Happy "National Anything Chocolate-Covered" Day!!
I don't feel this day requires any descriptions, or anecdotes from my life. Chocolate is fabulous... things are wonderful, therefore things covered in chocolate: bliss. Enough said.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Happy Cat Herders Day
I'm not a cat person. So long as they are not mine, I'll get along well enough with them but my friends have heard me say once or twice before "evil kitty". I prefer dogs; when you leave them they tell you in their special way that they love you, and when you get back their life is complete. Cat's on the other hand, not so much. I heard a comedienne on Just for Laughs describe cats and dogs beautifully. I am paraphrasing, however it went something like this:
"When you leave your house, you dog circles around you as if to say 'you're going to go to work, and I'm going to wait here and when you come back we'll play and I'll love you and you'll feed me, and it'll be great!!'. Cat's aren't like that. A cat looks down at you in the morning and says 'you better get your ass to work.... and don't forget to feed me.' "
Needless to say I have no faith that a cat will let you lead them around, unless they're in the back of the Porsche you're driving at the time. So when I learned that today was Cat Herder Day... I was skeptical. How on earth could this even happen? Have you ever tried to catch/discipline/move a cat in any direction they don't want to go in? It's quite impossible. So how do you herd them? That's exactly the point.
I looked into Cat Herding Day, and that was the main thread. This day sheds light on all those impossible tasks, and shakes the hands of all those who accomplish these impossible tasks on a daily basis. Sometimes it's our job, or our personal life, or perhaps the little things like performing to a crowd or being able to be in a dark room. What ever your breed of "cats", no matter what size they are if you've herded them even in the least, then you've done a good job. You have accomplished something and today is for you!
I'm not a cat person. So long as they are not mine, I'll get along well enough with them but my friends have heard me say once or twice before "evil kitty". I prefer dogs; when you leave them they tell you in their special way that they love you, and when you get back their life is complete. Cat's on the other hand, not so much. I heard a comedienne on Just for Laughs describe cats and dogs beautifully. I am paraphrasing, however it went something like this:
"When you leave your house, you dog circles around you as if to say 'you're going to go to work, and I'm going to wait here and when you come back we'll play and I'll love you and you'll feed me, and it'll be great!!'. Cat's aren't like that. A cat looks down at you in the morning and says 'you better get your ass to work.... and don't forget to feed me.' "
Needless to say I have no faith that a cat will let you lead them around, unless they're in the back of the Porsche you're driving at the time. So when I learned that today was Cat Herder Day... I was skeptical. How on earth could this even happen? Have you ever tried to catch/discipline/move a cat in any direction they don't want to go in? It's quite impossible. So how do you herd them? That's exactly the point.
I looked into Cat Herding Day, and that was the main thread. This day sheds light on all those impossible tasks, and shakes the hands of all those who accomplish these impossible tasks on a daily basis. Sometimes it's our job, or our personal life, or perhaps the little things like performing to a crowd or being able to be in a dark room. What ever your breed of "cats", no matter what size they are if you've herded them even in the least, then you've done a good job. You have accomplished something and today is for you!
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Happy International Poinsettia Day & Worldwide Candle Lighting Day
I would not hesitate to hazard a guess that in any household celebrating Christmas this year they already have one of the following: a fully decorated Christmas tree, garland, lights, animated Christmas paraphernalia on their front lawn, Christmas applications on their phones, perpetual Christmas music playing, and probably many other ritual I haven't even heard of. (Note: I will never resort to having a Christmas themed, rug-hooked toilet seat cover... apologies if you own one, I'm sure it looks lovely.)
Every year right before Hallowe'en, the same complaints can be heard: "They were playing Christmas music in the store today!" or "the store had Christmas decorations right next to the Hallowe'en ones!" How early is too early? It's good to be prepared, but seriously? I adore Christmas and all that it entails as much as the next Hoo from Hooville but I am a stickler when it comes to putting the tree and decorations up... not before mid-December. After all it is the "12 Days of Christmas" and that encompasses the days leading up to January 6th (Epiphany, by the way... when the wise men made it to the manger) . It's for this reason I try to keep the hype down until mid-month, because technically I should only start "celebrating" on Christmas Eve!! However, all who know me, know I'm organised and an over-planner and must be thinking "but you wont get everything done in a day!" You're correct. And it's for this reason I like to have my cards done early December, and I have my baking and meals planned, plus any gifts I need to make or order are done by now... I am a realist, but that doesn't mean I have to acknowledge it's Christmas. That's my chosen coping mechanism.
As we approached the day I consider it OK to start decorating, I was in the car with Mum and we heard the announcer on the radio (on the 24 hr/day Christmas radio station) tell the listeners about a prize to help them "celebrate Christmas", right after they played "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause" sung for the billionth time by the Jackson 5. Mum then asked "what are people celebrating?" A good question, I thought.
I guess what went through my mind when I read what the observances were for today was linked with Mum's question. For some, Christmas is a dark time: no family, troubles with family, no money, no home, stress, or loneliness. The image of bringing the light of a candle into people's homes is a powerful one. Winter is a dark month, so any extra light: Christmas lights, candles, fireplaces, etc., all help us last through the long dark nights. The poinsettia also marries in well with the candle. Plants are new life that needs nurturing and care. I like to think of plants as an example of how little effort it takes to make a very large impact on the life of another living being. Wouldn't it be nice to take that example and use it in the big world? Make someone your poinsettia over the holidays. Bring them the proverbial light of a candle when you make them visit, or bring them some fruit cake. Christmas isn't all bells and treats for people, so if we are lucky enough to have more than two candles worth of light in your life there's enough to share!
I would not hesitate to hazard a guess that in any household celebrating Christmas this year they already have one of the following: a fully decorated Christmas tree, garland, lights, animated Christmas paraphernalia on their front lawn, Christmas applications on their phones, perpetual Christmas music playing, and probably many other ritual I haven't even heard of. (Note: I will never resort to having a Christmas themed, rug-hooked toilet seat cover... apologies if you own one, I'm sure it looks lovely.)
Every year right before Hallowe'en, the same complaints can be heard: "They were playing Christmas music in the store today!" or "the store had Christmas decorations right next to the Hallowe'en ones!" How early is too early? It's good to be prepared, but seriously? I adore Christmas and all that it entails as much as the next Hoo from Hooville but I am a stickler when it comes to putting the tree and decorations up... not before mid-December. After all it is the "12 Days of Christmas" and that encompasses the days leading up to January 6th (Epiphany, by the way... when the wise men made it to the manger) . It's for this reason I try to keep the hype down until mid-month, because technically I should only start "celebrating" on Christmas Eve!! However, all who know me, know I'm organised and an over-planner and must be thinking "but you wont get everything done in a day!" You're correct. And it's for this reason I like to have my cards done early December, and I have my baking and meals planned, plus any gifts I need to make or order are done by now... I am a realist, but that doesn't mean I have to acknowledge it's Christmas. That's my chosen coping mechanism.
As we approached the day I consider it OK to start decorating, I was in the car with Mum and we heard the announcer on the radio (on the 24 hr/day Christmas radio station) tell the listeners about a prize to help them "celebrate Christmas", right after they played "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause" sung for the billionth time by the Jackson 5. Mum then asked "what are people celebrating?" A good question, I thought.
I guess what went through my mind when I read what the observances were for today was linked with Mum's question. For some, Christmas is a dark time: no family, troubles with family, no money, no home, stress, or loneliness. The image of bringing the light of a candle into people's homes is a powerful one. Winter is a dark month, so any extra light: Christmas lights, candles, fireplaces, etc., all help us last through the long dark nights. The poinsettia also marries in well with the candle. Plants are new life that needs nurturing and care. I like to think of plants as an example of how little effort it takes to make a very large impact on the life of another living being. Wouldn't it be nice to take that example and use it in the big world? Make someone your poinsettia over the holidays. Bring them the proverbial light of a candle when you make them visit, or bring them some fruit cake. Christmas isn't all bells and treats for people, so if we are lucky enough to have more than two candles worth of light in your life there's enough to share!
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