B) I never saw the first one so perhaps that's why I wasn't able to follow this one all that well.  C) The 3D version wasn't anything to brag about, although there was one moment, in the two hours and seven minutes that the movie lasted, that caused me to jump.  Spare yourself the money and wait for this one to come out on DVD in 2D.
     The husband and I spent a wonderful evening of pasta and shopping and, despite all the people out and about doing the same thing, we enjoyed ourselves.  What I found most amusing was how we went to Toys 'R' Us, Target and KMart and ended up buying most of the children's presents at Wal-Mart.  Amusing...
     Lastly I will leave you with the notion that I am too old to be blogging at 1:20 in the morning.  Go pick up some Milk Nog (it's healthier, LOL), slip into your snuggie, pop in "Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer" and allow the Christmas atmosphere to take you over!  Merry Christmas to all and to all a good...oh my...a good MORNING!

An Empty House

     I will be the first to admit that I have those days where you just wish the kids would stay with their grandparents and the hubby would find something else to get him away from the house so that you can, for ONCE, have some peace and quiet.  Tonight, however, is a much different story.  The hubby has to work through the night and the kids are staying with their grandparents and I find myself realizing just how empty the house can feel.  Oh, sure, I get the chance to finish up on dishes, catch up on laundry and watch a movie without a child screaming my name every five minutes, but the real teaser is that I miss the child screaming my name every five minutes.
     I guess the saying is very true then, your home is where your heart is and right now, my heart is split in two different locations.  Yes, I will enjoy the chance to do some writing or to watch that movie, but at the end of a very long day at work...I really would rather fight with the hubby than not have him home and I would rather be frustrated by the children than not have them kiss me goodnight before I turn off the lights.  *Sigh*
     So, kiss your children goodnight with a soft whisper of "I'll see you in the morning" and "have sweet dreams" and snuggle up close to that significant other because, really, your home IS where your heart is.

Movie Review and Holiday Cheer

     Since I knew that a blizzard was coming I went and rented a movie last night, "Knight and Day" starring Cameron Diaz and Tom Cruise.  At eleven at night I suppose one could call it a funny movie, but the thing that made me laugh the most was how CHEESY it was!  It was like Tom Cruise was trying to cram all of his former movies into this one and adding a little James Bond!  The only problem?  It wasn't good.  I laughed hysterically last night because of how BAD it was!  There were moments where you were like, "what just happened there?"  If you're in the mood to laugh at stupidity, then this is the movie for you.  I'm not that big a fan of Cameron Diaz either.  Yes, I enjoyed the Charlie's Angels movies, but other than that I don't think there has been one memorable movie she's been in...perhaps I'm being harsh.  Either way...I'm giving this one a thumbs down.
     This evening the family and I spent our time secluded in our living room, decorating our Christmas Tree.  We spent a great deal of time helping each other put up the lights and add each little ornament that has been collected over the years and at the end of it, the kids said "wow."  Then we spent the rest of the evening wrestling on the floor and watching  football.  To that I say, what a fantastic evening!  To be trapped inside due to such cold weather and not be at each other's throats?  Fantastic!  Even better...We had FUN!  If you're one of my Facebook friends you can check out the pictures and if you're not one of my Facebook friends my only question is to you...why not?  I'm a decent person!  LOL!
     I hope you all have a fantastic week, enjoy the pretty snow, snuggle up in a blanket with your kids or significant other, sip on some hot cocoa and relax...'Tis the Season!

New Socks

     You can't beat the feeling of a new sock, its like a cloud was wrapped around your foot!  My children felt the need to dance and kick all over the living room once their new socks were placed upon their feet.  My daughter suddenly became a ballerina and my son a ninja.  I placed on my feet the new socks and suddenly all my cares and worries in the world disappeared.  The power of a new sock!  How amazing!
    The other night I got to watch my son perform in his school Christmas program and I never laughed so hard.  Young children in a nervous situation, are somewhat hilarious to watch.  One  young child was a diva throughout all three of her songs and was dancing all over the place.  Another child was holding his private area through the entire first song until his song teacher put an end to that and then he continued through until the other two songs were complete.  Another child was frowning almost the entire time, however she did manage to sing and do all the actions.  I must admit, I laughed a great deal for that half-hour.  I was quite proud of my son who sang loudly, did all the actions and smiled.  :D  I'm so proud!
     Now on to my irritation of that evening.  The kids all sang in sets of two teachers (and there are 6 teachers/classes) and parents got up after their kid got done singing but then just STOOD there while my son got up on the risers in order to sing his songs.  I about freaked out on some people.  I do not understand how people can either be so oblivious to the situation around them, or so self important that they just don't care about anyone else!
     I always try to end on a good note, so...go buy yourself some new socks and watch as children dance and the world troubles melt away.  If you are able, watch a few episodes of "The Office" and allow yourself to laugh until your stomach hurts.  Take a bubble bath in candlelight.  Share a chocolate bar with your significant other.  In other words, have a great day people!

Put the Scrooge/Grinch away!

     Today I was wondering what I might blog about.  There were several things that crossed my mind.  First, I'm irritated that there are people out in the world who care only for themselves.  The reason this particular issue bothers me now more than ever is because "John Smith" (who shall remain anonymous) had Christmas Eve and Christmas off of work and so "John Doe" was going to have to work those days.  Now, however, "John Smith" has taken it upon himself to request even MORE days off around Christmas forcing "John Doe" to work the few days before Christmas, Christmas Eve, Christmas and the few days after!  To that I say, what on earth possesses someone to care so little for others?  Does "John Smith" not realize that he is forcing "John Doe" to forgo his Christmas with family?  I must admit, I am quite frustrated over this!
     Second, I am to confess to you that I am a Christmas present procrastinator.  I have yet to buy most of the presents that I have listed for this year.  My husband and I have an anniversary on the 22nd and so we usually wait until then to buy all of our gifts, but I am becoming a firm admirer of those people who buy their presents year 'round!  I am, however, fairly set in my ways and so I sincerely doubt that I will ever change.
     Thirdly, I am reading Jane Austen's "Pride & Prejudice" for the first time ever and I am truly amazed at how someone so young could be so gifted!  I've always loved the movie (the Keira Knightely version) but had never before taken the time to fight through the writing style that I find hard to read.  I do believe it has been much easier this time BECAUSE I have seen the movie so many times.  I find the book to be absolutely delightful and as an author myself, she is another author to look up to.
     I would like to take a moment to mention a very special cheesecake that I had last night.  A friend and fellow blogger allowed me to have some of her homemade cheesecake and I was not left wanting.  It was fabulous!
     I leave you now with a challenge: flip on those Christmas tree lights, crank up the Christmas music and begin to put the Scrooge/Grinch away.  No matter how bad your day was, you can always find wonder in Cindy Lou's innocence and a sweet reminder of love and life in the songs.  Adieu and goodnight!

"Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow"

  You will have to forgive me, but I LOVE it when it snows!  I love how everything turns to white, how Christmas songs fill your mind (and in my case, the entire inside of the car as I sing loudly to each one).  I love snow for two very particular reasons: first, I love how it makes you feel like Christmas is just around the corner and it always heightens my mood.  I'm sure I irritated many co-workers today with my bubbly attitude which, as a rule, should never be displayed on a Monday.  Second, it reminds me that my sins have been cleared and are now as white as the snow.  In the same way that all the brown leaves and grass are covered by a silk white blanket, so too are my sins now covered completely until I sparkle and shine in reflection of the Son!
  You may not like it so much, the cold and the shoveling, but its hard to deny the absolute beauty of a first snow layering the ground and making everything seem so much more beautiful!  So, "let it snow, let it snow, let it snow"!

Driving...me mad!

  I feel that now is the time of year when one should begin to complain about how many people are out shopping for Christmas presents and how they all seem to lack any driving skills or politeness.  I live in a smaller town and so when I go to "the big city" to buy presents I find that most people have forgotten how to drive their cars properly.  I am astounded at how red lights suddenly mean "speed through quickly" and how the fast lane has really turned into the lane for the people who want to no longer wait patiently and feel they can push their tin can of car into the busied lane on the left farther up ahead.  More irritating than those people who actually do THAT are the people who let them through and hold up the line for the rest of us TRYING to wait patiently.  I find that having a Blackberry now keeps me entertained enough that I don't mind the wait as much as I used to.  I am also confused by the weird notion of waiting in a parking lot for someone to pull out.  I've seen cars actually following people coming out of the store so that they can have their parking spot when they leave.  I'm pretty sure that constitutes stalking in some states...
  The other issue of driving is really more about parking.  I have no idea why mother's who are picking up their children from the local kindergarten need to be so frustrating.  They park in weird spots, blocking the "drive-through" access provided by the school.  Now, I want to get my kid as much as the next mom, but even I wouldn't park my car in the middle of the lane, get out and walk off while other cars who are wanting to DRIVE THROUGH are right behind you!  To those parents I want to say, REALLY?  I mean, REALLY?  What lesson are you teaching your children?  Screw everyone else as long as I get that spot I was really after!  UGH!
  I feel it only fair to say that I've done all the stupid things I've mentioned here one time or another and so am not completely innocent of all these charges, but this is the Christmas season...so to all I say, remember this is a time for giving and so be willing to give up that prime spot, do a little more walking and please don't run over my child in anticipation of picking up your own.

The Victoria Secret Fashion Show

  Okay, first I think I should start by welcoming you to the very first blog in my twenty-seven year existence.  I know, I know, I'm behind the times.  Still...here we go!
  I watched the Victoria Secret Fashion Show the other night on T.V. and was humbly surprised at how fit the women are!  The old idea of them being anorexic (although, there could still be some debate on that) is mostly out the window as I saw several athletic figures taking the runway.  I was quite impressed at how muscular (versus just being skinny) they really were, so I wanted to give my first blog as a KUDOS to the people at Victoria Secret and the models that walk for them...I enjoyed watching the show and felt no horror at their appearance.  The only thing I wonder is "why such elaborate underwear"?  I seriously doubt my husband would want me to show up to bed with skimpy underwear and a GIANT pair of wings...the underwear yes, the wings no.  Whatever happened to a simple black matched bra and panties?
  So, there you have it, my first blog!  Stay tuned because, trust me, I have many opinions!