Why Read....Books?

Thank you Kindle, for being built by a bored teenager in an impoverished part of the world (most likely) and breaking down in a way that my WCE * husband could not fix...even with his high-powered safety googles and very tiny screwdrivers.  Apparently, I just need to call Amazon and they will send out a replacement but the universe is talking to me, through imperfect products, and I'm listening:

Universe:  What were you reading on Kindle that you miss?
Me:  Not much, I downloaded the entire Game of Thrones series which included murder, incest, rape, and naked princesses. 
Universe:  What have you picked up at the library since your Kindle went offline?
Me:  Biographies of Margaret Sanger and Kurt Vonnegut, a book on Buddhism, and some Irish short stories.
Universe:  Hmmmmm
Me:  What are you saying, Universe, that the Kindle's choices are mainstream and that I have to pick up an actual book and see if it calls to me?
Universe:  No, I'm wondering how the the last book in the series turns out.

Regardless of the smart ass universe, I'm not sure I liked what I was reading on the Kindle.  The choices overwhelmed me and for whatever reason, I picked down, not up.  I was talking to my buddy about reading and why we do it and we came to the conclusion that we all read for different reasons.  She beautifully stated that she reads to be moved.  I think I read to know more about what we all share.  The best writers transcend their culture and place and speak a universal truth.  The best example of that for me this year was The Elegance of the Hedgehog.  Stop reading this silly blog and order it on your Kindle, right now:)

May the new year be filled with transcendental books, and of course, the next one in the Game of Thrones.

*World Class Engineer

Dear Santa

Dear Santa:

I love all the stuff you give me, every year.  So I'm writing this note to ask you a couple questions.  Like:

1.  Do you have any pets? (besides reindeer)

2.  Do you ever get sick after eating so many cookies?

3.  Do you have back-up reindeer? (if one gets sick or dies)

4.  How many people usually get on the naughty list?

5.  Do grown-ups get presents?

6.  Do you ever shave?

From Emma...please write back
PS.  Am I on the naughty list?

HO  HO HO

I do have some penguins-
You and Luke never make the naughty list
I'm off to Jersey,
Thanks for the cookies
                                   --SC

Merry Christmas Everyone, may the wonder continue throughout the year!

Updated Version of 12 Days of Christmas

On the first day of Christmas, my true love said to me:  I think we can do it this year.
On the second day of Christmas, my true love said to me:  100 postage stamps?
On the third day of Christmas, my true love said to me:  darts can be safe .
On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love said to me:  are you sure you want flannel?
On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love said to me:  I may explode. 
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love said to me:  I hope it's not Strep.
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love said to me:  It's all my high school buddies.
On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love said to me: Tequila hits the spot.
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love said to me: The tupperware's on fire.
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love said to me:  What do you want for Christmas?
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love said to me:  Time to hang the lights
On the twelve day of Christmas, my true love said to me:  We are very lucky.


All true and please sing it out at the top of your lungs:)

Sadly, there is now wax in the hummus

So, we are in the Tsunami party season.  We kicked it off last week-end with a rollerskating party for 18 eight year olds and I consider it a personal success story that we only needed one icepack.  I consider it a personal failure, after my years of skate ranch experience in Lubbock, Texas, that I could not out skate aforementioned eight year olds, not one of them.  Something about their starting hockey at age three gives them the hometown advantage.  After the skating birthday party, we moved into pageant practice.  This year's pageant is a morality tale focusing on the Tinsel children and featuring my son as a:

Shrub.  He nailed it in practice.  They hit their marks, yes they have marks, and they projected into the wee hours.  All of that will not make one whit of difference tomorrow morning but it gave us something to do on a Wednesday evening.  It was especially fun to keep them from running around on the seductive wooden floor as the yoga class downstairs was entering into shavasana.  Namaste from all of us.

Next in line are the yearly holiday parties:  baking cookies for the swaps, buying a brilliant gift for the Yankee swap...one for all the discerning gals at the neighborhood party and one for my husband's family party with the theme "Occupy Boston" with not one word of explanation.  Next comes the clarifying call to another friend....do we exchange Christmas gifts or just birthday gifts?  I feel the slide into the Christmas Zone.  Packages wrapped and sent off to Texas?  Pictures taken for Christmas card?  Seven relatives emailing for suggestions on gifts for the kids and telling them all the exact same thing?  Half-finished advent tree?  I am standing on familiar ground.

Today, these snippets of conversation captured it all.  I will not bother telling you that I am going to relax and enjoy the season.  The best I can offer is to try and laugh about it all once or twice:)

I'm not sure fake poo is the way to go (me)
That is way too fancy for a rugby player (my daughter)
This is my blue book, I need to write that down in my red book (my husband)
Doubles tennis, anyone? (my son)
Sadly, there is now wax in the hummus (me)

Good luck to us all.