Er, Happy New Year’s Eve, at least!

I’m looking forward to a light-hearted evening that will hopefully include some good conversation and lots of laughs, just not at my expense. We’ll have food, games, family and beer…

And… OH the BEER.

Thanks to an awesome Christmas present from my mother, I am now the proud co-owner of a kegerator and keg of Triple Hop Red from Lengthwise. Yippee!!!!

At midnight we’ll whip out the champagne and sparkling cider to wish everyone a Happy New Year and then sing Happy Birthday to Maggie. Maggs turns 4 tomorrow, I can’t believe it!

I’ve decided that I might actually make one resolution this year. More on that later… right into the mix with the other nine million posts about New Year’s and resolutions.

My Christmas stuff is still out. Although, it might come down tomorrow, ok, Wednesday at the absolute latest. I spent most of yesterday in bed with a migraine and come to think of it, the last few days has been just about the same. I’m going to assume it is “end of the year burnout” that will subside as soon as 2008 gets underway. God help me if that isn’t the case, I might finally lose it. (Not that I have much left to lose anyway)

So, as I mentioned - we have a kegerator now. My husband has wanted one since he was fifteen. This means that our garage has been converted into a testosterone filled clubhouse complete with a drum set, darts, afore mentioned kegerator, fishing equipment and, of course, the obligatory power tools.

Oh and cigars. But, he doesn’t keep those out there. Needless to say that for the last two nights the garage has been filled with cigar smoke, noise, and Mike worshiping at the alter of the kegerator. It’s enough to bring a tear to your eye… the cigar smoke that is.

Not that I haven’t imbibed. I just prefer to do so at a cool microbrewery or restaurant with comfortable seats and great appetizers. If I enjoy beer at home I really prefer the deck or some other comfy spot that I can curl up with a magazine or new catalog, but not a smoke filled garage with classic concert posters (Ted Nugent, KISS, Black Sabbath) pinned on the walls and oh-so carefully highlighted by the soft glow of a fully-functioning lava lamp and the kids taking turns banging the living hell out of the drums. Actually, the term “kids” would also include my husband.

Anyway, think of me tonight knowing that I will be resisting being dragged into the smoke filled cave of “those who have penises or at least claim to.” After all, I’ll be thinking of you and hoping that you have a wonderful New Year’s Eve and a kick-ass start to 2008 that hopefully doesn’t include someone trying to drag you into a smoke filled cave to drink beer while having your eardrums bludgeoned to death. Unless, of course, you’re in to that sort of thing.

Oooo, there, I finally posted a nasty title.

And, I MEAN it too.

What has gotten into girls lately? Are moms not doing their jobs? Dads? Someone? Helloooooo?

My brother asked a girl to the winter formal - as a FRIEND. Not as a ROMANTIC DATE. A FRIEND. She’s a senior and has never gone to the formal the ENTIRE TIME SHE HAS BEEN IN HIGH SCHOOL.

And, my brother went and asked her out - simply because he didn’t want her senior year let alone her entire high school career to go by without her having the opportunity to attend the formal.

Seriously… LOOK at this guy:

He’s GORGEOUS… is he not?

Want to know what happened? One MONTH later… just two WEEKS before the formal (ok 2 1/2 weeks, but who is counting, right?) - she calls him up to break the date so she can go with HER FRIENDS.

Because… as all of us “grown ups” know, nothing says “I am woman, hear me roar with my other GIRL friends and uh, no MALE date” like showing up with all of your friends and standing up against the wall during all the slow dances like a scene cut from “Pretty in Pink”.

Yes, I’m nasty. But, SERIOUSLY… my brother could have gone with a very nice, very pretty, very good friend. Instead he chose to do something NICE for someone else… WTF is WRONG with this world?

Ok, I know there are some girls out here who occasionally read my blog… if you are reading this now… what are your thoughts on it? Hmmm? Seriously? Is this the way things are done now? Am I just embarrassingly out of the loop?

Yeah, it’s my brother… I’m a bit defensive. But, that doesn’t excuse bad manners any day.

Purging here, folks.

Ethan’s lovely girlfriend, Julie, has been stopping by in the mornings since the onset of Christmas break. I am so happy for them that they can steal a few quiet moments together. What I am not happy about is that typically I will interrupt their quiet time as I come barreling through the room with many thoughts of begging, cajoling, and bribing my son to make coffee. I’ll bust into the room (the family room) and they’ll be enjoying an episode of The Office on DVD and there I am in all of my “just woke up and stumbled down the stairs with my hair in embarrassing mushes and spikes” glory. Awful! Embarrassing!!!! Eeeeeek!!!!

I wish, sometimes, that I were more like my mother. Out of bed, shower, make up, perfectly coordinated outfit, blah blah. Except, I like taking showers at night, it relaxes me. And, I don’t wake up quickly enough to really desire make-up and a coordinated outfit. Oh, how I wish I could be a semi-June Cleaver. It’s just not me. I have several pairs of funky pajama pants that I adore. I love to wear them with matching knit, tunic tops. If I have work to do, I’d rather be comfortable and caffeinated rather than make-upped and coordinated. Although, for the record, I would never leave the house like this!

This morning I stumbled down the stairs to oooh and aaaaah over Julie’s GORGEOUS formal dress, it’s soooo retro and silver and beautiful! And after she left I noticed I had giant lint balls on my shirt because I was in a hurry (due to a desperate need for coffee) and grabbed the navy blue shirt that had been hanging in the laundry room.

After Julie left I apologized to Ethan profusely. Not that I’m totally kissing his ass… it’s just I have this one wall that I really want painted this week…

We took five days off for Christmas spent 4 of them running our asses off like crack addicted monkeys and then crashed hard the day after Christmas. I think I slept until 2 in the afternoon and went back to bed around 8pm.

The thing is, I’m STILL exhausted. I’m burned out. My mom had offered to send us on a trip right after Christmas and the way I am feeling right now, I couldn’t be more happy about turning her down on that one.

Christmas was quiet, low key and very quiet. I’d love to regale you with wonderful, warm, heart-felt stories, but quiet frankly, I’m at a complete loss. Just feel very relieved that I am not telling you all about how a certain unidentified child forgot three Christmas presents at home that were supposed to be taken to my mother’s on Christmas Eve, or how when a certain husband and son went home to retrieve the three presents they only came back with one, or how I ruined the monkey bread this year by trying to jazz it up with orange zest, or how I didn’t see my sister on Christmas Eve but she was kind enough to pop by for twenty minutes on Christmas day.

See what I’m saying? You aren’t missing out on much.

At the moment I have two twelve year old girls running amuck, a nearly 4 year old trying to keep up with them, a 16 year old who is currently stomping on my last nerve by playing the drums in the garage for hours on end, and a wicked case of heartburn complete with intermittent vurps. Not to mention that I am now back to work to try to tie up a few loose ends before embarking on another 4 days off where I will attempt to put together a birthday party for Maggie who turns 4 on New Year’s day.

Bring on the freakin’ New Year because this one, so far, is not ending on a particularly high note.

Come and gather around at the table
In the spirit of family and friends
And well all join hands and remember this moment
til the season comes round again

Lets all try to smile for the picture
And well hold it as long as we can
May it carry us through
Should we ever get lonely
til the season comes round again

May the new year be blessed
With good tidings
til the next time I see you again
If we must say goodbye
Let the spirit go with you
til the season comes round again

One night holy and bright
Shining with love from our hearts
By a warm fire,
Lets lift our heads high
And be thankful were here
til this time next year

May the new year be blessed with good tidings
til the next time I see you again
If we must say goodbye
Let the spirit go with you
And well love and well laugh
In the time that we had
til the season comes round again

lyrics by Amy Grant

Merry Christmas All!!!

Twinkling lights
A chill is in the air
And carols everywhere
Close your eyes, its almost here
Candles and cards
And favorite movie scenes
The smell of evergreen
As special as its always been
And I have a dream or two
Maybe they will come true

Setting our hopes on a big snow tonight
Well wake up to a world of white
Its gonna be a Christmas to remember
Light up the fire, play some nat king cole
Always sentimental and don’t you know that
Its gonna be a Christmas to remember

I know its true
Time doesn’t stand still
Many things can change
But we know some things never will
The memories we share
The songs we always sing
The mystery of life
The hopefulness this season brings
And I have a dream or two
Maybe they will come true

Setting our hopes on a big snow tonight
Well wake up to a world of white
Its gonna be a Christmas to remember
Light up the fire, play some nat king cole
Always sentimental and dont you know that
Its gonna be a Christmas to remember

- Amy Grant

It was not until I had children of my own that a story I had heard for years began touching me in a very personal way. It’s lovely to think of Three Wise Men, the Angel appearing to the shepherds, and a young couple traveling far from home and unable to find a place to stay. A touching story, without a doubt.

And, whether or not this birth happened exactly on December 25th over 2,000 years ago, doesn’t matter. The historical facts of this day do not matter and certainly don’t pertain to this post or the thoughts behind it.

Crosses, torture, blood into wine, walking on water… put it aside for now. As a woman and mother I can’t help but think of something far more poignant that happened long before. The immense responsibility, obligation, and fear. Fear for herself and her child, no doubt. To this woman, first and foremost, this was her child, her baby, the fact that this child was a special child (as all mothers believe their children to be) was just added maternal pressure, no doubt.

Words from me could not begin to describe my feelings, my thoughts at this time of year, or the true very human feelings experienced by one, no doubt lonely, frightened woman on a dark night in Bethlehem so many hundreds of years ago.

Don’t take this as preaching, it’s not. It’s about womanhood and motherhood. And, I can’t help but be touched to the depths of my soul every time I hear this song.

Breath of Heaven (Mary’s Song)

I have traveled many moonless nights,
Cold and weary with a babe inside,
And I wonder what I’ve done.
Holy father you have come,
And chosen me now to carry your son.

I am waiting in a silent prayer.
I am frightened by the load I bear.
In a world as cold as stone,
Must I walk this path alone?
Be with me now.
Be with me now.

Breath of heaven,
Hold me together,
Be forever near me,
Breath of heaven.
Breath of heaven,
Lighten my darkness,
Pour over me your holiness,
For you are holy.
Breath of heaven.

Do you wonder as you watch my face,
If a wiser one should have had my place,
But I offer all I am
For the mercy of your plan.
Help me be strong.
Help me be.
Help me.

Breath of heaven,
Hold me together,
Be forever near me,
Breath of heaven.
Breath of heaven,
Lighten my darkness,
Pour over me your holiness,
For you are holy.

Breath of heaven,
Hold me together,
Be forever near me,
Breath of heaven.
Breath of heaven,
Lighten my darkness,
Pour over me your holiness,
For you are holy.
Breath of heaven.
Breath of heaven.
Breath of heaven.

This is it! Two weeks of freedom for the family! WOO HOO!!! Hit play for the explanation:

Ok, so Wednesday shopping you heard all about that… ugh. What you didn’t get to hear about is what happened Wednesday night! After the kids were in bed for the night, Mike and I ran downstairs to pull all the loot out of Mike’s truck. I kept looking up at Ethan and Kate’s windows to see if they were watching. I told Mike that I figured Ethan was watching because it wasn’t all that late and his blinds were open. Mike laughed at me.

Just about the time we got up to the door one of the toys in the bags said, “Hello!” (a talking parrot), and scared the hell out of both of us. At first Mike thought it was Ethan and answered back, “Hey! Jerk!”

I knew immediately what it was (even though I did jump) and stared at Mike wondering who he was saying hello to or uh, yelling at. He stared at me, I stared at him and then it occurred to me, he didn’t realize that there was a parrot in one of the bags. I pointed at the bag and said, “Shhh!!!”

Of course, we both started giggling hysterically and laughed all the way up the stairs while almost constantly “shushing!” each other.

After we got the parrot upstairs and hidden in the closet - twice more it said Hello! When we had to go into the closet to put more things away. It scared me twice! Damn bird! Nothing like thinking your husband’s hiking boots are talking to you!

So, the final push to Christmas continues. How ironic that this time of year somehow feels like giving birth, hmm? Still grocery shopping to do and one or two final odds and ends to pick up, but all in all the shopping is done in literally less than 48 hours. Eeeek. Next year, I don’t care what it takes… I’m doing all of my shopping ONLINE.

Actually, this little Yuletide fiasco has really made me appreciate my online shopping capabilities in a brand new way.

In other Yuletide news… I got this lovely card from my MIL

Hmmm, I wonder what she is trying to say here?

*sigh*

Okey dokey, I’ve got presents to wrap and a 5 day weekend in front of me… if I haven’t said it already here goes…

I send you all season’s greetings and my very best wishes for a warm and wonderful Christmas!

Merry Christmas!!!

Bwahahahahaha! Didja miss me yesterday? Probably not, hmmm? I was unavailable for blogging purposes yesterday because I had to actually LEAVE the house to go Christmas shopping. Not only did I have to leave the house, I also had to do about 95% of the shopping IN ONE DAY. Gah!

By the time we got home last night my head was splitting and it felt very much as if I was about to give birth through my left eyeball. I believe a more decent term might be, migraine, which started about the time I had to smile and pretend to be full of Christmas spirit while the 2nd, 5th, 10th, and 15th moron stood in front of my cart staring at a shelf and appearing to become completely catatonic.

Or OH! I love this new tactic, women who slowly walk up the MAIN aisles and then suddenly dash away from their cart and run down an aisle to grab something making you look like the grown-up version of bumper cars as you smash into her cart.

So you get the idea, right? Cool beans.

We got home, I was handed the phone the second I walked through the door, my head was still splitting and I started going through the mail where I found an envelope addressed to ME! Yay me!!! In the envelope were these:

New Snowman Earrings!!!

Are they cute or what? I :heartbeat: them.

And guess who sent them to me? Ok, don’t. I’ll tell you, none other than “Nanna” from “What’s A Nanna” although, you probably know her as Miss Britt’s mom. (I absolutely adore this woman! Seriously! She’s the BOMB!)

Between my wicked Santa socks and my new snowman earrings there is even more reason to:

Bask in my Christmas Glory, Bitches!

Apparently, this phrase of mine was well received. In fact, Chickie says that if she had done Christmas cards this year they would have looked like this:

Oops, it got cut off a bit there. Oh well, go visit Chickie’s blog to see the whole thing in all of its’ Christmas glory!

Ok, folks, you know the words… come on… sing along!

Twas the week before Christmas and all through the house… a bell was jingling on Liza’s catnip mouse.

And how could I resist sharing the joy…
with every internet girl and boy!

Bask in my Christmas glory, bitches! That’s right, baby. Those are GEN-U-INE Santa Freakin’ Claus slipper socks. Slipper socks - as in little traction things on the bottom and definitely too thick to wear with shoes.

My feet were cold and I had almost (almost) forgotten about these warm and toasty suckers. Kate and I had matching slipper socks last year for Christmas. :cheesy: She might have fed hers to the dog.

But, not me! And, when I saw how awesomely Christmas-ey they looked on me… I just HAD to take pictures. Then I strolled into the kitchen and stepped in a puddle of water on the floor in front of the coffee maker. Some anonymous person had been a little sloppy when he/she made coffee this morning!

Alas, one damp spot could not dim the shining glory that is my Santa Claus slipper socks. Nope, no sireee bob. I smiled gaily (in that jubilant Christmas sort of way) looked at the coffee pot (for there was no one here to blame) and said, “Fucker!!” but, I did it with a smile!

Then I strolled my happy ass (you stroll when you wear these socks, baby) into the office so that Mike could bask in the glory of my Christmas socks. However, the glory was wasted on his Scroogey Morning Anti-Christmas Ass for he had work to do. I did as well, but, I did it almost happily in a nearly maniacal sort of way because I was wearing my awesome Santa Claus slipper socks.