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What’s top of my mind: Christmas Eve. I am taking the day off to stay at home and do some last minute decoration and tidy-up. On Monday night we decorated the tree, although with a minimal amount of ornaments. It’s enough. Tonight I will broil a sockeye salmon (no rubbish type), which is the traditional Christmas Eve dinner at La Casa de Spo. For small chocolate cone, we usually have a birthday cake for Baby Jesus but this year it will be Gingerbread and S cookies. Before going to bed I will hang our stockings and put out a bowl of porridge with a pat of butter on top for the Nisse lest they take umbrage.
Where I’ve been: The Nutcracker. Last night I saw the local production; Someone ushered and earned a freebie. I had mixed feelings about going. The AZ Ballet production hasn’t changed an iota over the decades and this evokes mixed feelings of wanting to see something new and a warm comfort at seeing something familiar. I wore my top hat and it got a handful of compliments.
Where I’m going: Wicked. Someone likes to go to the movies on Christmas Day, so off we go to see Wicked Part 2. We saw Wicked Part 1 last Christmas. It was a sing-a-long. I hope #2 isn’t so.
What I’m watching: The history of Santa Claus. Mr. Modern-day Santa is the summary of years of many cultures adding bits of things to create the man we have today. I am curious to see where he goes next in our collective consciousness. If the memes I am getting nowadays are any indication, he’s evolving from a overweight jelly belly towards being a muscle-stud. ho ho ho
What I’m reading: Christmas children’s books. For whimsy’s sake on Christmas Eve I get out some books from my youth that my mother used to read to me at Christmas time. There are the “Santa Mouse” stories, and one with Babar who goes looking for Father Christmas. Of course there is ‘The Grinch that stole Christmas’. That one is a tad difficult to read as the TV version is so embedded in my mind when I come across a slight variation in the book there is a pause of confusion.
Do you reread certain stories at this time of year?
What I’m listening to: Unique Christmas carols. Along the familiar and favorites are a few fancy types. Here is one of them:
What I’m eating: Christmas treats. There is no lack thereof and what is there doesn’t lack variety. There are cookies and Christmas tins of three-way popcorn. Folks at work brought in homemade goodies like Rice Krispie bars and shortbread cookies. Every year a patient of mine gives me a bag of popcorn and cashews covered in caramel. I have one week to eat my share before Austere January commences.
Who needs a good slap: Overly Sarcastic Productions. Normally they are dears, but not this season. Last October I ordered a pin for a Christmas prize for a friend. Yesterday I got word they are finally shipping it. Boo. I texted the recipient she is getting it for Epiphany rather.
On my 1-5 scale, OSP gets only one slap as it is Christmas.
Who gets a fist-bump: The Boss Lady. She came down from Sho Lo, AZ to give the staff at the PHX and MESA offices lunch and bags of Christmas prizes. I work in both offices so I got two lunches, lucky me. Everyone was hesitant to recommend a place for lunch, so it was up to Urs Truly, the man and the physician, to put his foot down with a specific recommendation (Tokyo Joes), which is what we do.
What I’m planning: Gift wrapping. This morning I wrap Someone’s prizes. We have a large collection of Christmas tins and shopping bags and they come in handy for those difficult-to-wrap prizes. Another advantage of the tins and bags is they can be used again; some of them seem to be used every year. It’s a trick I learned back in the Midwest from the Lutherans.
What’s making me smile: A sense of accomplishment. Every Christmas season there is a gummy panic of not getting everything done in time for Christmas and every year by Christmas Eve enough gets done. Not everything gets done as hoped but enough to make the season bright.
Welcome Christmas bring your cheer
To all Spo-fans far and near
Christmas day is in our grasp
So long as we have hands to clasp.
Spo-Reflections 