Read this over at the Sandbox.
It's beautiful, simple, poignant and wrenching.
In so far as I suck around for wrenching myself these days.
Seriously, go read his blog, too.
It's called Lost in the Desert. (The Sandbox link is direct to the piece.)
I've been serial blogging lately so don't forget to scroll down. I've been posting more than once a day. Now hurry up and do what all I toldja to before I think of something else to boss you around about.
Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.
-Carrie Fisher
Yup, if I'm going to think mean, but of course, completely justified things about someone who unfairly treats me, signing them up for a series of nice color brochures from a transgender clinic or volunteering their yard for sign support of the Aryan candidate in their local elections, I find to be far more satisfying; stereotypical and politically incorrect, but satisfying.
*sigh*
Fine.
Okay, okay, Carrie is right.
Bitch.
Self actualization is a pain in the ass.
Yeah yeah...men shouldn't be too smug about this, they are button pushers after all...
I think next year I am going to be somewhere other than here doing something other than what I am doing, which is cleaning out a closet and reflecting. Reflecting is not particularly pleasant, but a common thread in the fabric that wraps up the tail end of the year. Frankly, as soon as I'm done here I plan on making myself a bourbon and coke and finishing the rest of my room.
I'm going to put the sorted stuff I don't want in a bag and leave it out on the curb. I'm not going to worry about who could use it, how to steward it or that there are homeless, starving people in Ethiopia.
Just in case you are having a rough day, here is a stress management technique I found online
The funny thing is that it works.
1. Picture yourself near a stream in the mountains.
2. Birds are softly chirping in the cool mountain air.
3. No one knows your secret place.
4. You are in total seclusion from the hectic place called the world.
5. The soothing sound of a gentle waterfall fills the air with a cascade of serenity.
6. The water is crystal clear.
7. You can easily make out the face of the person you are holding under the water.
See?
You're smiling already.
I gotta tell ya...I am so glad the holiday is winding down.
ack.
This month...ugh. It's been long.
Hell the whole damn year was a veritable pain in my ass and given the size of my ass...let's just say: Buh bye 2009, don't let the screen door hitcha in YOUR
Tony and I had decided to do after Christmas shopping so there were no presents for the 'rents around here. No big deal, but then the kids started putting things into my lap from our big box from Georgia. I got this shirt (shameless propaganda from the Georgia sailor man, but I thought I oughta wear it in thanks) a Marine Corps tshirt, really cool armed service badges for my truck and an inside joke I may or not post about. I will say this John Coffey: Har har har. VERY. F---ING. FUNNY!
Hope you are feeling better!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
I just mentioned as much to my 3 in 1 Nursery Center giving sister, while I sip a bourbon smug in my DS Nintendo giving no assembly required self.
I know she heard me even if I got the "talk to the hand" gesture (there are children in the room afterall) but her lips disappeared so I'm pretty sure she heard me. heehee.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
If you haven't read this yet, I want you to. There are a lot of families sitting in hospitals or at hotel rooms away from home and worried about getting their lives back. It kinda puts things in perspective.
Our biggest issue here is that Christmas morning got delayed because the man at church in charge of scheduling the altar servers, who's own children were assigned an early Mass yesterday, couldn't get anyone to take the 8am Mass this morning.
Imagine that.
Um so yes, we got to be parents who pointed out the giving and peace of the season to two boys who had to dig down deep and quash the urge to snuff us out in our sleep for putting a snag in our own tradition of opening presents in pajamas.
Seems Dad had answered the phone yesterday when he called and crumpled like a wet paper bag said yes. Naturally, being the cynic I am, I pointed out Altar Server Man's nerve to ask us in light of his own more convenient family schedule and the last minute timing . Yeah pretty charitable saying yes yourself there Dad. Of course, my dear husband waits a beat and sweetly asked if his charity was anything like the hotel room his spouse got for a couple of homeless folks in Galveston the other day.
*sigh*
He plays dirty, doesn't he?
I'm never going to live that down.
Anytime we have this kind of argument he'll pull out the "oh yeah, well what about that time you took those homeless people to Motel 6?
Fine.
Anyway so currently, half the offspring are in alcolytes robes swinging bells, holding incense at the end of chains and other various and sundry altar server type stuff hopefully not muttering under their breath.
I won't lie. They were NOT happy campers this morning. PC parents might disparage and say Jesus is the reason for the season...better parents would have children whos' hearts burst with charity and understanding on this most holy of days. Okay. I get it. I guess we'll have to work on our parenting skills.
I told the boys to look at this way: Mom did not have an aunt who sent them anything like this:
And when they get home I'm going to read the short post I put up at the top of my post to both of them.
I'll wager I stand a better chance of conveying the gratitude I want them to have with that than with the standard issued Catholic guilt anointed me at their births. I may not practice anymore, but I'll be darned if it doesn't have the shelf live of canned cheese.
Hope you all are having a great Christmas morning!
Scroll down for more pics and stuff.
Just messing around with my camera tonight.
Holy smokes it got cold here!
Kids stockings are stuffed.
Dad is out.
Mom is close behind.
Joanna
Brothers-in-law whispering in your kid's ear never bodes too well...lol. Can you tell Mel is their favorite uncle?
These last two need no description.
'Member I said Tony was out running an errand?
Yeah, well it wasn't for his mother's bday.
Apparently, it was for mine next month.
He bought me something early.
Something I have been reaaaaally wanting.
Heh.. when he came in to plow through my gift wrap stuff I yelled at him for bugging me about a birthday bag. His mother's birthday is today. I told him he should just use a damn Santa bag. HELLOOOO. She WAS born on Christmas.
**sheepish**
Still in need of a shower, but less in need of an attitude adjustment.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
I'm still in a robe. I managed to get my jeans off last night (yes, me you pervs), but I fell asleep in the rest of my streetcloths. Well, actually, I slipped off the edge of consciousness. I never do the Claire and Cliff Huxtable go to bed thing. I pretty much get dragged kicking and screaming into oblivion.
Who says I'm not in touch with my inner two year old? Please. We are tight. TIGHT.
So I'm in my robe, I have presents to wrap, Tony is running errands, I know there is email to answer, a meal to plan and oh yeah, the kids had corndogs and Funyuns for breakfast and at some point I'm due in the gym. Why? shrug. Because it hurts. Nom.
Christmas Eve at the parents tonight. Christmas morning here and later a brunch and dinner here, too. I think I have everything I need, but I dunno for sure. I didn't look. I'm all OCD'd out.
We bought for the kids, but we aren't exchanging gifts, Tony and I.
This has been the weirdest fucking year.
I'm glad its almost over.
Speaking of not looking I also haven't looked in a mirror.
Donwanna.
Can't make me.
I might be coerced into a shower, if my minion can guarantee no one flushes the toilet, bleeds or catches themselves or one another on fire while I'm in there.
.......
........
Yeah.
No shower.
Maybe I'll go wash the truck and lather up outside while I'm at it.
Gotta love multi-tasking.
Or the neighbors might if I do it in a white tshirt.
It's a weird little mood I'm in that I really shouldn't even address as it will be gone as soon as something else comes along to take it's place. There I go again, sucking around for trouble.
But, hey my toes look GOOD.
At this point you are beginning to realize, I'm not the All Knowing Supreme Diva of the Universe. You'll probably spend the next 6 to 10 years intent on pointing that out.
It's ok, son. I promise to not commit any kind of felony (misdemeanors, maybe) as I continue into this new parenting frontier of Teenagerdom as long as you keep me in bourbon and keep your lies somewhat believable.
Love,
Mom
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
My sister took me for a pedicure and wax Sunday at her salon.
Best line of the whole night goes to she who once shared the same womb. Seems when my dear sibling saw all the hair left on the waxy piece of cotton the masochist esthetician used to remove my left eyebrow and enthusiastically--nay triumphantly share with her very loyal customer; Sis leaned over in her own pedi chair and replied with a sly smile and the best. timing. ever:
"Hey! We can donate that to Locks of Love!"
I laughed so hard.
Bitch.
I always wonder why aside from:
Workout was good.
I did it barefoot.
The garage door was up as usual and it was raining.
I love how rain sounds.
If you are close enough to the water's impact on the concrete, it sounds so alive and deliberate.
At one point I was working cleans and my hips weren't set right in relation to my arms. In response Stealth Trainer said, "I'm getting my stick." As he made his way over to his broom handle to demonstrate the proper form and as my eyebrows came back down out of my hairline, I reminded him I'm keeping a list of things a gal does NOT want to hear in the middle of a workout.
Cut off for mailing to Jonathan and 1st Cavalry is now. Actually it was the 10th. Sometimes news travels slow.
Heh.
Story of my f-ing life come to think of it.
Going to the gym.
I hope the workout is really hard tonight.
I love that.
