Category: Blogging

Sometimes you have to live life, not read about it.

And Grandpa Loren was older than one on December 30th, but he just received his present from Gavin, and his parents. You can tell from the present that Grandpa is still young at heart, can’t you?

Despite all the turmoil, as usual everything got done just in time .

I even had time to finish my famous Santa Claus cookies, nearly a 60 year family tradition now. One of my earliest Christmas memories is of biting the head of a Santa Claus cookie and breaking out in tears because I thought I had destroyed Santa.

I started making decorated cookies longer ago than I can remember. Of course, at first I was only allowed to decorate trees. Later, though, after I had mastered the art of both green and white trees, I was allowed to decorate Santa Clauses.

With the exception of the year I was in Vietnam (somehow it didn’t seem appropriate for a heavy mortar platoon leader to be making Santa Claus cookies), I’ve never missed a year, including last year when I couldn’t eat a single, damn cookie.

Strangely enough when I was little the cookies just seemed like nothing more than a prelude to the gifts, but now they’ve become more important than the presents.

Hopefully in a year or so I’ll be able to get Gavin started making Christmas trees .

In the midst of my painting the family/computer room, Leslie dropped an editorial on my desk and said, “Put this on your web site.”

My first response was that if I had time to put something on my website I would write up the article I’ve been working on about MacLeish, some poems I’ve really gotten into and am not willing to just skim over them.

Still, after I read Ellen Goodman’s editorial on how two women started a campaign to raise money for the UNFPA after George Bush killed America’s contribution of 34 million dollars because the UNFPA included advice on abortion I ageed that it’s a vital cause, and the editorial is well worth a read.

Remarkably enough, it looks like they may make it yet if a few more people get involved.

I have to apologize for being somewhat remiss in my postings lately.

Unfortunately, as Christmas nears my list of chores seems to be getting longer, rather than shorter. We’re expecting seven over-nighters Christmas night and more people Christmas day. Needless to say, Leslie wants the place looking better than it really does.

Today I finished hanging the new curtains that arrived via Airborne Expess this morning and painted 60 feet of trim for the family room that will be repainted this weekend.

I also took time to finish another batch of cookies – that makes 5 different kinds made so far with another two or three batches still to go, plus peanut brittle, chocolate covered almonds, etc.

I also finished making two hand-made Christmas cards last night and this morning, though I’d hoped to have several more done by now.

I have to have the snow tires put on the RAV4 tomorrow. I imagine that will give me some time to read more Archibald MacLeish and get another post up tomorrow. At least I hope so. If I wasn’t having so much fun, I’d be really, really tired.