After two long weeks since he flew to his home state, the royal Shoe-ness and I are going to be reunited. YAY!!
I'll be catching a flight tonight to the west coast and rockin' out in warm weather for a few days. Will probably be off the radar while I'm gone, but I wish you all a happy and healthy 2010.
It's Christmas Eve.
Growing up, it was a tradition for my family to fast until sundown on this day. I'm not sure why. I don't know if all Poles did it, or Catholics, or just my crazy relatives. But regardless, we fasted all day on Christmas Eve, eagerly awaiting a nighttime meal of barscz (commonly mispronounced borsch; I'm not Russian), grilled fish and pierogies.
I'd keep busy during the day to take the focus off my hunger. I was very involved in my church's youth group and on Christmas Eve we created a tradition of setting out homemade wax-bag lanterns around the grounds of the Church in preparation for midnight Mass.
After our traditional Polish dinner, my family would head to Mass while I helped light the lanterns outside the church. It took the entire 45 minute Mass to light all those suckers, but everyone was grateful for the angelic sight as they exited the Church.
This was my Christmas Eve tradition growing up....
...but understandably things have changed. I live in DC now. I usually work until noon on Christmas Eve. I'll scramble home to my apt to grab a weekend bag and jump on a northbound Amtrak to Jersey. I'll barely make it in time for sunset, but my family still waits for me to break bread and then feast on our simple Polish dinner. Then we'll all drive to the Church together for midnight Mass. I'll grow reminiscent as I see the younger kids getting ready to light the lanterns. I'm too old to join them but so happy to see that they've kept up a tradition that I started over 10 years ago.
This year will be different than all the rest. It's the first time (in a long time) that I'm at my parents' house a few days before Christmas Eve. I struck a deal with them. I'll visit from Tuesday through Saturday, at which point I'll hop a plane to California to join Shoe and celebrate the holiday with his family.
It's the first year I'll be splitting the holiday with families...and hopefully not the last.
Tradition is kind of funny. Cause even though the word technically means a specific practice of long standing, my traditions have been chameleon over the years. Which is more exciting than it is scary. It used to frighten me that I might not be able to observe the practices I grew up with. But now I welcome the new and dynamic, and look forward with eager anticipation of what new traditions might bring.
However you celebrate the holiday season, may you cherish the time with those you spend it with, and hold onto those memories as you shape your own traditions.
...but thankfully a lot of other people are.
Take, for example, this Christmas inspired poem mocking the current Tiger Woods scandal (thanks SuziQ, for emailing):
Twas the night of Thanksgiving and out of the house
Tiger Woods came a flyin', chased by his blonde spouse..
She wielded a nine iron and wasn't too merry,
Cause a bimbo's phone number was in his Blackberry.
He'd been cheatin' on Elin, and the story progressed.
Woman after woman stepped up and confessed.
He'd been cheatin' with Holly, and Jaimee, and Cori,
With Joselyn, and Kalika. The world had the story.
From the top of the Tour to the basement of blues,
Tiger's sad sordid tale was all over the news.
With hostesses, waitresses, he had lots of sex,
When not in their pants, he was sendin' them texts.
Despite all his cryin' and beggin' and pleadin',
Tiger's wife went investin' -- a new home in Sweden.
And I heard her exclaim from her white Escalade,
"If you're gettin' laid then I'm gettin' paid."
She's not pouting, in fact, she is of jolly good cheer,
Her prenup made Christmas come early this year.
This would not be as funny if it had happened in August, a month with no national American holidays.
Another example of holiday humor aired during an NFL football game earlier this month (shout out to Captain for the find):
In short, there are some witty people out there around the holiday season. Which is great because
1) it makes up for the soulless grinches who seem determined to ruin the Christmas spirit-- yes I'm talking to you, evil mail lady-- and
2) I am too lazy to post anything original today. It's easier to just cut & paste other people's funnies.
I'm checking out of the snowy District tonight and heading up to the armpit fist pump Garden State for a few days to celebrate and be jolly with family. But stay tuned. More post to come before the end of the New Year.
So I'll admit, I definitely underestimated the snowfall predictions. I mean, in the past, forecasts that call for blizzards generally end in a disappointing light dusting of snow.
I wasn't about to hold my breath....
... and then this happened.
Which is great because I had a long weekend of relaxation. Followed by a snow day Monday because the gov't still doesn't know what to do with the unploughed shiz that's chillin' in the roads. Quite frankly, I'm okay with this. Another day snowed in is fine by me.
Especially when "snowed in" means grabbing these hooligans...
... and heading to a local bar to indulge in three 750mL bottles of $30 Belgian beer.
It's Friday. Lalalalala.
I'm here with 2 gifts for you today, bbs. One will surely help you with your holiday shopping. And the other is a wonderful distraction sent to me by Spoogy. Thanks girl.
#1 BlockBuster on 17th and P Streets, NW is CLOSING! The entire store is for sale (including some wall fixtures) at criminal prices. $3.99 and $4.99 for all DVDs. We're talking box sets for hit shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm and The Office. All the summer blockbusters for next to nothing prices. Cross off every name on your shopping list by hitting this one-stop location.
The store will officially close January 10th (shhh, I spoke to management and it's actually closing on the 11th and there will be further price mark-downs up until then).
#2 Remember my Wednesday post about Jerz-ify-ing your name by adding a "y" sound? Well this is even better. I entered my birth name and got "The Appointment." And, when I entered "Mb" I got "Pooker." Is that not disgustingly perfect or what?!
TGIF everyone. Stay warm this weekend, esp the kiddies in DC. Blizzard be on its way.
Happy Thursday! Traditionally, I like to join other bloggers in honoring TMI tales this day of the week.
But please pardon my lack of participation today, bbs. I've been raised to observe long mourning period when someone passes, and in honor of Shoe's grandfather I'm going to put the gross & vulgar aside for today.
I won't leave you hanging tho. Captain shared an email with me, from his mother, that definitely falls into the TMI category as it is simply too too too much information. She emailed him an itinerary for his upcoming trip home for the holidays. Mama's got it planned to the T.
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From: Captain
To: Mb
FW: Mom's holiday itinerary
12/24 Curried Turkey Dinner, Christmas preps
12/25 Breakfast, Presents, Dinner, Movie (TBD)
12/26 Mystery Dinner Theater: "Who Killed the Boss?" (tickets purchased)
12/27 Redskins/cowboys evening game; Lunch at or carry out dinner from Dave Foster's (BBQ & Brisket)
12/28 Lunch & "Ice!" at the Gaylord Center (tickets purchased)
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It's safe to say that I won't be seeing much of Captain over the holiday season, which is perfectly alright. I'd pass on socializing too for a mystery dinner theater with family. Pshhh, amazing.
Is your family planning anything exciting for the holiday?
