Early Christmas Eve…
8 am Chicago time. It’s about 32 degrees and drizzling the best icy rain you can get anywhere in the midwest. I know all around us gets snow but we get rain that freezes everything in its place. It looks pretty, covering all in a transparent shell, but it is hell to walk or drive on. Still, it’s peaceful. I’m inside though. In a few hours the two day blitz starts and for my kids this year they have three days of travel…it just worked that way. They are ready. We stayed up late making food for the days to come, mock chicken legs (its a polack thing–so delicious–always tweaking the formula trying to get them to taste just like my dads–they never do), pierogis, apple slices, cookies, the usual, just like you!…so I am enjoying the silence for a few more minutes. Drinking some coffee, of course, just thinking about…how nice it all is. To be mostly healthy, mostly happy and able to enjoy the small things, not just today, but everyday. I’m not really religious or spiritual much, but I wish the same for you. Have a safe journey if you are traveling around, or a nice warm drink for me if you’re not!, and thanks for spending a few minutes with me and mine today!
Yes, it's a white tree. Hello...Polish....we like it. And it fits in our limited space! It's pretty when its lit up which you will see later today. We keep the lights on all night tonight....
Today is the first day of Christmas in my world
UPDATE 12/17/09: I am finally done with this semester of school! And I am registered for January. Stress, money, stress, books, stress, start studying NOW for next semester(that’s basically what they told us today), stress…my point is that I obviously wrote this in the throes of desperation for panicked finals and four tests in a row. I am appalled at all my bad grammar and weird use of words (melee’ ?? WTF? I don’t even remember typing that word!) I never say it out loud! So strange. But I’m leaving it. For fun I thought you could read it and tell me how many errors I made! Best, most creative slap down gets a shout out and…I don’t know…something. Maybe a free vital sign check-up?!? It’s hard to give stuff away when I am here and you are wherever you are! Ok…go!
If you are like me, and I bet most of you are these days…you have divorced parents. And you have been traveling to various families for most of the holidays for most of your childhood. And then YOU got married, had kids, and got divorced, and now you have two, three, four, five….etc…MORE families to travel too during the holidays. And even if you managed to get out of a few visits in the melee’ these days, your kids haven’t. Their just starting the roller coaster of holiday family dinners and fun that defines our holiday memories and ideas. Personally, for me, my dream is to have enough money to leave Chicago the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and not come back until after New Years, to a country that doesn’t celebrate the holidays. Or at least one that has a beach and an ocean as its primary geological features. My last thoughts were the Maldive islands. Any and all are welcome to come with me. I’ll even pay. Tahiti is my second choice. Just imagine yourself in the South Pacific, water so clear you can see right to the bottom, warm breeze and temperate weather, and you are in your own bungalow high above the water, relaxing on the deck with a steaming cup of exotic coffee, planning a day that has nothing to do with snow or sweaters or candy or decorations or presents or giant dinners of ham and turkey and pie….and all your family is there with you, happy and getting along, tan and healthy and relaxed…it’s a lottery dream. Trust me, I know. So today starts Christmas with my dad’s side of the family. It’s fun, actually, but the dream remains….
Merry Christmas Everybody!
just shy of pretty 