My Christmas Sweeties

...Well, a couple of 'em, at least.

I wanted to post a better picture of my Jasmine, where her tongue was actually in her mouth where it's supposed to be.

Now I'm off to BAKE! And wrap! And I'm staying in my jammies all day! Tomorrow calls for snow showers, so I'm definitely in a Christmasy mood.

Have a great weekend, friends!

"My, what a big tongue you have!"

"The better to lick the table with, my dear!"

This tastes almost as scrumptious as the gas grill that left a splotch of grease on my snout!
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This dog right here is the love of my life (okay, okay... besides my husband and kids, but what-ev-er). Her name is Jasmine. She is two years old, a purebred yellow lab, and was my Christmas present from my husband in 2006. She is the sweetest, spazziest, lickiest, most hyper dog in the world. Did I mention how much I freakin' love her?
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I know. Get a room already, you're saying.
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Have you seen the trailer for the movie, "Marley and Me," due out Christmas Day? I laugh every time I see it, especially knowing it's based on a true story. You couldn't make this stuff up! And, Marley looks just like my baby, Jasmine. I wish I could take her with me to the theater to watch it. Demented, I know.
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Okay, so I'm completely challenged when trying to upload a video, but if you haven't seen the trailer yet, go to http://www.marleyandmemovie.com.
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Woof!

A Princess Story

When I turned 40 this past (now very distant) January, my friends decorated my office in a pink "Princess" theme. My favorite items they left were a pillow that says, "Only a True Princess could get away with as much as I do!" and a pink fluffy tiara that looks very similar to the one above. I keep the pillow and tiara in my office, of course, up on my cabinet.

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Well, since then, I have continued to receive princessy gifts, and the name "Princess" has stuck.

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A few months ago, my friend Alison brought me a flashing Princess charm for my cell phone, and a Princess antenna topper for my car. I love 'em.

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More recently, another coworker brought me a Princess plaque that looks quite a bit like this (and now hangs on my office wall):

After that, Alison also brought me a Cinderella snowglobe. (I couldn't find a sufficient picture, but it's darling. And Cinderella is my FAVORITE. She didn't even know that! See the magic my Fairy Godmother must work behind the scenes?!)

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But THIS week, the Princess theme has exploded! It's like the 12 Days of Princess around here. (Oh, I crack myself up.)
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On the first day of Princess, my true love Alison brought to me a Partridge, uh... a Santa Hat!

On the Second Day of Princess, my true love Tony brought to me Two Turtle... uh, a Princess Pin from his recent trip to Disneyland!

On the Third Day of Princess, I got nothing. Poor, poor princess!

On the Fourth Day of Princess, my true love Lucia brought to me something that is almost beyond words! We had an ongoing joke about the whole princess thing, and she had said she'd bring me tea and crumpets for breakfast yesterday. When she didn't deliver, I sent her a sarcastic e-mail saying, "Um, I'm STILL WAITING." So this morning? There was a crystal platter on my desk, with her grandmother's silver (that she'd stayed up late polishing), real china--a plate and a cup & saucer, an assortment of teas, sugar & creamer in crystal swan containers, a crystal bud vase with fresh cut roses from her yard, cream puffs (in place of crumpets) on the plate, and a silver rose napkin ring that also was a card holder. On the card in calligraphy was "Princess Susan."

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I shrieked with laughter for I don't know how long.

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Who can't love work when your coworkers are like THIS?!

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I'm telling you, I could get used to this Princess lifestyle, my friends... Oh yes, I could.

Oh, night divine!

I was just thinking about Christmas music and how much I love it--the way it makes me feel, the memories it stirs up, the warmth and comfort it brings. I'm always surprised when people say they don't like Christmas music. How is that possible?! I love nearly all of it.

Here are some of the specific lyrics I love the most, out of my favorite Christmas songs.

O, Holy Night

"...A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices! "

Such hope, such promise.

Mary, Did You Know?

"...Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new? This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you."

Oh, and this line, too (actually the entire song brings tears to my eyes):

"...And when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God."

Wow.

Silent Night

"...Son of God, love's pure light

Radiant beams from Thy holy face

With the dawn of redeeming grace

Jesus, Lord at Thy birth..."

There's nothing better than singing that, in candlelight, at Christmas Eve service.

Winter Wonderland

"...Later on, we'll conspire,

As we dream by the fire

To face unafraid,

The plans that we've made,

Walking in a winter wonderland."

Okay, so this one isn't religious, but I love it. When I was little, I would think about the lyrics and envision a Christmas far different from the one I knew in Orange County, CA. Sitting by the fire with snow outside my window -- ahhh. I could dream of nothing better. It still stirs up that memory for me whenever I hear it today.

Away in a Manger

"...Be near me, Lord Jesus,

I ask Thee to stay,

Close by me forever,

and love me, I pray!"

Comfort. Undying love.

O Little Town of Bethlehem

"...How silently, how silently

The wondrous gift is given!

So God imparts to human hearts

The blessings of His heaven."

Yes, God is good.

Joy to the World

"...He rules the world with truth and grace,

And makes the nations prove

The glories of His righteousness,

And wonders of His love..."

I just love belting that one out in church!

Of course, I also love the old standards: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus is Comin' to Town, Let it Snow!, The Christmas Song ("Chestnuts roasting on an open fire...") -- but there's just something so comforting singing about God's love & Jesus' birth. Especially this time of year.

What is your favorite Christmas song and why?

Material for the eventual therapy he'll need

Last week, I received a call from Chad's English teacher, letting me know he'd had four "referrals" and, as a result, would be getting an after-school detention. She said he had not been mean-spirited or rude, per se, but rather disruptive. We seem to be having a little of the Class Clown stage going on this year. Lots of talking out of turn and showing off, all (I presume) to earn the approval of friends.
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I was horrified, of course, and apologized up and down. After we hung up, I had an idea: If Chad couldn't behave in the classroom (this isn't the first time I've gotten one of these phone calls, incidentally)--maybe he needed a babysitter. Gee, maybe that babysitter could be ME!
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Isn't that every middle schooler's worst nightmare--to have his/her mother appear in the classroom?
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I quickly called back. The teacher agreed it was a fabulous idea, and we made plans for my little visit to take place.
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Thursday finally came. Class started at 12:50, so I nonchalantly walked into his classroom at 12:55. The teacher gave me a cheerful, "Hello!" and went about her business. I took a seat at a nearby table. A few of his friends waved to me; others just stared. I realized Chad was on the outside row closest to me, just several feet away.
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"MOM," he half-mouthed, half-whispered, "What are you DOING HERE?" Loud enough for a few of his nearby classmates to hear, I cheerfully whispered, "Well, I thought I'd stop by to observe your behavior!" Sugar couldn't have melted in my mouth. I was taking great pleasure in all of this.
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Chad looked at me, and then I watched the life drain out of him as he slumped into his chair. I almost felt a little sorry for him, for a moment or two. Notice I said almost.
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A few minutes later, though, he'd somewhat recovered, and he was able to give me a quick smile here or there, in between listening quite intently to the teacher. Of course, he behaved like a complete angel. The same angel I know who lives in my home. I have such a hard time envisioning his being disrespectful, because he knows he could never get away with it at our house. My heart hurts knowing he somehow thinks it's okay to act like that anywhere. I have to wonder where I went wrong; when did I ever let him think it's okay to not completely respect authority and rules? I thought I had instilled that over and over again. I've even said, "Be the child who really makes teaching seem worthwhile." What more can I do? I guess, no matter how hard we try, our kids have minds--and consciences--of their own.
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All in all, the visit went well. The teacher was grateful I'd come; she said she'd called four of the other parents, and two seemed like they hardly cared and the other two never even returned her call. Says a lot about why kids are the way they are today. (SELF-CENTERED. But that's a rant for another day. I have lots of rants; have you noticed?)
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I promised Chad that if I ever got another phone call, or any indication that his behavior was less than stellar, I would most definitely return. In fact, I could even eat lunch with him and his friends! I could wear a miniskirt and bring my boom box, and we could hang out on the quad! Just like my friends and I did in the 1980's! How bitchen would that be?! Like, ohmagawd, TOTALLY rad!
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Somehow, I think this is going to work more effectively than all of the lectures, privileges taken away, and everything else tried in the past.
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Somehow, I think, this time is going to stick.
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