Scrooge and Peppermint.

In case any of you are wondering, I'm trying very hard not to protest Christmas this year.  According to the Mayans, we're not going to make it that far anyways, right?  Anyhow, I'm feeling especially grinchy this year, much to the chagrin of my mother.  There are a few reasons.  One is painfully obvious.  I only have one house to decorate this year.  For the last 7 ish years, I've decorated two of them.  Naturally, you'd think that I would be excited to have some free time.  But no.  I'm not.  It's bittersweet.  Christmas has always been about the birth of our Savior and about my family.  A big part of that for me is gone.
Another reason, is that the only person I would really be decorating for now is my husband. I'm not sure he cares, but we have no kids, no Santa at our house, no need to put out cookies and milk and honestly?  I've tried to still do those things for the past decade and all it does is make me look a little bit eccentric and sad and old.  All the cats do is eat my ornaments and pull my tree down and sleep on top of my ceramic Christmas town.
Third, I have a "Can't say no" problem.  I've volunteered to do a lot of things this season to keep myself busy.  I feel completely overbooked.  I suppose that I'll have to give up a few of these things in order to keep my sanity...but I think instead of decorating and celebrating Christmas, I would like to get on a cruise ship and not come back until January.
However, because I'm not independently wealthy, I need to buck up.
I need to watch White Christmas and Smoky Mountain Christmas and listen to Bing Crosby and drink some hot chocolate and put Santa hats on my cats.
So, please, be patient with me, world.  I'm doing the best I can.

Sometimes.

Sometimes we all need this.
Like everyday.
We are children of God.
He loves us.
He wants us to come back to Him.
And because we are His children..we should always know that even though we are all different, that we are loved and wanted and important.
And most importantly, we are never alone.
Please.
Take 5 minutes and watch this.
Trust me.

Must Watch Musicals

Here we go...

An infamous list of my must watch musicals....

We begin with my all time favorite.  Ever.

1.  Seven Brides for Seven Brothers 

(family, romance, kidnapping, dancing brothers with axes...and singing)

2.  Phantom of the Opera 

3.  Singin' in the Rain

4.  My Fair Lady (sheesh...more Audrey, you say?  yes.)

5.  Fiddler on the Roof

6.  Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

7.  Grease- the first one.  only.

8.  Ooooooooooo-klahoma.

9.  The Sound of Music

10. An American in Paris

11. On the Town

12. White Christmas

13. Funny Face (and more Audrey....)

14. Mamma Mia

15. Newsies

16. Annie

17. Mary Poppins (this so should have been higher on the list...)

18. Hello Dolly (the ONE thing by Babs that I actually enjoy)

19. Anything Goes

20. Cinderella (the original...not the Whitney Houston one. Blech.)

21. The Unsinkable Molly Brown

22. South Pacific

23. Carousel (I know...terrible, terrible man...good, good music)

24. State Fair

25. Les Miserables (AAACK! Can't wait anymore!)

So there it is.

If you haven't seen them, you should.

Seriously.

Now, I have to go work on my list of Christmas movies.

Some things are not black and white...

I came across an article similar to this in Sports Illustrated this evening...(yes, I read Sports Illustrated.)
Minnesota Timberwolves Too White?
I.  Am.  Annoyed.

Why, you ask?

Because.
In sports, things are not black and white.
They are sports.
They are not about religion.
They are about sports.
They are not about race, class, education, status, gender, etc.
They are about Sports.

So, thank you, people of Minnesota.  Thank you for ruining sports for us.

Just think about it...
For two to three glorious hours, you are not a Christian woman with a full time job and no kids and two cats and no Mercedes Benz.
For those few hours a week, you are nothing more than a (personal example...) Denver Bronco or Oregon Duck.
You are just the same as the guy sitting at the table next to you in the sports bar.  You are a fan.  Nothing more, nothing less.
You are important.  You know everything about your team.  You eat, breathe and sleep for the blue and the orange. (or whatever team colors you rep)
Football, for instance, is my sport of choice. I don't care what color my quarterback is.  I don't care that he makes more money in one game than I will make in a lifetime. I don't give a crap what kind of car the receivers drive or where they grew up or who their girlfriend is.  I care about touchdowns. I care about beating the socks of off the Raiders, Patriots, Steelers and the Chargers. I care about the end result.  I care about the win.  Period.
And now, a shameless Denver Broncos/Peyton Manning plug...

I suppose I just don't understand why everything in life has to be about race, religion, etc.

We're all human beings and children of God.  We're people. All of us.

Why the crap does it matter what color a basketball player's skin is?
And for the record, my favorite basket ball player is white.  But, it's not because I'm white.
Nope, it's because no one plays ball like John Stockton.
My favorite QB is white...because I'm white?  No.  It is because Peyton is a hall of fame QB who is going to bring Denver back to being an elite, Superbowl winning team and runs a slick, effective no huddle offense.  That's why.  If Michael Vick played for Denver and could do that?  I'd be a fan.  Unless, of course, the QB was Cam Newton...merely because I hold grudges...

I want my three hours back.

If you have a problem with Minnesota's bball team being too white...let me let you in on a secret...it's not the owners that are racist.  It's you.  Grow up.
Phew.
Now I can go to bed and not be quite as mad.

Pack Meeting

I just got back from a Cub Scout Pack Meeting....always an interesting experience.
First and foremost...loud. (love that)
Second and most important...the theme tonight was Citizenship.  We watched a movie about the Star Spangled Banner and what it meant.  We talked about how America is like a brass band, with all different instruments that have to work together to make a beautiful sound.  We talked about respect for the flag and for our country and for the people of our country.
And suddenly...(insert bolt of lightning here...)
As I was watching these little boys learn about what it means to be an American, I felt my heart swell with pride.  I am so thankful for the Scouting program.
I have been discouraged due to the results of the last national, local and state elections.  I put my heart and soul into some of ideas and people.  I am a Republican.  I am a hardcore conservative.  That is just who I am.  It may not be a popular stance among my peers, but it's just who I am.
But, I am, first and foremost, an American.
This means so much more than just believing in Republican things or Democrat things or Conservative things or Liberal things. We are not black, white, purple, British, African, Chinese, Hispanic, rich, poor, Christian, Jewish, etc., etc.  We are AMERICANS.
While I am saddened by many of the left sides concepts and principles and beliefs, I have realized that I don't have to agree with them.
I do not need to put my energy into being angry, disappointed or trying to destroy the other parties and governing leaders.
There is no room for hate in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
My efforts are best spent praying to my Heavenly Father that the leaders of this country will be guided and directed to keep us free.  They are best used trying to make America a more beautiful place.  They are best used helping and teaching children to be good Americans, to be respectful and to take pride in their country.   I will commit now to spend less time grumbling and complaining about the government and giving them the respect that they rightfully deserve.  I will respect the choices and the rights of people who don't believe the same way that I do, because that is what America is.  It is a place of freedom, of respect, of hopes and dreams and opportunities.  And if those little Cub Scouts can take that much pride in their flag and their country....I can and will do the same. (and the students become the teachers...again.)
So, all I feel right now is that we could all do a little more praying,be a little more respecting and be a little more understanding.
Go.  Save America.  Make a difference.
And...

You know who you are...

I dedicate this song to you .

Won't Back Down

By Tom Petty 

Well I won't back down, no I won't back down
You could stand me up at the gates of hell
But I won't back down

Gonna stand my ground, won't be turned around
And I'll keep this world from draggin' me down
Gonna stand my ground and I won't back down

Chorus
Hey baby, there ain't no easy way out
Hey I will stand my ground
And I won't back down

Well I know what's right, I got just one life
In a world that keeps on pushin' me around
But I'll stand my ground and I won't back down

Hey baby there ain't no easy way out
Hey I will stand my ground
And I won't back down

Niceties...

I need this advice today...I'm not feeling super nice right now.



but because I'm being snarky...this is how I really feel.