Christmas 2010

Well another Christmas day is over.  As the evening winds down, I sit on the love seat with a pug in my lap, another at my feet, and think about how very lucky I am.  My dad is on the big couch, flipping through the channels.  An advertisement for a show called "Gold Rush" flashes on the screen.

"That's the biggest bunch of idiots I ever saw doing that", says my dad.  I chuckle.  Not five minutes later the remote control in his hand drops to the floor and I hear a loud snore.  He's had a long day. 

As per tradition, my brother and family came over for Christmas Eve dinner last night.  After spending the evening with them, I always wish I saw them more throughout the year.  My brother is great company - like my dad but less grouchy.  I love how close my nieces are.  My brothers were so much older than me I practically grew up an only child.  My nieces are sweet and very close with one another.  And my sister is law is cool in a no-nonsense sort of way.  They are a great family.  They didn't leave last night until almost midnight.  My dad was tired but we had to sit on the couch and watch a few minutes of  "A Christmas Story."

My dad gets particularly tickled at this movie even thought he's seen it a million times.  When the dad in the movie says "He looks like a deranged Easter bunny.  He looks like a pink nightmare!", my dad gives a deep belly chuckle, his eyes crease and his cheeks pop with laughter.  I love to see my dad give a genuine laugh.  Its greatness.

Today we headed to my grandparents house to have Christmas.  I have spent every Christmas day of my life going to my grandparents house.  Now, more than ever, I love going out there to see them.  While I visit with my grandmother, my dad and paw paw start talking about everything that's wrong with the world.  I guess my dad woke up refreshed from his night's sleep because he was extra spicy today. 

The following phrases came out of my dad's mouth today (some more than once):

"And that was the worse thing I've ever seen in my LIFE!"
"I'll tell you another thing that's wrong with the damn toll roads..."
"It made her so mad, she couldn't hardly breath..."
"Texas used to have the best roads in the world until the federal government got involved..."
"If you want to see an example of Obama-care, then let me tell you where you need to go..."
"Then I said, look fella, I ain't belivin' that...."
"They're not helping the consumer so, I can't figure out what the Department of Insurance actually does..."

Needless to say, he was quite worked up.  My paw paw listened and had his own feedback.  At one point I turned to my grandmother and said "Curtis is awfully talkative today."  She nodded in agreement. 

It was good food and good times.  I found myself giggling more than once at my dad's rants.  My paw paw had some good stories as well.  I've heard some of them before but somehow I don't mind hearing them again. 

Now back at home, I am more thankful for my family than ever.  My grandparents are in relatively good health for being 80 years old.  My dad, after having some significant health problems, is doing better and is in good spirits.  Of course, there's always an empty spot during the holidays because my mom is not with us.  But how can I complain with so many other blessings in the form of family and friends?

So Christmas 2010 comes to a close.  The kitchen is clean, a small fire is dwindling in the fireplace and I sit here among a chorus of snoring from my dad and pugs.  The angel on the tree makes me think of my mother - somewhere far above she is looking down on all of us.  Hopefully she's giggling at my dad's stories.

Home is truly where the heart is...and there's no place I'd rather be.

Letterpress 101

Last week I took a letterpress class from Lauren of http://www.blueeyebrowneye.com/ and I LOVED IT!

Lauren teaches on a Kelsey 5x8 press.  Her studio is at her home and its one of those spaces I think of as a beautiful disaster.  Walking in, the first thing I notice is all the paper strewn about.  Various projects adorn the walls, desk and floor - letterpress, calligraphy, photographs.  There's a large table for a workspace; its topped with all sorts of items used for the letterpress process (i.e. furniture, ink, composing stick, type) and, of course, the press itself.   At one point she opens up a large drawer that is completely full of various envelopes.  I'm such a stationary geek that I'm in heaven and instantly wish that I had a drawer full of envelopes.

We talk about paper and decide on the type for my project (Crane Lettra).  Lauren makes me do everything except cut my own paper, which I loved because I really wanted to learn to do it myself.  I was pretty intimidated but it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be - of course its easy to say that because I had Lauren there to answer my questions and tell me what to do.  If I had attempted letterpress on my own, I'm sure I would have gotten completely frustrated and been yanking my hair out. 

I set my type, mixed my own ink, and got to work printing cards for my grandmother.  They are picutred below but my iphone doesn't do them justice.  They look lovely!

I have started looking for my own press now and can't wait to start printing my own stuff.  I hope to have everything up and running by January and I already have a very special first project in mind. 

You can check out Lauren's goods here on Etsy.

Post 30 day Tracy Anderson Method bootcamp

I've got news.  It works.  No, really - it does.  But here's the real kicker, it only works if YOU work at it.  And believe me it is very hard work. 

Here's the deal afterward....if you are going to do the 30 day boot camp you will end up with these amazing results.  But of course you cannot go back to old eating habits and no exercise and expect to look great.  So far I have continued the workouts although not as intense.  And I would say my eating habits are about 80% good, 20% bad. 

For me, I feel like I have about 10 lbs to go before I will be at my very best.  So this week I started again with no alcohol, only water.  After giving up caffeine, I decided not to start up again, although Tracy does have some teas that she recommends - http://www.dragonherbs.com/prodinfo.asp?number=601 - (I can't tell if this has caffeine or not to tell you the truth but either way it looks pretty good for you.) 

Overall I would say I like the method and will continue.  It is varied - which is what I need.  And its a lot more active than some other fitness options.  The trouble is, between work, buying a house and all the other demands from the day-to-day, it is hard to stay motivated.  I'm certain I will slip up one day an go pig out on some delicious Mexican food.   Before I get down on myself for all that I try to remember one of my favorite quotes from silent screen actress Mary Pickford, 

"If you have made mistakes, there is always another chance for you. You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call 'failure' is not the falling down, but the staying down."

Read more: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/mary_pickford.html#ixzz17clBwHMO