December 31, 2007
I’ve been thinking a lot recently about a quote from Elie Wiesel that I keep coming across:
“The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference.”
I don’t want to get too heavy on you - that’s not me…but how true this quote is!
If we truly don’t love someone, we often say, “I hate so and so.” But in all honesty, if we no longer love someone, we’re simply indifferent. It’s the complete lack of interest and care for that person that signifies how we really feel about that person. Hatred means we still have emotion and feelings towards the people and relationships we’ve left behind. I’m going to try to remember that in the coming year as I deal with people. If I’m still feeling great emotion towards someone, bad or good, then I’m either in need of working on my feelings and repairing a friendship that was lost, or I’m in need of letting go entirely, and moving on. There’s no sense in wasting time and energy sitting on that fence, hating someone.
Call it a resolution of sorts…? Happy New Years Eve, all!
1:04 pm
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I was snuggling with the boy on the couch last night, and gave him a big squeezy hug. “Ouch!”, he said. “You’re going to squish all of the juice out of me.”
I replied saying “Ooh, juice? I like juice…can we squeeze you and drink all of the juice?”
He gave me a look, the kind of look that says ‘exactly how stupid ARE you?’ and replied, “The juice inside of me is pee. And blood. Mostly blood. You can’t DRINK it!”
10:07 am
Filed under Family Ties, Ha, Ha!
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December 27, 2007
Ten was difficult for me. Once your oldest hits the double digits, she’s not your baby anymore. Eleven wasn’t any easier. Don’t get me wrong - Catherine is delightful. She’s good natured, she gets straight A’s, everyone loves her, she’s kind to others, and I enjoy being with her…I can’t say that about most other kids her age. But each year that she gets a little older, it’s tougher on ME!
Today, Catherine is celebrating her 12th birthday. It’s a big one - her last year before she’s a teen, and she’s caught between wanting to be a kid and wanting to grow up too quickly. We’re giving her a birthday present that she’s not expecting. A few weeks ago, she got information on a camp she wanted to attend this summer, all the way in Georgia. After checking things out, and speaking to the other parents, we decided to let her go, so she’ll be receiving a sleeping bag and the camping trip tonight. It’s a big step…a week away from her parents, in another state, far away from home. I think she’s ready, but am I?
Happy Birthday, Catherine! No matter how big you get, you’ll still be my snuggle bunny!
5:32 pm
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Almost 40 years ago, history was made, when the first televised Presidential debates were aired. Televisions were no longer a novelty item, and most American homes had a TV set, which enabled more than 60 million American viewers (and voters!) to tune in. A series of four debates was aired between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon, and it’s said that President Kennedy won the election because of his television presence. When compared to Nixon, Kennedy was obviously the better looking of the two, he was younger, he was fit, athletic looking, tanned, and well rested. By comparison, Nixon was ill, had lost weight, wore poor fitting clothing, and refused to wear makeup on television. When it came time to head to the polls, half of all votes said that the televised debates influenced their opinion, and 6% said they made their votes based solely on the televised debates.
I’ll admit to being influenced by how a candidate appeared on television as well. I was impressed by the charisma displayed by Bill Clinton, and how he was able to speak to young people as a peer, and not talk down to young voters. I watched him play the sax on late night TV, and I listened to someone on MTV ask him, “Boxers or briefs?” It was that impression he made on me, via the television, along with where he stood on the issues that gave him my vote in the first election I participated in.
Technology is one again changing how the American voters look at their candidates and the issues. At the Avot mV product site, you can select from a variety of entertaining video channels, among of which is a channel for politics. The site offers two channels, one for republican candidates, the other for democratic candidates, and is accessible from either the internet or your mobile phone. By visiting the Avot mV official blog you’ll learn more about this video delivery platform designed for mobile phones like my AT&T8525 and the iPhone, but in a nutshell, it gives you quick access to any web-based video. Downloads are quick, the quality is crisp, and the selection is wide and varied. The smart search capabilities will weed out what you’re not interested in and only provide you with the content you prefer, allowing you to create playlists and share favorites through an integrated messaging service. Visit the Avot mV corporate site to learn more about the new technology available and how it’s going to change things for the next forty years.
3:48 pm
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I did something yesterday that I can’t ever recall doing before. We took down our Christmas tree on December 26th.
Typically, we leave it up at least through the 27th, since that’s my daughters birthday. It makes the house seem a little more festive when our family comes over to celebrate. I don’t need to put up crepe paper & balloons when there’s a Christmas tree in the corner, right? The tree just seemed to dry out quicker this year, and when I went to put a fallen ornament back on, the branch I used lost almost all it’s needles. Since Jim was home today, it seemed like a good day to end Christmas. I had all of the ornaments off and packed up in record time, and we even tossed a few old decorations we don’t use anymore.
Jim broke out the label maker and made labels for the front of the tote boxes we store the Christmas crap in, so we can see at a glance what’s in each box. I did leave the garland on the stair railings and the stockings up. I didn’t want to lose the Christmas feeling entirely, but the tree had to go. Jim dragged it out into the backyard and I’ve asked him to slice it up with his chainsaw so that we can burn it in the fire pit.
Ooh, speaking of fire pits…on Tuesday night our friends (and neighbors) called us over to break in their brand new fire pit. We enjoyed ice cream cake and looked at the moon through the telescope…we usually stick close to home on Christmas, but I can make an exception for a night light that. It was just cool enough to enjoy the fire without feeling cold. If it stays this way, we’ll need to light up ours for Catherine’s party tonight. (I still can’t fathom that I’m going to have TWELVE year old daughter!)
11:28 am
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December 26, 2007
I don’t know about you, but the day and the weeks after Christmas always seem like a let down. After a month of preparation, it’s all over so fast!
Despite my bah humbug attitude today, our Christmas was quite festive. I received from Santa Jim:
- A gorgeous new red coat that will come in handy on vacation next month
- New Calphalon cookware - a dutch oven, a new griddle, and new pots
- Portable speakers for my iPod
- New pants from Express, and several new shirts from The Limited
- New drawers from Victoria’s Secret
- A new Family Guy DVD
- A new Tampa Bay Lightning hat, autographed by Martin St. Louis, #26
The kids gifted us with all sorts of handmade goodies, but Catherine also bought things at her school sale, and she got me a necklace with a butterfly charm on it. I was the lucky recipient of a Victoria’s Secret gift card in our sibling Secret Santa swap (thanks, Cheryl!) as well as assorted dachshund collectibles, ornaments, a book, and a Kohl’s gift card from my mother.
I gave Jim a new leather jacket, a Sirius radio, and a 6 month Sirius subscription gift card. In our own little Gift of the Magi twist, I also gave him a signed Tampa Bay Lighting jersey, autographed by none other than Martin St. Louis, #26! (Special thanks to my friend Melissa for the hookup!) He also got new clothes, new neckties, and a new warm up suit for hockey.
The kids…well, they got WAY too much stuff. Guitar Hero III, a skateboard ramp, tons of movies, clothes, books, a new bike for Gracie, board games, gift cards galore…they’ve already started writing their thank you notes.
And to think - the gift giving isn’t over yet! Tomorrow is my oldest daughter’s 12th birthday. The family will be over for pizza and cake at our home, and of course, more presents for Catherine!
1:45 pm
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December 24, 2007
Jim and his friends love a good fight. Not between themselves of course - they prefer to watch the pros duke it out in a ring. They’re always ordering fights off pay per view and getting together for a night of “man stuff”. As many times as they’ve been to Las Vegas, they’ve never seen a live boxing match there - I’m shocked! I would think that would be a top destination for a boys trip to Vegas.
Should he wish to go this spring, there’s a huge rematch between Manny “PacMan” Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez. It’s going to be held on March 15, 2008 at Mandalay Bay. (Hey, I know where that is now, thanks to our Vegas trip last month!) Of course, you can buy Manny Pacquiao vs Juan Manuel Marquez tickets online - this fight is going to be a huge draw for boxing fans. If Pacquiao makes it thought this fight, he could end up fighting Oscar De La Hoya…and even I’d watch that. Oscar…rowr - he’s hot stuff!
4:41 pm
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I’m waiting for Jim to get home from work (ah, the joys of working retail during the holidays!) and then we’re all heading off to church. For the first time ever, all three kids are singing at Christmas Eve Mass this year, and Matthew is beyond excited. He got himself dressed about an hour ago, and he’s wearing new khakis, a new blue dress shirt, a new tie, and his suit jacket with his pin from 1st Communion. Come to think of it, we’re all wearing new clothes!
After church, we’re heading to my mother’s for our annual Christmas Eve dinner with family and friends. After that, I’ve got to sneak to my friend’s house (thankfully, she lives in the neighborhood) and retrieve the bike I bought for Grace - we’ve been hiding it there for over a week!
I wonder how early the kids will be waking us tomorrow morning?
4:37 pm
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December 23, 2007
We don’t have any weddings on the horizon in the family…not even to attend as guests! Is it just me, or do weddings seem to come in cycles? There was a time, just before and just after Jim and I got married, when we had a wedding to attend every other month. I kind of miss those days…well, not the buying a wedding gift every other month, but the idea of weddings and people getting married. I planned my own wedding (almost 12 years ago now!) from start to finish and I loved every minute of it. I didn’t have the internet at my fingertips, so it was a lot more legwork - calling companies, visiting bridal stores, traveling to bakeries to taste cakes…brides today have it easy! If you need to find favors or chocolate fountains for Miami weddings, you can just do so online at 1WeddingSource.com, which provides tons of vendors for your area in one place. Perhaps you’ve always wanted to have a wedding that ended with a butterfly release? No problem - this site can hook you up with a local company that can provide butterflies for you on your special day. You want your reception to finish with fireworks? Use the site and you’ll find three Miami companies that can light up the sky on your special day. Every bride can use a site like this, to get inspired and plan her special day, and to save time!
1:06 pm
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I found this image on StumbleUpon earlier this week, and I’ve had that tab open since then, knowing I had to save it and share it here. It’s one of those jokes that may take you a minute, but don’t worry, you’ll get it! I’m really sharing this for my sister, who is a huge fan of all things Peanuts…so much so that she named her dog Snoopy!
Now, wait for it…wait for it…
12:58 pm
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