It Must Be the Caffeine Making Me Antsy . . .

In the “there is a blog for anything” category, I give you what has to be the most peaceful and lovely blog I have seen: A Good Place for a Cup of Tea and a Think (http://russelldavies.typepad.com/ateaandathink/). It hasn’t been updated in a while, but the intent is lovely. I wish I could be sitting in one of these shops pictured, RIGHT NOW, with a lovely cup of chai and a good book . . . (and Merci (http://aroomsomewhere.blogspot.com/), I thought of you!)

This “War on Christmas” crap is getting on my nerves. No one is keeping anyone from celebrating any holiday any way anyone wants. What’s wrong with “Happy Holidays?” What’s wrong with acknowledging that there are other people in the world that might think differently than you and want to celebrate something else than you . . . good grief! I had actually thought things were getting better about inclusiveness this time of year . . . with everyone acknowledging the whole secular, consumerist aspect of the holiday season, leaving people free to observe or not observe whatever they wished, however they wished. But, noooo . . . people gotta beat you over the head with the religion thing. Complaining about the White House Holiday cards is just sooo stupid to me . . .

OK, I got another annoying e-mail yesterday – I should just not read my e-mails anymore, they give me such fits – this one from the pastor of the church for which I sing in the choir. I love singing in church choirs – depending on how beautiful the songs are, religious music can be most spiritually uplifting and meaningful . . . at lot of times more moving than the actual sermon . . . but that’s another story for another day.

So the pastor sends out this e-mail reminding everyone that there are going to be services on Christmas Day, since it is on a Sunday this year. OK, I knew that, no problem. However, he then goes on to browbeat all those churches that choose not to have services on Sunday – you know, because a lot of folks just like to hang out with their families on that day – and how awful that is and what kind of Christian are you if you don’t come to service that Sunday . . . blah, blah, blah . . .

So this annoyed me, because I don’t think the seriousness of whether you are a Christian or not should hinge on whether you drag yourself to church on Christmas morning. As I get older and my family ages, spending Christmas Day with my mother and father and sisters has become more and more precious to me. My youngest sister moved out of my parents’ house over the summer, so when all three sisters are at home, my parents say that they really appreciate having us all there together. I hate feeling all defensive just because I want to spend Christmas Day with my folks instead of sitting in church . . . I know I’m overreacting horribly, but I’m just getting it out there so I don’t dwell on it for too long . . .

I think I am going to wade into the whole “online shopping” thing this year. I have no idea when I am going to get to the stores, and I want to make sure that I get Mr. Random the things he would like. Part of the problem is that Mr. Random and I work at the Random Non-profit together . . . which means we drive in together, eat lunch together, pop in to each other’s offices occasionally, and drive home together. When I used to work downtown, it was so easy to nip out at lunchtime and hit Borders, Filene’s Basement and various other stores, and then store stuff in my office until I drove it home in the trunk, sneaking stuff in before Mr. Random got home. It’s hard to be sneaky when you practically see each other 24 hours a day . . . I have no idea where I’m going to hide the stuff in my office where he can’t see it, or how to get the stuff home though . . .

We have “secret santa” going on here at work, and I am at a loss for interesting clues that wouldn’t give me away. My creativity is just gone, gone, gone. I guess I could do what whoever the person who has me is doing . . . I’m sure stumped with their clues. Here they are:

Monday Clue: a picture of a lion. - I’m thinking they are either a Leo or are
into the whole Narnia thing . . .

Tuesday Clue: “I know your husband.” - What kind of clue is that? My husband’s worked here for years and years. Everybody here knows who my husband is!

Wednesday Clue: “I know that you are a nice person.” (with a smiley face at the end.) – This is a sweet one . . . I know that I try not to channel pure evil when I deal with people, so this doesn’t tell me anything either . . .

I’ll keep you apprised if I get any more clues . . . the Holiday party is the 19th, so I might get a clue every work day until then . . . Otherwise, if you can think of clues that I could give as hints for my secret person, do let me know . . . I need the help!