I realized this morning that with just one week left to Christmas I still haven’t seen “Home Alone” this season. While others are waiting for the feel good movies like “It’s a Wonderful Life” I’m looking for the one where the people get hurt. Anyone who knows me knows that “Home Alone” and the sequels are exactly the kind of thing I find funny.

If anyone near me falls or gets hurt, I’m one of those people who laugh.  Or I’m so good I look like one of Mother Teresa’s prodigy until I get away from it all and then laugh myself sick. One time, there was an incident at a friend’s baby shower. I was truly on my best behavior until I got in my car and basically laughed so hard I was crying in the car all the way home. I almost had to pull over on interstate 95 I was laughing so hard. Other times I am a flat out disgrace. There’s no holding back or pretending. Sadly, Kathryn is the same way and my mom was too. Those damn genetics!

One Christmas my grandmother came to visit. She would take the train down from New York and my dad would go over to Union Station and get her on his way home from work. My mom, sister and I were waiting for her at home and when she got to the front step, slipped in snow and fell back. My mom and I were doubled over laughing while my sister and dad were helping her up. My sister was mad and asked us why we were laughing and we both replied “We thought she was in a wheelchair!” Why we thought that was funny, I don’t know. Why we both said that independently of each other, I don’t know either but I know remembering the whole thing, I’m laughing like crazy. I need help.

I mentioned to Mike I hadn’t seen “Home Alone” yet and he noted that we have Netflix and I could probably find it on there. I guess but then I would have to figure out how to use the TV downstairs and figure out the different remotes. I’m too lazy. I’ll wait to see it when it comes on TV. I can work the TV remote.  I would ask Kathryn to help me but that would involve some eye-rolling and some discussion about how there might be something wrong with me since I can’t learn the equipment. I’m trying to have a holly, jolly Christmas so I’ll avoid that situation.

So tonight, I will pick one of the songs from my favorite Christmas movie. The soundtrack isn’t a classic but I sure believe the movie is one.

With this morning’s icy weather forcing everyone to stay put, it was a perfect time to try and tackle the Christmas card project.  Usually I sit down with a glass of wine and get on it but since I started at 10am, I swapped out the wine for coffee.

I feel like my address book is an episode of “This is Your Life” as it takes me through my early adult life to the present day.  Seeing the names of those no longer here makes me a bit melancholy but it’s also an opportunity to remember them and reminisce. Each year I tell myself I should get a new address book but it is hard to let go of the people in this one.

Where I mess myself up in card writing is my unorthodox method (of madness) to where people get placed in the book. For some reason, I’ve kept all my female friends under the first letter of their maiden name. I have the married name too, but outside of the few that married someone with the same beginning letter of their maiden name, most of them are not under the correct letter. Usually this doesn’t cause a problem because I’m so used to this system but this morning (maybe because of the lack of wine) I drove myself crazy looking for addresses under the wrong letter. Might be time to re-do that system.

It’s always a treat to see pictures of everyone’s family, even of those I see now on Facebook. I can’t believe how the kids have grown yet truly, in my mind, we adults are still the same age. I only see the kids growing, not that adults aging. I admire how some people are able to get good pictures of their family. It’s always a challenge with us. When we would try and take one of all the kids, there was always one who was looking the wrong way or looked just plain weird. Guess that’s why Photoshop was invented.

As I was doing the cards today, The Carpenter’s song “Merry Christmas Darling” was playing in my mind. Like all Christmas songs, it’s been done by others but their version is the go to for me. Karen Carpenter had such a beautiful voice.

Tonight Mike and I were out at Happy Hour with friends and we got discussing the latest must-have gift, maHatchimals. These are some sort of egg thing that you hatch by loving it, talking to it etc.  The box comes with two different possible animals on it and you don’t know what you will get until it hatches. It is the biggest toy craze and is selling for hundreds of dollars, if you can find one.

This toy reminded us of Furby. Kristina really wanted a Furby. She got one and immediately dropped it on the sidewalk outside of our house and broke it. Someone gave her another one and things seemed to be going okay until she showed up in our bedroom one night crying. When we asked what was wrong, she said that Furby would not stop talking. We went to her room to get it and she’d put it in her bottom dresser drawer as far back as it would go. Despite being buried in clothes; you could still hear it. These new things seem like they might become the modern day Furby – torturing children from the depths of their dressers.

Seems like when you get to be old, there aren’t those kind of must-have items. I guess maybe new phones make adults nutty. I’m still trying to learn my phone I’ve had for over a year so I’m hardly the one dying for the latest version. I’m supposed to have figured out my Christmas list for Mike. I can’t think of much I truly need or really want. Same with him. One year when we asked him what he wanted for Christmas, he made the mistake of saying he needed new shoelaces. We’ve never let him forget that humble request.

I’m sure I will think of something over the next day or two (nothing like waiting until the last minute) but really, a great evening out with friends like we had tonight, getting together with family or even just a day when nothing is required of me would be the great gift.  Ah, the simple pleasures that being an adult can bring.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1UxGs9MXLM

We just got back from Kathryn’s band concert. She came out before the concert in her band dress and declared she looked like “a Duggar going to a funeral.” I tried to say she looked classy but she didn’t buy it.

Like so many other places in the US, the weather is quite chilly yet the auditorium at the school could have doubled as a sauna. They should have asked for a donation for the extra spa treatment we all got. Everyone was a glow with rosy red checks. People pay for that!

Tonight is another song that could be played any time during the winter yet we only hear it Christmas. This version is off Amy Grant’s new Christmas album.

In my cubicle at work, I have this quote printed out:

When things seem crazy, I look at it to remind myself to get a grip. Even if I never get past the first item, I figure I’m doing well. Today it seemed like there was sadness all over my various friend’s Facebook walls – sick pets, friends of friends losing battles with cancer, break ups and other heartaches. After reading a few of those during lunch, I glanced up at my mantra and thought about my blessings.

I have a house to go to each day and with the frigid weather will be arriving, I appreciate it all the more.  I have a great family, wonderful friends and coworkers I not only respect but like personally as well. I have food to eat each day and a car to get around. I have my health, a warm dog to sleep with each night and most days, have at least one belly laugh. I’m blessed.

So tonight I picked one of those songs that could be played any time of year, but you only hear it at Christmas. I choose the Johnny Mathis one for my friend Alice, who loves his Christmas music. There’s sort of a creepy picture at the beginning but it does get better -promise.

Tonight Kathryn and I went to see How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical. We were in the second row, pretty much smack in the middle. Great seats for a great show. Colorful, funny and well played, we thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks to my sister for giving us the tickets. Really a treat. Before the show, we went downtown a bit early and walked through the Holiday Market that runs along F street this time of year. Lots of interesting vendors were down there before we had dinner and then off to the show. Fun to be in the city at Christmastime.

As with most events or activities, I find the best part is the other people around you. There were four young professionals in front of us. Kathryn described them as the kind of pretentious people others mock. She was on the money in that description. The theater is very strict about taking pictures and one of the men in front of us held up his adult sippy cup, as he called it quite accurately, to read what was printed on it. The usher thought he was taking a picture and came over to yell at him. He didn’t take kindly to that although the rest of his group laughed it off. He was yammering on and on and then described himself as a “branding expect.” I wanted to lean over and say how his words and actions seemed to have branded him a top notch a-hole but I refrained. I try to be on my best behavior when I’m out with Kathryn.

There really wasn’t much signage about the no photo policy but the ushers were, as I said, right on it. When we came in a woman and her son were having the photo taken by the stage by another theater goer. They got yelled at and sat down. Then we heard the usher yelling at them again, telling them she’d already told them about the no photo policy. Selfies are photos too; in case anyone was wondering. A teenager came and sat next to me right before the show started and immediately took a picture of the stage and posted it. The usher didn’t see her but both Kathryn and I were expecting another verbal smack down.

The best was the woman behind us. I put her in her mid-50’s. She is quite the Grinch lover and recited most of the words throughout the show. Luckily, most of the time the music was too loud but sometimes she was too slow or fast for the music, and you could hear her loud and clear. In parts with no music, she was clear as a bell. When it was time for the curtain calls, she was screaming her appreciation. As we were walking to the Metro, she was in our crowd, reciting the whole thing again. It was going to be a long ride home for that family. 🙂

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35WgpMq6e3o

Today at our department holiday lunch, I was talking about yesterday’s homily at church regarding preparing yourself for Christmas. Some of the ideas shared at church were to reach out to people in need. Maybe it was just a phone call or maybe a meal but to try and see a need and fill it. It doesn’t take much to change someone’s day.

I’m always impressed with the generous spirit of my friends. My friend Mary makes centerpieces for a retirement home that get more and more elaborate each year. She makes 40 or 50 of them while working 50+ hours most weeks. It’s not small feat get them done by herself, yet she never disappoints the residents.  And it’s not just the creating but the purchasing of all the things that make up the piece. It’s quite a commitment.

I see the kindness of people giving to other families via the Angel Tree program at our church. The number of bikes and other large gifts is truly a sight to see. I see other friends collecting food and other items for families, vets and the homeless. It really is a wonderful time of giving and caring.

And then there are those people out there that stun you with their actions. The ones you hear who rob the Salvation Army kettles or steal from Toys for Tots collection locations. Just this past weekend a friend and her Girl Scout troop went “Caroling for Cans” in her neighborhood. The went door to door singing and collecting food. She said half the food they received was expired and one item, actually expired in 2000 – before the girls collecting the food were even born. Come on! Don’t open the door or say you have nothing to offer but don’t dump that stuff on them. When Kathryn was part of that troop, we went caroling one year and a few of the people that came out tried to give us money – anything to get us off the porch! I’m not sure caroling is a tradition everywhere around the world. 

One of my all-time favorite Christmas songs is “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.”  Love this music-only version in particular. O come and join the generosity of the season – big or small –join the spirit and make someone’s day.

Today we light the pink candle on the Advent wreath. This one represents joy. We are joyful for the coming of the birth of Christ. We are supposed to be using this time to prepare our hearts. As the priest pointed out, the true reason for Christmas is usually the last thing on our minds this time of year. We are so busy baking, shopping, decorating and going to parties, we have no time to truly prepare for Christmas.

This year I feel like I’m either in control or so out of control, I don’t know it. It’s a fine line. I’ve partially done everything – the shopping, the baking, the decorating but I’m not feeling too stressed. Only wo weeks to go. That is what is making me nervous – am I fooling myself that this year it won’t be too nutty?

I believe part of this is it gets easier at the kids get older. There’s still an expectation to maintain the Christmas activities they enjoy, but the pressure is off. Maybe the relief of not doing the whole Santa thing is the difference. I’m not sure. Kathryn still prepares a list but instead of the 20 page PowerPoint (10 of which were always barnyard animals she thought we should get) it is now in Google docs. The beauty of this is that I can write comments on stuff she puts on the list.

She wants to get her cartilage pierced. She had explained that it isn’t good to use a gun and you have to go to a tattoo parlor or something to have it done. I wrote next to this item “After a few drinks, I will take care of this for you.” She did not find that funny and told me I was not supposed to be commenting. I didn’t know the rules. I looked at the list once and got the idea of what she was hoping for only to find out she keeps adding stuff. Again, I didn’t know the rules – you have to check it every day.  Of course I appreciate all the ideas. 🙂

Tonight I’ve picked Amy Grant’s “I Need a Silent Night” for everyone who is feeling the stress or for people like me who are in denial!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRSSsNbF29I

Growing up, my parents took us regularly to hear live music and to see shows and plays. In addition to shows on the big stages, we saw a lot of community theater productions that my dad’s friends were in. As an adult, my dad and I had a tradition to go see the musical at the end of the season at Wolf Trap.  I feel very fortunate to have had those experiences and I wanted to pass that along to my kids.

My first effort was with my older three step kids. We took them to see a shorten version of The Nutcracker by a local ballet company. I enjoyed every bit of it while they felt it was the longest event in history. Our niece, who’d gone with us reported it was long and her cousin Matthew picked his nose during the show. Not exactly the experience I was hoping for us all but a typical Motley one.

I’ve taken Kathryn to see The Nutcracker as well. We’ve seen the normal ballet and then one time saw a puppet show of it. The puppets were practically life-size and it was creepy. Despite that misfire, Kathryn is more open to going to see things. She and I have gone to a number of high school productions in the area as well as shows at the Olney Theater.  She and I have gone to see her musical favorites from when she was little and it was The Wiggles to more currently New Direction and Ed Sheeran. Tuesday we are headed downtown to see the musical How the Grinch Stole Christmas thanks to tickets my sister gave us. We are both looking forward to it.

The Nutcracker is really a great ballet with wonderful music. I just love the whole thing. I’ve seen friends perform in it and my childhood babysitter was a ballerina who studied at the Washington School of Ballet. After we went to bed, she would put on her pointe shoes and practice on the hard wood floor in our living room. I can remember lying in bed listening to her dance. We attended a few of her performances, including The Nutcracker.

Today I was home alone for a while and took advantage of the opportunity to play The Nutcracker soundtrack. If you ever have the chance to see it, go. Even if ballet isn’t your thing – it is a magical show. All the music and dancing is great, but this is a favorite of mine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOARfu8modE

Every year we add an ornament or two to our collection representing some trip or event of the year. Not that we need any more ornaments, but it is a great way to share a good memory year to year. We add these new ornaments to the old ones, never thinking of replacing the older ones now falling apart that the kids made years ago. The macaroni might be breaking for falling off the ones from pre-school, but they still hold a special place on the tree each year.

Earlier in the year, I put up a thistle feeder to try and lure the neighborhood goldfinches to our house. I was quite successful and at times, there would be 10 beautiful yellow birds on the feeder. While in PA earlier this fall, my sister and I went into a small shop and they had some beautiful quilled bird ornaments. I bought a  pretty goldfinch one to celebrate my great success getting them to my feeder. We shopped a few other places and we were putting our purchases in the back of Kathleen’s car as we went along.  When we got home, I couldn’t find the ornament. It weighs almost nothing and it is small so it could have easily been misplaced but of course, I knew my sister had taken it. I didn’t know why but obviously, she wasn’t giving it back. So, I went ahead and called the shop and ordered a new one.

This morning Mike found the original ornament in a plastic bag that had been put in our bag recycling cabinet. Guess it seemed like there wasn’t anything in the bag and it got put in with the other empty ones. Now I have a double reminder of my birding success and Kathleen is off the hook for taking it.

I’m just kidding about her – she was never a suspect.

In addition to my goldfinch ornament, I bought an ornament of the iconic big red London telephone booths so we can remember our trip there this summer. Smokey doesn’t know it but we have a little kit to make an ornament from his paw print. He’s really going to hate that but it can’t be a worst experience than tonight’s photo shoot with Albert (the Guinea pig).

Tonight, instead of a song, I would encourage everyone to listen to any of David Sedaris’ Christmas stories (easily found on YouTube). Here’s a link for Santaland Diaries. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yu8QfIC5fhI)  Like Albert and Smokey, Sedaris got to wear an elf costume. He worked at Macy’s Santaland. This is truly is one of the best things I’ve ever read/heard. We even have a few ornaments from when we visited Santa there. Enjoy!