Barbie's World

This morning when I was checking my email, I almost deleted one piece that I didn't recognize the sender's name. For some reason, I clicked on it to open it and was glad I did . . . it gave me a chuckle first thing in the morning. I'm sharing it here, and hope no offense to anyone. Any similarity to anyone living or dead is purely coincidental.

A noted psychiatrist was a guest at a blonde convention, and the host/ess naturally broached the subject in which the doctor was most knowledgeable."Would you mind telling us, Doctor," s/he asked, "how you detect a mental deficiency in somebody who appears completely normal?"

"Nothing is easier," he replied. "I'll give you an example. I always ask a simple question which anyone should answer with no trouble. If the person hesitates, that indicates a possible problem. I'll direct such a question to you, okay?"

"What sort of question?"

"Well, 'Captain Cook made three trips around the world and died during one of them. Which one?'

The blonde thought a moment, and then said with a nervous laugh, "You wouldn't happen to have another example would you? I must confess I don't know much about history."

Back to work!

What a difference a year makes! I was sitting at my teller position yesterday afternoon, radio music playing in the background, chatting with my co-workers. Then, out of the blue . . . I remembered. The day after Christmas. Last year. My assignment...manager over concession stand. Lines clear across the lobby at every register. People in a hurry. Movie about to start. HOW much for popcorn??? Oil on my shirt sleeves. I need fives! We're outta ice! Where's that cheese bag key opener? Get the butler...sweep the lobby floor. I want my money back!

Over 10,000 tickets were sold that day. Total chaos! Then, back to reality. Nora Jones on the radio... May I help you? Thanks for the candy! And how was your holiday? Have a Happy New Year!

Christmas

Christmas Eve was spent at Linda's and Louie's. The portrait 'crowd' is smaller, but we all had a nice evening! A delicious meal and good company!



On Christmas Day Joe, Joy, Mia and Gina called and sang, "We wish you a Merry Christmas" on the phone on speaker. That was fun and an uplifting moment to the day! They had cooked and baked up a storm and were hanging out in their PJs Luke was under the sofa! They said he tried to muscle in and open all their presents.



I went to Ray's and Iz's for Christmas dinner. Another delicious meal! While I was there, Adele called and we talked on the phone for about an hour. (We only get to talk via phone twice a year. Next up...Father's Day!) She sounded great and was having a good Christmas. Christmas Eve was spent at a family with little kids' house, and she was going for Christmas dinner at another family's house after we got off the phone. I miss her a lot, but she is having such a great experience! Before we know it, the fall will be here and she'll be home!



We ended the day playing Trivial Pursuit Genus IV (referred to as the "medical edition"). I guess Matt and Mike won by default. Ha! Ha!

Christmas Eve

On window panes, the icy frost
Leaves feathered patterns, crissed & crossed,
But in our house the Christmas tree
is decorated festively
with tiny dots of colored light
that cozy up this winter night.
Christmas songs, familiar, slow,
Play softly on the radio.
Pops and kisses from the fire
whistle with the bells and choir.
My tiger is now fast asleep
on his back and dreaming deep.
When the fire makes him hot,
He turns to warm whatever's not.
Propped against him on the rug,
I give my friend a gentle hug.
Tomorrow's what I'm waiting for,
But I can wait a little more.

I'm Hooked!!!

One of the gifts I received at work was a gift card for iTunes from my manager. He is an avid fan of Heroes the NBC show that is new this season. He asked if I was going to purchase the Heroes episodes so that we could talk about them. He has been dying to talk about them with someone!
I figured, why not? So I googled the NBC official Heroes site, and all of the episodes were available for free viewing....all 11 of them to date! So . . . . . . . I watched the first one, and ZAP! I was hooked! I finally forced myself to go to bed after viewing the 5th episode.

Now I am hooked on 2 current shows: L_O_S_T and Heroes. In addition, I am a huge fan of Arrested Development. Love that one! Too bad it ended after 3 seasons.

Wake Up Call?

We had our office Christmas party at work today. Tons of food for the seven of us! Oink! Oink!

We also had a 'Secret Santa' gift exchange. Our branch manager drew my name. I had asked earlier if the gifts were supposed to be gag gifts or 'real' ones. I was told 'real', but he just had to get this for me . . . see, I'm the old one of the group (the next youngest is 33 and that's the manager!). The alarm is a rooster crowing. They all get a kick out of the fact that I only set my alarm on Saturday mornings. That's the day I have to be at work at 8:45am. It's at the crack of noon on the other three days that I have to be at work.

I also got some movie passes and an iTunes gift card from him. I guess it was a gag and a half? Cock-a-doodle-doo!

Christmas in New York

Up until we arrived back at the Amtrak Station in Rensselaer, the day had gone really well! We arrived at Penn Station around 10:30am and proceeded to follow the big circle we had planned for the day.




From Penn Station we headed across the street to see the interactive window displays. They were fun...having "buttons" on the windows that emitted different sounds or phrases when pressed. From there we walked up 5th Avenue to Rockefeller Center to see the tree and decorations. Then, on up 5th to FAO Schwarz and the Apple Store. The Apple Store was interesting...the entrance was thru a 'glass' cube and down via a round transparent elevator or down circular glass stairs. The place was packed but heavily staffed with remote hand held terminals and headphones and mics.

We stopped at The Plaza which is closed while undergoing renovations to suite condos starting at a low $1.5 million.


We then proceeded across to Columbus Circle and the Time Warner Center to meet Joy for lunch. We went to Whole Foods...an amazing place to eat! After lunch we went across the circle to the southwest corner of Central Park to the "stripedy tents" to browse the booths of arts and crafts items.


We had planned on ice skating at Wollman Rink, but when we got there, it had just closed for the day (closes earlier [2:30pm] on Mondays and Tuesdays). So, we walked around the park for a while...the day wasn't cold at all so it was very comfortable being outside.


We took a subway up to the UWS to have popovers and Mexican hot cocoa at the Popover Cafe on Amsterdam Ave. If you like popovers....try it!



Then we took the express train back down to Macy's to attempt to do a little shopping at Macy's. By then the crowds were thick and the lines stretched all the way to Terra Haute!




We met Joe and Joy for dinner at the Stage Door Cafe, across the street from Madison Square Garden. Mia's friend Pam stopped by to say hi. This was an interesting restaurant . . . before even placing glasses of water on the table, the waiter set a dish of pickles and individual dishes of cole slaw for each of us at the table.



From there it was home again, jiggedy jig...but only without a waiting car.

What's the difference between a Christmas Stocking and a Christmas Boot?

About $146!!! And that's how the Grinch stole Christmas!

Had a wonder day trip to New York City with Mia and Gina. That is the subject of a future post. When we got back to the Rensselaer Station, my Jeep was AWOL. Seemed I parked in a compact spot, and although the Jeep is shorter than many compacts, it was "illegally" parked and was towed from the parking garage to the far end of the surface lot, and booted. After trying to locate security to get an answer as to why my car went missing, and still not getting a 'why', I was relieved of $146 to get un-booted, only to then pay my $6 parking fee. Seasons Greetings!!!

Christmas Visit Part 1

Mia and Gina arrived on Saturday and we've been celebrating Christmas! Saturday night we went to see the last performance of NYSTI's A Wonderful Life We missed seeing Adele in it!

After we got back to my apartment, we used an old familiar phrase, "Let's pretend tonight's Christmas Eve!" and we did, and it wasn't. (Inside family joke). Mia and Gina opened and wore their new flannel PJs to bed.




Around 8:30, they came into my room saying, "Daddy! It's Christmas morning!" (We never grow up!!!)


We had a fun day with family coming over to celebrate. We had more food than the Muppets did when they visited Fozzie Bear's Mom!




Monday we head to New York City via Amtrak. We planned out what we want to do... making a big circle from Penn Station, to Macy's (interactive window), to Rockefeller Center, up to FAO Schwarz, the Plaza, Central Park ice rink, then over to Columbus Circle. Somewhere around there and then we are hoping to meet up with Joe and Joy for dinner.

My next post will reveal how close or how far we strayed from this best laid plan.

Crystal Tree

I took a few pictures of my tree. It's decorated all in white, clear, silver, frosted, reflected ornaments. It some ways, I really miss the real tree with all the color lights and 'eclectic' decorations, but this is much easier! It's pre-wired, so what used to take me hours now takes minutes. It's really bright, so I have it on a dimmer. I'm just about ready for Mia and Gina!










(Can you see me in the top picture? Hint: My hands and the camera.)

A Visit to the North Pole

Department 56 has created some creative village scenes covering a range of themes. One that I have always liked is the North Pole Series. I don't own a very big collection. The three lighted houses that I own were introduced in 1990, and we bought them in 1991. All three are retired. Over the years only a few accessories were added. But, this year I managed to add a few more accessories. (I know......I have GOT to stay out of the stores!)

The original houses seemed to be more of a old style storybook design, but many of the later designs were much more whimsical and colorful and "gaudy" and I didn't think fit well with the original look. Although, some of the newer pieces have got me thinking...

Above: Hot Chocolate & S'mores and cake weighers.

Left: Gumdrop Taste Testers and Flutter Flake Makers.

One Ringy Dingy

Have I reached the party to whom I am speaking? *snort* I'll send over a big burly repairman named Vito to rip out your instrooment. Ooops! There goes Peoria! We don't care. We don't have to. We're the phone company!

I loved when Ernestine was on Laugh In! Made my Monday nights!

Just thought I'd post this pic . . . Happy Monday *snort*!

Ghosts of Christmas

Time and memories. In Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, three ghosts appear to signify and to illuminate for Ebenezer Scrooge all of the Christmases in his life . . . those that had passed, the present Christmas, and the Christmases yet to come.

In 1965 the Christmas season presented a new classic, A Charlie Brown Christmas, for the first time on TV. I remember watching it one year later in December 1966 as a freshman in college in the lounge of one of the dorms on campus. And just this past week, I watched it yet again on TV. It's freshness and humor and frustration with the commercialism of the season has not diminished with time.

There are lots of traditions that tie all of our Christmases together. A decoration, a Christmas song, the scent of a Christmas tree, cookies baking, making a graham cracker candy house, all trigger memories from our Christmases past. The memories may all be good ones, but there may also be a bit of sadness for family and friends no longer here to share the new memories we are creating. But it's all tied together.

I had mentioned in my previous post about watching favorite Christmas movies. Last year in December, The Family Stone opened in theatres. To me, this movie illustrates the nature of the Christmas season and family gathering and memories, warts and all. We may not be perfect, but as Sybil Stone said, "We're all we've got."

I laughed and I cried watching this movie; to see the family coming together, the interactions of the adult siblings, the laughs, the fights and the tragedies, and with that, all of them pulling together. And, another Christmas . . . the Christmas future. Life goes on. Families gather and enjoy the season. And the memories of Christmases past linger.

Happy Birthday

In memory of my Dad, who's birthday is December 7, born in 1919. Died on August 24, 2005. Thanks, Dad for all of the good and loving memories. I think of you whenever I look at that Santa with the bubble light.

A Busy Day

Guess what I did today? Got my frosty skeleton tree up!

I felt like being productive. Went to the laundromat first thing this morning. Two weeks worth of laundry. Then did some shopping....I should stay out of the stores. I never learn! Now I think I'm done! Only thing left is to wrap the gifts, grocery shop for when Mia and Gina visit, and do some baking. HA! I think I'll leave that up to the professionals!


I had "It's a Wonderful Life" playing on TV while I put up the tree. I'm glad that Zuzu got better and that Clarence got his wings! I was worried there for a minute or two.

I love watching Christmas movies while I do stuff. Besides A Wonderful Life, must sees are: A Christmas Story, Scrooged, One Magic Christmas, Elf, The Polar Express, How the Grinch Stole Christmas and It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie. I don't have the Muppet Christmas Carol or the one about the Perfect Tree...but I'm keeping my eye out for them. Addendum: Mia culpa . . . I forgot A Charlie Brown Christmas! and I did watch it when it was on TV. That's another one I have to purchase! Thanks Sassy!

More holiday ramblings to come.........

Sweet Treats!

My credit union Christmas party was last night at the Edison Club in Rexford. My first time there. Naturally, I drove right past it. The candy was the favor we each received. It was a great party! The meal was excellent, from the shrimp coctail to the Italian pastries and the apple dumpling and ice cream. Everyone really enjoyed the full night of open bar! I've got some great blackmail photos!

I'm saving the candy for when Mia and Gina come up to visit. I've got such self control! Here is the snowman on the candy dish...

Choice, Attitude and a Free Calendar

Over the recent past, I have been involved in several discussions about "choice", and have had ongoing internal battles with myself about this subject. The argument can go on and on. When do we have a choice? When do we not have a choice? From little things (do I want to supersize that?, well, maybe not little) to big things (is it nature or nuture?).

This morning at work, we were super busy. Because there were only two of us on the teller line, and being that it is the beginning of the month (think: Social Security checks), we had a long line for almost the entire four hours that we were open. At the chiming of the clock signaling closing, we still had 4 or 5 members in line. And one of them was probably one of the most annoying persons that we never want to wait on. I quickly sized up the odds....I had a 50-50 chance that I would be the one to have to deal with her. (To preserve the person's anonymity, I will refer to him/her as a female and for discussion purposes, call her Mariah, kinda like the wind.)

Now Mariah has a habit of coming to the credit union about five minutes before closing. Many times she can be found hanging in the lobby, conversing with her many acquaintances and may not even approach the waiting queue until the clock chimes. Oh, and did I mention that her car is parked at the curb (Fire Lane), directly in front of the entrance? [Note: there are always tons of parking spaces within a 10 second saunter to the door.]

Just my luck, Mariah was the last in line. And, it was my pleasure to wait on her. She is most kind: "Oh, I was hoping I would get you! I have a lot of things to take care of." And she proceeded to endorse the backs of the checks that she had. I guess that she didn't have time to do that before approaching the window. And she proceeded to organize and count the wad of bills that she had for deposit. After inquiring about her balances in all of her sub-accounts within her two member accounts, she then wanted me to check the two debit cards so that she knew which one went with which account.

OK. Here is where CHOICE comes in. It was a long and busy shift, but the time sped by. Now it was just about over. Do I choose to let myself get angry and upset because I have to wait on Mariah and she is just soooooo annoying!? Or do I make a choice to be kind and patient? I could be happy that at least she was the last person I would be waiting on today. Never mind that I had tons to do to organize, count and reconcile my drawer, still to be done after closing (now maybe 10 minutes past that.) I smiled and was very courteous and did everything that she asked for. I guess the downside is that she would be so pleased that she would want me to wait on her all the time!

But, life can be hell or it can be sweet. Is it always a choice? Maybe not. But I believe that we do have a choice in how we deal with it. As Norm Burnstein said, "You just do your best with what you've been given."

Now, you're probably asking yourself, "OK, where does the free calendar come in?" On her way out, Mariah scooped up all of the remaining free calendars that I had sitting up on the counter.

Seasons Greetings! Ho! Ho! Ho!