A Sense of Humor is Essential

Whew, I am glad my wisdom teeth are Out and I do NOT Recommend this unless you absolutely have to have it done. Oh, and please if you need your wisdom teeth out, it is better to do it when you are younger as my oral surgeon repeatedly told me during our preop consultation. I finally turned to him and said, "Doc, do you have a time machine in the back? Because I can't change the fact my childhood dentist told me I had enough room for these suckers."

Thank goodness for Nitrous Oxide aka Laughing gas. It made me laugh and I also had a crying jag. Fun, Fun. I realize I much prefer being the caregiver instead of the patient, but I reached a point as the doctor was wiggling my teeth from their firmly ensconced home, that you just have to give into the process. I am now recovering with my ice packs, soup, and pain killers. My family is very attentive and so not used to seeing me down and out. (Well, maybe not so down and out, I made it to my computer, right?)

I would like to thank Muse Swings for this Christmas Spirit Award and would like to extend this award to all my bloggy buddies who share their spirit through good times and bad with grace and wit. Mazel Tov!


Happy New Year to you and your loves. I wish you all the best for a Wonderful 2009.

In order to ensure a liquid diet and drug fueled New Year's Eve, please consider having all 4 of your wisdom teeth extracted at the age of 47 y/o the day before.

Thank you all so much for your support, smiles, and sound insight re. my extraordinarily self indulgent post about this year's ChristMess. Sometimes, or very often actually, you really have to hit the wall to make some changes and I think this year did the trick for our family. I remember going to a Tony Robbins seminar twenty years ago and learning that people are motivated to change either to seek pleasure or escape pain. As you can see, I'm still learning. And I am delighted to say after several heartfelt discussions with my husband, Changes Are Afoot for any and all celebrations. So thank you again.

I am not an ungrateful boob and I do enjoy the company of our friends and neighbors, but I am owning the fact that if I can't give of something freely and for the sole pleasure of Giving, (which I frequently am lucky enough to experience), then I Ain't Doing It. Whew, that's feels good. Okay, therapy session over.

I would like to share of the abundance I was privileged to receive:

Our oldest son turning to me on December 23rd as we are trying to finish decorating the tree and saying, "Mom, we have enough ornaments on the tree, it looks great."

At work, a new patient expressing appreciation for my clinical support.

Reminding my husband who was fussing about me and the boys petsitting over Christmas for a friend and widow that this is what Christmas is about.

Our family having a lovely afternoon at the Aquarium of The Pacific in Long Beach and a great dinner at the Mandarin Chateau in Chinatown.

Enjoying the support, sharing, and wisdom of my blogging buddies.

Can I tell you how relieved I am Christmas is over? Gosh, I really worked myself up into a stress mess this year.

This Christmas was spent:

Listening to my partially deaf mother complain about the kids playing too loudly.

Watching my husband work his a$$ off making a gourmet meal for folks who would never invite us over because they "aren't gourmet cooks". (Gosh, I didn't realize we were so discriminating and such snobs, personally it think it is L A Z I N E S S.)

Never getting to sit down except to eat.

I turned to my husband after we had been cooking and cleaning for 8 hours straight (our own damn fault) and said, "I don't want to do this anymore".

Even our 13 y/o son who enjoys a house full of company said, "Mom, it's not fair to you and Dad to do all this work".

So put a fork in me, I'm done.

I am sorry to be such a Scrooge and I sincerely hope you had a relaxing holiday. (Whatever the heck that is.)

For my dear friends from the UK and Canada: Happy Boxing Day!
(I know this sounds way hypocritical after this bi+chy post.)

We enjoy watching Santa Claus on his journey throughout the World at the website of the North American Air Defense agency, NORADSanta.org. They have been tracking Santa by satellite and airplane since 1958.

I hope you enjoy these live pictures of the Jolly Old Elf and this puts to rest any doubt about Santa Claus being "real".

It was a wonderful evening at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood where we went to see a live performance of the play, “A Christmas Carol”. The Kodak Theater is in the heart of Hollywood and we got there early to walk around and check out the street scene. (Very different from our quiet little suburban outpost.) In front of Grauman’s Chinese Theater, we saw Yoda, Catwoman, and Charlie Chaplin posing with the tourists for tips. The area is full of restaurants and shops so we had dinner before the play at an Italian trattoria. It was “molte bene”, especially the thin crusted, wood fired stove pizza. Then it was off to the theater to sit my buns in possibly the same seat as Meryl Streep or Hugh Grant.

The venue is lovely; amazing acoustics, beautiful architecture with elegant sculptured wood panels and a mosaic of red on the walls. It is a suprisingly intimate theater for one seating 3500. The play was delightful despite some opening night glitches with the scenery and costume changes. There was one very memorable improvisation by Ebenezer Scrooge (Christopher Lloyd) after he wakes up Christmas morning and changes from his nightgown to suit and cape. Poor Ebenezer Scrooge had to go out to see Bob Crachit and his nephew, Fred with a zipper that just would Not Cooperate! Christopher Lloyd was wonderful, as was John Goodman as the Ghost of Christmas Present and Jane Leeves as Mrs.Crachit, Tiny Tim’s mum. Unfortunately, Gene Wilder and Jane Seymour were ill. Their understudies did a yeoman’s job as Jacob Marley’s ghost and the Ghost of Christmas Past. (“Who’s past?”…. “Your past, Ebenezer Scrooge”.) I love this line about how we all carry around our own past.

Dicken’s classic tale and the performance were magical and helped me recapture the season’s spirit. The modesty and poverty of Dickens’ story are current and timeless. I cried when the Ghost of Christmas Future showed Scrooge a grieving Mrs.Cratchit and rejoiced at Scrooge’s transformation. (“I’m as light as a feather, I'm as giddy as a school boy…”)

I feel blessed that my husband and I can share our love of the arts and the enjoyment of being together with our children.

Thank you and please accept my best for Many Blessings of the Spirit and the Season to You and Yours,

Martha


"Business! Mankind was my Business!" Jacob Marley

Christopher Lloyd, Jane Leeves, John Goodman, and GENE WILDER, Here we come!!!! Our Christmas treat this season is to take the boys to "A Christmas Carol" at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood. I'm very thrilled for the opportunity to see these wonderful actors in person at this venue. Each holiday season, our family attends a performance. In previous years, we've gone to the Four Irish Tenors and The Brian Setzer Orchestra Christmas Concert. Yikes, the time! Off to prettify for my trip to Hollywood.

I know that I should know better and I usually know and do better, but sometimes, I just feel my "Jersey" coming out. (I grew up in New Jersey until I was 11 y/o.) The difference between people on the West Coast and people on East Coast is that the people on the East Coast will tell you to go to Hell to your face, out West they will likely gossip about you. Let's just put it this way, they are not used to polite bluntness. Like I said, I usually keep myself in line, but it must be the holiday spirit or some spirit making it self known, cause, JEESH!!
Okay, so here are my two examples which just happened. It's like I want to slap folks upside the head and say, "Did your Mama teach you that? Because if you she did, she's got some Splaining to do!!!"
I'm walking into my local branch of a Chain pharmacy and up pull two twenty something females, one of whom is smoking a cigarette. She throws the lit butt of her cigarette on the sidewalk, at my feet. And Merry Christmas to you too, I hadn't thought to put a smoldering cigarette butt on my list, but Heck, I am the Gal with Everything, Right? I said, "You dropped something, gee couldn't you have put it out?" She ignored me in the studied way of young adults and kept on walking. I overcame my disgust and borderline germophobia to pick up the lit cigarette and extinguish it on her windshield and tuck it neatly into the windshield wipers. Merry Christmas to you too.
Well, that's not the capper, I had more fun and games tonight at my husband's partner's Christmas party at his beautiful home in Pasadena. (I love Pasadena btw, and for you watchers of the Rose Bowl Parade, the viewing stands and parade route along Orange Grove Avenue are all ready!)
So, I'm at this nice party in chi-chi Pasadena and partaking of the beautiful buffet which included smoked salmon, ham, salads, rolls, and other yummies. In front of me, another guest, a medical professional no less, was also helping himself to the buffet with his bare fingers!! He scooped up the soft smoked salmon and ham with his Fingers !!! And the serving utensils were right there, sitting Right There, just waiting to be put to use. I made sure to cut my portion from the other side of the fish and meat. Wow, just Wow, the little kids at the party had better manners than this clown. The other guest at the buffet table and I were stunned.
I walked out to my husband who was talking to this man's wife and I said to her, "Your husband might want to use the utensils next time he goes through the buffet line." (I swear, I just freaking couldn't help myself. Of course I should have said something to the offending party, but I was rendered momentarily speechless, if you can imagine.) The wife smiled and said, "I've been married to him for 40 years, I can't change him now". Well, maybe you have, lady, and not to the Good.
Holy Cow! No harm done though (except if I get food poisoning or something), and it makes for a good story.

Thank you for stopping by and I send my best to you and yours for either civility or a good story, hopefully both.

I hope you breathe a sigh of relief as I spare you any more pithy comments. (At least for awhile.) It’s been very hectic between work (cold, flu, pneumonia, and RSV season) and the holidays. We still need to put the house back together after painting, attack the Mount Everest of laundry, start holiday food shopping and cooking, gift wrapping, and decorating. Our artificial tree is still safely ensconced in its’ box in the garage. Does the term “Deep Weeds” come to mind? It does for me. I was talking with my husband and we’re both fatalistic about it all. I mean what’s the point? It’s kind of like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic and it takes away that we are blessed, thankful, and appreciative of our abundance.

There is sadness and sweetness of the season IRL and in blogland. I still have been ruminating over “Tertiary mourning” and how it changed and touched me as both a giver and recipient of this type of authentic and unexpected caring.

Twenty two years ago, I was a witness of tertiary mourning when I watched my mother embrace another mother, a stranger, who also lost her much loved and missed child. The beauty and terrible grace of that moment lives within me still.

It opened my heart and mind to the power of this gift, a simple embrace, an acknowledgement. My mother at that moment, was and still is, extraordinarily brave. I think when we reach out to provide comfort we honor our lost loves. I thank her for her example by not being afraid to be present during grief.

I know her son, my brother is proud.

In order to ensure a stress filled holiday, please consider getting your house painted two weeks before Christmas.

After being a Registered Nurse for almost 27 years I've learned that:

The patient is the family, whomever that includes.

My most important skill is Listening.

I am not qualified to take away hope, Ever.

Hello and Happy Ides of December. I would like to share the song by Mel Torme, "Christmas Time is Here", from the TV special, "A Charlie Brown Christmas". I have many fond memories of watching this as a kid with my late brother when it was a "TV Special" which meant it was an "Event" which included anticipation and planning. I hope you enjoy this stop on the Christmas in Bloggyland Tour and I thank Muse Swings for the invitation.



Please accept my Best Wishes for much Health and Happiness this holiday to you and your loved ones.

Martha

P.S. I always wanted to be the Redheaded little girl in the Charlie Brown cartoons, but I suspect I was more like Lucy.

I am recovering from hearing Celine Dion singing the John Lennon song, "So This is Christmas".

When my DH tells me he's a Grump, I don't disagree with him anymore.

The moon last night was so bright it reminded me of a Luckenbach Moon. My husband recited this poem, Luckenbach Moon for me when we were first married during our Holiday "Sing for Your Supper". (A Sing for Your Supper is that you provide an entertainment for the assembled guests, including yes, sing a song,or play an instrument, or tell a story or joke, or recite a poem prior to being fed. It's alot of fun and very much in the tradition of Charles Dickens.)

I love all poetry and I thank my husband for introducing me to the wonderful tradition of Cowboy Poets like Hondo Crouch. I sincerely hope you enjoy our full moon and the beauty of this spoken poem.

This Holiday season, more so than in the recent past, is tinged with sadness for me. I don't know if it's the fact that it's the twenty fourth anniversary of my brother's death at age 24, my perimenopausal hormones, or maybe now that my kids are bigger, I finally have time and space for these feelings. Probably all of the above is the right answer.

I was very moved by this post from Mel about "tertiary mourners". Tertiary mourners are essentially strangers, people in the blogosphere or acquaintances, who abide and support people they really don't know.

I am tertiary mourner and feel genuine caring and connection. To mourn alongside someone whether they are close in distance or relationship doesn't matter to me. I honor our common humanity, offering a hand, a small gesture of comfort in dark times, the "kindness of strangers" as Mr.Tennessee Williams put it. It is a privilege and honor I do not take lightly, but I give freely.

The first time I was a recipient of tertiary mourning was twenty four years ago when 35 of my college classmates signed a sympathy card for the death of my brother and mailed it to my home. My parents and I were incredibly moved, still are even after all this time.

Thank you, dear bloggy buddies who have been my tertiary mourners also. You are supportive of my losses and sadness. You give me a safe place to lay my burden.

I think tertiary mourners are the Greek Chorus of our tragedy, our comedy too.

I have made a decision this year that I am not going to repress my feelings of sadness or grief. I will give them the light and attention they deserve and are due.

Here are two poems about Death that bring me peace.

Gone From My Sight
by Henry Van Dyke

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship, at my side,
spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and starts
for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength.
I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck
of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.

Then, someone at my side says, "There, she is gone"

Gone where?

Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast,
hull and spar as she was when she left my side.
And, she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.

Her diminished size is in me -- not in her.
And, just at the moment when someone says, "There, she is gone,"
there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices
ready to take up the glad shout, "Here she comes!"

And that is dying...

Death Is Nothing At All
by Henry Scott Holland (1847-1918),
Canon of St.Paul´s Cathedral

Death is nothing at all.
I have only slipped away into the next room,
I am I and you are you,
Whatever we were to each other, that we still are.
Call me by my old familiar name,
Speak to me in the easy way which you always used,
Put no difference in your tone,
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow,
Laugh as we always laughed,
At the little jokes we enjoyed together.
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was.
Let it be spoken without effect,
Without the trace of a shadow on it.
Life means all that it ever meant,
It is the same that it ever was.
There is unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of mind,
Because I am out of sight?
I am waiting for you, for an interval,
Somewhere very near,
Just around the corner, all is well

Our older son's soccer coach is an instructor at the Los Angeles City Fire Academy and we were lucky enough to get a tour of the facility.

Here is Drill Tower #1 where they practice and train.

The Training tower on the right can be filled with smoke, flame, and heat with the use of the "Burn Rooms" and smoke generators seen to the left. The tower is a warren of dark rooms, confusing under the best of conditions.

This is the view from the top of the Drill Tower East towards the Verdugo Mountains, part of the San Gabriel Range.

New Firefighters or "Rookies" were there training on the large ladder used for high rise fires.

This is the classroom which has signs about construction, roofing materials, and includes the sign "We Risk Alot to Save Alot".

We all got to take a ride on the firetruck, with the Siren and Lights On! Whoo Hoo!

The menfolk were thrilled to smash up the junk cars on the lot with sledge hammers.

My husband landed a beautiful shot on this poor unsuspecting car hood.

It's always been a dream to get to sit in the back of the Ladder Truck with the second steering wheel.

It was a wonderful day and I really appreciated our soccer coach who gives of himself so freely to both children and the community.

My Perfect Moment is short and sweet today, and it happened this fine Monday morning.

The boys leave for school at about the same time. This morning, they are all ready to go, it's time to say good bye before they walk/bike to school.
The three of us hugged together for not quite a minute and we relished the moment.
It doesn't get any better than this.

For more Perfect Moments, please visit a most Favorite blogger, Lori who is also an Inaugural recipient of the "Mother Teresa would be Proud" Award from another fav bloggerina, AntiBloggedy.

Thank you and I send you many moments to relish and cherish your loved ones.

One of my most favorite bloggerinas Busted Babymaker tagged me for a Meme listing either weird or random facts about myself. Okay, I'm game, so here goes.

The attendent Rules:

1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Share 7 random and/or weird facts about you.
3. Tag 7 random people at the end, and include links to their blogs.
4. Let each person know they’ve been tagged by leaving a comment on their blogs.


Random/Weird Facts:

- I think having a salt lamp in my office has increased my energy level.

- I first experienced Deja Vu when I was 9 years old.

- I wonder how much water is in Water globes, you know the kind you buy at souvenir shops and Snow globes with the glitter snow. Anybody else ponder this question or just me?

- I have telecommuted for almost 8 years. I use a 55 cm fitness ball as my office seating. It helps my posture and relieved my neck pain from being on the computer so much.

- I earned two black belts in Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido when I was 39 years old. My two favorite weapons to train with are the Nunchuks and War Fans. The Martial Arts are a cheap form of therapy that results in a great butt and more peaceful outlook.

- I drink 6 to 8 cups of herbal tea a day, my favorite is peppermint tea.

- I am compelled to look for a four leaf clover anytime I come across a patch of clover. I have never found one, but I am still looking.


Whew, that was hard work. Hmm, my taggeess are: (Disclaimer, optional of course, who am I to dictate a post topic?)

Mrs.Spit

Renee

Kalei

Kathy

Judy

Annie

Are You Kidding Me?

Holiday Grab Bag

Hi, there and did you see it? Uh, Uh? My Shiny, BRAND Spanking New, Hot Off the Press, Etiquette Badge that says I can have tea with the Queen!!! I got me some Manners, oh, Yessirreee I do!! I got proof, now, how about that? All because I put pen to paper and wrote a letter, (mailed it too!). I'm so excited and want to Thank Our Inimitable Dear Mrs.Spit for this unique honor. If you care to join us, please drop by her place, typically on a Wednesday. All are most graciously welcome. It will be most delightful, I assure you!


I have been "tagged" by Annie and it involves a book, a most favorite thing. So here goes-

* Grab the book closest to you. Now.
* Go to page 56.
* Find the 5th sentence.
* Write that sentence as your title.
* Copy these instructions.
* Tag 5 other friends to play.
* Don't go looking for your favorite book, or the coolest one you have - just grab the closest one.

The closest book is the one I just blogged about yesterday, "The Book of Secrets" by Deepak Chopra. The fifth sentence on page 56 in this book is "Let the center be your home". Pretty cool stuff, hey? No wonder the book takes so long to read, I have to meditate after every other page.

I invite my fellow readers to play along including:

Are you kidding me?
Silver G
Ashley
maniacal mommy
Renee

Disclaimer: All tags are optional. They can be a little bit too much like a chain letter for me to shackle my dear bloggers with that responsibility. However, this is a fun, easy tag.

Now that business is complete, I have reflected on the meaning of this 5th sentence, "Let the center be your home" and I would like to extend my heart (my center if you will) to the homes of Mr.&Mrs.Spit and Sara and her family today. Thank you.

"The Book of Secrets-Unlocking the Hidden Dimensions of Your Life" is the first book I have read by Deepak Chopra. I am only superficially aware of his work and checked this book out of the library on a whim. Talk about Synchronicity.

This is an amazingly rich, insightful, and spontaneously thought provoking book in the truest sense of the word. I am a voracious reader, I can easily read 300 to 400 pages a day depending on the level of difficulty. This book is only 260 pages, but I have only read 145 pages in the last two months. That's right, a whopping 18 pages per week! It is written in a straight forward and simple manner. However, the ideas and examples in the book are like a rich dessert, you have to savor and experience them before proceeding.

One "Secret" from the Chopra book is about the Gift of Attention as a kindness. It helps me realize how reserved and guarded I keep myself sometimes, avoiding eye contact or interaction. I am trying to be more open and present in my day to day world, even if it's just acknowledgement with a nod or glance. In the virtual world, I am learning it's okay to send a comment to a blogger or email to a friend that says "Thanks" or "I care". Sounds simple, but it is a challenge.

I hope to finish this book soon, it's overdue at the library. It's so hard to rush through, I put it on my Christmas list. I am looking forward to making it part of my library, so I can continue to learn.

Best to you and yours and thank you sincerely for the gift of your attention.

"The Universe is in You." Dr.Deepak Chopra

Today, I am participating in "The Secret is in the Sauce" Holiday Greetings. This is a fun blog whose goal is to share support and comments. They are spreading some holiday cheer today with great prizes including a $200 gift card to "Tar-jay" aka Target. No contests or silly games, your comments are your entry.

Being the science nerd I am, (daughter of an engineer, didn't stand a chance), I hope you enjoy these Greetings from "Out of this World".

A Frown in the Night Sky
The planetary conjunction of the Moon, Venus, and Jupiter on December 1, 2008. (Venus is the brighter planet on the left, Jupiter is on the right.)




The Space Shuttle Endeavor Lands at Edwards Air Force Base, November 30, 2008



I was cleaning out the flower beds in my backyard on a picture perfect Sunday afternoon when I simultaneously heard/felt BOOM BOOM. The windows of the house shook, the dog awoke from his nap barking, and car alarms started to shriek. My thought process, "That was an earthquake, no, a big car accident right out front, NO, It was the Space Shuttle landing". And sure enough, that's what it was, the rupture of the atmosphere caused by the friction of the nose and tail of the Shuttle entering the sky about 50 miles from my home in Southern California. Sincere Thanks to Jeff for this wonderful video which includes the sonic booms.

The unique closeness of the planets of Venus and Jupiter and our moon, witnessing and sharing in the homecoming of our astronauts from Outer Space reminds of how vast our wonderful Universe is and how blessed I am to share my small part of it.

Peace, Health, Happiness to You and Yours, Martha

Inuk - Shuk Wooden Box and Jade Pin from Canada

Inuk-Shuks are stone figures built to resemble humans. Inuk-Shuks (Inuit word meaning "In the image of man") can be found along Canada's Northern Shores. Originally built as navigational landmarks and to aid in caribou hunting, today they are a symbol of respect for the land and the people of the North.



Thanks for Giving Recipe for a Perfect Moment

1. Take one blue and out of sorts 47 y/o female.
2. Add the poignancy of the Thanksgiving holiday and anniversary of my brother's death.
3. Routinely check the mail on Friday, a white package awaits!
4. Open package with beautiful Inuk-Shuk wooden box and jade pin from the incredibly kind, thoughtful Mrs.Spit.
5. Perfect Moment arises, enfolds, and embraces me.
6. Express my gratitude and appreciation for the gift of friendship and caring.
They are treasured.

Recipe notes: I would like to acknowledge the persuasive power of See's Chocolates in facilitating this perfect moment. Please note that my beautiful new jade pin is pointing Northeast towards Mr.and Mrs.Spit's home.

To see what else is cooking up in the Perfect Moment Kitchen, please check out my inspiration for this and many posts, dear Lori. Thank you so much, Martha