Christmas Wishes

Christmas Eve is my very favourite day of the year and as the sun goes down on yet another relaxing December 24th I watch the holiday lights come on around my neighbourhood, and finally sit here with my laptop to share with you my Christmas wishes for this year...

First and foremost, I wish for good health. Not just for myself but for my family and all of my loved ones. Most importantly for my uncle who is still not well. He will have another operation in the new year and hopefully that will take care of everything and 2009 will be his healthiest year yet. I wish good health on all of you and your loved ones as well.

My second wish, a little bit more selfish, is to find a job that I enjoy in London. I am taking a very big step out of the comfort zone I've been living in for the past 18 months to start something new and exciting. I hope beyond hope that I can make a strong start for myself without too much waiting for things to begin.

Thirdly, I wish that the changes that are going on all over the world will lead to brighter, happier, more stable times ahead. I am an eternal optimist and I refuse to believe that the state of the world will continue to decline. I have high hopes for a positive future and look forward to being a part of those things that get us there, together.

My fourth and fifth wishes are materialistic and fantastic, but come on now it's Christmas! I wish for the Foo Fighters Live at Wembley DVD and I wish for it to be hand delivered to me my Dave Grohl and Barack Obama.

Happy Christmas, everyone!

christmas tree!

On Sunday my family headed up to Drysdale's Tree Farm in Cookstown ON to cut down our Christmas tree. The wagon ride to the field of trees was a lot of fun, walking around in the snow looking at trees was a lot of fun, and watching my brother cut down the tree (his first tree cutting attempt ever) was a lot of fun.

I'm not feeling much like writing too many details or stories at the moment (I'll explain in another post later in the week), but here are some photos for you to enjoy!


Some of the trees we had to choose from


Me and my brother, enjoying being kids for a day


My family in the 'woods'


And finally, our tree.

Replacing the old with the slightly less old

I am about halfway into my 40 days before Christmas fast... and it's not a fast per se, I just can't think of another word to describe it. It's my Christmas version of Lent, without any religious undertones. Though this one only started a few years ago when I decided that because the holidays tended to be a time when my good habits went out the window, I would give up some of my more offensive habits in the 40 days leading up to the big holiday in hopes of avoiding a completely unproductive/unhealthy/unattractive holiday season.

Last year I painstakingly gave up soda and biting my nails. Both of which I dove right back into feasting on when the mood struck me. This year, I've given up chocolate and biting my nails. Now, I have no intention of kicking chocolate out of my life on a permanent basis - in fact, I don't eat all that much chocolate during the year as it is (however, at this time of year I tend to say "yes" to at least three too many chocolate chip cookies, cups of hot chocolate, chocolate cupcakes, etc. so it seemed like a good time to cut it out) - but biting my fingernails is something I would like to stop permanently.

It shouldn't be so hard to stop biting them, as I have no desire to do so whatsoever during the 40 days that I give up on my annoying habit, but it has proven to be more difficult to stop it indefinitely. There is, however, one trick that seems to work for me: nail polish. As long as my nails are painted, I spend much more time tending to the chips and dents in the polish than I do clipping and filing my nails with my teeth. So, my new habit is painting my fingernails.

In addition, I was shopping last night and came across a lovely ball of yarn and before I knew it I was on my way to knitting myself a lovely, cosy, warm scarf. I will, of course, show off the finished product but for now....

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And now, just for fun, a Christmas Survey:


When do you start Christmas shopping?
- Generally around late October when something with a red SALE sticker on it catches my eye as a cool breeze floats in through an open shop door.

Are you finished shopping?
- No, but I am nearly finished.

How many people are you buying for?
- Ten

What are you leaving out for Santa?
- Most likely nothing (because Santa is usually in bed before I am on Christmas Eve), but I'm considering leaving him a beer and a glass of Bailey's

Name 3 things you want for Christmas:
- Nintendo DS, Foo Fighters Live at Wembley DVD, a job in London

Are you traveling this year?
- Not for Christmas... but my big move is on the 29th!

If so, Where to?
- London, baby

Do you have a fireplace/ chimney?
- Nope

Favorite things to get in your stocking?
- Spearmint chewing gum

Any family traditions?
- The four of us each open one gift on Christmas Eve then mum and dad go back upstairs to finish wrapping presents while Scott and I go downstairs to watch one of the many Christmas movies on TV.

What foods does your family have every year at Christmas?
- Always turkey and some kind of potatoes... everything else changes year to year

Who is the most fun to buy for?
- Scott, because he doesn't specify what he wants. He just says things like, "Some clothes, maybe a DVD or something?" So I get to choose what I think is best!

Who is the easiest to buy for?
- Mum because it's always easy to find a book she'd like to read, or some earrings she'll just love.

Who is the hardest to buy for?
- Dad because he doesn't read and doesn't have any hobbies. He always insists that we don't buy him anything and then a day or two before Christmas when I've finished all my shopping says, "You know what you can get me..."

Who gives the best gifts?
- My family spoils me at Christmas. But I have to say my brother really does buy the things I like. Probably because he asks me what I want, I tell him, and he gets it... sometimes he buys something and forgets he's bought it and buys something else. That's when I get lots of presents!

Any movies/specials you have to watch every year?
- National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation or Scrooged or Home Alone.

Who passes out the presents?
- Scott and I take turns crawling under the tree to reach the gifts.

Main stores you have shopped at this year:
- So far Indigo, Gap, The Bay, BMV, and Future Shop

What kind of tree do you have?
- We're going to cut it down this weekend. It will likely be some kind of spruce tree.

What are your 3 favorite ornaments on your tree?
- The red snowflake my cousin Leanne made for us when I was little is my favourite because it's red and Leanne made it. The Eskimo fishing has always been a favourite because it's been around so long. Santa and Mrs. Claus are also special because they have to hang next to each other and it's always a tricky task finding two branches strong enough to hold them that close together.

What adorns the top of your tree?
- Usually my dad because he's the tallest, but I'm pretty sure I climbed on a chair and did it last year.

Do you collect anything Christmasy?
- Just cards

Whose kids are you buying for this year?
- Anna's son

Can you name all 9 reindeer?
- Yes

Ever watch Ernest Saves Christmas?
- Yes, ages ago

What's your favorite Christmas drink?
- Mulled wine or hot apple cider

Do you like Eggnog?
- No

What flavor candy canes do you like?
- Peppermint

When do you take your tree down?
- Usually January 2

Is Christmas still magical for you?
- Yes, and I think it always will be

What is your favorite thing about Christmas?
- The excitement of Christmas Eve. That is my absolute favourite day of the year! I love the hustle and bustle of last minute shoppers, I love putting my gifts under the tree, and I love falling asleep at night trying to picture everyones faces as they open the things I got for them.

Do you donate at Christmas time?
- I usually give money to the Salvation Army bell ringers in the malls.

Do you make sure to remember the TRUE meaning of Christmas?
- I celebrate my family and my friends at Christmastime and try to remember that they are what really matters in life. That's what Christmas is to me.

How many nativity scenes do you have in your house?
- Just one.

Have you been naughty or nice?
- I am always nice.

A very Christmas blog

It has been AGES since I've written, yet again... two weeks have passed and though I haven't done anything spectacularly exciting within the past fourteen or some odd days, I feel I should update and report what has happened around me.

Sunday December 16 we (Toronto) got hit with a BEAUTIFUL snow storm. Well over a foot on the ground and a nice blanket of white over everything for the holiday season.
I somehow managed to get all of my Christmas shopping done with only two days off last week (and I must admit, I am very pleased with the gifts I've chosen for my family). We didn't get a chance to drive north and cut down our Christmas tree as planned because of the above mentioned snow storm. Instead, we drove around the city and ended up getting a really nice tree from Loblaws... tree photos to follow (as I've not taken any yet).

Work has been really busy. I am, however, still enjoying it. I like watching people frantically search for Jamie Oliver's cookbook and LOVE being called an angel for finding the correct issue of Naruto for someone who was too lazy to walk into the store and find it herself. I am working later today, Christmas Eve and will be sporting my oh-so-wonderful Santa hat.

I have been asked many times what I want for Christmas this year and haven't really been able to come up with an answer. I think it's because what I want for Christmas I will get in a month when I am in England: I really just want to be with my friends who are there while I am all the way over here. Today I spoke to Chris for his birthday. Even hearing his voice made such a huge difference, and I am going to make a better effort to phone my dear friends overseas more often because it had me smiling all night at work. (Despite the fact that I made my first mistake at work by showing up at 2:30 instead of the scheduled time of 2... oops).

In terms of actual gifts, I am hoping to get one item: "The Lonely Empress" (the book on Sisi of Austria that I've been trying to find for the last few months, and kicking myself for not having bought it when I was holding it in my hand in Vienna).

I think that is enough for now. I had more to say, but as this is already quite long I will end it here... most likely I will write more later on today.

Monday, Monday

Yesterday started out as a pretty brutal day. I was alone with eight children, three of whom were crying babies looking for attention. NOT FUN. But then the most lovely twins in the world (a boy and a girl, just over 1 year old) came in and made my day a lot better.

Then, came time for work. A 330-1130 shift that I was NOT looking forward to, but was pleasantly surprised at the very end of my first 15 minute break to run into a very old friend. Alex Heywood, aka the love of my thirteen year old self's life. I haven't seen Alex in about three years - the last time I saw him was either right after I got back from my first year in England, or the night before I left for that year abroad. Either way, it's been ages! (Actually, I saw him from afar in early 2006 downtown, but wasn't close enough to actually say hello). Anyway, it was so good and surprising to see him that I couldn't get the stupid smile off of my face the rest of the night. It's amazing what an old friend can do.

THEN, I came home to a few really great emails from friends in England, all indicating that we WILL be seeing each other in January/February, so things are looking good.

Tonight I'm doing some more Christmas shopping - have an idea in my mind for my dad and one for my mum. Hopefully somewhere along the way I'll find something else for Scott.

I tried to find a photo of my thirteen year old self to post, but as I could not find it here is one of me circa 1984 instead.

and so another week passes....

I really am getting lazy when it comes to updating my blog. Perhaps I am just keeping too busy? Perhaps.


So what has gone on... well, there has been a nice layer of snow all over everything since last weekend. The weather has been too cold for it to melt away, and I must admit I am quite content with the white all around. Today my father and I finally put up our Christmas lights, bringing our block's total of houses in a row with Christmas lights to six. Well done us. We also hung up our two wreaths and next weekend the four of us will venture north to cut down our Christmas tree. That's right, we're cutting down our own again this year.

Work is going well. I'm enjoying the constant Christmas music more than most, and somehow finding a way to smile for 8 hours without letting the angry shoppers bring me down. I suppose it's knowing how desperate some of them are to find gifts for their mothers/sisters/fathers/brothers/bosses/girlfriends/boyfriends/etc. that keeps me motivated to help them. I have been enjoying my staff discount quite a bit lately... as we get the full discount on all of the 'bargain' items as well, so it's savings all around! I haven't been spending much money lately, but have somehow managed to get some nice Christmas gifts already.

I have finished shopping for:
Anna and her family
Emily
Kate
Karen
Sam
Allison
Jenn
and have picked up part of the gifts for my father, mother and brother. So yay! Just have to sort out David's gift and put the finishing touches on the treat for his mother and I'll be done. Wow, I am on top of things this year. Suppose it helps working in retail with nothing but shopping on the mind all day.

Speaking of David, the band that he is in called KEY WITNESS is having their CD release party next week Saturday for their first album MERCURY IN RETROGRADE at the Tranzac Club. Let me be the first to say (well, probably not the first) the album sounds fantastic! They album is really well done and without any bias, they really are a great band. The lyrics are lovely and JM's voice is so addictive. Check them out and if you want a copy of their CD (for $10 I believe) let me know.

And, I think that is all I have to report for now. OH NO, WAIT! My graduation plans:
I'm arriving 22 January, heading to Brighton 24-29, back with family Jan 29 - Feb 5, back down to Brighton Feb 5 - probably the 16th, but I still have to sort out cash. My mum wants to take a trip somewhere with Ryanair, and with flights costing as low as 10 quid per person round trip surely hope we do go somewhere... More on that soon.

not a great sunday

today me and my folks went to a visitation for one of our neighbours who passed away on thursday morning. we weren't close with him but he and his wife have lived across the street for twenty years. his daughter is about 12 or 13 and although i hardly see her or speak to her when i go, i am so sad for her. he was only 56 and died suddenly. it's so scary to imagine going to bed one night and waking up and someone so close to you is gone. and even when you're not that close to someone that passes away like that it really gets you thinking about your own family and friends. needless to say, today was a rough day. i cried when i hugged his wife and couldn't even bring myself to speak to his daughter. i cannot even imagine what i would do if i lost my father like that.

after the visitation, which i left early because i was having too hard of a time being in the room with the family and friends whose lives have really been touched by my neighbour, i had to go shopping for new trousers. one of my most hated things. i suppose if i could go back to having the body i did when i was 19 i wouldn't mind shopping for trousers so much, but sadly i cannot. i managed to find some at MEXX that are pretty nice, but far too long so i need to find time this week to make a trip to the alteration shop up the road. suppose i should take my jeans there too, they are dragging all over the place!

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on a happier note, tomorrow is my first day at the book store and i'm really looking forward to it. not only will i be making some seriously needed money, i will be keeping busy. i am getting so tired of doing nothing and find that i'm starting to slip back into being really sad about being home. i'm on the verge of going back to saying that coming home was a big mistake... that is still up for debate.

the shops are playing christmas music and decorations are up downtown. i guess they had to go up sooner or later. i just wish that the decorations weren't there to encourage us to buy lots and lots of gifts, but rather just to celebrate the holiday season.

i love christmas and am actually longing for november to end and december to start.
plus, on christmas day i get to break my soda fast! speaking of which, i am doing very well, but had to fight some pretty intense diet pepsi cravings the other day. keith (the friend who is doing the fast with me) and i have yet to set out a firm list of acceptable beverages during the two month period, but i think we're on the same page when it comes to soda water, beer and other such questionable choices.

that's all for today. i'm feeling blughhhhh, and scattered and really really wishing i was where i was last year at this time.