PractiGal

2007 -- Bring it on!

I'm not one for official resolutions, but I do have some general goals for 2007. They involve being healthier in mind and body. I've been there before and I really want to get back to it, as I feel sooo much better when I'm taking care of myself. Well, duh... who doesn't?

2007 may just be the year of sugar detox for me.  Of course, as I type this, I'm savoring a Lindt chocolate reindeer that was in a post-Christmas sale bin at the grocery store. I just started reading this book and there's no doubt that I'm beyond "sweet tooth," and that I'm a full-blown sugar addict. Not only does this create problems with weight control, but sugar is just bad for me. My moods, immune system and general health could benefit from getting off sugar.  So I'm reading about this program with a skeptical but hopeful eye. Has anyone else conquered this one? Leave me a comment or send me an e-mail -- I'd love to hear how you're doing with it.

Along with the sugar element, there's the exercise piece. I have my second appointment with a fitness coach this week. I'm comfortable with the cardio equipment and want to move on to the resistance training. And of course there's the issue of getting myself to the gym. I really enjoy it once I'm there, but I have to get past the haul-my-butt-out-the-door challenge to make it happen.

In 2006 I said goodbye to a long-time employer and have moved on to what may end up being a greener pasture. It's too soon to say, but I'm still working out of my house and have plenty of autonomy and flexibility. This fits well with family life, and that's huge for me.

Also in the past year, my husband and I have watched our toddler become a little boy. The little guy does or says something every day that makes me so happy to be his Mom. It probably won't always be that way, but I'm loving it while we're at this amazing age of almost-3.

What does 2007 have up its sleeve? We'll see. Thanks for coming along for the ride! I'm glad my readers keep coming back. Your comments and e-mails are the best part of blogging!

Happy 2007 everyone!

 

The Big Man in Red Came and Went

Ahh. A few minutes of post-Christmas quiet. I have the house to myself for a short while, after days of hosting our families.

Christmas was great. Exhausting, but great.

It started out with a bang on Christmas Eve morning, when our electricity went out for about 3 hours. Why? We don't know. It was a very peaceful day, with no wind or snow. Probably an accident with a utility pole somewhere nearby.  I had so much left to do! Dinner to prepare & then tuck in the fridge... vacuum, do laundry, run the dishwasher,... Thankfully, when I was a new mother I was neurotic and made my husband buy a generator (and a dishwasher) instead of set up a pretty nursery. My husband set it up and we were cooking with gas (& electricity). Beauty.

On Christmas Eve my older sister & I went to church, where we arrived late. We sat in the lobby, where there was no sound system and imagined what they might be talking about inside the church. Every now and then we could hear a word or two but that was interrupted by the screaming children who were taken to the lobby so as not to disturb the service.

Christmas day began at 6:30am, when we were awakened by a little boy who was ready to "see Santa." He didn't quite get the idea that Santa would stop by and just leave presents during the night. In fact, it wasn't til yesterday that I heard the little guy say "Santa came!" I think it's all fallen into place now. Though he was set to do it all over again when he woke up on the 26th! I explained that Santa didn't come again, but that we could play with the new toys again. And I was dragged out of bed at 5:30 on the 26th with a "Well, what are we waiting for?! Let's go!"

I wonder how long a body can go on very little sleep and lots of sweets?

The around-the-tree Thomas the Tank Engine set was a big hit. The battery-powered Thomas pulls two Christmas cars, including one that plays Jingle Bells. Fortunately that car was hidden yesterday by my very smart husband!

We have lots of new engines and train cars too. My son was thrilled to be reunited with Old Slow Coach (whom he'd asked for several times since spying him in my plain view hiding spot!).

Santa was extremely generous with the little guy this year. There are new books, puzzles, DVDs, CDs, Matchbox cars, a helicopter and rescue raft, toy phones, a toy camera, a Bob the Builder doll.... and my personal favorite, a small dollhouse, which my mother-in-law bought at my suggestion. (Thanks Grandma!)

The line of the day was "What's inside?" --  that was the question with each package that was removed from the tree. The little guy didn't rip through the gifts in a frenzy (maybe that'll start next year). In fact, we  opened gifts leisurely and took a breakfast break over our 6-hour unwrapping extravaganza.

My own favorite gift item was the SmartWool socks I received. I LOVE them. So warm and cozy. My feet feel positively decadent in these socks with my wool clogs. Yes, I'm very easy to please! (And obviously a homebody!)

And not to sound corny, but really the best gift of all was watching my little guy open his presents, and watching everyone else enjoy him too. It's true what they say -- the little ones make the day!

Oh, and here's a movie tip. If you haven't seen it, rent Little Miss Sunshine. We watched it last night. It's odd, quirky, and fun. At times we wondered why it was classified as a comedy -- there are some dark moments. But the ending is absolutely hilarious. Check it out!  Thumbs up from Chez PractiGal.

Happy New Year to all!

Merry merry merry merry Christmas...

To the REAL Santa

Dear Santa Claus,

I thought you'd appreciate an update on your helpers, the Santa-wannabes who are sitting in chairs in retail establishments all over the world right now. You know who I'm talking about. The Imposters. Or your assistants. Whatever.

OK, so I haven't seen many of them, in fact I've only seen ONE in particular up close and personal this year. And that was plenty.

After seeing "you" in the distance a few days ago, my little boy was very interested in meeting Santa when I mentioned it yesterday. We prepared a letter, in which he asks for a "car toy" with a face  (like those in the movie Cars).  We headed out in the rain to see "you" at the local garden center. I made sure we arrived early, so that we'd be at the head of the line and wouldn't have to wait long to meet you.

When you arrived, you drew a round of applause from the crowd that had gathered. I was psyched. You were big and jolly looking, with rosy cheeks. But then you opened your mouth. You made an announcement to the crowd, and I quote, "I have a sicheeashun!" You went on to tell us that Rudolph doesn't think you love him any more, since you spend so much time at the garden center. So you led us in song (well, at least those who are allowed to sing -- that'd be anyone but me, apparently)... to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

Finally, we got on with it. The crowd moved slowly, and since we were fourth in line, we didn't have to wait long. My son asked for his letter, which I'd placed in my purse, and he was ready to hand it to you.

As is the case with many tots, when the moment arrived for him to meet you, he was petrified. He threw the letter at you from a few feet away, then snuggled with me in terror and tears, for a brief photo-shoot that was no doubt an eternity for the little one.

You'd think, given that you're Santa and all, and that the shift had just started, you'd be cheery and friendly and patient with a small child. But no. You were a lame-ass Santa. You pretended to read a book to my son, by saying "oh! look at this! oh! look at this" Looking back on it, I wonder if you even could read! After one photo, you turned to me and said "Well, you got one!" Excuse me, shouldn't you be making an effort to make the tot feel more comfortable, you big dope?

And then, when it was time for us to leave, at the last second, you told my son you'd see what you could do about "them cars."

I winced in disbelief.

Isn't there a minimum education requirement for Santa wannabes? After all, Santa, you're a ROLE MODEL for the children. It would help if you & your cohorts could appear literate at the very least.

Maybe I'm a snob Mom, but sheesh.

Santa is supposed to be big and jolly, friendly, and reasonably articulate. At least that'd be my criteria if I were hiring.

Is that too much to ask?

Signed,
The Little Guy's Mom
(Who Will Be Seeking Out a Much Better Santa, Next Year)

Move over, Picasso

Do you suppose it's too soon to apply for an arts scholarship?

I mean, how many 2.75-year olds can draw concentric circles like this?

Not that I'm biased or anything...

And the concentration!  He takes his work seriously.

Anyone need a piece commissioned? I'll check his schedule for you...

Sounds of the season

One of my favorite things about the Christmas season is the music. I really love the music -- especially the stuff that's been with me for years. I have tapes of the albums we listened to when I was a kid, and those are the ones that truly put me in the Christmas spirit. They are tradition.  Sleigh Ride only sounds right to me when played by a full orchestra! And when I hear Perry Como, this is the picture I see in my head. A classic!

A couple years ago I was thrilled when I happened upon a James Taylor Christmas CD at a Hallmark store. It was supposedly his first Christmas CD, and it was being carried exclusively by Hallmark. I was thrilled because I have a sister who doesn't have extensive musical interests, but she really likes James Taylor. So I figured I'd hit the jackpot. The Perfect Gift. ...Til she opened it on Christmas day and I found out she'd bought it for herself. Of course she did! What was I thinking? I see that JT has another Christmas CD out now, but I won't be buying it for my sis as she no doubt was at the front of the line the day it was released. Besides, I think the picture's a little creepy -- is it just me or does JT look like he's entered the witness protection program? But I'm sure the music's great.

One of my faves in my high school and college years was this Carpenters album. I just couldn't get enough of it. Frankly, I never get tired of Karen Carpenter's amazing voice, and the arrangements on this album are fantastic -- thanks to Richard. My younger sis and I would put the arm over on the record player, so it would play over and over and over in the college dorm where we lived. And we'd sing every stinking song, ad nauseum. Our roommates put up with a lot of Karen and Richard every year!

I got myself a new Christmas CD this year, and it arrived yesterday. I've only played it once so far, but I feel like I should be shopping or wrapping or baking while it plays. You'll laugh, but I bought a Clay Aiken Christmas album. It's the first anything of his that I've bought. He really does have a great voice and does a really nice job with these tunes.

The most unique Christmas album I've ever owned would have to be Christmas with the Brady Bunch. That was a biggie back in the day...  Marcia and Greg were actually pretty good, and I seem to recall enjoying Jan on The Little Drummer Boy.  And Cindy was all cute and lispy on Frosty the Snowman. I think this one is rotting away in the attic...

How about you? What are your favorites? What album/CD is tradition for you?
 

Cool way to send a card to the troops

Maybe you've seen this already -- if not, check it out!  Xerox is involved in something very cool.

Go here to pick out a thank you card, and Xerox will print it for the servicemen and women currently serving in Iraq.  You don't get to choose who gets your card, but it will go to a member of the US military. It's free and it only takes a second.

Go to this website: Let's Say Thanks

Very sad news

Behind all of these blogs are real people. We may not know their full names, or even their real names. But sometimes the people behind the blogs become our friends, through the comments they leave, or the e-mails we exchange.

I'm very sad tonight because I've learned that my friend's daughter passed away over the weekend. If you visit Wednesdays Off, then you know Sarcasmom, too. Her oldest daughter, Star, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly.

If you know Sarcasmom, I'm sure she'd appreciate a visit.

The Apprentice: Santa Claus - UPDATED

If Donald Trump had a tv show interviewing for a Santa apprentice, I'd have been fired last week. Thankfully, he doesn't. And I get a chance to improve my Santa-ness in the coming years.

It's not that I'm doing a bad job acquiring the goods from Santa's toy shop. Au contraire. I'm excelling in that area this year. For the past few months, I've been picking up a little something here and there. I've tucked the items in various hiding spots -- I hope I remember where everything is when it comes time to get it all out and bring it down the chimney!

But one of my hiding spots was very bad. So bad that you couldn't really call it a hiding spot. But you could call it In Plain Sight.

I wasn't concerned when I left a couple of plain brown boxes I'd received in the mail in the dining room, tucked in a corner. They weren't exactly "inviting", and I'd closed one of them in tuck-the-flap fashion. In fact, they sat in the dining room for weeks undisturbed, after I won them on eBay. I just hadn't gotten around to putting them away anywhere.

So imagine my surprise when I come home the other day and my husband meets me at the door.  He explains that he's been busy distracting a little boy who'd brought him a new train to take out of its packaging.

"Dad, can you open Old Slow Coach?"

... a new train from a plain brown box of trains and tracks I had tucked away in the dining room.

CRAP!

Lucky for me, my quick-thinking hubby swept the boxes of presents-to-be to the basement, explaining that Old Slow Coach needed to go back to Santa's workshop for repair, and that the little guy would get it back on Christmas.

There goes that surprise! We'll see what kind of memory the not-yet 3-year-old has, come Christmas day.

I'm flunking Santa 101 -- The Basics of Gift Hiding.

UPDATE:
Truth be told... maybe it's payback time for me. Or maybe this Hiding In Plain Sight thing is hereditary. Or something.

When I was a kid, our toys came from the Sears catalog. There was no Sears store in our small town - just a place where you picked up your catalog orders. Remember the Christmas wishbook? Anyway. The toys from the Sears catalog came in plain brown boxes. How about that?!

And my mother's "hiding" spot? On the floor, on the far side of her bed. Basically, in plain sight once you walked in the room. And I? Um... opened at least one brown box in my day. I do recall the year of Quick Curl Kelly (Barbie's friend with wire in her hair). She wasn't a surprise. Ahem.  Yeah.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Apparently I'm flunking Singing 101, too -- at least in my son's ears.

Lately, whenever I break into song -- with the tv, at story time at the library, or just impromptu whenever/wherever, my son looks at me sternly and tells me to "Stop The Music!!!"

Alrighty then.

Happy Happy Day!

We interrupt this spell-binding blog to bring you a special announcement!

Today is someone special's birthday...

He's one of the sweetest and smartest men you'll ever meet... he's tall and handsome, and he's a man of his word.

Happy birthday to my wonderful Hubby, aka The Pickle Man!

I love you, sweetie!!