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Quarantine Tuesday Reading Kaffeeklatsch: 12/8/2020
How absolutely wonderful, Theresa! Just sounds lovely! I was just thinking how nice it would be to do all of those magical things - but to sit by the fire and read.Normally for Chanukah - our house is filled with people. Usually we have a big party, and tons of people come. Over the course of the 8 nights we light candles with various sets and groups of friends. The synagogue has a big event, last two years with a 5K dreidel dash with costumes. People get creative. We find groups of friends to light candles with. Plenty of years when the kids were young, we had a dreidle and movie night - where we had pizza and latkes and then a group of young kids would go downstairs to watch the Disney Movie - Full Court Miracle. My kids are really too old for it now, but I still am going to try to make sure we watch it together this weekend. It's about a yeshiva kid (a few of them) who really wants to play basketball and a set of bedraggled teammates - and they meet this ex NBA player, and they decide he is Judah Maccabee, and that he is going to help them deliver a miracle. It's a feel good Chanukah basketball story. Anyway, Chanukah feels lonely this year, and I don't have gifts for anyone. It would be nice to have at least one, and something for Cameron. But no one has given me their lists, and the first night is Thursday. Usually I decorate the house and put out our Chanukah stuff, and when the holiday cards start to come I decorate our table with them, so we can see all the faces of the people we love when we light candles together. But I'm behind on the holiday cards already, and there is a good chance they won't happen this year. Which makes me a little sad as I've got a kid graduating this year. So of the 8 nights, next Tuesday night 6, three families that we are close with are going to light candles together on Zoom. I was hoping the five women who talk together on Saturday night, that we would light Candles together Saturday for night three. I want to plan a night with Scott's family, his Dad and brother's family, and one with mine and that's four. Other than that, we will probably gather once a night to light candles, sing a little. I have a box of chanukah questions, and I hope each of the kids will pick one, and we can answer them. They have to do with various themes, faith, gratitude - what have you. Every other year, it seems we have Chanukah out in Aspen, with my parents and nieces. and every other year it seems to fall on my birthday. Last year, I made honey vanilla doughnuts for all the kids. But not this year. Every year in Aspen there is an Ice Skating party with the big menorah in the middle of the rink - and you can candelight with a whole bunch of other people while skating to Chanukah music. Except for little guy, the kids outgrew that a long time ago, but I still love it. Feels lonely this year, and I haven't even gotten the box of stuff out from the attic. Oh - and for the last 13 years I have gone into the elementary school each year for each kid, 18 times, if you count one preschool year, and this would have been my last year to do so - as my fifth grader is graduating elementary school. I talk with kids about how light and love connects all the holdiays, and how there is a flame within each of us, that doesn't quit - and that they can be a light to others, and help light each others flames rather than diminish them. And who are lights to us and who can we be lights to.... Kind of an anti-bullying thing. I read a few books about being a light to others, and then teach them to play dreidel. This was my last year to do that in the school. We talk a lot about eternal flame, and the eternal flame within. Feeling a little down about it. But I know it will be lovely nonetheless. I want the kids to have a good experience. I'm sad that I don't have anything for them, and that I haven't even gotten the stuff from the attic. And that holiday cards are nowhere in process.
Jaden got his first college response yesterday, and it was a rejection letter that came in the mail. He's ok with it. He just doesn't want it to be a trend. Scott and I just want to see this kid shine, and we are hyper aware that this is the week many of the responses will come in - and we are just prayerful that the kid gets into a few places. We want him to feel good about himself and confident. His first choice school announces next week. He would be really sad and we would all be really surprised if they don't take him. He has worked so hard, and we have all just been really faithful that the whole process would work out. You guys are the first people to know about the rejection. We told no one. But I am secretly hoping over this Chanukah week that we get a few miracles of our own. That we feel closer this Covid year as a family, but that we have something truly wonderful to celebrate.
Good day from Germany!That sounds perfect, Theresa! Enjoy!
And reading about Chanukah is really interesting, too, Amy. I can understand that you miss your normal routines and talking to the kids at school about it. I am hoping for some Chanukah miracles for you.
I've been on quarantine for the past few days (since Friday) and will be until next Wednesday, because one of my students has tested positive, and she usually sits in the front of the classroom so I could have been affected. Well, since I don't have symptoms (knock on wood), it is ok. I will get testes on Thursday, just to be sure.
I am trying to teach from home, with mixed results for those students who are at home and those who are at school. The whole 12th grade has been sent home, and I have four classes there. So it is only two of my classes that are actually at school. Today I tried to teach them via a videoconference tool. It was not such a big success, but I am glad I tried it.
I am lucky, though, that quarantine will be over before christmas!
So I will get to spend christmas with my husband, who will come here from Berlin. We will probably even get a tree (don't do that every year, since it is so much work to get rid of it in January) and I want to bake some cookies. We normally cook something new on Christmas eve, then give each other presents and spend the evening enjoying the presents (i.e. reading or playing a new board game etc.). Normally we then visit my parents Christmas day and my in-laws on the 26th. At my in-laws, all 5 brothers and sisters my husband has, are normally there with their families, so it is very lively.
I don't think I am going to see any of them, but maybe my husband goes. Since he is mostly working from home, he doesn't have much outside contact.
I have set up some lights and I have a fabulous Advent Calendar from a bookbox start-up. It contains a few books (so far 2) and book-related goodies, like beautiful postcards, a cookie jar, a cookie-baking mix, etc. So much fun every day to see what is the next gift!
I have started sending out flowers (ordering them online) to some friends to make them smile. I feel I have a hard time thinking about actual gifts this year, but flowers are easy and people seem to like getting flowers :-).
Amy, all best hopes for Jaden with his college applications. It’s such an anxious time for the young ones. Whatever the results he and you have our love and support. I love your descriptions of how you usually spend Chanukah, and what creative ways you are finding to keep your faith and traditions and connections when ‘normal’ went out the window months ago. Lighting candles together on Zoom sounds very beautiful. And I loved the message that you’d normally give to the elementary school - that’s so you! You really live that kindness and positivity - you take that spirit out into the world including sharing with us here. Since you’re feeling a little lonely and down at the moment, let us be that light for you in return, friend.
Theresa your trip away sounds entirely perfect. Enjoy every minute! I can’t wait to down tools on Christmas Eve and collapse with books and stitching for a couple of weeks. Preferably sitting on my deck in the sunshine, if the summer decides to arrive.
I may even tackle my jungle of a garden, and hope that no tigers are hiding in the undergrowth, ready to spring. Little would surprise me in that lot.
I’m on call all over the Christmas break in case we have any major incident or a covid resurgence, mind, but am praying that the Fates don’t conspire against me and drag me in to the office ...
One of my staff got me an early Christmas present yesterday - it’s a coffee mug with “I’m feeling very stabby today!” in large friendly letters on one side... And here was I thinking I was hiding my mood so well. Now it’s on display for the whole world to see. But caffeinated, so that’s ok, right?
@ Theresa, enjoy your well deserved break from the world! @ Amy, I too loved reading about Chanukah and the traditions your family partake in. I am in with Kate-"let us be that light for you in return, friend."
@ Miriam-good to hear from you. I think of all of our non-American friends, here at PBT, often and wonder how you all are fairing. I am glad you will be able to spend the holiday with your husband, and that you are C-19 free. It must be awful, as a teacher, to see your students fall ill.
@Kate-sending up a "shield" so that no one, from work, can find you during the holidays. Spend time with Florence, read wonderful books (visit the bottle shop first 😁) and relax-
p.s. I will write about our traditions later this week, I really need to get into the spirit of things first.
@Theresa your vacation sounds lovely.@Amy I hope Jaden gets good news from colleges soon
Our tree is up and partly decorated. We get a new ornament for each person every year, usually in stores but this year online, which resulted in us getting a ridiculously small ornament this year, it looked a lot larger in the picture. My mom's side of the family decided to do Christmas on Zoom this year. It will be good to see everyone in a safe manner.
@Amy - whatever you do and however much you don't do, it is the coming together as family and friends, whether in person or virtual, to bring light into the world with candles and prayer that matters. It is the only activity that does, even if it only lasts a few minutes. Yhat light will bring good to Jaden too.@Miriam - I spent 2 Christmases in Germany not long ago when my brother lived in Stuttgart. I remember the stunning giant advent wreath their friend who ran a local nursery made for them to hang over the dining table. Food was plentiful and delicious, friends and neighbors would make the rounds starting Christmas Eve through Boxing Day, a primary goal being to sample everyone's bathtub Schnapps and rate them! Of course the Christmas Markets were a highlight. I love your idea of sending flowers and already had plans to do that for some. I also sent out fudge to friends and family for St. Nicholas day, supporting an actress friend's cottage industry that is helping pay the bills while Broadway is closed.
@Kate - may everyone 'forget' you are on call during the holidays, thus allowing you lots of reading and stitching time, and much amusement from Miss Florence.
@Rachel N - you know that every year when that too smal ornament comes out for tge tree, you will all laugh and remember just how you all ended up with it, and that it looked bigger online! Besides, you need smaller ones for near the top!
@Joanne - sounds to me like you need some Christmas dragons warming up a few mugs of gluwhein to get the spirits flowing!
Amy, I love your message of light. The traditions of lights at Christmas are more ecumenical/pagan than New Testament , and Diwali is also a Festival of Lights. I have a little speech I do about A Christmas Carol and It’s a Wonderful Life, how they are both about getting another chance, and how this is the message of all those holidays (such as the oil lasting for 8 nights). And way, way back, people undoubtedly sang and danced to celebrate the returning light at the Solstice.Holidays will be weird for us this year . We always host a carol/holiday song fest. It got so big it outgrew our house and we had to use another venue. This year it will be on Zoom and everyone will only be able to hear their own voice. It is one time both our kids come home but that probably won’t happen. I miss holiday shopping in stores, it’s not the same online. Hard to justify holiday baking for 2 of us. And need to ship presents to everyone.
I expect (hope) there are more restrictions coming down today. Our province has the most lax restrictions, yet we are currently the hardest hit (per capita) in the country. My parents had briefly considered visiting for Christmas, but decided against it. As nice as it would have been to see them, it was the right decision.
I will be here on my own. My tree has been up for about a week and a half now (I think I "showed it off" (not that it's anything special!) in our Zoom meeting on Sunday.)
Since I live alone, I am "allowed" to have 2 other people (cohorts? bubbles?) visit my house. Before we got even-worse hit with COVID, I had talked with a friend about having him over for a games day (board games) over the Christmas break. I believe he is staying home on his own, as well.
Christmas specials? I like the animated ones. Have already watched The Grinch. Oh, not animated, but Mr. Bean will air tonight on CBC. Charlie Brown on Sunday. Shrek the Halls soon.
@Cindy. - I love the animated Christmas Specials! last weekend I caught Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, and Frosty the Snowman. Need to see if anyone airing Mr. Magoo's A Christmas Carol that was an annual event in my childhood. of course, the original Grinch and Charlie Brown need to be seen as well.
You know, for many decades my siblings and I were widely scattered around the globe and unable all to gather at Christmas. A tradition started where we would spend much of Christmas Day on the phone calling each other and talking, discussing presents and what we were eating, who had already spoken to whom. It is a tradition we continue to this day actually. Time zones used to be really tricky making it a challenge to call after each one is up and presents have been opened. My brother was in Germany, I in NYC, one sister in upstate NY, another in Colorado, and our niece out in Washington State. Seemed like the whole day was one big revolving phone call, bringing us into each other's homes. Of course, you had to talk to everyone who happened to be in each other's homes....even neighbors! I know we will do the same thing this year, eschewing Zoom for our traditional calls. Sometimes the telephone just feels right. And you can walk around the house!
Theresa--that sounds lovely and well deserved!Amy--all the best with Jaden and his college applications. We have one more round of those next year, but it will be for grad school, so a new thing for us. Feel free to text, email or PM me if you have any questions, although I am sure you have things well under control!
LibraryCin wrote: "I expect (hope) there are more restrictions coming down today. Our province has the most lax restrictions, yet we are currently the hardest hit (per capita) in the country. ..."Well, today they finally brought in some restrictions that may have some "teeth". Not quite as restrictive as the first shutdown in the spring, but it's the first time Alberta has had a province-wide mask mandate (finally!). These restrictions should have come in a month ago, but here we are. They are here now (to take us beyond Christmas).
I'm not sure what it means for those of us living alone. If I "can" still have my friend over for a games day or not, but I'll look further into it and my friend and I will discuss. We would both be wearing masks, as well, anyway. (He has been in my house a few times - masked - as he's helped me with a few computer issues the past few months.)
LibraryCin wrote: "LibraryCin wrote: "I expect (hope) there are more restrictions coming down today. Our province has the most lax restrictions, yet we are currently the hardest hit (per capita) in the country. ..."..."
Cindy - assuming no absolute prohibition, as long as you are both wearing masks, you keep some windows open so air circulates and you keep social distanced, you should be fine. I had to have a bank attorney iin my apartment so I could sign documents under power of attorney and I set it up so that we kept distant and masked and I had the widows open - which I alway sdo unless its below freezing - and sometimes even then.
I always make sure to wear a really good mask with filter and have hand sanitizer prominently displayed. You should be fine and I envy a day of board games. I LOVE board games and don't have anyone in NYC these days to play them with. Well, except SCRABBLE>
I don’t remember if we discussed Scrabble, Theresa? Do you mean you do play it or you don’t like it? My husband and I have played against each other for over 40 years and we are pretty evenly matched. Our first tournament was in Brooklyn in about 1975. We even ran a club and tournaments in Minneapolis for about 20 years and have a couple trophies! But then the game got too competitive and not as much fun so we just play at home.
Robin P wrote: "I don’t remember if we discussed Scrabble, Theresa? Do you mean you do play it or you don’t like it? My husband and I have played against each other for over 40 years and we are pretty evenly match..."One of my closest friends and I play once in a while, most recently at our mutual birthday socially distanced celebration in Riverside Park. We set it up on park bench between us. I am a little more strategic and usually win. She is a noted crossword puzzle constructor and focuses on making fun words. We are both probably way below your and your husband's league!
I actually own 2 SCRABBLE sets: the original board Santa brought me when I was a teen, and one of those on a turntable with a plastic framework holding the pieces in place. That board I inherited from a friend who was an avid player, and competed. She found my play less than challenging, 🤣. I actually prefer the old vintage board...it is not a game if the board hasn't been upset at least once, and you have to recreate it!
Theresa wrote: "Cindy - assuming no absolute prohibition, as long as you are both wearing masks, you keep some windows open so air circulates and you keep social distanced, you should be fine...."I didn't have to go looking, but they printed more detail in the paper. Living alone, we are still "allowed" two people (presumably they should also be people who live alone? Anyway, my friend does). I will still have to talk to him to see if he's comfortable with it.
Theresa wrote: "I actually prefer the old vintage board...it is not a game if the board hasn't been upset at least once, and you have to recreate it!..."LOL!
I do have Scrabble, but I don't play the North American board games as much, anymore. More "into" the European games. I still don't have people by to play often.
Stuff like Settlers of Catan and Carcassonne - those are probably the most well-known ones. I also like Puerto Rico and Arkham Horror.
Love Carcassone! I also have a card game called Fantasy I and II from France that I just adore. I also have a few actual board games from France. I've had to translate the directions for those.
Lovely hearing about everyone's plans for the holidays.Honestly, I didn't participate in last weeks kaffeeklatsch because I was having a REALLY hard time coming up with 5 positive things. We're under stricter lockdowns, which is totally fair and totally understandable- but my 30th birthday is coming up and basically everything I had kicked around is no longer an option. My normal, positive, optimistic spirit has been feeling stunted- and it's not a good look or feel for me. I've stayed pretty positive and optimistic throughout the pandemic, and I think it all caught up to me on Thanksgiving.
This week is seeming better, and I'm looking forward to Christmas. I have no idea what it will hold with my (large) family, or hubbys (small) family. We have all our Christmas Cards ready to send out, all the presents purchased online, and are waiting for everything to be non-contact delivered.
On the bright side- Jimmy Fallon and Andrew Rannells did a 2020 musical, and it's absolutely fabulous.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjbLY...
@ Joi-I hear ya about the spirit feeling stunted-I hope that your joi-ful self comes back in spades for the holidays and your birthday
Joi wrote: "Lovely hearing about everyone's plans for the holidays.Honestly, I didn't participate in last weeks kaffeeklatsch because I was having a REALLY hard time coming up with 5 positive things. We're u..."
One of my brothers is organizing a family Zoom time, which will be a first for us, but with no rules, so we'll see how it goes. I have 4 siblings, and 3 of them, still married, have 3 or 4 kids each plus my 3 kids (but I am not sure if my step-niece will be able to go to her Dad's or not with all of the restrictions in BC). We don't usually travel across the country at that time (started because of my eldest given how stressful holiday prep can be, etc) but the rest of my family is normally together at least part of the time, since most in-laws live in relatively close proximity. It will be mid-morning there, so early afternoon here, which is a great time. We're going to use 3 laptops here, to make it more comfortable for the five of us.
Glad things are looking better for you, Joi - it’s hardly surprising that you had a slump. It’s a year to be kind to ourselves as well as to others. Dream up something really unusual for your birthday and have fun!
Wishing all who celebrate a Happy Hannukah! I actually attended the Hannukah candle- lighting here at Mohonk tonight. It is not my first as I have had Jewish roommates and of course many many Jewish friends and colleagues who have shared their traditions with me.It was a delightful hour tonight, raising spirits high.
The Cantor tonight started off by saying: If ever there was a time to bring light into the world, 2020 is it. Truer words .
That’s so lovely Teresa, that you were able to have a beautiful Hanukkah experience. I love your whole week!I wanted to share with you guys that we had a really lovely Hanukkah. For the first night. It was hard and sad in some ways to really get rid of the baby stuff. My kids are growing so much older and we need to have a more mature experience. Plus it’s just us, so we didn’t need the entire boxes and boxes of stuff. But I did read a couple of the baby books with my youngest and threw them in the packed up boxes for the attic for grandchildren. And I threw a lot of their old young menorahs and younger stuff in there too. We did a Hanukkah puzzle and then threw it out. It feels like it 10 he’s outgrowing so many things, and everything is a last year for stuff. But I did put out our four more mature Menorahs and more adult decor, ordered new Chanukah tablecloths for next year, and we had a nice dinner together. During dinner I pulled out the Hanukkah box of questions, I’ve asked my middle son to pick one for candelighting. But now I want to step back and tell you about the morning. It’s the set up of the narrative. So at five of ten yesterday morning, I stopped at the coffee shop across the street, even though I knew it would make me late. I didn’t really understand why I was going there. It wasn’t open. It’s a new shop and I didn’t quite know it’s hours yet. So I turned around and I hear hi mom! And there is my oldest son Jaden, who is running down the street passing me. He’s dressed in black, with a black mask or no mask, I’m not sure. But it was a surprise to see him. Not to see him running, he is a runner.
Turns out my phone is only gonna let me say so much. I hope both parts get in there. Anyway, he’s a runner so that wasn’t a surprise. He sort of says as he breathlessly runs by, but he had a cancel for his first class so he went out for a run. So I waved and said bye have a good run. But here’s what happened for me. A wave of love for this child just washed over me. Like he was so handsome and so beautiful and so good. Like a really young man. The word beautiful just kept in my mind. And I hugged it close all day. Like that feeling stayed with me. So when it came time to light the candles, my family was his usual ADHD chaotic loud overwhelming mess, but it was lovely to light the candles together. And my middle child had picked the question, what is your favorite Hanukkah ritual? Jaden said latkes, Shain said gelt, that’s chocolate coins, my youngest Cameron said he likes that we ask these questions. My husband said it was singing songs. And I said it was the half hour that you’re supposed to take to watch the candles burn down and quietly appreciate. But between the dogs and the chaos, there was only three of us left when we were finishing up and we began to sing rock of ages in Hebrew. And for whatever the reason, my oldest son Jaden just saying with me first, and it was him and I singing, and it was so moved and happy that he knew the words and jumped right in. It was obvious that I was getting very moved. And I actually started to cry. So my middle son interrupted and poked fun at me. And that’s what made Jaden stop singing. And he started singing along. But I knew that Jaden was moved to.
Moved too. Now I’m on my third clip. I hope they’re getting posted. Who the hell knows. Anyway, it wasn’t explicitly stated, but he knew I was thinking that I didn’t know where the hell he would be for next year’s candle lighting, whether he would be with us or not. And we are all so aware of how nervous and stressed he is for hearing from these colleges. And he’s so worried that his first choice that he’s put a lot of investment in, might not come through and the waiting is hard. His best school friend and our next-door neighbor, just got into Colgate early decision. Naturally, these kids are talking about the rejections they may or may not be getting. It’s just so tough for him this week. We’re all on edge. But even if it was just a few moments to sing with him and I last night, I loved it. I could tell he was embarrassed that I teared up. So he stopped. Maybe he was moved too. Anyway, will have to see what’s happening tonight. Latkes for sure. And we will keep you guys posted on the colleges as they hopefully roll out their yeseses. We are all praying pretty hard and just trying to enjoy the time. Thanks for listening. Love you guys and happy holiday season.
@ Amy, sounds like a perfect family evening! I would love some of those latkes!
Amy, that sounds like a lovely sound. I have only participated in that once, the year I lived with close family friends. I also sat down to a real Seder with them that year. Whenever people discuss that it brings back fond memories, since the mother (these were my parents' friends but are/were just a bit more than half the distance between me and my dad in age) passed away about 5 or 6 years ago.
Amy, all your posts went through and it was really lovely. I loved the story of you seeing your oldest son at the bakery and I loved the story of the singing.Is this the same "Rock of Ages," that is sung in Christian churches? I have fond memories of hearing my father sing it in a really bad bass voice.
Thanks for sharing these special moments, Amy! Not surprisingly, you have turned out some wonderful kids.
@Amy: your account of your evening moved me, too. It is lovely to read about your wonderful evening. @Joi: I, like the others said, also think it is totally normal to feel like this. It is a tough year, especially on special days.
If its the same - its the classic Chanukah song. The world thinks the classic Chanukah song is Dreidel, but its really this and "Oh Chanukah." And another called Mi Yimael, that no one knows any more. Like many other things, I'm sad that people don't sing Rock of Ages anymore. We still do - and I hope that tradition lives on.Rock of Ages Let Our Song - Ma O Tsur
Praise they saving Power
Now Amidst the Raging Storm
Wrest thy sheltering Tower
Furious they assailed us
But Thine Arm Availed Us
And thy word
Broke their sword
When our own strength failed us
Its yet another version of:
They tried to kill us, we survived - lets eat! Lol!
I'm enjoying reading about all of your traditions!!I just couldn't get anything together this year. My mom did good, she put up a small Disney Christmas tree that she loves. We plan on having a small dinner with my mom and husband, similar to what we did for Thanksgiving.
I haven't bought a single gift... well... I bought some early gifts for myself and my husband now that I have a paycheck again lol. I think I mentioned last week I got a treadmill for under my standing desk... it's great! Yesterday and the day before I walked about 4 miles, not even realizing it, while I was working.
I do have a couple of Christmas Parties with my new work teams, virtually, one has a secret santa and the other we will be playing an online game. In one we are suppose to tell or favorite Christmas tradition and since we don't have them any more, I thought I'd share my favorite Christmas memory.
When my parents I first moved back to our hometown to be closer to my half-siblings, they were already celebrating Christmas with their mom. My dad decided that Christmas Eve was his day then. So every year we would have a big Christmas Eve party with all of my half-siblings and their kids. We also invited any one that didn't have a place to go. We would always get a few extra gifts so that they would have something to unwrap when the rest of us were exchanging presents. The first few years when I and my nieces and nephews were all kids, my dad got dart guns for everyone of us and we had dart gun wars with my older brothers diving behind couches and such. My mom complained that she would find darts in the craziest places for the rest of the year.
Sometime soon, I will be watching my favorite Christmas movie... Die Hard ;) it has become my tradition to watch it yearly.
I brought up both trees from the basement and set them up, plugged them in (on timers) and am enjoying the lights each evening. No, I haven't put a single ornament on either tree. Hubby put the lights on the hedge in front of the family room window.
And I hung a birdseeed wreath for the birds ... but the squirrels ate it all in 3 days!
Well, as usual my husband ignored my earlier requests to get a tree, and this year to finally get a snowblower. He has a bad back which is much worse than ever this year. I can shovel, but it takes me forever. We got about 6 inches of heavy, wet snow. I was out for an hour just doing our walk and taking most of the snow off the cars. We have 2 cars and a 1-car garage. But if we park a car in the garage, I have to shovel the entire driveway which goes uphill from the garage, otherwise the one car will either get stuck or slide into the outside car. So it's easier to park outside at the top of the hill. I did clear snow from behind the cars but it will be filled in again when the plow comes. Ah yes, I love the change of seasons! I actually went into a store yesterday, one of the few times since March that wasn't for groceries or pharmacy. They were playing "Silver Bells" - my favorite non-carol Christmas song - and similar tunes and I realized how much I missed shopping at the holiday and hearing cheesy Christmas music in stores. Our gift giving will be minimal this year since we need to mail everything and there are no children, or really anyone who needs anything.
Our son who works at the Apple store is home doing phone tech support after the store closed for the 2nd time, and his group was told they have to work on Christmas. Well, it doesn't matter so much this year as we weren't getting together. He has taken some time off in January and we hope to see him then. At least he is much safer working from home.
I had a totally unexpected and entirely entertaining pre-Christmas family 'event' last Monday. My power was out all day due to PG&E high wind precautions. It was after dark and I was sitting in a parking lot eating my take out Chinese food while running my car in order to charge my phone battery. You get the picture. I wasn't exactly feeling sorry for myself. There are far worse things. But I was frustrated and annoyed at the inconvenience. Then my sister messaged two pictures and a quiz to seven members of my immediate family (eventually involving spouses and minor children) The pictures were of two plates of decorated cookies, ugly Christmas sweater cookies. We were challenged to identify who had decorated each plate, my sister or her partner. Also, pick the ugliest, favorite, and the sweater we would actually be willing to wear.
My phone was lighting up for a good half hour. (Good thing I had it on charge.) I had a fun visit with all my nearest and dearest, plenty of laughs and companionship while I finished my meal.
I'm sure it will remain a favorite holiday memory.
My sister usually visits at Christmas, but not this year. And although my daughter is planning to drive down to stay with me (pending a negative test), we've decided to maintain a healthy distance from my son, his new wife and her family. Hoping for nice weather allowing outdoor meetups. We will really miss our Christmas Eve game night. But plans are in the works for playing an electronic version of a game that I was given for my birthday. I really need to do some prep to figure out how that will be done.
@ JR-you made me laugh with your "dining out experience and your "event" with your family sounds like a lot of fun.
Well some tentative plans for Christmas dinner with a friend have been kiboshed with indoor dining being closed indefinitely in NY starting Monday. Now leaning towards making a recipe I have been meaning to try. Got my Christmas Cards mostly mailed. No decorations or tree up yet. But some presents done and shipped. Tomorrow plan on sorting, wrapping, and packaging the rest for shipping.Today I am just reading.
@Amy - we sang Rock of Ages at the Mohonk celebration!
@Charlotte - I absolutely don't get stand-up desks, or especially treadmill under a stand up desk! Give me a comfy ergonomic desk chair any day!
@JGrace - what a delightful story!
@RobinP - maybe it is time to buy yourself the Sno-Blower as you seem to be dealing with the snow? And get yourself a small tree.
@JGrace, we also lost power here two weeks ago during our 1st blizzard of the year. Our power and heat were off for nearly 2 days. On the 2nd day, my husband and I asked our friend (who lives nearby) if we could stay for a bit at her home. We were freezing cold. Without missing a beat, my friend invited us over. She even picked us up due to our cars being stuck in the garage (that's another story.)It's the third night of Chanukah tonight. We had my Dad over this afternoon and served him Jewish soul food. He was happy! Tomorrow there will be a menorah parade in my neighborhood, which is new for us. There are signs popping up here advertising this.
It's been a trying year for all of us. I like hearing about all of your customs and what you are trying to do this year.
Amy wrote: "If its the same - its the classic Chanukah song. The world thinks the classic Chanukah song is Dreidel, but its really this and "Oh Chanukah." And another called Mi Yimael, that no one knows any mo..."If I had remembered the words, it would have been quite obvious that it couldn't be the same song. Oh well, interesting to know that there are 2 Rock of Ages songs.
Thanks, Amy.
@Theresa Ha! In 2019 I ended up with such bad back pain I couldn’t hardly move and I was constantly in tears or drugged. It was a perfect storm of grief from deaths, an escalation at work, sitting too much. I did PT and found walking helped immensely. I still love to curl up in my chair when I’m trying to focus but if I’m on a conference call, I’ve enjoyed being able to walk during them (as long as I don’t have to be on camera). It’s helps me get some activity in during these super short, rainy days. I’ve been able to keep my back/ hip pain from getting too bad too. I do get that it isn’t for everyone.
Charlotte wrote: "@Theresa Ha! In 2019 I ended up with such bad back pain I couldn’t hardly move and I was constantly in tears or drugged. It was a perfect storm of grief from deaths, an escalation at work, sitting ..."Now of course that makes sense. I just can't see standing and typing on a keyboard...it would be like standing to play a piano....
What I really don't get are those giant balls used instead of chairs. I remember some TV movie where a marketing director in his 40s gets hired by a start-up tech company where of course everything is stand-up desks, ball seating, skateboards and ping pong tables. I understood his total fish out of water reaction.
Got the Christmas tree up today with the substantial assistance of a 19 month old who was delighted with everything, including cuddling some of the little bear ornaments that I had forgotten I had. She trailed the strings of beads everywhere and had a wonderful time. The tinsel was pronounced too scratchy though, and met with disfavour, so it was left to shed its sparkliness in liberal fashion over quite a lot of the carpet.
I have abandoned the prospect of lights this year, as I’d prefer Little Miss Curious not to experiment with the electrics...
Watching the vaccine roll out from the Pfizer plant this morning. What a joyous gift to the world, from my home state of Michigan. I cried as that first truck rolled away from the loading dock. I believe I can scrounge up some of that holiday spirit now @ Theresa, the grog is now brewing in the basement still (trying to keep that fire dragon from getting too careless will be a job though;)
Theresa wrote: "Charlotte wrote: "@Theresa Ha! In 2019 I ended up with such bad back pain I couldn’t hardly move and I was constantly in tears or drugged. It was a perfect storm of grief from deaths, an escalation..."Apparently, it is good for backs to not spend too much time seated in a chair. I don't stand and type or stand and play the piano, but sometimes I raise up my large music stand and read standing up for a while (it goes up fairly high).
Since I wanted a room with a working fireplace again, I ended up in a much larger room, complete with a seating area around the fireplace and plenty of room to move around. All for me and myself alone. I'm revelling in it!
The decorations have a Victorian theme to match the architecture and decor, and heavy on the greenery and nature themes to honor the Mohonk Nature Preserve. It is tasteful, lovely and catches you by surprise from time to time. There are decorated trees scattered in different nooks, all live evergreens except for one inventive tree that is actually made from logs. I will post a photo of it in the PBT photo album. As there are numerous mantlepieces throughout the public areas, those too are decorated.
Among the activities: a Gingerbread House judging competition - and they are amazing works - you can seen them on the Mohonk.com website. A Magical Lights Evening Tour outside through the grounds which have yet to do, but am sure it features the iconic summerhouses and gazebos strung with lights.
The outdoor skating pavillion is open and you can lounge in front of the mammoth outdoor fireplace and watch others splat on the ice while drinking rich hot cocoa. And every day there is different Holiday craft kit you can get to make that day's craft. Many are victorian inspired like yesterday's orange pomander and today's paper ornament. Tomorrow is something with wool.... None are hard as they are suitable from about age 4 on up.
Plus the Carriage Lounge has holiday themed mixed drinks to entice...
The gift shop is also providing me with some wonderful stocking stuffers to send off to family when I get home! Oh, and the afternoon tea is featuring holiday cookies.
It's a lot emptier than it was in October. As I checked in, they mentioned there were all of about 100 rooms occupied - that's about 1/3rd. It is the quiet time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, but I have to believe COVID and travel restrictions affects this as well.
But it is perfect for a safe getaway during pandemic for a New Yorker. It's also giving me time to read. And tonight I sat in front of the fire on the comfy loveseat in my room, in my jammies and warm socks, listening to jazzy Christmas music off Prime Music and wrote out 90% of my Christmas cards. I will mail them in the Mohonk mailbox in the lobby tomorrow.
I feel pretty pleased with myself! I'm getting into that Christmas spirit!
So, what's everyone planning with their holidays? Amy - I'd love to hear about your Hannukah traditions. We are all making adjustments, but there are still so many traditions we can do or adapt, and even do some new ones.