Happy New Year, have some cookies and be fearless

So here we are on the last day of 2014. It's unusually cold here this New Year's Eve. We're talking in the 30's. Hard to believe that a few months ago we were sweating our butts off.

This year I experienced a lot of fun, joy, love, and laughter. I saw great kindness and my family and I were even on the receiving end of some stranger's kind act when he paid for our meal when we were out to dinner for our anniversary. Hopefully next year I can repay that kindness to someone else.

My wish for all of us this new year is that we live and love, work and play fearlessly. And eat pizza and cookies without regret.

Tis the season for grrr-ing.

Christmas has come and gone. And with it so has goodwill toward men. Or at least that's what I saw at the After-Christmas sales in the stores today.

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Amid all the half price decorations and wrapping paper there was griping and shopping carts being pushed into people.

I managed to buy some gift paper and tags for next year's wrapping frenzy without sustaining any bodily harm. And luckily for my fellow shoppers, no one got whacked on the head as I juggled six rolls of wrapping paper. I almost took out an elderly lady as I was checking on some tissue paper. Almost. But in my defense she did knock into me with her over-sized purse so I'm pretty sure we would have been even.

Was anyone else brave enough to enter a store the day after Christmas? Come on guys, don't leave me hangin'.

Merry Merry!

Have yourself a fearless little Christmas
Let your joy be great
I've got cookies sitting here on my plate.

Note to self: Leave some for Santa!

Merry Christmas!

~From the Fearless Scribe

Christmas Eve eve

Twas the night before the night before Christmas when all through my house, everyone was stirring because well, it's only Dec. 23rd and also way too early for bed.

Thankfully all my shopping and wrapping is done. And I'm not ashamed to admit that I spent more time at Target and Walmart this season than any person is meant to because I was always forgetting something or other. But that's all done now.

So tonight I'm relaxing with some hot beverage, maybe tea or cocoa, and watching The Santa Clause and whatever other Christmas movie is on.

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Speaking of, it's been 20 years since The Santa Clause came out in theaters. Back then Bill and I were just dating. I remember we spent a nice day together first Christmas shopping at one of the jersey malls before going to see the movie and then ending with a nice dinner. He takes my word for this because of course his memory is shaky at best.

If you're still out and about doing last minute shopping, you have my sympathies and understanding. In years past I've spent many of the last few days and hours before Christmas in crowded stores frantically trying to get that final gift, or two, or five.

If you're still up to your ears in wrapping paper, remember gift bags are your friend.

And if you're all done then woo hoo! Curl up in your jammies and have a hot (or cold) one with me.

I'm secretly a Griswold

I watch, quote and know way too much about "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" and I freely admit it. In fact my current ringtone is the scene where Cousin Eddie yells "Merry Christmas! Shitter was full." It makes for interesting looks and much amusement if I'm out somewhere and someone calls me. I'm sure none of this is considered healthy behavior. Or normal.

Knowing all of this it should come as no surprise to anyone that my dad recently sent me the following and I did really well.

The Hardest "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" Quiz You'll Ever Take

You got 13 out of 14 right!

You should've been born a Griswold. (This sounds like a back-handed compliment)

1. Warner Bros.

The only one I got wrong was how many strands, bulbs, and lights does Clark put on the house? In my defense this question wasn't fair because it involved numbers and I'm a self-confessed math idiot. Anyway, below is the link to the quiz if you want to test your knowledge of the movie. If not then Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, kiss my ass, kiss his ass, kiss your ass, Happy Hanukkah. 


The Hardest Christmas Vacation Quiz You'll Ever Take

The true meaning of Christmas

If you're in search of Christmas magic you should go see what's happening over here . An entire community of people helping those less fortunate provide a nice Christmas for their children. All in the name of a taxidermied boar, named after the 20th President of the U.S. Okay, so you need to be a follower of her blog to understand that last sentence.

It all started on Monday, December 15, with a simple post by The Bloggess: If you need help, or if you want to help. And from there it snowballed.

Some of the comments are heart-breaking. But the offered help and replies are truly humbling and show what Christmas is really about.

Those who have nothing to give are offering words of support and encouragement. Emails and holiday e-cards are being exchanged to those suffering from loneliness and despair. It's awe-inspiring and at the very least has restored many people's faith in humanity.

In addition, donations have been given to specifically named charities that help homeless children and help end world hunger and poverty.

The people (tribe as we are affectionately called) involved at this site have given more warm-fuzzies than the cuddliest of teddy bears. Just reading and watching from afar is like being wrapped in a fleece blanket while sipping hot chocolate. I half expect to hear a chorus of Who's singing Welcome Christmas.

So if you're cynical by nature or feeling Grinchy or Scrooge-like this season, know that there is good in the world. Sometimes you just have to look a little harder to find it. Sometimes it happens without much fanfare and across many miles and behind computer screens. But it's there.

This entire event has made believers out of us all that Santa Claus really does exist. And for the many, many children who will wake up Christmas morning to find presents under their tree when they (and especially their parents) didn't think there would be anything, the magic of Santa can continue.

Spreading a little holiday kindness

Everyone knows the song, "The 12 Days of Christmas", right? Well, this year I started my own variation on this popular holiday song. Instead of calling birds and partridges in pear trees I have been recognizing 12 friends on facebook with a private message telling them I appreciate them. Some have overcome great loss and tragedy this year. One is a former serviceman and another is a devoted mom. Each one is special in his/her own way and my recognition focuses on that.

I began doing this on Saturday, December 13 so my 12 days lead right up to Christmas. 

So far, this has been well-received and I've gotten surprised messages back thanking me for my kindness. But I'm not doing this for accolades. I'm doing this because the world is filled with horrors and sadness and because at this time of year, we could all benefit from a little kindness.

Please feel free to take this idea and use it to spread some holiday cheer and kindness to your own friends.

Relax and be merry

This is a busy time of year. It can also be a stressful time, too. So allow me to share some tips and hints to help you prepare for the holidays while keeping your sanity intact. Consider them my gift to you. (Refunds not available, results may vary.)


The Road Less Traveled

There's been a lot of construction and street re-routing going on in my neck of the woods. In order to not sit in the traffic and get into a yelling/cursing match with the other drivers when I go out Christmas shopping, I take the back roads as often as possible. It might take me a bit longer to get there but it is way calmer on my nerves. So if you know of an alternate way to get where you're going, I advise you to take it.


Making A List...

Santa does it and so do I. Although I make lists because my memory has become ridiculous. But seriously, it helps when I have multiple stores to go to if I have a list of what I'm buying and from where. This saves me from having those "what did I come here for?" moments. It also prevents that son of a b- exclamation when I get in the car to leave, only to realize I forgot something I needed to buy.

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Get Into the Spirit

No, I'm not talking the Spirit of Christmas Past, Present or Future. I mean whatever you need to make yourself merry. Play some Christmas music in the car when you're out shopping. Better yet, once you're home for the night, have a little holiday cocktail or taste some of the baked goodies you (or someone else) made. There's no shame. I won't judge. Whatever you choose to deck your halls and stay mellow, it's all good.


The Internet Is Your Friend

Ah, shopping online. Hassle-free. No dashing through the snow and fighting for a parking space. No waiting on line. And best of all, can be done in your sweats, pajamas or ugliest Christmas sweater while eating freshly baked cookies.

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I highly recommend all of these because no one likes their parent/spouse to be a Jolly Asshole at The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.

May your cup runneth over

I pinned this quote a while ago on Pinterest and was reminded of it recently when someone re-pinned it. With all the unrest, hostility, and suffering going on and with the frenzy of preparing for the holiday, I thought it would be nice to take a moment to reflect on this:

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A little laughter during the holiday craziness

In between all the shopping, wrapping, baking, eating, visiting, donating, and decorating you have going on at this time of year, here are some Christmas funnies to make you laugh.


I like this for so many reasons, not the least of which is that I'm a fan of the King.

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These days, that's about the size of it.

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If it weren't for the step ladder our tree would look like this, too. #shortpeopleproblems.

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From the Tree Water Vineyards:

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So while you're rushing and stressing, don't forget to laugh a little this Christmas.

Can I refill your eggnog for you?

Every now and then the local casinos "give away" some cool gifts to its gamblers, I mean patrons. I say "give away" because you need to gamble a bit every now and then to be recognized as worthy. Most people (Vegas residents) just use the "free play" like $5 or $20 that they award you for coming to their casino rather than using their own hard-earned money. Either way you have to earn the gift.

Yesterday my dad came home with such a Christmas gift. He was very excited about it and couldn't wait to show me and the rest of the family. No, it wasn't money. Nor was it a gold watch. Something way better, at least to our easily entertained eyes.

I give you The Clark Griswold Glass Moose Mug.

It looks exactly like the one Clark drinks Eggnog out of when Cousin Eddie and family came to visit and also when he got his Jelly Of The Month Club bonus.

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And because my family and I are such fans of Christmas Vacation, we loved it. I told dad he should fill it with red and green M & M's for the holiday. I'm not sure if he plans on using it to drink with this season but right now it is proudly displayed on the living room end table.

Soup and sliders

For lunch today I had some chicken noodle soup. And two White Castle sliders (of the frozen variety since WC doesn't exist out here). Talk about a contradiction in terms. One is good, warm, and for the most part, healthy. The other is an all-out greasy, food glom of the unhealthiest kind that most people (especially those in Jersey) will eat only after a night of excessive drinking or, if you're constipated.

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Somehow this reminded me of a time I was out with a friend of mine at our local diner. She ordered a salad with extra cheese and extra dressing (not the fat-free kind), and a cheeseburger with fries. And a diet coke. I was like, What? Are you kidding? Does it really matter at this point? She said she preferred the taste. I guess the body wants what the body wants.

I admit mine was a weird craving. I think I thought the soup wouldn't be filling enough. Turns out I was wrong. -Feeling full.