Monday, December 28, 2009

And for my last trick...

Nothing up my sleeve...

I know it is way late and all but I do wish every one a Merry Christmas.

I will post about my holiday advetures when they are done...

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

something, something, something... wish two!

I really have no specific topic today, But, I will tell you I love tradition, well more specifically other peoples. I have my traditions but they are all new rather than the old kind of traditions… like kissing under mistletoe old tradition. Texting mry xmas to your friend sitting next to you new tradition. These in no way should ever be confused with the song from Fiddler on the Roof:

Who, day and night, must scramble for a living,
Feed a wife and children, say his daily prayers?
And who has the right, as master of the house,
To have the final word at home?


The Papa, the Papa! Tradition.
The Papa, the Papa! Tradition.

Not to be insensitive but why would we want to talk to Jewish people about Christmas traditions. Now if we were talking about Chanukah traditions… wait why would I be talking about that… OY VEY!

Now don’t get me wrong, I have much love for the Jewish people, I remember years ago, I must have been 16. My Catholic Big Brother was living with a woman who was Jewish. This in itself was enough to make me smile. I spent my entire Christmas holiday with them. It was wonderful I not only got to participate in Chanukah, and learn about it as well. I was given the privilege of lighting the candles one night. And we did have a Christmas tree as well.

It was a very good Holiday for me and I will not forget what I learned. Unfortunately they soon broke up and moved out so I never got to learn what Passover was all about.

So my second to last wish for this beautiful Christmas, I wish for all of our traditions to grow with us, so we may reconcile the past with the present and never forget either of them.

(Titie directly stolen from Family Guy! Thanks Seth!)

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

2, I am down to 2...

I miss counted some how, the last one is supposed to be Christmas eve...

Maybe one day I will learn to count better.

I will be back tomorrow night though

Monday, December 21, 2009

Oh boy... 6,5,4 and 3...

Seems in my eagerness to finish Christmas I neglected the last few days Christmas wishes...


As they say in warcraft, I am teh badz...

I did find out all the gift I ordered on the interwebs will be late, and one is heading to my house instead of the intended victim recipients house. All I want to know is what am I going to do with half a pound of chocolate covered bacon? If I get it fast enough I will slip it upstairs where the front office keeps its gifts from other companies... That should be worth a laugh.

6. I wish for all to see the silver lining in the things they cannot control.

5. I wish for Friends to remember those that cannot be with them over the holidays.

4. I wish for web sites to be really obvious when purchasing things on them.

3. I really wish I had written all the good stories to go with the above wishes.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Welcome to the 7th day of Christmas

The first Christmas I spent away from home was also my last one spent away from home. Now mind you I have moved around a bit, Orange County, Las Vegas, Bullhead City Portland, and Vancouver. And I have made all of them my home at one time or another. What I mean is I never went away from the city I was living in for the holidays.

On the on year I did it was horrible and involves one of my ex-girlfriends she is the one who invited me actually. It was the worst Christmas for me ever. Let’s get this started so I can be done with it.

I left Portland on an early flight, and by early I mean 8 am. I was to be in Las Vegas by 10 am where my ex would pick me up and we would go meet several of my friends and go to breakfast. This was all planned out several days before. Should have known better…

I dash off the plane as we had been a bit delayed, not my fault people on that entire flight I sat in my chair and minded my own business. I spoke to no one; I didn’t even order my normal Bloody Mary that I get when I fly in the am. Nothing it was not my fault at all. I make my way thru McCarran to the pick up area. Carry on for me thanks! And waited… and waited… and waited some more… After about 30 minutes I start calling around and the first one I get a hold of was my ex… OK I called her first. And she dam near jumps thru the phone and down my throat…

Ex: Why are you calling me to pick you up?

Me: Because you said you wanted to get everyone together for breakfast…

Ex: Breakfast? It’s close to 11 maybe you should have thought about lunch instead!

Me: Well we can order what ever we want…

Ex: My boss invited me to go to lunch this morning so I can’t see you till later…

Me: Uh? What? I thought…

Ex: God you’re going to do this again, arn’t you…

Me: Nope, I’ll take a cab to Phil’s

Ex: Good, I don’t see why you didn’t have him pick you up anyway…

Me: Cause you said you wanted to pick me up…

Ex: What ever… Bye

Totally my fault Should have got back on the plane and gone home right then and there, my inner voice was screaming it with a load speaker… Did I listen? Nope…

I got on a bus going to the Gold Coast where I would have lunch and call Phil and we could hang out. Well Phil had just finished work and need to take a bit of a nap but would be cool to hang out in a couple of hours. No problem there was a theater in the Gold Coast so I would just catch a movie.

After the movie and hanging out with Phil, He got a call from my Ex, she said she was on her way…

So she picks me up and we head out to Starbucks for some coffee and to sit on their patio in the warm evening air. All of my friends showed up for this as I had called them. But before they got their my Ex was looking at gifts in the store and we were chatting, she apologized for being “A Bitch” and it was just all this stress she was under, cooking decorating, shopping and me of course…

She was eyeing this gift pack and asked if I though her boss would like it… I said does he drink Starbucks? Of course he does, she said. Then he will like it. Well can you spot me $25 to pay for it; I get my bonus tomorrow and can pay you back then… And my dick my hand opened my wallet and pulled out the money. I went outside then to wait for the others.

So we all say good night, she and I start to head to her house, of course she was hungry and had no food at home even though cooking had been one of her major stresses these days… Ah well Blueberry Hill is always open. As we are seated in the both, we order and soon she is leaning up against me, telling me how much she missed me and soon her hand was not where it should have been. This was one of her favorite things to do, give me a hard on and make me walk out…

So that’s just what she did, and at this point I was well beyond caring, I just wanted to get some sleep.

We get to her house and I really expect to see the place decorated… Because she had been working on it for weeks.. and nothing, not a dam thing… I think she saw it in my eyes, she tells me she is going to get e tree tomorrow and we will decorate it. The one good thing was that her son was with her so at least I got to hang out with him and get caught up.

OK two days till Christmas and we will pick up our story there, but lets just say I spent a lot of time baby sitting Jack while she worked, not that I minded but I thought I was on vacation…

Christmas morning, ah it was great her son was up before me and the two of them opened their Christmas gifts. I stager down stair about an hour later and grab some coffee and sit down by them. Now, I will tell you I am not real big on getting presents, just kind of feel embarrassed when opening them.

I told Jack to get the gifts I put under there for both him and his mother, he told me that mom already opened them all up and even gave his to him to open up. OK, a little strange but fine child Christmas morning gift opening… I understand but hers? And well should have hopped on the plane then as well but nope had to stick it out. She gets out of the shower and gets dressed and comes down stairs…

She walks right by me says nothing, I say Merry Christmas! I hope you liked your gifts…

Ex: What the fuck does that mean?

Me: I hope you like your gifts is…

Ex: Don’t worry I have gifts for you!

Me: I didn’t ask but that is sweet of…

Ex Oh and you are going with Phil to his girlfriends parents house for Christmas dinner.

Me: I don’t even know them; I thought you were cooking…

Ex: I am but I don’t have enough, and Jack is going to his Grandmothers…

Me: So how much do you have?

Ex: Enough for me and Steve (her boyfriend)

Me: I’m sure…

At this point she grabs some tissue paper and goes up stairs. Me I go out into the garage to smoke, and wish I had a beer or whiskey even…

She come out to the garage with a wrapped gift under her arm and hands it to me… Oh were going to do this out here?

Ex: Yeah why not…

Me: OK (opens gift)

Me: wow a coffee sampler from Starbucks… oh that reminds me you never gave me the money for this…

Ex: No this is a different one, this is their premium sampler, it costs more than the other one….

Me: Says $25 right here on the back…

Ex: Lets just say she called me very name in the book and made some up to boot.

I stayed with Phil that night, I would have stayed longer but Phil really was not set up for any kind of long term, meaning over night guest studio apartment kind of thing. I went home on the 26th Home where my family was, where I am loved, where they know how to make a dinner and have left-over’s to prove it.

Christmas wish seven; I wish all to know the love of home this and for all Christmas’s to come.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

EIGHT

About 11 years ago, my girlfriend and I were out late one December night. We were sober, and all was well but we decided to stop off at Jack in the Box for something to eat. It was then I saw the sign, the sign that would change how I got ornaments for the Christmas tree.


Thats right I got this sweet ornament at the drive thru. My future wife was damn near falling out of my truck laughing so damn hard... she did not think I was serious.

Oh I was, I was very serious, in all reality how many people would put this on thier tree? I mean just the first year, let alone the following years. Yes we still have it and it goes on all of our trees.

We did buy another one which is cool and goes on our tree every year as well. But it cannot compair, it was the second one we bought it the next year. Shortly after that they stopped making them all together.

These two did mark the begining of so much Christmas joy that I cannot even tell you. Good times and bad. Rich or poor these two are always hung up. Much like my Santa Homers at my work desk. We can talk of those later though...

These became a symbol of our holiday joy and how simple things are the key to a good relationship. This is why you may laugh, or point and mock. But these make us smile. These are our first holiday tradtion, we started many more after but these were the first.

So I think it is now time for Christmas wish #8...

I wish everyone the joy I feel seeing these two silly orniments hung in our tree.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

One day closer -OR- Number 9

I got nothing, really nothing I want to say or rant about. I thought I could make a list, but no. I poked around all the blogs I stalk and nothing inspired me, so I will now post 20 questions about Christmas survey... Yeah but it's all I got...

1. Do you believe in Christmas?


OK really? How can one not believe in Christmas? It's on the calander... I get days off for it... Now really why would I not believe in it?

2. Do you believe in Jesus Christ?


Yes I do, was this asked in case I did not believe in Christmas?
3. What is your favorite thing about Christmas?


The fact that we give ourselves permition to be kind to others... and snickerdoodles...
 
4. What is your favorite Christmas song?


I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas, because I hardly hear it
 
5. What is your favorite Christmas snack/treat?


snickerdoodle, I cannot stress this enough. SNICKERDOODLE!
 
6. Do you decorate with Frosty, Penguins, or Santa? or...?


Yes, even some with Jack-in-the-box (this sis a post to itself)
 
7. Is Christmas too commercialized?
 
Of course it is, any business who does not capitalize on everything it can will fail. The feelings it makes are not.
 
8. What do you feel is the true meaning of Christmas?


Love, harmony, peace snickerdoodles!
 
9. Favorite Christmas present you ever received?


Coffee maker, from my wife.
 
11. Family get togethers or is everyone too far apart?


Some one stole 10... I blame the grinch... To far apart.
 
12. Do you put Christmas lights on your house?
 
Well around the patio...
 
13. Shop in stores, or online? or both?


Yes and craft as well...
 
14. Favorite Christmas memory?


10 years old and my mother told me to put some thing in the trunk of the car, I opened it up and there were my presents. She had to buy more so I would be supprized but let me have those as well... it was great.
 
15. What would you like to see in your Christmas stocking?


The Lifesavers that look like they are a book... And snickerdoodles.
 
16. What do you fill others' stockings with?


Not much really, silly stuff. The master is my mother in law. She gets yo-yo's, silly string, candy, poaddle games great stuff.
 
17. Have you ever eaten a chestnut that was roasted on an open fire?
 
Yes
 
18. What do you say to someone who wants to take away Christmas, or not allow Christmas displays?
 
I wish them a Merry Christmas and mention Christmas as much as I can. I get them Christmas cards and be sure to get them a gift.
 
thats all I got but for my Christmas wish:
 
SNICKERDOODLES for everyone!

Monday, December 14, 2009

Welcome to the 10 days of Christmas

So it seems I have fallen behind on many things in this season of giving, but I have had so much fun in doing it. It has been a great holiday so far, kind of busy but not the run people down because they are in your way kind of thing. Just a little bump here and there, but over all only a few gifts and cookie plates will be late. But I will hold the shippers responsible; I will even say this in the cards I send, that will be late

Still need to decorate the house. Now this is a point of contention between me and my wife. She likes to decorate later in the month; I like to set up early, like around the first week end. But since she is the one who actually organize where everything goes, she wins every year. She is also the only one to decorate the tree, first few years I tried to help those times ended badly so now I sit with my hot cider and watch as she decorates. I made the mistake once of thinking since I did not do anything for the tree I could be else where… that ended badly as well.

I am starting a new tradition today; I will make 10 Christmas gifts that I really want. One wish a day until Christmas eve. I was going to do 12 but I kept putting it off, with that in mind here we go…

10. I wish to finally get around to reading that self help book How not to Procrastination

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Not for Commercial use

So I had this entry planned that was an absolutely brilliant idea on my part. But then I think rain is wet so what do I know. But silly me I forgot what I was going to write about.



So I was thinking and being distracted by shinny things like chocolate covered bacon and vegan’s nightmare ice cream, when it hit me… I watch more www.Hulu.com than I do TV. And when I do watch TV I let the DVR get about 20 minutes ahead of me and then I start watching. With this method I can FF the commercials and all is well.

On Hulu you get one commercial every few minutes or so and that’s it. The thing is I never want what I see on TV. But to date I have become interested in trying several products and I want to test drive a car all because they were on Hulu. I find this strange as I am seldom swayed by advertising. I like word of mouth best for picking out what I want to try and not try. I don’t ever recall saying I want to test drive that car.

So all this got me to thinking, maybe we are oversaturated with advertising. Remember Minority Report? Tom Cruise, police, future crimes kind of thing? When you walked anywhere ads were beamed directly at you, you saw them every where. I think in that kind of culture you would become immune to them. Just back round noise to be filtered out.

I really feel advertising needs to change, although since I have bought my iMac I have noticed them more and more in product placement in shows. Like Fringe, Leverage, Community and V just to name a few. Even Family Guy mentions them. So there you have it, reduce commercials and have a greater impact on your demographic as well as those outside of it.