Monday, December 24, 2007
Santa Came!!!
Twas the day before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring not even a mouse. When suddenly P woke and saw something outside, so she jabbed her hub K and it hurt, so he cried. "There's a package on the porch K, do you think that its true, has our luggage come back from Timbuktu?" So out of the bedroom K flew like a flash, threw open the door and let out a gasp. He got so excited he tripped up the stairs, "it IS our luggage P!" (she was washing her hair). "Well go get it!" she said, cause she needed clean drawers, so K lept down the stairs and threw open the doors. He snatched up the luggage, with exuberant might, he had never quite seen such a beautiful sight. He took the bag up to the room where they stay, opened it up and saw all was ok. P's clean drawers were there, and his legwarmers too, the camera, the presents, and P's jeans that are blue. "All is here!" K yelled, "what a wonderful day, let's now go and celebrate the northwesterners way!" So they did, and that is what they are doing right now, so this post has to end, seriously, don't have a cow!
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Post.Christmas.Program.Reflections
Here are things that invariably happen at *every* church produced Christmas program:
1. Like an unstoppable contagion, the under-5 kids wave at their parents. The parents gush and wave back, only to restart the entire process over again. This waving goes on until the under-5 portion of the program is over.
2. A little girl in the front row, wearing a velvet, maroon dress, proceeds to lift it over her head intermittently throughout the entire program. She sways whilst she does this for no apparent reason at all.
3. The youngest kids forget a majority of the poem/song they are to recite, probably from all of the excitement from waving, until one kid (my nephew) remembers his line and shouts it above all others. The friends of the child's parents turn with a thumb up, smile at the parents, and mouth "that's yours!!!"
4. Grandpa falls asleep, son in law jabs him in the gut with robust pleasure
5. Disaffected father types on his blackberry until he realizes that everyone around him is standing and clapping at the close of the program. In an attempt to recover for his inattentiveness, stands up and begins to clap louder than everyone else, indicating if only to his wife that he was, in fact, a negligent audience member. Disaffected father proceeds to spend the night on the couch, warmed by the luminescent glow of his digital companion.
6. Nephew turns to uncle and says to him "I have to poo-poo," uncle hands nephew to nearest closer relative to take care of the job.
7. Parents stumble over one another to take pictures of these precious moments. People sitting closest to the aisle ponder tripping them as they walk past.
8. Pastor makes an insecure joke about how the kids draw more of a crowd than he does. The audience laughs because they think he is really joking, when is not, after all.
9. The phrase "Jesus is the Reason for the Season" and every other gimmicky correlative is recited more times than can be counted.
10. Littlest kids resort to singing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus because they can remember that, and they do it very well.
11. The phrase "wasn't that just wonderful" is recited more times than can be counted.
12. There is a live reenactment of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. They just stand there as the kids sing about them. No lines, nothing. They look awkward and once their job is done, they return to their seats, or somewhere else they belong. They stare down at the sometimes live baby for an inordinate amount of time.
13. The shepherds do something obnoxious with their staffs, whether it is hit one another with them or play air guitar
14. A fat child with a terrible voice gets a solo because it is Christmas after all. Son in law tries not to laugh, but cannot help it because the child sings with such focused intensity. some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this, after all.
15. A pre-pubescent boy sings a song in a vocal range that makes the girls think he is one of them. He also looks awkward.
16. We all talk about what role our kid, or kids we know, will play next year. This always leads to a reflection on what role your kids used to play. Son in law contemplates running into traffic.
17. Cameras are misplaced because someone else always has a better shot that you just must have.
18. Cute niece dances during all of the songs. Well, she bends her knees and flails her arms, which is a smoother dance than most who admire her could accomplish.
19. Pastor gifts are given. Pastor attempts to deflect the attention, but cannot help himself. He hugs his wife affectionately, smiles obnoxiously, and makes a non-verbal gesture back to the kids. He even invites them to lead the final song. Secretly, he wishes that the present was monetary rather than a bad floral arrangement that he will likely throw away before the week is over.
20. The program is too long for toddlers who are all asleep on parents, or other affiliates shoulders, as they make their way to the exit.
1. Like an unstoppable contagion, the under-5 kids wave at their parents. The parents gush and wave back, only to restart the entire process over again. This waving goes on until the under-5 portion of the program is over.
2. A little girl in the front row, wearing a velvet, maroon dress, proceeds to lift it over her head intermittently throughout the entire program. She sways whilst she does this for no apparent reason at all.
3. The youngest kids forget a majority of the poem/song they are to recite, probably from all of the excitement from waving, until one kid (my nephew) remembers his line and shouts it above all others. The friends of the child's parents turn with a thumb up, smile at the parents, and mouth "that's yours!!!"
4. Grandpa falls asleep, son in law jabs him in the gut with robust pleasure
5. Disaffected father types on his blackberry until he realizes that everyone around him is standing and clapping at the close of the program. In an attempt to recover for his inattentiveness, stands up and begins to clap louder than everyone else, indicating if only to his wife that he was, in fact, a negligent audience member. Disaffected father proceeds to spend the night on the couch, warmed by the luminescent glow of his digital companion.
6. Nephew turns to uncle and says to him "I have to poo-poo," uncle hands nephew to nearest closer relative to take care of the job.
7. Parents stumble over one another to take pictures of these precious moments. People sitting closest to the aisle ponder tripping them as they walk past.
8. Pastor makes an insecure joke about how the kids draw more of a crowd than he does. The audience laughs because they think he is really joking, when is not, after all.
9. The phrase "Jesus is the Reason for the Season" and every other gimmicky correlative is recited more times than can be counted.
10. Littlest kids resort to singing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus because they can remember that, and they do it very well.
11. The phrase "wasn't that just wonderful" is recited more times than can be counted.
12. There is a live reenactment of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. They just stand there as the kids sing about them. No lines, nothing. They look awkward and once their job is done, they return to their seats, or somewhere else they belong. They stare down at the sometimes live baby for an inordinate amount of time.
13. The shepherds do something obnoxious with their staffs, whether it is hit one another with them or play air guitar
14. A fat child with a terrible voice gets a solo because it is Christmas after all. Son in law tries not to laugh, but cannot help it because the child sings with such focused intensity. some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this, after all.
15. A pre-pubescent boy sings a song in a vocal range that makes the girls think he is one of them. He also looks awkward.
16. We all talk about what role our kid, or kids we know, will play next year. This always leads to a reflection on what role your kids used to play. Son in law contemplates running into traffic.
17. Cameras are misplaced because someone else always has a better shot that you just must have.
18. Cute niece dances during all of the songs. Well, she bends her knees and flails her arms, which is a smoother dance than most who admire her could accomplish.
19. Pastor gifts are given. Pastor attempts to deflect the attention, but cannot help himself. He hugs his wife affectionately, smiles obnoxiously, and makes a non-verbal gesture back to the kids. He even invites them to lead the final song. Secretly, he wishes that the present was monetary rather than a bad floral arrangement that he will likely throw away before the week is over.
20. The program is too long for toddlers who are all asleep on parents, or other affiliates shoulders, as they make their way to the exit.
Holiday Shenanigans
Our more devoted readers will no doubt remember a post I click-clacked this past summer that discussed the baggage-based mishaps that occurred when we returned to Illinois from Oregon. For those of you who aren't aware of this post, or, lack the memory or inclination to look at older posts, shame on you. Anyhow, on our way back from Oregon this past summer our baggage was misplaced, and since we were "out of delivery range" it had to be shipped Fed Ex a couple of days later [sigh]. It was a huge hassle, but it happens. whatever.
Upon arriving IN Oregon yesterday evening, we had the wonderful pleasure of finding that P's bag was again misplaced. It is now nearly twenty-four hours later and we have still not been contacted by an airline baggage representative. This means that at the present moment, nobody knows where our bag is, could be in Bangladesh for all we know. The joke of it is that we used the exact same luggage that was lost the first time, so this rolling blue duffle bag is 2 for 2 in terms of getting lost in the fold. Is this bad luck or bad karma? I am going with luck, since I know that if anyone has something coming to them karma-wise, it is not P, but myself. Still, I feel sick over the loss, is that weird?
Uh-oh, gotta jet. The niece and nephew are performing in a Christmas play. Stay posted.
Upon arriving IN Oregon yesterday evening, we had the wonderful pleasure of finding that P's bag was again misplaced. It is now nearly twenty-four hours later and we have still not been contacted by an airline baggage representative. This means that at the present moment, nobody knows where our bag is, could be in Bangladesh for all we know. The joke of it is that we used the exact same luggage that was lost the first time, so this rolling blue duffle bag is 2 for 2 in terms of getting lost in the fold. Is this bad luck or bad karma? I am going with luck, since I know that if anyone has something coming to them karma-wise, it is not P, but myself. Still, I feel sick over the loss, is that weird?
Uh-oh, gotta jet. The niece and nephew are performing in a Christmas play. Stay posted.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Four Years Ago. . .
It is a rare gift to be married to your best friend who blesses each day with abundant love and laughter.
Happy Anniversary P, I love you!
Happy Anniversary P, I love you!
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Holiday Happenings
In the blur of the last few weeks of the semester, we have left out several of the fun things we have done around the area. The week before Thanksgiving, we got to go up to Chicago and watch the lighting ceremony. We went up early in the day to get lunch and visit the outlets in the suburbs. We then rode the "L" into the city where we got to enjoy the first sights and sounds of Christmas. The Marshall Fields building on State Street in downtown Chicago has a tradition of decorating their window displays with a thematic Christmas scene. This year was an impressive version of the Nutcracker Story (I will post pictures). We then followed the crowds down Michigan Avenue where we enjoyed a meal at Buca di Beppo. On our way out of the restaurant we found that we could not get through the revolving doors onto Michigan Avenue because the street was so crowded--somebody thought it would be fun to set a world record for largest caroling group. Anyway, we shopped on Michigan Avenue and then watched a parade where Mickey Mouse waved his wand and block by block lit up. The grand finale was an impressive display of fireworks near the Wrigley Building over the Chicago river. After the fireworks we got some hot chocolate and headed home.
The following week we headed the opposite direction to St. Louis to watch a St. Louis Rams versus Seahawks game. After a scary first half...and a nailbiting finish...the Seahawks won. Hooray!
So...this pretty well brings us up to date in terms of the holiday festivities. As always, our neighborhoods are decked out with crazy lights and lawn art. Next week we will be having our annual book exchange Christmas party.
The following week we headed the opposite direction to St. Louis to watch a St. Louis Rams versus Seahawks game. After a scary first half...and a nailbiting finish...the Seahawks won. Hooray!
So...this pretty well brings us up to date in terms of the holiday festivities. As always, our neighborhoods are decked out with crazy lights and lawn art. Next week we will be having our annual book exchange Christmas party.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Introducing "Loki"
A couple of posts ago, I relayed sad news about my parents' Westie Hobson. I am happy to write in this post, however, that my parents have rescued an orphan Westie puppy named Loki. I have been told that Loki is a bit smaller than Hobson, loves to cuddle, loves to run and play, and is a bit precocious. He seems to have brought my parents a significant amount of joy and we are happy that they were able to provide him a safe home.
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