Well, Christmas is over and all through the house,
the only creatures stirring are my bird and my cat but no mouse.
The family has left, left me in peace!
The new year will start with the company of me.
It's lovely these days, with the gifts all taken
and the tv is silent, not a noise is it makin'.
I love my dear family, don't get me wrong,
but when we are all together its a dance and a song.
My soul longs for quiet, for stillness and rest,
and thankfully now I'm getting the best!
I hope your New Year comes in with a crash,
I'll likely be sleeping avoiding the bash.
Best wishes to you as you start
your next trip round the sun.
I hope it is full of joy and of fun.
I think I'll end this little poem about now.
Hope you enjoyed it, please tell me how!
Friday, December 30, 2005
Sunday, December 25, 2005
merry christmas
May your day be filled with joy and love.
Merry Christmas to all, and may God bless us, every one.
Merry Christmas to all, and may God bless us, every one.
Friday, December 23, 2005
seven such things
In lieu of a real post, I give you the Seven Meme. And bonus if anyone can tell me what in the world a meme is.
Seven Things I Want to do Before I Die
1. Visit all seven major continents
2. Publish a book
3. Photograph an elephant and a tiger that are not in a zoo
4. Get married
5. Visit the Holy Land
6. See the Aurora Borealis
7. Have children
Seven Things I Can't Do
1. Cross my eyes
2. Wiggle my ears
3. Blow spit bubbles
4. Speak Spanish
5. Kiss my elbow
6. Understand Greek
7. Make everybody happy
Seven Things I Say Most Often
1. Whatever
2. For the love of Peter, Paul and Mary
3. What's his butt
4. Anywho
5. You're fired
6. Hello, thank you for calling Compassion, this is Sara, how may I help you?
7. You are so adorable
Seven Books I Love (I'm going to cheat a bit here, sorry)
1. All Jane Austen books, especially Persuasion
2. The Lord of the Rings, and all other things by Tolkien
3. Anything by C.S. Lewis, especially the Space Trilogy
4. The Time Quartet by Madeline L'Engle (Wrinkle in Time and the other three)
5. The Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde
6. The Kingdom series by Cynthia Voigt
7. The Pokey Little Puppy, I don't remember the author
Seven Movie I Can Watch Over and Over
1. Thoroughly Modern Millie
2. Lord of the Rings
3. The Green Mile
4. Persuasion
5. 10 Things I Hate About You
6. Serenity
7. The Princess Bride
Seven Places I've Been
1. The top of Pikes Peak , Colorado
2. Macchu Picchu, Peru
3. New York, New York
4. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
5. Four Corners (Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah meeting)
6. The Biosphere, outside Tucson, Arizona
7. Sand Dunes State Park, Colorado
Seven People I Would Have Liked to Met
1. Mother Teresa
2. My Great-Grandmother Gerritzen
3. C.S. Lewis
4. JRR Tolkien
5. Jane Austen
6. Audrey Hepburn
7. Madeline L'Engle (she's not dead but what are my chances of meeting her??)
Seven Things I Want to do Before I Die
1. Visit all seven major continents
2. Publish a book
3. Photograph an elephant and a tiger that are not in a zoo
4. Get married
5. Visit the Holy Land
6. See the Aurora Borealis
7. Have children
Seven Things I Can't Do
1. Cross my eyes
2. Wiggle my ears
3. Blow spit bubbles
4. Speak Spanish
5. Kiss my elbow
6. Understand Greek
7. Make everybody happy
Seven Things I Say Most Often
1. Whatever
2. For the love of Peter, Paul and Mary
3. What's his butt
4. Anywho
5. You're fired
6. Hello, thank you for calling Compassion, this is Sara, how may I help you?
7. You are so adorable
Seven Books I Love (I'm going to cheat a bit here, sorry)
1. All Jane Austen books, especially Persuasion
2. The Lord of the Rings, and all other things by Tolkien
3. Anything by C.S. Lewis, especially the Space Trilogy
4. The Time Quartet by Madeline L'Engle (Wrinkle in Time and the other three)
5. The Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde
6. The Kingdom series by Cynthia Voigt
7. The Pokey Little Puppy, I don't remember the author
Seven Movie I Can Watch Over and Over
1. Thoroughly Modern Millie
2. Lord of the Rings
3. The Green Mile
4. Persuasion
5. 10 Things I Hate About You
6. Serenity
7. The Princess Bride
Seven Places I've Been
1. The top of Pikes Peak , Colorado
2. Macchu Picchu, Peru
3. New York, New York
4. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
5. Four Corners (Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah meeting)
6. The Biosphere, outside Tucson, Arizona
7. Sand Dunes State Park, Colorado
Seven People I Would Have Liked to Met
1. Mother Teresa
2. My Great-Grandmother Gerritzen
3. C.S. Lewis
4. JRR Tolkien
5. Jane Austen
6. Audrey Hepburn
7. Madeline L'Engle (she's not dead but what are my chances of meeting her??)
Saturday, December 17, 2005
beware the germs
Funny the things you notice. As I've thought more and more about joining the Peace Corps, the more I notice the bizarre behavior of my fellow countrymen.
One in particular, a woman I've worked with for years, comes to mind. This woman is one of those people that the vast majority of people would consider slow. She's nice and even sweet but just doesn't catch on or "get it" most of the time. I've never worked closely with her so I don't know her well. Lately, I've seen her in the breakroom a lot.
Every time she comes in, she grabs a napkin from the large stack that sits in a basket next to the sink. She then unfolds it and opens a cupboard, the fridge, turns on the water, etc. She won't touch anything without a napkin.
The funny thing, to me at least, is that the napkin is really no cleaner than anything else in the kitchen. If there are germs on the faucet then they have surly migrated to the stack of napkins only a foot away. People are constantly cooking around those napkins, pawing them to pick up a few, breathing in that general direction.
So what makes those napkins a safe barrier?
I understand OCD and phobias, I know that there are people out there who are seriously afraid of germs. But this woman doesn't quite fit the bill. It's like she heard somewhere about these other people and thought, "Germs are bad, I should take some action," but she didn't grasp the situation fully so her fear is only half-founded. I can't decide if I should point out that the napkins are just as likely to be germ infested as everything else or not. Of course, I'm not going to say anything because her actions are none of my business. If she feels better using a napkin then use the napkin.
Just makes precious little sense to me. Kinda like the other co-worker who insists on using seven paper towels each time she washes her hand. Nevermind that only two of those seven towels absorbs any of the water on her hands, she swears that seven dry better than two.
Ah, America, the land of abundance that has made us stupid. Gotta love it.
****disclaimer: I am in no way wishing to rag on anyone with true OCD or phobias. I know they are real and can be difficult to live with. I'm just noticing all those weird things around us again. So don't take offense, none is meant. Thanks.****
One in particular, a woman I've worked with for years, comes to mind. This woman is one of those people that the vast majority of people would consider slow. She's nice and even sweet but just doesn't catch on or "get it" most of the time. I've never worked closely with her so I don't know her well. Lately, I've seen her in the breakroom a lot.
Every time she comes in, she grabs a napkin from the large stack that sits in a basket next to the sink. She then unfolds it and opens a cupboard, the fridge, turns on the water, etc. She won't touch anything without a napkin.
The funny thing, to me at least, is that the napkin is really no cleaner than anything else in the kitchen. If there are germs on the faucet then they have surly migrated to the stack of napkins only a foot away. People are constantly cooking around those napkins, pawing them to pick up a few, breathing in that general direction.
So what makes those napkins a safe barrier?
I understand OCD and phobias, I know that there are people out there who are seriously afraid of germs. But this woman doesn't quite fit the bill. It's like she heard somewhere about these other people and thought, "Germs are bad, I should take some action," but she didn't grasp the situation fully so her fear is only half-founded. I can't decide if I should point out that the napkins are just as likely to be germ infested as everything else or not. Of course, I'm not going to say anything because her actions are none of my business. If she feels better using a napkin then use the napkin.
Just makes precious little sense to me. Kinda like the other co-worker who insists on using seven paper towels each time she washes her hand. Nevermind that only two of those seven towels absorbs any of the water on her hands, she swears that seven dry better than two.
Ah, America, the land of abundance that has made us stupid. Gotta love it.
****disclaimer: I am in no way wishing to rag on anyone with true OCD or phobias. I know they are real and can be difficult to live with. I'm just noticing all those weird things around us again. So don't take offense, none is meant. Thanks.****
Monday, December 12, 2005
the year of the Grinch
It's December 12th, only 13 days left till Christmas and I'm not in the spirit of things just yet.
It's not for lack of trying. I have bought almost all the presents I'm giving, listened to Christmas carols on the radio, enjoyed the snow and even bought some new lights for the house. But I have no tree, have not hung the lights and the stocking that hangs outside my cube at work makes me want to gag each time I see it. As I pondered my lack of usual Christmas cheer and the cause, I realized that Christmas is no longer Christmas.
You see, there have been Christmas decorations up since before Halloween, Christmas music was playing before Thanksgiving. Stores are bickering over saying Merry Christmas or not and everyone wants me to buy more and more and more.
I think I'm sick of the whole thing.
Christmas is one of my favorite times of year. Not because I get a lot of cool stuff, but because I get to give. And I get to reflect on what has been given to me (and the entire world) in the disguise of a little tiny baby. The whole peace on earth, goodwill towards man resonates deeply with me. That's what I want, truly. More love, more compassion, more grace, and so on.
But what do I get? I get songs about snowmen and reindeer and greedy children who want stuff, about songs saying it's all about spending Christmas with that one hot guy you met last week. I get stores who have Christmas gifts out the wazoo but won't say Merry Christmas. I have neighbors who put up lights a week before Thanksgiving, totally skipping one of the best holiday's this nation has.
So far, I have no presents wrapped (bought, yes, wrapped, no), no tree to decorate, no stocking hung. The spirit of Christmas seems to be missing this year, as if it knew that our nation had deserted it and offered it up on the alter of commerce and profit. So it stayed away.
So, pardon me if I just can't get into the season. Pardon me for wanting something simpler, something truer, something full of joy and love. But don't pardon me for wanting to remember why I celebrate Christmas or for mourning the loss of the meaning of this time. You can call me a grinch if you you want, call me a scrooge, I can take it.
It's not for lack of trying. I have bought almost all the presents I'm giving, listened to Christmas carols on the radio, enjoyed the snow and even bought some new lights for the house. But I have no tree, have not hung the lights and the stocking that hangs outside my cube at work makes me want to gag each time I see it. As I pondered my lack of usual Christmas cheer and the cause, I realized that Christmas is no longer Christmas.
You see, there have been Christmas decorations up since before Halloween, Christmas music was playing before Thanksgiving. Stores are bickering over saying Merry Christmas or not and everyone wants me to buy more and more and more.
I think I'm sick of the whole thing.
Christmas is one of my favorite times of year. Not because I get a lot of cool stuff, but because I get to give. And I get to reflect on what has been given to me (and the entire world) in the disguise of a little tiny baby. The whole peace on earth, goodwill towards man resonates deeply with me. That's what I want, truly. More love, more compassion, more grace, and so on.
But what do I get? I get songs about snowmen and reindeer and greedy children who want stuff, about songs saying it's all about spending Christmas with that one hot guy you met last week. I get stores who have Christmas gifts out the wazoo but won't say Merry Christmas. I have neighbors who put up lights a week before Thanksgiving, totally skipping one of the best holiday's this nation has.
So far, I have no presents wrapped (bought, yes, wrapped, no), no tree to decorate, no stocking hung. The spirit of Christmas seems to be missing this year, as if it knew that our nation had deserted it and offered it up on the alter of commerce and profit. So it stayed away.
So, pardon me if I just can't get into the season. Pardon me for wanting something simpler, something truer, something full of joy and love. But don't pardon me for wanting to remember why I celebrate Christmas or for mourning the loss of the meaning of this time. You can call me a grinch if you you want, call me a scrooge, I can take it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
