The Meaning Of Ornaments

I do love Christmas tree ornaments. One of our traditions is letting the kids pick out one ornament every year to add to the tree. As a result, I think we'll need to upgrade to a bigger tree next year! Anyways, I usually put the year that they picked them on the bottom of each ornament. Every year they put their own ornaments on the tree and usually the stories surrounding how they came to pick each are told.

We also remember other ornaments each year. The ones we get from family and friends. I have many special ornaments and cherish them all. The one pictured above is from one of my most special friends. She and I have been friends for eleven years now. We are so alike in many ways. We understand each other so well and I am lucky to have her in my life. People come in and out of our lives. The ones that stay are gifts from God. So when I see that glass heart on my tree along with all the other ornaments, I remember all the gifts in my life.

Baking Galore

The kids and I did our Xmas baking yesterday. My son rolled the peanut butter kiss cookies, my daughter rolled the ginger snaps, and we worked together on the sugar cookies which, obviously, are their favorite because there's decorating involved.

Xmas Xtravaganza With The Office Bitches

Every year since I've worked in my office, we "office bitches" (as I fondly refer to us), have our Xmas Xtravaganza. Basically, it's a night on the town consisting of dinner, lots of drinking, and a barrel of laughs. This year, I must say, was one for the books. We began at 6:30 in the evening and didn't get home until after two in the morning. We all wore gaudy jewelry. Sitting at the table, you would have seen Christmas pins, big ugly beads, snowflake garland, shells, a Santa hat, and, well, I guess you'd call it a clit clip!!!! Frickin hilarious. We managed to make a few heads turn, a few eyes roll, and a few grins to appear on strangers' faces. DIDN'T CARE!!!

What I kept thinking before and after our little shindig was how happy I am to have a group of girlfriends in my life. I went several years without a group of girlfriends to hang out with. My husband and I moved around a lot in the first years of our marriage so I never really had time to bond with anyone. I can laugh and cry with these girls. They listen to me, laugh at me (notice I said "at me" and not "with me"), watch my dog when I travel, and have even babysat my kids on occasion. I appreciate them everyday but especially when things are not going too well in other parts of my life. I can remain grumpy for an entire five minutes in their presence before I'm laughing my mascara off! Believe me. I have never gone through so many bottles of mascara in my life!!! Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion and I love doing it with the office bitches. They make me smile, make my heart warm, and I know I'm never alone.

Merry Christmas to my wacky girlfriends and to yours. May we always laugh through tears, turn heads, be obnoxious, and be there for each other. I think Ralph Waldo Emerson summed it up pretty darn good when he said, "It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them."

...Yep, that be us.

Ahhh....Peace and Quiet

Right now, I'm sitting on my couch with all the lights off except the Christmas ones. It's completely quiet now that the family is all snug in their beds. I've had such a crazy day, trying to finish up everything that had to be done at work so I could take tomorrow off. Now I'm enjoying the serenity of this moment. Have you ever been lucky enough to enjoy one of these moments yourself? I know. It doesn't happen often. That's why we have to soak it all in when we do. Instead of thinking of all the crap I had to get done at work today, I'm thinking about how greatful I am for heat (it's minus four degrees outside tonight WITHOUT wind chill), for the paycheck in the bank(it's payday today), and wishing I had wine in the house right now (I'm not gonna lie!). Well, two out of three ain't so bad.

In any case, I'm still feeling peaceful and grateful. Ahhh...until next my next random thought, good night.

The Holidays Have Begun

Ahhh...It's December. Now I can feel good about shopping, decorating, Christmas music, and Christmas movies. I think it's a sin to do any of the above until the calendar rolls over to December (except maybe the shopping if I find a good deal).

So two Christmas things happened tonight. First, I attended my first holiday party at work. I've been there for almost five years and have never went. Why not, you may ask? I don't have a good reason. Perhaps laziness. I told my husband he was coming with me but in the end he bailed. Not really his bag. For a quick moment I thought about being a no-show again this year but then I thought, "Don't be silly!" Well, I'm here to say that I'm glad I did because the food was splendid and I won a $50 giftcard to a local grocery store. BONUS!! Beginner's luck, I'm sure.

Second, I watched The Polar Express. The first time I watched this movie, it was on a big screen TV with surround sound. It was so amazing and ever since it has been one of my favorite Christmas movies. It's all the wonder and excitment of Christmas. I find myself sitting inches away from the TV with my mouth wide open. My family says this is how they know when I really like a movie. Anyways, while I'm on the subject, here's a list of my favorite holiday movies:

1. The Polar Express
2. Christmas Vacation
3. Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer
4. A Christmas Story
5. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (original and the Jim Carey version)
6. It's a Wonderful Life

I know. Pretty standard but they are a must for me this time of year. In fact, I think I'll go watch one now!

Family Traveling

Well, time to travel again for a holiday. We are a family who is spread out all over the place so staying put for the holidays almost never happens. That's fine, I guess, but does this sound familiar? Wake up super early, gulp down coffee, hop in the shower. Of course it's a bad hair morning and the makeup just isn't going on like it should. And let's not forget that zit that hasn't shown its face in many months and decides to make its appearance just in time to see the in-laws. Next, holler at the kids to get out of bed or we will not get on the road on time. This is strange for kids who, just the night before, were bouncing around and talking nonstop out of excitement for this moment to get here. Now, nothing. No movement. No nonstop talking. Ugh!

Finally we all get into the vehicle and run a final verbal checklist before we throw it in reverse. All lights off? Check. Thermostat turned down? Check. Toothbrushes packed? Check. Did you (the kids) brush your teeth? No. Well, too late now. You can brush them at the hotel when we get there. Let's just go!

Things go pretty smoothly for the first part of the trip. The kids might even fall asleep which is a parent's road trip dream come true. Halfway there, you stop for lunch, potty break, and stretching. Get back in the car and life is still pretty good. Maybe some more dozing off. Some good tunage on the radio. Mmmm...

Yeah. Then the games begin. Fighting from the backseat.

"Get your feet off my side of the backseat, you tard!"
"Do you have to chew your gum like that? God! You're so annoying!"
"No, you're annoying. You keep singing with your ipod."
"Shutup!"
"No, you shut up!"
"You better watch it or I'll beat the crap out of you!"

This is where my husband just sees my ass as I lean over the seat.

"Hey! That's enough! Come on, you two. We're almost there. Stay on your side of the car. What? I don't care if your legs are cramped, you are putting your feet in your brother's face! What did I just say? Just quit talking if you can't be nice to each other. I've about had it. ENOUGH! Are you talking back to me?"

The ebb and flow of sibling rivalry continues as we zoom down the interstate at 75 miles an hour. Eventually I have to stop leaning over the seat because I've become car sick from facing backwards so many times. They're not listening anyways. I block them out until they tire out.

Finally we are there! The hotel is in sight. Soon, the kids will be running around with their cousins and the grown ups will be drinking a couple beers and catching up. The next few days will consist of several family gatherings and lots of laughs and, suddenly, you realize that this is why you put up with the traveling and it's all worth it.

Until the ride home!

Ribollita - Tuscan Bean Soup

I enjoy cooking and trying new recipes. This is one of my favorite soups to make. It actually ends up like a stoup, as Rachel Ray would say. Part stew, part soup. This is a recipe I saw on her show and it's definitely one of my all time favorite things to make in the fall and winter.

RIBOLLITA
2 tbsp olive oil
4 garlic cloves, chopped
1 onion, chopped
2 carrots, diced
2 celery ribs, chopped
1 bayleaf
2 cans (15.5 oz) small white beans (I use Great Northerns)
6 cups chicken stock
2 cups tomato sauce
3 cups stale Italian bread, cut into squares, no crust (about 1/2 loaf)
1 cup parmesan or parmesan blend

In a pot heat olive oil and add garlic, onion, carrots, celery, and bay leaf. Add salt and pepper. Add beans, stock, and tomato sauce. Bring to a boil. Add bread. Soup should be so thick, a wooden spoon sticks up straight in it. Serve with sprinkle of onions, olive oil, and parm cheese in each bowl. (I only add the cheese and sometimes onions).

Easy peasy and sooo good.

It Saves to Call

I know what it's like to be at work and get THAT call. The person on the other end who is upset because they're not getting what they want. I admit that when a person starts with an attitude, it's hard to help them. I want to say, "call back when you're nicer," and slam the phone down. So when I got our Charter bill and it was almost $40 more than usual, I myself became THAT call.

Initially that is. I decided I didn't want to be that way so I stewed over the situation for several days. I made the call today. I explained what had happened, that I didn't want to pay that much when I know others aren't, and that I wanted to know my options. I was careful not to cop a tude. The lady on the other end put me on hold for a while and then came back with a deal I couldn't refuse. My same bundle plus HBO for $50 less a month. Hot damn! I immediately said, "yes please," and sealed the deal. I also remembered to thank her for being so helpful. I think I heard her smile through the phone when she said, "you're welcome. Have a nice day." I had successfully avoided being THAT call and scored a deal too.

Moral of the story...be nice to those people who answer phones all day for a living. Many times you'll end up with a win-win ending.

Well, here goes nothing

So. My first posting on my new blog. I still don't know where I'm going with this but at least I decided on a title! I have a few friends who have blogs and I kept thinking what a neat idea it was to have a space to share bits and pieces of your life with others. I find myself both turned off and intrigued with all this technology and on-line stuff. Intrigue won, I guess. Keep coming back from time to time to see how this evolves and maybe get a good laugh every now and again!