Happy Holidays! Let's hope for some peace in the new year!

We just had a nice little Christmas Eve and will be heading to the Cape to spend Christmas with Karl's family --- and it looks like we may even have a white Christmas! Tho, I suspect we'll just be getting rain out on the Cape. After that --- we head for Montreal! Yeah!

Beyond White

Teeth are getting too white. All of this bleaching is causing me to reach for my shades when some folks smile at me. I Am all for fresh, clean and non-yellow teeth, but I don't think our teeth were meant to be this white. Is this the beauty concept coming to us from the same folks who make women feel they should not have hips?

Embalming or Fine Dining

Have you ever noticed that the exterior of most funeral homes is somewhat similar to that of steak houses? Think about it. It's kind of creepy.

Domestic Life

Those who know me are all too aware that I am not particularly domestically-oriented. To me, the kitchen is sort of a dark space void of joy. The only major issue I have with our condo is that the kitchen is not a separate room --- it is a part of our dining and living space. This means I am forced to see the kitchen all of the time. Ugh.

Anyway, I do not cook. I love to eat as my expanding belly shows, but the food I eat is always prepared others. The deal in our home is that Karl cooks and I clean. Fair trade-off as my attempts at cooking can be scary.

However, there are exceptions to every rule and there is one thing that I can cook well. My father was a good cook and he made awesome chili. His two secret incredients were sugar and beer. He showed me how to make chili during my last couple of years at home. I believe I do it exactly the same except I never put in any sugar. Anyway, it tastes good and I cook it once a year or so. We're having two pals over tonight for my chili and holiday fun.

I just finished making the chili and it is simmering now. Am looking forward to this evening with our friends, but I have to say I did not have fun cooking. It's a pain in the ass and our place smells like one big kitchen. I prefer the scent of candles.

"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"

When I was a child this song made me so happy. As an adult it strikes me as so very sad.

Last night I had a glass of wine, put on a Christmas CD and sat looking at our Christmas tree. This song started playing --- and it struck me that it seems so melancholy it was depressing me. And, if one ever listens to the original version sung by Judy Garland ---- well, just forget about it. Her version is so sad it borders on being mean. Of course, then I have to ask myself, "What does this say about me?" I mean, in many ways the meaning of art is what one brings to it. Does this mean I am a walking cloud of depression?

Last night, as I was thinking about this, I took another sip of wine and "Jingle Bells" came on as performed by Ella Fitzgerald --- and it made me all happy again. So, I can only come to the conclusion that "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" is just a sad song. ...Like that Vince Guaraldi tune, "Christmas Time is Here", which is sung by a choir of children in dire need of Prozac. I guess it matters not, because I love all 3 of the above-mentioned songs. ---- and, as you get older and become closer to loss, I guess the holidays do become a bit sad.

Pass the wine and give me a present!

Adaptation, Two Towers and Lots of Rain!

Well, "Two Towers" is sold out in the greater Boston area through Sunday night. That being said, we decided to witness the return of Meryl Streep in the new Spike Jonez film, "Adaptation" We both really liked it, but I am still a bit confused regarding where fact merged/crossed with fiction. I don't think it will be be setting any major box office records, but I give it 2 big thumbs-up!

New England was treated to a great deal of rain and arrived home tonight to discover that we left the windows cracked open just enough to allow the rain to pour in and ruin a box of mouse puppets. A 1999 Christmas gift from Karl. I loved those mice. Oh well.

Karl has asked me to post how wonderful he is. So I am doing just that! He is one hot cup of burnin' love! No sarcasm --- this is one from the heart.

The Art of Giving...

The day before Thanksgiving I decided that I would empty my pockets of any change into the Salvation Army pails. You know the ones I mean ---- the red pails guarded by the friendly person ringing a bell non-stop. Anyway, I have been doing this. No matter what is going on --- I stop and empty all coins from my pockets into any Salvation Army pail I pass. As I do this I make a mental note on the amount of change I deposit. As of today I have donated $35.05 to the Salvation Army of New England. I feel good about that. I also am shocked by the amount of change I've managed to compile in such a short time. ---- but this makes no nevermind to me because I feel I've done something positive in a world that sometimes feels so very negative.

Good News!

My brother, Roy, graduated from the University of Texas! He chose not to walk across the stage, but he has graduated with honors. I am very proud of him!

Oh! A big thank you to my pal, Jen, who has help get my little site up and running! I've learned a lot from Jen in the last couple of days. She even managed to get a comments section in after each of my posts! Cool! And I've heard from some way-cool folks already!

As I think about it ---- I have had the privilege of learning a great deal from Jen over the years. We worked together for several years and she was constantly helping me to challenge myself and understand others better. And, for those of you who know me --- I am not the "easiest" person on the planet, but Jen is always able to take a deep breath and "walk" me through it!

She is one smart and generous soul and I am lucky our paths have crossed! If I knew how I would insert of big happy face icon here, but I've yet to master that one! oh well...

I feel it is important to share something about myself and my relationship with the mass transit system in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. I hate it. There seems to be a dark cloud hanging over me and the "T" (as it is called in New England!)

Now, before I list the reasons I hate the commuter rail and the MBTA subway system, please understand that I think mass transit is essential for city living. I also feel that if we all used it we could make great strides in the war against pollution. It also presents a method of affordable transportation for those of us not fortunate enough to have anyother way to get around. That said, I must list why I hate it.

The schedule is not compliant with my work or social life:

Typically, weekend parties run til 1am or so. Drinks/dancing at clubs with friends tends to run til about 2am. The last train out on a Saturday is 11:45pm. And, as for my work schedule, I am lucky to get out of the office by 7pm. Now, there is a 7:30 train and considering that I work in the Back Bay area of Boston --- I should have plenty of time to get myself on the subway to get to the commuter rail station. We are talking about a matter of possibly 2 miles. For some reason I have a tend to step into subway cars which can only go approx. 5 mph. This means I normally arrive at the commuter station at 7:01. This means I get to sit on a bench for an hour.

Sitting on the commuter rail bench:

This could be a good time for me to read or simply listen to a bit of Led Zep with my Walkman. However, I am normally treated to being pulled into conversations with homeless persons who are more interested in discussing UFO's or JFK conspiracy theories than just accepting my offer of $5 just to leave me alone.

The long ride home:

Normally spent sandwiched between a corporate whore (who seems to think his cell phone only works if he yells into the thumb-nail size of his receiver) and a socially-challenged individual (who is normally wearing 9 to 10 layers of winter gear and attempting to eat a grinder spilling over with onions and mustard) ---- Ironically, it is both the coporate whore and the hungry defect who feel the need to tell me that my Walkman is too loud.

Body Odor:

I guess this could happen to anyone given certain circumstances of a bad and particularly hot day. However, why does it seem to alway seep out of every pore of the person with the grinder and all of those layers? ...in winter?

The Heating System:

Too hot or too cold. These are my choices while riding home or to work. There is no in between.

Surly Teens:

...leaving a hockey game and riding home with me. No matter how loud I play "Kashmir" --- all I can hear are screaming arguments about the game. I normally just turn off the CD and watch them to remind myself how lucky I am that I will never have children.

Not a "T" journey goes by when I don't think of two things ----- that I would much rather be stuck in traffic on Route 1 and that conversing with the homeless about the evils of "The Man" was a hell-of-a-lot more fun than riding the commuter rail home!

Ok --- that is my randam rant for the day. I know that many of my friends enjoy the T and utilize as their alone time. All I can figure is that they must be catching a different tain than me!

So, on I forge with my lil' blogger site. Still working through some issues like why I can't get my home email on my site!

Is it me or does one spend more time alone when you are in a relationship than when you are single? This seems to be true for me. I didn't notice til a couple years into my relationship. At any rate, here I sit all alone typing on the pc and eating some very good Thai take out. Spicy bamboo, I believe. Anyway, after a very busy Monday it is nice to be sitting here. ....alone!

nothing exciting to share tonight --- other than I am still trying to work out the "kinks" of my site. as of yet, I do not think anyone has even visited it, but that is ok! am having fun all the same!

Quite obviously, I need to work on my formatting. I thought I had my previous post all spaced-out (no pun intended!) and ready to roll. Instead there is just an endless paragraph. Oh well, I will get this sooner or later!

Well, we never made it to Boston. Went to brunch here in Salem and are just now getting back to our cozy condo! Oh well. We'll be leaving to join pals for dinner in about 3 hours. So, I guess one could say that today has been all about the food --- and the friends, who we both cherish. However, if am not careful I will be expanding beyond reason if I don't lay off all of this food. Hard to not indulge in all this great food with the holidays and the holiday parties. Guess I shall need to double my time at the gym.

So, it is Sunday morning. My eyes are trying to stay open as I wait for friends to arrive for brunch. Wishing I had stayed in bed a little while longer. Looks like it is to be a cold but beautiful day to go into Boston and walk about the South End/Back Bay area watching all the pretty boys and other assorted shoppers! If only I could find the enrgy to wake up.

So I wrote a very nice entry for my new blogger site --- but it never seemed to have posted.

And I ask, what would Debbie Harry do? I suspect she would do nothing and simply go outside and radiate coolness for all to see and admire. I do not have the ability to do that so I shall simply go to brunch and then waddle in to Boston for day filled with caffine and loads of chocolate surprises!