Feeling All Sorts of Resolute

Hey everyone!

Welcome back and Happy New Year!

I don’t know about you, but I read a lot of books last year. And the beauty of stories is that pieces of them stay with you, even after you’ve retired them to the shelf (or turned off your eReaders). I’ve decided to embrace those pieces with my resolutions this year.

Here are the characters that first pop to mind from my 2012 reading list and what resolutions they have inspired in me:

• Bailey Clarke – I resolve to find magic in the world and follow it even if that means giving up the familiar.

• Maggie Lee – I resolve to make the best of bad situations.

• Melanie – I resolve to stand with my friends during hard times (and possibly learn to play the violin, though that seems less likely).

• Ginny Selvaggio – I resolve to reject any single definition of “normal” as being correct.   
• Janelle Tenner – I resolve to be there for my family, whether through rough days or trips to Disney (and to continue rewatching X-Files).
• Cotton Malone – I resolve to get myself a nickname of which no one will ever know the origins.
• October Daye – I resolve to accept all sides of myself, even when they annoy the crap out of me.

So, in conclusion, in 2013, I resolve to be more like the characters I loved in 2012 and to seek out new folks to emulate in 2014.

What about you? Any new promises to yourself?

To be continued...

You know when you’re watching a TV show and you happen to glance down at the clock and realize there’s only five minutes left? And suddenly you realize, there’s no way they’re going to wrap this all up in five minutes. It’s going to be a cliffhanger. Those three words are going to flash up on the screen: “To be continued...”

And you’re so annoyed because you want to know how everything turns out, but at the same time, you’re a little bit glad because the story’s awesome and you really don’t want it to end.

That’s what New Year is to me. I mean, technically, that’s sort of what every day is, but the New Year always makes it seem more dramatic.

What’s going to come next?

Are all the characters in our lives still going to have top billing after this next season? Are some of the “recurring” ones suddenly going to be promoted to “regular cast?”

Are the storylines that seem so overwhelming to us right now going to be overarching or are we going to be all “Remember that episode? So melodramatic,” a few months from now? Am I going to find out that the breaking of my navigational system charger set off a series of events which I will be dealing with for years to come? Or am I going to, you know, just get a new charger?

There’s a world of possibilities (except with the charger thing. I’d be really surprised if that turns into anything) and apprehension. And I, for one, am looking forward to seeing what the next plot twist is. 

This is my last blog of 2012. Not because of the whole end-of-the-world predicament (probably), but because I’ve got holidays plans and a first draft to finish. But, provided we’re all here tomorrow, I’ll be back in 2013.

See you then!

Santa and Sardonicus

My sister was always afraid of Santa.

Well, that’s not entirely accurate. She wasn’t afraid to sit on Santa’s lap at the mall. She was a big fan of Santa on Christmas morning. But Christmas Eve? Not so much.

Every year, the family collects by one of the upstairs bedroom windows to look for Santa’s sleigh. I was always beside myself with excitement. The magic was about to begin. I’d been waiting for this since December 26^th of the year before.

My sister, on the other hand, had one goal – get the hell to sleep before the big guy got there. And looking for reindeer just slowed down the process. She could handle at most a couple of minutes of it before she was yelling at all of us to just get in bed.

As I was a big fan of Mr. Kringle, I could never really understand her discomfort. Maybe it had something to do with his being able to get into locked houses. Or maybe she just took the whole “you better watch out” sentiment more seriously than I. All I know is that she was equal parts excitement and fear on December 24^th, while I was just pure excitement.

Except for one year.

Now the blame can’t be laid on Santa for this one. Nope. I place it squarely on the shoulders of another bearded man – my dad.

You see, his birthday is just a few days before Christmas. Today, in fact. (Happy b-day, Pops!) And one year, my older cousin gave him a birthday card during our Christmas Eve dinner. On the front was a cat with a huge, human smile.

The first time I saw it, I thought it was mildly creepy, but then my dad started talking about a movie that the card reminded him of. Well, not the card exactly, but the smile. That damn smile.

My cousin had never heard of the movie, so my dad regaled her with the tale of Mr. Sardonicus a poor man cursed with a grotesque smile after digging up his deceased father to acquire the winning lottery ticket in the older man’s pocket.

Dad has a flare for horror stories, so he was particularly dramatic as he told of the moment that the man’s wife first saw his cursed face. Wondering why her husband wasn’t speaking, she slowly lifts a candle in the darkness and there he stands in all his glory.

Later that night, lying in bed I was suddenly struck with the image of looking over at my sister only to have her looking back at me with the smile of that stupid cat. The Mr. Sardonicus smile. The thought scared me enough I started crying.

Well she heard me. And thought I was crying over Santa. So she started crying.

Shortly after, my parents came up to check on us and found us sitting next to each other in bed, still crying. Needless to say, not what they were expecting.

My dad felt horrible. He hadn’t realized that I was lurking and listening in on the horror stories and it certainly hadn’t been his intent to scare the bejeepers out of his little girl.

I got over it, of course. Somewhat. I mean, I stopped crying and stopped being scared that all the people I knew were going to be cursed with evil smiles. The thought of Mr. Sardonicus stopped being something that popped into my head every Christmas. I remembered the card as being unsettling, but not the exact image.

It was nice. 

Years later, I came home to spend Christmas with the folks after my first semester at college. As I put my stuff down in my bedroom, I noticed something on my pillow.

There, smiling up at me, was the cat card.

12 Books of Christmas (Adult Edition)

And now to follow up last week’s post, here is a little Christmas reading for the older set:

1. A Christmas Carol (Charles Dickens)

How do I not kick off my Christmas book list with this classic? After all, whose holidays don’t incorporate some aspects of the past, present and future? Plus, I just love the opening discussion about the phrase “dead as a doornail.”

2. The Autobiography of Santa Claus (Jeff Guinn)

Very possibly my favorite Christmas book ever. Guinn’s later books in his Christmas Chronicles series are arguably stronger in terms of narrative, but I read this one first and it laid claim to my heart. It had me at the opening line, “You’re right to believe in me.”

3. Hercule Poirot’s Christmas (Agatha Christie)

Getting together with the family for the holidays can sometimes be stressful, but the Lee family takes dysfunction to a new level.

4. Little Women (Louis May Alcott)

So, this book isn’t technically about Christmas, but there are enough March Christmases to make me come back to it every year around this time. And, if I’m being completely honest, tear up a little. Or maybe a lot. Whatever.

5. Skipping Christmas (John Grisham)

If you’re feeling a wee bit overwhelmed with holiday preparations, go hang with the Kranks for a little while. They know what you’re going through.

6. The Santaland Diaries (David Sedaris)

Ever wonder what’s going on behind the scenes with those department store elves? Look no further. Crumpet the Elf is going to give it to you straight.

7. How Mrs. Claus Saved Christmas (Jeff Guinn)

Clearly I’m a sucker for Mr. Guinn’s Christmas tales. But seriously, who could resist getting to know the Mrs. a little bit better. She so rarely gets the spotlight. And, spoiler alert, she’s awesome.

8. Politically Correct Holiday Stories: For an Enlightened Yuletide Season (James Finn Garner)

Nothing says “Happy Festivus to the rest of us” like reading about reindeer organizing a union and how non-viable Scrooge’s buddy Jacob Marley is.

9. The Twelve Terrors of Christmas (John Updike & Edward Goery)

Not into the warm and fuzzies? A little creeped out by elves? Got a fifteen minute break? This is the book for you.

10. The History of the Snowman (Bob Eckstein)

It makes me so happy that there are people out there writing books like this. That way, when I suddenly wonder, Who the hell decided piling large snowballs on top of each other and slapping a face on them was a great idea?, I have a place to turn to.

11. Rock Your Ugly Christmas Sweater (Anne Marie Blackman & Brian Clark Howard)

The perfect place to get inspiration for any Christmas party garb. And let’s be honest, isn’t it everyone’s goal in life to be showcased in a book like this? Just me? Fine.

12. A Wallflower Christmas (Lisa Kleypas)

A lovely follow up to Kleypas’ Wallflower series. There’s tree decorating, caroling, and readings of Dickens’ Christmas Carol.

And look at that, the list has come full circle.

Happy Wednesday folks!

No boughs of holly, but still...

I don’t know about you, but my halls are all sorts of decked. The Roomie and I don’t have an enormous amount of space to work with, but we make it festive. Well, technically, I do the decorating whilst Roomie fulfils her holiday tradition of napping on the couch in red sweatpants and a Santa hat. But, regardless, we both play our roles and the apartment gets its seasonal makeover.

It would be really difficult for me to pick a favorite decoration, but for the sake of my efforts here, I’m going to discuss the Department 56 houses. While every decoration reminds me of a story, the houses are the only ones that can be set up to tell one on their own.

I grew up setting these houses up. My mom collected them and I liked to sit and watch their little lights twinkle and myself stories about where in the village or city I would live (the yellow house that generally sat atop the kitchen cabinets) and where I would work (the movie theater that constantly showed White Christmas). At least this is what I thought about when I wasn’t being tortured by questions of why the people were doomed to grow to such heights that they could never fit into the doors of the buildings where they lived.

Even crouched over, Gramps here is about a story tall.

Over the years I started collecting them as well, sometimes receiving them as gifts, sometimes taking them from my mother’s horde under the dark of night.

Whoops, guess the cat’s out of the bag. 

(Tangent: Why are we carrying cats around in bags in the first place? 

Seems like a great way to get scratched.)

Our apartment is not quite large enough for me to showcase all of my houses every year and for whatever reason, the Roomie will not agree to sleeping in her closet for the month of December so I can transform her bedroom into a showroom. She’s selfish that way.

Still, I manage to do some sort of display whenever the holidays roll around. It takes me hours to get it all together and decide not only where the buildings are situated this year, but also how all the city folks are going to be interacting.

She’s covering her mouth to hide a smile. He totally said he was going to come courting and never did. 

Serves him right to get jumped on by a wet dog. Even if that middle-of-the-face beard is hard to resist.

And then I’ve got the folks who are new to town. This gentleman, for instance, only found his way to my city this year.

He goes by Melvin and is my soul mate: 

Carrying way too many books and kind of blurry. 

What more can a girl ask for?

How about you? Any holiday decorations that you look forward to every year?

They're Not Enough, But Sometimes They're All We Have

I rely heavily on words. I always have. In good times and bad, I have depended on words to express my thoughts, opinions and feelings. And, the vast majority of the time, they have served me well.

But sometimes words fail.

Sometimes there is no way to string words together into a coherent thought that will make sense of what goes on around us.

We can say that our hearts are heavy as we think about the recent tragedy in Newtown, but placing those words next to one another does not do adequate justice to the physical manifestation of our grief over the horrors which unfolded there. There is no pairing of phrases that will ever make us understand such actions. No amount of flowing prose that can ever undo the harm done.

Even the good words aren’t quite sufficient enough. “Hero” is overused, but what better to describe the teachers and faculty who laid down their lives in defense of their students? “Courageous” seems like too small a word for the children who followed the directions of their teachers during this nightmare, but there doesn’t seem to be a better one.

No matter how hard we try, we won’t find the illusive, perfect words that will make everything better. They do not exist.  

No matter how many times we want to assure ourselves and other that “everything is going to be okay,” it won’t be. Nothing can make this okay.

It's true, words do a poor job of conveying the tempests that wrack our heads and hearts during a time like this, but they still remain one of our best tools. So, we will strive for sentiments of comfort and hope, as we go through the wake of this devastation.

Words can’t make it better, but they can remind people they are not alone. They can be used to assure others that through the hardest times, the rest of us are here to carry them through. 

My thoughts and prayers are with everyone in Newtown.

The Naughty List

I love Christmas music. Not really much of a shocker. But, in addition to loving the songs that embody the true spirit of the season, I also enjoy those whose characters seem to be headed for the naughty list.

• This kid

• To his credit, he’s pretty up front about it. But, seriously, kid, a tack on your teacher’s chair and a sugar bowl full of ants? Those are hard to come back from. Of course, I was told that tattling wasn’t nice, so maybe some of those who “snitched on him” are also in trouble.

• Pretty much all the reindeer but Rudolph

• An entire group that shuns the one different kid to the point that he’s not even allowed to play games with anyone. Oh, but suddenly he’s all famous and they’re singing a different tune (well, it’s all the same tune, but you get what I'm saying). I don’t think prejudice and opportunism are really going to get you that high on the right side of the list.

• This grandpa

• His wife gets killed on Christmas Eve by a rouge sleigh and he’s “in there watching football, drinking beer and playing cards with Cousin Mel”?? I mean, there’s putting on a brave face for your family and then there’s plain callousness. I’m starting to wonder if the whole blaming Santa thing is just a front. I’m calling Christmas conspiracy.

• Dave

• There’s some serious rodent favoritism going on here. I get it, Alvin can be a bit of a troublemaker. But to tell Simon and Theodore that they’re doing great, but calling Alvin out on being a smidge flat? That’s not very nice, Dave. This isn’t American Idol. They’re chipmunks. The simple fact that they wear turtlenecks and can carry a tune is reason enough for celebration.

• The Backdoor Braggart

• It gets a little lost in the story of the sweet little boy with the sick mother, who naturally one feels for, but what this song is really about is some guy making sure everyone knows that he’s the one who laid down the money for those shoes. Would have been a much more touching tale if he saw the clerk do so instead.

So, consider these tunes cautionary tales - or, you know, just really catchy - and have a great weekend!

12 Books of Christmas (Children's Edition)

Across the tables in my living are currently strewn many of my favorite childhood Christmas stories. I generally don’t look at these books from mid-January to late-November, not because they’re not just as charming in May, but because when I take them out after the halls are decked I am immediately reminded of when I first discovered them.

I can remember sitting with my sister in our bunk beds reading them as we tried to stay up late enough to catch a glimpse of Santa. (At least that’s what I was doing. The little sis was probably staying up to ward against the man in red. She was terrified. But that’s a story for another day.) And as I page through the books again each year, all that childlike Christmas anticipation comes rushing back in.

If I read them in May and felt that, I think waiting six months for Christmas would just be too much. And then I’d become one of those Christmas in July people, and we can’t have that.

So, for all of you who have children to read to or just want to feel that childhood glow once again, I present to you my 12 Books of Christmas (Children’s Edition):

1. Christmas Always (Peter Catalanotto)

As I’ve mentioned before, how could I not love a book where the Sandman, Tooth Fairy and Jack Frost are working together to get a little girl to fall asleep before Santa shows up?

2. A Wish For Wings That Work (Berkeley Breathed)

Who doesn’t root for a penguin who’s biggest Christmas wish is to fly? Especially when by the end Opus realizes he’s awesome with or without altitude.

3. The Jolly Christmas Postman (Allan Ahlberg and Janet Ahlberg)

I loved getting mail. I loved fairy tales. I loved Christmas. Hello, all my childhood loves rolled into one awesome book.

4. The Night Before Christmas (Clement Clarke Moore)

Every year I would re-memorize this one, so I could recite to myself as I fell asleep. Sort of the book version of my Homeward Bound experiment. Far more effective.

5. The Polar Express (Chris Van Allsburg)

Honestly? I still get a little teary about the whole hole-in-the-pocket situation.

6. Merry Christmas, Strega Nona (Tomie dePaola)

My sister and I were in the habit of calling my grandma “Strega Nona” after reading the first of dePaola’s stories of the woman. So, we would read this with grandma and clap as the town came together to help “Grandma Witch” on Christmas.

7. The Wild Christmas Reindeer (Jan Brett)

A young girl is called in by Santa to train the reindeer. Not only did I get a better understanding as to how those reindeer do what they do, but Brett’s story also showed that bossiness doesn’t really get the job done.

8. Santabear’s First Christmas (Barbara Read and Howard B. Lewis)

Not only was the book awesome, but we had a stuffed Santabear who continues to spend Christmases sliding down the banister.

9. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Dr. Seuss)

Was it just me or was Max the best character in this book?

10. Samantha’s Surprise (Maxine Rose Schur, Nancy Niles and Robert Grace)

I was a big fan of all the American Girl books, but Samantha was always my favorite. Her Christmas plans don’t quite work out the way she expected, but she still ultimately has a wonderful time. It’s a good message for kids as plans will generally go awry.

11. Madeline’s Christmas (Ludwig Bemelmans)

You can always trust Madeline to take charge. Plus, magic carpet rides!

12. The Small One (Alex Walsh and Jesse Clay)

A little boy from Nazareth can’t afford to keep his donkey anymore, so he sells him to a man who is traveling with his pregnant wife to Bethlehem.

Check back next week for the 12 Books of Christmas for the older set!

"Made Me Think of You"

Have you ever had someone say, “I don’t know why, but when I saw this, I immediately thought of you,” as they were giving you a gift?

I used to have that happen frequently with books. People saw one that seemed interesting and they would pass along the information. It was a logical progression, given my non-stop talking about stories.

Recently, however, there has been a shift. I was given gifts by two different friends, one around my birthday, one a couple days ago. The first gift was a candle. The second was a salt and pepper shaker set.

They were both shaped as gnomes.

I was told by both friends that something about the gnomes just made them think of me. Now, I wish I could say I had a propensity for donning lustrous white beards and wearing pointed hats, but beards are itchy and, much to my constant sorrow, I just don’t look good in hats.

So, I’m not entirely sure what it is about these little guys that have people picturing me, but let me tell you, I’m a fan.

I am now the proud owner of a burgeoning gnome collection that I did not set out to start. It’s both cool and weird (the two words I would most like used to describe my life). And to know that in a word association game, if my friends were given “gnomes” their go-to would be “Kelly” --- well that’s even better.

All pictures of me in my various gnome-y disguises. 

(Except for the dog in lederhosen. Total photo bomb.)

I assume it’s only a matter of time before I’m recruited by Travelocity.

What weird things make your loved ones think of you?

When Carolers Go Bad

Despite my love of singing and old-timey costumes, I have never been caroling. (And for all of you out there thinking to yourself, You don’t have to wear old-timey costumes to carol correctly, I respectfully disagree.)

You see, while a large part of me would love nothing more than going door to door and sing at the top of my lungs for unsuspecting homeowners who thought their pizza was finally being delivered, fear keeps me from doing so. Not fear of the aforementioned homeowners. I’m sure they’re lovely folk who will either enjoy the attempt at harmonious singing or politely slam their doors in my face. Both fine, understandable reactions.

No, I’m scared of the other carolers.

And all my fear stems from one song – “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

Sure, it starts out all nice. A group of carolers singing for the sheer joy of it. Hearts brimming with holiday spirit and goodwill toward men.

We wish you a Merry Christmas

We wish you a Merry Christmas

We wish you a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year

Good tidings we bring to you and your kin

Good tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year

See? Lovely. The good intentions can not be disputed. But you see, one of the carolers invariably points out that while singing’s great and all, shouldn’t the get a little something for brightening up the evenings of everyone in the neighborhood? Not money, of course. But they’ve been at this for hours and it’s cold and they’re hungry. So, maybe just a snack. That’s not too much to ask for, is it? Just a little snack. And to show people that their demands are indeed friendly, they’ll ask for their sustenance in song.

Oh, bring us a figgy pudding

Oh, bring us a figgy pudding

Oh, bring us a figgy pudding and a cup of good cheer

And here’s where things take a turn for the worse. The recipients of the carols don’t get why they have to provide treats when none of the previous houses did. They balk at carol inflation. And, see, the carolers don’t take too well to that. They want some damn figgy pudding (side note: fire person in charge of snack choice) and mob mentality takes over.

We won’t go until we get some

We won’t go until we get some

We won’t go until we get some, so bring it out here

So, in the course of one song, we see initially well meaning people transform from a group of happy souls wanting nothing more than to spread happiness, to an angry gang roaming the streets and terrorizing homeowners for pudding. One can only assume that their threatening antics are successful, as the song then reverts back to it’s original verse, proving the carolers voracious pudding needs have been sated. If not, I imagine the song would have continued on like this:

We ransacked your kitchen pantry

We ransacked your kitchen pantry

We ransacked your kitchen pantry, but found only one beer

We can’t all share one beverage

We can’t all share one beverage

We can’t all share one beverage, let us make that quite clear

We’re just gonna take your money

We’re just gonna take your money

We’re just gonna take your money, as a little souvenir

Now, let’s all go get some dinner

Now, let’s all go get some dinner

Now, let’s all go get some dinner, and never again volunteer

And this is why I don’t carol. I’m afraid of what would happen to me if I tried to be the voice of reason. And I’m even more afraid of getting swept up into the belligerent horde. I mean, it would be bad enough to wake up the next morning, having come to my senses, and realize that I sang-yelled at the little old lady who always waves to me from her porch. But to know that I ate figgy pudding? I don’t think I have the strength of mind to deal with that.