Merry Christmas, I'm Mowing the Snow

First of all, Merry Christmas to everyone out there in Bloggerville (I say 'ville' because the only people that read this blog are myself and 2 or 3 really bored homeless people who hang out at a public library. Because if there were more than just us reading, I'd maybe have an occasional comment or two and then I could upgrade Bloggerville to Blogtown, or even Blog City.). Anyway...

On this glorious day, I awoke to snow, truly wonderful snow. I like snow. A lot. And today I got to play with a new toy I've had for almost a year! Last year, after we had snow every week for 8 weeks in a row (and I'm not talking about an inch or two at a time, either), my father broke down and bought a new snow blower because, well, just because. So I got the hand-me-down snow blower. Please don't get the impression that I'm complaining. I'm not. I mean, who in the hell is going to complain about an easier way to clear the driveway and sidewalks of cold, wet, white stuff? Not me, I assure you.

Just a few things you should consider though, before using a snowblower, if you've not yet had the opportunity or the need:

1) Make sure you have gas in it before the 1-4 inches predicted by the dumbass weatherman becomes the 6-8 inches you really get. It sucks to have to find an open gas station on Christmas day.

2) Don't use the snowblower after you've already shoveled because I don't care how cold it is, that stuff is wetter than if you hadn't shoveled at all. Blow first, then shovel.

3) Watch the way the blower thing is pointed. It's cold when it blasts you in the face, and this is no fun at all, except to the person who sees it happen to you.

Much love to all! Merry Christmas!

The Christmas Eve Tradition

Hunter: Mom, it's the day before Christmas!

Me: Yeah, that makes it Christmas Eve.

Hunter: So, uh, our tradition... we get to open a present early, right?

Me: Yeah, tonight. At Mamu and PaPa's house.

Hunter (totally whining): Why not now?

Me: Because Dad's not home.

Hunter: Why did he go to work anyway? He should be at home.

Me: Well, Hunter, he didn't want to go, but he didn't really have a choice.

Hunter: He should've told Bossman that it's Christmas and he needs to spend time at home with his family so his son can open up a Christmas present early!

Kudos to Colleen!

Let me backtrack just a bit, and tell you about Christmas Eve.

Our incredibly generous apartment manager, Colleen, organized a Christmas Eve Open House for the residents of our complex. Now, Colleen doesn't do anything halfway, and the Open House was no exception. She began baking just after Thanksgiving, and continued until the day before the event... I know - I was there. There were cookies, bars and treats of every description. There were mini sandwiches, meat and cheese trays, mexican cheese dip, meatballs, little smokies and delicious punch, and everything was paid for out of her own pocket. She and I worked until after 10 pm on the 23rd trying to get everything set out and organized, and ended up being greatly rewarded by the appreciation of all the people who showed up. Kenin helped out a lot, too, and now has plenty of places to run off to if I ever lose my mind and kick him out. You should've seen all the little old ladies practically swooning over him!

Anyway, during all the preparation, I saw how exhausted poor Colleen was, and I asked her if it was worth all the trouble. She immediately answered that it was. She told me that so many of the residents, due to age or health problems, were unable to go anywhere for the holiday, or no longer even had any family left to go to, and this was her way of giving them Christmas and letting them know that they were still cared about. At that point, I couldn't quite understand how she could deprive herself from something so basic as sleep, just to do this for people who weren't her family. The next day, however, made me completely understand. The Open House was a huge success! Everyone was so greatful for it, and really seemed to have a good time. Newer residents met older ones, and the few children that were there were a big hit and adored by most everyone (my own little one drove me crazy, but that's another story LOL). The event itself only lasted for 3 hours, but the feeling of caring and giving that came along with it will last forever, and I feel so lucky to have been able to be a part of it.

Real Life

Okay, here's proof that I really went to Denver to see the family.


Left to right, there's my Dad (This is the only picture I have of him smiling... ever.), my wonderful sister-in-law, Guli, me, my brother, Robert, and my son, Hunter. The cutie pie in the front is my daughter, Ashlyn. Thanks so much to Aunt Sally, who took the picture!






This is a picture that I took last night from my bedroom window. Yes, it's a bit distorted, by - you guessed it - snow! I came home early from Denver (Saturday vs. Sunday) so I could miss the nasty weather that was headed our way. We ended up getting a blizzard here in Iowa on Sunday, although only about 4 inches of snow fell. Then, yesterday, we got 4 more inches and it's supposed to snow more tomorrow, be cloudy on Saturday and then snow again Sunday and Monday. Ah, I love winter. (Okay, enough about the weather.)

Ah... Thanksgiving

I felt a bit lazy today, so while Kenin was at work, Ashlyn and I watched CSI and A Love Song for Bobby Long (great movie). Last night I got home from my parents house and boy, was I glad. It wasn't that I'd had a bad time or anything, just that I missed my own home. And my husband. And my cats. And my own bed.

I got the kids up early Wednesday morning and we headed west toward the Rockies. After a 10 1/2 hour drive, we made it to Denver. The kids behaved fairly well, though Hunter was especially anxious to see his friends again. We got to see my parents, my favorite aunt, Sally, my brother, Bob, and finally got to meet Guli, my newest sister-in-law, who is FABULOUS!! My dad complained about the kids, we all got caught up on what's going on in everyone's life, and other than sleeping on the sofa bed, everything was good. Bob, Guli, and I took the kids to see the latest Harry Potter movie Thanksgiving night, and though it was okay, had I not read the book, I'd not have known what was going on, so if you haven't read it, don't waste your money. We'd planned on staying until Sunday, but bad weather was approaching so we came home early.

I guess I ought to say "I'm sorry" to Al of Al's Lock and Safe in North Platte, NE. I had a blonde moment and locked my keys in the car at Burger King. Or, at least I thought I did. Anyway, I called Al and he was on his way out to save the day when I discovered that the rear door on the Durango wasn't locked after all. I'm not really sure how that happened since the other doors were locked tight as a candy jar at a Weight Watchers meeting, but that's the way it was. Wanting to keep that extra $40 he was going to charge me to open my unlocked car (not to mention the embarrassment factor), I left before he got there. So, uh, sorry, Al. (I'm going to mail him $20 just for his trouble.)

So much crap to do...

So much crap to do, and so little time to get it done in. I guess I could put what little time I have to better use by not blogging right now, but what the hell? Tomorrow, at some point between the hours of 4 and 5 am, I will load up the car and kids and head to Denver for Turkey Day. I must be insane to take all the kids and leave Kenin behind (my poor baby has to work), but I miss my family. I'm going to see my brother (younger, but not little by any means) for the first time in 3 years and I get to meet his new wife, Guli, for the first time. Plus, my aunt and parents will be there, too. Anyway, lots to do, lots to do. I have pick up Kenin from work and take him to the doctor, do some last minute laundry (hell, I only did 5 loads yesterday), clean out my car so we can all fit in there with Hunter's bike that he wants to take, pack, and I have a lunch date with my friend, Laura. Patrick's already thrown a screaming fit and it's only 8 o'clock. Hunter's being obstinate and doesn't want to get ready for school. So, yeah, its' gonna be one of those days...

Wal-Mart vs. Christmas

While perusing the online version of the Conway, Arkansas Log Cabin Democrat this morning, I came across the story of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights proposed boycott of Wal-Mart. Apparently, Wal-Mart changed it's traditional "Merry Christmas" to "Happy Holidays" because there are so many year-end celebrations by different faiths and the Catholics are all fired up over it.

The thing that really gets my goat is the lack of tolerance by the Catholic League. Well, butter my butt and call me a biscuit! You mean there's really more than one celebration going on in December?! And all along I thought that Hanukkah and Kwanzaa were just myths! Give me a break, people. "Happy Holidays" is something generic you can say for the entire 2 last months of the year. It doesn't mean that Christmas has all of the sudden been abolished just because you weren't greeted with "Merry Christmas" when you walked through the doors of Wal-Mart. It means that this is America and there is more than one religion out there and "Happy Holidays" is a way to include everyone. I swear, some people...