Author: Lara

Halls = Decked

Today I’d like to write about something beautiful and something good. I’d like to write about a few wonderful, positive things I have witnessed lately. It’s so easy to be negative, even unintentionally. It’s so easy to be judgmental. It’s so easy to be selfish or to take blessings and happiness for-granted. But every now and then you witness kindness, you witness selflessness, you witness love. And I think it’s important to dwell a bit on these acts when they come along. It’s important to take a moment to appreciate the positive influence they have on our world and to recognize the joy they can bring to everyone. They encourage us. They uplift us and inspire us and challenge us to do the same and to be kinder, gentler, happier, and more loving people. I’d like to share them with you in hopes that they will brighten your day as they have brightened mine.

– There’s an old man at church who melts our hearts and brings us so much happiness every Sunday morning at 8 a.m. He’s always at that mass and he always sits in the same exact pew in the same exact spot, right by the side door. He makes direct eye contact with everyone who walks in no matter how early or late they are, and gives everyone a big thumbs up (literally) and a huge, toothless, ear-to-ear grin as they pass. He shakes hands with every usher and every family that passes by him in their way to the back of the church to bring up the gifts. He speaks every single word of the mass – including the Priest’s parts – because he is so happy to be at church. He rises and waits, excitedly, at the very end of his pew as soon as communion starts because he is so eager to receive communion. He smiles and smiles and smiles the whole entire mass. Ted and I often find ourselves sneaking long peeks at him during church because he is just so happy and so positive that merely watching him brings such a sense of joy to our morning. What a great example of how we should all be! He literally brightens our day and I often think how I would love to be just like him.

– While Ted was at Buffalo Wild Wings sitting at the bar with a friend watching the Packer game yesterday, a homeless man came in. It was pouring rain outside and a little chilly, and the man wanted to come in and get out of the rain and off his feet for a while. He didn’t bother anybody or ask for food or money. He just sat at the bar and ordered a water. Instead of kicking him out, knowing full well that he smelled bad, would order nothing but water, and would likely stay through all the Sunday football games, the waitress gave him water and then brought him out a burger and fries – on the house – to eat, and told him he could stay inside, out of the rain, for the evening and enjoy the food and warmth. I am so thankful that there are kind-hearted people out there caring for those who could use some support, a kind smile, and a warm meal the most. Stories like this renew my faith in humanity. I felt lighter just knowing that this man, who clearly has a tough life, could have just one night warm, safe, dry, well fed, and enjoying a football game, just like any other person, instead of begging for food or shivering in the rain or struggling just to keep going.

– At church they are handing out cardboard storage boxes with a list of 15-20 food items inside. You take the list to the grocery store, purchase the items, fill the box, and bring it back to church the following Sunday. The box is returned to St. Vincent De Paul who gives out the boxes, which are several meals worth of food, to families in need. We don’t make much money, but every month we can pay our rent, fill the car with gas, and get food from the grocery store. We have an awful lot to be thankful for and even without a lot of extra money for us to share with others, the least we can do is take that box, fill it with $40 worth of food and return it so that some other family might have meals this week. I was happy to see such a project in action, and touched to see so many families take one, two, three, or more boxes. Though we may all struggle financially from time to time and have to skimp at the store or buy rice, beans, bread, peanut butter, and Ramen noodles for a while to make ends meet, we really have no idea what it’s like to not be able to feed our husband or wife or child dinner or breakfast because there is literally no money or to go without home or heat or shoes or a coat or a shower or other basic necessities because we can’t even put it on a credit card. I love seeing people, even those who struggle themselves at times, give generously to others. It’s a little thing, but I believe it makes a huge difference.

What random acts of love have you noticed lately?

You might be crazy if…

…you insist upon forcing your unwilling children to ride down the escalator and then run back up the stairs and ride it down again 4 + times in a busy public establishment during the busy holiday season, blocking all traffic and illiciting glares from your fellow citizens as you do so, all in an effort for you to secure a perfect picture of your offspring riding an escalator. What a major life milestone. Totally worth your time, effort, and everyone else’s patience and sanity. You do not look like a doting mother, you look like a crazy fool.

…you think merely walking up to a front desk and stating “I am Karen and I am here” and then refusing to give any additional information is going to help that poor person behind the front desk figure out why you’re here, what you need, or how to help you. Entitlement is decisively un-sexy.

…you’re one of those parents who allows their children to terrorize others in public, run amuck screaming loudly, pester staff who are working on oh, you know, doing their job, stuff other people’s things in their drooly mouths and then not even offering to wipe it down with a Lysol wipe, or plop your spawn’s smelly diapered behind on a cashier’s counter-top, where they will inevitably proceed to touch and/or drool on all their business materials. If you’re incapable of parenting responsibly, then you shouldn’t have had children. Fact.

…you’re still under the unfortunate misconception that wearing leggings without the company of a dress, mini skirt, or extra long shirt is appropriate public attire. Leggings are not pants. Tights are not pants. And it’s 30 degrees outside. You don’t look as great or smart as you, apparently, think you look.

…you are under the assumption that planting your caroling troupe squarely in front of a desk where people have to speak, listen, be heard and conduct business transactions, often with elderly patrons, while you sing jovial holiday tunes loudly is, in any way, appreciated or helpful. At the risk of sounding like Scrooge, I am unamused and I can’t hear anything other than you. 

…your holiday shipping rate for regular old plain Jane snail mail of a 1 lb. package is $15 + and, mysteriously, costs more than the item itself. You are outright insane if you think you’re going to earn anyone’s business that way. I’m not dumb and I know for a fact that it doesn’t cost that much to ship. You’re not fooling anyone and you just appear selfish beyond measure.

…you think walking away from someone who helped you without saying a simple “thank you” or even acknowledging them goes unnoticed. You may be batshit crazy for being so rude, but sadly, you’re not alone as there are at least 18,000 other people in Cincinnati who were reared without any sense of respect or manners.

…you happen to be the people who live above Ted and I and you dispose of your egg shells, dryer lint, and cigarette butts on the, otherwise, very lovely expanse of land that we call our backyard. If this is you, I hope you are reading this, because you are crazy. Nobody thinks littering is cute. You’re an adult, so act like one and use the damn trash can.

Don’t worry, I’m totally not as bitter as I sound. I’m more amused than anything else. I sure hope you found these little snippets of truth (and stupidity) as amusing as I do! What irks you? I hear sharing is therapeutic. :-)

Happy Saturday!

Little treats I have been eyeing lately:

– Fitted corduroy blazers

– Boldly hued tights

– Colorful scarves

– Whimsicle little hair clips

– Nail polish in glittery, hunter green, and light gray please

– Thermal pajamas, matching (naurally), with cuffed sleeves and a sweet print

– Denim trousers and polisehd jeans that fit to a T

– T-strap heels (my fav!) in nude and a pair in color too

– Ankle bootie heels that lace into a bow in front (if anyone knows the real term for these, as I’m positive my descirption is not it, please inform me asap)

– Delicate long layering necklaces

– Vintage-looking cloche hats

Oh, money! Why are you so inaccessible!?

And yet, I know for a fact that none of these material treasures, no matter how swoon-worthy, would make me any happier or richer than I already am blessed to be. Looking sharp does not equate to a happy, meaningful life, which I am lucky to have sans fab clothes.

But it doesn’t mean I’m exempt from drooling over stellar wardrobe choices anyway. :-)

I’ve decided to bring about the return of Open Letters Thursday and Epic Fail Friday.

Sometimes life gets busy, you know?

But it should never get too busy that celebrating humor (or, um, snarking on grandiose stupidity) falls off the radar.

So it shall return. Next week.  I already have two fails lined up…I’m excited.

Tonight Ted and I are on the hunt for this year’s Christmas tree. If you remember from last year we went all out, spent about three + hours roaming a tree farm out in the boonies in search of the most perfect tree in existence. We chopped that sucker down in a picturesque snowfall whilst petting farm animals and drinking hot cocoa. It was pretty awesome.

This time around we’re thinking of downsizing. Adopting a sweet little Charlie Brown tree. A short, scraggly guy.

Though perhaps not quite this scrawny.

I’ll let you know what we come up with.

I am off work early, always a welcome surprise, sipping a steamy, creamy chai latte. I’m catching up on my blog reading, Christmas card address labels, and an Ed. Outreach evaluation. The girl on my left is face-timing in German, the couple across from me is speaking Japanese, and the two girls on my right are discussing fashion. Life is beautiful.

1. There’s nothing quite like the overwhelming scent of decaying rat wafting through your nose and assaulting your senses to make you move from point A to point B just a little bit faster. What is it about theatre basements and rats? Definitely my least favorite part of working in the theatre. Every day a little death.

2. My new favorite beverage to indulge in at the CCM Starbucks where I read/write/do work while I wait for Ted to be finished with work twice a week is the CCM Special – hot steamed apple cider with a mint tea bag. Sounds weird but it’s tasty and totally refreshing. Apparently all the MT (musical theatre) majors get it and claim it does wonders for their vocal cords. I don’t know about that, but it sure is delicious.

3. Haagan Daz Five is my new favorite carton ice cream in existence (other than their special edition chai latte which is fab). It’s all natural and has only five simple ingredients in it, which makes for the smoothest, creamiest, purist, most flavorful ice cream in grocery stores. It’s so rich that after five spoonfuls I’m done for the night. Plus it has less fat and calories than most ice creams, which makes me feel better. I’m also all over a fantastic broccoli pasta recipe lately that is healthy and super good too. All it is is lots of freshly boiled broccoli, whole wheat spiral pasta, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, red pepper flakes, freshly grated parmesan cheese, and a shake of salt and pepper. It’s way better than it sounds. Google Annie’s Eats Spicy Broccoli Pasta.

4. Last night was filled with our first snowfall of the year (a few flurries), the making of another fresh batch of homemade applesauce, and cuddling on the couch with some mindless TV. Excellence.

5. I’ve been in denial lately. But as my hands turned blue and wind-burned from a simple walk from parking garage to building today, I think I can no longer deny that it is now winter. I have yet to wear my sweet new winter coat, a scarf, gloves, winter boots, or cozy sweaters even though it is cold out, or to put up even one Christmas decoration or listen to Christmas music on my own accord because I cannot accept that it is winter already. I cannot accept that it is almost December. I cannot accept that fall is gone and Thanksgiving has passed and that it is already time for me to wear thermal underwear under my jeans. But damn, it’s cold out! And so out comes my winter coat and gloves and scarf and boots.

What are your thoughts for this hump day?

It’s amazing what can be accomplished on a 3-day weekend.

Productive

– Squeaky clean apartment
– Thanksgiving feast cooked
– Office organized
– The last of the moving boxes unpacked and disposed of. We are officially moved in!
– Wall hangings, clocks, and pictures hung
– Wii set up
– Applications mailed
– All 3 wedding, wedding weekend, and honeymoon albums completed, detailed, and ordered…hallelujah!
– All Christmas gifts for kiddos ordered and mailed
– DIY mechanical tests done on the battery and glow plug relays of Ted’s truck
– Tools and hardware in our storage unit organized into bins

Play

– Football games thoroughly enjoyed
– Sleep and naps caught up on
– Blessings appreciated
– Thanksgiving meal devoured
– Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas, Garfield’s Thanksgiving, and Charlie Brown watched
– Leisurely breakfasts at Ihop and The Original Pancake House eaten
– Black Friday “shopping” checked out and fun look-see errands run
– Outdoor walks around the neighborhood taken
– Mall Chinese and Mexican dinner at our fav Mexican restaurant downed…be still my arteries!
– “A Dolphin Tale” and “The Help” watched at the dollar theatre for a total of $3. That’s $0.75 per person per movie. Bam!
– Quality time together well spent…check!

What have you gotten done lately?

I’m the type to hunker down in my pj’s the day after Thanksgiving and stay put with my cat, a hot cup of peppermint tea, a good book, and a few movies. I figure I don’t need anything badly enough to wake up from my food coma at 1 a.m. when it’s 23 degrees out, spend 57 minutes sharking for a parking space, be trampled to death in a midnight Wally World stampede, or stand in a 2-hour line for $19.99 jeans that I had to punch a soccer mom in the face for to secure the last pair of size 6 in the weekend blues rise.

Not. Worth. It.

Like I said, I usually stay put. But last year was our first Thanksgiving as a married couple, my first Thanksgiving hosting at our new home, and my parents were in town. We figured, why the heck not go see what all the hullabaloo is about, right? I mean, it must be good if people are willing to risk life and limb for it. So we waited until early afternoon on the day after Thanksgiving to venture out – you know, after all the loons were back at home soundly sleeping with their plethora of shadily procured treasures. We decided to try for Target, thinking that’s where we’d be likely to see some action. There was nothing. The parking lot was only 1/4 full, there was no line at all for the check-outs, and the only awesome deals were a couple bucks off some Wii accessories and a $7 puffy winter vest. Not too shabby, but nothing to write home about.

So this year we thought we’d try our luck again. We had a small list of things we were in the market for – a new quilt for our bed, some jeans for me, a belt for Ted, and the Wii Party game. A small yet diverse list, all things we’d like to have but nothing we needed right away. We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast at The Original Pancake House around 10 a.m. and then drove over to Kenwood Mall which is, arguably, Cincinnati’s most posh and crowded mall. Good luck finding a parking space there on a normal day much less Black Friday. The parking lot was packed but we lucked out and in less than two minutes we had a fantastic parking space right up front – Jackpot! We dropped in about 8 or so different stores, took one look at the raging lines and walked right back out. Only two stores had sales that even remotely impressed me (60% off at Gap and 50% off at Ann Taylor Loft until noon – but both of those sales were online as well). So we left the mall empty handed and went to Target and Wal-Mart where the sales were even more non-existent. We left with the highly exciting Black Friday purchases of cough syrup, paper towels, and a $5 “Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas” DVD.

Party. Animals.

Now, here’s what I don’t get: If I’m going to stand in a check-out line of 78 people, or wake up at 1 a.m. to go shopping, or risk my life and sanity to beat other wackos to a parking space or a sale on towels, the sale better be damn good. I’m talking upwards upwards of 50% off. More like between 60-80% off. Now that might be worth it. But even then, most of these stores are offering similar deals online with free shipping too.

But none of the sales I saw today or last year were all that impressive. 10% off here, 15% off there, spend $150 and get a $20 gift card. Please. That’s your average run-of-the-mill sale. How is that worth all the uproar?

So I ask, what’s up with all the Black Friday Hullabaloo? Am I missing something? Can someone clue me in? Did you score any major Black Friday wins?

We slept in past 7 a.m. for the first time in a month and then went to Ihop for pumpkin pancakes and crepes. I cooked. We watched the Packers win and indulged in a day of football. We opened the blinds and watched the boys out back play football and the dogs out back play chase. We called our parents and wished our families a Happy Thanksgiving. We ate game day snacks and a Thanksgiving feast. We watched Garfield’s Thanksgiving, Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas, and some Charlie Brown. We ate pie and caught up on our sleep. Amen.

On the menu: Taco dip, garlic citrus Cornish game hens, green bean casserole, whipped potatoes, cheddar parsley biscuits, cranberry-pear sauce, Italian chicken sausage and herb stuffing, strawberry-rhubarb pie, pumpkin pie, and black cherry wine.

And that’s how it’s done.

Happy Thanksgiving indeed.