Day 9 - Favourite Christmas Movie

We are nearing the end of the countdown with only a few short days left to go and I must say, this is my favourite topic!

My favourite Christmas movie involves Ralphie himself and his quest to get a Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle with a compass in the stock. Oh yes.

A CHRISTMAS STORY

Ever since I first sa wthis movie I have been in love with the story. From the "Fa ra ra ra ra"'s to the starving kids in china and BE SURE TO DRINK YOUR OVALTINE, the movie is just filled with gold. The acting is fantastic and is made even better by the voice-over of an adult Ralphie moving the story along with interesting anecdotes like:

"My father worked in profanity the way other artists might work in oils or clay. It was his true medium, a master."

"In the heat of battle, my father wove a tapestry of obsenity that as far as we know, is still hanging in space over Lake Michigan."

 "Some men are Baptists...others Catholics...My father was an Oldsmobile man."

At the time of me first watching the movie, my father actually was an Oldsmobile man. We had two big boats, one black and one burgundy. I also thought that the school in the movie looked just like Manchester, my elementary school. I honestly thought that Ralphie and Flick could very well be one of the kids in my class.
this is the school in the movie:

And this is my elementary school

 Oh yes. A Christmas Story wins by a landslide as my favourite movie.

Day 8 - To give or receive?

This is a continuation of the following countdown. And before you say it, yes, I'm doing them in the wrong numerical order in that I'm counting up and not down. Shoot me.

Day 05. (Dec 21st) Give or receive? Explain.

Even since I was a child, I have been really focused on giving. My birthday is 5 days before Christmas so I had a whole day devoted to me and me getting gifts. I really wanted to make sure that at Christmas the people that I love would have the same joy that I had. When I became a little older, I would take any money I was given for my birthday and turn it into gifts for other people. I've always felt so good to see an excited face when I got a gift that was just right. I would sit and watch for their reactions and smile to myself for a job well done. Giving is always better and I really hope that the people whose presents are sitting under my tree enjoy the thought and time that I put forward in getting them something extra special.

Day 7 - 5 words

As yesterday was my birthday, I felt it was important to take a break from the countdown. I'll try and make up for it today

Day 7 - Describe Christmas in 5 words using adjectives, verb, etc.

Stressed family finds loving compassion
or
Show loving compassion to others

(Again for the original post - go here: http://quirkycori.blogspot.com/2011/11/12-days-of-christmas-challenge.html

Day 6 - Plans for the holiday

With my 12 days to Christmas countdown in full swing - I'm already halfway through and can't believe it!

Christmas Eve I'd like to be going to church with my dad for the evening service and then sleeping over at his place with James. In the morning James will be prepping the turkey for everyone in the afternoon. Around 1-2 we will head out from my dad's place and go to Paris to be with the hubbies family for the afternoon evening. It's going to be busy, with lots of people to see but it's what we are doing this year.

What are you doing for the holiday this year?

Day 5 - My Christmas Wishlist

Of course on the top of my Christmas wishlist is my mom - I wish she were here, but I'm happy knowing she's no longer in pain. Cancer fucking sucks so I'll make my second wish for it to just go away.

Now onto the tangible plausible things:
SMALL THINGS
- Different flavours of hot chocolate - I freaking love the stuff
- Gardening tools - I took a course this past spring and it has inspired me to want to grow things
- A zippered bag big enough to carry my knitting with me

CLOTHING
- gift cards for plus size clothing stores - come on big girls - you know that you need to try ANYTHING on before buying it.
- I'd love a soft and brightly coloured scarf to stand out against my gray coat
- socks! hard to believe how many single socks I lose when I do laundry

TOYS
- I've been eyeing up and dreaming of the new cookie monster that eats cookies and counts them. He wears a backpack and is adorable!

DREAMY TYPE STUFF
- I'd love patio stones to put in a walkway at the front of my house
- I'd love a good work desk for the spare room so that I can have an area to craft and write
- I'd love a sewing machine that is fairly easy to operate so that I can do some more complicated crafting
- A winning lottery ticket!

On the 3rd Day of Christmas....

I know this is a bit out of order, but I really was busy yesterday with my work Christmas party.

On the 3rd day of Christmas, the blog told me to post an old Christmas photo of myself. Well this is one of my favourites - My mom, dad and I getting a big hug on Christmas morning - most likely taken by my big sister Heather. I think it really captures the love, and our ugly faux fireplace that we had when I was growing up.

Day 4 - Favourite Christmas Tradition

I have a lot of Christmas Traditions that when they are happening they feel like they are my favourite and therefore it's really hard for me to narrow down just one but I'll try.

I love having Chinese Food on Christmas Eve with my husband - first by getting it at a restaurant to us making it ourselves. I love going to look at Christmas lights and marveling in their beauty and their time and effort. I love the new tradition of Sweater Breakfast where I get to share some holiday cheer with my friends and their kids. I love the hugs from my nieces and nephews. I love the carols. I love the fact that I get to be with James' family and that his parents always put a box of cereal under the tree for all the kids and it's a mad dash to get one you like. I love how chaotic my family Christmases are with all the kids and adults a flurry of activity. I love showing off a new outfit on Christmas day and I love just being around people that have known me for a long time and love me despite all my faults.

With that said, I'm going to talk about a tradition that unfortunately is over. And that's me getting a stocking from my mom. My mom always went out and purchased make up for me in my stocking because I would always need it at that time of year. She always got me gum instead of chocolate because she knew that I would prefer it. She always got me a pair of socks and an orange in the bottom and she always filled it up with love.

Her love in the stocking was always there for me to have and to hold and to love. And I know that she won't be there to give me her stocking this year, and I know that I have to buy my own makeup, but I also know that her love and her memories will be there in my heart forever.

2nd Day of Christmas

And on the Second day, the blog did sayeth unto me:

A favorite Christmas carol. Post an audio.

So this got me thinking. There are songs that I love to sing at the holidays (Rudolph for instance). There are Christmas songs that I love to sing in July (White Christmas) or during the first snowfall. There are songs that I laugh when I hear (Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer) but when I started to think of my absolute favourite Christmas carol - there was only one.

SILENT NIGHT

I don't even know all the words. That is how much I love this song. I've heard it a million times, but I always stop and listen and get lost in it. So it was fun for me to start hunting for the audio clip for this challenge. I had to listen to a few before I realized that I couldn't pick just one. So here you are:

Olivia Newton John

http://youtu.be/J6P3fCDQVMI

and Sinead O'Connor

http://youtu.be/87q5dmW6zDg

Twelve Days of Christmas Countdown - Day 1

A few weeks ago I posted the following about the 12 days of Christmas challenge that I had stumbled upon.

CHALLENGE #1 - A picture of your Christmas tree.

Challenge Accepted!

Meet Eloise. She is not too skinny, not too fat and she is British. Purchased for $19.99 from the local Rona near my house. We brought her home and she sat set up for 4 days before we decorated her. Isn't she pretty?

thinking about my mom (grab a tissue)

We are one week and one day away from my birthday and this will be the first one without my Mom.

My mom always made sure that our family was with us for our birthday and no matter what she never forgot. She would always be there - always making sure we were remembered. She would call our siblings to remind them of your birthday. Even if there wasn't a gift, there was a special card that she picked out just for you and it was just right.

In less than 2 weeks it's going to be Christmas. Our first Christmas without my mom. My husband has told me that he's always appreciated my mom's gifts because she really puts a lot of thought into it. She tries to get it something you would like, and something that you'd need. She listens to you.

Or she did listen to you before she got cancer. Then she got sick and could only hear what was really important. To her that was family and to love and to laugh. And then she died and it feels like it's harder to connect with family. Harder to love and harder to laugh.

I have been blessed - I have friends around me that love and support me. They talk with me through my feelings and want the absolute best for me. I have a husband who is trying to help me, even if I do tend to push him away sometimes because he's doing it wrong. And even if I don't talk to my siblings much, I do know they still love me.

This past weekend I had the pleasure of meeting with a psychic for a tarot reading. I went to see one last year and he talked about my husband a lot. It seemed my husband's spirit came through very strongly and he needed to do somethings to help him overcome obstacles. This reading was pretty much all about me.

My mom came through on the reading. She's worried about me. She feels that I'm not focusing on me. She said that I give so much from my love bank to help others and be there for them and supportive of them, but when it comes time to put love back in my bank there aren't a lot of people there to do it. The psychic told me that I need to ask for help. I need to ask those around me to help me to rediscover myself. She told me that I need to have fun and act silly. She said that she gets the feeling that something happened and I had to grow up almost over night.

Oh how I wish I could talk to my mom about this. I wish I could tell her all that was said and discuss my feelings about what they stated. I suppose this goes to the other thing the psychic said "Your mother feels that you have a lot of questions for her, but you already have the answers in your heart."

One thing that was mentioned also by the psychic, was that I've spent so long focused on other people that I haven't dealt with my grief. It's true. Even if I spend a day sad, I haven't actually dealt with it. I still can't believe she's gone. i still can't believe that I don't have a mom anymore. I see so many people talking about their mother in a bad way and I just want to shake them and tell them how freaking lucky they are.

I have so many issues, ideas, problems swirling in my head. The above blog is just the tip of the ice burg. Perhaps it's time to start looking into counseling. Someone that can help me make sense of everything that's going on and help me get through this. Let's face it, if I can't get through this, then I won't get through this. Perhaps it's time I really do ask for help.

There is something so much better about the holidays...

There is something so much better about the holidays.

Smiles are bigger.

Lights are brighter.

The world appears softer.

People give more.

They touch more.

Colour appears more vibrant.

Hearts swell.

Dreams are shared.

Wishes become reality.

I find I’m more drawn to those that love life at this time of year. Those that love sharing the good cheer and the merriment of the season.

I have a lot to celebrate this year. I have people around me that care about me and love me. I have people to laugh with, and hold my hand when I cry (and boy have I done a lot of that this year.) I have wonderful memories, and I continue to make more every day. This year I have learned when to let go, and when to say goodbye. And I’ve also learned when to hold on for dear life. I’ve learned that I do have a voice, and I can use it. If I like something, I’ll say it. If I don’t, you may also hear that too but at least I’m being honest with myself and with those around me. The ones that matter don’t care, the ones that do care, don’t matter.

I have had such an up and down roller coaster kind of year, but that isn’t dampening my feelings about the holidays. They are always stressful it’s true, but I’ve done something the past few years to alleviate the stress. I’ve shopped early – got it all out of the way so that I don’t have to think about it. I don’t have to stress about finding the perfect gift in a very short timeline. Instead I go and enjoy the holidays. I sing carols, I marvel at Christmas lights and the rosy red cheeks of a child. I have time to hug people, and show those that I care about how much they mean to me.

There is a magic this season, and I hope that you can take the time to enjoy it because I know I will.