Bye-humbug

In the words of John Denver, "I'm leaving on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again." Except, John Denver died in a plane crash so that's a little weird, and I have a return flight booked so I do know when I'll be back again - next year. So in the words of me, "I'm going away for the holidays and I'm not going to blog unless something hilarious and/or monumental happens to me. And, no, buttoning my pants does not count."

The sad part of all of this holiday travel is that I'm already over Christmas. I know, I know, I only have myself to blame. In my surprise over my sudden holiday cheer, I let myself embrace Christmas a good week before Thanksgiving. Decorations were up around the same time, holiday music was blasting 24/7 and I was all aglow with Christmas spirit.

But sometime last week, I suddenly couldn't handle the sight of lights, couldn't stand the sound of Bing and couldn't bring myself to think about eggnog or wassail. Instead, I found myself daydreaming about summer - barbecues and swimming and flip-flops. (Never mind the fact that I'm going to be having a baby smack-dab in the middle of summer and will thus be disqualified from swimsuit wearing due to public decency laws.)

Actually, I hold the cold responsible. At first, all the holiday sights and sounds made cold weather bearable; gave it a purpose somehow. But now I'm just annoyed by the frigid air and piles of snow and consider any holiday elements to be accomplices.

Seriously, whose brilliant idea was it to put the holidays in the middle of the worst season? Is it because it gives us a reason to rejoice amidst terrible weather? If so, why didn't they postpone Christmas until February when most of us are ready to wrap ourselves to death in a wool scarf? (Or in the case of Chicago, mid-May, when snow is often still falling.)

I know, I know, this is the point where all of you who live in warm weather climates get to brag and what not about how you are wearing a flirty skirt and peep-toe wedges to your church Christmas party, but I don't remember you offering Mr. Dub a job out there so what good does your bragging do me?

Luckily, free food and lots of family is a quick cure for my bah-humbug attitude. Also, buttoning my pants, but that's becoming increasingly difficult and the aforementioned binging ain't gonna help.

So with this random post, I bid you all adieu until 2008, which is going to be a huge year for me and, apparently, reality TV. So we've got that crisis to resolve when I get back.

Any New Year predictions?

* Still looking for the perfect gift for the little one in your life? Go here to read about Andy's Airplanes, a new DVD series that I'm digging. And no one paid me to say that. (By the way, is anyone interested in paying for me to say things? 'Cause I'm willing to consider that.)

HTT - Santa Edition

M-ware made a festive suggestion for the Hot Topic today, and considering it's the last HTT before Christmas Day, I want to oblige. I'm only hesitant because the issue got hashed out a bit last year on Leslie's blog, and while I found it all very fascinating, I was also surprised to learn that some of my real and blogosphere friends had very different views. So with an agreement to disagree, let's commence:

Santa Claus. Papa Noel. Saint Nick. The jolly guy who shouldn't be smoking a pipe, but - hey! - it's Christmas. Whatever you call him, he's (shhh ... spoiler alert!) a mythical character who parents use to elicit better behavior from their kids throughout the year and to generate awe during the Christmas season. And, let me tell you, I love the guy!

Now, apparently, some people take issue with the fact that parents are, in essence, lying to their children. Also, that his presents-down-the-chimney charisma and/or jellylike belly eclipse the true meaning of Christmas, which is, of course, Jesus Christ's birth and life. And I get their concern. The rampant materialism that has overtaken Christmas over the centuries and even in my lifetime is a bit worrisome. People put on huge gift-giving productions and many are more stressed by Christmas than they enjoy it. (Much less in tune with the Spirit and peace.)

Here's how we deal with that at our house: Every night as I put Miss Dub to sleep I tell her the story of Jesus, how excited people were that he was born, how he lived a great life and died for us. Then, I talked about how people are still so happy about Jesus that they celebrate him every year at Christmas. And that one of the people happiest about Jesus' birth is a man called Santa Claus, who delivers presents to children to help them feel the joy of the special season. Just like that, but with more hand motions and basic vocabulary.

And one day, when she looks skeptically at me, we'll have a hushed conversation about how Santa Claus, as she probably has figured out, is just a story but a great one that helps children feel the magic of Christmas before they can recognize the Spirit for themselves. And then she'll sign a contract that promises she'll never reveal the secret to younger siblings or all Christmas presents that year will be revoked. Or she'll get a hug. I haven't quite decided yet.

But I'm going to go along with the Santa Claus conspiracy until then, just like parents have been doing for centuries. It's a cultural rite of passage, and one of few that our nation has left. Not to go Carl Jung on you all, but I truly believe that Santa Claus is an inherent part of children's imagination. For example, before I'd ever explained the concept, I bought Miss Dub a cheap board book about Santa and she instantly starting kissing the cover and laughing. And she hasn't stopped gawking at anything Santa-esque in stores. Same goes for any pictures of Jesus or nativity scenes.

Sorry to ramble, but I just want to be clear on my viewpoint. As I said, each to her own, but I just don't want there to be an anti-Santa revolution. Not only because small children WILL spoil the secret for other children, but because I think Santa isn't a materialistic, deceptive creation but an inspired character who represents the wonder, awe and true meaning of Christmas.

So don't be haters, even if you're not believers.

And don't be surprised if you find a lump of coal in your stocking this year.

Just kidding, of course.

But, seriously, let us know where you stand. I'm curious to better understand why some people don't do the Santa thing and others embrace it to the nth degree, complete with fake footsteps in the snow.


Happy Holidays!

HTT - Holiday Edition

We're baaaack - sick, but back. Missing the wicked sights in Rhode Island, but back. Not ready to blog about the trip or share pics quite yet, but back.

And even though we've only been back for 12 hours, I'm already thinking about decorating for the holidays. OK, I lied, I put up some decorations the day before we left so that I'd have a little holiday cheer awaiting us. A better idea would have been to put away the dishes, but I've never been one to properly prioritize.

Anyway, all the holiday thinking has led me to a hotter issue - How to blend family traditions? Because while Mr. Dub and I come from pretty similar families, our traditions vary a bit. His family has Thanksgiving Part II on Christmas Eve and leftovers on Christmas day, while mine opts for a warm soup and rolls on Christmas Eve with a big buffet (sometimes traditional sometimes Mexican) on Christmas day. And his fam reenacts the nativity story, complete with costumes, while mine always read stories and then watched a movie. (Typically "A Christmas Story," sometimes "Elf," and once "Close Encounters of the Third Kind.")

And the list of minor differences goes on and on ... though we both opened one present on Christmas Eve so we've got that going for us.

So how do we decide what to eat on Christmas Eve or Christmas day? (We're leaning towards letting everyone pick their favorite food and enjoying a random smorgasbord on Christmas Eve.) And how does a more tradition diverse couple ever comprise?

Also, when is the appropriate time to start having Christmas as a family rather than traveling to visit family or sharing the day with them? 'Cause we're planning to mooch for a few more years, both out of homesickness and sheer moochy-moochness, but at some point our family needs to start its own traditions and make its own memories.

But what do ch'alls think?

How do you create new holiday traditions for your family out of your respective pasts?


Oh, and my bro-in-law also wants us to address the "new" trend of saying, "X-mas" in lieu of Christmas, although I informed him its not so much a new trend as a very 80s abbreviation. But do discuss if so inclined.

Happy Hallow-weiner!

So the big day is here.

Whether or not I like Halloween's color scheme is no longer important because I do love me a good costume.

So spill - what are you and your chittlins going as this year?

Shhh, don't tell, but Mr. Dub is going to take advantage of his overgrown curls and dress as Napoleon Dynamite. I will be going as his main squeeze, Deb, while Miss Dub will round up the theme as a mini Pedro, complete with mustache.

Pictures will come tomorrow, of course, but please do link to yours today if you already have some. (And most "together" moms do, but I've never claimed to be one.)

Oh, and for the record, you CANNOT find a fanny pack at Goodwill or Salvation Army these days. Apparently, they know that no one, even in the direst of circumstances, will purchase such a figure-unflattering item. Walmart, however, carries an entire section. So, no worries, I'll be sporting an FP with glee, but only because it's a costume. I almost dislike fanny packs as much as I detest the mini-backpack. What was with that trend?


p.s. Prefer a treat to a trick? Then click here for my review on these infant shoes. Seriously, I love them! Like, I tried to marry them, but apparently that's illegal in Illinois.