It’s our first SNOW DAY! Really it’s gorgeous but lordahmighty it’s so c-c-c-c-c-cold.

GS offices as well as my office building are closed today. OU is closed today. I will do a little work from home but for the most part, Mark and I have the day to do a whole lotta whatever we want.

Right now, I’m sipping coffee with homemade Irish Creme, compliments of our friend Suzy. I’ve got the 15 bean soup in the crockpot with ham. The cats are actually starting to merge with the couch. They are bringing the word FLOP to an entire new dimension and I’m sitting here wishing I had some house shoes.

Before I go put on socks, I thought I’d just do a quick little recap.

We put up our Christmas tree last night. It was our first combined tree, and while it turned out beautifully, there was compromise involved.

I like a live tree. He doesn’t like cutting down any tree.

I have ornaments dated back to 1978. Most of mine are dated and personalized from my life. Some are kitch.   Most all of mine are kitch. Some are really spectacular, but I’ve got a mix of Harry Potter, Hallmark and glitter.

Mark’s tree ornaments are all art. They are hand crafted, beautiful pieces of art. He’s got a teensy bit of glitter, but even those are gorgeous.

I like a lot of decor on a tree. Mark doesn’t like a lot of decor on a tree.

In the end, we sorted through things that we no longer need/want/will use and I’m going through my Red Cross connections and finding a family in one of the tornado-hit communities that needs some holiday cheer and we shall bless it and let it go.

It is a gorgeous tree. We think we can even go taller next year. I do love that. I’ve never had a house that could hold a tree much taller than 6 ft. Ours this year is between 7-8 ft.

My favorite part of last night was after we had it all decorated, the lights on, the tree skirt on, the last bits of needle swept up, I went for my layers. Coat, gloves, boots. I called to him and he was doing the exact same thing.

We couldn’t wait to go outside and see what our house looked like with the tree shining through the window.

It is gorgeous.

The rest of the night was spent with the live event the Sound of Music on tv, and working on our Christmas schedule. Trying to figure out who’s going where and when. Ugh. That isn’t my favorite.

The musical was…interesting. I love that the network took a chance and introduced musical theatre to the masses.  The supporting cast was flawless, I could watch Audra McDonald sing about the trash. Daily. I am a Carrie Underwood fan. She undertook a huge endeavor and while her acting was on the Waiting For Guffman level, her musical talent was wonderful. I still cry every time I hear Climb Every Mountain and Edelweiss. The children were great, and I cannot imagine doing a live tv event at their age. Lord. And as much as Carrie’s acting inability hurt me, I watched every minute. I love the story. I had forgotten how much I love this story. I’m not a fanatic. I don’t give an F sharp about the differences between the movie and the stage production. I know the difference between the two.

What I don’t understand was the production value. Why was the sound so awful? The sets were a bit kitch as well, but hey. I’ve done my share of community theatre. I expected something a bit more elaborate but this was the vision of the director and whatever. The sound, though. GAH. It sounded like a running waterfall in every Abbey scene.

As SP pointed out, this isn’t NBC’s first foray into a live production. Remember the live episode of ER? Anyone watch the Today show? So I just don’t understand all of the background noise. It took away from the production value. I find fault with that in a big big way, but as I stated before, I watched every second of it. I hope that the networks got a huge rating boost and that they will do more musical theatre on TV.

Because, along with snow days, the smell of live Christmas trees, and homemade irish creme, it really is one of my favorite things.

 

It’s about to turn cold.

Wait, scratch that, it has ALREADY turned cold, here in my little slice of the world.

Mark and I have completed herculean tasks in terms of Christmas preparation before the weather hit this week. The lights are hung on the house, we bought our tree last night and while it’s not decorated yet, it is up.

My house smells amazing.

The cats are twitchy.

Last night when we brought it in, they both immediately started gnawing on the lower branches and rubbing their faces on it and just sitting under it in some sort of tree worshiping trance.

We’ve always had a live tree, save a year or two, since I’ve had them, but they used to always be indoor/outdoor cats too.

But everything is different this year.

Everything is different.

I live with Mark, in this beautiful, idyllic almost 90 year old historic home. We have lights and wreaths on the house. Our house. We have stacks of Christmas cards partially addressed scattered on the dining room table. We have packages of gifts arriving from my cyber shopping. I opened one box, having forgot what I’d ordered, and oh yeah! Marks new slippers!

Too bad he was standing over me wondering himself what was in the box.

Everything is different.

One cannot just willy nilly open packages in the living room during December.

Gearing up for the last few weeks of the year, looking forward to what’s coming up in 2014 I am grateful for these moments of quiet, to take stock. I’m grateful for the ability to work from home, to write letters, to work on recruitment plans and strategy for rebuilding a volunteer base.

Cookie sale is coming, Listen To Your Mother 2014 is right behind it, then BOOM it’ll be Summer and Familypalooza, NYC Trip for Hedwig, Colorado, then BOOM we are right back into recruitment season and starting it all over again.

And for the first time in this job, I will have done it before. But you can bet, I’ll do so many things differently. This learning curve was a steep one that I’m still navigating and I venture to say, doing it pretty well.

But for now, I’m keeping a quiet mind, sipping my hot tea, smelling the gorgeous  8 ft tree in my living room and silently saying prayers of thanks.

Because everything is different.

And I couldn’t be happier.

Today is the second annual #GivingTuesday.

What? Never heard of it you say? Well I DID say it was the SECOND annual. So it’s still a fresh baby of a thing.

#GivingTuesday is a national movement to create a day of giving, to kick off the giving season and really, in the same way everyone enjoys Black Friday and Shop Local Saturday and Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday is a way to put all of that energy and money and focus to good use within our communities.

Feeling a little uber consumerist with all of the shopping? Cleans your soul by participating in #GivingTuesday.

Each of our communities is filled if amazing and deserving agencies that never have enough money. I’ve never heard a non-profit say, “No no, we don’t need that money. We have way more than we could ever use.”

So pick your favorite. Any amount is needed, and welcome. $5.00? $10.00? $1000? They will take it and they will love you for it. #GT or #GiveTuesday in social media to help spread the word.

Of course if you need some help deciding, Girl Scouts Western Oklahoma would love to be your agency of choice. 

 

Just the smallest amount can scholarship a girl into her personal leadership experience, and believe me, I’m getting calls and questions about this right now. With the holidays upon us, money is tight. For everyone. Cookie season is coming, Girls want to participate and have fun. #GIVENOWGSWOK is our hashtag. Use it and help spread the word and tell us why you support GSWOK on this Giving Tuesday. 

No matter what agency you give to today, I encourage you to participate in GiveTuesday. So much has been made about how awful this past weekend was, about how consumerism has taken over our world and turned our hearts into that of the Grinch.

Put your money where you convictions are today. Let’s all participate in what I think is one of the best movements to come around in a very long time.

#GivingTuesday.

Where will you give? Why? I would love to know where your heart leads you!

Oh this holiday, it’s just never quiet or calm no matter what my intentions are.

We spent some nice time with my family in Arkansas. Taryn and I cooked all day Thursday, and then I thought I gave myself food poisoning most of the night and into the next day. Some sort of slight bug, not enough to stop me from doing anything, but enough to make me not want to do all of the things.

No worries, though. We rested, we watched my sister and Bret’s brand shiny new smart tv with awe and a little fear. We traveled back today and just kind of hit the ground running. I had errands to do, Mark got the fire pit ready and loaded and we are headed to OKC to celebrate Pseudo Sis#1’s entry into the 40 and F-Off club. I’ve got chips and salsa out the wazoo, we’ve got food and booze and music and many a friendly face is expected.

I adore this girl. I totally hit the jackpot that day in the salon when she said in the shampoo room, “I think you and I need to be friends.”

Thank GOD she was smart enough to make that connection!

She and I have many similar personality traits, we’ve a low tolerance for bullshit and a high tolerance for cold beer and laughing. We love our families, and our friends and most of the time the line differentiating the two is a very blurry one.

We’ve seen some pretty amazing moments, births of nephews, new jobs, travels and adventures. (She jumped out of a perfectly good plane one time.) We have sought solace with each other during the darker moments, propping each other up when the other lacked the life. We have this ability to just be the most honest, the most bare bones truthful with each other…it’s the most valuable and freeing thing in a friend. In a sister.

I love that she’s 40. She may not love it. She has yet again reinvented herself, made some choices and never looked back. I stand in amazement. I’m excited that she’s 40. Because she has embraced this newfound fierceness, she’s got this life by the balls ya’ll, and she’s doing this pretty awesome cowgirl lasso over the head move with it and I just cannot wait to see where she leads us.

Because, she is a leader. Always has been.

And you can bet your boots I’ll follow her wherever she goes.

So this is how I end my 30 posts in 30 days. With a toast.

I raise a glass Michelle Wynn, to you.

I cannot wait to see what this year brings!

CHEERS!

 

Sister and I loaded up this morning and headed out to see if there were any deals left from the masses last night.

We have four foster children’s wish list that we were shopping for. There is a 75 dollar limit so ideally getting some of those über discounted items would allow for us to get things they want and things they they need. A bike for the four year old boy who also wanted a Thomas train set. An art set And an easel and a craft set. A CD player alarm clock and the makeup mirror. Everyone got a winter coat and gloves and some pj’s too. And we didn’t go over our limit.

I’m thankful today that we didn’t have to choose between wishes, that we could make all of them come true and them some.

I like this crazy shopping day. I know four kiddos who will like it in about three weeks.

When Hayden aka WonderBoy was little he said Ganks instead of Thanks. My sister and I have kept that. We use it with each other, and with other people. I figure those that don’t know just assumes it’s an autocorrectfail when I text them Ganks!

We got into Taryn’s house last night and had some dinner, and began to prep the food. I made MeMe’s Cherry Coke Salad, and the brine and put the bird to bathe for the night. Taryn did cornbread for the dressing. Mark fell asleep on the couch and we all called it a night.

We got to see Mom and Burl for dinner, they will go to Oklahoma to see Burl’s side of the family for the day then return tomorrow. We will leave Saturday morning, and head back so that we can prep and enjoy PseudoSis’ birthday party! It’s a busy awesome weekend surrounded by family and friends.

Taryn and I will partake in our usual tradition and do some shopping, we both have wish lists for foster kids that we’re going to fill and by taking advantage of the discounts for Black Friday tonight and tomorrow we can probably get EVERYTHING on the list!

So I don’t care for everyone getting all ass up in the air about the shopping thing. I wish it was still on Friday, too but it’s not. Stores that are never ever ever closed on Thanksgiving are…what? OPEN on Thanksgiving? Pffft.

I’m looking forward to having my Sister Tradition and eating delicious bird and spending non-rushed time with my family. We may get a movie in there too!

I give Ganks for this time.

This holiday, more than most, reminds me of Dion and Elizabeth and how much I miss them in my daily lives. We did Thanksgiving sooooo right many moons ago. I carry that in my heart every year. So much fun we had. So so much.

I give Ganks for those memories and for them.

I love reading the Facebook posts of everyone and their celebrations. Whether you choose to spend this in a BIG way or in a really low key way, I hope that you’re doing exactly what you want with exactly who you want.

I give Ganks for you.

It’s time to treat the bird! and the Parade! THE PARADE!

We made it to my sisters house and are in the throes of food prep. She is making the cornbread for the dressing. I’m doing the cherry coke salad and the turkey and brine. All is well with my soul. I hope your evening is just as perfect.

 

After some inquiries, and with a bit of time on my hands in front of a computer, I’m adding the recipe for MeMe’s Cherry Coke Salad.

1 large box (or two small) cherry jello.

1 can crushed pineapple

1 can dark cherries (NOT PIE FILLING)

1 12 oz can coke

1 cup (give or take) chopped pecans save some for garnish.

1 package Dream Whip Original

1 block creme cheese

 

Drain pineapple and cherry juice into pan,add the can of coke, add enough water to make 4 cups liquid. Bring to a boil, add jello to dissolve. Pour into pan, add nuts, pineapple and cherries and stir. Refrigerate until set.

Prepare Dream Whip as package directs. Add 1 block creme cheese. Top jello with this then garnish with left over crushed pecans.

BOOM.

Now you have just been transported to every childhood Christmas and Thanksgiving I ever had.

 

Mark woke up this morning stuttering like a fool and exclaiming that he’d been incepted.

This is just part of the ridiculous that happens in this house on a daily basis.

I coughed all night long (thanksobama) and finally woke up enough to take come cold medicine, then proceeded to have the craziest of dreams.

I dreamed that I was in some sort of performing gig, maybe a pageant type thing? Maybe a play or a music thing, or maybe it was Maggie’s wedding again. I don’t quite remember. What I do know is that I kept coughing. I was pegged to open the show with some songs, and decided I wanted Mark to sing our song with me for the last number. I kept coughing and proceeded to pee my dress. Just all down my damned dress. At this point, I was told to just get into my performance dress and roll with it! YAY! for two reasons YAY! This performance dress was my Jr prom dress. So that meant I was SKIN-NEEEEEE. and YAY for not having to go onstage with a pee soaked dress.

I was trying to find Mark to explain the whole thing when I woke up to him talking in his sleep and chomping his teeth.

maybe we were both incepted.

Happy Tuesday ya’ll!

I’m so out of it with this crazy cold…I ran about 99.9 fever all day long…I don’t feel bad, yet I feel bad. Make sense? Ugh. I slept most all of yesterday, and while I was so sad to miss the Red Molly concert at the Depot, I was asleep by 7:45 and only woke up once or twice.

I started my day with a volunteer meeting at 10am in Newcastle listening to some horrid stories about a mother in a troop. Horrid. Lord people just can make impossibly horrible choices, can’t they? Ugh. Then I spent the day answering emails, coordinating a winter camp partnership with the YMCA, and it occurred to me that every time I blinked my eyeballs felt cool to my eyelids. That’s some fever bullshit, my friends. So I came home and ate some soup and sat for awhile before I had to leave again.  I just got home from a CST meeting in Moore. I really do love those volunteers. There are a few salty pieces of that group but they hardly ever show up anymore. I have some plans to help develop this volunteer base, but like all things, it takes time and strategy.

All of that to say, I almost forgot to post today.

That would’ve really pissed me off.

Now I’m going to drink some juice, take some meds and go lay down. Same song, different verse.

We are looking at cameras.

Actually, we’re both on the couch, Stormy is snuggled between us, both have our laptops and we’re checking out deals on cameras. Mark is looking up the specs and I’m checking out deals on the line. We’re looking at a Nikon 3200 and a Cannon something or other. We want some lenses too.

Who out there has one that they love? Who out there has one that they think sucks? I’m interested in your thoughts.

I woke up from dreams where I had strep throat this morning to a throat that feels like barbed wire and a voice that sounds like a drag queen on a four show night. I feel semi-ok. Just tired. I’ll snooze this morning, listening to the sleet pour down, waiting on the snow. Crazy MeMe has 9 inches of snow down in her neck of the woods. DANG!

I’m going to bake cookies today. Sometime. When I can get off the couch. Or when I can wake up. Or when we decide on a camera…