Merry Christmas and a Happy 2011

Merry Christmas, everyone.

I have to work this Christmas Eve and for whatever reason it's extremely busy. So I must get going but I wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

And as I am off next week, I also want to wish everyone a Happy New Year. I hope 2011 brings you happiness, health and your heart's desires.

LisaDay

My Mommy

My little guy’s latest thing is give me a giant hug, tell me ‘My Mommy’ and asks for The Song.

The Song is me singing You Are My Sunshine and adding my little guy’s name in it.

I did this once last week and since then he asks for it daily. It seems to make him happy as I have to sing it over and over, much to the dismay of my husband who doesn’t appreciate my voice as much as our two-year-old does.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your families.

Where are You Christmas Lights?

One of my columnists from work commented in a recent posting about the lack of Christmas lights in his area. He wondered if it had to do with the recent hike in hydro rates.

I don’t know the reason but his observation about the lack of holiday spirit is obvious in the places I drive through as well.

My little guy loves looking at Christmas lights and his face lights up each time he sees light displays. Sadly, Christmas light displays are no longer the norm but rather a rare treat.

FYI – The Old Wives’ Tale Seems to Be True

People take note. The Old Wives’ Tale that says if you pull out a grey hair, two will grow back in its place seems to have a ring of truth to it.

This week, while stuck in traffic, I have been pulling out my grey hair, strand by strand. Last night I even pulled out the little curly ones that seem to stick straight up and out. While I wasn’t completely grey/white-free, the colour-less hair was certainly harder to find.

I woke up this morning to find more grey hair, not two per one pulled (otherwise I would have woken up to a head of grey hair) but enough to make me think perhaps I will just leave the grey ones alone.

To Flush or Not to Flush…While You are On Your Cellphone

I realize I am a bit old-fashioned. While I have a cellphone, it’s old. It allows texting but there is no Internet access and I certainly can’t take a photo.

I like having a cellphone in case of an emergency, if I need pick up or son or if I need to stop at the grocery store on my way home.

I don’t understand the need to be constantly connected. Do I really care if someone just posted something to my facebook? Not really. Do I want instant messages while I am trying to enjoy dinner or a movie? Not particularly. In fact, I find that completely rude.

And while I understand the desire to make a work meetings go faster by reading and sending text messages, it’s bad form and people shouldn’t do it.

But what bugs me the most about people who are unable to let go of technology are those who talk on their cellphones not only while they are in the bathroom, but going to the bathroom.

How do you explain to the person on the other end of the phone call the noise they hear is you peeing?

Not only is it completely ignorant to the person you are talking to, but it’s rude and inconsiderate to people who are sharing the bathroom with you.

Sadly, this talking and peeing is a constant occurrence, even at work.

The proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back was a recent business conversation a coworker was having as she entered the bathroom, locked the door, unzipped and started to pee.

I didn’t know what to do. Should I stop peeing? Should I flush when there was a break in her conversation or should I not worry about it and let her explain why she can’t hear the person talking?

People, if your conversation is so important, wait until its finished before heading to the bathroom. Or here’s a thought, tell the person you need to go to the washroom and call them back.

Sick of Winter

Is it bad that I am already sick of winter?

Well I am. Let's keep the falling and blowing snow and freezing temperatures until Jan. 1. Then let it melt away and be zero for the rest of the winter.

Come on spring.

Too Much Christmas Music?

There was a great piece on the radio a week ago where the reporter interviewed retail employees on their view of Christmas music.

Apparently if you work 12-hour days, Christmas music gets a little less – well – jolly.
On one man’s hit list was the Little Drummer Boy.

I have been listening to Christmas music since November. I realize I, too, have a Christmas music hit list.

It includes:

Santa Baby. I hate this song because it screams commercialism. If you want something from Tiffany’s, buy it yourself. Santa shouldn’t be bringing you that or a car in baby blue. However, it has a catchy tune.

Oh Christmas Tree. Speed it up, people.
First Day of Christmas. Apparently it will cost more than $900,000 to purchase everything from maids a milking to a partridge in a pear tree. The reason? The cost of gold is going up.

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus. This song makes this list not because I don’t like it, but because it makes me nervous.

Do They Know It’s Christmas. I also like this song but can some please explain this line: ‘So tonight thank god it’s them, instead of you’?
Is it just me or is that really awful?

Exciting and Not Exciting News

Exciting news, people.
On Saturday night I received seven hours of sleep – the first time in two years.

Now I can’t say it was seven hours in a row. I got up once to pee. While I usually get up at least once a night to relieve a full bladder, I am often still sleeping when I do so.

Not Saturday night. I woke up and thought, ‘I hope I can fall back to sleep.’

I did but it meant I didn’t get seven hours uninterrupted sleep. But I did get seven hours of almost uninterrupted sleep. I woke up feeling pretty rested. That feeling went away almost immediately, but it felt good waking up refreshed.

Oh Christmas Tree
We got our Christmas tree Saturday. I am a fan of cut your own. We went to a farm, had a wagon ride and found the perfect tree.

Sunday morning, after securing it to the wall with fishing line, we decorated it.

Saturday night’s sleep wasn’t as great as I was every couple of hours watering it and retrieving Cosmo, the kitten, from its base.

The good news is other than finding ornaments strewn across the living room, the tree is still standing and nothing has been broken.

The Not-So-Exciting News
We had a first snowfall yesterday and as such I had my first awful drive into work. Two and a half hours later, I finally sat down at my desk.
To winter driving. Blah.

These Are a Few of My Favourite Gifts

Yesterday I was talking about the success of coming up with THE gift for my little guy, which made me think back to the fantastic gifts I have received from my parents over the years.

1. Anne of Green Gables. If you are looking for a great book, this story about an orphan who is adopted by Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert is amazing. I remember discovering this book, carefully opening it and reading it under the twinkling lights of the tree.

2. Hope chest. I didn’t ask for this amazing box that up until recently stored my old journals and hid Christmas presents, but I was so happy to receive it. It’s personalized and I still love going through it looking at stuff from year’s past.

3. Classic Winnie the Pooh bookends. I think I really wanted the book ends that have Christopher Robin and Rabbit pulling Pooh out of Rabbit’s hole at one end and Pooh’s bum coming out of Rabbit’s (oh my, think of what this could have said before I realized how awful it sounded) living space at the other. I think I might have cried. They have a place of honour, holding the Anne of Green Gables series and other Lucy Maud Montgomery books on my library.

4. Desk. A desk of my own with drawers and spaces for writing gear. It now holds the computer and one of the one drawer is filled with stuff for the babe to play with.

Each year I received other gifts that I loved and appreciated, but these are the things that stick out in my mind and in which I will treasure forever.

THE Gift

I love Christmas and I have to thank my parents for creating wonderful traditions and memories.

It’s my goal my son has Christmas memories to treasure as well.

For the past month, I have been struggling to come up with a gift my guy would love. He is two. He just had a birthday. What does he really need? He has asked Santa for a cheap digital camera and as he has been a great little boy, I see no reason to believe he will not receive one.

But what about THE gift from Mommy and Daddy?

Finally after looking at toy flyers and asking others, I came up with THE idea, the gift that will make him happy. And it’s my guy who actually came up with it.

My daycare provider L told me recently that E loves Cailou, a cartoon he watches in the morning with J, L’s husband, while L takes the kids to the bus stop.

Last night we were in the basement, feeding the fish and retrieving the balls he threw down the stairs. He turned on the TV and quite clearly asked to ‘watch Cailou.’

I was writing that story down in my journal this morning when it hit me.

THE gift.

I am going to get our guy a Cailou video, book and doll. We will be a hit.
Now where does one find such a thing? Any suggestions?

Allergic to Work

For the last couple of weeks, I have had a headache every day.

I jokingly mentioned to Joanne from Coconut Palm Designs that I was allergic to work.

Now I think I really am because I also noticed those same headaches that make me want to throw up and push my head in to relieve the pain miraculously go away once I leave the office for the day, only to return when I step inside the building.

I spoke to the human resources person about testing the air quality inside the office. She suggested getting rid of old newspapers, which collect dust, and will check the vents.

However, the air quality was tested two years ago and everything was fine.

I wonder if I can go on long-term disability due to my allergic reaction to work.