25 Christmas Facts 2011

1. The percentage of pet owners who have their dog or cat pose and photographed with Santa Claus stands at 27%
2. 364 is the amount of  presents would you receive if you were to get every present in “The 12 Days of Christmas”
3. Father Christmas has 2 addresses: Edinburgh, and the North Pole. Letters addressed as 'Toyland' or 'Snowland' go to Edinburgh, but those addressed to The North Pole have been sent there because there really is such a place.
4. After the American Revolution, English customs fell out of favor, including Christmas. In fact, Christmas wasn't declared a federal holiday until June 26, 1870.
5. Christmas trees are edible. Many parts of pines, spruces, and firs can be eaten. The needles are a good source of vitamin C. Pine nuts, or pine cones, are also a good source of nutrition.
6. "Wassail" comes from the Old Norse "ves heill"--to be of good health. This evolved into the tradition of visiting neighbors on Christmas Eve and drinking to their health.
7. Greeks do not use Christmas trees or give presents at Christmas. A priest may throw a little cross into the village water to drive the kallikantzari (gremlin-like spirits) away. To keep them from hiding in dark, dusty corners, he goes from house to house sprinkling holy water.
8. In Syria, Christmas gifts are distributed by one of the Wise Men's camels. The gift-giving camel is said to have been the smallest one in the Wise Men's caravan.
9. Long before it was used as a "kiss encourager" during the Christmas season, mistletoe had long been considered to have magic powers by Celtic and Teutonic peoples. It was said to have the ability to heal wounds and increase fertility. Celts hung mistletoe in their homes in order to bring themselves good luck and ward off evil spirits.
10. The "Twelve Days of Christmas" was originally written to help Catholic children, in England, remember different articles of faith during the persecution by Protestant Monarchs. The "true love" represented God, and the gifts all different ideas:
    The "Partridge in a pear tree" was Christ.
    2 Turtle Doves = The Old and New Testaments
    3 French Hens = Faith, Hope and Charity-- the Theological Virtues
    4 Calling Birds = the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
    5 Golden Rings = The first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch", which relays the history of man's fall from grace.
    6 Geese A-laying = the six days of Creation
    7 Swans A-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments
    8 Maids A-milking = the eight beatitudes
    9 Ladies Dancing = the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
    10 Lords A-leaping = the ten commandments
    11 Pipers Piping = the eleven faithful apostles
    12 Drummers Drumming = the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed
11. Theodore Roosevelt, a staunch conservationist, banned Christmas trees in his home, even when he lived in the White House. His children, however, smuggled them into their bedrooms.
12. Gift giving, Christmas drinks, Christmas Cards and many other Christmas traditions are not modern gifts of capitalism (though capitalism sure does love it) – they actually come to us via the Ancient Romans who exchanged all of those things on New Year’s Day (Strenae, named after Strenia the goddess of New Year’s gifts). This was initially shunned by the Church (“(Do not) make vetulas, [little figures of the Old Woman], little deer or iotticos or set tables [for the house-elf, compare Puck] at night or exchange New Year gifts or supply superfluous drinks [another Yule custom].” -St Eligius, 7th century) but old habits die hard and it eventually transferred to Christmas.
13. That one small word causes anger amongst many people; many Christians consider it to be disrespectful to replace Christ’s name with an ‘x’ – even going so far as to that that it is a ploy by anti-Christians to de-Christianify Christmas. However, Xmas is almost as old as the feast it refers to – the ‘x’ is actually the Greek letter chi which is the first letter of Christ’s name in Greek (Χριστός). Xmas is every bit as religious as Christmas.
14. Germany made the first artificial Christmas trees. They were made of goose feathers and dyed green.
15. More diamonds are sold around Christmas than any other time of the year.
16. "It's a Wonderful Life" appears on TV more often than any other holiday movie.
17. The first church the Dutch built in New York City was named in St Nicholas' honour -St Nicholas Church.
18. America's official national Christmas tree is located in King's Canyon National Park in California. The tree, a giant sequoia called the "General Grant Tree," is over 300 feet (90 meters) high. It was made the official Christmas tree in 1925.
19. Before settling on the name of Tiny Tim for his character in "A Christmas Carol," three other alliterative names were considered by Charles Dickens. They were Little Larry, Puny Pete, and Small Sam.
20. Contrary to common belief, poinsettia plants are non-toxic.
21. The American Puritans wanted to make the festival of Thanksgiving Day the prime festival instead of Christmas.
22. Listen to the song "Twelve Days of Christmas" and count the number of gifts in the song. You will realize that gifts were exchanged 364 times. Thus the gifts are exchanged everyday of the year.
23. Warning: Christmas shopping may be hazardous to your health. If you are an avid Christmas shopper statistics have concluded that you will be elbowed at least three times while shopping. Ouch!
24. The annual Christmas pudding was more than just a tasty treat. Small items were placed in them which had the power to predict what the New Year would bring. Coins were associated with a gain in wealth, a ring was a sign of an imminent marriage and a button signified extended bachelorhood. This idea actually goes back to the middle ages where the cake being served on the Twelfth Night would come complete with a hidden bean. Whoever found this bean was declared “king” for that one night.
25. Jingle Bells" was first written for Thanksgiving and then became one of the most popular Christmas songs.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
     

Dear Santa...I want shoes for Christmas

 Dear Santa.....
There isn't much that I want or need out of life these days. My health is pretty good, and I have a roof over my head. Thankfully I work, and have steady income. I live with my mom and aunt whom I adore, and take care of. My pets are happy too. Honestly, this is all I could ask for out of life. Good friends, good health, and a family who I am blessed to have. I strive to be a good person, helping people in need, and taking care of my family. I don't require much...other than sleep...and a date with Colin Farrell. But is that so much to ask for???
     However, there is one vice which I have. And one weakness that I can't resist, and that is SHOES. So please Santa....please if you're going to bring me anything this year...let it be luxurious, frivolous shoes which I really can't afford to buy for myself. Shoes that will look killer on my tootsies, and that will make men wish I was on their arm as I strut around in them.

or or or
and then there's always..................................................................................................................................
 and and   and  but lets not forget about  or

Santa...if you gift me with these shoes, I will love and cherish them for the rest of my days. They may not be practical for my lifestyle...but I will put htem to good use. Thank you Santa.....I know you won't let me down.

Oh, and a date with Colin Farrell would be a nice gift too.....because I would wear a pair of the shoes you give me for Christmas on my date!

My love,

Rosie

Hello Blog-o-sphere....it's been too, too long

     I have a life outside the Internet world.....doesn't everyone? But please forgive me for being away so long. It isn't that I didn't think about you, blog(gers)...and miss you. It's just well I have been....preoccupied....distracted.....busy.....okay just down-right LAZY about blogging. There I said it! AHHH, now I feel so much better. During the summer I started dating again...and have a blog dedicated to the nightmares/adventures of that whole aspect of trying to find 'the one'. And believe you me, it's difficult! And even more than difficult....EXHAUSTING! Thanks to a co-worker and friend, I have now gotten reacquainted with my country music roots. Between Scotty McCreery, Lady Antebellum, and Alan Jackson to name a few I can now get down with the country-crooning again.
    But now it's October, and we're in the full-swing of a beautiful east coast autumn. The leaves are finally changing, and the fire pit nights are in full-swing as we sit and watch the dark night sky, think of our upcoming Thanksgiving feast....and for me the excitement of dressing up for my favorite holiday, Halloween. This year it was a nightmare deciding what I wanted to be, and finding the perfect costume. Surprisingly 2 options came to me in the ninth hour, and I passed them by my mom who actually liked the one I didn't think she'd go for. So now we just have to fit in some pumpkin picking, and snag some fresh produce from the local farms to cook up....like fresh roasted corn, fried cauliflower, and pumpkin pie. Autumn always gets me in the mood to cook up tons of food, and freeze some so dinner isn't that difficult to deal with. My go-to fall foods are stews and chili, and even soup. So get cooking people! And don't let the weather make you blue. Take the dog for an evening stroll...and if your dog is as tubby as ours is, take the dog out several times a day. Actually I am enjoying my walks with Lola...she loves them, they finally got her housebroken, and they get her and I moving.
     With all the ugliness and natural disasters happening in the world these days life can get a bit scary. Remember to treat people with kindness and they'll do the same to you. Cherish your friends and family above material objects. When a friend and you no longer have things in common, and start to drift in different directions, don't get angry at them. Instead try and realize that the relationship has run its course, and whatever lesson you or the other party was to teach one another has happened and it is time to move on. No angry words need to be exchanged, no hard feelings need to be made. Try and remember you can not change someone to how you want them to be to fit in to your life. Nor do you need to subject yourself to a person/relationship/situation that is toxic, drama-filled, or negative. Simply wish the other person well, and travel on, down the path of life.

A Pirate's Life's For Me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ever since I was a wee lass, there has been two consistent loves in my life. (1) pirates, and (2) vampires. My pirate love I believe stems from seeing Gilbert & Sullivan operetta Pirates of Penzance, and having the pirate kings sash brush me as he rushed through the seats of the theater.Then when I was 11 years old my mom took me to Disney World for my first visit, and I fell head over heals in love with the Disney ride Pirates of the Caribbean!What made it even more cool was before they revamped the ride to incorporate Captain Jack Sparrow in to the ride, there was actually a pirate lass statue which resembled me! Yep I was hooked on anything and everything Pirates of the Caribbean. If I wasn't so covered in tattoos ( and solemnly swore to my mom that I wouldn't get another tattoo) would probably get a pirate inspired inking.

Which brings us to the terrific-and-35 birthday bash which is Pirates of the Caribbean themed and a mere three weeks away! Today we placed I finalized the cake and menu for this auspicious occasion. But what's even more cooler...is that my piratical paraphenalia for my outfit has been coming in. Is piratical even a word? Anywho...here are some of the items in my possession for making me piratey perfect!

Jack Sparrow's Dragon ring. This is supper cool for me to own, as not only do I love dragons (and Jack Sparrow)...but I was born in the year of the dragon!

This Jack Sparrow ring I actually bought when mum and I were in Disney World, several years ago. Who'da thunk it would have come in handy???

 Not exactly my favorite of Jack's rings...but the price was right.
Jack Sparrow beads. Becuz, you know...I need 'em for me head!

 Ok, so maybe the real Captain Jack Sparrow won't be at the party. But I will be having an impersonator there!

Captain Morgan rum....because every pirate knows that the only way a party ends is when the rum is all gone!

 Pirate coins...because there's no sense in being a pirate if there's no booty to be had!
 Pirate napkins to be neat scally-wags!
 And some loot to decorate the tables.

Of course there is so, so, so much more. But I have to leave some of it as a surprise don't I? Plus in juust a few hours I am off to sail Stranger Tides with the Captain Jack Sparrow, in search of the fountain of youth, at midnight!

Things to do when you're snowed in

Surprise...surprise it snowed yet again. I guess I can't be surprised being that I live in the north-east region of the country and it is the end of January. But where kids get excited at the opportunity of missing a day(s) of school and playing in the cold white stuff....I am beginning to go stir-crazy. I had (re)injured my back last year, and am no longer able to lift heavy items or shovel. So where I had once been the one to clear my driveway, now have to rely on neighbors to 'rescue' us. And although I have an SUV...and can handle driving in the snow....the slipping on ice in my boots does not really appeal to me. And where do I need to go anyway? I don't need anything such as 'toys' or groceries, or errands to do.

     There is nothing fascinating on tv to watch, and all my dvd's seem to have been watched a gazillion times, and nothing fresh to watch. I did just watch the 'A-Team' from NetFlix and it was amazing, but returned it in the mail so I can get my next dvd. The internet? Yeah nothing fun going on there either. All my sites which I follow have not been updated, and FaceBook games are getting mundane as well. And what the hell is up with Bejeweled? How come there are people scoring well in to the 400-thousands and I can't seem to break the 200-thousands? How are they cheating? Which brings me to finding ways to amuse myself in the house to keep from going stir-crazy. Yes they may seem to be just outright ridiculous...but when you live on Long Island, in the end of January and are snowed in....let's see what you can come up with to amuse yourself.

Things to do to amuse yourself when snowed in:

• Make a big pot of soup. Any flavor....cooking is fun.
• Ok now make a big pot of chili because maybe I won't feel like soup tomorrow.
• Finally put away the indoor Christmas decorations.
• Grow the catnip in the ChiaPet catnip kit mom bought for the mckittens.
• Make rice pudding...and then realize this is no longer your favorite recipe.

• 

  Not me...but this is the color.

  Change my blond streak to Manic Panic Ultra Violet color..just for shits and giggles. 
• Now panic that if I score a job interview, may not be accepted for position due to purple in my hair.
• Create a FaceBook account for my boy (my cat) Pooka. Because a friend asked me if he had an account. Why shouldn't he have an account of his own?
• Wonder what kinds of things Pooka will talk about on his wall, on FaceBook.
• Start to write about life with Pooka and wonder if people who read it will think I favor him above the other cats and dog.
• Fight my Aunt Ida for the last cup of coffee. When the hell did she become such a coffee fiend?
• Have a sleepover downstairs with Lola the dog. Ok...she's a good cuddler, but she also snores....and can be a bit of a blanket hog.
• Procrastinate on starting to write about Pooka by thinking up more things I needed to add on to my list here.

Attack of the cats.....or 'did you ever think you'd know someone who had to get rabie shots?'

     Ok, I've been gone for awhile but it's not exactly my fault. I've missed checking in and blogging. I've missed following all of you who blog too. But I had a slight bloody and painful mishap which had prevented me from being able to type, as well as having my energy zapped from me. They say the the road to hell is paved with good intentions and over the course of my life...found that to be true from time to time. However it has never rung more true or closer to home, than it had last Saturday.
     Anyone who knows me knows I love animals. Almost all kinds of animals. And my heart breaks for those whom are mistreated or homeless. My family has always rescued our pets from shelters, and my newest kitten was brought in from a feral litter at only six weeks old...and a ball of joy and love. Of course my mom cringes any time I see an animal and squeal...as she thinks and knows that I do want to love it and adopt it. But finally...with one crazy puggle and three cats, I know there is no more room in my house or my heart to give.
     This past summer, a pregnant cat took up residence in our back yard and gave birth to two kittens. I fondly nicknamed them 'the interlopers' and named each of them. The mother is a meanie, one kitten was a lovie, and the other a scardy-cat. Just before Christmas I was able to place the beautiful, nice kitten in a home...but we worried about the mamma and remaining kitten. Mind you the 'kitten' is now about eight months old. I have gotten no where with the mother cat, with her allowing me to pet her. But the kitten I have been able to pet when she is inside the shelter I've constructed for them to protect them from snow. And this is where the horror began.

     On Saturday, January 15th I decided to take the 'kitten' and put her in a carrier and turn her over to an animal rescue place with the store Petco. I had my cat carrier ready to go, inside my house, near the back door. I waited until she was in her cubby, and attempted to extract her. BIG mistake. Big. HUGE! Because this kitten went wacko! Granted I can now admit that she was scared....but at the time it was 'an attempt to kill me...the person who was feeding her.' She scratched my hands and my wrists with her nails. I got her out of the cubby and she lept from my grasp and scratched my neck and face...and FLEW into my dining room where I heard glass shatter. I went after her, not wanting her to get hurt...and found her behind a curio cabinet where once again (stupid me) grasped her and she set about BITING my left index finger viciously...to the point where blood was literally spurting from my hand (no exaggeration.) I figured that I was going to need stitches. Again she escaped my grasp and FLEW back to the family room, and hid behind the sewing machine until my mom could move it enough for her to get past and outside to freedom.
     My hand in excruciating pain, already swollen and still bleeding, I told my mom I was going to probably need stitches and off to the urgent care we went. The urgent care doctor told me we were going to need to go to the Emergency Room at the hospital as animal attacks need to be reported by law...and I would need to be started on the anti-rabies vaccine. He prescribe an oral antibiotic of augmentin, which I have to take 875mg TWICE a day, for ten days. Plus he gave me a tetanus shot. So off the the Emergency Room we go and have to go through the whole horrid details again. I had to speak to someone in the CDC department who informed me that I would indeed need the series of anti-rabies shots. Several of which would be injected IN THE BITE SITES and would be extremely painful. Also I'd need three follow-up shots on certain days.

     Contrary to popular belief...they do NOT inject the rabies shots in your stomach. You get a shot in each arm, and then into the animal bites. They DO NOT numb the area. They DO NOT knock you out for this. The needle which they use is the size of the needle for an epidoral or the amniosantesis test. It is THE WORST pain I have ever felt in my life...and trust me...I've been through some nasty injuries. I tried holding in my screams....and mom had to push my shoulder down to keep me still. Tears streamed from my eyes and the nurse was so upset to have to put me through this (the nurse was really, really great with her treatment of me.) Eight shots later, a xanex for my nerves and an ice pack with follow-up shot dates I was sent home. This past Tuesday I had my first follow-up shot which was a breeze, like getting a flu-shot in the arm. The only thing is it makes you very sleepy for a day or so. I have two more rounds to go and are then finished (thank God).
     However my problem is still not solved. The psycho cats are still in my backyard. They sit at my back door and try to coax me in to trusting them. I know they really want another taste of me. I have no assistance in having these cats removed. Apparently by NY State law, cats are free animals, so the town and pounds are not allowed to trap them and remove them. ALL the shelters are overran with strays, so even if I did catch them, they will not take them. NOW last night another cat showed up in my backyard. I'm not sure if it's a male or female...but not only is this another unwanted cat...but the two original interlopers are not neutered....so this poses the problem of a kitten explosion.
     In all my life I never thought I'd be someone to say 'Hi....my name is Rose....and I've had the rabies vaccine.' Did you ever think you'd know someone who had to get vaccinated?

Post-Christmas reflections, post-blizzard thoughts

     Christmas has come and gone again. Perhaps I should put up the Christmas Countdown clock for next year, that way we can all panic over everything we need to do to get ready for the holiday next year, gifts to buy and planning the holiday menus. I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas, and enjoyed spending time with their loved ones. Christmas morning I went down for breakfast, had a nausea attack, and it was so bad had to take the prescribed anti-nausea medication. WELL THAT WAS A HOOT....because I literally slept most of the day away! I mean, couldn't have woken up even if mom said that Colin Farrell was dancing nakkid in my bedroom and swinging his talliwacker! I rose to partake in making some Christmas calls, and eating some delicious food, only to snooze again.
     My three favorite Christmas gifts this year (and in no particular order) are my: grandma's white gold cross, my Krueg coffee pot, and my gem bracelet which represents strength from my dearest and most treasured friend/sister/cohort, Michelle. I also got pajama's, from relatives in California, some a beautiful wall hanging for strength, the Eclipse saga from Twilight, money, a really cute panda bear pencil sharpener too. The one gift which I have to say was is the most thoughtful, and is/will be greatly appreciated is a day at a spa to help me recoup and rejuvenate after taking care of my mom and putting up with daily household shenanigans. I'm not quite sure when and where I am going for this treat, but I will gladly let you know when I do.
     Yesterday December 26th was the first official snow storm/blizzard/ winter disaster for NY, and more specifically Long Island (not to mention NJ.) I was more excited to see it come down, and be snugly warm in my house as I do enjoy mother nature doing her thing. But as the night wore on, we lost power and mom was getting nervous about damage being done to our home. Thankfully our power was restored within an hour to an hour and a half...whereas some areas went several hours or all night without. What was really cool this morning when I checked the back yard, it looked like we had a crop circle, although it was all snow. With the way the wind was blowing...the snow drifted in odd patterns and areas.
     The sad news is I think I may have lost our backyard interlopers to the elements. Lari and LiL' Daryl have not been spotted all day today. With the bad weather on the way, I had moved their cubby to right outside my backdoor, so I could keep an eye on them, and offer more shelter from the elements. I had made a flap-door to block the wind for them too, and they loved this. However last night, with the snow...I had to keep clearing the snow away from the entry point of their cubby, and kept checking on them....to find them huddled inside (safe I thought.) This morning, I had to completely clear the way, as they were almost snowed in. When I checked the cubby, only LiL' Daryl was in there, and she was fine. She had ventured out to do her business, I saw her frolic a bit...and then she scampered off. I haven't seen hide nor hair of her or her mother and I *know* no one else was taking care of them. Although they were not wanted, it breaks my heart to think that they've frozen to death somewhere, especially if not far from us.
     And now mom and I have gone in to cleaning and party-prepping frenzy as we need to get ready for our New Years Eve soiree Friday night. We'll be having appetizers, Penna a`la vodka, beef brisket, and I am making a tiered snowflake themed fondant cake.

Two-fer-Tuesday (pt. 1) I can't believe Christmas is almost here!!! Christmas Count-down fact(s) 15-21

Well here it is....the first day of winter and in Ronkonkoma, NY the temperature is pretty chilly. The weather man is predicting snow on Christmas day, going in to the next. And if we have a white Christmas, I will be mad happy. :oD

A lot has been going on in my neck of the woods, and although my gift-shopping list has really dwindled, the holiday hecticness is still getting to me. And it's clear that my days have been busy as I hadn't been blogging with the Christmas count-down facts, so now I am going to have to catch up (yet again.) Mom had her knee surgery last Friday and it appears to have been a success. However last weekend was hell, as she was not the picture-perfect patient (say that 3 times fast) and ran me ragged. I also had a big shock to my personal life, and I'll get to that in a minute. Let's get to those Christmas count-down facts!

Christmas Countdown Fact # 15: Tolling of bells had their origin in the pagan winter festivals and celebrations. It was believed that the noise would drive away the evil spirits. But using the bell just to ward off the evil was not enough, later the bells started being used for other >purposes as well.

Tolling of bells by and large signify any event, good or bad. Bells are rung to announce to the world the birth of the messiah Jesus Christ. Christmas bell history traces the origin of the Christmas bells.
Christmas Countdown Fact # 16: According to the records of Christmas History in Australia the Christmas tree is termed as Pohutukawa.The European immigrants became fascinated to their brilliant red colors and bright green foliage's. Other well-known Christmas plants that are used in the Christmas decorations include Christmas Bells, Christmas Bush and the Christmas Orchid.

Christmas history in Australia contains a traditional flavor. The birth of Christ is drawn from the Australian Christmas Bush. The films Bush Christmas (1947) and Miracle Down Under offer insight into the early Australian Christmas culture.
Christmas Countdown Fact # 17: The Puritans in America tried to make Thanksgiving Day the most important annual festival instead of Christmas.

Christmas Countdown Fact # 18: The first church the Dutch built in New York City was named in St Nicholas' honour -St Nicholas Church.

Christmas Countdown Fact # 19: If you're wondering why men may have not flocked to kiss you under the mistletoe, the answer may be that it was said that it will only work if the person you are kissing is a virgin. On the sixth day of the new moon, a Druid priest used to cut mistletoe from an oak tree with a sacred sickle. A passing virgin was called upon to catch the falling plant, which was not allowed to touch the ground.

Christmas Countdown Fact # 20: In 1937, the first postage stamp to commemorate Christmas was issued in Austria.

Christmas Countdown Fact # 21: The common abbreviation for Christmas to Xmas is derived from the Greek alphabet. X is letter Chi, which is the first letter of Christ's name in the Greek alphabet.

Now on to the mom update. Mom had her knee surgery last Friday, by the world's best orthopedic, Dr. Stuart Hershon. He also happens to be the head ortho for the New York Yankees....as well as my ortho. We go this Thursday to have her stitches removed. Then in 2 weeks she begins her physical therapy. What stinks is that she didn't get to do Christmas shopping....so all my gifts which she purchased for me, I know about as she ust gave me her credit card and had me pick them out and purchase them for her. The only thing that I *really want* is the talking Hallmark Christmas book, which she can record in her voice. Because I want something to remember her voice for always.

I've found my new favorite author! She has quite a number of books out, and now there is even a prime time show based on two of her characters. The author is Tess Gerritsen, and she is the author of the Rizzoli and Isles books. If you like suspense, mystery, cop shows...then these books are for you. Real page turners which have two strong female characters and it is simply fascinating. Check her out at http://www.tessgerritsen.com/  If you enjoy NCIS...then I can guarantee you'll enjoy this series both in book and tv form.

I *hate*....I repeat *HATE* the Wilton Cookie Master Plus Cookie Press. I have always wondered about the people who used cookie presses to create their holiday cookies. And yet everyone who owns one of these modern marvels, swears by them. So this December, after finding a slew of cookie recipes which called for the damned device, I purchased the Wilton Cookie Master Plus Cookie Press which is battery operated and supposed to be even *better* than the original. Yeah. Right. In whose dreams? The damned thing did not make the shaped cookies the disc thingy was supposed to make them shoot out like. In fact when attempting a batch of apple butter cookies, it went so awry, that I dubbed the shapes 'reigndeer turds'. After making yet another batch of cookies, which were delicious vanilla-sugar cookies, the damned dough chamber would not unscrew from the motor chamber. Returning to Michael's I explained the situation, and they got it unscrewed, claiming that sugar got into the threads of the wonderful cookie gun. Today I attempted to make Christmas tree peanut butter cookies. Not only did the frigging thing not want to dispense the dough....but the tree shapes, then the ribbon shapes, would not cooperate. This frustration caused me to open the damned thing, and ust use the dough, making thumbprint cookies. Tonight I returned the damned WCMPCP to Michael's, where they asked why I wanted my money back. UH....HEL-LO? Do you need me to beat you over the head with this blasted device creaed by Satan? Whomever invented this device....I wish you nothing but rotten, burnt cookies!

Traitors/Turncoats/Troublemakers. All three of these types, and then some infiltrated the paranormal investigative group which I had founded with my (sic) BFF.....who BTW is no longer my BFF. I was accused of hiding my agenda, stealing from the group and a ton of other preposterous allegations, as well as my mother who was part of the group. Meanwhile there were secret meetings taking place behind my back, major cases of he said/she said and tons of gossiping, lieing, and betraying. In the end what I had helped create from nothing became toxic and painful. People whom I trusted and thought to be closer than friends turned out ot be nothing but hateful troublemakers and fair-weathered 'friends'. The most shocking was how my 'friend' whom I had formed this group with totally turned against me....not listening to a word I said, and believing the worst in me. But now that I am free of them and out of the viper nest and away from cancerous relationships....I feel free, and am happy and can now move on to bigger and better.

Christmas Countdown fact #2

Fact # 2:     In Portugal, the traditional Christmas meal (consoada) is eaten in the early hours of Christmas Day. Burning in the hearth is the Yule log (fogueira da consoada). The ashes and charred remains of the Yule log are saved; later in the year, they are burned with pine cones during Portugal's thunderstorm season. It is believed that no thunderbolt will strike where the Yule log smoke has traveled.

So here is my Christmas craziness question for the season: If you were discussing the holidays with someone of an 'important' status to you. Perhaps a family member or a friend whom you don't see too often, and you state that this year you are not exchanging Christmas/holiday gifts to the extended list of people you usually do. This can be for a slew of reasons.....maybe you're trying to save money, or perhaps you simply do not need any extra clutter in your home.

In response the person says to you: "oh well, we don't send out gifts because we expect anything in return." And doesn't really listen to your decision not to swap gifts. Perhaps you stress that money is tight and you can not afford to send to everyone you wish to. Perhaps you simply are just trying to sever this ritual which has become less of a desire to do and more of an obligation. At the end of the discussion it is understood no gifts will be swapped.

Then a week or so later you get a knock at your front door and FedEx speeding off and you *know* you haven't ordered anything on-line, to expect delivery. So you bring the package inside and check the shipping information. And lo and behold, this package is from the person which you had the 'no gift exchange' conversation with. What do you do? What do you do?

Do you graciously keep the gift and open it on Christmas morning? Do you send them a gift in return and *oh my!* surprise! It's the same thing which they had sent you? Or do you send the gift back to them unopened with a note saying 'thank you but you know what my wishes were'?

What do you do???

Christmas Countdown Fact #1

     LOOK!!! I have a pretty new blog background. I had been trying since last night to change my background to reflect the holiday & season. But I am technology intolerant and could not do so. I had texted my BFF (and not calling her that in a sarcastic way) Michelle for help, but alas she chose to not head my call. However this morning she swore to me that she'd fix me up right and change the background. And staying true to the awesome person she is....she was very patient as I surfed the net for the *right* background and then fought the codes until she got it right for me. Thank you Michelle......you're always there for me when I need you.
     Also, today marks December 1, 2010. Which means there is only 24 more days until Christmas, and only 30 more days until the new year! Where did the time go? The house is slowly but surely getting decorated, and I still have no idea what to get my mom and aunt for Christmas. I have to get them *something*.  Anyway, to keep in the holiday spirit and to make the days until Christmas a little more joyful I've decided to blog something Christmas/winter related every day. So here we go:

Fact # 1:     Historians have traced some of the current traditions surrounding Father Christmas, or Santa Claus, back to ancient Celtic roots. Father Christmas's elves are the modernization of the "Nature folk" of the Pagan religions; his reindeer are associated with the "Horned God," which was one of the Pagan deities.