Crazy shi* the kid's Dad(dio) says.....

The enormity of Christmas, actually it's probably more the commercial enormity of Christmas and my reaction to it that sends Daddio into a (not so) jolly rant.

"I hate Christmas" he loves to say.

"Why exactly do you hate Christmas?" I like to ask.

"I guess it must be really hard to watch me bake, cook, clean, budget, shop, wrap, mail, transport, return and all the million other things that this wonderful holiday has me doing......eh?"

"Yes, it must really suck to be you at this time of year".

(He only has one person to shop for and that person is me...and he doesn't know that I know this...but he bribes his darling daughter into doing the dirty work for him ;-)

So with Daddio wallowing in his own personal brand of holiday spirit, coupled with the weather which is ferociously cold and wintry it just seemed fitting that a potential (financial and other wise pain in the ass) crisis would be in the cards.

The clock read 10pm when Bear called to tell us that The White Dragon (his old car) was down for the count.

It sat, refusing to start in the Divine Miss M's driveway.

Bear secured a ride home (smooches Trouble & Goog) and all the while Daddio tossed and turned, fretted and worried about how he was going to help Bear out of this pickle.

Hooptie cars are Daddio's Achilles heel.

They're the chink in his armor.

I fully expected him to hit me with his usual battle cry.

"Why did we ever have kids....?

Which is always my cue to remind him of all the wonderful things having children has brought to our lives.

The list, a big verbal Valium, usually sooths his freak out right down.

This time though he tricked me.

And went in another direction.

He went for his other words of wisdom... the ones he uses when he figures a huge financial issue is lurking just around the bend...

"You shoulda married a rich guy"

Ho ho ho....

So I ask you...is it appropriate to add hooptie cars to one's nightly prayers...?

Faith for dummies....

Hating to be labeled procrastinator I've decided to get a head start on my winter blues.

Careening toward what I'm sure to be a long dark winter has me feeling mighty blah.

And since I have an intense desire (and horribly irritating habit) of dissecting every good, bad, indifferent feeling I have into "what the holy hell does it all mean?" I'm driving myself mad.

Control what you can...hmmm, that would be, not much.

Yesterday I needed to get to church.

In a perfect world I'd make it every week. I'd sing at the top of my lungs and know every word to every song by heart.

I'd exit the church doors with a cloak of faith draped around my (skeptical, stooped) shoulders.

A force field of Godly goodness to protect me from the cold, cold cruel world.

Instead, in my imperfect world I tend to get irritated the second I walk in the door and am forced to shake hands with a greeter who should be passing out hand sanitizer and tranquilizers.

Tranquilizers that could possibly help when in my imperfect world I am irritated in church by crying children and their waxy eared parents...

"Buy some freakin Q-tips.

And a muzzle (or two)....."

I want to shout from my seat in the back.

In a perfect world I'd take every word of Pastor's sermon and make it fit my life.

Instead of daydreaming statistics about male pattern baldness.

And messy uncombed bed heads.

I'd not pick lint, nor stray hairs using only my eyes.

I'd avoid getting sidetracked by a nice knee lenght coat, a pretty dress or a sparkly bangle bracelet.

I'd stay focused on the sun beaming through the beautiful stained glass windows.

And the strong voices reciting the Lord's Prayer.

Yesterday at church God knew what I needed (and when doesn't He, really?)

I didn't notice any pint sized expressions of dire unhappiness (woo-hoo)

I kept my mind focused.

AND... I sang for all I was worth (but not out loud ;-)

I walked out the doors feeling refreshed and content.

Some days I have TOTAL faith I'll make it through the dark cold winters of my life.

A couple of my favorite quotes....

Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you.  ~Maori Proverb

Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.  ~Chinese Proverb

It's "Moan"day...enjoy the sunshine (in whatever form it may appear).