Holly Jolly

Merry Christmas! You'll know from past years that Christmas is my absolute favorite, what with stockings in bed, presents by the tree, yummy food, and fun family times.  This year was no exception -- and it even snowed!  Waking up today lacked the same gleeful anticipation of yesterday, but rather held the comfy feeling of knowing there are still a ton of vacation days left and lots of movies to see and fun to be had... love that feeling. 

Couple quick thoughts on the holiday this year:

1.) A couple years ago on Christmas morning, I passed my dad a nicely wrapped box from someone other than me.  As the wrappings came off, I realized that he had my present in his hands... but I could swear that my gift for him was still under the tree!!  My brother and I quickly realized that we had both gotten him Band of Brothers, based on two entirely independent conversations we had had with him about the history of WWII and the subsequent dramas that have come out of it.  Ah well.

The next year, last year, my brother got my mom The Story of Edgar Sawtelle... and my mom got my brother The Story of Edgar Sawtelle.

So it figures that this year, at least one repeat was bound to happen... but we never counted on two!  I got my mom the first season of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, and she got it for my brother.  He got her the latest novel by that same author, Alexander McCall Smith, and she also got it for him. 

This is getting a little ridiculous, no?  Kind of makes you wish that Amazon (and others) had a save-you-from-yourself feature that might help avoid this kind of thing... 

2.) My family clearly has similar tastes.  This year, however, we're literally awash in voluminous amounts of alcohol and literary volumes!!  It seems these are the default presents in the FB house:

Fun to be had all 'round... although if combined, possible naps ensue.

Either way, it was a fun holiday, and I wish the same for you and yours.  :)

RSVP?

"What's your address? I'm updating my address book cause I'm 25, going on 80!"

Every few months my friends receive a text message like that from Yours Truly.  They reply, we banter, they inevitably mock me for being a grandma and keeping an address book... and then, come holiday season, lo and behold, they receive a holiday card!  And their mockery bites them in the proverbial butt. 

I know I sound suspiciously bitter, but I promise I'm not.  (Just wisely, sagely smug.)  You see, my theory is that, since I love to get mail, everybody must love to get mail!  And since the kitschyness of cards appeals to my Cancerian sensibilities, I collect stationery and cards and SEND them!  And I quite like it.  And I'm convinced that the recipients do too!

First of all, I have a good eye for a good card.  My birthday cards and greeting cards are either funny or uniquely pretty, as those who have received them can attest.  My holiday cards tend to skip the cheesy sayings and depictions of Christ and whatnot, and rather go for something ... funny or uniquely pretty.  Hmmm... sense a trend? 

But secondly, more than tooting my horn about my own postal proficiency, I think the act of writing a card is one of our habits that is sadly fading in frequency, and to receive handwritten correspondence marks a very personal exchange.  More than writing on a Facebook wall or sending a text message, typed in seconds, a card takes planning, individual thought, and, most importantly, time -- not hours, certainly, but a wee bit of time, set aside specifically for that one person, and them alone.  How often do we get that?  Not enough. 

So think about it, folks.  Send that thank you note.  Send the birthday card.  Share the love.  Every little bit counts :)

The Mary Martin. No?

Jess and I rode the bus to NY this weekend, taking Peter Pan on the way down and Greyhound on the way back (Although, I was tragically alone for that portion of the trip.  Sadness ensued.).  We thereby discovered that the Peter Pan buses are each titled, and despite Jess's exclamatory "Is one named Rufio!?  Or Bangarang?!", please note that they're each dubbed for all things J.M. Barrie, not Hook. 

This made me wonder: Do you think it's someone's job to name the buses?  Do they sit, thumbing through that great tome of childhood fantasy, trying to come up with interesting combinations and descriptors?  Is it a hallowed part of the bus birthing process?  Or is it more intimate somehow, reserved for the driver, once the two of them have gotten to know each other?  (At least buy it dinner first...)

Either way, that would probably be a fun job, I think.  You'd have to be creative, and not just call a bus "John," or some other such relatively boring monniker.  Although, that said, the bus next to us (which almost stole J's bag) was called "The Three Children."  C'mon folks.  We can do better.

I personally might quite like to ride on a bus called Tootles.  I think it would add a wonderful element of whimsy to the trip, which is distinctly less exciting than the whole "Second to the right and straight on til morning" bit.  Ah well.  Maybe next time.  :::sigh:::

oxNYmoron

Walking up 3rd Avenue today, I passed a Dance and Movement Studio located directly above a bar called "Still."

[Insert Quippy Title Here]

The New York Post published the winning submissions to its yearly contest, in which readers are asked to supply alternate meanings for common words. And the winners are:

Coffee , n. The person upon whom one coughs.

Flabbergasted , adj. Appalled by discovering how much weight one has gained.

Abdicate , v. To give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach.

Esplanade , v. To attempt an explanation while drunk.

Willy-nilly , adj. Impotent.

Negligent , adj. Absentmindedly answering the door when wearing only a nightgown.

Lymph , v. To walk with a lisp.

Gargoyle , n. Olive-flavored mouthwash.

Flatulence , n. Emergency vehicle that picks up someone who has been run over by a steamroller.

Balderdash , n. A rapidly receding hairline.

Testicle , n. A humorous question on an exam.

Rectitude , n. The formal, dignified bearing adopted by proctologists.

Pokemon , n. A Rastafarian proctologist.

Oyster , n. A person who sprinkles his conversation with yiddishisms

Frisbeetarianism , n. The belief that, after death, the soul flies up onto the roof and gets stuck there.

Circumvent , n . An opening in the front of boxer shorts worn by Jewish men.

CGFB Turns 30!

Today, my big brother turns 30. 

This whole weekend has been a birthday extravaganza, starting with the surprise arrival of CFB's best friend from when he studied abroad.  The Hand flew in from Scotland on Thursday evening, and promptly headed off on Friday on an Amazing-Race-style scavenger hunt with my brother, organized by Goof.  They started with lunch at the Pour House, after which they were handed a call number for a book at the Boston Public Library, across the street.  When they found the book, it was filled with all their next clues, which led them to the Esplanade, the Public Gardens (where they met up with Brownie), Boston Common, the AMS building (where Goof finally met up with them, after making sure the rest went alright), and then to the Science Museum, where they found KS and saw an IMAX film.  Then it was off to Kenmore Square for drinks and such, then to a friend's apartment for more of the same and new faces, including Yours Truly and Bubba.  The evening culminated in a huge banquet of tapas at Tasca, an amazing restaurant that was delicious and incredibly accommodating of our party of 8. 

Thank you to everyone who came together to make those surprises & social gatherings happen.  It meant that we were surrounded by all his best friends and family, and it made for a really celebratory atmosphere.  You each mean so much to him and to our family, so your presence was perfect.

Saturday, joined by 2 aunts (again a surprise!), we enjoyed a day of cooking and visiting and generally relaxing in the time that we all had off (for once!), and my mom cooked enough food to feed a small country.  And to cap off a perfect evening, it snowed, creating the first winter wonderland of 2009 -- simply gorgeous! :)

Nuddy, you have been my best friend and the best brother for as long as I can remember.  Thank you for always being kind at heart, ridiculously intelligent, funny, playful, talented, and, as a result of all of those things, incredibly inspiring.  I feel so lucky to have you as a brother and a friend.  You are amazing and wonderful and deserve only the best.  I love you!  From one of the two F-Bs to the other, Happy Birthday!! 

Resolutions Revisited

On the first day of 2009 I posted my New Year's Resolutions... and you guessed it!  It's time for the yearly review of my goals and how I did this year.

1.) Travel. I did great with this goal this year! NYC for a 25th birthday, Sint Maarten with Bis and deux petites valises, Cleveland for Katy and Chris' wedding, Lake Placid for Catey and Matt's wedding, Rochester for the VP40... and possibly back to NYC soon for holiday shenanigans!  Oh, and perhaps the biggest journey of all: I went to grad school!  (ha! ha!)

2.) Definitive Action Towards Forward and Positive Motion. (Proactivity regarding health, fitness, friendships, career, school, family, and general happiness.) This was basically my positive way of saying "Lose weight and go to school, dammit!" Annnnnd... I did!  Although my medications are currently screwing up the former a bitteen, I certainly did go to school.  I'm still thinking happily and positively about my goals, and am pleased with where it got me this year.

3.) House Duty.  Such success on this front.  My room is almost done (new rug, pictures are up, new sheets, printer's installed and running...) -- now we just need a wall lamp above my mirror, and lastly, a duvet cover that suits the decor.  We also made great strides in the sun room (new rug, couch, pillows, bedding, and perhaps -- it's still under consideration -- new paint!)

4.) Culinary Exploration. Fail.  Well, I kiiiind of started helping out and therefore learning more... but realistically, I still can't cook for beans.  Ah well.

5.) Successfully Pass-on the VPArchive.  Done! Peace out, binders and spreadsheet!

6.) Cut Down On the Crazy. Well... sure.  I feel I have reached closure on the crazifying aspects of things from 2009 and before, and feel generally happy about the people and elements that are present in my life!  I suppose it's a constant struggle of sorts, what with being a MereDiva and all, but for now I'll just chalk that up to being "Charmingly Nutty."  Like some sort of delicious chocolate bar.  With charming nuts in it.

So! That's that.  Almost time for new ones... my, but time does fly...

Reality TV?

In scrolling through the TV guide of late, I have happened upon the titles of a couple shows that caught my eye.  The first is called "Ask God," the second, hopefully unrelated, is called "Asia Squawk Box."

(Pause for effect.)  

I have soldiered on in ignorance, avoiding actually watching them, because I somehow sense that my imagined versions of these shows are definitely better than the real thing.