Holiday madness

Dashing through December...

I went to Largo with my dad last night. We both love the Largo Salad. I ordered us two Harps (on tap) and he seemed to enjoy it. The Watkins show was good, but not nearly as amazing as it was last month. I am going back in January to see Davíd Garza, and I haven't decided who I will ask to come with me.

I am going power-shopping tonight.

I am so looking forward to the big road trip next week!

The weather is weirdly warm these past few days. What the heck is that about? Our girls are asking the best Santa Claus questions. Ivy wanted to know how old he is, and Viviana wants to know how the elves know how to make toys just like the toys in the store.

I was thinking while I was driving (I do that a lot), and I was trying to find an example of other artful expressions within the animal kingdom. Is it an uniquely human thing? I know there are birds who utilize dance in their mating rituals, but does a monkey ever pick a flower and put it in his cubby just to marvel at its beauty? Do coyotes whoop and howl in harmonic togetherness because they like the way it sounds? What does it all mean?

Someone left a huge box of See's candy on the breakroom table today. There weren't any walnut clusters in the top layer, so I lifted it up and accessed the bottom layer...I'm a smart monkey. It was a liberating, self-empowering moment. But, alas, there were no walnut clusters there, either. So, I took an almond-square instead.

~Lisa

December is like a suitcase

I am always amazed at how much we can pack into December. Is it because it is the last month of the year, so we feel compelled to get as much as we can out of it? Or is it because there is so much activity for us between October and January, that it just snowballs under the weight of its own momentum?

We're still recuperating, the cough sneaks in and out, but is mostly gone. I went to see The Messiah in Hacienda Heights, a great way to jump start the holiday season for me (did I mention that already?). I took my parents to a bluegrass concert in Simi Valley last weekend. The Witcher Brothers were wonderful, and there was a young fiddler and a young mandolinist spotlighted; it was very impressive to see these very talented musicians in action. I am looking forward to seeing the Watkins family again later this month, with my dad.

I am wrestling with a nasty hijacker on our new pc. I am seriously considering doing a system recover back to day one, but I'm still not sure if that will get rid of it.

We have one more weekend of Old-Fashioned Radio Christmas. We got our Christmas tree last weekend, and I have just one string of lights on it. I'm sure the kids will prod me to get it done this week. I plan on making fewer tamales this year, since we are going on a road trip through the Southwest the day after Christmas. I'm still planning out the route.

I think that's it for now...I got my eyes dilated today, so I'm feeling a bit off-kilter. And I have those ridiculous looking plast shades on.

'tis the season...to be crass?

Ugh.

Is it just me? It seems like Christmas has become so very orchestrated, and I just don't remember it being like this. I think I am really relishing the little customs, the small traditions, like decorating stockings and looking at lights, so that the commercialized part of the holiday is glaringly out of place for me right now. I'm veering towards an intimate holiday, time with people who know me and my kids, to share love and good cheer. I just want to make small gifts from my heart and not buy a single thing. I want to bake a ton of cookies and pass them out to my neighbors. I want to make a few dozen tamales, and steep myself in my heritage, remembering my great-grandma, my nana, and my aunts, and all their hands, making tamales before mine ever did. I want to listen to Christmas carols. I may even drag the kids caroling...Then, the morning after, I just want to jump into the van for real quality time with my family, out on the open road.

(Viviana said "Not Texas! It's too far!", but I assured her we would sleep in one of those places that has two beds (motel), and she said YIPPEE!)

An excellent way to kick off December

I'm finally feeling much better, coughing much less, yay!

I went down to Hacienda Heights Saturday evening, to hear the annual production of Handel's Messiah that several people I know sing in. I've been going for (I think) five years now, and this was the best production ever! Berniece and I agree it was quite uplifting and beautiful. Jenny took me out for my birthday dinner, I just didn't get to hang out with her as long as I had originally planned. So we rescheduled a slumber party for January. She and I are still awed by Watkins show we attended last month.

We had a successful weekend at the theater, with several great "houses" (audiences who really get into the show). The show itself has really evolved and is much different than it was on opening night!

On another note, a friend sent me the new INXS cd. It is kind of eerie to hear the this new singer. There are a couple of really cool songs on it. I didn't realize all the hype involved with getting a new singer, I guess I don't watch VH1 enough.

Okay, time to get ready for the new week...

Thank you!

To everyone who took the time from their own busy lives to reach out and wish me a happy birthday, you made my heart all sparkly! Thanks for reminding me that I am blessed to have so many wonderful people in my life.

I am a rich gal.

And to my hunny-bunny: My birthday was perfect. I'll thank you later, when we're no longer coughing up the gunky stuff. The show, after all, must go on!

I'd forgotten just how much I love, yes, love!, Chinese food.