Month: December 2007

  • Hope everyone’s Christmas was Merry

    Just a quick note. I’ve been so swamped – Duckman arrived Friday morning, we left Saturday for my parents house. They have dial up- not only that but their phone lines are ancient, so their dial up sucks for dial up. Needless to say, I don’t spend any time online at their house because it just irritates me. Christmas was wonderful and all went well. The girls were happy, we were happy, the parents and sister and niece and nephew were happy – it was all good. Lot’s to talk about, pictures of my decorations to post, and lots of catching up with my friends and subs — but can’t do it right now. Why? Well we are getting ready to leave again! That’s right. We got home last night, and leave tomorrow. We are heading North this time for some skiing with the hubby’s family. I’m looking forward to it, although I haven’t skiied in about 4 years, I’m hoping I remember how!

    One more quick note though – guess what came in the mail today?? Come on — you can do it, guess??

    That’s it!

    My California Credential! Woot. Look out APS – here I come!


    I’ll be back tonight to visit and read. Hope everyone had a great Christmas!


  • About time!

    Well things are finally starting to look up around here! I finally got my employee number. I didn’t bother to register yet because we are leaving this week end, will be gone till after the holidays and then are taking a short trip to Red River to ski before New Year’s. Besides that, the schools are on break. I’ll register over the holidays and hopefully start getting jobs right away. Goodness know we could use the money!

    So much has been going on around here — the house is a mess — with ribbons, and packages, boxes and bags. I have a ton to do in the next couple of days to be ready to leave on Saturday. We want to be there for my niece’s birthday. Shopping and cooking, wrapping and decorating, cleaning and packing, boxing and mailing — whew. Why do I love this time of year?

    You know one year I was done with EVERYTHING by the 6th of December. I think that was the best Christmas. Next year that is my goal. To be done with everything by the first week in December. That is going on my resolution list – that along with starting a Christmas savings account in January so I don’t have stretch or strain our budget at all!

    Alright, I’m off to finish up my stuff (yeah, right!) I’m going to take some pictures of my holiday decorations today or tomorrow, so those should be posted soon. Hopefully! I’ll catch up with everyone tonight, when I stop and drop — ha ha ha ha!

     

    OK, hubby sent this via email — I missed 5 – but I think a couple were trick questions!

    check it out and tell me how you did

    Christmas Carol Test

    Question of the day:

    Start early or wait till the last minute?

  • Kind of Disappointed

    I love doing my writing challenges. But I have to admit I’ve been disappointed lately. The last couple of challenges I’ve had very few comments besides my regular xanga buddies. The last two times I wasn’t even linked on featured_grownups. Well – last time I was finally linked after I sent her several messages. I guess if you don’t post right away it’s just doesn’t count. This time I didn’t even bother to message her. I don’t have the time to work that hard. I’m sure they are just as busy, but if you are going to put up a challenge… well, no matter. Tolerance and understanding are vital this time of year.

    You know what I was really most disappointed by? I went to EVERY single site on both blogrings and commented. That was a lot of time. You know the majority of those folks made no effort to return the favor. *sigh*

    One way relationships are not any fun. You just get tired of them. And boy am I tired of them. And not just the blog rings, but other relationships in my life. Especially this time of year. I give and give and give until I feel completely drained. You know when you can tell that you are in one of those relationships? When the phone rings and you cringe inside. That’s never a good sign.

    I think I will keep up with the blogrings, but only for the fun of writing on the topics. And, I don’t think I’ll bother to kill myself trying to read and comment on all the entries. Although the entries are always good, I’d rather visit my friends and they visit back!

    Good news on the credential front – You may remember when I had to call after my application was returned. Well after talking to the helpful (new best friend) at CCTC I sent it back. I sent it return receipt. After they had it for several days I called to see how things were progressing. I talked to an unfriendly lady who told me that it didn’t matter what the last girl had said, it went back to the original analyst (the one who rejected it even though I had done and included everything they had requested). I was, to say the least, very unhappy. She insisted they had certain ways of doing things. I stated “So, basically I’m just screwed right? Since I’ve done everything you guys told me too, this lady decided that what the CCTC had required of me and I had done wasn’t good enough, someone else said, no it was right, send it back to me and I’ll fix it, and that’s not good enough, so it goes back to the same lady who denied it for no apparent reason whatsoever.” She was not happy with my response, and finally I asked if there was ANYTHING at all I could do – that’s when she told me she could have my analyst call me — ummm, yeah. That would be very helpful and it would have been nice if she had suggested that 15 minutes prior. The analyst was supposed to call me that day or the next. This was on Tuesday. Well on Thursday, I get a phone message saying that the previous day my clear credential was granted.

    HAH! No wonder she couldn’t call me. She was busy fixing her mistake!

    Believe me I needed some good news this week.

     

    Question of the Day:

    What did you need  this week?

  • Challenges met

    So much going on here – some good, some bad, all emotional. Why is it that emotions seem to be so heightened at this time of year? When the time we should be holding those we care for near and dear, instead we find ourselves involved with drama and overwhelmed with tension. I know for some, this time of year isn’t a time of celebration and joy, but a time of depression and anxiety – I know that but it saddens me to have people in my life missing the wonder and joy of the Christmas season. I love Christmas. I love all the holidays, but Christmas is my favorite. I love the magic of the season. The thought that so many years ago, on one miraculous night, a babe was born who would change the world. No matter what else, no matter the financial situation, or current status of any given situation, that is enough reason to celebrate in my opinion. So tonight I won’t go into all the drama, but instead, answer the questions posed by Featured_Grownups and the Kween_of_the_Queens.

    Featured_Grownups:

    Traditions:
     
    Growing up Christmas was a special time. Christmas meant several things to me. Besides being a great gift receiving holiday, thoughts of Christmas were always tied up with images, smells, and special events. The sight of the advent wreath and the lighting of the candles. The purple decorations in the church, signaling the beginning of the advent season. The smell of fresh trees we would often cut ourselves, up in the mountains, where the snow keep them fresh and green. The cinnamon smell of Biscochitos and the rich taste of fudge. Each year we would put up the tree, Dad would do the lights, mom, my sister and I would carefully place each ornament. The ornaments were an eclectic mix of old and new, handmade and store bought. Each with a story of their own.  Although our tree never looked like those in the department stores, we loved it all the same.
     
    On Christmas Eve we would go to midnight mass. Afterwards we would come home, often mom would have posole or a pot of beans to eat with tortillas or if we were real lucky, sopapillas. That night we could open one gift, usually from an aunt or uncle (remind me to talk about this some time). Christmas morning we would wake our parents, then we could get into our stockings while the grownups got organized. Santa always left one big present, often unwrapped, under the tree. Christmas day was always a casual day, spent munching on snacks and spending time with the family.
     
    When hubby and I got married, his traditions and my traditions mixed to become our traditions. Many of them were similar. We still light the candles on our advent wreath. Hubby  does the lights on the tree, and Ducky, Squirt and I put on the decorations. Each year I buy the girls a new ornament, something that describes what they were interested in that year. Last year Squirt got a Starbucks coffee cup, and Ducky got a cell phone ornament. This year they each got a converse that they are going to paint, then we’ll add the year and their names.I like to think about them taking their ornaments to start their own Christmas decorating traditions.  We also get a new family ornament each year. Last year we got one with reindeer paddling an outrigger that had every one’s name on it and Mele Kalikimaka. We also got hubby one commemorating his years in the AF. For this year we picked up a great hot air balloon ornament at the Balloon Fiesta. We love looking at each ornament and talking about the stories. Biscochitos are a family affair (with hubby doing more than his fair share of taste testing), although this year Squirt got ambitious and made two batches solo — and dang were they good! We do Christmas baking and it still includes fudge. We still go to Midnight mass. Santa still leaves one big present.
     
    Christmas eve the girls get to open one present. In the morning they may open their stockings, but nothing else until the grown ups get it together. All the stockings always have a chocolate orange, and hubby always gets After Eight mints. Then, after we have had sufficient caffeine the mayhem may begin. A tradition that Hubby brought to the family is breakfast of “Egg in the Hole  or Toad in the Hole”. We’ve done away with Posole (never liked the stuff), but maintain the casual feeling of the day.
     
    Christmas is one of those holidays that just begs for loads and loads of traditions, but the ones I am most connected with are those that bring my family together. Whether it be baking, decorating, praying, or giving, as long as we are together, and recognize the magic inherent in the season, any tradition is good with me.
     
    Kween_of_the_Queens
     
    Letter to Santa:
     
    Dear Santa,
     
    I know that I’ve pushed the boundaries of nice this year. While I take responsibility for my behavior and my actions, I hope that you consider the mitigating factors of hormones that drive me to be completely irrational, emotional and unpredictable at times. I’ve tried to control this to the best of my ability, but when it’s 37 degrees outside and I’m still sleeping with no covers, I’m sure you can understand the stress of that! I have been a good girl for most of the time and hope you’ll find the good outweighs the bad.
     
    I don’t want much for Christmas. Oh sure I’d love lots and lots of lovely goodies like a kitchenaide mixer, or better yet a house of our own. But what I’m asking for this year is much bigger than that.
     
    While I recognize that the world has many problems, and their are many folks out there who desperately need help, I’m going to ask that  you grant my family some peace this Christmas season. There is so much hurt and worry, fear and anger, heartache and love right now in my family. Tears are not good for Christmas, and I hope that you can find a way to help us heal and find some peace. That is what I want more than anything else in the world right now.
     
    Thanks Santa, and have a very Merry Christmas!
     
    P.S. – A winning lottery ticket wouldn’t hurt.

  • An Amazing Night

    TSO was totally amazing! I loved it and so did Hubby and the girls. We had a nice drive up, followed by a pleasant dinner with Hubby’s boss and his wife, son and son’s girlfriend. Then we all headed to see the show – the 8 of us along with Mother and sister in law and nephew. We had decent seats, not fantastic,but not shabby. Way up though, on the side. We had a great view though – and the show was absolutely amazing! What a treat!

    The following day we stayed for Nephew’s HS graduation (he attended an alternative HS and they have graduations quarterly). Then we went out to lunch and headed back home. That was a long drive. It’s not a bad trip, but to go up and back overnight is a lot of time in the car. We (especially me) were all grumpy by the time we got back.

    Since then we’ve been shopping, decorating and baking. We made fudge, apple cake and magic cookie bars. Actually we’re on the second pan of those as Merry found that jumping on top of a glass dish on melamine counter top cause one to surf the pan right to the floor. She also learned that glass pans hitting the floor at the speed of light causes them to shatter into miniature pieces. Then mommy gets mad, gets the broom and dustpan and the vacuum out and from then on kitties are no longer allowed on counters. These are actually the first cats we’ve ever allowed on the counters, and I’ve never really liked it. Unfortunately it was the only place they had to get away from Rasha back in HI, but here there’s lots of places to get out of reach, so no need for counters. They are learning brand new rules and they don’t really understand, but they’ll adapt.

    I went down to APS again today, and again they told me it would just be a day or two. Yeah, right. I don’t even want to discuss it. I’m tired of hearing about it myself. So … moving on.

    I’m still wanting to do the challenges for Kween_of_the_Queens and Featured_Grownups but it’s just going to have to wait. I just wanted to update everyone so that no one thought I fell of the earth. It snowed yesterday. I love having four seasons. I hope that we have a white Christmas!

    Here’s something for you to enjoy – a taste of what a great show we had!

  • Tis the Season

    Who know’s where thoughts come from? They just appear.

                                                                              ~ Lucas, Empire Records (1995)

    We’ve been busy, busy, buys – as I’m sure most folks are this time of year. Even those that don’t celebrate any holidays are involved of end of year craziness in their businesses and lives. For me the last week has been a whirlwind of constant nonstop activity. This has included decorating: inside and out, shopping, cleaning (as always – ack, it’s a never ending scenario, I clean it gets dirty, I clean it gets dirty — dang it all where will it end!!!!!!) and helping Squirt get ready for her Musical Theater performance. She’s really amped up. They are doing a musical revue — songs from Sound of Music, Grease, Hairspray and I don’t know what else. It should be good. I’m taking my camcorder — woo hoo!

    Still have some decorating to do, but it’s going to have to wait until we get back. That’s right, tomorrow I’m excited to announce we will be heading to CO to see Trans Siberian Orchestra in concert. I LOVE their music. My favorite song is An Angel Returned off of Christmas Eve and Other Stories. It’s excellent and if you haven’t heard it you should find it and listen to it! Warning: if you are even somewhat emotional, be prepared with kleenex.

    The following day we will attend the nephew’s graduation. Then the long drive back so kids can get to school on Friday. That should be fun……. hah!

    This weekend I plan on breaking out the baking supplies and filling the house with enough Christmas goodies to keep us all pleasantly plump.

    I’ve been talking to a lifelong friend, he actually left a comment on the last entry. He’s been giving me some advice – bullying me really – about what to do regarding teaching. See, I’m so frustrated I’ve been thinking of leaving teaching. One of the things he suggested was I make a list of dreams or goals for myself. I answered I already knew what would be at the top of the list. He wanted to know what that was, and now, he’s hounding me about it — that’s what I get for telling secrets! So I’m thinking about it. Pretty seriously. We’ll see what happens. Until then I’ll keep plugging away — working on getting on job to fund my other goals.

    I’ve been too busy to do any writing challenges, but both the Kween and Featured_Grownups have great ones posted. Hopefully I’ll get to those soon! Stop by those sites if you get a chance and check them out. OK, I’m off, have to get all the photographic and video equipment ready for tonight. Have a great one everybody!

    Question of the day:

    What’s you favorite Holiday Song and why?