Month: December 2007 (Page 1 of 3)

(insert dramatic, sweeping music here)

Seriously. This has been the vacation of containment and reclusiveness. I have touted all the knitting, but really, apart from a small mountain of laundry, I have nothing to show for myself except an enormous list of watched movies (with more in the wings, so you’ll have to wait for my one-line reviews.) Well, level 6 on Guitar Hero. I cannot battle Leo and win so apparently, I’m stuck there. Right now, I’m enjoying some episodes of The First 48 on A&E and re-caffeinating my body – unfortunately, all the ads are geared at senior citizens preparing their estates and planning funerals and buying insurance so as to not burden your survivors. I’m beginning to resemble my shut-in friends more and more.

Part of the lethargy was being sick – and I still have a cough, but the fits of aggravated hacking have wound down to just a couple a day, so I’m glad about that. Part of it was sheer and utter laziness. I’m not one of those people who like to go on vacation and see forty-two points of local interest. My idea of a vacation involves moving slowly at my own pace (much like my animal sister, the Three-Toed Sloth), enjoying good meals & drinks, laughing, and naps.

So. I’d say I pretty much did that for the holiday break! But it occurred to me that re-entering the work world would be pretty brutal, if I maintained my degree of non-communication and shut-in-ness. Kind of like burning up in the Earth’s atmosphere when returning from space, if you didn’t plan for it. So I went to the grocery store this morning. Oy. Everyone has today off, pretty much, and 9/10ths of them were at the grocery store. And I don’t think most of them had a list. One woman got all bent out of shape in the rice aisle, but jesus, sister, we’re stacked up like trout swimming upstream here, and you think you’re being all gracious stopping – but you’ve parked right in front of the items I need. Sorry, but I’ve got a list! Once it was time to checkout, I was headed for a relatively empty lane, manned by my favorite bagger Calvin, and another woman tried to steer in front of me…. I have to admit, even in my foggy stupor, I was coming back around to the Ways of the World. Cut that bitch off at the pass. Mmmhmmm. James would have been horrified, he’s Mr. Congeniality and Consideration at the store. It’s a dog-eat-dog world and I’d already endured enough idiotic behavior – and my cart was pointed straight in while hers? Rolling along perpendicular, trolling for a better lane. So I figured the right of way went to me.

I noticed on my drive there, how things I normally ticked off in my head seemed new again – gas prices, for instance. I had only left the house once in uh, four days? And that was only to get Thai food, 6 blocks away. Ordinarily, I’d be noticing the rise & fall of gas prices, and mentally calculating when the best time to get gas might be – and today, I was all, Durrr? $2.81? It was in the $2.60’s when last I was out! I thought briefly about adding some stops – or maybe going back out again – but nah.

I’m overdue for a nap.

Two months ago, when I heard on the radio that she was returning to her homeland, I knew Benazir Bhutto would be killed. Not when, nothing specific, but that some day, she would become a martyr for democracy in her country of Pakistan. Sadly, that day came all too quickly. I always admired her – Harvard educated, beautiful – and saw her as a role model, in a world where Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan are held up as icons for young women.

I don’t profess to have a vast understanding of the politics of Pakistan, or what makes a person so fervidly believe in their cause that they strap explosives to their body and kill as many people as possible while also ending their own life. I know Bhutto fervently believed in her cause, and what role she could play in bringing about change. In an odd way, two similarly driven people collided, on the opposite sides of a cause.

I wonder if there are just some of us humans who are prone to feeling passionate about a cause, an issue, and whether it is through conditioning, or something in our genetic makeup, that allows them to maintain such a steadfast hold on their belief, their cause, no matter the price. I’ve felt that surge inside of me, about numerous issues, but they don’t take hold of my daily existence. I think it would be close to manic. Much talk today has focused on how aware she was of the risks, how she knew it was likely she would be killed. And yet she pressed on. But whatever it was that drove her, Bhutto contributed to the world, even touching my small part of it. I am sad that her light is gone.

I spent a chunk of time yesterday watching the Westminster Kennel Dog Show – I don’t know why, it was on, I was waiting for James to get ready, and it amused me greatly. I love the Christopher Guest movie, and the more I watched it, the more I saw and heard the inspiration for the comedy. Those dog breeders are serious. And all of the female handlers wear sensible shoes, you know, for the running. I caught the tail end of the sporting breeds, and most of the hounds.

The staid, quiet, back-and-forth discussion between the emcees – priceless…. “The Basenji … is not the dog for everyone….”

But my favorite moment came when, during the hounds, specifically a black and tan coonhound being shown, Tripper decided to start watching tv and got ALL bent out of shape about there being a foreign dog in the living room. He was low “burfing” and standing at attention while James and I tried to contain our laughter so as not to distract him.

The other two dogs will react to noises – the Law & Order CI phones sound exactly like our doorbell – but Tripper is the first to actively watch tv. Reminds me of dogsitting Gracie, and teaching her about truth and justice.

By the way, that coonhound’s ears? 32″ tip to tip. I never did see such a pair o’ ears on a dog. Perhaps that’s what alarmed Tripper.

We did a whirlwind trip to the Lake of the Ozarks yesterday, leaving the house shortly after 7 a.m. and returning just after 9 p.m. It would have just been a regular-sort-of Long Day, except for the insane winter storm we drove through on the way home. It could have been much worse, but it was stressful nonetheless, and James had to do all the driving, because I’m sick & he would have been freaked out every time I had a coughing fit, had I been behind the wheel. (and rightfully so – this cough is a doozy!) But we had a fun day with family, and he scored some awesome ties, and I got some cold hard cash, plus the funniest Xmas decoration-soft-sculpture-thingy, ever. I just found a picture online, it’s Hallmark’s “Snow What Fun”, and you press the snowman’s hand and the music plays – the snowman jiggles, the dog kind of moves, and the penguin FREAKS OUT.

One of the other big hits was the enormous, “Jumbo Remote” I scored at the company white elephant on Friday;

James had drawn his grandfather’s name in the gift exchange, and we added it to his presents, knowing it would be pretty damn funny. It was even funnier watching the kids use it. (So, if you’re looking for a last-minute, amusing gift, this might fit the bill!) And, we know it’s being used!

We had awesome food, some great laughs, and now I’m ready to self-medicate with all the OTC cold and cough drugs available to me. With knitting, movies and naps. Sounds like a great day to me!

Christmas came a little early.

Our very own resident Grinch – Suzy – just now started playing with Tripper!

(Instead of attempting to remove his head from his body, which has been her main form of interaction with him since he came in the door.)

Aw. Though I will say, my happiness is tempered by an inordinate fear they will knock the audio pier or tv over. I guess I’m the Grinch now. :)

Tripper’s so excited, he’s jumping around like a bunny. All teeth and snappy, so not completely like a bunny, but the legs are bunny-like.

Last night, a small group of friends got together & exchanged some gifties while dining on sushi. Several of us felt we could eat sushi every single day. If I didn’t have to pay for it, I can guarantee you I’d give it a valiant try! Anyway, I loved all my pressies, and a good time was had by all.

I’m sooooo happy it’s Friday, it’s a half-day at work with the company holiday party lunch knocking off the back half of the day. We’re dining at Bo Ling’s, and the theme is A Christmas Story. (I seriously doubt we’re all getting Red Ryder BB Guns, there’s an open bar.)

I’m also really excited about vacation. We’ve got great movies to watch, I’ve got a ton of knitting and sewing projects to keep me busy, books to read, cocoa to drink, cards to send (yikes…. think I’ll be sending Happy New Year’s greetings this year!!!)

I’m going to end this with one of my favorite ads I’ve seen (online) – I know I just posted the Kia one, but this automotive group takes the cake with their whole “badger” series. Here’s the link for all of the spots on YouTube – I think they’re all absolutely hilarious, but I’ve found I really like to say the line “I’m on my popcorn break!” the most….. Happy Friday, peeps!

I have been a little roller-coaster-ey today. Up, down. Up, down. High-pitched screams, sullen focused silence. In general, though, I’m in a good mood. We got all the presents wrapped and sorted and bagged up last night, and we also figured out our plans for holidays with his grandparents, along with a separate get-together with Momma Linda. Such contentment comes from planning in my world. Me? I do not enjoy the nebulous!

Work’s a bit wonkers. I’m still planning to take the days between Christmas & New Year’s off, but I’m also prepared to check my email regularly and come in if needed. But not the morning of the 26th. That’s the Highest of High Holy Shopping Days in my book, as evidenced by all the presents the Wo wrapped last night, purchased last year & stowed away in a plastic storage lug. It’s such a great (and bargain) way to get our nieces the fun tchotchkes that are the co-ordinated bags of glitter and barrettes and bath stuffs. I love a deal!

James sent me the eBay auction for postcards mailed from a small village in Poland – freakin’ hysterical. I love that sense of humor! And then my husband demonstrated his humor by sending me a link to a local craigslist ad, threatening to exchange my present for the item in the ad, which was a miniature stallion. Sure, because the dogs don’t have enough toys, let’s BUY THEM A MINIATURE PONY.

I also did something super-crafty for the work holiday party, and it turned out really well. I’m pleased, and can’t say anything else about it, but I do love to just craft, craft, craft, and when I can combine that with party planning? I just turn into a crazy spawn of Martha Stewart. Minus the supercilious smile, of course. I just grin like a maniac.

Speaking of maniac, have you seen the Kia commercial that’s running right now? I love it. Obviously they’re shoehorning their way into my heart by using the music from Flashdance, and quite adeptly targeting my age group (gasp, near-40), however intentional or unintentional. I love it! I think they changed the music a bit, but it gives you the general idea if you haven’t seen it.

Alrighty, peeps, I have to zig & zag my way home like a maniac (maniac! on the floor!) and then it’s back to work to get as much done as I can – as a previous boss used to enjoy saying, “I’m dancin’ as fast as I can!” and then my co-worker would do the flashdance-running-in-place moves as soon as she left. I’m excited for vacation! I’m up with people! I’m dancin’ like I’ve never danced befo-o-o-re…….