Resolutions

2010 … Where did it go?

Yeah, I’m not sure either.

Every year I make resolutions.  Some years I’m better at keeping them than others.  For example, in 1993 I resolved, along with Michael, to quit smoking cold turkey.  We did.  It stuck.  We haven’t smoked since.  In 2010 I resolved to lose the last 10 pounds … and maybe a little more … and instead I put 5 on, took 5 off, put 5 on, took 5 off.  Due to the holiday season I believe I will be starting 2011 with that extra 5.

For 2011 I am resolving not necessarily to lose weight, but to eat healthier and to train to run a 1/2 marathon.  I don’t know if I will run in an actual race, but there is a 22km trail loop that practically starts at my front door and I bike it all the time and I’d like to be able to run it.  In 2011.  Michael knows my goal and has told me he’ll do it with me.  In training I’m hoping to lose some weight.  If I don’t I’ll at least be more fit.  I can already run 10 km so I’m practically half way there.

Goals are always easier when you’ve got a team.

I am also resolving to learn a new skill.  I don’t know what the new skill is going to be yet, but I’d like it to be out of my comfort zone.  Like working with power tools …more specifically a saw.  Yup, that’s a good one.  The circular saw freaks me out.  It would be a good thing to learn to use.  I’ll think about it.

That’s pretty much it.  Nothing too steep, I don’t think.  Nothing I can’t do.

In unrelated news, back in May?  June?  July?  sometime in the nice months of 2010 I went running with  my friends Jenny, Kim and Derek, and my sister Vickey, and I came home with a blackened toenail.  The toenail is now starting to come off.  Gross.  Apparently this toenail business makes me a real runner.

Happy New Year!!

‘Twas the night before Christmas

I read this story to my children every Christmas eve ; it’s one of my favourites.  Merry Christmas from my family to yours! Ho ho ho!

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
“Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes — how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.”

Smiling is my Favourite

Some people think I don’t like the holiday season and it’s not that I don’t like it, I just hate the commercialism of it all (and all the political mumbo jumbo).  Also, I hate spending money (this is where Michael will likely snort and exclaim I never seem to have trouble).  There are things about the holidays I do enjoy.

1.  Mistletoe.  Honestly I’ll do as much kissing in my house as I please even without mistletoe hanging, but there is something romantic about the notion of it.  I also love the way the kids don’t mind getting caught under it to receive a peck on the cheek from *gasp* even a sibling!  I have plastic mistletoe and this year I found myself rather upset when I couldn’t find it.  Lucky for me on Sunday I found it right where I had left it.  Unlucky for me when I decided to hang it Michael wasn’t home.  If you need to know one thing about me, it’s that I’m clumsy.  I trip over nothing and fall like no one else can.  Because of my clumsiness I found a sturdy stool and placed it beneath the spot the mistletoe hangs each year.  I stepped up on the sturdy stool with one foot and as I lifted my other foot off the ground the sturdy stool tipped.  I fell.  Hard.  I landed in the stool, not on top of it.  Tangled.  Banged up.  Swearing.  My knee is taking a vacation from running until the bruising and swelling goes away.  My ego is fine.  When Michael got home he called me silly and inspected my knee.  He kissed it better and then he hung the mistletoe.

2.  A Christmas Carol on the radio by Charles Dickens.  It was first on the air on December 24, 1939 by the Campbell Playhouse (formerly known as The Mercury Theatre).  I just found this link with the history and a plethora of old radio shows, enjoy.  Click here.  When I was a kid and we were driving home from church we would catch part of this on the radio.  I always wished the ride home was longer so I could listen to the whole thing.

3.  Santa.  I don’t care what the truth is.  I know where the presents come from (hell, I was up until midnight wrapping last night), but Santa is real.  Have you ever seen a child’s eyes sparkle with excitement from the magic of Santa?  He’s real.  I believe.

4.  I’m not a huge fan of Christmas music.  I do like a couple songs.  Grown-Up Christmas List by Michael Bublé and The Christmas Song by a variety of people.

5.  Elf.  A couple nights ago the movie Elf was on.  I’d never seen it and hadn’t really had the desire to see it, likely because it stars Will Ferrell, and I find him to be annoying, but it was on so I left it.  I’m not here to give a movie review, but it was a genuine heartfelt, happy go lucky movie.  If you haven’t seen it, you should.  Smiling is my favourite too.

What are some of your favourites?

Deck The Holidays

It is, indeed, that time of year again … The time of year where everything is being decked out in holiday garb and the controversy begins about the political correctness of the season.

Oh joy.

Every year, without a doubt, facebook, message forums, news sources and most other media outlets are all abuzz about whether or not it’s okay for The People to wish each other a “Merry Christmas” or whether the all inclusive “Happy Holidays” is better. Not to mention those who celebrate Hanukkah, Yule and Kwanzaa.

What’s the best thing to say? Or maybe we should just screw it all and not wish anyone anything because who knows who may or may not be offended … it’s safer that way, right?

Here’s my opinion … you’ll get that a lot around here, it is my blog after all …

This season, no matter how you paint it, is about peace and harmony and love. So if you’re not Christian and someone wishes you a Merry Christmas say thank you and carry on. If you’re Christian and someone wishes you Happy Holidays say thank you and carry on. And so on and so forth.

There is a time and a place to be offended and I don’t think this is one of them.

Happy Holidays is an all encompassing term. If I say Happy Holidays to you (which is what I prefer) it’s not because I think my faith is better than yours. It’s likely because I don’t know what you celebrate. Chances are, if I do know what your faith is I will wish you a Happy What-Ever-You-Celebrate. Even then, if I wish you Happy Holidays it only means I’m wishing you peace and happiness and lots of good food and booze (unless you’re not into that).

My husband, kids and I celebrate Yule (aka Winter Solstice) in a non-traditional kind of way; we have a Yule log and tree and acknowledge the return of the Sun and give each other presents. We celebrate Christmas in a Santa kind of way; Santa brings the kids presents.  Most importantly we celebrate the season as a way to be with family and friends and reminisce about the year and just take the opportunity amongst all of life’s craziness to make time for those we love.

Frankly I don’t feel political correctness needs to come into it and I don’t think there is anything particularly politically correct (or incorrect) about saying Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah or any other faith-specific seasonal greeting.  I honestly think the only politically incorrect thing going on is the arguing about which is the better phrase to use.

With that, I wish you all peace and happiness in this wonderful holiday season.