Saturday, December 29, 2007

Ice Skating. . Fun or Misery?



Yeah . . . sooo. . . on the subject of ice skating . . . is it fun, or misery?? I would tend to think that it would be fun IF I actually had some good ice skates for once. The typical night of ice skating is as follows: friends call up and say “hey, got a great idea! Let’s go ice skating tonight!” It really sounds like a blast so I gear up in my beanie, gloves, sweater, scarf, boots, etc. and head out for a night of fun. Once we get to the outside skating rink in downtown Sacramento we first stop by Starbuck’s to warm up with a nice caramel apple cider or perhaps a cinnamon dolce steamer. After warming up the body and soul we head over to purchase our rentals and skating tickets. All is well until we end up at the rental modular. There usually is either a line or the “staff” assigned to the rentals has somehow gone MIA. When the appropriate personnel is located or the line has moved along we indicate which size skates we wear only to be given a pair of skates two sizes too big, sopping wet inside from the last renter’s sweat and ice, and the shoe laces are either too short or the rings to string them through are missing. Ugh! The line is too long to return them for other skates and who is to say that the replacement pair will be any better? I guess they will have to do. The first five or six times around the rink is pure horror! One must grab on to anyone they can find until they feel a little more comfortable standing on metal and ice. When you finally get comfortable with skating on your own, you realize that you ankles are killing you from lack of support and the skates that are seemingly made out of wood (at least it feels like it). A break is in order to relieve the pressure ulcers that are forming on your feet. The cycle continues until you run out of time on the ice or your poor body can no longer take the abuse. The evening ends with everyone saying how much fun they had and “we have to do it again!” all the while questioning whether you ever want to hear the words “ice skating” again. Ladies and gentlemen. . . I propose a solution to this never ending cycle of misery! Let us purchase our own skates that we may enjoy the FUN that ice skating may have to offer. Let us also find bigger and better skating rinks, or better yet a frozen deserted lake, that we do not abuse and injure our fellow skaters on ice. What say ye to this proposal?? All in favor?

(I did have quite a great time with my friends . . . . except for the skates. . . I have a great blister as a result)

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Have Yourself A Very Merry Christmas. . . .


And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.
~Dr. Seuss

Christmas is a special time, a magical season of love and laughter. Everyone of us has our own ideas of how to spend and enjoy the holiday season. When I think of December, I think of hot coco, a roaring fire, reading novels, shopping, ice skating, mistletoe (yeah, haven’t tried that one yet! Ha!), skiing in Tahoe (someday I will spend Christmas in Switzerland skiing the Alps . . .but not for a while), scarfs and gloves, family (I wish they all lived closer), games, candy canes, decorations, pine trees, boots, Christmas music, final exams :-(, egg nog, cookies and cakes, presents, snow/rain, love, lights, happiness, and the true meaning of Christmas. . . . the birth of Jesus Christ!! I truly believe that it is indeed “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!” I spent last Christmas in London, England with Ryan and Ben and while it was a completely wonderful and amazing experience, it wasn’t the same. I am looking forward to spending this Christmas with my family and friends, listening to the Christmas story, playing games and eating all day long!!

Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveller, thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home!
~Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers, 1836


Christmas is a time when you get homesick - even when you're home.

~Carol Nelson




My personal top 11 Christmas songs:

1. “Once Upon a Christmas” Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers
2. “White Christmas” Bing Crosby
3. “The Christmas Song” Nat “King” Cole
4. “Little Drummer Boy” Josh Groban
5. “I Want a Hippopatamus for Christmas” Gayla Peevey
6. “A Christmas to Remember” Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers
7. “You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch” Thurl Ravenscroft
8. “Baby it’s Cold Outside” Various Artists
9. “All I Want for Christmas is You” Mariah Carey
10. “Santa Baby” Eartha Kitt
11. "Merry Christmas Darling" Carpenters

Let Christmas not become a thing
Merely of merchant's trafficking,
Of tinsel, bell and holly wreath
And surface pleasure, but beneath
The childish glamour, let us find
Nourishment for soul and mind.
Let us follow kinder ways
Through our teeming human maze,
And help the age of peace to come
From a Dreamer's martyrdom.
~Madeline Morse

I wish you ALL a very MERRY CHRISTMAS filled with Love and Joy!!
Love ~ Sarah, Mika & Fritz