working on it

“Don’t just be an aging female … become a real woman!” - Maya Angelou

Good things

Something has changed for me this Christmas. It's due in large part to the fact I did most of my Christmas shopping in Africa, so I'm avoiding the insanity of finding that perfect something for all my perfect someones. This year I've actually started writing Christmas cards - and more importantly, updating my address book so that I can do the same next year. And I just have this feeling that the holidays really do represent more than the materialism we all get sucked up in. Maybe it's because the housing crisis is keeping everyone a bit more humbled (and I'm sure the fact I don't have a t.v. and don't see the incessant advertisements about the latest gadgets you NEED under your tree helps). It could be that I finally got the hell out of Orange County... Regardless, it just seems that the true spirit of a holiday meant to represent the ultimate gift is finally coming into focus for me on a greater level than it ever has.

The real reason, I know, is because I had to do a lot of growing up this year. I took in on the most base of levels the reality of what's out there in the world, and what's being done (or not done) to combat it. I lost the safety of "home" in a real way - it is now a place where I must face life's challenges and curve balls with the same strength as those around me - there's no more candy coating. I've been starting fresh all year - new places, new jobs, new understandings. So it fits that Christmas would change as well. That it's no less sweet, but that it become more a time to ask myself and the world around me what's going out - versus what's coming in.

Whether any of this makes sense or not - here are some links to help your holiday season reflect all that is good in the world and give you the chance to share your holidays in a meaningful way with people around the globe:


World of Good - Shopping never felt so good
Ten Thousand Villages - Still time to order!
KIVA - Change a life on behalf of someone you love

Enjoy - and feel free to share your own resources for an outward, versus inward, focused holiday.

Tales from the road

I mentioned recently that my parents have passed on some wisdom in the arena of staying together (they'll be celebrating their 30th anniversary in June). I got this email from my mom today (and a second telling of the same story from my dad in a separate email a bit later). They're in New Zealand right now (oh how I can't wait to be retired!) and taking various day trips from their home base in Queenstown.

"Had a great day yesterday. Drove to Glenorchy, Routeburn trailhead and Paradise Valley. Got bitten by sand flies but it was worth it. Had to pee in the middle of the road because your dad made me laugh. We were looking for wildlife other than sheep and cows and all of a sudden he shouted "oh look there are some goats". I looked and thirty feet from our car were four horses! True they were oddly colored, but goats? I was so glad there were no cars coming cause I couldn't make it to the side. It really gave new meaning to "Why don't we do it in the road?"

Laughter: keeping families together since 1977.

muzac for montrealers

Hey - I know at least a few of the folks who grace my site each day are in Montreal. Well, my favorite singer isn't touring in my neck of the woods anytime soon - but she will be in YOUR lovely city in a few weeks. I will, in turn, be jealous.

Sara Bareilles with Brett Dennen
02/04/07
Green Room
5386 St. LaurentMontreal, QC
H2T 1S1Canada

This is her website. She blows her recorded stuff out of the water live - don't miss it!