Spo-Reflections on the Winter Solstice

It’s too bad I am not a Druid, as I revel in old ceremonies.

Seasonal rituals capture the Numinous. The modern Christian paint job applied to these ancient mysteries is barely enough to prevent the pagan parts from poking through.

It is now the darkest time of the year. Many past and present cultures in the Northern Hemisphere mark this week with solemnities and celebrations. Candles, lights, green things etc. were incorporated to welcome the return of the Sun.

On Solstice, I too light some candles. I play Loreena McKennitt’s “To Drive the Cold Winter Away” – one of my favorite holiday CDs.  It is linked in my mind to the Winter Solstice.  I usually make a hot cup of something (mulled wine is best but Urspo-co-co will do). I meditate on the past year and of the pending new year ahead. Where am I going? What am I doing?

In this little ritual I sense my ancestry, going back to its Celtic and Norman/Viking roots. It is a comfort to know I am doing something on this day as did countless generations before me.

Happy Solstice to you.

Christmas Tunes

I am rather fond of Christmas tunes. Over the years I have accumulated quite an eclectic collection, ranging from traditional to contemporary albums.

Most years I get Someone a new Christmas CD as I really want them myself. They are a sort of joke prize, as he never plays Christmas music, nor shows any interest in such.  (One exception; Judy Garland’s “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”)

This year I put all our my Christmas CDs into an ipod Playlist. It totals 465 tunes.  I am slowly going through them. It is a bit jarring to hear Joan Sutherland bellow out “Joy to The World” only to follow with The Partridge Family singing “Santa Claus is coming to town”.  Bits of “The Messiah” go into “Blue Christmas” sung by Elvis Presley etc.

hohoho

Here are my ‘current favorite’ CDS -

Partridge Family Christmas Album

A Midwinter Night’s Dream – Lorreena McKennitt

Song of Angels – Robert Shaw Chorale

and

Christmas Extraordinaire – Mannheim Steamroller

Here are a few that can go into the next garage sale -

Noel – Canadian Brass  ( too jolly)

A Winter Symphony – Sarah Brightman (why is she singing with a falsetto evoking a 6 year old girl?)

The Greatest Christmas Album  (oh what a let down! too many sweet cherubs)

and

any CD with “The Little Drummer Boy” – (enough said)

What is your favorite Christmas album?
Someone needs a new album this year……

Curious Things Around the House #18

This Christmas tree ornament is only a few years old, but it is one of my favorites.

I found it at Target.

For those of you who don’t know birds, only the male cardinal is bright red.

The female cardinal is brown.

Somebody in Korea put two male cardinals in the same nest.

They’ve made their nest with fabulous trimmings.

I had to grab one quick, before some right-wing fundy realized Target “was promoting the gay lifestyle” and they were yanked from the shelves.

hohoho indeed !

Going to Bronner’s

When Someone and I go home for Christmas next week, I hope to see a lot of people and do a few things.

I want to go to Frankenmuth. Spo-fans who live in Michigan instantly know what I mean.  Others need explanation.

Frankenmuth is the home of Bronners, the world’s greatest Christmas store.  It is the Michigander Mecca – all residents of the state must pilgrim there once in their life time. Many go every year – ‘It ain’t Christmas until we go to Bronner’s!”.  I want to see it and experience ‘a real Christmas”. Just once more.

When I was growing up, Bronner’s was in several stores throughout the town. Now it is ‘under one roof’ just outside of town. And what a roof. I don’t recall how many acres it is. The interior is like being inside the mind of a 6 year old. Bronner’s has literally everything for Christmas time. No rubbish either.

Many of our Christmas tree trimmings come from Bronner’s. I want get a few more glass icicles (we’ve broken a few) and wooden garlands (not enough for our bigger tree). Everyone in my family has their own Bronner’s ornament with his or her name on it (what a good gift for the new nieces).

Afterwards, we go to Zehnder’s and have one of their famous chicken dinners.

Christmas and chicken dinners – that’s Frankenmuth  !

However, the Grinch may win out on this tentative field trip.

Bronner’s the week before Christmas resembles Wal-Mart,6AM on Black Friday. The crowds and chaos may veto the 2 hour drive necessary to get there. The restaurants will be packed too.

So we will have to see.

But if you are ever in Michigan, it is worth seeing.

Family

Having two babies in the family is confusing. Both are girls; both are ~ 1 month old. They look like as babies do.  From time to time their father’s send me text photos.

It is a challenge to recall who is Warrior-Queen and who is Princess-Goddess.

They come together for the first time next week at Christmas time. I dare say there will be plenty of pictures taken of everybody holding both of them.

I hope the parents can keep them apart.

Christmas day will be relatively quiet. It will consist of my parents, Someone, and I. We’ll go to Candlelight service. On Christmas Day we will make a fabulous Christmas dinner, with ‘log’ made from deboned leg of lamb, flattened, and rolled up with roasted red pepper and wilted spinach.  Suffer, Martha.  For dessert – hummer drinks, home made gingerbread men,  and Oolong tea (how jolly).

Everyone else shows up on Boxing Day and the house occupancy swells to 16. There will be two teenagers, two monsters nephews, two babies, and several cases of untreated ADHD.  Oh the chaos.  We are not drinkers, but I plan to make a Christmas punch. Some of us are going to need a little help to get through this Walton episode.

Princess-Goddess gets baptized on 12/27.  She will have the 16 Spo relatives. In addition, Brother #3 tells me his in-laws will number about 50 – this being their first grandchild/niece.

She is not named Princess-Goddess for nothing !

Someone’s Birthday

Today is Someone’s birthday.

I need to be mindful, as he is “internet-shy” viz. doesn’t like me to write about him/us. So I keep mum his and our personal lives and details therein.

Someone is a good man. He is a thoughtful fellow, and takes good care of me. I feel grateful for him being in my life. I drive him to distraction with my hummingbird brain and constant fidgeting. Goodness knows why he hangs around.

He is well over four feet tall.

I like to celebrate birthdays; he is one to keep feast days of nativity ‘low-key’.

So, at his request, we are ordering Thai food for take-out. And that’s that.

I got him a ipod shuffle player for his exercise.  

**Spo-fans who know him- please don’t tell him!**

I pause on this day to wish him many happy returns.

Stephen King Virgin – Deflowered !

Holy Gus !

Spo-fans may recall last week when I admitted I was a Stephen King ‘Virgin’. I was  in need of advice what novels of Mr. King to read.

I was grateful for everyone’s suggestions; I made a list to purchase a few of them some day.

When, lo! An unexpected parcel appeared in the post. A wonderful marvelous Spo fan sent me some books !

(There is no thrill like new books!).

I won’t tell you who did this, lest he be embarrassed. (but his initials are RG ).

Not only is this Stephen King Virgin ‘deflowered’, I feel I’ve been gang banged!  Thank you RG for your generous thoughtful gift!

It made me think -

A – how wonderful it is to have blogger buddies

and

B – how much more I can get out this racket.

So,  Let it be known I am a “Virgin” for

Dom Perignon

Leather Chaps

Plane tickets to Paris

A BMW

Spo-fans are welcome to send these items any time !!!

Don we now ……..

As you can see , I am all ready for this evening’s office party.

This way everyone can easily spot who is the psychiatrist

The Walgreen’s manager recommends I keep the price tag on.

Apparently I become more valuable, like a Beanie  Baby.

Spo-Reflections on Time (and the sense of Entitlement of such)

I am rather cross these days. (Someone calls it ‘being cranky’).  I am analyzing the emotional state (as is my wont) to discover the etiology and contributing factors. So far, I’ve rounded up with the usual suspects: I am over-worked, getting not enough sleep, and feeling the pressure of Christmas. Christmas is two weeks away and I haven’t done anything for it.

I suppose it is pressing on my deep-rooted sense of “My Own Time”. This neurotic wound is quickly touched whenever I feel entitled about some bit of Time.  If someone or something intrudes on my Time, I can get hot and bothered. An unexpected event, a telephone call in the midst of dinner, an ‘add-on’ patient when I anticipated free time to catch up – these push “The Time Button”  if I am not conscious and careful.

The concept of Ownership of Time is rather funny when looked at abstractly. I can’t make Time; it comes at the same rate no matter what happens.  Time can’t be saved. Time can only be spent wisely or foolishly.

And people barging in on my Time is the sine que non.
Taken to its conclusion: I have no Time of my own.

Surrendering Giving In to this Tao concept makes for less ire and outrage. Everything I want/need to do gets done.
Not to be fretting.

Henrietta and Merna – Bless’em !!

Here is another Youtube Christmas favorite.

When I am feeling down, I watch this video and am inevitably cheered up.

I hope I am not laughing at them, but because of them, bless their hearts.

The humor comes from the contrast of  the song’s joy with their facial expressions. It makes for unintentional mirth.