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Showing posts with label Winter 2011. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Winter 2011. Show all posts

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Two Christmas Stories

Hello, All!

As always happens around this time of year, tales abound...some of them so heartening and uplifting you want to shout them from the rooftops!  Others, well...bummer.

Today I came across one of each, from two of my very good blogging friends, Suldog and Eddie Bluelights, and I would like to share them with you.  Normally, I would direct you to 'links' to their blogs, but today I will also  reproduce them HERE, because I want to keep them safe.  (sometimes links become obsolete, or the posts themselves are removed from blogs...this way, unless I delete it myself, I will always have them.)

I will begin with the not-so-nice one, so that we may end this postcard on a high note.




13 Year Old Girl Threatens To Kill Santa

We all know Christmas in this day and age is way over the top from a commercial standpoint - it has been so for years and regrettably the main focus of Christmas has been eclipsed by presents, greed, holidays, in fact everything other than what Christmas should be about.

Not more so than this year. Of course this story, featured in newspapers and media throughout the UK, does have a funny side but in a way it is rather shocking.

I was dumb stuck when I heard this story on our local radio. But of course it tickled my sense of humour too.

Ahh! Poor Santa is crying


A 13 year old girl wrote an ultimatum letter to Father Christmas demanding at least two expensive presents on her list and warned him that if he failed to deliver she would kill him.  Further, she threatened to hunt down his beloved reindeer, cook them and serve them to homeless people on Christmas day.  (Well at least she was thinking of less fortunates LOL).  Her mother was amazed at first but vowed to meet her daughter's demands, saying, "You don't want to get the wrong side of Mekeeda!"  However, she continued that it would be rather difficult to satisfy her daughter's wish to have the real live Justin Bieber in her Christmas stocking.

Here is her letter in full.

Dear Santa


This Christmas I don't ask for much so if I don't get at least two of the things I want I will literally KILL you. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?  Oh! also I'll hunt down your reindeers, cook them and serve their meat to homeless people on Christmas day.
Nobody wants that.
So here is what I want


A Blackberry
Austin Mahone or Justin Beiber (real)
Money
Laura Knitted 33 Jumper
High Top Converter


Remember two of these or you DIE
Love From
Makeeda Austin
xxxxxx


Notice the affection she displays to Santa when she signs off "Love From" and even gives him some kisses before she plunges the knife in.

There were other items on the list but her hand writing was not clear so I could not read them and so I omitted them.  I do hope Santa was able to read her demands or else he might be in grave danger.   I hope he has a reliable pair of glasses from SpecSavers. She addressed the letter to Santa, Lapland, North Pole, so he is bound to receive it.

Shaking for reasons other than the cold Santa was observed to have modified his usual Christmas saying this year to, "No, No, No!" and he is considering employing Security guards to accompany him when delivering presents throughout the cosmos.  He is considering kidnapping Justin Beiber in order to protect himself and says if he is arrested he will plead Self Defence.

Tracy, her mother said, "We can't have her killing Santa can we so I had better let her have what she wants".
She continued, Mekeeda is such a lovely girl but can be very demanding.  She is energetic and has to burn off all her excess energy playing sports or she can be hyperactive when she gets home.  She is the life and soul of the party - there is never a dull moment when she is around so we can forgive her for being a bit of a diva."

I wonder whether her mother's secret wish this year to Santa is for him to give this young lady a long overdue good spanking.

________________________


Link to the original article:
13-year-old-girl-threatens-to-kill-santa


And now...prepare to be delighted!


Uncle Jim's Christmas Stocking





Grand Uncle Jim

First things first: This is a story about an Irish family. While my name is Jim, and I’m an uncle, I also have an Uncle Jim of my own. There is an Uncle Jim mentioned in this story, but he’s not that Uncle Jim, although that Uncle Jim is the one who told me this tale of the other Uncle Jim. Actually, he’s Uncle Jim’s Uncle Jim, making him my Grand Uncle Jim (and some folks prefer the title 'Great Uncle', but let’s not open that can of worms.) It’s very confusing to the uninitiated, I suppose, so if it will keep you from getting a headache, feel free to think of the main character herein as Uncle Aloysius.

Anyway, when my father was very young – five or six - his Uncle Jim taught him a very valuable lesson.

My father had hung his stocking on Christmas Eve, as did all of the family. This included the older relatives, and that group included his Uncle Jim. Come Christmas morning, everybody took down their stockings and looked inside to see what Santa Claus had brought them.

The usual things were found inside the stockings - little toys, tasty candies, and other such trifles. Nice, of course, but nothing unusual. That is, until Uncle Jim inspected the contents of his stocking. He turned it upside down, and out rolled a lump of coal and an onion.

While good little boys and girls receive toys and candies, a lump of coal and an onion are, by tradition, what bad boys and girls receive. Seeing those things come from Uncle Jim’s stocking, my father laughed and laughed. Uncle Jim was a bad boy! He got a lump of coal and an onion!

While my father was laughing, Uncle Jim said, "Oh! This is wonderful! A lump of coal and an onion? These are just what I needed!"

My father thought his Uncle Jim had gone round the bend. How could someone be happy to have received a lump of coal and an onion in his Christmas stocking?

Uncle Jim picked up the lump of coal, then took my father’s hand and led him to the basement. They stopped at the furnace. Uncle Jim said, "It’s so cold today, this lump of coal is the perfect gift. I can put it in the furnace and we’ll be nice and warm all day!"

Uncle Jim then led my amazed father back upstairs. They returned to the family parlor, where Uncle Jim now picked up his Christmas onion. He led my father into the kitchen. While my father sat and watched, Uncle Jim chopped up the onion, and then mixed it with celery, bread, and spices. During all of this, he went on rapturously about how his stuffing for the turkey would have been no good whatsoever without an onion.

Later on, as my father sat in a warm house eating delicious stuffing with his Christmas dinner, the lesson was permanently burned into his memory: It doesn’t matter what you’re given. It’s what you do with it that matters.


...and here is the link to the original article
uncle-jims-christmas-stocking

It's what you do with it that matters.

Merry Christmas, My Friends...
xoxoxo, cd

Friday, March 4, 2011

That's Where I'm Living...

Hello, Dear Friends,

Someone (who shall remain nameless) wrote a Facebook post yesterday that landed on my wall.  It read:

SPRING IS OUTSIDE RIGHT NOW!!! Everybody look!!!

I had a feeling it was a trick, but I couldn't help myself... 

I should have known better.  The Temp was reading 13 degrees on my trusty thermometer, there was no Sunlight dancing off the crystals in my window, and I was sitting at the computer in many layers of clothing plus a Snuggie.

I am such a sucker. I looked.


#0330
'Dunn Eleven'
Colored Pencil by Len Martineau


Oh, all right!!            It was not EXACTLY like this, because we shoveled the driveway,
and our house number is
13

I'm sensing you still don't believe me...
You want to know EXACTLY.
Picky, picky...


EXACTLY:  
The Temp was reading 13 degrees on my trusty thermometer, there was no Sunlight dancing off the crystals in my window, and I was sitting at the computer in many layers of clothing plus a Snuggie.

Some (but not nearly all) of the snow was washed away last week by Winter rains. 
The winds were gusting at 40 MPH.
Tree branches littered the landscape. 
The small amount of lawn that was visible was still brown and dormant.
I saw no Spring.

Except in my mind's eye:

"Spring Meadow"
#0164
Watercolor by xoxoxocd
And that's where I'm living until the warmth returns...

Love, etc.
xoxoxo, clare

(Thank you for allowing me to "show off" today!)

Friday, February 11, 2011

Route... 1

.
.
.
We're Number 1!

1 is the lonliest number

1 Singular Sensation

1 day at a time

 
Some days, 1 is a pleasant digit... as in the day your baby turns '1'.  It can evoke fond memories of 'Firsts'...like being at the head of the line to board that flight to 'The Islands.'   It can designate that you are the BEST!  It might even remind you of a pleasant Summer drive along Scenic Route 1.

Today is not one of those days.

Today, I am wearing two pairs of socks, and my winter boots, but my feet are still cold.   I have donned a long sleeve shirt, topped that with a fleece sweatshirt, then went one better by layering one of Jerry's heavy sweaters over THAT, but still my arms are cold.   I have yet to put on a hat... but I'm thinking about it.

And I am indoors.


Today the Number '1' represents the Air Temperature, Outside, in degrees Fahrenheit.


Our Friends (?) in Florida have sent 'ha-ha' emails. I will not respond - I have 'way more class than that.


(Awww, Screw it!    I'm sending them 1 really nasty hate mail as soon as I finish writing this card!)


xoxoxo,
Clare

Monday, February 7, 2011

Out Of ISSUES

Hello, My Friend!

I am delighted to report that we have left the wretched town of  Issues.  What a mess!  The town is loaded with Potholes, and unfortunately we hit quite a few. The damages to our vehicles was not extensive, thankfully. Most of the repairs have already been made, and we are continuing on our way, just at a slower rate of speed.
   
Although it is unlikely that we will be able to keep distance between ourselves and contagious family members, and the snowplow drivers are (according to the National Weather Service) only on a short hiatus, most of the other characters we met in Issues are packing up and leaving us to recover.

The 'little old accident-prone driver' (whom I hope to never meet again) has Good Insurance.  The Adjusters have completed their assessments, and after much hemming-and-hawing have approved the claim. The Buick has been towed away from the repair shop in Issues, and is being repaired -as we speak - by a collision repairman from OUR town! 

Contractor # 2 will arrive today to correct Contractor # 1's work, and Contractor # 1 has agreed to cover the cost.   I was monumentally wrong to refer to them as "crooked".  I was upset... throwing expletives around like frisbees on the beach...but that is no excuse.  My sincere apologies to these gentlemen.

Guardian Ange L. saw to the resolution of  the police situation. Great job, Bro, and many thanks for being there, once again.

The Cheetah is still out on a limb...but  it appears the cheetah's spouse is preparing to cushion the pavement below until the Rescue Squad arrives!  An astounding development!

The overpriced lawyer...well, some ills just can't be cured.

And the Buried Groundhog?  I'm afraid we won't see him until next February 2. 

We are returning to home base, weary but intact. Thank you for your care and concern...I am so glad you are here to listen...
xoxoxo,
Clare

Thursday, February 3, 2011

I Wouldn't Want to Live There...

Dear Friend,

There is a town nearby called "ISSUES".

Due partially to the monster snow-and-ice storms, and partially to poor directions, we made an unwitting visit there this week.  It is not a pretty place, and the natives are not friendly.

We met PLENTY of the 'natives' over the last 96 hours, including:

4 contagious preschoolers
3 frustrated snowplow drivers
2 Insurance adjusters
2 crooked contractors
2 hard-headed policemen
1 overpriced lawyer
1 little old accident-prone driver
1 collision repairman
and a cheating spouse up a (Pear) Tree

(Oh!, I forgot to mention:  One Buried Groundhog!!)



Naturally, this card does not have space enough to even BEGIN to describe the incidents that led us to meet these ...ummm... people.   Suffice it to say, meet them we did, and some of them may haunt my sorry dreams for a while.

I'll give you the details when we see you.  Meantime, I am going to take a big slug of Nyquil and put myself to bed.

Much love,
Overwhelmed



Tuesday, February 1, 2011

A Postcard To Manzi

Hi, Manzi!

It was so wonderful to hear from you!  Your card came at the perfect time for me, as I was feeling a tad depressed about the weather, and such. You always lift my spirits!

I will address your questions in this card, because others have asked some of the same, and this might clear up a couple of things for them, too.

First, Thank you! We think Jack is adorable too.  He is our daughter-in-law's nephew, and cousin to our beautiful Granddaughter, Madison.  His Mom decided that he would call us "Nanny" and "Papa" because Madison does, and because, as she says, "You can never have too many Grandparents". We agreed to the sentiment, and lovingly agreed to 'adopt' Baby Jack.  Fortunately, his other Grandparents are willing to share!  My Son's in-laws have always embraced us as Family...we are truly blessed.

As for the postcards...

Alas, as much as we would like it to be different, our vacation travels are few.  The upcoming Texas trip is the real deal...we will be visiting Family there in April...and we just booked our flights for that!.  And we do "journey" to New Hampshire regularly because our Sons and their families are there, but it is a short-ish drive, so might not really qualify as a 'trip'.

In essense, the "cities" we are visiting in this blog are mostly metaphors, with the happenings in my life as their basis.  It is fun for me to write this way -- I can keep each post rather short --a big plus for a relitively lazy broad-- and each is a 'memory jogger' for me, because it does actually record where I was or what I did each day, (but in a shorthand only I know) so I can call it a journal.   In addition, I can "show-off" a little by including some of my artwork or photography.

All in all, a pretty good venue for 'musing'. 

Virtual Travel!  With benefits!  I  get to meet wonderful people along the way (such as you!!!) from the comfort of my own home.

I will write again soon...
Please give my best regards to Marilyn,

xoxoxo,
Clare

A Trip to "First"

"First", a hamlet near Nashua, NH, is where we spent our Sunday. We had a Lovely Time!!

Although for us "First" was a destination, for Baby Jack it is a stepping stone to new and wondrous things. The celebration of the first year of a child's journey is eagerly awaited by parents and siblings, aunties and uncles, grammas and grampas.

The child, however, has no anticipation of the event. And probably will not remember a moment of this rite of passage. S/He WILL enjoy it, though, in the same way as every child before or since...

The wrapping and bows are what MAKES the day!

Happiest First Year, Little Man!

xoxoxo,
'nan' and pop'

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

No School, or Work, or Shopping, or ANYTHING... in Foster/Gloucester

Dear Friends,

I heard that many businesses and schools throughout the State of Rhode Island have cancelled work and classes for TOMORROW.

As I was thinking "What???" ...the phone rang.

Hubby's Doctor's Office calling...
"We will be closed tomorrow due to the Storm, and need to reschedule Jerry's appointment...what day is convenient for him?"

Apparently, there is more snow on the way...

Check the local News:
The list of Closings and Cancellations for Thursday, January 27, 2011 has more pages than the current Health-Care Bill.

"Damn!  They're closing the Malls!!"

Weather.com says we are due for another foot+ of flakes beginning around midnight tonight and continuing through Friday.

"Yeah, so??"

Look out the window. Noon. Wednesday.
It's snowing. Already.

"Go ahead, Rhode Island!!!    Close for the Season!!!"


I'm shutting down until Spring, too.
xoxoxo,
Clare

Monday, January 24, 2011

Greetings From Fourbelow

Hello, My Friend,

We arrived at Fourbelow early this morning.



Another view of our yard. At least now the Sun is Shining!

 The Inn, thankfully, is toasty - a roaring central fireplace met our arrival, and warmed our frosty bones. As I write this, a very hot mug of coffee is at hand, and the delicate smell of croissants baking fills the air.
I could stay right here all day, maybe read the next chapter of  "Empire Falls", or even continue work on the short story I started to write so long ago.

I could.
But alas...

A mishap on the icy roads last week has determined my itinerary for this day.  Just a 'fender-bender', really, but the bumper must be replaced before we can continue on to "First"  for Jackson's Birthday Party. If all goes well, we will arrive on Saturday. Can't wait to see you!

Keep warm, my dear,
Love, Clare

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

...and Thank You for flying "Barbie Airlines".

Hello, Everyone!

When it comes to traveling, JD and I are not the only afficionados in the family. Mother-in-law Nature took a weekend bus trip with the Seniors (I think they went to Foxwoods) and the atmosphere around here was much improved!

Our Sons have picked up the wanderlust, (and married lovely women who also like to globe-trot) and in turn have passed it on to their children. Our Granddaughter Madison is proving the trend.

She loves to be on the move!

Nobody ever gets into a car without her going along for the ride.

Boats are fun (especially ferries), but she likes trains better.

She adores air travel, and has earned more frequent-flyer miles than I have. (Really)

If the words "Road Trip" are whispered within earshot, she runs for her purse.

Her pink Mustang Convertible has worn out two sets of tires.




And she is only 3 1/2 years old.


So, on Sunday, when  she and her Dad (our son Rob) came to visit us for the weekend,  Rob had his duffle, and Maddie had a full 3 pc. set of pink luggage...

...she is ALL GIRL, this one!

Of course, most of the bags contained the necessary toys to keep a toddler occupied. One favorite toy that Santa brought could not fit into any standard-sized suitcase, however.

The "Barbie" Jet!




Even I must admit that this toy is FUN! We had a blast making 'Stewardess' announcements over the llittle loud-speaker that is part of the unit.  It really sounds authentic! I won't bore you with all the gadgets this thing has. (I know, you're looking at the picture and wondering where the wings are...They take them off so Maddie can get close enough to open the doors.)

And so...we have another travel bug in the family.

This one is just beginning Her journey...I pray that She has a bon voyage...

Lots of Love,
Clare

Friday, January 14, 2011

8 Degrees (off center)

Hello, my friend...

Mother N. is still here.  I was hoping she would pack up and go visit someone else for a spell, but, no such luck.

She's makin' me crazy.

Today she is showing us her frigid side. She puts ice in everything -- even coffee! We have to watch where we step because she leaves her Winter gear strewn all around.  And last night, she got out of bed and turned on the AC.  A difficult guest, indeed.

We are told she is planning to stay for another 8 weeks or so.

Photo taken 1-13-11.  Our yard.  This 30'+ tree USED to be pointing Heavenward.

Excuse me --gotta go put another sweater on.

Burrrrrrrrrr!
Clare

Thursday, January 13, 2011

No Traveling this Week...

Hello, Dear Ones...

Well, it was just a matter of time before Mother Nature visited...and that time has arrived.  She can be a stinker of a Mother-in-law occasionally, arriving in a dirvish, and over-staying her welcome.


Life is thrown out of whack when she visits.  Schedules must be altered, activities cancelled.
Extra effort is required --- a necessary clean-up during her stay, and a major overhaul once she leaves. 

(Oh, Thank You, Divine Miss N, for the opportunity to shovel out, de-ice and clear trees from the grounds. We will remember this visit for many weeks to come.)

Thus, our plans for journeying have been curtailed for the time being, so we may not get to see you for a while.
Until then, my Loves, keep us in your thoughts...

Yours,
Clare

Monday, January 10, 2011

Vacation Planning

And so the travel plans begin!

Our first Vacation of 2011 is in the works.  Flights are booked, family is notified, shape-up program is, well, scheduled, at least.

As many of you know, JD and I try to take a vacation sometime around our Anniversary, and this year we will visit Family in Texas.  The last time we were there together was for Mamo's (Jerry's Grandmother's) 100th Birthday Party. 

Rob came with us, and it was wonderful to see everyone!

Jerry made a trip down last November when his Mom took sick, but it was impossible for me to accompany him.  So, now, a week with the Southern Dunn's is in the arrangement stages!  We will keep you posted as itineraries progress...

Love,
clare

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

A Nine-Hour Tour

Yesterday, I took an un-scheduled trip to "Organization". Now, this is a place I am familiar with, so it should have been a quick trip...hassle-free, ya know?  Yeah, right.

--------------------------------------

 
The Christmas decorations had already been put away  -  a week ago.  As always happens, however, one single item is overlooked.  Always.

So...it's 8:30 am, I'm still in my jammies, just powered the computer down, and my doorbell rings. A lost soul who needed to be one street East. I sweetly push the intruder in the right direction (those of you who know me can picture the 'sweetness'), and as I am shutting the door, I notice it.

A lousy Christmas Wreath.  On the front door. Outside. Missed it completely.

"Fudge!"

I quickly take it down, shut the door against the 20 degree temp, and proceed to put it away. In the storage room.  Where EVERYTHING IS. All the seasonal decor, all the paper goods, all the bins full of Artwork, the candles, the tablecloths, the big roasting pans...well, you get my drift. And it's sort of messy in there.
So I put the wreath down on a table just outside the storage room door.
And in my infinite wisdom, and because I am a tad OCD about everything-in-it's-place, I begin to "straighten up". It'll only take a few minutes, right?

What in the Bloomin' World was I thinkin'????

About two hours into this re-org, and with pretty much every bin emptied onto the floor, I came across a beautiful set of candlesticks that I forgot I even owned.  These would look GREAT in the dining room!
... Bring those beauties upstairs, clean them well, make room for them on the hutch. Naturally, cleaning must occur before setting the 'new' candlesticks in their allotted space. This takes time because the hutch needs some re-organization, but when it's DONE it looks just lovely!
Now, in comparison, you guessed it...the rest of the room looks like crap. And since the dining room and the kitchen are extensions of each other, the project just snowballed. Even the kitchen cabinets got re-organized.

I worked through lunch. I'm still in my PJ's.    Holy Sh*t! It's nearly 3 pm!

... Quick shower, hop in the car, go to Town Hall and pay the crummy Tax bill, pick up a few groceries and run an errand or two, then:
...return home to find a clean dining room, and an organized kitchen, but all the no-longer-needed-right-this-minute stuff is waiting to be put away.

In the storage room.  

Which I left in shambles sometime early this morning.

It took 1.5 additional hours to box everything up --- and when that was done, nine hours later, at 5:30pm...

The wreath was still on the table ---just outside the storage-room door.

-----------------------------------------------------------




Sunday, January 2, 2011

We Begin Anew

Dear Friends,

Today we embark upon a new adventure.
A Fresh Start
Another Chance
A "Do-over"

Call it what you will...it is an opportunity to make improvements. To make changes. To add to the beauty of the World.

#0235 "Butterflight" by xoxoxocd 1999

This is my opportunity to make the upcoming journey the finest ever. To open the door to new possibilities, step through it, and make those possibilities reality.

And if I can enhance just a tiny part of the world around me, perhaps that will pay-forward.

Let the peregrination commence!

Love to all...
clare