It doesn't much feel like the holidays. Is it the lack of snow that I'm so used to associating with this season? Or it's that in growing older the mythology that comes with the holiday season is no longer mysterious or mythic? Maybe it's just that this year was meant to be low key throughout?
Nevertheless, I do enjoy the idea of Boxing Day. So what if it's Canadian? Just the idea of boxing things up, putting things away, "Spring Cleaning" as such -- even if it is the dead of winter. There's something to be said for clearing out the clutter. For putting things away that we no longer need for now. Making sure to dust off and keep what's important and appreciate those things as well.
Although I hate cleaning, isn't it true that a clean and organized house does make a person feel so much better? Not just physically, but spiritually as well. It's a fresh start and everyone deserves a fresh start.
So, for the end of the year, my goal is to clean out my closet. Yes, to clear out the things that have been in the shadows for so long. To let things go so that new things are allowing to come into my life. And those "things" don't have to be material.
In the past, letting go and letting live lifted the load I'd been carrying on my shoulders. And actually, once I let those "things" go it lifted the load off of my physical frame as well. A nice perk.
In the present, the hard part is figuring out what is is that I need to let go. What it is that I'm holding on to? Not seeing what is right in front of my face is a specialty of mine. (I don't say that proudly, it's just a fact.)
It's a challenge that I both look forward to and abhor. It's terrifying and exhilarating. It's choosing to live instead of letting life go numbly by (guilty of this as the next person. And, it requires unplugging and being present in the world.
The New Year is always great for that. I have a friend who years ago told me he was going to spend his New Year in silence. Literally unplug. At midnight he would unplug his clock, his lights, his phone, his television, his radio and all his other power items. The only thing he would leave plugged in is his refrigerator and he would put aside a watch so that he knew when it was midnight again. For 24 hours he would be in silence. He wouldn't talk to anyone or listen to music or watch TV. Basically, a silent retreat.
It's appealing isn't it? Sometimes I turn on the noise because in silence the noise of my own thoughts is shattering. Shattering to my way of being. To my soul and to my spirit. To my life. You want to know what the funny thing is? It always turns out that if I face the silence I'm more whole than I've ever been. There's the irony. The shattered pieces are pieces that I didn't need. And so they're cleaned up and I get a fresh start. I love the fresh start.
29 December 2008
22 December 2008
The Rarest Angel
I look over. What's that? A lone golden helium balloon has been attached to the Christmas tree. At the top. Ha ha. An attempt from my sister at trying to decorate the top of the tree.
Flashback to a month and a half ago. Shoppers everywhere. It's a madhouse. I'm at Michael's looking for tree toppers. There are some beautiful angels. Really. Great fabric dresses and gorgeous craftsmanship. There is only one problem. The angels are blonde. After looking there I go to Linen's N Things and Target and it's the same thing. Blonde, blonde, blonde. Are there no brunette angels? Is there a rule that brunette's can't be angels?
I tell my sister and she says I'll have an easier time finding African American angels than finding a black haired angel. Ha! I say. I'll find one!
No I won't. It's 3 days before Christmas. Searching Amazon and the web has proven my sister to be right. All the angel toppers with black hair are African American and the rest are Blonde, Blonde, Blonde.
I'm getting frustrated and actually upset. Upset over a stupid tree topper that is supposed to be a happy, joyful thing. The true meaning of this season is not about anger or "things" -- it's about gratefulness, grace, and celebration of life, right? So why am I expending energy on getting upset because angels don't have black hair?
This is the argument I've had with myself. To the point that I've given up. My tree will remain angel free until that rarest of all angels makes its way to me somewhere, sometime in life.
Until then, the gold helium balloon adds a little humour to the whole tree and it makes me smile when I see it. For those who celebrate--A very Happy Christmas. For those who don't--A very Merry New Year.
Flashback to a month and a half ago. Shoppers everywhere. It's a madhouse. I'm at Michael's looking for tree toppers. There are some beautiful angels. Really. Great fabric dresses and gorgeous craftsmanship. There is only one problem. The angels are blonde. After looking there I go to Linen's N Things and Target and it's the same thing. Blonde, blonde, blonde. Are there no brunette angels? Is there a rule that brunette's can't be angels?
I tell my sister and she says I'll have an easier time finding African American angels than finding a black haired angel. Ha! I say. I'll find one!
No I won't. It's 3 days before Christmas. Searching Amazon and the web has proven my sister to be right. All the angel toppers with black hair are African American and the rest are Blonde, Blonde, Blonde.
I'm getting frustrated and actually upset. Upset over a stupid tree topper that is supposed to be a happy, joyful thing. The true meaning of this season is not about anger or "things" -- it's about gratefulness, grace, and celebration of life, right? So why am I expending energy on getting upset because angels don't have black hair?
This is the argument I've had with myself. To the point that I've given up. My tree will remain angel free until that rarest of all angels makes its way to me somewhere, sometime in life.
Until then, the gold helium balloon adds a little humour to the whole tree and it makes me smile when I see it. For those who celebrate--A very Happy Christmas. For those who don't--A very Merry New Year.
27 November 2008
Happy Thanksgiving
It's 1:30 AM and I can't sleep because I'm worrying about the turkey tomorrow morning. I've prepared one before but I have a history of mixing the kitchen and fire and food so...I'm a little worried.
But I can change that worry can't I? Just realize that I'm grateful for having a kitchen and fire and food. It's freezing some places and foodless some places and homeless some places. So, really, there's nothing to worry about but a lot to be thankful for.
And then I see leaping flames in front of my eyes and that all goes away.
How do you worry about a turkey? It's not even a big turkey. Like 8 pounds. And when I went to go buy it the guy at the store said, oh, a really small turkey, almost a chicken. And I said, "Yes" and nodded my head shyly in shame.
And then I think, well, it's small, what happens if it goes up in flames? Then there won't be much left to eat. Maybe I should have gotten a bigger one so that if it gets set on fire then at least that part can be cut off and I can try over again with the rest of it....Or does it not work like that?
I'm glad the fire station is only a few blocks away. It makes me feel safer. That, and my big bag of baking powder and baking soda to put out grease flames. You think I'm joking. Yeah, that's what a lot of my friends think too. For awhile at least. There is always hope. That why I keep trying. You can't burn food forever right? If you keep trying you just have to get better from the practice...right? Right? Anybody? Hello? Okay, I'll just go to bed.
But I can change that worry can't I? Just realize that I'm grateful for having a kitchen and fire and food. It's freezing some places and foodless some places and homeless some places. So, really, there's nothing to worry about but a lot to be thankful for.
And then I see leaping flames in front of my eyes and that all goes away.
How do you worry about a turkey? It's not even a big turkey. Like 8 pounds. And when I went to go buy it the guy at the store said, oh, a really small turkey, almost a chicken. And I said, "Yes" and nodded my head shyly in shame.
And then I think, well, it's small, what happens if it goes up in flames? Then there won't be much left to eat. Maybe I should have gotten a bigger one so that if it gets set on fire then at least that part can be cut off and I can try over again with the rest of it....Or does it not work like that?
I'm glad the fire station is only a few blocks away. It makes me feel safer. That, and my big bag of baking powder and baking soda to put out grease flames. You think I'm joking. Yeah, that's what a lot of my friends think too. For awhile at least. There is always hope. That why I keep trying. You can't burn food forever right? If you keep trying you just have to get better from the practice...right? Right? Anybody? Hello? Okay, I'll just go to bed.
22 November 2008
Say Cheese
I just got back from one of the most up to date weddings ever. They had a photo booth. Yes, a photo booth! And it took 4 photos and gave 2 copies of those 4 photos. One for the scrapbook of the Bride and Groom and one for the guests to keep.
Another thing they did was have business cards on the table asking all the guests to share their photos by uploading them to the married couple's Flickr account. I've never seen that before either. How smart.
There was also a groom's cake to go with the wedding cake. The groom's cake was a Nintendo theme and was really cool.
Some really great ideas from a really great and cool couple. I wish them all the best. And now, it's time for some sleep.
Another thing they did was have business cards on the table asking all the guests to share their photos by uploading them to the married couple's Flickr account. I've never seen that before either. How smart.
There was also a groom's cake to go with the wedding cake. The groom's cake was a Nintendo theme and was really cool.
Some really great ideas from a really great and cool couple. I wish them all the best. And now, it's time for some sleep.
14 November 2008
Everything I Need to Know I Learned By....
There´s no place like home. There´s no place like home. There´s no place like home.
There is no place like home. And I think we all take that for granted sometimes.
Traveling has taught me several things:
1. Obama has a lot of weight on his shoulders. A lot of expectation. People throughout Europe that I have met and also in the news are expecting him to fix not just the United States economy but the World economy as well. One European I spoke with told me it was a World election not just one for the United States. Good Luck Obama. Good Advisors. Good Decision Making Skills. And Good Family and Friends. You´ll need them.
2. I eat more when I travel.
3. Don´t take anything for granted. Your ability to walk. Having arms. Your ability to breathe. Clean Air. Your family. Your friends. Your culture. Your nation. Your freedoms. Your education. At the same time, don´t limit yourself to your culture. Teach your children to love newspapers instead of the Nintendo DS if you want to. Bring them to see Modern Art at 5 years old and explain the paintings. (There was a huge group of kindergarten aged children with their teachers looking at the Reigna Sophia.) And most of all, teach yourself to try new and uncomfortable things. As long as it doesn´t harm yourself or anyone else. Push your boundaries.
4. Small gifts are the best gifts. Otherwise you´ll spend the day and night before sitting on your suitcase trying to get everything to fit and hoping your zipper will hold. OR Get a really, really, really big purse to go with your carry on.
There is no place like home. And I think we all take that for granted sometimes.
Traveling has taught me several things:
1. Obama has a lot of weight on his shoulders. A lot of expectation. People throughout Europe that I have met and also in the news are expecting him to fix not just the United States economy but the World economy as well. One European I spoke with told me it was a World election not just one for the United States. Good Luck Obama. Good Advisors. Good Decision Making Skills. And Good Family and Friends. You´ll need them.
2. I eat more when I travel.
3. Don´t take anything for granted. Your ability to walk. Having arms. Your ability to breathe. Clean Air. Your family. Your friends. Your culture. Your nation. Your freedoms. Your education. At the same time, don´t limit yourself to your culture. Teach your children to love newspapers instead of the Nintendo DS if you want to. Bring them to see Modern Art at 5 years old and explain the paintings. (There was a huge group of kindergarten aged children with their teachers looking at the Reigna Sophia.) And most of all, teach yourself to try new and uncomfortable things. As long as it doesn´t harm yourself or anyone else. Push your boundaries.
4. Small gifts are the best gifts. Otherwise you´ll spend the day and night before sitting on your suitcase trying to get everything to fit and hoping your zipper will hold. OR Get a really, really, really big purse to go with your carry on.
Jess it was closed :(
Dear Jess,
Didn´t get your e-mail until after the visit. After walking, and walking, and walking all over only to find that the restaurant was only 2 blocks from our Hotel...it was closed.
We´re still on U.S. time for eating dinner. They didn´t open until 8:30PM. It looked lovely from the outside and the menu yummy. But the restaurant wins a pout from me because it dares to stay on Spanish dinner time in the middle of Spain. How dare they!
Of course I´m kidding. Tonight is our last night here so unfortunately, it will have to wait until the next time.
Didn´t get your e-mail until after the visit. After walking, and walking, and walking all over only to find that the restaurant was only 2 blocks from our Hotel...it was closed.
We´re still on U.S. time for eating dinner. They didn´t open until 8:30PM. It looked lovely from the outside and the menu yummy. But the restaurant wins a pout from me because it dares to stay on Spanish dinner time in the middle of Spain. How dare they!
Of course I´m kidding. Tonight is our last night here so unfortunately, it will have to wait until the next time.
Woosh whoosh
Did you know that when you´re swinging the light saber it actually makes that sound? Yeah. How do I know this?
Because.
Because I´ve done it. Swung the real deal and not some plasticy thing from Walgreens. How many of you can say that? Hunh?
Okay. Now that the geek in me has had its playday...
The lightsaber has the sound built it in so you don´t have to make the noises on your own. It´s quite cool. We waited a long time while news crews shot with it since there was only one. It was fun.
The Star Wars Exhibition was quite well done. I´m not including any photos of the exhibition itself here because A. it wouldn´t do the exhibition justice and B. I don´t want to ruin it if anyone does go. On a different note Joao is actually a sound designer not a sound engineer. (Sorry Joao.) He did a very nice job.
The models are exquisite pieces of artwork on their own and the drawings and the whole set up was really great. They have costumes and masks and descriptions and it´s all very well lit. I highly recommend if you´re in Madrid anytime between tomorrow and March of 2009 that you should go. They have original pieces from all six of the films and they´re organized by planet.
Haven´t you always wanted to visit Tatooine? Or was that just me?
Because.
Because I´ve done it. Swung the real deal and not some plasticy thing from Walgreens. How many of you can say that? Hunh?
Okay. Now that the geek in me has had its playday...
The lightsaber has the sound built it in so you don´t have to make the noises on your own. It´s quite cool. We waited a long time while news crews shot with it since there was only one. It was fun.
The Star Wars Exhibition was quite well done. I´m not including any photos of the exhibition itself here because A. it wouldn´t do the exhibition justice and B. I don´t want to ruin it if anyone does go. On a different note Joao is actually a sound designer not a sound engineer. (Sorry Joao.) He did a very nice job.
The models are exquisite pieces of artwork on their own and the drawings and the whole set up was really great. They have costumes and masks and descriptions and it´s all very well lit. I highly recommend if you´re in Madrid anytime between tomorrow and March of 2009 that you should go. They have original pieces from all six of the films and they´re organized by planet.
Haven´t you always wanted to visit Tatooine? Or was that just me?
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