* Here's another shot that didn't make the Christmas card.* Mom always fills the adults' stockings with practical things. Aspirin, batteries, dental floss and the like. I love this.
* I avoid teaching the word "wreath". The French say it "Reet" and the Japanese "Leath". Both of these pronunciations cause me to laugh thus undermining student confidence. Best not to go there.
* Spouse is tiring of my constant playing of the Charlie Brown Christmas CD. I've played it dozens of times, as I do every year.
* I have never seen a "flocked" tree for sale up here. Maybe because the real thing is outside. Is it just a California thing?
* I asked my muslim student if he celebrated something at this time of year. He explained that he was going to sacrifice a lamb. He will go out to a farm, slit the animal's throat himself, then the farmer will skin and gut it, and he will take it home and divvy it up to family and charity. Call me crazy, but a tree and presents sound more festive.
* All the snow has melted here and none is forecast before Noel. It'll be my first non-white Christmas in 7 years.
* Despite the lack of snow, this seemed Christmassy. They had bells and they were jingling.
24 comments:
I love the picture of you guys. Sarah, looks like she's singing. I love the Charlie Brown Christmas too. Christmas time is here...Happiness and cheer...Snowflakes in the air...Carols everywhere...Oh that it could always be, our favorite time of year...
I have a cast iron model of a (single) horse and cart similar to the one in your picture that was a souvenir from a vacation to Quebec (City) in the late 1950's. How cool!
I love the casual C'mas photo of you and Spouse.
We always got toothbrushes and razors in our stocking along with oranges and grapefruit.
that picture is awesome! I would say it is card worthy.
As for the snow, I am in the same boat as you. In fact it will be in the hi 50's low 60's this and next week.
Not like any December that I have every known. Maybe that is why I am getting sick :-(
The pronunciations of "wreath" would make me giggle too...precisely why a jerk like me would teach it.
I'm not much of one for the holidays but if forced to choose, I'd go the tree and presents route versuses the sacrificial lamb way.
Great pic! I agree with Ed -- the second it appeared on my screen I thought it looked liked Sarah was singing.
Love the card, love the 'leath'...
And I'm looking forward to a green Xmas. I still wish it was a brown/ blue Xmas, as in 'on a beach!'
I just saw my first flocked tree this year in Florida in the almost 30 some years I have lived on and off here - the last ones I saw were in Virginia...
Do we get to see the shot that made the Christmas card? Please...
I agree, tree covered in silly sparkles and lights with lots of presents is way better than a chunk of lamb meat - especially since it's not even lambing season - you'll get young mutton at this point.
We have flocked trees here in Scotland, but most folks love the fiber optic ones because they don't have to string lights too. It's efficient.
I always got chap stick in my stocking and a life savers storybook - I always ate the butterscotch ones first.
One year after pulling out the traditional candy and fruit from our stockings, my sister, brother and I discovered that we each had a one hundred dollar bill stuffed in the toe! Santa must have thought we'd been very good that year!
Hopefully my sweetie and I will enjoy a white xmas here in Newfoundland. (We had a blizzard last week!)
Delightful picture of you, spouse and Sarah.
I LOVE that photo! It is SO adorable and sweet! You guys make quite a family!
HUGS to all three of you...
Ah, trees. This is probably one of those few areas where I will take "plastic" over ...erm, wood.
Plus, my fake tree also has those fiberoptic light thingies, and no aggravating mess of pine needles to clean up in January. It packs up nicely for the other 320 days of the year I am not using it as well; so the fake fiberoptic tree is a win-win for me. :)
I'd definitely go for trees and presents of mucking about with lamb entrails. There is just something more endearing about waking up Christmas Morning with a bit of eggnog and opening up the gifts than laying the smackdown on "Lambchop".
My wife (who is from Japan) calls a wreath a "kurisumasu ree-su":
クリスマス リース
I asked her if there was a native Japanese word for it, but she said that the closest word would be 花輪 or transl. as "hanawa", a more generic word, but with the connotation of the wreathes used at funerals.
In German, we say "Kranz" or "Adventskranz" if referring to those Lutheran style Advent wreathes with the candles. Of course, you might get a giggle from a German listener if you pronounce it as "krănz" instead of "krahnts".
this got me all giddy for christmas again. yay!
You guys are definitely getting into the spirit. Maybe it's time for me to download some carols.
aw...
No tree for me this year. Up until midnight last night wrapping up the first wave of loot for the folks at work.
But... after today, two weeks of freedom!
there's a christmas tree lot less than a mile from my house and you can get a flocked tree in almost any color... it's so hideous, it's fabulous.... i'll have to some pics and post them... i really think, or rather hope, it's a texas thing!!! i'd hate to see that everywhere!!! have a great holiday!!!
Doesn't the CIA repeatedly play the Charlie Brown Christmas CD to break prisoners' will?
That's a great shot. And Montreal looks beautiful.
Oh, that picture is so Christmas-y, I love it.
I always fill the stockings with practical things too, chocolate, chocolate, chocolate covered things, and of course, chocolate.
What charity accepts uninspected lamb?!! Yowza!
Oh and it is snowing here, so I must be getting your snow also. White Christmas indeed. Let's hope it's not just like the ones I used to know!
One more thing, I liked the gonch shot from yesterday. I must have been knocked speechless there for a bit. I'm okay now, thanks for asking.
Love the picture. I think you should have used it. It's very sweet.
My one year celebrating Christmas, my boyfriend of the time only mentioned that fact that I was supposed to fill the stocking with stuff at the last minute, forcing me on a last-minute panicked shopping trip to Duane Reade. It may not be as grand, but Hanukah is way simpler.
I love the Charlie Brown Christmas CD. I could listen over and over with no problem.
I've seen flocked trees for sale, but never knew that was what they were called.
I'm a bit surprised at your flippant tone regarding your Muslim student's observance of Eid. Just because it doesn't fit your notions of a holiday celebration doesn't mean it is any less festive for the celebrants than Christmas is for you. I guess you've never had a Christmas ham, or assume they appear magically in the grocery store. Eid is more than just killing a lamb.
I gave up on white Christmases in NYC a long time ago. Global warming put an end to that. Not that I care that much about it. And I've never dreamed of a White Hanukah. Oh, and a Jew wrote the song White Christmas, by the way.
The photo just makes me think of Budweiser commercials. Damn tv.
* Mom always fills the adults' stockings with practical things. Aspirin, batteries, dental floss and the like. I love this.
Mmm... And some chocolates and a pack of menthol cigarettes...
No snow? Dammit! It's in the 80's here and I thought I would get a bit of snow up north. Ah well, I sure am glad there's no such thing as global warming.
Aspirin, batteries and dental floss, eh? Let me guess, your mom was married to McGyver?
My favorite is the Alvin and the Chimunks Christmas Album. I've been known to drive people to the brink of madness with that. I have all the songs and all the harmonies memorized. Would you like to hear some?
I finally got all of my Christmas cards written and mailed yesterday, and am beginning to feel a bit festive, although some snow whould help!
No animal sacrifices here, just tree-trimming and holiday cheer.
And I'm "OK" wit that. Really OK with it.
fantastic snippets. as for stockings, practical is fine but there's gotta be some candy and stupid stuff, too.
flocked trees are just gross.
we won't have a white christmas, either. it's just not the same.
i love the horse drawn carriage. sleigh bells ringggggggg, are ya listenin?
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