It’s That Time of Year … Again
It’s that time, once again, when I make promises to myself that I never intend to keep. If I were married to myself, I’d certainly be heading to splitsky-ville because I abhor liars! There are certain things that I know I must do this year if I am to come out smelling better than donkey breath!
I’ve already informed my dh that he can expect me to be a total bee-otch from now until May 7th. Working part-time, homeschooling, taking 4 classes, writing, roller derby — well, there won’t be time for sleep. And since that is my very favorite sport in the whole wide world … well, you can see why I would be having a bad ‘tude. I really felt like it was only fair to give the poor guy a heads up on how his happy little world that I’ve created for him is about to implode on his happy self.
Why do I wanna be a roller derby chick? Because I like getting my ass kicked. Yeah, I’m sick like that. It’s not the sorta thing I usually share with others (perceptions, you know), so consider yourself “in the know”. Actually, I figured that’s the only way I’ll keep my resolution to reduce, recycle, and reuse the cottage cheese off my back end. Think about that for a moment and you will see how many uses the composition of the back end can provide. 
I really need to make a special trip to Wal-Mart to load up on Duct Tape. There is no wrong in this world that cannot be righted with Duct Tape. I need it to keep everything together — or to be organized. Yeah right! I LOL when peeps that say they “know” me tell me how they admire my organization. Yeah …. okay …. ummm … yes, I am organized. The piles that sit around my keyboard are all in order — and as long as they don’t fall over and squash my fingers, they will happily remain in order. 
So let’s recap …
1. Stay focused so I make it through the year alive
2. Melt the fat away
3. Organize my little abode
4. Smile … lots! Even if it is a lie …
Caganer of the Queen
I think I just might have to be offended! On second thought — nah!
A ceramic figurine called ‘caganer’ of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, is seen on show at the Santa Llucia Fair on December 21, in Barcelona. Statuettes of well-known people defecating are a strong Christmas tradition in Catalonia, dating back to the 18th century. Catalonians hide caganers in Christmas Nativity scenes and invite friends to find them.
Tis the Season to Be Grateful
Thanksgiving is more than eating grotesque amounts of food. It’s about being grateful for the tiny things in life which give us the greatest of pleasures – such as arch supports for our shoes, and other minuscule, pitiful things that we all take for granted. What’s something tiny that you will commit to appreciating this week?
Halloween Tidbits
- Irish and Scottish immigrants (combining the features of the Celtic and Christian holidays) brought Halloween to America. They celebrated the event with feasting, divinations, and mischief making.
- People had been carving gourds or pumpkins and using them as lanterns long before this practice was associated with Halloween. In 1850, for example, poet John Greenleaf Whittier mentioned the practice of his boyhood in The Pumpkin.
- In late 18th century America, Halloween was a night for mischief and pranks. Boys would make “tick-tacks,” cutting notches in the ends of a wooden spool and winding string around it. The spool would be placed right up against a window, with a nail serving as an axle. When the string was pulled, it made a loud and rapid “tick-tack” noise.
- The name “Halloween” began as “All Hallows Eve.” This became “All Hallow E’en,” leading to “Hallowe’en,” or Halloween. It was the evening before All Hallows Day, which was later called All Saints’ Day. (In this case, “hallows” meant “saints.”)
- All Saints’ Day, a feast for all martyrs and saints was celebrated on November 1st for the first time during the 8th century, but customs varied regarding its observance. Pope Gregory IV officially established this date for all Catholic churches in 837.
- Taking place on November 2, All Souls’ Day was a day of prayer for the dead. It was believed that the prayers of those still living could comfort dead souls, or elevate them from Purgatory. The observances began the previous evening with prayers and the ringing of church bells.
The Pumpkin: John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892)
OH, greenly and fair in the lands of the sun,
The vines of the gourd and the rich melon run,
And the rock and the tree and the cottage enfold,
With broad leaves all greenness and blossoms all gold,
Like that which o’er Nineveh’s prophet once grew,
While he waited to know that his warning was true,
And longed for the storm-cloud, and listened in vain
For the rush of the whirlwind and red fire-rain.
On the banks of the Xenil the dark Spanish maiden
Comes up with the fruit of the tangled vine laden;
And the Creole of Cuba laughs out to behold
Through orange-leaves shining the broad spheres of gold;
Yet with dearer delight from his home in the North,
On the fields of his harvest the Yankee looks forth,
Where crook-necks are coiling and yellow fruit shines,
And the sun of September melts down on his vines.
Ah! on Thanksgiving day, when from East and from West,
From North and from South come the pilgrim and guest,
When the gray-haired New Englander sees round his board
The old broken links of affection restored,
When the care-wearied man seeks his mother once more,
And the worn matron smiles where the girl smiled before,
What moistens the lip and what brightens the eye?
What calls back the past, like the rich Pumpkin pie?
Oh, fruit loved of boyhood! the old days recalling,
When wood-grapes were purpling and brown nuts were falling!
When wild, ugly faces we carved in its skin,
Glaring out through the dark with a candle within!
When we laughed round the corn-heap, with hearts all in tune,
Our chair a broad pumpkin,—our lantern the moon,
Telling tales of the fairy who travelled like steam,
In a pumpkin-shell coach, with two rats for her team!
Then thanks for thy present! none sweeter or better
E’er smoked from an oven or circled a platter!
Fairer hands never wrought at a pastry more fine,
Brighter eyes never watched o’er its baking, than thine!
And the prayer, which my mouth is too full to express,
Swells my heart that thy shadow may never be less,
That the days of thy lot may be lengthened below,
And the fame of thy worth like a pumpkin-vine grow,
And thy life be as sweet, and its last sunset sky
Golden-tinted and fair as thy own Pumpkin pie!
Source: Whittier, John Greenleaf. (1898). The poetical works of John Greenleaf Whittier. W. Garrett Horder, ed. London: Henry Frowde.
Bizarre Halloween Pumpkins
These are truly Spooktacular!
On My Nightstand
Vote 4 Me
Just a Click a Day !
If I make you laugh, blush, or nod,
Please VOTE 4 Solar Powered Family
Show the Luv!
-
-
Grab It!
<div align="center"><a href="http://apcsite.info/blog" title="SPF7"><img src="http://apcsite.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/SPFbutton.gif" alt="SPF7" style="border:none;" /></a></div>
Panty-Wadding Issues
Disclosure
If you click through an Amazon link on this site and subsequently make a purchase, I will receive a small credit from Amazon. I will be very grateful for this credit and will use it purchase, still more books, to share with you. An eternal circle of Amazon life’ you might say. :)
