Christmas fun

I took a spin up the road to check out their Christmas village set up. It was very Christmas-y. 

Yes, already

I don't know why, but it seems like this year, we are all ready for Christmas earlier. I don't mean that stores have been selling stuff sooner, or even that the black Friday sales started 2 weeks ago. Yes, that has all been earlier. But I think we are just ready for it earlier, apart from any of the commercial aspects.

At work, my co-worker started decorating (and I 1000% supported it) at the end of October. I took a dive into some Christmas music about mid-October. Last night I went to a Christmas concert (bell ringing), which may just be due to too many events, not enough nights. I was ready to put up my tree two weeks ago, even though I didn't get it up until tonight. And downtown where I live has started lighting up the lights, which usually doesn't happen until after Thanksgiving. 

A couple of people have suggested it is due to the election, but I don't think that's it. At least, that's not it for me. I think we're just tired, and we are just ready for joy. There is something about Christmas that is light and calm and joy.* And I think we are just ready for it. 

And so, yes, already, Merry Christmas. May it be a long and fulfilling season.

*Which is a bit paradoxical because in my part of the world, it actually gets dark around 5:00 pm, so not a lot of light going on.

I might be ready for 2024

I know that we are already over 2 weeks into the new year, but I think I might be almost ready for it. Or at least, as ready as one can be (which honestly, that whole mentality is putting a lot of pressure on 2024 and that seems unfair. I mean, it has 12 months and 365 days that all just kind of do their own thing, why is it 2024's fault if the days and months goof up? Besides, it's the people that make the mess, not the calendar!! Poor time!)

There's a reason I feel like I'm just getting into the swing of things. I started the year out with a misery of a cold (sore nose from all the kleenexes, loads of snot, and a cough that came from the chest). And I am just now hitting the point where I feel like I'm more or less over it. Which is a bummer, because now I don't have anything to blame being exhausted on!

Also, I had a sprained wrist, the result of ice skating, and even though it really only hurt when twisting or lifting things for the last week and a half or two, it was still a nuisance. And it meant I couldn't exercise (which did NOT help with the sluggishness). 

Those two things made it hard to really get my head in the new year, and then we hired 3 new employees on my team, and three of our other employees have been on vacation and before that various members of the team were all traveling, and it is a really weird way to start the year. Today was the first time in like 6 weeks--maybe 2 months!--that I've seen my boss in person, and I have coworkers that I haven't seen for that long, so it definitely creates a weird vibe. But now, everyone is starting to come back and we have our new people, and so it feels like things are kicking off. 

And, so, Happy New Year!!!!

My favorite things (on the Christmas tree)

I really like decorating for Christmas. And every year, I have that moment of joy in which I pull out the Christmas ornaments and see all of my favorites. I mean, I like them all or I wouldn't put them on my tree, but then there are the faves. Here are just a few:

The penguins: 

I love a Christmas penguin. There are actually 3 of these, but I'm not sure where the 3rd on is hiding.

The Snowmen:

These two are very small, and I don't remember where I got them. I'm pretty sure they were a gift. But they are adorable!

The sloth:

This one is a gift from my niece and really, no explanation about why I like it is needed. 

And where there are sloths, why not llamas? This is a gift from a friend, from our Peru trip last year. 

My puzzle ornament, a gift from my grandparents decades ago.

More traditional, this ornament is from a set. There are 2 of these, 2 smaller balls, and a bell. If I remember right, my sister gave them to me.

Olaf, a souvenir from Disney World the year that Frozen 2 came out. Actually, we watched Frozen 2 in Disney World. There was a huge store full of ornaments, and these were the obvious ones. Once I saw them, I knew. 

Deck the Halls

I am so ready for Christmas. 

Usually it starts to hit me in mid-November, and I can hold off until Thanksgiving to decorate and such. 

But this year, I'm ready for it now. The songs, the food, the wrapping paper, the decorations. I'm up for skipping Halloween--although my great-niece did look adorable in her costume! And I always love the pics of the nieces and nephews in their costumes, so I guess we can fast forward to the day, and then skip on over to Christmas! Maybe a really quick dip into Thanksgiving on our way. 

Or maybe I just need a couple of days to rest up. Because I'm exhausted. So maybe a couple of napping days and then we skip on over. 

Because you gotta have Christmas energy.

Whose day?

I'm not complaining that once a year we get a day off in February but this year, I was curious about what we are supposed to care about on this day (besides no work. Let's be honest. That's the important thing for a low-level holiday like Presidents Day). 

As I do in all situations where I want to know a bit of basic info but not invest loads of time, I turned to my friend Wikipedia, which says that the federal holiday is Washington's Birthday, but it has a different name in all the states: 15 variations in all. (How? That is so many names!)

It celebrates Washington specifically, but I guess in some places (what's in a name, they say. Well, apparently what's in a name is what you celebrate) it celebrates US presidents in general. 

This begs the question. How do we feel about this? I mean, like I say, I am all about the day off. But presidents already get minimum 4 years of days where they get to be the special person. And then they get to be special for all the days after that. Seems like maybe they've had their turn.

So, I guess it's fair that no one actually thinks about them on Presidents Day, or President's Day, or Presidents' Day, or Washington's birthday, or whatever we call it. And I am not going to stand on principle if it means not having a nice 3-day weekend in February. So, happy whatever-your-state-calls-it day to you!

Feliz navidad

I usually try to hold off on Christmas stuff until after Thanksgiving. Mostly out of a weird unfounded worry that I'll burn out on Christmas too soon.* Or get in the Christmas mindset too early and still have a huge chunk of the year left. NO evidence that either of these will actually happen, but there it is.

This year, though, I am starting early. Two weeks ago, I was just ready for the Christmas music. So I jumped in, which I can get away with because I live alone. And today, I put up the tree which yes, is early, but I have a VERY good reason. See, I'm out of town for Thanksgiving, and I get back on Sunday, and then I leave super early on the Wednesday for a work trip to Peru, I get back from that on the 10th, and then I go out of town for Christmas on the 17th. And won't be back until January. So, if I don't start now, I won't get to do it at all and I LOVE the Christmas decorations! 

And yes, of course they will probably stay up until February, but you don't get the same feel from them after Christmas (trust me, I know). They are still awesome, and I still love them, but the Christmas vibe is past. It's the lead up to Christmas where they are the best. 

That is why I'm doing Christmas early this year. Because I feel like it, and I deserve it, and I need it, and the season is going to be too short, and I need just a minute to breathe, and maybe with the mood of Christmas, I'll get my minute. And it's beautiful. 

*And I also want to add, I support people who start sooner, because that's your call to make and sometimes, you just need some great Christmas music. Also, there's just not enough time for everything if you wait too long! But I'm not a fan of Christmas stuff going up the day after Labor day in stores and black Friday happening in October. It's too much.

Holiday spirit?

It's that time of year when businesses try to get you to buy stuff for Christmas. And I've noticed a trend in the commercials. Basically, it's, "We're such a great people-oriented business. If you give us a lot of money, we'll give a small portion of it to help people in need for the holidays."

Call me a grump, or a socialist, or whatever. It just seems like a really great company would just give money to help others whether you spent money with them or not. And if I really want to help people, I'll just give my money directly, rather than going through you, Mr. Corporate Middle Man.

I know this is nothing new, but for some reason, this year it's bugging me. (Possibly because with streaming, I'm getting the ads on repeat...and repeat...and repeat). I'm not planning on being a major spender this Christmas (or any, really), though, so I will just do my best to ignore the nonsense. 

New Year's celebrations

I know, it's not even Thanksgiving. But, this week at work, we were talking about how we celebrate the holidays. My Chilean coworker mentioned that in Chile, you celebrate the new year the way you want it to be during the year. To which I mentioned I always spend it sleeping, and my boss said, "Is that why I'm always tired? I welcome the new year by sleeping, so then I am sleepy the whole year?"

Which makes me think we need some kind of guide for ringing in the new year Chilean style. For example, does sleeping at midnight mean you will be sleepy all year? Or well rested? If you party alone, does it mean you'll be lonely? Or (for the introverts among us) content in your own company (which can be a good thing). If you spend the evening playing games with family, what does that mean? Or watching the news? 

So basically, we need the New Year's celebration equivalent of dream interpretation: what does xyz thing mean. And someone needs to write it soon, because I need to get my plans right!

Happy holiday!

Today is international chocolate day, according to the internet.* I celebrated by eating chocolate purchased in Montevideo, which in turn was imported from Bolivia. And eaten in the US. Which is pretty darn international. 

And since you can't enjoy the chocolate, maybe you'll enjoy a glimpse of Montevideo through pics:

*I did look into this once, and there's half a dozen various national/international chocolate days, in case you were wondering.

Holiday speedbump

I like Thanksgiving. I really do. But for some reason, this year I just want to jump straight to the Christmas season. 

I don't really know why. It's a good time with family and good food and time off work. And Christmas right around the corner. But I'm so in the mood for the Christmas season. I'm ready for the lights and the trees and the music and the cold--preferably snow. I really want snow. And more time off and time with family and the fun of gift-giving (which I really do enjoy). 

And the good news is that it's almost here. And it will be fun and then Christmas. But it does feel like it's been a long time coming. And simultaneously, how can it possibly be here?

Yep. Time is just wacky.

Happy New Year!

Good news! It's a new year! Well, at least it is if you are Persian or celebrate Norwuz*. So if 2021 isn't working out for you, and the Chinese New Year in February didn't improve things, try rebooting** and celebrating Norwuz!

And if Norwuz doesn't work, you can try Ugadi (a new year celebrated in some states in India, celebrated at the same time as Gudi Padwa and Cheti Chand, which are other Indian new years) or Navreh (a Kashmiri new year, so also India) next month. And a bunch of other Indian cultures celebrate their new year in April. There is also Sri Lanka's national new year, and Malaysia celebrates a new year somewhere in there, and Bangladesh.

And if 2021 still isn't up to snuff, the Serer people in Africa celebrate their new year in June. And so do the Dogon people, also in Africa.

Then there's Muharram, the Islamic new year celebration, starting on August 31st this year, and the Coptic new year in September, and the Ethiopian new year at the same time. And it looks like a bunch more Indian cultures have new years scattered through the fall. And Rosh Hoshanah, the Jewish new year, in early September.

And if 2021 really just isn't doing it for you, I guess you can end it early with Quviasukvik***, the Inuit, Aleut, and Yupik new year, which is held in December.

What do we learn from all of this? Well, first, we learn that calendars are just pretend****. But as long as we all keep believing, it will be fine. 

Then we learn that maybe January 1st isn't the only time to celebrate a new beginning and to try to improve. Because new beginnings are happening all the time, everywhere! So, feel free to declare your own personal new year any time you want. 

And, we also learn that it is super fun to live in a world where we celebrate the new year in different ways--and at different times! That is so cool! Hooray! 

*As long as Wikipedia isn't lying to me. Which goes for all the other new years listed here. 

**I just really love the idea of rebooting the year. 

***It seems like you should be able to say it in order to celebrate it. I don't make the rules, but that does seem like a good one. 

****In so many ways, time is just made up. Not the passage of 'time'--we get older, the earth does move around the sun, etc. But hours and minutes and days and deadlines and stuff. In a lot of ways, they are just made up.

Something new

You know, the Christmas holidays are kind of a season for traditions. But, this Christmas season and this past week, I have done a lot of new things. Like: 

• turned a pencil. Out of lilac wood. Basically, I made a mechanical pencil. How to make a pencil: 1) have a lathe. 2) have an awesome brother-in-law who will walk you through the process. 
• visited Santa Fe. Finally! And, definitely need to go back. 
• tried halva, kunafa, foul (not the adjective, but a lovely middle eastern dish), and other new foods. I prefer the halva to the kunafa. Neither is bad, they were both good, I just like the halva more. 
• learned to pick a lock. As long as it is a clear lock where I can see the tumblers. I actually picked two of them but one felt more like luck. Look, I'm a novice. Basically, your locks are currently safe from me picking them. 
• played new games, including Fluxx, 6 Nimmt (with moosen), Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza, LLAMA (both the 3-year old round, which is ever-changing, and the actual game), and Ticket to Ride Nordic Countries, India, and Switzerland. And sort of Throw Throw Burrito, but it was a 2-person game and I think that is a different experience from a 3+ player game.
• played around with intentionally blurring nighttime photos. Way more entertaining than it sounds.
• played Paper Rock Scissors Freeze Tag. 
• opened Christmas crackers. 
• colored with crayons from a 152 count box. My dream come true!

Trying new things: give it a shot!

Question of the Day

Q: Are you proud to be an American?

A: A qualified no/I reject the question.

I read that phrase in some news story yesterday and it was kind of jarring. Weirdly, especially these days, I just don't think about being proud to be an American*. I know for a fact that 20 years ago, I would have answered very differently. But these days, my brain finds the whole idea bizarre. 

It's not a political stance or anything. Admittedly, in the past 20 years I have become much more aware of US history, and particularly what our history has meant for various groups of people and countries. I spent Independence Day 2020 finishing a book about Axis and Allied involvement in Latin America during World War II**. The US did not come out looking great. And that is hardly the first (or the last) instance of the US of A getting things very, very wrong. And yes, there is plenty in our history that makes me angry. But, let's be honest. There isn't a country on earth that has a clean history. Welcome to humanity. We mess up. A lot. Yes, I am more ashamed when the US messes up, because we have such high aspirations that when we fail, it's really not great. Also, as an Estadounidense*** I feel more ownership over our wrongdoings, the same way I feel more ownership when I mess up. Hopefully that is true across the board, for all people. 

But guess what? America has also done some really great things! Welcome to humanity! We are amazing! Am I proud of that? Yes! It's great! However, in both cases, it's not a nationality thing. It's a people thing. So, it really isn't because of our history, or even our present.**** 

So what changed in the last twenty years to move me from being proud to being ambivalent? Mostly, I learned a lot more about the world. I saw more of it. I read more about it. I met more of its inhabitants. And I realized that

I guess at the moment, here's where I fall on the issue. I am not proud to be American, I am grateful. When I think of all the places in the world I could have been born, I know how good I have it. And I know that doesn't apply across the board to all Americans--just one more reason not to be proud about it. Nor do I think life would have been horrible if I had been born in Vanuatu, or Belize, or Belgium. It would have been life--with a different set of challenges, no doubt, but with a different set of blessings, as well. But I also could have been born in Syria, or Venezuela, or another place where survival isn't a guarantee at the moment. Or in a place where learning about the world isn't allowed. Or somewhere where getting water is an all-day task. I know how good I have it, and I know that one contributing factor is because I was born in the USA.***** So, no, I'm not proud. I am incredibly grateful, and very humbled. And I hope that I show that gratitude and humility by being a better human being. 

*where at least I know I'm free. And I won't forget the men who died.... Seriously, it just comes naturally.

**the book is called The Tango War and I highly recommend it. 

***Spanish for United Statesian. Ish. 

****Granted there is a lot going on at the moment that doesn't thrill me. But I wasn't overly patriotic before the current mess, so that's definitely not what toned down my enthusiasm.

*****Not all of why I have it so good. Not even the most important reason why I have it so good. But, yes, a reason. 

 

Really?

I just found out that tomorrow is National Work from Home Day. 

Yeah. I know. Just a little ironic. 

Anyway, wherever you are, stay at home! Skip the office! And help everyone else do the same. It is a holiday, so you might as well.

Best Holiday Ever

Today is World Sleep Day. This is the holiday the world needed right now. This is an observance that deserves a Nobel prize: sleep makes the world more peaceful, in the short and long run. It's a day that is vastly underrated (you'll notice there was no reporting on it. And yet, what a fantastic way to encourage social distancing and staying at home! Missed opportunity, guys) and yet so desperately blessed. I spent my day feeling exhausted. Maybe I was just prepping for tonight? Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed and honored sleep today, and enjoy sleep tonight, and what the heck. Extend your observance into tomorrow. 

My kind of celebration

Yesterday was National Cereal Day and I just wanted to take a moment and thank whoever decided we need a National Cereal Day for giving me one day a year where I can legitimately eat cereal for dinner. No guilt, no shame, no nagging sense of "You are a grown woman who can cook things, why do you resort to cereal so often? Also, have you had any vegetables today?" Just me, my bowl of cereal, and the wonderful internet telling me it's okay, it's a holiday.

The longest weeks

Why is it that the week after a three-day weekend is always soooo long? There are only 4 days, but somehow, the week drags on and on. But only when the four days are Tuesday through Friday. If the three-day weekend is a Friday through Sunday, well, the week after still seems long but it seems like it is more bearable than a Saturday through Monday three-day weekend. (This could just be because we just had a Saturday through Monday three-day weekend. It's just been a while since I had a Friday through Sunday one, so of course it seems better). Although, maybe the four day part of the week takes forever, too, because you know at the end of it is a three-day weekend. Either way, an extra day off makes for a long week.

Not that I'm in favor of getting rid of Monday holidays. I'm totally down with them. But it was definitely a long week.

I bid you adieu

Dear 2019,

You have been gone now for 6 days and I just want to say, we had good times, we had bad times, may you rest in peace.

We saw some new places: Boston, Disney World, the bird refuge. We made it through the flu, another round of gum grafts, and coped with the traditional Christmas bug (it happens when you spend the holiday with a bunch of kids). We saw a lot of family throughout the year which was always joyful and managed some visits with old friends, which was a delight.

There were some professional developments--received a certification and took on some new responsibilities, only to change positions later. That was exciting and unexpected.

Read a lot of books, found I could still get a sound out of a flute, and kept working on old hobbies to some degree or other. Failed dismally at most of the goals for the year but hopefully managed to remain a decent person, even if I didn't improve.

And now we come to a new year. It just won't be the same without you, 2019. I know we all have to move on at some point, but know that, despite the exhaustion and stress and general global discord, you were a good year and you'll be remembered fondly.

Tradition's Patient Zero

Today I overheard someone telling about how Christmas trees became a thing. Apparently, it was to be a reminder that new life would come in the spring or something. But here's my question: how did it become a thing?

Even if it was a "let's remember that spring will be green" thing, it had to start somewhere. So, did some family just feel really gloomy and need some cheering up so they put up a tree? And then their neighbor came by and was like, "Hey, that's cool! I like that! It makes me feel hopeful, like there will be new life in the spring" and put one up? And then they told their family and friends and soon everybody was doing it?

Or was there some farmer who wanted to clear some land, but didn't want to cut all of those trees into firewood, so he cut them down and convinced everyone that they were a symbol of new life and got them to buy them?

Did some religion somewhere just really love the smell of pine trees? Was it some kind of self-inflicted punishment, because you had to sweep up all the pine needles? I mean, who looked at a tree and said, "Hey. Let's cut that down and put it up in our house [because that totally  speaks of new life] so that we can remember that there will be new life in the spring! And, while we're at it, why don't we stick some candles on it?!" Was there a committee? An election? A whole town or province or country all handed in their ballot, "Yes, I am in favor of starting this tradition"?

I mean, seriously. Traditions start somewhere and probably not with all the symbolism we attribute to them. It's probably just a few people looking for something fun and meaningful to do and then somehow word spreads and a couple centuries later, stores are throwing merch out in September for a holiday that's in December and everyone is having fun with it (because we are. I LOVE Christmas trees! And lights! And ornaments!).

I just wondered, is all.