Santas, Santas...They're Eveerywhere...

So, the madness begins.  No longer content to commercialize Halloween until it drops, (Halloween villages? Orange lights in the trees?  Come on) the almighty Gods of Commercialism takes aim on Chrismas in America in a new and devious way; by skipping Thanksgiving entirely.

Thanksgiving is the new pre-Christmas.  Wipe that gravy off your chin and grab the newspaper circular; you've got real shopping to do!  Leave the warm bed and the family and drop some coin at your nearest Starbucks or Dunkin' and get goin', baby!  You are "bad" at Black Friday if you are not out by 5am; you are not saving $$ for the family like you could, and really should.  (By the way, a lot of "self-gifting" going on this year in a tepid sign of "possible economic recovery" - yeah, ok, MSNBC.)  And before the turkey is turned into turkey soup, you have checked many things off the list.  Funny thing about that, though; the list then grows a little more right there in your gloved hands, in a shades-of-Twilight-Zone chase to be ahead of the shopping 8-ball.

I walked into a decorating superstore the other day to get a lamp, and was hit by never-ending, cascading layers of decorative fake Santas of all sizes and shapes, glittering and twinkling at me, and giant light-up reindeer and elves, and wise men and donkeys carrying empty gifts and giant Christmas-tree decorations (are all our decorations being super-sized at he factory because we are slowly super-sizing as a nation?  Do small ornaments make us feel bad in our now-meaty hands?)

The Santas in particular got to me; maybe it was the three-bean salad I had for lunch, but the rows and rows of Santas seemed to be looking at me in particular, and some seemed not to be smiling, but grimacing a me.  Like, "I dare you to not get in the spirit here, lady!  I dare you to name us grotesque, or excessive, or even over-the-top.  Accept it; this is what makes you people feel good now!  And a lot of us are hollow, so we're easier to carry and less expensive, too!  Now Merry Christmas!!"

I turned around and left - left the lines of frazzle-faced shoppers, left the lights and the music, and left those Santas.  Not because I was better than anyone else in that moment, or more enlightened, but because I felt so tired. 

Bah, humbug.  I am no better than anyone else - I went out and got two light-up reindeer for my lawn the next day, and the Santas looked not threatening, but merry.  I will carry that day in the superstore in my memory, however, and put it in the plus column that I felt that way.  When you turn your mind (and your shopping cart) away from the commercialism, there is more room to let real Christmas in.

Does the congregation say Amen?  Amen!  Get thee to a quiet place for some meditation, or prayer, or just solitude - stat!  And then your Christmas begins.

Thanksgiving prank 2010

My son's girlfriend's family participates with another family in a Thanksgiving ritual...they show up on each other's lawns and do outrageous pranks, each year upping the anty. Here is this year's prank. My son is the blonde cheerleader...with the beard. He has rhythm, though... enjoy!! Too funny.

Sour D - Sea Song

Here is a beautiful song by my son's band Sour D (wait...does that D stand for Deirdre??) to start your Thanksgiving week. Enjoy your family and friends and feel grateful...

The Mystery of Travel

2007 -This is a photo of Cline's Corners, New Mexico - one of the smallest towns in the country, and one that I stumbled on when lost and by myself in a rental car (rented GPS had pooped out; the only thing I had going for me was a full tank of gas.) I sat in the parking lot and took this photo as an homage to the town that presented me with civilization again...and the feeling that where there are people, even strangers, there is hope of finding your way again.  I bought a really cool purse here, too, and a plastic wild west cap gun that I had to regetfully abandon before arriving at Lubbock airport - much to my waiting eight year old's dismay.

2010 - Another trip, another realization that sometimes I feel the pull of travel, and that that's okay.  This trip was a jaunt to see vacationing family in Virginia.  Not everyone can always go, so I used to feel guilty when I pulled out of the driveway every year or so to take off for a three to four days.  And I am not talking luxury travel; these are not trips that involve massages or candlelit dinners.  These are trips that are framed by my windshield, that involve rest stops and toll booths and favorite CD's.  They are trips to get out and see how my slice of America is doing - to talk to people, take photographs, and to watch my odometer roll.  I find fulfillment in the scratchy, wavery sound of an AM radio station at night, and the lurch of sadness I feel at the sight of a mangled deer by the side of the highway reminds me that I have the capacity for sadness over a deer, and it feels more real than anything, in that moment.  The content of these days on the road can be wildly varied, as unscripted things often are. One morning I tried to talk a homeless pregnant woman begging outside a WalMart into going to a shelter, and the day before my sister and I had been pulled over in Quantico, Virginia, talking to a Marine who helped us find the freeway.  I watch the cloudy sky above me and marvel at the V formation that sustains the geese in their own journey south, and wonder why these soul-expanding experiences don't happen in the suburbs.  There are geese there, too; and women in crisis, and service members that I could talk to.  Why does the road give them this sheen that I can't get enough of?

Maybe the best part of the travel comes when I am on the phone with my now eleven-year-old, and my trip has lasted long enough for us both.  More than I need to be away, I need to be back, and in the chaotic middle of the people who need me.  They love me, so they let me go away, certain of my return and not needing to understand my trips, but accepting them all the same.  That is real freedom; to be loved for just who you are.  And no one can resist the pull of an eleven year old. :-)

On the Road Again...

Looking forward to heading south next Thursday for a little family R&R...driving myself down to Maryland, then will hook up with my folks and my sister to drive down to Williamsburg, Virginia.  Going Colonial and I'm likin' it!  Soon I will be learning to make candles and wearin' a colonial hat to lunch, yo!  I haven't been to Williamsburg since I was a kid.

It's always funny/interesting when your "original" family - the family you grew up with - gets together in it's original form.  You fall right back into the patterns, habits and memories of a younger time. Pretty neat to time-travel backwards, and live in the land of memory.

http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2004/08/25/Munsters_wideweb__430x341.jpg

Guide to Politics

Okay, I found the video that I mistakenly deleted. Helpful tips as we chug towards November 2!!

Paolo Nutini - last request

Okay...I am posting this because I was cruising around the furniture section of HomeGoods (my spiritual "happy place") when this song came over the loudspeakers. I literally sat down in a (very comfortable, reasonably priced) chair, closed my eyes, and put my head back to soak it up. I eventually opened my eyes, to see many other mom/wives, sitting all around me in a little soul circle, carts askew in the aisle, doing the same thing. Well...not really, but doesn't it sound good? Very "Message in a Bottle/The Police." Anyhow, take a few minutes to enjoy this - I am definitely going to sing this at karoake.

Christine O'Donnell...witch candidate will win Delaware?

Firstly, I have deleted my latest youtube triumph from the internet by accident, so hope you caught it before it's very limited engagement.  Another coming soon...
In terms of November, I am hoping Christine O"Donnell will win.  She is inexperienced, but so is the President, and I feel like his election opened the door to newcomers stepping into politics.  She needs to fight back against people who are painting her as crazy, or witchy, and show what exactly she is made of.  I do think she has a good sense of humor.
Delaware's a crazy little state, and Christine would be good for them.  I'm just sayin'...

Tea Party Conundrum - Helping or Hurting?

With big primary wins on Tuesday, the Tea Party is indeed a force to be reckoned with.  Are they good for the country, or will they ultimately hurt the battle against Obama's presidential agenda items that some of us are interested in waging?

My concern wth the Tea Party is that you get a lot of politically naive, largely un-vetted, sometimes radical candidates who are coasting a wave in reaction to the governed's fear of all the changes Obama is proposing - not to mention the current economy, which is hurting most people in some way, large or small. (Another casualty of Obama's ambitious, tunnel-visioned agenda - we are going to get a reactive government in the short-term, if Tea Party candidates are successful.) You must have a fundamental understanding of government to participate in it effectively, or before you know it your term is over and you have gotten nothing done.  That's the harsh reality of the way it works.

That said, it is exciting to live in a country that is bigger than it's leader.  The Tea Party is made up of Amercans who are brave enough to step forward, inexperience and all, and be counted.  They are willing to suffer the scrutiny (mostly cruel) of current mainstream media, and they are willing to put their own lives on hold.  And love her or hate her, Sarah Palin has proven what a quick study an interested person can be.  She may not be presidential material, but boy has she learned the ropes.

The Tea Party may siphon off votes from the GOP candidates, and hand the Democrats their retention of the house and senate.  In the balance, though, is it worth it?  I am going to say yes, because even the Democrats are learning to respect the voice of the people.  All you hear is crickets when it comes to national (socialized) healthcare on the stump - just months ago their prizefight.  As long as the people are heard and represented, America churns on.

America's Got Talent 2010 - Audition 3 - Prince Poppycock

I really do love this guy, and I don't know why!  He's an amazing singer, and so original...and I love the clothes.  Reminds me of Liberace, Queen, Elton John, maybe??

Whew, That Was A Long Break!

Hello, blogosphere...it's good to be back after a lazy summer.  Had to crack my knuckles before I began typing; hands starting to atrophy from dis-use.  (Is that a word??)

Okay, so first the political stuff.  I am actually starting to feel bad for Obama.  Why did no one close to him advise him about just how hard this job was going to be?  He clearly did not know.  He's a nice man with many, many talents - but this is not the job for him.  No one told him to start with the economy, which everyone needs, and not socialized medicine, which only a handful wanted?  The man is just ill-prepared, not evil.   He's young, and had the Democrats left him to season for a few terms, instead of putting all their hopes on him, who knows how good he could have been in the future.  What was so wrong with Hillary, for Heaven's sake?

Speaking of Hillary, she had a great idea today: the press should not go near the Quran-burning Gainesville fool on 9-11.  Before 24-hour media, this man would have been an idiot in front of a fire, with about 10 people watching, feeling guilty like they should.  Because of the media, he has a bully pulpit and is possibly threatening our troops with his insanity.  Hills has it all goin' on in the idea department, (although I didn't care for her rehearsal dinner dress, to be honest.)
We are America; it's our job to be better.

Talk to you soon!