Buy More Stuff

I had the day off from work.  I woke up early and went out shopping.  I left my husband at home with his cold.

I got my car washed, and then I went to North Park, DSW, Wisteria, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, Party City, Target, and I stopped at the grocery store on my way home.  I did so much shopping I forgot to drink or eat anything all day. Even though I was a bit dehydrated, it felt amazing. Until I got home...

When I got home my husband, the CFO of the household, was a bit annoyed with me and my purchases. He kept asking how much stuff cost.  He said something like: "I don't understand, it's like your only goal today was to spend money."  And then he continued with, "Was your Christmas cash burning a hole in your pocket?! Did you need this stuff?"

I was proud, because I could have spent so much more.  And I used my Christmas cash, mostly.

My mother called and she asked what I did today.  I told her I went shopping all day and then I got lectured from my husband about shopping all day.  She laughed.  I haven't heard my mother laugh since her accident.  It was a great sound.

They Ruined It

We struggled through the slow pace of the extensive character development that was the first season of Boardwalk Empire.  It was worth it.  The second season of Boardwalk Empire was fantastic.  However, they ruined it with the final episode of season two.  It was a deal breaker for me, and I will not be tuning in for the third season.

First, I can't believe what happened to Jimmy.

Second, I don't believe if Margaret Schroeder were a real person (not a fictional character) she would sign over her wealth to the church.  That just seemed a bit much.

I think this is why I don't watch much television.  I don't like getting invested in characters and then the writers messing them up.

QOTD

"Same-sex spouses are paying as much as $6,000 a year in extra taxes because the federal government doesn't recognize gay marriage, according to an analysis conducted for CNNMoney by tax specialists..."

More here.

QOTD

I just read the article profiling the First Baptist Dallas preacher, Robert Jeffress, from my subscription copy of D Magazine.  The headline says it all:

"How First Baptist's Robert Jeffress Ordained Himself to Lead America.  He says that Mormonism is a cult and gays are “filthy.” But he says it because he really, truly doesn’t want you to go to Hell."

If Hell really does exist and "filthy" gay people are going there, then that's okay with me.  I am fine spending eternity surrounded by homos in Hell.   We'll have one gay-ol'-time.  It'll be more fun than hanging out with Nuns and Baptist preachers in Heaven, no doubt.

Jeffress is free to believe whatever he wants just like I'm free to not believe what Jeffress preaches.  This is America and we each have freedom to believe whatever we want.  God bless the U.S.A.

Merry Christmas

This picture of our two nieces on Santa's lap is the perfect way to greet Christmas.  Merry Christmas.  We had a lovely day at my parents' house. 

I hope you are able to welcome Christmas with the individuals you love, and if you cannot spend Christmas in-person with your beloveds, then you can spend Christmas in-spirit with your beloveds.  You can always carry them in your heart.

Happy Everything

Here's a quote from our Christmas card.  (I don't like to share photos of us, so I won't post the photos from our Christmas card.)

"This year was our most adventurous one yet.  We skied the Rockies in Park City; we witnessed the moon, the stars, and the sun's gamma rays from the observatory in Abastumani, Georgia.  We visited family near and far.  We spent a beautiful weekend in Seattle.  We spent several weekends in Austin.

"This year we shared many spectacular laughs and we even shed a few tears.

"We're excited about the endless possibilities of the upcoming year.  There's always a chance for something magical to happen!

"Wishing you and yours the best."

Happy Christmas Adam

My life-long friend Sharon's family were the first ones to celebrate Christmas Adam (Adam came before Eve) and my husband and I have included that holiday in our celebration schedule.

Today was a great day.  We celebrated my uncle's birth.  I hung out with family all day.  I baked 8 pans of cinnamon rolls, and we just watched Darlene Love sing my favorite Christmas song Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)  on Letterman.  It's moments away from Christmas Eve and I'm headed to bed!

Nighty Night and Merry Christmas!

Christmas Tradition

My uncle, who's somewhere between a father figure and a brother figure in my life, introduced me to Truman Capote's A Christmas Memory  many years ago.  It has become a beloved Christmas tradition to watch the late 1960's television episode narrated by Truman Capote and starring Geraldine Page.

I now like to read the short story every December.  If you get a chance, then you should read A Christmas Memory, and make it part of your holiday tradition.

Healing Town

My cousin made her Coconut Pound Cake and dropped it by my parents' house.  I think I've eaten half of this cake by myself.  It's delicious!

My parents still live in my home town, and their community has provided a steady stream of meals and sweets!  Food from friends provides nourishment and encouragement- both are important for their healing.

The sense of community I feel from my home town is amazing.  It makes me want to live in a small town again.

My parents are getting better each day.

Cold Dog

My parents house always feels at least ten degrees cooler than it needs to be in both the summer and the winter.  Their house is a cool retreat in the summer time.  It's also, at times, a frigid space in the winter.  My parents two dogs and our two dogs are competing for the dog bed in front of the heat dish.

Baking Box

I won't be baking my cinnamon rolls, a Christmas Eve tradition, in my kitchen this year, but I've packed up all my baking equipment so I can bake in my mother's house.  I'll keep you posted on the results.

Alive Awake Alert Enthusiastic

What a week.  Here's the numbers that have been swirling in my mind this past week:

• One week
• Two parents
• Three emergency room visits
• Six nights in the hospital
• One long road to recovery

Who knew my father was so romantic?   While my mother was in the hospital recovering from her brain trauma my father, perhaps in an act of solidarity, had a mild stroke and ended up in the hospital too.  The good news is that, in time, they both are expected to recover nicely.  Also, this week has focused my entire family on what's important- the joy of living!  Life is short, fragile, delicate, and can unexpectedly change at any time.  Life is a risky journey; therefore, we need to soak up the joy in each moment we have together.

I think we might rename "Christmas" this year.  We're going to call it "Thanksgiving" because my family is so thankful that my parents will be a-okay!

Family Trauma

We had a very scary weekend, but I think the worst is behind us now.  It's safe to smile again.

My young (56) and healthy (she walks 1.5 hours a day) mother accidentally fell on Friday morning and it was a couple of hours before my father discovered her unconscious.  (We're so lucky my father wasn't away on business.)  The ambulance rushed her to the closest hospital, and then transferred her to a trauma hospital.  She spent the weekend in ICU, but she got moved to a regular hospital room last night.  I hope she'll be home by the end of the week.

From the moment I got the 9-1-1 call from my father early Friday morning until we spoke with the brain surgeons on Friday evening I thought I might have to live in a world without my mother.  I was both terrified and angry.  Lucky for me, my mother is expected to make a full recovery. 

I'm already practicing the don't-ever-accidentally-get-hurt-again lecture I plan to deliver once she bounces back.

My mind is still spinning a bit, but when I saw my mother's eyes "light up" when she saw me in her hospital room this morning I knew everything was going to be alright, eventually. 

If you could please send healing thoughts and prayers to my mother I would appreciate it.

We Do Stuff

It's hard to stop and enjoy the moments in life.  We're so busy knocking out the "to-do" lists in life.  When I get to work I have a list of stuff I need to do each day.  When I get home I have a list of stuff I need to do each day too.  Our weekends have another list of stuff we need to do.  It's some what of a trap.

It'd be easy to wake up in 30 years and wonder- where did all the time go?

I have to learn to stop and smell the roses.

Mary Anne and Wanda Weekend

Do you remember the line in The Dixie Chicks' Goodbye Earl?  "Right away Mary Anne flew in from Atalanta On a red eye midnight flight..."  In 1999, when I first heard those lyrics I was amazed at the dedication of Mary Anne and Wanda's friendship.  Mary Anne took a red eye midnight flight to be with Wanda in her time of need- incredible!  It made me want such a dedicated friendship.  

Fast forward to 2011...

We have a friend that's unexpectedly going through a painful divorce, and even though December is the busiest month of the year; I thought of only one solution.  We're jumping on a Friday night flight to be with him all weekend long.  He's our beloved friend.  We're going to huddle up and support him in his time of sorrow.


Dedicated friendships are sacred. 

Vintage Dish

My husband's lasagna taste better when it's baked in my Granny's Corningware baker.  My Granny died when I was in 6th grade, but her memory lives on... 

Christmas Cutie

This weekend my brother and his wife hosted a Christmas party.  We were the only non-breeders invited to the party.  The house was full of 20 adults and 5,000 running kids under the age of 10.  Santa Claus even stopped over and handed out presents.  I spent 90% of my time hanging out with my brother's youngest daughter Paxten.  I love my little niece.

Eight

When I woke up on Thursday, December 4, 2003 in my small bedroom in the small house I shared with two other roommates during my last year of graduate school I could not have predicted that that day was the first day of forever-and-a-day. 

My first date with my future husband was eight years ago yesterday at a First Thursday party off of South Congress Avenue in Austin, Texas.  It was magical then.  It's magical still.

QOTD

"This is not a partisan issue.  Marriage equality is fundamentally consistent with both parties' principles, and especially, conservative principles.

"This about it: Limiting the intrusion of government into family affairs, promoting family stability, keeping government out of private contracts between consenting parties..."

-New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg during his address a the HRC's National Gala, where he was honored for his leadership on the marriage equality win in New York.  Sarah Jessica Parker introduced Bloomberg at the annual celebration.

Cranberry Relish

My husband's mother makes superb cranberry relish, and after Thanksgiving she sent me home with my very own jar.  I eat it in the morning on toast.  I eat it in the evenings wrapped in lunch meat.  But I mostly eat it out of the jar with a spoon.

Zach Wahls

Today my brother emailed out this YouTube link to our family.  If you haven't seen this clip of Zach Wahls speaking about the strength of his family, then you must watch it now.  Or watch it again!

In the comment section under this video I found this profound statement, which is referencing the "likes" and "dislikes" on YouTube:

"You know what I've learned today? That as of right now, 73,243 people who visited this page are for equal rights, and 679 people aren't. How is it even possible that those 679 people are capable of telling the rest of us what is right and what is wrong?"

No More Chic-Fil-A

I love a good chicken biscuit.  I also love a large glass of iced tea.   But the next time I get the craving for chicken or tea, I will not be stopping at Chic-fil-A.  They have a track record of being anti-gay.  Why does my relationship with my husband matter to the people at Chic-fil-A?