Raincharm’s Weblog

Christmas dinner is done, as well as most of the dishes.
We had ham, Pooh’s pomegranate salad, mashed potatoes and rolls, wine and egg nog. Not too fancy, but easy to make so the focus is not on the cooking. What is missing is pumpkin pie, because I totally forgot to make it.

The day started around 9ish, with Kringle and coffee. Stockings and presents followed, and then a game of Quirkle. It is a cross between Scrabble and Set, and was pretty fun. Rey prevailed – but only by one point. A round of vegetables and humus and off we went to a movie. Sherlock Holmes, although we ended up at a show 3 hours later than thought. Which allowed Rey & me to take a walk.

The movie was good, but it is a Guy Richie film, so expect a bit of fighting.

I think we’re ready!

The Bluebeak of Solstice and his buddy, plus Waterman with a hat Santa

And this is before the Christmas Eve party/dinner.

Jay spent about 45 minutes waiting in line to get the Honey-Baked Ham. Luckily it was sunny out. And the woman in line in front of Jay told her that the Whole Foods store had lots of pomegranates (unlike to two main grocery chain stores).  We managed to get out of the stores a whole hour before they close for the holiday. (Forgot the egg-nog (horrors) and also found soy-egg-nog this year.) I think the kids still have ALL of their wrapping to do, but Carl & Jay are pretty well done.

Sleep tight, and leave the cookies for Santa.

Everybody is home safely! YEAH. Now the real holidays begin.
Only one small glitch yesterday, about a one hour delay at the border.
Really, the true border crossing only took about 15 minutes. It was the almost at the border, turn around to retrieve a forgotten passport. Well not really forgotten, just a sleep deprived – stress released – distracted moment of looking at the passport, but not actually putting it into any purse or bag that would be travelling south.

Everybody remembers the early morning wake-up on Christmas, running to the tree to see what Santa left. And then trying to convince the parents that it is time to get up. (My earliest memory is a 4:30 AM wake-up.) With all of the time changes, wierd sleep patterns and general holiday nuttiness this year, it should be interesting to see what time our family actually runs meanders to the tree this year.

The winter solstice is definitely noteworthy in the Pacific Northwest. It marks the beginning of days getting longer. This doesn’t always translate into more light due to the often heavy cloud cover, but you know it is happening. So almost a day late. But around the winter solstice if you work your normal day you will not see the sun (maybe at lunch). This morning – Sunrise at 7:55 AM, Sunset at 4:22 PM.

Celebrate, celebrate, dance and twirl, sing out your songs and rejoice.

Even though the calendar still says short days, today is going to be one of my longest. Up at 4 AM so I could drop off a co-worker (the carpooler) at the airport this early AM. And then Rey arrives at same said airport sometime around midnight tonight.

We were shopping today in our favorite free-trade store (no hints) today. Carl looked up and a woman was staring at him. He said, “Hello.” And she said, “Are you famous?” He answered if you had seen his face on a big screen it was most likely at Safeco Field. (clip #1) (clip #2 – oops, haven’t been able to locate) I helped out by adding it was more likely he was infamous.

It turns out she thought he was Norm Dicks, a state politician. I suppose it is good for politicians to be seen at fair trade stores. He mentioned this event while we were checking out, without telling them who the woman had thought he was. The checker said, “Oh, yeah – you look just like Philip Seymour Hoffman.” What do you think?

Representative Norm Dicks, D-WA

Philip Seymour Hoffman

Carl 2009

I would say that was the theme of the Seattle Women’s Chorus show Making Spirits Bright. Specifically songs titled, Rosa Sat by Amy Dixon-Kollar, The Christians and the Pagans by Dar Williams, and Thankful by Carole Bayer Sager, David Foster & Richard Page. Rosa Sat and The Christians and the Pagans are pretty much listen to the words to figure out the tolerance theme. But with Thankful they started by having a couple, together for 32 years, that had been featured in ads for Referendum 71 this last election, briefly address the crowd on the importance of our “everything but marriage” law for domestic partners that was kept on the books by the voters.

But it goes beyond that. It seems the nation has been “Jerry Springered” and often finds it unnecessary to use decorum and civility with each other. I thought the shouting that goes on in so many meetings stops any discussions that might happen before they can get going. Nobody says we all have to agree, but we do need to get along. No red states and blue states. We are all shades of purple.

First, an update on 2 of the gingerbread houses.

Decoration of a Gingerbread House

It is the last weekend before Christmas. So – all those that have been waiting to go out and join the crowds – now is the time. We plan to do a little joining today, but basically we are feeling on good ground. Our need to get done bit is cleaning the house for a FULL HOUSE. Between Tuesday and Wednesday all will arrive home, and that is the exciting bit for us this Christmas.

Rey’s Montana Grizzlies played in the championship game for NCAA 1A division last night. In Chattanooga, Tennessee. Since it was relatively close, Rey went. He got to sit in the cold rain and unfortunately Villanova was the better team this time. But I think he had good time anyway, meeting some other Montana Alumni. He thought that other than the family from Atlanta, he had the shortest distance to travel. On his travel back he found that snow was falling at his place. Apparently the last 20 miles were snowing, the last 4 with fresh inches on the road. But he made it safely, which is the most important thing. His winter driving skills are being honed.

So – time to decorate, clean, walk and shop a little.

Kids village ready for decoration

And from the night before.

The house is starting to take on that holiday look.
We have been to one Christmas show, the Green Lake Luminaria, the Jingle Bell Dash, Candy Cane Lane (me once, Carl thrice), and done some shopping. But for all that the you would not have known the season by looking at the house.

But now the Christmas tree has been moved into the living room, lights finally added, and I think decorations may be going up today. I think the kids may be doing some decorating since they really wanted the lights on the tree. Christmas cards to go on high shortly and the manger scene, etc should follow. Now all we need is the rest of the family to arrive.  Oh, and there were some of those Stickees on the window as well.