The Scrolls

Archive for the ‘Holidays’ Category

The truth is..

I love Christmas. I love music and while I prefer the classics like “Winter Wonderland” and “White Christmas” performed in their classic way by almost anyone (Elvis, Reba, Alan Jackson, and Eurythmics are a few I love), I also love newer jingles and artists like Sarah Mclachlan, Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Shedaisy who put their own original spin on them. Of course, I love to sing along.

I love Christmas movies, especially all the clay-mation ones. Santa Claus is Coming to Town and Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer are probably my favourites but I also love Home Alone.

I love to decorate and given the resources (time, money, perfect decorations and a house which is suitable) I would probably be one of those people who lights up the entire neighbourhood. I love to put up a tree and there isn’t anything like the real thing.

I love the big meal including ham and potatoes. I love seeing family and friends even if it means drama. I love the hustle and bustle and even like Christmas shopping – when I have money – no matter how frustrating.

I love gift giving and gift opening, even if it’s something silly. I still hang stockings (although ours hang empty tonight) and if I ever have children, I will tell them about Santa Claus. Last night I tracked him via Norad until 3 in the morning (and he wasn’t even done!)

While I do not consider myself a religious person, the holiday season makes me feel “closer to God” and everything around me seems to sparkle. Of course, if there actually is snow sparkling aruond me, that is a plus.

But it’s so easy to go through the motions of Christmas and not take any joy from it. It’s easy to forget what it’s about, even if it’s only about gifts to you but, hey!, those are as good a reason as any in my opinion.

I had been so disappointed in Christmas this year. It wasn’t feeling like Christmas and this made me frustrated ans sad. I know I’m not the only one but I wanted to be in the Christmas spirit so bad I was doing myself a disservice.

I feel a better today even though things aren’t perfect. I guess I forgot that Christmas is more than just a sum of its parts. Its something else entirely and while it might be extra special if everything comes together perfectly, it’s not unspecial just because it doesn’t.

So, with that, Merry Christmas! I hope you got what you want and – if you didn’t – I hope that’s okay, too.

Happy Holidays!

I’d just like to wish everyone a happy and safe holiday!

Kitty cats and Backed up Sinks

So, I fished washing the dishes yesterday and noticed the sink seemed a bit clogged and tried to run the garbage disposal but nothing happened. I then noticed that when running down one side of the sink, the other backed up and vice versa. I called the office who sent a request into maintenance and we left to see The Day the Earth Stood Still and take Phantom to PetSmart.

Upon returning, we saw that the maintenance guy left a note on the counter which said not to use the garbage disposal because it was rusted and corroded and he needed to order a new one. Unfortunately, this apartment was the model and while it looked good, it hadn’t been used on a daily basis for an unknown amount of time. This is also why I reluctant to use the dishwasher (which had a loose piece) and the filter had not been changed in the air conditioner forever.

The movie was okay. It was a nice change of pace to not have the entire Earth be destroyed by aliens (is that a plot spoiler? oops!) but they obviously only picked Keanu Reeves to play an alien because he talks in that strange, halting manner.

At PetSmart, we got Phantom a new toy so he hopefully redirects his aggression away from him. We also spent some time looking at the adoptions centers for possibly a new friend. We saw some adorable little kittens who were barely 2 weeks old. We decided to stop at the other PetSmart and saw a nice female cat about one year old but we have not made the final decision yet. We let Phantom and the kitty get to know eachother and while they didn’t love eachother, I think they could be good friends in time.

Phantom was really nice in the car. He eventually calmed down and curled up in my arms. He was also surprisingly mild when he was meeting the other cat; almost scared. This was the most mellow we’ve ever seen him! It was almost as though he was a different cat!

Today was spent looking for a Christmas tree (which we didn’t find) and a little Christmas shopping for Samantha (she’s getting PixOs).

This last week has really flown by.

Here I Am

Back home. I awoke yesterday long before the sun would be up after too few hours of sleep. Not to mention late. I had enough time to hop in the shower, pack up the rest of my things and we were off to the airport. Samantha’s coat and snow pants were pulled over her fuzzy Spongebob pajamas and during the course of the ride, she dozed a bit and held onto my arm the whole time.

It was only 9 days and it went amazingly fast. On the other hand, most of those days Samantha did not have school and she was plastered to my side. I felt suffocated by the time I left. Still, seeing the tears on her pudgy little face in the airport made me cry as well.

On the other hand, I had an adorable little kitty to go home to and he’d been on his own – for the most part – a couple of days since Ryan left. I missed my kitty terribly yet part of me wondered why I should go home when no one would be there.

I felt more at home with the colder weather and it snowed a bit the last few days. It definitely felt more like winter weather and it didn’t seem so strange to hear Christmas music. Nevertheless, it was cold and I knew the weather in San Antonio would be much more enjoyable.

I enjoyed seeing almost all of my family and friends, some of whom I had not seen for years. We hung out and went out and I got to know a few new people as well. However, my time there was so packed with acitivities that I felt really tense by the time I needed to leave.

I was exhausted and slept a bit on the plane back. Both physically and emotionally, I was ready to return home. But after I entered the door, it wasn’t long before I was heading back out to check the mail, open packages and return to unpack my bags. I checked e-mail and completed tasks that had been put on the back burner for over a week. All in all, I didn’t head to sleep until after midnight – over 7 hours after I had headed home.

And I suppose the best way to sum up my return home is that I was conflicted. It was bittersweet, after all.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

I cannot believe it is already November 4th and today is voting day. Of course, I do not get to go to the polls because a) I can’t vote here but more importantly b) I already voted. I don’t get any shiny stickers. Boohoo. Nevertheless, I hope the rest of you get out there and vote. A president doesn’t need to win by a landslide, he just needs to win by 1 vote. Some of the most recent elections have been decided by just a few votes.

It’s not just voting, though. I was so excited for Halloween and it came and passed so quickly. I wish it were a longer lasting holiday but the day after it’s done, it’s already a new month. I think Christmas has it better because there’s still 6 days left in the month so the season does not have to end immediately.

My Halloweens the past few years have been pretty lame. For the past 2 years we bought candy only to have no trick or treaters. I really want to do something for the holiday and love dressing up but I don’t want to be here. Rather, I want to be with my friends. Halloween is so exciting for me but lately’ it’s just come and gone so quietly that it’s been depressing.

Meh

Don’t worry, though. I’m already angry about Christmas decorations and music being present in stores.

This is Halloween!

Over the past week or so Ryan and I have hit up a multitude of stores including Walmart, Target, Michaels, Yankee Candle and Carlton Cards for Halloween decorations. Thus far, I have been several disappointed about the variety of items. We most bought indoor candle stuff and while it’s all really cool, I haven’t seen a lot of non-candle decor that’s worth a damn. However, we did invest in some fun gel window clings, a little gargoyle we put out front and a decoration for outside our door.

I wonder if this year is just a bad year for Halloween? A few years ago I reveled in the treasures I found at Wal-mart; I don’t even know if I bought anything elsewhere. Unfortunately, those items are stored at my mother’s house and probably will be for some time yet so I don’t have access.

Maybe I am just too picky? Generally, I am looking for decorations which are elegant and gothy – not gorey and cheap. I especially don’t like a lot of animated and noisy stuff. I just find it so tacky. While I enjoy lighted decor, much of it is just so hokey. I just want something dark and beautiful. If I could use something all year that, that would be even better.

Maybe next year will be better? I guess I can’t really complain. Halloween shopping was non-existant in Japan.

christmas inventory

well, hope everyone has had a nice christmas, yule, chanukah, etc..
i worked on probably all three of these days
m’break has been pretty full of work
however the checks will be nice.
x-mas i worked at the weston store, apparently pissed off some customer.
and brian m’store manager was s’posed t’talk t’me, but tim talked t’him, and it’s apparently all good.
m’presents were nothing really good. no surprise from mom and tim. susie did a knock up job of not following m’list. -sl*
on the eve we opened presents.. x-mas day after work i came over for food. it was mediocre. barry had a seizure b/c ronnie had smacked him on the head. he’s an idiot. m’wrist is starting t’hurt.
hope you all had a good anti christmas too. (friday the 13th)
apparently the girls went along with the exchange without me. i was pissed. seems like a waste of m’money. brett chewed thru the wrapping on ashley’s present. that really pisses me off. stupid dog. i dont even know where her stuff is.
ive a cell phone i wont use. ive phone cards i cant use. ive the lava for the lava lamp but no lamp. ive slippers and a tshirt i love. ive pj’s i wont ever wear. i gave the cd player t’mom, no radio. ive a lifetime supply of batteries. ive a $25 gift certificate t’the store i work at. i’ve a sdtk t’moulin rouge, not the right one.
xmas should rightly be called presents day. non christians celebrate it for presents. like moi. -lol* most christians celebrate it for the same reason. it pisses me off. they should be less concieted. oi vey plug plug plug plug plug plug
wanna be plugged?