I’m Thinking About Christmas…
Posted on December 11, 2008 - Filed Under Christmas, Family, Holiday, love
I’m thinking about Christmas. To those of you who know me, you also know that Christmas is and always has been a big deal to me. I really look forward to it every year - it is my favorite holiday and always has been. I simply am not happy if I can’t buy presents, send cards, decorate, cook and bake up a storm for Christmas.
Naturally, this Christmas I won’t be doing any of those things. Recent events - such as selling everything I own and moving cross country - has sort of superceded Christmas and its requisite activities. And to tell you the truth I’m not nearly as upset as I feared I would be. Sure, I’m disappointed that I can’t do what I always do but then maybe it just means I have to be more creative than usual.
So, how does one celebrate Christmas with no funds whatsoever? Seriously, I am not kidding - there is zero budget for Christmas this year. In fact, I was joking with a friend the other night, explaining that I was so broke that likely I wouldn’t even be able to afford to send free ecards to anyone. I did buy a little (living) Christmas tree to hang my one box of Christmas ornaments I brought with me. After the holiday, we will plant it in the big, big yard so it can grow to be a big pine someday. I think I have a couple of stamps so I may send my mom an actual Christmas card if I can find where I packed them.
I think mostly I will just listen to Christmas music and sing along when no one is listening. I will bake pumpkin bread and maybe some cookies and we’ll have turkey with stuffing for dinner. Sometime in the next few days I will write a Christmas story, as has been my tradition these last few years. I will write Christmas themed poetry too. I will watch the Christmas movies I managed to stuff into the trunk before we left L.A. and do so by the light of our little Christmas tree. But more than anything I will celebrate Christmas by counting my blessings. That I am relatively healthy, and so are my pets, I am with the love of my life in our sweet, funny little house, that I have many dear and wonderful friends and though life may not be filled with many material things, it is filled with the things that matter - snowflakes, Christmas lights, music, the smell of good food, rosy cheeks, smiling faces, love and joy. What more, really, could you ask for?
LD Weekend
Posted on August 30, 2008 - Filed Under Holiday, good wishes, my opinions
Happy Labor Day Weekend, everybody. Hope you find some nice quiet time for yourselves. See you Tuesday. 
Calgon…Take Me Away….
Posted on July 27, 2008 - Filed Under Dear Readers..., Holiday, breathe, empty head, my opinions
Hey everybody, you may have noticed I’ve been a bit scarce the last few days. Frankly, I’m exhausted. This past week has been very intense and there has just been a lot going on. In a phrase, I’ve blogged myself into a frenzy. So, I’ve decided to take a few days off. Feel the sunshine, walk my dog, smell the roses, sleep in, eat some good food and just generally recharge.
A lovely bevy of bloggers has agreed to do a few guest posts and of course I will have a post for Theme Friday - so please treat them kindly and come and read them, they are all great and fun and I’m sure you know all of them. They are doing me a great favor, the favor of time and I really appreciate it.
Have fun, have a good week and I’ll see you all next week - hopefully recharged, rested and relaxed and maybe even with some decent posts.
Hugs.
DAD
Posted on June 15, 2008 - Filed Under Heroes, Holiday, father's day, my heart
You were my heart
from the first look
My strength
from the first word
My laugh
from the first wink
My soul
from the first tear
My star
from the first night
You were my everything
and you are still.
Happy Father’s Day, Dad. I love you and miss you.
(J.A.R. 1925-1984)
You Might Be an Irish Imposter If…
Posted on March 17, 2008 - Filed Under Holiday, Humor, Just For Fun, brain farts, st patrick's day
Ah, St. Paddy’s Day is upon us and it is the day in which everyone ‘becomes’ Irish. The demonstrations of same range from the ridiculous to the more ridiculous. Being half Irish and this being the day of my momentous birth, I’m pretty good at spotting the Celtic fakers.
You may be an Irish faker if:
1. You’re the first one in line to order that green McShake at McDonald’s.
2. You threaten to pinch anyone who is not wearing green.
3. Despite your shamrock dress with matching green shoes and bag, your last name is Jablonski.
4. You think that St. Patrick is the patron saint of getting hammered.
5. You believe you can actually sing Danny Boy.
6. You wear shamrock earrings with high heels and latex pants.
7. You think that the Blarney Stone is a new Irish high.
8. You believe that Stonehenge is a freak of nature as opposed to stones being held up by faeries.
9. You drink Guinness cold and you don’t like pickled eggs.
10. You don’t know what Colcannon is.
11. You believe that step dancing is something you do with a ladder.
12. You think the Old Sod is that bad patch in your lawn.
13. You believe that Shillelagh is that new pop star who performed on American Idol elimination day.
14. You think soda bread is bread you eat with Coke.
I’m sure there are many other tells - and feel free to add any you happen to know.
And in honor of the day, I leave you with my St. Paddy’s Day haiku:
St. Paddy’s Day
Pints and pickled eggs
lasses steppin’ to the pipes
the rivers are green.
copyright 2008
Can You Actually Get Drunk on Food?
Posted on December 26, 2007 - Filed Under Holiday, Just For Fun, brain farts, dining experience, i'm hungry
Well, I don’t know about you guys, but my answer to that question is, ah..yeah!
I’m afraid we all just try to cram to much joy into too few days this time of year. I actually was quite careful not to eat too much. But when you go to all the parties, plus dig into all the gifts of cookies and treats, via your friendly postman, I guess you’re kidding yourself about watching what you eat.
Not only did I eat, but man did I cook. Yesterday, while preparing the final (hopefully) holiday feat I realized I was dog-tired and I couldn’t figure out why. Then I realized I’d been cooking for a week. First, was all the baking for the postman, my mechanics, the neighbors and so on. Then I made a huge pan of sweet pertater scuffle for Erin’s Christmas party, then the vat of beef veggie soup for Zelda’s Christmas Eve party, which takes two days because you have to do the roast first and since the pot was essentially the size of my sink, I couldn’t cook it up the night before, so up at the crack of dawn. The hilarious thing was trying to fit it into my car in a position that wouldn’t slosh it all over the leather seats on my way to Zelda’s. The next challenge was getting it out of the car and carrying it to Zelda’s front door without throwing my back out. Soup is heavy. Who knew?
Then, once I gained entrance into Zelda’s house, I had the terrible realization that since Zelda doesn’t cook, I had slicing, dicing, chopping and plating to do, which was another hour or so. And finally, on Christmas day, the traditional ham dinner with pie and scalloped potatoes and biscuits and, and, and… Cripes, no wonder I was ready for a nap by noon.
In fact, I’m still in my jammies, sucking down coffee and thinking that I’ll spend the day in bed, reading, unless that’s too exhausting then I’ll just stay in bed. 
And the food, oh the food, was just so yummy, I had to ‘try’ a little bit of everything. From sweet potater scuffle to the homemade fudge Debbie sent me, to chocolate covered Macadamia’s, tea cookies, brownies, turkey, ham, roast beef. I even managed a couple of gulps of wine.
Can you pass the carb blockers, please? Oh and I’ll have a double alka-seltzer while you’re at it. This morning I woke up and felt positively hungover. No lie.
Of course, I’ll vow never to do it again, only to repeat it next year.
But, it’s hard to complain. Lots of food, lots of friends and just a really good time. From all the presents given and recieved, phone calls and Instant Messaging with friends I don’t get to talk to enough to classic movies watched by the light of Christmas trees and fireplaces. It was all good. All good.
Hope you all had a great time too.
Annie
I’ve Got Some Cards, Let’s do a Swap
Posted on December 3, 2007 - Filed Under Christmas, Dear Readers..., Holiday, Just For Fun
Saturday, I spent the day Christmastizing the house. Starting with the 7 1/2 foot tree and working my way out. Exhausting but oh so gratifying. This is my favorite time of year and so it was a labor of love. The livingroom is now so much more festive and inviting and there is something about a decorated, sparkly Christmas tree that gives warmth to a space. Naturally, Roomie and I had to watch a Christmas movie to celebrate. We selected The Santa Clause from my ever-growing collection. It was a joy to watch. And for some reason that movie always makes me fall in love with Santa and makes me think big guys are kinda sexy.
Then Sunday, I started my annual tradition of the Christmas card writing. I love writing the cards because often it is the only time of the year I touch base with certain people in my life. It’s not intentional of course, but with the normal day to day grind it’s so easy to put off getting in touch with Aunt Edna or cousin Suzie. As I was writing the cards I had an inspired idea (at least, I thought it was inspired, but lately it takes so little to inspire me) - I thought, ‘how cool would it be to exchange Christmas cards with all my blogging buddies?’
I have to say I really love the idea and I’m hoping some of you do too.
So, what do you say? Want to exchange Christmas cards? I know I do.
Anybody who is interested, shoot me an email (you can find my email addy on the side bar to the right) if you want to do the exchange. Of course, I’ll understand if you don’t or don’t have time or the attention span - but I’m hoping some of you do.
Any and all cards I receive I will proudly display on my livingroom wall and after the holidays will go into my blogger scrap book. Yep, I’m starting one of those - hokey I guess, but then that’s me.
So, looking forward to what you think about this. It will be fun I think and since I think of all you guys as my friends nothing would thrill me more than to send and receive cards from any of you.
Love,
Annie (aka Writer Chick)
Gobble Gobble
Posted on November 19, 2007 - Filed Under Holiday, Just For Fun, brain farts
Hopefully, you won’t have as hard a time finding your turkey (or whatever meat/non-meat you are having) as this fellow.
Enjoy your day, eat like a pig, say a prayer of thanks for all the wonderful things in your life and even for the not so wonderful things. I’ll see you guys in a few days - as my new lifestyle approaches, I am excited. But also a bit focused on wrapping things up.
Love you all, see you soon. Happy Turkey Day.
Annie
Independence Day
Posted on July 4, 2007 - Filed Under History, Holiday, Inspirational Words, acts of valor, american idol, free speech, honor, musical favorites, my opinions
The 4th of July is a significant day to most Americans and is certainly to me. It reminds me of how much I love my country and what sacrifices were made that I might live in a place so wonderful as America. I love the picnics and parades and fireworks to be sure, but mostly I love my country. I wanted to share our national anthem with everyone in its entirety. For more info on the 4th of July go here. Happy 4th everyone - and especially to our troops who continue to stand the watch, ever vigilant. Respectfully, WC
“The Star Spangled Banner”
The Defense of Fort McHenry
by Francis Scott Key
20 September 1814
Oh, say can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, now conceals, now discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines on the stream:
‘Tis the star-spangled banner! O long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wiped out their foul footstep’s pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust.”
And the star-spangled banner forever shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
An Undeniable Force
Posted on April 8, 2007 - Filed Under Dear Readers..., Deep thoughts, Heroes, History, Holiday, I'm in awe, Inspirational Words, honor, my opinions, philosophy & politics, reflections, wisdom
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever, is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. [Philippians 4:8].
I have always believed in the lesson of Easter. The ascension of good over evil, light over darkness. To reflect on the idea that there was someone so purely good that he would die for the transgressions of the rest of humanity is staggering. Even if you don’t prescribe to Christainity or believe in any aspect of it, the story of Christ must give one pause.
I know that it is cool and hip to bash Christianity and in fact, organized religion in general these days. That depicting Christ as a criminal, a pervert or even a monster is what passes as art or edgy dialogue - but I reject that as having any validity. To disagree with something does not mean to denigrate it.
The lessons and teachings of Christ are valuable, in fact, most of the moral and belief systems in the world follow the architecture of those lessons. Ponder that for a moment.
Though I was raised as a Catholic (strong Christian attitudes there) I don’t identify myself as a Catholic. The reasons for this are not important to anyone but myself. Nonetheless, I don’t reject Christ as a saviour. Even if he was merely a man, the effect he had and continues to have on the world is worthy of respect and awe. And I can think of few who have had a comparable impact on the world, perhaps no one has.
Even if he was only a symbol of peace on Earth, that symbol brought mankind out of darkness and gave the light of hope. How could this be a bad thing? What could be a better gift to your fellows?
When I was a little girl, I always loved the stories of Jesus and his teachings - they made me feel that there was true goodness in the world. Something the world needed desperately and still does.
So over this weekend, while I am enjoying myself with food and celebration - chocolate bunnies and Easter eggs, I will reflect on how this incredible man changed the world.
Happy Easter everybody.
WC
