Making A List, Checking It At Least Twice!

I forgot to mention, in my last post, that I'm also managing the Advent calendar by myself this year.  Usually, we take turns adding ornaments, but it's just too much hassle each day trying to get everyone to appreciate the holiday spirit and be part of the festivities for 25 days straight.  Works better when I can offer holiday "spirits," to get chores done, and that just doesn't seem right at 8:00 a.m.

We have an advent calendar that my mother made for the boys when they were little.  It's sort of like the one pictured here, but a little worn and some of the ornaments have broken a bit.  And, each ornament has a safety pin that holds it to the tree.  In an attempt to make it look "clean," I pin from the back.  A nicer look, but as of day 20, today, I have pricked my finger at least 20 times trying to get the darned things attached to the calendar.  "Sigh," it's tradition. I would have taken a picture of ours, but the camera batteries died after it was left on all night.  I went to use the battery charger.  That had burnt out, due to whatever short has taken place in the outside lights.

Speaking of the outside lights, I did manage to take the whole light unit apart only to find that it's just fine...must be something with one of the strings.  I was able to put a red light bulb in the unit, so at least we have some light at the entrance and left the strings unplugged, until I can get time to check them out.  I had forgotten the reference of a red light at the entrance to some.  I find that a number of cars slow down as they go by the house; several police vehicles included, who seem to peer diligently as they pass.

Anyway, here's what the house looks like now, on the left (sort of).  Festive, right?  Hopefully, we'll have some bright, multi-colored, lights going again soon.

The Christmas cards, you ask!

Yes, we did a marathon writing and signing, trying to personalize each card, and then addressed, stuffed with our annual newsletter, licked shut, stamped, and sticking a seasonal seal on the back.  Several cards had to be reopened, as by the time we got around to doing some of the "extra" work with each card, we forgot who to address them to.

But here they are, ready to be mailed.  The wife loves mail!

Hmmmm...guess I forgot that step...oh well, there's always tomorrow.  Does anyone know if the Post Office is guaranteeing next day delivery for regular mail?

Tomorrow is an important day.  First day of winter, Mayan collapse day, shortest day of the year, and the day I take cookies to work.  That marathon "wrapping of the cookies" took place last night.  Last Sunday, I made the cookie dough.  Monday, I rolled it all out and using my Christmas cookie cutters, I cut and baked 97 dozen cookies.  Yep, 1164 cookies that made it to the oven...probably lost another dozen in process, but it is a family Christmas record.  Took a breather for a couple of days to go to work (to pay for all of this and more) and then last night started the decorating process.

All of the cookies get laid out on tables, I mix the icing, bag it, squeeze it, try to make some sort of lines on each that looks like something.  Using red and green frosting helps...solves about 90% of the holiday guessing.  Is that a Christmas cookie?  It's red and green...must be.  I work off the abstract method of icing; sort of follow the lines, squiggle here and there...makes for a quick event...got them all done inside of four hours.


Here are some pictures of that event.

Tonight, I wrapped cookies by the dozen in baggies and tied with string to take to work as gifts.  I will sit in front of each recipient and make sure they eat them.

After all of the hard work I put into them, I want to be sure they enjoy them, as I stare at them intently and keep asking them if they like them!

It's really not a holiday without some pressure, you know.

Four days before the eve and I'm trying to think what else needs to be done.  If I get those cards out and fix those lights...oh yeah, the tree!  We got it up off the street and into the house and it's standing up!!!  I have an hour or so before bedtime tonight, maybe I can get some lights on it (if I can find them and they still work!).

We are actually planning on decorating it by week's end.  We have to plan to do it, or come Tuesday why bother?  I could just drag it out on the deck, at that point, and hang bird seed bells from it and let nature take it's course...there's a thought.

Still, something missing.

Shopping!!!  I guess there are folks here who are expecting gifts.  Bummer.

You see, that's one thing that's wrong with Christmas.  People expect me to buy them gifts.  Isn't it better to give than receive?  I am ready, willing and able to receive to make the holiday more meaningful for others who want to give and who will benefit from that process.

Okay, guess the stores will be open 24/7, for the next few days, and I do have one day off between now and the holiday.  I'm sure I can find that one perfect gift for each person inside of eight hours.  Haven't failed yet (or at least I haven't been told that I have) over all the years.

Guess I should go attend to something on what is now a long list of need to do!  Might have two of those checked off???

 I'll let you know how things work out in a few days.

Merry Christmas!

Hole For The Holidays!

Our good friend Phil has become an artist.  Actually, he performed one type of art for many years teaching at an elementary school, where he turned young minds on to all sorts of life enhancing skills.  Now he has taken that talent and turned it towards the light...well, more like lights and bottles.

Today, he sent me his first You Tube production and I have to share it with you.  I told him that I'm thinking documentary Oscar, if not a Cecil B. DeMille creativity award.  You be the judge.

What you'll see herein are the basics for turning those empty bottles into functional works of art.  We should take a short break here for a moment of silence for empties.

With his new-found technical abilities, Phil cuts through glass with laser precision.  Correct that, diamond tipped precision.

In the video at the bottom of this page, you'll see references to many classics, I think, including a tribute to "Thing," from the Addams Family series of adventures.  "The Operator," as I refer to him, takes on the visage of this famed one handed hand, and turns it into a touching moment...he touches the bottle.  Although you may not know it, along with being the star, "The Operator" is the producer, director, creative designer and more. 

I should probably share our correspondence, prior to your viewing of the instructional film.

December 17, 11:42 a.m.  From Phil

Subject: My You Tube Video

Paul:

Prepare to be awestruck.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIk_D-13u7o

Phil

December 17, 12:20  From Paul

Subject: Re: My You Tube Video

Phil:

OMG...I honestly don't know what to say...perhaps Oscar for short documentary, or the Cecil B. DeMille award for cinematic innovation, or an Oscar, Emmy and Tony for presentation of a unique talent in a unique setting, not to mention that you absorbed all of the production costs, built the sets, did the design yourself, and directed and starred in it...I really liked the nod to Thing from the Addams Family...what a theatrical mind you have!!!

Don't tell me you did the video taping and put together the credits, too?

Awestruck isn't the word that comes to mind....I have to ponder on this.

Meanwhile, I may, with your permission, add it to my blog!  I'll need some still shots...do you have an agent that I have to go through or, and I can't believe this if you say yes, do you handle that, too???

I'll never look at another film the same!  And, people won't believe that I know you and that I have, in fact, watched you do this in person...I would consider that my fifteen minutes of fame!!!

With admiration,

Paul

  

December 17, 12:31 p.m.  From Phil

Subject: Re: My You Tube Video

Paul 

Just the nominations for those awards would be enough.

Where do I give a nod to Thing from the Addams Family???  And will I have to pay for that?

Phil

December 17, 12:52 p.m. From Paul
Subject: Re: My You Tube Video

Phil:

I've all ready written them up and sent them in...

As for Thing, you are too humble...Act II, Scene II, the bottle is holding it's breath under water, awaiting the surgeon like skill of "The Operator."  All of a sudden, there it is, a hand.  I assumed it was you, I recognized the worn, yet strong educational type fingers and nails, darting across the bottom of the frame, flirting with the bottle, calming it and holding it with so much care and concern, much like Thing would when waiting on Gomez and Morticia...so clever, so nimble, so touching!

I think my blog is the vehicle for stardom???      Paul

December 17, 12:57 p.m. From Phil
Subject: Re: My You Tube Video

Paul:

ah, I see.......now.  Thing was not married, so I missed the resemblance.

Here's a couple of my glamor shots you can pick from. Plus a couple of bottle lights you may not have. (I really should take up drinking.)

The thought that you might give me a mention in your blog is far more exciting than any trivial motion picture award.

Perhaps you would be interested in attending the first Cobleskill Film Festival.

Phil

December 17,  1:04 p.m. From Paul
Subject: Re: My You Tube Video

Phil:

For me, I would say, the resemblance "rings" true...how clever of you to add something to his character and make people work for it...thanks for the pics, I'll work up something and let you know when it hits the press.

You won't believe the recognition you'll get from this and, not only would I attend the Cobleskill Film Festival, but most likely DiNiro, Nicholson and I will be fighting for front row seats...again.

I'm so happy to hear that you're considering taking up drinking...makes all of those uncomfortable moments at the parties and award events so much more explainable..."Oh, he didn't mean it, he was drunk!"  I see you have Kanye West on your mind.

Paul
 

December 17,  1:04 p.m. From Paul

Subject: Re: My You Tube Video

Paul:

With so much fear of being injured by shattering glass. (Thing refused to wear protective clothing that would hide his identity.)

Phil

Now, you've been waiting long enough...grab your popcorn and settle in for "How I Drill Holes in Glass Bottles."

Christmas, One Thing at a Time!

These days, everyone always seems to be doing many things at once.  Even without a holiday, we're all multi-tasking.

I'm reminded of a quote from Gandhi, "There's more to life than increasing it's speed."  You might want to check out information about him...during this "season of peace," reading about his life it always a good reminder of what we could all do, not only this time of year, but year round.  Here's his bio from Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gandhi

Apart from the part of not slowing down and smelling the roses, trying to do several things at once might be bad for you. 

I read an article that pointed out that multi-tasking may have some downsides, including health issues, decreased mental clarity and productivity and, therefore, less efficiency.

Here's the link if you want to check it out yourself:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1205669/Is-multi-tasking-bad-brain-Experts-reveal-hidden-perils-juggling-jobs.html

During the holiday time period, it amps up.  Along with the job, the family (those you live with every day and those who join you for the holidays), housework, the cooking and cleaning, children, school, weather, sports, job searches for some, reading, writing, and the doctor and dentist visits that pop up at the most inopportune time, we also add in figuring out how to pay the holiday bills on top of the regular ones, and the last minute rush to get holiday cards out (and the guilt for ending last year with a promise to do it on time this year).

There are added arts and crafts projects, homemade gifts, cooking and baking, wrapping and decorating, tree shopping, going out for parties and meeting friends for drinks and meals, and a myriad of other things.

We all really know that we should slow down and focus on one task at a time, and savor the experiences.  Just today I received an email from "Daily Retreat and Renew," highlighting 9 De-Stressors!  Only 9, I can  handle that...you can visit their website where you'll get all sorts of tips about how to slow down, breathe, take in the immediate moment, and relax...try this link and you can get a daily reminder about being present in the moment (that's different from getting a present every moment, which is nice, but I digress):

http://www.healinglifestyles.com/index.php?page=healingtips&tipid=555

I do try to remember to slow down, but lest you think that I've gone over completely to the "calm side," read on...
On Saturday we went to the local Christmas Tree Farm.

My sister-in-law and a friend of hers join us each year, it's become a tradition, and we head out to cut down our own trees.  We were determined to find one quickly, as our guests seem to find a tree each within six minutes of arriving at the place, but our pace slackened as we, once again, ran into "The Goldilocks Syndrome."  This one is too big, this one is too small, this one is too dry, this one is too prickly, this one has a snarled trunk, this one has all of its branches on one side, this one...well, it goes on for quite a while until one of two things happen...and it's most likely a co-joining of we're sick of looking at trees and our standards being lowered (along with getting tired after tromping around the fields for two hours), but all of a sudden a tree calls to us...and one did.

Once my wife said, "This one," I dropped to the ground as quickly as I could (no, I didn't faint because she chose one) and sawed that baby down.  We got it baled (that's where they tie a big string around it to make it easier to deal with) and threw it in the car, tied two on top of my sister-in-laws car for her and her friend's trip home, and we were back four hours after leaving to get the tree (we only live six minutes away).

We put ours in its base and stood it in the house, in the approximate area of where it will be for the next six or seven weeks (yes, we keep it up a long time...makes that cold month of January a little more colorful and my wife swears it's February before you know it, because we do leave it up).

I also think it's better to leave it up that long as, by the time we take it down, all of the needles will have fallen off, the thing is as dried up as a prune, and it weighs practically nothing...real easy to toss out of the house!

The tree is actually a very good looking tree, sans decorations at this point.

In days gone by, I would have strung the lights on it, gotten out the decorations and by bedtime we'd have been done with it.  Not this year.  We're not multi-tasking any more.  Taking in the moment...basking in the glow of being present in the moment.

The tree stood bare for the night...it got a drink of water before bed, but that was it.

Sunday night, I put the lights on it.  Five strings.  Starting to look good.  We had been out shopping, had a late dinner, (we did those things separately...one at a time) and after I got the lights in place my wife asked me, with a look that seemed to beg a negative response, "Are we decorating tonight?"  "No," I said, "We'll do that tomorrow night or Tuesday if we have something else to do tomorrow."  No rush.  We might even wait until Thursday, if something else comes along...like having to turn the TV on, or a load of laundry...one thing at a time.

Given my new take on efficiency, I decided to make a list of things that need to done for the holiday so that I can attend to each one, one-at-a-time, with a calm presence, in order to maintain mental clarity.

However, before I started the list, I found I had seven minutes with nothing to do and I opened a rather large bottle of Shiraz.

One might now argue that something else may be affecting my mental clarity, yet I proceed with my list of things to do this week, one at a time.

     1.  Buy Christmas Cards.  I did spend three hours looking for cards I'm sure I bought last year, but now must focus and move forward, and go out and buy new ones.  I'll do that when I have time to drive to Kingston...as I don't live near a sidewalk that allows me to walk to a store to buy them.

     2.  Sign Christmas cards, address envelopes, affix stamp and send out last week!  I guess noting that they should have gone out last week isn't good karma, building negativity...they'll get out in plenty of time.  Don't forget to include holiday newsletter!

     3.  However, while thinking of it, invest in time machine technology so that those cards would have been out last week, as I planned.

     4.  Write family holiday newsletter to have to send out with cards last week.  I keep           slipping back...sorry.

     5.  Shop for butter, sugar and eggs for Christmas Cookies, to replace those same things I bought last week...the ones the the boys decided to use to make Egg Nog Beer....yuck.

     6.  Clean up the basement after the great Christmas Egg Nog Beer explosion...the house does smell "seasonal," but the stuff is starting to curdle on the floor.

     7.  Make Christmas Cookies.  Sixty dozen decorated sugar cookies, using Christmas      themed cookie cutters.  Mix dough, bake, roll and cut, make sugar icing, decorate each cookie, one at a time, breathing three times deeply after each cookie cutter application!

    8.  Unwrap two dozen gifts that I got a head start on earlier in the year...the ones that I
forgot to put tags on that I know have to open to find out what's in the boxes and who they're for.

     9.  Return three gifts I bought for the boys after they went shopping over the weekend and walked into the house to show me what they bought for themselves.

   10.  Re-wrap recently discovered gifts and replacement gifts!!!

    11.  Take down the outside Halloween decorations (what's left of the pumpkins might just
slosh away in this rain that we're getting) and search the house and shed for those darn outdoor Christmas Decorations.

    12. Which reminds me, call electrician to the have outlets that burned out last year
replaced.

    13.  Or, buy bigger fuses!

    14.  Cut pine branches to use in outdoor decorations and remember that the line that runs between the trees, about ten feet up in the air, is not a guideline to follow through the woods, but the main source of electricity to the house!

   15.  Decorate outside of house, when it stops raining.  Decorating and getting wet are two things, which lead to several more things, including a change of clothes, drying said wet clothes, and chancing electrocution.

   16.  Remember, one thing at a time!

Given my new attitude, that should keep me busy 24/7.  I re-read some of the de-stressor tips, and one of them indicates I should be getting at least 8 hours of sleep a night.

Now, I've never had 8 hours of sleep at one time, and I think this practice is going to cut into my production time, but slow down I must so I just have to review what needs to be done and re-calculate when I'll be ready for the holiday.

In looking over my list, I find that several things are missing, but I don't have time for that right now as I am planning on having a cup of tea.  Focusing solely on boiling the water, pouring, steeping, savoring, and washing the cup, it appears I'll tied up for the next hour or so.  Normally, I would be thinking about what's next, but that's not on my list.

So, before I put that water in the kettle, I'll take a moment to provide a rough guess that I will be ready for the holiday without a problem, if we can keep this tree up till the 4th of July!!!

Oh, and a last minute addition...my cousin just sent me this nice, calming Christmas video...enjoy!



More later...happy pre-holiday!

Christmas Past

I came across my Christmas newsletter from last year and thought I would share it with my blog readers.

There are several blog posts in the works, regarding the holiday season, that I'll share with you over the next few days.  However, to finish those and start this year's family newsletter, I am doing some very heavy research. 

Actually, my wife said I had to "get this place decorated, please, sometime before the holiday!" 

Along with awaiting the arrival of family for the annual Christmas Tree hunt...no shots have been fired, to date, but I'm sure I'll have something to write regarding that adventure soon...today, I'll be in the depths of the basement and the freezing environs of the outdoor shed searching for all the stuff I put away last year...where I stashed it so I knew I could find it (yeah, right!).

Here's Christmas 2009:

My therapist told me that it would be a good thing, this year, if I could take the time to envelop myself in the spirit of Christmas, relax and enjoy the holiday, and take comfort in the simply pleasant things of the season, giving and sharing as I went along. “Create and enjoy the holiday!”
 

What first? Decorations! Create the feeling of the season. We had pulled back a bit last year, but I stepped up to the plate and pulled everything out of the basement. All twenty two boxes. I was prepared for the effort. The crawl space we call a basement is rife with spiders and cobwebs, but I revved up for the challenge. 

What I wasn't prepared for were the mice that had taken up residence in the imported Swiss manger. I guess they took comfort in the hay and straw that made up the manger roof, and got some sort of nutrition by eating half of baby Jesus. The three kings appeared less royal, now that their clothes had seemingly been reworked into some sort of nest at the bottom of the box, and I'm guessing that the bed of ceramic dust was once the hopeful and happy shepherds! 

Oh well, not going to let this get me down,. Fortunately as I don't throw many things away, we have six other manger sets...onto the lights. Deep breath. Okay, three deep breaths.

The big box of lights. I opened it to find string upon string, that I am sure I put away one at a time, carefully wrapped individually, and all working when they went to sleep last time they were used, are now an intertwined mess of knots and snarls. Seemingly a Medusa shaped, moving mass of uncooperative lines, they appeared to get more involved with as I tried to free one from the other. 

After about three hours of pulling each string out, and lining them up for inspection, not a one would light. Pulling each bulb out and putting in a new one, with not a one responding, I figured it would be more in the spirit of the season if I gave them to the recycling center and gave more money to our country's retail effort. I only had to take one Lexapro after this, not bad. 

Not giving in to what others might see as a failure, I chalked the lights up to “maintaining the faith” and set off to find our tree, on which I would put all of the treasured ornaments we'd saved for over 25 years. 
 

No doubt, I've told you of our tree adventures before, but I wasn't going to think once about our “history.” The standing in the rain, the trudging of the hills for hours, or having one tree after another die on us within a week. Not going to dwell on the past. No, we had a plan. 

Outside our house, too close to it in fact, was a fine fir tree that had to come down and we elected to cut this one down to take off the top for our tree. The fact that it was thirty feet tall and we couldn't get a good eye on the top didn't stop us. Saw in hand, I took to the trunk and dropped that baby after twenty or thirty good swiping cuts. 

What I neglected to judge was that the height exceeded the space between the chosen place for it to drop to and the house. As I told my wife, that's why they sell glass for windows in hardware stores. Never mind the fact that I don't know how to put glass into a window, but is is available.  

After my call to my therapist, and one short hour of 'coming down,' I was back in the game.

It wasn't as big a deal getting the tree into the house as my wife might tell you (she can get very strident when branches are banging into furniture and knocking pictures and knick knacks off the wall). 

Within five hours I had that baby standing up (semi-straight) and the brand new lights were setting off against it really fine. I grabbed the three boxes marked ornaments and were surprised how light they were...figured all of this hefting had me putting on some muscle. 

It was only after I opened them that I remembered the crash of '07. Totally not similar to our current economic crashes, these were the two times the tree fell over in 2007 and demolished all of the good ornaments and collectibles we had. 

Another rush of giving came over me and I headed off to the store to give over more cash to buy new memories. They come in six packs, too. I know not to mix alcohol with my meds, so I try to rotate them...pills on the hour, alcohol on the half hour.

It was beginning to look a lot like Christmas...not sure if it was the twinkling lights, the reflection off the new plastic ornaments, the swaying of tree branches (I'm sure I screwed that tree tight into the holder), the combination of Maker's Mark and Xanax, or the after effects of rum laden Egg Nog and Anafranil. 

Anyway, I was doing whatever I could to keep my spirits high. I'm sure it was a unseen broken step on the ladder, and not the mixing of Vodka and Halcion, that produced my fall. 

Fortunately, I landed in the tree and it cushioned the blow as we both went over. The miracle? Not a light went out, not an ornament was broken, and even though I was flat on my face in pine needles, my spirits were high.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a really good night. 

And, I can give you the name and number of my therapist if you need it to make your holidays truly memorable...and when you see Santa, please tell him that refills for me would be nice.