...'Yule' Go Down in History

Well, this Christmas wasn't super eventful, but it did have some note worthy highlights. On the flight home, it occurred to me to put them the tune of one of my favorite Christmas, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Well, you know...
Dasher (otherwise known as me scrambling to the airport after my truck died along the way);
Dancer (me doing the dance of joy for Stephanie and Michael- their babies are finally here! and the dance of relief- thank god it isn't me!);
Prancer (I read a great book BF gave me about a girl who lives with an owl- who likes to prance around the house-true story);
Vixen (embassessingly enough, me trying to call BF after a couple of Christmas drinks and sound sexy);
Comet [thank goodness for Emily, who took care of Meri and Frankie (my fish-still alive!) while I was away. She brought her new puppies, Zepher and Comet over to show them off];
Cupid (as, isn't it swwet to seen young couples in love? Adam's girlfriend Kate joined us for most of the holiday- they are so cute together);
Donner (nothing really fits this one other than telling you all that my hand blown glass ornaments turned out well and doned the tree;
and Blitzen (um, that would be our whole family getting disturbingly drunk on Adam's birthday while playing Taboo);
and lastly, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (we watched a guy we nicknamed 'The Conductor' at the Champs Bowl try to single-handedly lead the Florida State Seminoles to victory)...

Christmas Blows!

Is it me, or does it barely seem like Christmas time this year? Our team's intern at work captured it-"It doesn't seem like Christmas; it just seems cold." It some ways it is true. I feel more "bah-humbug" than ever. We have had a couple of Christmas things at work, but most seem lame to me. Specifically, this door decorating contest that turned into senior VP worship. It did show off some people's photoshop talents. I have done barely any Christmas shopping (and from the news, it seems I am not the only one avoiding the stores). There have been some fun Christmas activities though. Last week our whole team went to the Cheesecake Factory for lunch and then had the afternoon off- that is the best Christmas bonus ever! Also, BF and I went to the Statehouse tree lighting ceremony. Not only was Santa there, but they also had real live penguins. The one here is named Punky. Speaking of BF, we had our Christmas this week before heading home to families. It was wonderful- except for the part where I fell asleep at about 9pm because of some vaccinations for Africa knocked me off my feet. Lastly, Jason and I had some fun this past weekend at a glass ornament blowing workshop. It was super neat. Jason and I figure that glass blowing graduates us from nerd to geek, but I am not sure if it chases away the Christmas Grinch.

Hat Trick

This weekend BF and I indulged in all things ice related. We watched one of my favorite sports movies ever- Miracle. I don't know any rules for hockey other than putting the puck in the net is good when your team does it and bad when the other team does it. That doesn't stop me from tearing up for those boys every time the announcer shouts, "Do you believe in miracles? Yes!!" And if you guys want to know a secret, the truth is I do these days, but it has very little to do with hockey. We also went ice skating. It seems ice skating is very different from when I was younger; then it was an exhibit in ordered fun, while it is much more chaotic these days. Even Santa is joining in this reindeer game. Later, BF and I went to a Blue Jackets game, where I needed icing explained to me three times. The home team won, and we had a great time. Three winning things in a row- according to my early hockey education, that equals a hat trick.

Ecnomic Meltdown

In the past, you would never catch me claiming to know a single thing about economics. But in the last year, I have learned a thing or two about the economy, and at its base, nothing about it is real. Our fortunes are made and broken by the religion of supply and demand, but lately the things that are in demand aren't even tangible things. Given this, the economy looks more and more like matters of the heart. What is love if not the most risky hedge fund around? Some one's stock rises and falls based on the smallest of things. Well, as I try to educate myself on the economy, it seems I am a more apt pupil at the more quixotic of disciplines. BF and I are quickly falling into a remote state I have rarely found myself in before- a deep belief in isolationism (that is, our own little world). I guess this is where I think the only true difference exists between matters of the heart and matters of the wallet these days. While both are subject to a crisis of confidence, the economy today can never exist in a vacuum, but early love almost always does. The snow this weekend reinforced the thought. The first real snow of the season, it wrecked havoc on the world outside, but BF and I never bothered to leave the house.