Finding my Messiah
We went to the symphony last night. I hadn't expected to do that, but I was craving Christmas music and we had access to a babysitter, so we went. I don't dress up often and it was fun to mine my closet for my grandmother's alligator pumps and wear my best jewels. We got there early, both so we could shmooze and because we didn't have advance tickets. I think it sold out, so that was a good time for me to be uncharacteristically early.
It has been a good day today. C. went to church with us this morning. Small Boy and I walked downtown this afternoon to do our Christmas shopping. We shopped at seven different locally-owned stores and hauled our heavy load the mile home with the triumph of the successful hunter.
We shopped with cash in most places, but I did charge my purchases at the anachronistic department store. I doubt you'll believe this, but the way I get credit there is by telling them my name and address. The office will send me a bill next month. Kevin knows I'll pay it. Small town life is marvelous sometimes.
I tried calling Eldest Son earlier and he couldn't talk, but he could text. I can too, because of my new Android. I love my Android. Texting was sufficient for my purposes and I'm glad to be able to connect with Eldest Son when needed.
I'm a long-time fan of Tracy Grammer's and she has a new CD coming out. There's a chance I'm going to be able to get an advance copy in time for Christmas and the flukishness of that makes me smile. A few months ago I started seeing her face everywhere, particularly walking past my window as I sat at my desk. I mean, I *am* a big fan, but I don't normally hallucinate. Finally I worked up the courage to ask her on her fan page on Facebook if there might be an explanation. It turns out that she has not only moved to My Small Town, but she lives a few doors down from me and is a walker just like I am. We work out at the same Y. She took a part-time job with some of my friends. We have started to develop a friendship and that pleases me enormously.
Another thing that makes me smile: I was asked to be on a Board yesterday for something I sort of wanted to be on the Board for. I didn't want to be on it bad enough to ASK anyone, so this came unsolicitied and was particularly gratifying because they made a point to say how they needed my particular long-term-planning stewardship focus. Wow. Most people dislike me for that. I'm trying to imagine the Board discussion that resulted in asking me to join. It makes me smile.
One more thing that made me smile: Boehner saying that it was too fucked up to set tax policy for two months. Oh, thank God. I don't really have a Representative in the House, since mine effectively (secretly) retired without being replaced. But his staff is still there and I have the email address for his chief of staff. So I sent her an email explaining why it was TERRIBLE to try to implement a two-month extension in real life, and begged her not to do this. Perhaps she can prop up his corpse for the vote, I dunno, or maybe it will help to get them to understand that this isn't a pissing contest about when Obama goes on vacation. Real people are really going to have to live with these fucked up laws. I wish they'd consider this as something more than a partisan scorecard. This smile is through gritted teeth because I actually *do* have access to the Halls of Power, just through indirect and limited means and I doubt it'll help. But, hey, I at least know I'm heard.
All in all, it was an excellent day and I didn't even have to force myself to write the "happy things" list. That's worth noticing.
It has been a good day today. C. went to church with us this morning. Small Boy and I walked downtown this afternoon to do our Christmas shopping. We shopped at seven different locally-owned stores and hauled our heavy load the mile home with the triumph of the successful hunter.
We shopped with cash in most places, but I did charge my purchases at the anachronistic department store. I doubt you'll believe this, but the way I get credit there is by telling them my name and address. The office will send me a bill next month. Kevin knows I'll pay it. Small town life is marvelous sometimes.
I tried calling Eldest Son earlier and he couldn't talk, but he could text. I can too, because of my new Android. I love my Android. Texting was sufficient for my purposes and I'm glad to be able to connect with Eldest Son when needed.
I'm a long-time fan of Tracy Grammer's and she has a new CD coming out. There's a chance I'm going to be able to get an advance copy in time for Christmas and the flukishness of that makes me smile. A few months ago I started seeing her face everywhere, particularly walking past my window as I sat at my desk. I mean, I *am* a big fan, but I don't normally hallucinate. Finally I worked up the courage to ask her on her fan page on Facebook if there might be an explanation. It turns out that she has not only moved to My Small Town, but she lives a few doors down from me and is a walker just like I am. We work out at the same Y. She took a part-time job with some of my friends. We have started to develop a friendship and that pleases me enormously.
Another thing that makes me smile: I was asked to be on a Board yesterday for something I sort of wanted to be on the Board for. I didn't want to be on it bad enough to ASK anyone, so this came unsolicitied and was particularly gratifying because they made a point to say how they needed my particular long-term-planning stewardship focus. Wow. Most people dislike me for that. I'm trying to imagine the Board discussion that resulted in asking me to join. It makes me smile.
One more thing that made me smile: Boehner saying that it was too fucked up to set tax policy for two months. Oh, thank God. I don't really have a Representative in the House, since mine effectively (secretly) retired without being replaced. But his staff is still there and I have the email address for his chief of staff. So I sent her an email explaining why it was TERRIBLE to try to implement a two-month extension in real life, and begged her not to do this. Perhaps she can prop up his corpse for the vote, I dunno, or maybe it will help to get them to understand that this isn't a pissing contest about when Obama goes on vacation. Real people are really going to have to live with these fucked up laws. I wish they'd consider this as something more than a partisan scorecard. This smile is through gritted teeth because I actually *do* have access to the Halls of Power, just through indirect and limited means and I doubt it'll help. But, hey, I at least know I'm heard.
All in all, it was an excellent day and I didn't even have to force myself to write the "happy things" list. That's worth noticing.