Jan 5, 2012
1. Colored lights are beautiful no matter what time of year it is.
2. Christmas is December 25, the Christmas Season runs from Labor Day through a week after New Year’s Day; with a few other holidays mixed in as well.
3. Being vocal about a Christmas wishlist can be really beneficial.
4. It is better to give; but it’s oh-so-fun to receive.
5. I like putting effort into making holiday treats: baking cookies, crafting gifts.
6. Books make the best gifts.
7. Nutcrackers make the best guardians.
8. Christmas colors are red, green, and white.
9. Holiday colors are silver, gold, and blue.
10. Cats like to climb trees, even the fake ones.
11. There’s a Keurig for every moment.
12. “It’s a Wonderful Life” is a year-round lesson.
13. “Miracle on 34th Street” is a year-round wish.
14. Family memories mean more when they’re wrapped in pretty packages.
15. The internet and phone are not replacements for absent family, but they help.
16. Santa may or may not be real. The Holiday Spirit always is.
17. Ham and potato salad will always be the best Christmas meal at our house.
18. It doesn’t have to be cold and snowy to be Christmas, but it helps.
19. January 1st is a great day to experiment with new recipes.
20. Resolutions are made to be broken.
21. The New Year offers a clean slate. Keep only what you want. Wipe the rest away. Add to your foundation. Turn the page. Start over.
22. If you’re alive, you have a purpose. Find it. Reach for it. Achieve it. Share it.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Jan 4, 2012
Every now and then I have some off-the-wall dreams.
Years ago, I dreamt (several times) that my friend Cynthia and I knew the people from The West Wing. Sometimes we were characters and sometimes we were actors and sometimes we were just part of the group.
Last summer I dreamt I was with the television writing crew for Flashpoint when one of the actors came up and instead of me being awestruck by him (although secretly I really was!), he just complimented me on my butter recipe and said, “You make great toast.”
There’s the one where I was a character in a crime drama, that when I wrote it out actually read more like a Heavenly visit. (You can read that sappy story here.)
About a month ago, I had a great dream about Johnny Depp falling in love with my ratatouille and endorsing my cookbook.
But on this New Year’s morning, I woke up right after dreaming of George. Clooney, to be exact. I was a few years older, living in a large apartment back east that was also where I worked as a Writer (note the Capital “W”, very exciting!).
I had people coming in and out constantly: family, friends, business associates. I came out of the Kitchen area and turned a corner into the foyer and literally ran into George Clooney. There. In my apartment. Something about meeting my business manager for whatever reasons. Even in my dream, I couldn’t pay attention because my brains scrambled like the eggs I had just cooked. We sat down and apparently I got a little too close to him because he looked at me a little strangely as I muttered something about the gods hearing my prayers…
But then the dream turned. It flash-forwarded as dreams do, and the next moment we were sitting in the same room across a coffee table laden with open notebooks and coffee cups (He complimented my coffee, by the way. That’s 3 for the celebrity chef status I’m going for!).
The notebooks were all kinds of information and ideas on how to help the children of Darfur. He educated me on the political climate, and I offered some serious fund-raising advice for feeding the people.
Together we sat for what must have been hours ~ too bad the actual dream didn’t last that long. But what did last was that feeling of urgency. That feeling of necessity to help others in need. Not just locally or federally, but globally.
Ever since I woke from that dream, I can’t – don’t want to – shake those feelings. It was so real. So authentic. So desperate. But I don’t have any notebooks filled with how-to-help information and ideas. I don’t have any news clippings and personal experiences in this realm.
And while one of my New Year’s Resolutions is to not make resolutions I know I can’t keep, I think this is one I should strive for. Even if I can’t accomplish anything, I need to at least try on this one. I need to find a way to bring attention to those in need, and I need to find a way to actually help them. No matter how little it seems.
But what can I do? I’m just a blogger, a chef, a mom. George doesn’t know me. I don’t know any political leaders. And I don’t know how to reach across oceans.
What can I do, George? Are you listening? Is anyone?
Because I am.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Jan 3, 2012
Started: December 29, 2011
Finished: December 31, 2011
What I loved best: There were several elements that I pondered during, and after, reading this book.
The first was that while the prior three books seemed to have one linear storyline, Prince Caspian had two storylines going at first: The Prince, and the Children. Of course they meet up in the book, and I won’t ruin it for those who have yet to read the series by giving any more details. But in the course of reading, I was consumed by one story and then reminder of the other. It was a refreshing roller-coaster ride.
The second was the character of Trufflehunter the Badger. I loved that he claimed his ancestors’ faith as his own, insisting that “Badgers don’t change.” He often repeated this when others questioned him. He never questioned his beliefs. He just kept believing. His faith gave him strength in times of uncertainty.
The third element was of course the return of Aslan and how the other characters reacted to Him. Again, I won’t give any more details for those who haven’t read the book, with this exception: Aslan’s individual relationships offered differing interactions with each character, and I held my breath at each introduction. How the others reacted to His presence was at times endearing, tearful, and full of joy.
It was a wonderful sampling of how mankind turns to (or away from) the God who created us, who still loves us, and who fights for us even if we don’t want the fight or feel worthy of someone else’s attentions.
I’m more than halfway through the Chronicles of Narnia series and all I can say (without giving you details you don’t yet want) is: read the series for yourself. No matter what your age, you’ll get a great joy out of the easy-to-read stories and continuing characters. Lewis’ writing style is not one to be missed.
Trust me.
