Something happened yesterday on the way to my Mother-in-Law's house. Bill was driving, and we were about 10 minutes from his Mom's. I was casually looking out the window, my eyes not really focusing on anything in particular. Suddenly I saw it. There was a deer hanging from a tree in the front yard of this house. Now, I've seen deer hanging from trees before (alot of people go deer hunting in Pennsylvania). But this deer was different. This deer was skinned. It freaked me out. I was reminded of the movie "Predator" (another movie which gave me bad dreams!). This was a very busy road. I know I wasn't the only person who saw this. I can imagine a little kid seeing it, all upset over what happened to "Bambi". I'm sure the guy who killed this deer was very proud of himself, and wanted the world to see what a manly man he is, but his property was surrounded by trees, including quite a few in his backyard. Why did he have choose a tree in his front yard? I'm not a hypocrite... I eat meat, though I am trying to cut it out of my diet since my husband is a vegetarian. I prefer the slaughter to be done behind closed doors, and put into grocery stores in those neat little styrofoam packages, all ready to cook. I don't want to think how it got there. UGH. I hope the nightmares won't come back tonight.

I think my favorite part of the Thanksgiving holiday is the 6 hours (total) that I spend on the road with Bill, driving first to his Mom's, and then back into Pennsylvania to stop at my sisters. (There's no long weekend for us... Bill works the entire Thanksgiving weekend! Our visiting has to get done in one day). Don't get me wrong... I dream of a holiday when I don't spend the whole day on the Interstate. But I love the conversations and the laughter that we share. He takes over the XM Radio, and finds the best (and strangest) music to listen to (one channel featured a James Bond Marathon, with alternating theme music and clips from each film). It seems like the visiting of family plays second fiddle to our time together. HE is what I am thankful for this holiday.

Happy Thanksgiving to All of You!

I hope everyone had a wonderful day!

I awoke today expecting that I would have to go outside and shovel off the sidewalks. Unfortunately, I didn't get to "break in" my new shovel, because the sun had already melted the snow that was on the driveway and sidewalk. Darn! I did take the dogs for a walk, and it was nice to see the pristine white snow that still adhered to the tree branches and the grass. Some people had already started to set up their Christmas decorations in their front lawn, so that gave me a good feeling.

Last night, all this anticipation of snow got me thinking about my Mom's glass Christmas ornaments. She had some that belonged to her grandmother, as well as some German hand-blown glass ornaments that we had purchased together at the Christmas Barn in the Poconos years ago. I phoned my brother to ask if he was keeping them. At first he said "yes", but then he said if they were in the basement, they were all thrown out! UGH! My heart broke when I heard those words! My Mom's basement was very damp, and if anything made from paper was there (books, boxes holding things, even the slides for the projector, though they weren't made of paper) it was ruined by mold. I was thinking I'd get one of those breathing masks and go through the boxes looking for the ornaments, but they are already gone. It's so sad... all those memories of Christmas's past... out in a dump somewhere. It would have been nice to keep them as heirlooms.

I'm off to do some laundry and to make some quick bread... I'm thinking pumpkin nut! YUM!

We went to Home Depot today and bought ourselves a new snow shovel. All this talk of a huge snowfall tomorrow made me realize we left our old shovel at the house we used to rent (we moved from there in June... so I guess I wasn't thinking snow!). Now I have one of those ergonomically designed "bent" shovels that are supposed to be so good for your back... all I can say is "Bring in on, baby!" I'm ready for the snow (I'll be so disappointed if we don't get any!).

I also went to the grocery store. It wasn't because I feared we would be snowed in... it was my regular weekly visit to the store. There was plenty of milk, a good amount of bread, but hardly any eggs. What's the deal? I can understand running out of milk and bread. Why do people need all those eggs? Do people crave omelets when it snows? I just thought that was very strange!

Gettin' in the Holiday Spirit
Snagged this from Liz!

About the Tree...
1. When do you put up the Christmas Tree? I try to get it up right after Thanksgiving, but that doesn't always work!
2. Real or Fake? It used to be real, but my hubby is afraid it will catch fire.
3. Lights? A must! multi-colored.
4. Garland? Sometimes... I prefer tinsel.
5. Theme or no theme? No theme. Just some ornaments I've collected through the years, and others my Mom gave me.
6. What kind of topper? A lighted star
7. What is your favorite ornament? A little white Westie dog with a plaid bow tie.
8. What does your tree skirt look like? White with glitter.
9. Where do you put your tree? This is the first Christmas in this house, so we are planning on putting the tree in front of the living room windows. 10. Who decorates the tree? Usually just me.
11. What's "under" the tree? Presents of course! I'd like to eventually get a little snow village, or a nativity scene. My Mom had a beautiful nativity that was hand painted by my sister.
12. Do you put candy canes on your tree? No, but I do like to pass them out to all my friends!

About the Food...
1. What's your favorite Christmas cookie? Any one I make... unless I burn them! I like my "Chocolate Jumbles" the best!
2. Do you bake cookies and give them away? Yes, I love to bake them!
3. Any "special" foods or candy that you only have at Christmas? Not that I can think of!
4. What do you eat on Christmas Eve? We used to take my Mom to dinner at a fancy Chinese restaurant, but this year, now that she is gone, I'm not sure what we will eat.
5. What do you eat on Christmas Day? My family usually does ham or turkey with all the trimmings (like a second Thanksgiving!), but since Bill is a vegetarian, his Mom usually makes a special lasagna just for us!
6. Do you like eggnog? No!
7. Do you like candy canes? Yes, but only the traditional red and white!

About the decorations...
1. Where do you hang your stockings? We don't have stockings right now. I used to hang stockings on my horse's stall doors and fill them with apples, carrots and sugar cubes!
2. Do you put lights on your house? A little in the windows.
3. Got any outside lawn decorations? No
4. Do you put up a nativity (creche)? Not yet!
5. Do you hang mistletoe under the doorway? No
6. Got a wreath up on your front door? I will within the week!
7. How long does it take you to decorate? About half a day

About the movies/shows...
1. Favorite children's Christmas TV show/cartoon? Charlie Brown
2. A Wonderful Life/Miracle on 34th Street/A Christmas Carol... which is the best? It's a Wonderful Life!
3. Favorite Christmas Movie? Babes in Toyland (Laurel and Hardy)
4. Have you ever seen the Nutcracker Suite Ballet live? Not the whole thing... just highlights during a performance of the Philharmonic.
5. Ever been to the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Show? Yes
6. Ever gone to a movie on Christmas Day? No
7. Did you know it's the biggest day of the Box Office? No

Other Christmas Things...
1. Favorite Christmas book or story? The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburn
2. Do you stuff your stockings with any type of food? Not yet
3. Do you go to church on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? Don't go... usually watch the midnight mass on tv.
4. Have you ever gone caroling? Yes
5. Favorite Christmas carol? Too many to mention... alot of the traditional carols.
6. Do you believe in Santa? YES!
7. Do you leave Santa cookies? Of course!
8. What about Rudolph, do you leave him anything? Nope
9. What was your best Christmas gift? My diamond earrings from Bill... it was the most extravagant gift anyone had ever given me. 10. What was the worst/ most odd gift? A weird stiffened book from my sister... it was frozen in mid page turn! It wasn't the worst gift (I can't think of a bad gift I ever got), but it was an odd gift!
11. Do you go to a "work" Christmas party? No
12. Do you hate going? I love parties!
13. Do you send Christmas cards (handmade or bought)? Depends on my mood, this year it will be store-bought, but some years I have designed or rubberstamped my cards.
14. Do you make a "list"? Yes, it helps.
15. Do you check it twice? No
16. Have you been "naughty" or "nice"? Depends on my mood!
17. Who's on your list this year? Family and friends... plus some children's charities.
18. When do you start shopping? The last minute.
19. Do you shop on Black Friday? Never... I used to work retail, and I swore I'd never do to another sales associate what was done to me!
20. Are you ready for Christmas? Not at all

Yesterday was an exceptionally long day for me at work. I had a long shift to begin with, then someone had to leave because of an emergency, and I was asked to stay. I totaled about 11 1/2 hours on my feet... ouch!

Anyway, when I arrived at 8 am, one of the teenage girls came up to me and asked if I had a tampon. I didn't, and told her so, but someone else was listening, too. We have a manage-in-training working with us for a few weeks. I actually think he will be a good manager, since he's not all about bossing you around. But sometimes, he may try too hard! He must have heard her ask me. He walks up to us and asks what she needs. She quickly disappeared. He questioned me. I didn't think it was my place to tell him about the girl, so I said she's fine. He blurts out, "does she need feminine protection?" Reluctantly I said yes, and he replied, "no problem, I have some out in my car". I almost fell on the floor. I was torn between wanting to laugh out loud, or run in horror from the thought of a single guy with tampons out in his car. Another manager overheard us, and got a big hoot over the whole thing. The MIT came back into the building with a medi-bag, and I realized that he must have been an EMT (he said he was in a "past life"). So to help him save face in front of the other guys, I commended him on his desire to help others and to save lives, and gave the other guys a look that was meant to make them feel like they weren't doing enough in this crazy world. The MIT hands me two tampons, and asks me to take them to the girl in need, who, in turn, was very grateful. I do have to say, this guy is very confidant, yet down-to-earth. Not many men are comfortable walking down the "feminine aisle" at the store, never mind keeping them in his car!