And So That Was Christmas
Click for More
Christmas 2009 has come, and now gone, and what a whirlwind it was getting here! The last two months (since about the first of November till now) has been nothing short of a marathon for Nate and I, especially in terms of work, time spent apart, and trying to meet a lot of expectations placed on us from the outside.
In the end, we did the best we could to get in touch with family and friends, and spend time with those we love, and somehow strike a balance between time to enjoy the holidays and time spent preparing/working so others can enjoy them. Honestly, I am ready for a different tradition – maybe one that involves a lot less prep work and more time just reflecting on the year past, and reconnecting with friends and family. I’m ready for a change from the buy-buy-buy, hustle-hustle-hustle, run-run-run of the Christmas that currently exists, and maybe return to a simpler time, when the central focus of the holiday was time spent with loved ones…
Ah, but I’m just becoming more and more cynical as I get older. I realize and accept that.
All in all, it was a good day spent with Nate’s family. I had a chance to reconnect with many of his cousins, and get updated as to what they’re all up to. I got to see his grandmother, who was holding up quite nicely since the passing of her husband, enjoy and relish the time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I got to meet a new member of the family (HELLO GRAEME BAXTER!) and am highly anticipating another new member in February (CAN’T WAIT TO MEET YOU BABY BROWN!). I also was able to witness Nate enjoying some time with his family, which for me, after seeing the stress and strain that working at a grocery store through the holidays can cause, was very satisfying. He was able to relax, and really just enjoy the day.
Now, my attention has turned to the New Year, and the possibilities that lie ahead. Here’s to a bright 2010!
Visions of Winter from the UK
I got a lovely picture from my friend Kaye Durant, a former colleague of mine from Springwood High School. She, and the rest of the gang at that school, enjoyed a lovely snow day yesterday, as apparently, snow does fall in England – sometimes. I begged her for a copy of this photo, with the promises of fame and fortune if I could post it on my blog. Enjoy!
SoundByte 40
Thanks for downloading SoundByte 40. This show goes a little personal, with a work update, and reflections on an event over the past week. Please have a listen, and please, let me know your thoughts. Thanks!
This Week’s Music
- First Tones: ATB
- Offshore: Chicane
- Walking in the Sky: DJ Encore feat. Engeline
- Dooley’s World: ATB
- Good Morning Kaia: BT
- Against the Wind: Bob Seger
- See U Again: ATB
- The Scientist: Natasha Beddingfield
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Today’s Run/Walk
Today, I was out for a long distance, but my body wasn’t pleased about it. I don’t know if it was the pavement, the heat, the hydration factor, or what, but this run didn’t go that well. There was only a few points where I felt great…the rest of it was a slog. There are a few notes on the map, so definitely click on both the actual line, and the green marker for more of my insight.
Next week, I’m going to take it easy. Nate has noticed (as have I) that my joints are popping and snapping more than normal, and to be quite honest, I don’t want to go hurting myself this early in the game, only to be lamed up for a while.
It was a decent loop; one I’d definitely do again, but hopefully with more horsepower and chutzpah behind me.
Memorial
So, I find myself on a bus headed to Maine, where I’m off to pay my final respects to my Aunt Brenda. She is going to her final resting place next to her father. The weather is sort of overcast, with a light rain, which is adding a touch of gloom to an already-somber occasion. Still, it will be good to have some closure, and say goodbye. It’s sad, but it’s a fact of life.
I orignally was going to Plymouth, MA to help Nate’s family open up their cottage at the shore. Nate was up late last night, packing and preparing for his weekend. I will miss him, as we hardly ever get time off together anymore, but I do hope he has a good time. He needs the opportunity to not be at work, and to get some fresh ocean air in his lungs. It’s always helped me in the past…I hope it offers the same clarity for him too.
I also hope to get my fair share of fresh air too, especially without the cigarettes that I had been smoking. Two weeks down without a butt, which has to count for something. My sense of smell has come back with a vengance, and I can taste things again. I’m also able to sleep without snoring, so when I do shut my eyes, it’s deeper and more refreshing sleep I’m getting. So yeah…so far, so good.
Next week, hopefully, we will have he Internet/computer issue sorted out. We had been using an open Internet network wirelessly in our neighborhood, but that has since stopped working, so we bit the bullet and signed up for what was our only option…Comcast. We aren’t pleased with it, but we had no other alternative. Anyway, the cable guy comes on Thursday of next week, to set up what, I don’t know, since we don’t have a television, but come he must. Eagle-eye Nate will be there to supervise, and will have read all of the Consumerist posts about Comcast’s notoriety 
so I’m not that worries about it being a problem.
Anyway…the miles are rolling by underneath me, and I hope to write again this weekend. I hope everyone enjoys a nice weekend, remembers the lived ones who have passed away, and spends time with those they love.
Thom
Easter Memories
I’m sure many of you have Easter memories from when you were a kid. For me, my Easter Sunday went a little something like this:
Get up EARLY (think 5-6am) to see what the Easter Bunny had brought. My brother and I would get our parents up, and we’d go downstairs and bust into our Easter baskets. These were FULL of chocolate, ranging from small to large, and always full of that plastic grass. The baskets were none of these pre-made ones you’d find at the stores…no way…my mom and dad ALWAYS did it right, often using the same baskets we’d serve bread in at dinner time. It didn’t matter the container, of course…it was always what was inside!
We’d tear apart the baskets, and say our thanks, then, we’d have our own Easter egg hunt in the house. My mom and dad would hide little foil wrapped treats all over the living room for my brother and I to find. Of course, it was a race to see who could find the most, but usually, we split it down the middle. There were the “always find an egg there” spots, but more often then not, my parents would get sneaky, and there’d be those few eggs we’d spend nearly an HOUR looking for. Honestly, I think our dogs found lots of them too, but that never came into my mind when I was younger…I was always just looking for the chocolate.
Then, after all was opened and found, we’d get ready to go to Sunrise Services. Dawn on Easter usually came around 6:30 or so, so we’d put on our Sunday best, and go to the Sunrise services with my grandfather. Usually, that happened at a member of our church’s home, in their front yard, with a nice long view of the eastern horizon. I always thought it was a little miracle how the sun would time itself just right for the closing hymn from the service. Little did I know, these things can be timed quite well with the use of an almanac – but still, as a youngin’ the magic was there. The celebration of life over death, the resurgence of Spring…I recognized it all.
After that service, we’d go down to my grandparents house, where my grandmother was getting ready for the real Easter Sunday service, and once she was ready, we’d head down to our church for a shortened Easter Sunday service (most who showed up there had either a) been to the sunrise service or b) had a ham in the oven they didn’t dare leave too long) so the pastor was always good about getting us in and out. There was also a small easter egg hunt for us kids in the vestry downstairs, and that ALWAYS seemed to last forever, because at that point, all I wanted to do was get out of my Easter duds and break into the Kite that was a staple of my Easter Basket. I wanted to get down to my uncle and aunt’s house and get to the business of the Easter dinner, the easter egg hunt they did, and of course, playing outside with my new toys.
Church, however, always inspired a rendition of this song, whose chorus was sung by nearly everyone (okay, mostly my dad and my grandmother) at random times throughout the day:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwLcVa2o66I[/youtube]
So, after the morning services at church, we’d all pile in the vehicle and head over to my aunt and uncle’s for Easter Dinner. This was like a part deux of Thanksgiving, replete with all the fixin’s, but usually without turkey. I remember eating loads of ham, loads of peas, and carrots, and being really, really full when it was all said and done. Oh, and I always got my gram’s portion of the pineapple that was baked on the ham…she never liked it, and I Loved it (being the fruit that I am!).
After the meal, we’d finally be allowed to change into our jeans and sweatshirts, and when everyone was sated, we’d migrate into the living room, and start yet another massive Easter Egg Hunt. This one was always the big one, because there were usually HUNDREDS of little chocolate goodies to be found. It took the better part of an hour to hour and a half, but man…ALL THAT CHOCOLATE!!! It makes me drool just thinking of it…
After that was over, my brother and I would head outside, and play with the toys we got from our early morning Easter baskets. I nearly always got a kite…a Gayla Kite in fact…in my basket, and that, my friends, would entertain me for HOURS.
Then, as the afternoon wound down, and we’d rescued our kites from the trees and other obstacles that would get in our way, we’d pack up the vehicle, and head home, totally overdosing on sugar, totally full from the meal, but very pleased that Easter had come, and we generally had a week off from school to enjoy it.
Happy Easter all!
-Thom
