THE Christmas list, and other goodies.

HARLEY's OFFICIAL CHRISTMAS LIST 2010:
1- Leggos
2- Train layout (Maybe North Pole Express)  
3- Toy Christmas tree, including star on top and lights
4-Toy SUN, to go with the hanging glow in the dark planets
5-Toy Farm (Cows, chickens and coop ah, hem, barn, pigs)
6-Stuffed Monkey
7-Train tunnels for Thomas layout (straight green preferred)
8-More cardboard blocks
9-New Train Puzzle
10-Train video
11-Train picture on a candy cane (?)  (Ah, yea, ok.)
12-Toy washer and dryer (Really?)  
13- A castle, with a King
14- Toy light and light switch (?)  My kid is so odd!
15-Another Snow Globe (A little more snowy than the last one and with white snow).
16-Five plastic plants (WHAT is this kid ON??!)
17-Compass 

So there it is.

I've written a million posts in my mind the past month or so, but I guess the writing thing is not as much of a relaxing outlet for me as I'd like.  I mean I do enjoy doing it, but I can't do it when my head is spinning.  Some people can, and it helps to clear things up for them.... me?  I just babble incoherently.  I opt to not share the babble too often, so my posting has become very intermittent.  If you are reading this, thanks for sticking around....

This is going to be what Ms Moon calls a brown bag post.  Just a little of this and a little of that.  Currently I am watching Sesame Street with my boy, Harley.  Well, I am half watching it.  Ironically, Elmo (Melmo) is on.  Ms Moon posted about her grandson's love for the red furry guy this very morning.  Mr. Noodle is on.  I hate that guy.  He is just so annoying and mentally challenged... I can't imagine why Elmo keeps asking this man to answer the big life questions, like:  "How do people eat"?  But, I suppose the preschool set enjoys slapstick and being smarter than a grown up once in a while, so there is that.

Our tree is lovely.  Just lovely.  I am also stealing glances at it, since it is right next to the TV.  There is something wrong with that, but it really just fits perfectly in that corner.... What can you do?  The boys decorated it this year without my assistance.  I was baking.  They did a marvelous job and the kitty has already knocked off a few of the bottom ornaments to "Christen" the holiday season.  It has officially begun, so says the cat!

The past week, I've been dodging mad texting drivers and pedestrians donning Santa hats, as I'm sure all of you have as well.  For some reason, I've only had a few seasonal melt downs... mostly in the traffic.  The stores, although crowded, were not at all horrible.  In fact, this year the Dollar Tree got it down!  They had plenty of cheap ass merchandise and cashiers a go-go.  No waiting.  Me likes.  I had one of the best random holiday moments to date on that trip.  So, there I was at the damn Dollar Tree, zoning out in front of some Whinnie the Pooh doo dads, when all of a sudden three beautiful black girls stroll up to my isle and one of them poses the question: "Why are we here again"?  To which another replied: "Um, I forgot."  Well, that was it for me.  I peered at them over my glasses, and busted out laughing, which started the lot of them chortling and belly laughing too, which I'm pretty sure spread down the length of the isle.  We were all just shellacked in an extra thick coating of seasonal glaze.  I finally replied as they were wandering off aimlessly, "You girls sound like I feel".  More laughter.  I have to say, that was hands down my BEST Dollar Tree experience EVER!  And to top it off, I got lots of stuff that I couldn't find in regular stores like: dollar Christmas wrapping paper, 2$ Christmas Snow Globe WITH a TRAIN inside (BONUS!!), holiday goody bags, mystery grab bags, a 1$ pairing knife, stocking stuffers galore, and oh so much more!  I got out for about 25 bucks.   UNbelievable!  Sigh.  Life is good.

In other more important news, nobody has had so much as a runny nose, much less the usual winter asthma.  This is a blessing more valuable than any other.  As far as we know. we and ours are in good health and of reasonably good cheer.  This is highly unusual, and much appreciated.

Harley and I were folding clothes today.  His job is to match and fold all the socks.  I taught him how and he adores doing it.  For some reason today, he got the notion to stuff ALL of the socks down his pajamas bottoms....  I am only mentioning it because it is so insanely goofy and inexplicable!   So, of course, I had to take a picture, because how can you not preserve that holiday moment?  I don't think it would be appropriate to post said photos, but they are quite hilarious in a twisted kind of way.  Kids these days.

I'll leave you all with a holiday greeting I received from my very conservative cousin.  I think it's quite funny and reaches across the table or the isle or whatever they call it.  Happy Holidays ya'll!

To My Liberal Friends: 

Please accept with no obligation, implied or explicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2011 but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America  is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America  in the  Western Hemisphere . Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee.

To My Conservative Friends:

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

If you have a few minutes... watch this.

If you're lucky, it will make you cry.
just a little

Blank

Hey ya'll.

There's been a whole lot to post about, but honestly I think I'm just in shock.  Nothing serious, just sort of the impending holiday ADHD overwhelmed kind of shock.  I cannot concentrate long enough when I'm sitting still to make any of it sound interesting or coherent even.  But I figured if I didn't at least throw something up here, ya'll would abandon me for sure.  That would be sad.

Ok, so here's the insanity report:

Harley is as cute as ever.  His party went great.  He is now 5.  He told me yesterday as we were dining on egg sandwiches at Borders (3.50 for egg, spinach and cheese sand... Deal of the century!), he says,
"Mom, I have a hypothesis.  I think I'm going to LOVE Kindergarten!"
God I love this kid.

My hub is having hernia surgery today.  It's outpatient.  It's supposed to be no big deal, but you never know.  You just don't.

We acquired a litter of baby mice over the Thanksgiving holiday.  Our cat killed the mama.  Then, one by one, the babies were getting caught.  As this happened over the course of a 24 hour period we were quite astounded and humored.  Each one was discovered before kitty could put the fear of death into them... well, except one.  I think she punctured it and we didn't know about it.  He/she died after a few days.  Anyway, the hub was really patient with me waking him in the middle of the night to go catch yet another "customer", as we affectionately refer to them.  I have been meaning to call St. Francis to see if they'll take them as I just cannot bear to set them out in the cold.  I know they belong there, but still.  I want someone else to do it!  They are cute as the dickens!  They are really tiny and gray with big ears and eyes.  Very sweet.  I have to mention for those of you who do not know, my cat has only three legs.  I find it incredible that she can hunt so well.  Better in fact than when she had all four.  Life is weird.

My nephew and his wife got into a bad car accident.  They are ok, but her grandma was in the back seat and she died.  This is very sad for us all.  Grandma was very sweet, and it's all really tragic.

I'm looking for work as my feet have been dragging through the process of "building my business"  It's so odd to me, because when I worked at a bar, I had NO problem with the marketing and promotion thing... it was just like inviting everyone to a huge party where you are the hostess and you know it will be great because there are endless supplies of yummy food and libations and and fun people and fine music... but this whole encouraging people to spend money on my services, sans alcohol, sans music, sans food, sans any props at all?  Well, that just don't seem right.  I'm clearly not as interesting or confident as when there is booze involved.  Is anyone?  I'm pretty confident about my bar tending skills, but I'm too old for that shit.  I am.

Well, I have to go now.  The Cat in the Hat Knows a lot About THAT is coming on.
Ta.