Diary of a Metal Mommy

How are you all doing with the holiday craziness? I’m doing quite well, I must say. I sort of enjoy the hustle-bustle of the season–probably because I’m an over-prepared Virgo who often has half of my list done way early and because we always just stay here for Christmas. Pretty easy. I will say I haven’t baked hardly anything this year–one measly batch of Christmas Snickerdoodles and some Christmas Crunch–normally I do a few varieties of cookie and have them all on plates ready to give away. With Digby this year, I just haven’t had the time. And you know, I don’t feel the least bit guilty about it. Maybe that’s yet another 40 thing? I don’t know, but I like it!

One thing I’ve really been enjoying this Christmas is Sullivan’s story-writing. His love of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer has inspired many an illustrated book. His latest depicts himself and Rudolph digging all the way to Arizona, even with me saying that I miss him. I am amazed as I see what he comes up with…in this story he actually draws a house on page after page, getting smaller and smaller as he gets farther and farther from it. How did he know about perspective like that?! His little mind never ceases to amaze me. At any given time I’ll look in his room and see this sight…Sullivan working hard at his desk surrounded by paper. I love it.

Check out this lovely early Christmas gift I received from Lisa! Inspired by our trip to YUM Bakery I’m sure, she bought me a couple of these hand-blown glasses. (I could make a dirty joke here, I but I won’t.) YUM serves coffee in them and also sells them at their shop. They keep the coffee nice and hot, but you don’t feel it on your hands. They are the coolest! (no pun intended!) A definite gift recommendation for anyone on your list. Oooh, just lookit the steam coming off that cuppa Jo! Doesn’t it just make you want some??

Fa la la la la…or should I say fa la la la lark? Actually I believe it was a chickadee…but I’m getting ahead of myself here.

Sunday evening Vivian and I went caroling with some people from our church. We’ve done it the past couple of years and it is a blast. Plus I have to say, it’s incredibly touching to see just how powerful those songs can be to a person. I’ve seen many a tear and received warm hugs from people that just appreciate the simple beauty of a Christmas carol–it’s pretty sweet. (I can’t say I’ve ever experienced that from a rockin’ metal song. maybe just a tear elicited from a smashed ear drum.) Sharing that with my daughter, of course, is priceless. So when we went into this woman’s home instead of standing outside because the poor woman is dying from cancer and was too weak to stand and watch, I felt especially glad to be doing what I was doing. It was all very touching and sweet until we opened the door on our way out and a bird flew into the house. What started out as a peaceful lovely visit soon became a near-impossible attempt at bird-catching. The tallest of us at first tried fruitlessly to guide it over to the doorway by waving magazines at it. No dice. It just flew from corner to corner of the ceiling. Finally Nancy came up with the great idea of trapping it under a colander and then sliding a plate under it to keep it in there. (it’s lucky we had those tall guys!) 20 minutes later, the bird was out. So much for Silent Night. I mentioned that maybe the bird liked our singing so much it decided to come in. Tim said maybe it was because our singing is for the birds. I don’t know, but I’m sure it’s the most drama Christmas caroling has seen in a while.

I sigh a contended sigh as I sit here in the sunshine on a Sunday morning, skipping church….doh! But you know, sometimes you just gotta relax with a cup of coffee and nowhere to go. Even if it is a cup of sludge from the coffee pot that just turned off after 3 hours of sitting there breaking itself down into acid. This morning, I don’t care.

It’s been a fun and busy weekend–and it’s still going strong. Yesterday morning we took Digby to a ‘Puppy Play’ hour at the Humane Society–a play date for dogs. Since he’s been so shy at his weekly classes, I thought it would be a good idea to get him more socialized at these weekend events. After hiding under the chair for most of the hour, scared to death by wild and crazy–albiet good-natured–dogs doing their thing, the woman in charge suggested we stay for the next group, the ‘featherweight’ class. So in comes all of these teeny dogs, and pretty much right away Digs came out from hiding and latched on to this other little guy, Charlie. I wish I could remember what type of dog he is, I know some kind of terrier–man was he cute, and the two of them just had a ball. Made a Mommy proud. The owners of Charlie said they would bring him back next Saturday and asked if I’d do the same with Digby…so, Digs has a date! Okay, it’s with another boy, but we’re all right with that. We’re open minded around here.

After that it was back to the house to get ready to host our gourmet group for dinner. For the holiday we decided to have a ‘progressive dinner’ this time, a first for us. This is where you go from house to house, having different courses at each one. It was a blast! The toughest part was not eating too much at each place so you could actually eat some dinner once you got to the main course. It was fun to see everyone’s houses all decorated up. We came back here for gourmet S.O.S. (shit on a shingle) and a round of White Elephant present-giving. For those of you not in the know, that’s where you bring a wrapped gift that is your junk but could be someone else’s treasure and everyone takes turns picking one. We decide who goes when by drawing numbers. Many people are very cut-throat about this and actually steal gifts back and forth when it’s all through, but you know, we’re church-goin’ folk. We decided to keep things nice. Nobody brought anything really awful anyway, so no one got stuck with anything horrible anyway. Accept maybe the talking snowman we wrapped up and was opened by Rosemarie…she loved it initially but I’m sure after the 100th time of saying in a very annoying sing-songy voice “Come on in, it’s cold outside!” she’ll soon lose the humor. I know her husband Greg was ready to run over the thing. A successful White Elephant! Yeah!

Tonight, it’s caroling. We’re so lucky to get a warm day today! It’s been so butt-cold lately I was afraid we were doomed. Of course 40 degree weather doesn’t exactly feel like Christmas, but….I won’t complain!!! Fa la la la laaaaa!

Well, for a fleeting moment it was a sleeting moment. It actually stuck, all 10 flakes of it. We want snow! It’s hard to feel X-mas-y without snow, and so far it’s only been butt-cold without any of the white stuff. Cold is only worth something if you get some snow. Don’t get me wrong, I hate to shovel, and come March I’ll be soooo tired of it I’ll want to move to a desert isle. But really, I RARELY have to shovel anyway because my husband does most of the dirty work….it’s the only benefit to having a bad back. So bring it on!!!! I’m dreaming of a White Christmas…(and so is Digby…)

Everytime I see that phrase I think of ‘Pubic Service Announcement’…me and my juvenile potty humor, you know. But I digress…

Just wanted to let everyone know that may possibly be interested, that in talking to Digby’s breeder last night she has ONE puppy left! It’s a little boy, he’s apricot and white. That would be something like this photo (can you stand it?!), but I think his coloring is even a bit lighter. If you’re interested, just click on the ‘Digby’s Dailies’ link on the right of this page, and then click on the ‘Cavachon Connection’ link there. I can’t say enough good things about Cindy, the breeder, or of course my little guy. Let me know if you get him!!!!