‘Nined’

As opposed to ‘tened’?  LOL

I am fascinated by the nonsensical words you have to type in order to leave a comment on some blogs. ('Nined' was one of them.)

I have no idea why I'm so intrigued.

But they set my imagination into overdrive.

I have always been fascinated by words. 

Their little nuances, subtle changes in meanings when one word is used instead of another.

The ‘singsong’ alliteration of certain words (totally aside of their definition.)

Then there are the regional differences, not to mention the cultural differences of certain words.

The choices people make with their words says so much about them.

Spellbinding! 

Nined and Tened

You have now been 'Nined' and 'Tened'!
(I have NO idea what it means, but it sounds like a verb doesn't it? LOL)

I Like My Kids

Having the boys’ home for Christmas was wonderful! On so many levels.

Before I had kids I often worried that when I did have them, I wouldn’t like them. That’s not to say I wouldn’t love them. I knew I would love them, but would I like them?

There is a world of difference.

I am very pleased to announce that I like my kids!

I REALLY LIKE my kids!

They are intelligent, knowledgeable, funny, witty, great conversationalists, entertaining, and just generally fun to be around. (If they weren't my kids they would be people I would like as friends.)

We hadn’t seen them for a while so it was quite a treat.

We ‘talk’ aka text, im, and call each other all the time but it’s not the same as being together.

What was also very heartening was to watch them interact with one another.

They really LIKE each other!

There was much laughter and teasing, and you could tell they had each other’s back!

Not that I want to brag here or anything! LOL 

But I have to say I’m very proud of the people they have grown up to be.

(Okay, all together now, “Awwwwwww” LOL)

Grandpa's Trains

Husband is a model train enthusiast. 

At least he was when he was a kid.

And when the boys were little we used to put them around the tree every year.

I think the two of us had more fun putting the elaborate layouts together than the kids did! LOL

Last year Grandma gave Husband his Dad’s trains from the ‘30’s.

So the two of us had a little ‘together’ time playing with them this year.

After all these years they still light up and run!

The Day After

The day after Christmas and all is quite in the house.

I enjoy just sitting and looking at the tree all aglow in its feathery glory.

I made these ornaments a few years ago.

I had a lot of leftover feather boas from a previous project so I decided to add some glitz to the more ‘plain’ ball ornaments. 

I love how they move with the slightest breeze.

A puff of air, a little shimmer and sparkle and all is well with the world!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

May your day be merry and bright!

Santa Claus

One year, when my brother and I were little (and still believed) my father hired the Santa from Macy’s to come to our house.

My mother organized a party and invited all the neighborhood kids. She gave the Santa our names and a little information about each of us.

When it was my turn to sit on Santa’s lap he asked me if I had been a good girl. I answered yes. He looked at me skeptically and said, “So, you’ve stopped sucking your thumb then?”

I quickly put my hands behind my back so he wouldn’t see the callus on my thumb and then, looking him straight in the eye, I told Santa a boldfaced lie!

I guess my parents thought the threat of Santa knowing I sucked my thumb would be enough to deter me.

It didn’t.

All it did was make me worry until Christmas morning (when I saw my presents LOL.)

Valid Grounds for Divorce

During this Yuletide season, certain situations arise that point out just how tenuous marriage really is.

I refer to the ongoing debate of the correct application of icicles on a Christmas tree.

In my humble opinion, this debate far outweighs the usual marital disagreements, i.e. seat up or down, leaving the toothpaste cap off, which way the toilet paper should come off the roll, all fade by comparison to THE GREAT ICICLE DEBATE.

I feel very strongly about this. 

Growing up I was taught that the icicles should be painstakingly placed on the tree in a meticulous single strand application. My mother was very firm about this. (And I am my mother’s daughter, after all! LOL)

So when Husband and I set up housekeeping together I expected him to do things my way. (What can I say, I was young.)

When the first holiday season rolled around and we bought our first tree together all went well.

Until the icicles.

Now, Husband is usually pretty neat in his endeavors, so I was quite taken aback when he grabbed a large handful of icicles and proceeded to lob them at the tree!

Actually, I was horrified.

After much 'discussion' (and to avoid divorce court,) we no longer use icicles on our tree.

Life is Too Short to Dust

And that says it all!

Yes, Virginia……………

The boys were beginning to question if there really was a Santa Claus.

We tried to reassure them, but nothing we said would convince them.

Their friends told them there was no Santa Claus.

So Husband decided to prove the existence of the fat man.

He took his boots, dipped them in the ashes from the fireplace and made footprints leading to the tree and back again.

That was the year that they got Polaroid cameras.

They were so excited! They had PROOF that Santa existed!

They must have used two full packs of film taking pictures of the sooty footprints to show all their friends.

Thank goodness for childhood faith, (and brilliant husbands) because they kept believing for a few more years.

Standards

Isn’t it funny how our standards shift over time?

I used to be such a stickler for being on time or getting things done ahead of time.

Over the years I’ve let my standards slip.

Just a bit.

When I was still a working person I was the first one to arrive in the morning.

Then I considered myself on time if I was walking into the building at my appointed time.

Then, if I was pulling into the parking lot, I was on time.

Then it went to—if I was getting into town at my appointed time, I was on time! LOL

Now I find that lax thinking is invading other parts of my life.

The Christmas tree has been up for days, with the boxes of ornaments sitting around it.

Am I in any rush?

Nope.

If it gets decorated by Christmas Eve before the boys get here I’m still on time!

I’m off to mail my Christmas cards now. Hey, if they get there before New Year’s Day---I’m on time!