Merry Christmas 2008

Welcome back!

After days of snow, gray clouds, rain and….well more gray clouds, Christmas morning 2008 came with a burst of sunshine in my corner of the world.

Allelluia!

Of course there are many more reasons to “praise God” with an Allelluia this morning…it’s Christmas around the world! You don’t have to be a Christian to share or appreciate this spiritual warmth. Without question, on this day we are collectively as a global community raising our hearts in praise for the love and kindness that we say is in each of us (and more importantly DEMONSTRATE) because of the birth of Jesus.

This morning, after gathering with the kids to open presents, absorb coffee and partake in leftover baked apple-caramel pie, I crawled back up to bed to savor all the good feelings I had inside.

I thought about last night and how we enjoyed the company of family in our small, cozy living room.  We laughed about events from the past and went over the funny things in our lives that are everyday occurrences but are such fun to share.

We played a podcast my 15 year old son had recorded about a year ago. He’s such a serious fellow…sharing with us his angst over society’s obsession with Hollywood celebrities even as such weighty subjects like human rights violations in Sudan demand our attention.

We agreed, felt disgusted at the times we’ve enjoyed Entertainment Tonight, then we ate.

We looked at a mini movie my daughter had created that manipulates some of the images she has created at Art school over the last few months.  Money well spent!

Then we inhaled our dessert.

I can’t believe we got my mom a little tipsy this year.  I decided to serve martinis and my mom is not a drinker.  After having her first martini ever, her eyes shrank down to thin lines and permanent grin took over her face.  That was bittersweet seeing her giggle with inebriation.  A few years ago we thought we would  lose her when she was in dire need of a kidney transplant and here she was lighting up our evening in excellent health.  My eternal thanks to a special individual (who left this world suddenly) and his family who together, through their decision to make an organ donation, made it possible for my mother to live.

As I lay down for my second nap this Christmas morning I said to my husband that the best gift we have is this family–something that can’t be bought.  Realizing this every once in a while gives you a healthy perspective on “wish lists.”  There isn’t a “thing” that I wish for, rather I’m thankful for the healthy family that I have and I pray that all of us, in communities everywhere will have the opportunity to love and receive love throughout our lives.

Merry Christmas to you and may the peace, joy and blessings of that first Christmas morning sustain you throughout the year.

A Gift for You That Gives to Others

We’re now at a mere few days before Christmas. What gift could bring a smile to your face…right now?

How about one that offers up the words to those Christmas songs you can never seem to remember? Or how about a handy menu planner to get you through the next few days – that’s a winner in my book.

You are in luck. Christmas Gifts for Moms is something that a few of my peers over at Menu Planning Central have put together that has among many things a how to for decorating your own Gingerbread house.

Don’t spend a minute longer trudging through magazines and old recipe books trying to come up with some healthy, tasty and interesting menus for this week.

It’s free so enjoy your gift right now.

Cheers!

Snow Day and Prime Rib

Earlier this week as I was driving my son to his high school he asked me to switch on the radio to a news and current events station he will usually only listen to after much complaining/urging on my part.

I obliged and put on the station quietly patting myself on the back that my great parenting skills had resulted in my iPod teen finally taking a more wide-spread interest in current affairs.

Well that was a short-lived sentiment.  It seems W only wanted to get the weather report so he could hear whether or not there would be snow day for schools.  If you don’t have kids or if you’re blessed to live in a snow free region of the world, a snow day these days means “no school.”

Something has happened to the traditional hardiness of us northern folks.  I remember walking to school with the snow somewhere near my waist.  By the time I would arrive at school my thighs would be tired from lifting them so much!

Now when we get the slightest indication that there’ll be an accumulation of snow it’s like we have to alert the army to ensure we’ll be prepared.

Today my town has called a snow day.  As early as yesterday morning, they were telling folks to work from home if at all possible.  The front of my paper is all about the pending “snow fall.”

My husband, brave soul that he is, pulled on his boots and went off to work even as those threatening snowflakes, “threaten” to fall.  I’ve got Nat King Cole crooning the “Christmas Song” on the stereo, my son is slumbering peacefully knowing that there is no school today.

I have one dilemma…I was told that a local and popular butcher is having an unbelievable sale on boned Prime Rib.  Prime Rib is on my menu for Christmas Eve.  If I don’t go and get it today, I’ll lose out on a good deal.

Since I’m no snow day chicken, I’m heading out to get my Prime Rib.  Let’s hope the news continues to play up the scariness of a snow fall…more choice and selection for me at the meat shop!

The Joys of Urban Life

So often “urban” is likened to all that is gritty, crime ridden and conjested.  Unfortunately that’s a label applied usually by those who have never lived in and enjoyed a thriving urban lifestyle.

New urbanism is one of those movements that reminds us of the gifts we already have – like the joy of conversation with a neighbor in a coffee shop; the smile of school kids running out of a bakery; the sketch of an artist chalking out his ideas on the sidewalk….

Sometimes we get so caught up in the problems associated with urban life that we forget the positive aspects that in so many instances outweigh the bad and if properly managed can help to address the problems that can plague cities – like poor housing conditions and crime.

One of the great things about our city is the commitment and passion that our residents have for the arts. You don’t have to have a degree in fine art to appreciate the excitement and beauty of something so fantastic like the re-opening of a great art gallery.

Sure it might help and I sincerely hope the art education we’re giving to our daughter will enhance her life in so many ways from the aesthetic appreciation of things to getting a job! But artistic expression and the mere pursuit of it in public settings and communities is a gift to everyone who has the opportunity to see and experience it.

Art for me shows a little of someone’s personality in a different form – one that I’m not use to. In our city we just reopened our art gallery and it’s not just the priceless works of art from centuries past and just last month that inspire you, but the re-design of the art gallery itself.  You see this re-design is an artistic expression (maybe even a serenade) from the architect who is a native son of this city (Frank Gehry).

The picture featured in this post is the new “Galleria Italia” an open space that both features art and provides a sweet view of a street in our bohemian district where I got one of my first jobs after university – a gallery assistant in a tiny, lovely little gallery run by a woman about 3 years older than I was. It was a great experience.

And guess what? I knew nothing about art but loved everything about it

Photo credit: AGO Photographer, Sean Weaver, 2008.