Auntie Advent: The Final Chapter

I was almost through all the Auntie Advent packages and realized I had no idea how to reciprocally THANK the kids.

Until I realized I couldn't, so I should just say Thank You in a series of ways that was as spread out as their gifts.

So late one night, I spent time printing out the following message and addressing one envelope for each letter, symbol and piece of punctuation, and filling it with little treats. The next morning I started the staggered mailing process

The kids were supposed to color in the letters and unscramble the following message:

15 envelopes later, I think everything finally got there, because I go this message earlier last week.

THANK YOU Christina, because I know you had the most to do with it.

How I'm Spending My Christmas Vacation

 Merry Christmas!

I hope you enjoyed all the time with family and presents under your tree.

I'm taking this holiday break off from travel, sleeping in, 

doing laundry on Christmas morning, chilling, 

taking a few days off from even working from home, 

and spending it binging on vintage movies, 

Doctor Who marathons, talking to people via technology,

working on back-logged UFO crafting projects,

enjoying a stigma free Christmas dinner of pizza and beer,

and FINALLY moving furniture and trunks that 

haven't been moved in 10 years to change out a tv for a new tv. 

A tv that's been sitting on my floor since it came back from DC in AUGUST.

(EWWWW. My carpet is gross. 

Good thing I'm putting the trunks back in the exact same spots to hide it.)

 Kids, when you open time capsules from the past, you find old technology.

This is a metronome and an answering machine.

I'm keeping one and recyling the other.

Can you guess?

Enjoy YOUR break. 

I'm also spring cleaning since it's humid enough to turn the air-conditioning on.

In New York

ON CHRISTMAS WEEKEND.

Spring cleaning. In capris.

In air conditioning.

In Late DECEMBER.

What is this? 

Seattle?

2015 Classic Christmas Movie Binge:

White Christmas with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, and Rosemary Clooney c. 1954
Thoughts:

• It's not Christmas until I watch this movie;
• I want Rosemary Clooney's dressmaker to come fit me;
• "What is Christmas with no snow?" As asked by Bing, Danny and Rosemary http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CH2KGboA35c&sns=tw … via YouTube;
• The mysteries of White Christmas: what happened to the General's kids that his granddaughter is living with him alone in VT w/a housekeeper?

The Bishop's Wife with Cary Grant and David Niven c. 1947
Thoughts:

• One of my favorite things about this movie on VHS is the inclusion of the non-trailer. They try so hard not to spoil it.;
• "Nobody expects him to be normal. He's a bishop." Truer words were never spoken.  (Pastors' kids' humor!);
• "X sent in $15." "We had them down for $10,000." Honestly, this movie is REALLY a tale of frustrated fundraisers during a stymied capital campaign.;
• "Tell me about you." Classic relationship building technique. Though usually the solicitors are the ones crying in frustration.;
• "some horrid little brass plaque" Ha, this whole scene about naming rights, a wealthy donor, & a v. patient fundraiser ... strike a little too close to home;
• "Did you have a profitable afternoon?" "Not particularly. Did you?" Fundraisers' conversations everywhere, verbatim;
• Seriously. If Cary Grant was a solicitor for my capital campaign or other fundraising efforts, we would hit all our goals; 

Desk Set with Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn c. 1957
Thoughts:

• "I have been forced to work in an atmosphere of hatred & suspicion." Ha! An angry rant of many public servants & frontline workers.; 
• The epic drunkenness and shenanigans of the company Christmas party is ... hic... Epic. Hic. Bon Voyage!  Wheee!!!;
• I love how this is basically about trained reference librarians vs IT engineers. Librarians for information literacy & authoritative sources for the win.;
• I have apartment envy for Ms. Watson's Upper East Side apartment just off 75th/Lex, esp. the built-ins for her books & her oven.;
• "Not Ms. Watson? "Well she runs it, but he's the boss." - library admin stereotypes that are hopefully changing; 
• "Maybe we're getting that air-conditioning finally." "Figures, it's November." - the librarian facility struggles endure;
• How many librarians (current, lapsed, future) watch this movie & get unrealistic impressions about office space, salaries for housing/clothes?;

Christmas in Connecticut with Barbara Stanwyck c. 1945
Thoughts:

• The "I'm tired" rant at the end of this is the best, esp Barbara Stanwyck's summation gestures. "In short... I'm tired!";
• "I am not in a flipping mood this morning." You tell them Elizabeth. You tell your boss to "flip" off.;
• Felix is probably my fav chef, with The Swedish Chef coming in a close second. Was Felix was the inspiration? Maybe;
• "Some people say yes. Some people say no." "What do you say?" "I am inclined to agree with them." I LOVE this conversational detour.; and
• MY Christmases in Connecticut certainly NEVER looked like this;

An Affair to Remember with Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr, c. 1957
Thoughts:

• What I really love the best about this movie, is that you don't even need to hear the dialogue, the non-verbal action is on point;
• "How do you get to Tomorrowland? (Tomorrowland). Close your eyes. Make a wish. And, you're there.";
• Oh no, Terry. Don't forget to look both ways before running across traffic. Something viewers shout every time we watch;
• "Everybody's doing it." "How nice for you. In your case, we'll make an exception." Quips. So many quips;
• Deborah Kerr's face when she flicks the champagne at the ladies at the bar is everything. I love the little gestures;
• and Cary Grant is just swooooony. So Swoooony;

Indiscreet with Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman, c. 1957
Thoughts:

• I have serious apartment envy;
• "I'm too old for this sort of evening. I always was."~ Alfred, the stick-in-the-mud brother-in-law;
• "Shall I see you to your elevator?" Past the doorman, lobbymen, the elevator operator, & live-ins = no privacy; 

Auntie Mame with Rosalind Russell, c. 1958

Thoughts:

• What is with these fake New York apartments, they set up such unrealistic expectations;
• "Nothing can ever really separate us." Mame to her nephew, Patrick. Yep. That's how we all feel;
• "I lived. I gotta find out what to do now!"  ~ Agnes Gooch;
• "idiotic, cockeyed nincompoopery" has to be brought back into conversation as an insult; and
• "Yes! Live! Life's a banquet..."

Twas the Night Before Christmas

And All Through the House

Not a Creature was Stirring,

Not Even a ....

~ photos by iPhone

Edging too Close: Making the Mail

There is nothing like cutting it so close on finishing a crafting project that you are literally putting the last stitches in the edging and the label in the morning and then rushing to the Post Office in the afternoon so you can two-day Priority Mail it with prayers to make it to a baby shower on the 5th, less than 4 days from now ... in California. 

Yeah. So maybe that was me. I THOUGHT I had plenty of time. I literally started this present as I sat in my plane seat on the tarmac, en route West-bound on the 18th, had hours of driving up and down the length of Utah, rock-and-talk time with the aunties and cousins and kin, but I MAY have made a tactical error by working on my Christmas cards during the two week break.

I was so rushed packaging this (and my other two big boxes), that I didn't get the dimensions. It was pretty big though. It could be a crib cover, a toddler bed blanket, and/or keep someone(s) in a nursing rocker warm.

As it was for a pair of gems upon the birth of their first child, I went with a diamond pattern - one that was heavy enough to provide warmth if there were ever any cold California nights, but airy enough at the same time.

The poor hostess. I emailed her today and informed her the gift was en route- but oy! Too close. I only knew about the shower for months.

POSTSCRIPT: It got there on time (WHEW!) - and can apparently keep 2.5 people covered. Whoops.

Photo courtesy of Claire and Jenny

 

Go big or go home.

Also note: I finally got new labels explaining, once again, that this is NOT KNITTING.

 


~ photos by iTouch/iPhone

43 Ideas for Birthday 43: 43 Ways to Say Thank You

Sorry for the relative quiet after so many blog posts this year, but I was busily hunkering down to stay warm, taking some personal retreat and reflection days around the actual event and holiday, dealing with some work-related issues, but mostly writing copious amounts of THANK YOU NOTES.

I was overwhelmed, touched, amazed, humbled, and delighted by the various cards, notes, packages and presents that were delivered in honor of my birthday. Honestly ... I am just touched. Hopefully I have gotten all my notes written and returned in a timely fashion, but I know there is still one or two to write.

Here are just a few little highlights from the magical Birthday Fairies:

Stamps, stationery, Advil, gift cards, checks, oh my

(It's like they read something that gave them some hints!)

Adorable artwork from my littles, along with calorie-free cake and candles for more wishes:

Combo packages bursting at the seams, festooned with Fun Facts, more unicorns, and more birthday banners:

These are just a few photos of the weeks-long celebrations, meals, munchies, cards, and well wishes.

The biggest surprise -- and the one gift that still needs a thank you -- is this 12lb. mystery box that was delivered to the office (so someone did their research),

 filled with this little racy number. 

WHOO HOOO! Shopping basket = shopping time.

Or Schlepping

Or laundry

Or moving

Hello? If you are reading this - THANK YOU mystery donor. 

I won't push too much. I know sometime Birthday Fairies like to be anonymous, but really? Thank you.

(and fess up?)

When February, the cold, the snow, the grey, the COLD, (did I mention the cold?), and your weekly team meetings seem endless, it's good to have colorful, hearty cheesecake celebrations and surprise presents.

THANK YOU ALL! 43 ways to Sunday.

A Map of the Introvert's Heart

Source

Artist Gemma Correll has quite accurately illustrated what truly occurs within the heart of an introvert in her illustration, “A Map of the Introvert’s Heart", which is available as an 8×9 poster through Society 6. 


It's not too soon to start dropping hints for holiday presents, is it?

This can be purchased here!

Source

Hi(gh)! It's almost your Happy Birthday!

 Why do I feel like someone is watching me?

It was about nine years ago about this time, the week around my birthday, when a delivery man showed up at my place of work and gave me a present - blue legal papers saying I was being sued for $5.5million. So you can understand why I am a bit paranoid when people show up at my place of employment with a delivery directed to whatever butchered version of my name they can stumble over.

Flash forward to yesterday around lunch, when I ran over to the building with the fridge holding my leftovers and ...
a deliveryman stumbled over a version of my name - holding these.

Believe me. I have checked and doublechecked and then verified it with them. Thanks Mom & Dad.

We all look forward to seeing how long these hold up - and them re-appropriating some of the helium for some antics. If they don't set off the motion detectors first ...

photos by iTouch

Christmas Countdown: And so it begins

Twas a month before the night before the night before Christmas.

Out of all the nooks and crannies, and drawers, and storage, and trunks, and buckets have come the
cards, ribbons, cookie cutters, notes, baggies, bows, pens, labels, birds, bits and bobs ... and tape ...
to start production on the various groups of holiday cards, partridge in a pear "little birdie" secret gifts, kitchen elf neighborly treats, tokens for drivers/engineers/supers, etc etc etc that are part and parcel of this time of year. I have to start now, despite it not being Thanksgiving yet. My countdown until D(eparture) Day is already on.

What I don't have is stamps!

What I probably will have is carpal tunnel syndrome.

If you would like to be added to the holiday card list, good luck. ... I mean, e-mail me to be added to the roster. Another two or three will not make a difference when the list is already over - wow - 80 something.

Wreck it Wednesday: Wreck This Journal Updates

From the Preface: 
Warning: During the process of this book you will get dirty. You may find yourself covered in paint, or any other number of foreign substances. You will get wet. You may be asked to do things you question. You may grieve for the perfect state that you found the book in. You may begin to see creative destruction everywhere. You may begin to live more recklessly.