I can't believe the nerve I have to actually blog with so much to do. Funny, it seems like the earlier you start to prepare for the big day, the more you expect yourself to do...the pressure we put on ourselves ! Especially us women, I think men just show up for the holidays. They have no idea all that is involved...the cooking, baking, shopping, card writting, etc.
I saw a woman today by the side of the road, she ran out of gas. Now when is the last time you saw someone run out of gas ? I just watched a show last week saying, when you gas tank says E you usually have a good 30-50 miles to go before running out.
I bet she blames her husband...I do too. She simply had too much to do ! lol
After actually having an argument with CH last night about making cookies, I took a break from my self induced sweat shop. You cannot even imagine how many cookies I have baked...all spritz cookies but some with red sprinkles, some with green, some with chocolate, some with chocolate kisses, some tree shaped, some that turned out looking like a penis....
I must give a shout out to the Cookie Pro Ultra II !
After four days of none stop cookie making my husband started looking at me weird and asking strange questions...are you almost done ? how many are you going to make ? who are all of these cookies for ? does your sister do this too ? is it a family thing ? have you been taking your meds ?
Okay, okay....tonight I took a bath, had a glass of red wine and read my new library books on Buddhism and Tao....oh and I took my notepad and pen to make more lists to check twice in the tub.
Tomorrow the sweat shop will re-open for business.
As a true Capricorn girl, I will do what I do best....I make lists and notes.
Here is what Lucy has been doing lately in a listly manner.
1 - Making cookies
2 - Sending out Christmas cards....over 100.
Years ago I use to send out so many cards but as the years wore the number became less and less for various reasons.
This year I said to myself I will send out 100 and guess what ? I did. I surprised myself that I actually knew 100 people..considering I was a hermit for years.
3 - It's not too late you can do it too....and write something personal in each one...thank someone.
(teachers, neighbors, people you have not spoken to in years because of a fight, people you have not spoken to in years because you simply lost touch, service people who take care of you...mailman, nail salon, church, library, school bus drivers, ex-relatives, ex-boyfriends or girlfriends, friends of friends)
Just sit and make a list of who ever pops into your head.
I lost my address book, so I had nothing to go on.....and here I am over 100 cards later.
Let me give you an example....I sent one to my ex-in-laws in Fl. I think when they see the envelope they may call the reserves in. I actually wrote a note saying thank you. I was young and didn't appreciate everything you did.
If you can't bring yourself to reach out to certain people, offer up a prayer for 2008...
4 - Visit your library...with the internet, no one visits the library any more. Everything we need to know is right at our fingertips. I go once a week now. Nothing like sampling a book before buying it !
5 - I grabbed my three neices and my son and over the river and through the woods to Grandpa's house we went. My father has not celebrated Christmas in many many years...sickness and depression set in quite awhile ago.
I remember my father being a very hard man growing up, but he always softened up around the holidays. He made them very special. He videotaped each moment with music playing in the background. Thanks to him, I have childhood memories to show my own children.
I had a well thought out plan...we will surprise him, we will start out Christmas caroling at his door and bring in a tree and make cookies and listen to Christmas songs and eat pizza....oh my !
Well, by the end of the night, one of my neices was crying, I had a bruise on my leg and limping, my son was crying, the house was a mess, I ate too much pizza, the kids had too much sugar and my father had mounds of tinsel on his head as he sat helpless in his wheel chair.
I read today in a book...."never assume or expect ANYTHING from children to go as planned. When you do so you will be disappointed...why ? Because that means you don't love them unconditionally......"
Ah.....why didn't I read this YEARS ago ! So true !
How many times have I cried because my I set myself up for a perfect day, time or event with my older children and they had other plans ?
I remember taking my daughters to the Atlantis in the Bahamas years ago and flipping out on them because on top of swimming with the dolphins they wanted to ride one which cost a lot more than I had.
Geez...take a chill pill lady, they are kids ! But in my mind, I was thinking how dare them, these ungrateful children ! lol
Children is the operative word here....
6 - Everything is overwhelming these next few days...take a break.
Do the bath thing but leave your note pad and pen outside the locked door..it will all get done.
7 - I have learned about Hannukah....my son asked me what it was and I was ashamed not to really know...off to the library we went.
The next day we made clay Dreidels and lit the Menorah. I believe all Christians should do this...after all we all started out as Jewish, right ?
Today among checking out more Christmas books for my son, I picked up Kwaanza books.
I asked two librarians to display their collection of Kwaaza books along with the Hanukah and Christmas books they have out.
8 - My New Year's resolution is to devote one entire year of learning about a new religion or thought...each year I will choose a new one to study..it's a grand idea, I know, but I am going to try.
I am thinking of Taoism first.
What a peaceful world we would have if everyone did that ....
I think understanding and tolerance is the first step towards peace.
9 - As an amendum to my previous post, my mother stopped by yesterday with a bag of books...now how funny is that ?
I am ahead by about 8 books !
Give a book away today get two in return....!
I am still re-reading The Simple Abundance Daily Gratitude Book (shout out to June again) and Marianne Williamson's A Return To Love. I have put stars and underlined many things to talk about with you all this coming year...
These two books and Eat, Pray, Love are some of my favorites.
I spoke to Biggie T on the phone last week and he bought Eat, Pray, Love but hasn't had a chance to read it yet. I told him the book is a gift you give yourself and to read it slowly and absorb and ENJOY the book.
My birthday is January 15, the same as Martin Luther King's birthday (love him...) so he promised to start it that day. If you haven't started it, think about starting that day too.
10 - Look around your home....is it in holiday overload ? Too many lights, too many plastic things ?
Give something away....something you love, to someone who may be sick, depressed, lonely, lack of money or newly married....someone who just moved out on their own perhaps.
Believe me, they will love anything you give them...
11 - Please don't forget Toys for Tots and your local food pantry.
Trust me, we are broke and living pay check to pay check but remember there is always someone who has it worse.
Pluse if you have children or grandchildren it is a wonderful lesson to teach them. I am surprised my daughters remember volunteering with me at a woman's shelter. I had to show these spoiled girls how unfortunate some women and children are....(GET AN EDUCATION GIRLS !!!)
12 - Donate blood....I was actually rejected because my iron was low but I am planning on going the beginning of the year and also testing my bone marrow (it's just a mouth swab)...
I was so disappointed to not be able to donate blood. The nurse runs a blood bank in our town (who knew ??) and assured me that blood is a GIFT to give this holiday season....you may save a life...or even a baby's life !
13 - Anyone have a suggestion as to how to help veterans or our troops ?
14 - With charity we sometimes feel overwhelmed....which one to give to, how much, does the money really go to where it is supposed to ?
Give five dollars....it will mean a lot to someone....and you will never miss it.
15 - I am working on my meditation and prayer....I can't begin to tell you how much it has changed my life...
16 - PS - My son is five...he says 'poopie' all day. No kidding, like 100 times !
What is with boys ??? lol
How was school ? POOPIE What do you want for lunch ? POOPIE...
And not five minutes ago I find myself singing, "if you're POOPIE and you know it clap your hands...?????"
Today we were at the post office. I turn around and he is lying on the floor. What posses a boy to do that ?
A cold and dirty floor...oooh, looks comfy...I think I wil lie down ! lol
17 - We find friends, good friends in the strangest places. As I said above, I lost my phone book. I lost contact with a friend of mine who moved out of state....how did we become friends ? I briefly dated her boss, she was his secretary. The relationship did not work out, but I continued to call his job to speak to her...love her.
As I lost my phone book, Saloma was going through brain surgery. I had no idea...my poor sweet Saloma who could have used a friend. Thank God she is okay...
18 - My husband and I were half watching a new game show on tv...the question was "What color eyes does George W. Bush have?"...my husband guessed brown, I guessed blue. With that my son proclaimed, I know, I know...he has RED eyes....lol !!
Love Lucy
