Auld Lang Syne

Despite the numerous translations you can find online about the real meaning behind Robbie Burns' often quoted poem, I still don't quite get it's relevance on New Year's Eve. And for a seemingly upbeat holiday (for those who chose to celebrate) why such a sad-sounding melody? Even if you've had the worst year of your life, shouldn't we all sing a chipper and hopeful ditty to ring in the possibilities of a fresh start? Perhaps this will be the start of my '09 new year's resolutions: come up with the next wildly popular New Year's jingle that people can have memorized by December 1st because of all the radio stations that now start their holiday playlists the week before Thanksgiving. Auld Song Done.

As we reflect on the past 365 days and look ahead to the next 365, I offer you the top ten stories of 2008 (as chosen by me) following by the top ten potential news stories of 2009.

We'll never forget you, 2008:

10. Good-bye to incredible India: We still often wonder and talk about our Chandan. If we knew how to get in touch with him we'd offer him a room in our house.

9. Hello to new roommies: The perfect ending to our unusual first year of marriage. Jeopardy parties. Learning how to properly dispose of trash. The constant stream of hot meals and endless snacks.

8. Good luck to Barack Obama: City planner, Chicago senator, basketball player, possible anti-Christ (let's just see how he talks his way out of this Blagojevich mess)...he's inheriting approximately 9.6 square kilometers of a brewing pot of dung and hoping to turn it in to surf and turf. It's going to take alot of chicken soup. But if you are to believe all these kids, we can do it. Yes, we can.

7. Good news to pretty girls everywhere: Sarah Palin proved that with a little lipstick and a killer wardrobe, anything is possible for the white toothed, genetically blessed, beauty queens.

6. Good times for the Boston Celtics: After a 21 year absence, they rose to the top again in 2008 and luckily, we were back in the good ol' US of A to witness it. (This was George's pick for top ten stories of 2008.)

5. Bad times for the economy: Economic armaggedon is at hand, my friends. In anticipation of possible bread lines, I'm looking into artisanal bread making. (Courtesy of Santa, I got a book to help me get started.) P.S. If you are worried about all your savings in the bank, I know of a safe, remote haven in the hills of CT where your money can be sent.

4. Introducing the world's newest universal, totally appropriate response to bumbling Heads of State: Shoe-throwing. What did you expect the guy to do? President Bush was making him really mad. (See number 8.)

3. Kudos to tabloids: Madonna and A-Rod WERE really an item after all! Ashlee Simpson WAS really pregnant!

2. The bittersweet taste of flying the coup: The "sweet" of course, is our new house and yard and all that that entails. The "bitter" of course, is summed up in #9.

1. We'll always have Paris: This still goes down as best surprise ever in content and execution and most certainly tops any "best" list that has to do with 2008.


For the top ten potential new stories of 2009, you'll have to check back tomorrow. I need to let my thoughts percolate for another few hours. And maybe have a cocktail or two to help spark some creativity.

Happy New Year!

Rate My Space

We need help. No, it's not the 2 feet of snow that have blanketed the yard, trapping us inside (the Morabito's left us the name of their plow guy), it's our furniture. We have a couch, love seat and oversized chair in a room with a fireplace on one wall and windows on two walls. We want to put a mirror above the fireplace and the TV between two windows. But that leaves the furniture to all be clumped together awkwardly. There are two alcoves beside the fireplace where we'd like to get built-in shelves made.

We're going to move the book shelf there to the right of the fireplace and have considered putting the chair there but then the chair won't have a view of the TV.

Those white doors are to a closet so that limits what we can do with that space to the left of the fireplace. The chair is too big to fit. It blocks the closet and sticks out in the doorway.

Right now, we want to put the TV on the wall across from the chair and couch beside it. Here:
To the left of the window on the left is the bookcase we are going to move. But we want the TV between the windows (no glare?). It looks pretty ghetto in these pictures but it's not that bad in person. Notice the makeshift shrine. (We have no table yet for the vases with Christmas balls, Kath.)

This is all the furntiure, just waiting for the arrival of the TV. But we're not sure how a coffee table will fit and it looks a little awkward because it looks all clumped together with empty space by the fireplace.

As you can see, it's a little sparse right now but we have big plans. And don't you just love the floor and the paint job?

If you can't quite grasp how it looks from these pictures, you'll have to just come over and see for yourselves. Any suggestions?

Happy Holidays

The Christmas tree. Tannenbaum, O, Tannenbaum. Aside from the jolly, old soul, one of the most quintessential of Christmas symbols. But really, what does it symbolize?

Now before you go calling me a grinch, hear me out. I love Christmas. Maybe Christmas has become to commercialized but I like that people (for the most part) buy into the whole idea of "holiday cheer" and "merry greetings." I think combining anything red and green instantly makes people sing fa la la la la.

I love Christmas trees. I like the tiny, shimmering lights. I like the smell of pine. I like the somewhat creepy miniature ornaments. I don't mind watering it. I realize the oddness of bringing a tree inside and decorating it and still, I like it.

But we're not getting a Christmas tree this year. And it's okay.

It wasn't okay a week or two ago but now I feel like Lucy. A Charlie Brown Christmas tree, or no Christmas tree for that matter, does not make or break a holiday season. So why aren't we getting a tree and why am I, the most grinchless of merry-makers, not insisting on this Christmas must-have? We are not getting a tree because there is no place to put it in our 4 bedroom, two story colonial. Okay, there is space - ample space - where a tree could go. We could put it in the empty formal living room with the pristine new hardwood floors. Or we could put it in front of the picture window in the empty dining room (with the bedazzled chandelier). Or, we could put it in the office with the drop clothes, step ladder and paint supplies. There is the family room that now awkwardly filled with a couch, loveseat and oversided chair and ottoman but we haven't actually sat on the new furniture since we can't decide where to put it all. There is always the kitchen but maneuvering around a tree while trying to chop onions seems even more odd that cutting down a tree, dragging it inside and decorating it. We seem to be spending most of our time in the basement with the wood paneling circa 1974 and flourescent lighting. We sit on our old couch and watch the TV mounted in the corner as if we are in a doctor's waiting room. I feel like bringing a tree down there would wilt the poor branches before they even had a chance to dry out.

Still, a week ago I was insistent, "you can't have Christmas without a Christmas tree." And Mr. Claus looked at me and earnestly said, "why not?"
"Because where will we put our presents? Because how will we get in the spirit of the season? Because where will we hang all our ornaments- all 10 of them? Because you just can't." I really believed these things.

But then I really starting thinking about it. And then I bought a poinsetta, and a wreath and hung twinkly lights in the room with too much furniture. And not having a tree didn't seem so bad. I bought two stocking and hung them by the chimney with care. I still am enjoying those holiday greetings and gay, happy meetings when friends come to call. We will put our presents by the poinsetta and little pine branch wreath thing by the fireplace. And sitting in a room with no TV and lots of sitting area is kind of nice...even without a tree.

The Christmas tree does not symbolize Christmas. It does not mean you are Ebinezer Scrooge. It does not mean you are one of Santa's elves. It's absence does not mean Santa won't come to Bethel. Not having a tree has been liberating. Instead of cowering in shame when someone says, "what do you mean, you're not getting a tree?" I can now hold my head high say, I am not getting a tree and I think you, too, should try a Christmas without one. It won't damper your spirits and will make you think a little more about what the holiday season means to you. You'd be surprise what a little red, green and twinkle lights can do to a room without a tree. Of course, we will have one next year. Maybe one in each in room.

But really, what do you need to celebrate the season?


And:
Coming soon...Rate Our Space. We really do need help deciding where to put the furniture we bought...

MIA

We are officially "balling in Bethel," though I'm not sure how much "balling" we are actually doing. There is alot of correcting papers, lesson planning and maneuvering around boxes and piles of stuff that doesn't have a home yet.

I have not completely quit blogging but sadly, I've been reduced to one a month posts - if you're lucky. But keep checking...I will be back...someday...with some profound thoughts...