My desktop holiday trees.
Well this is embarrassing. I’ve got nothing again. I’ve been busy at work (rather unseasonably) and just feeling kind of drained. It doesn’t feel very Chistmassy out there, despite every talking head babbling about all of these events and goodies available. Grins so wide (as wide as those desperate “buy something.. buy anything! Please!) you’re afraid it will meet in the back of their head and the whole thing will just flop horribly over.
The famous Stahl House, now for sale. It will not be my Xmas present.
Perhaps it’s the general, shall we say “turbulence” right now. I feel like staying close to home and nesting. I should have written “cleaning” but I suppose since Xmas and New Years sit mid-week I guess I can do some, since 2026 will not bring a house full of cute cleaning robots that will do it for me. (well it’s to be hoped it won’t bring nuclear holocaust, also like in that same Ray Bradbury short story.
Mary Berry. Be nice to her and she will give you cake.
Now I am doing things to decompress. I’m barely skimming the news programs, pulling back on Social Media, preferring to watch Mary Berry bake. There’s something so efficient and coolly competent about her. I kind of with Mary Berry could just take over everything. She would give you a lovely piece of cake when you deserved it or a good talking to when something stronger than cake was needed.
Sister Bertrille, the Flying Nun. No hat will get me airborne without the wingspan on a 767 and at least two jet engines..
Videos of cute young Samoyeds in the snow and baby pumas playing with their keepers help too. I will spend at least one day driving around with the top down listening to “Thompson Twins” or other 80’s soundtracks, Chris Doridas on KCRW and “Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me.” Well, maybe 20 minutes with the top down. With my Sister Bertrille sunhat and spf 45000..
It’s only one week before Xmas. Are you feeling it? Yay or Nay. Let us know in the comments.
Images; my iPhone, Pexels, Wikimedia Commons
I’m baking cookies right now to take to a potluck dinner tonight. I love Christmas and making the magic happen for my family, singing in my choir all during the season, but I also have to temper that with chilling out and not putting expectations too high. The stress can get way too much. I do have a friend who has a literal storage unit just to store all their Xmas decorations, and I could never. I’m no Martha Stewart.
We used to do that when Sue and company lived in LA. A lot of work, but fun.
I like this time of year in general, but I get why a lot of people don’t, so I’m careful not to vomit my holiday cheer all over everyone. My holidays have varied HUGELY over the decades in terms of content and activities, but I dunno … I’ve enjoyed most of them. Carolyn and I are going to hear Vivaldi’s Four Seasons in concert on Christmas Eve, and making a nice steak frites dinner. The kids are all of an age that they’ve already asked for and received specific items, so that’s done and dusted.
That sounds wonderful, March.
doesn’t it? Now I want fries.
That sounds wonderful; I like the idea of the frites almost more than the steak.
Inorite! Those crunchy, creamy frites!
Not much of a holiday celebrator here. As I’ve said before mum was a nurse, both DH & I were nurses so it was often just me & my boys. It was like a weekend with more work & visits to fit in. Still can’t find the spirit unless it’s related to Scrooge (not mean just bah! Humbug)
You wallow in hunkering & self care. Before you drive to The Look of Love maybe some wallowing to a Sisters of Mercy, The Cult & the Mission compilation. Even some OG Human League tracks. The ABC will sound even more bubbly.
Oh I have my 80’s soundtracks ready..
Mary Berry is tiny. She shops at my local farm shop sometimes and people studiously avoid her so she can have a bit of normalcy.
Dog vids. Oh, my. Have you looked at Olive & Mabel by mrandrewcotter (his name for the vids)???? If not, you must. YouTube — one of the more worthwhile things on YT.
As to the hols, one friend just had what is hopefully her last surgery for a long time. Her husband had an emergency hospitalisation resulting in a week on a ward.
So, hols. Well, they exist. That’s fun for them. I am looking forward to the solstice on Sunday.
I’ve never seen Olive & Mabel. Thanks! see you in a week or two,
Nay. A house with two unemployed people, too many cats, and the world outside is cold…we are fortunate to live in the hills so we get a respite, but alternatively it can be too quiet. I did do a bit of shopping at Costplus in “the big city closest to us”–not The City, but good for now, and strangely picked up two room sprays (an odd purchase for me since I usually use a lower-tier perfume for that). In general, I vascilate between love for our tree (a Charlie brown tree cut down on our property–the cedars need thinning), and the State of the World (which does not seem so bright and cherry and festive). I hope everyone’s December-remaining is peacefully uneventful, but pleasant, filled with just the right amount of sugar and fat and few regrets.
I think Cost Plus is the most overlooked store ever. I don’t even want to tell people about it ’cause it’ll get ruined.
Well! As you know I am mending… and my dear friends ( the ones who always have my back) are in hospital drama rn ( he collapsed at his bday party, in the middle of the blizzard… yikes! ). He’s… recovering from what looks to be acute pancreatitis but… yikes! Since I can’t really be of help to them rn I’m determined to not be a drag on them at all!
This is never my favorite holiday but this year? Yikes!
And… bingeing Baking Show: The Professionals, which was extremely interesting the first couple of seasons, with vicious judging and diva pastry chefs who had diva ‘tudes about their work … now it’s just a pro version of GBBO … but it beats a poke in the eye with a sharp stick
I haven’t seen that one. I’ll need to look.
Especially since I woke up to a nice roaring sore throat and fever to match. whoo hoo!
I think it is very nice of you to want to take that burden from your friends. Stay home, order in, and moisturize.
Lol! What! Me, moisturize???
( snerk)
Please play The Look Of Love by ABC on your top down drive Tom. it’s one of my all time faves.
I’m ready for the events so much better this year and am looking forward to keeping it extremely low key.
Hope yours is safe and with minimum trauma.
HUG
Portia xx
I love that album. At the time I think one of the record mags said it was the best first album release ever.
I spent my first annual leave during nurse training staying with Stephen whilst they were recording the second album. I was not popular with the girls at the clubs or those who discovered where he was living.
We were mates, nothing more & he was kind.
The Look of Love is a great choice. Tom, think how uncomfy those silver suits must have been under the stage lights. Christmas turkey always came to mind
WOW! That is a really cool story. I bet there are a gazillion stories within that paragraph Alityke.
They either had great AC or just had already sweated themselves dry. And all that hair product
I know. I am the one Gay who doesn’t “do” his hair. Luckily, I’ve never really had to. It pretty much comes out perfect pretty much all the time. Unless it doesn’t, because my hair is like a silent but truculent Husky. Big and fluffy and going to do exactly what it wants.
Today is a “doesn’t” day.
Your hair! Phenomenal!
I would set this town on FIRE for your hair
They smelled like polecats when they came off stage. Only Martin performing as ABC now & wearing full gold sequins
I’m in the middle somewhere. Most of the people I know are leaning Nay-ish. Driving around with the top down sounds heavenly! I’m with MzCrz – winter solstice and the light comes back is also so wonderful!
I had a reminder on how lucky many of us are. I went for a walk to the nearby convenience store today. I passed a homeless guy sitting on some steps. One of the things I did at the store was cash a $4 lottery ticket. Coming back, he was still there so I gave him the $4. He looked surprised and said, “Four dollars! That’s a lot! Thank you.” He meant it, no snark.
A friend of mine posted a picture of the view of he snow-covered buildings from her living room windows. That’s the way that I prefer to deal with snow.
I used to joke when I lived in Milwaukee that if I won the lottery I would just buy one of those old beer-baron houses on Lake Drive and just have food delivered between October and April.
I am very much aware of my advantages in life and how lucky I am and I never just accept it as my due. I am grateful always.
Nay! Not feeling it in the least. I was out of work for 6 months, contract job so no unemployment. Second week of new job. Hate it so far but it’s a paycheck.
You’ve been through a rough time of late so definitely hunker down with Ms. Berry and other small pleasures. This season, too, shall pass and Solstice will be the start of more daylight. You got this, Tom.
Oh trust me I have been far worse off. I am not complaining, Maybe just resetting?
Mary Berry and the British baking show is my happy, safe place when things get stressful. A reminder that, despite what has been happening lately, the world is full of kind people who just want to bake and eat pastries. As for Christmas, driving around our neighborhood looking at the amazing light displays (look up the Menashe Christmas lights in West Seattle) has been a good way to get some holiday cheer.
I really miss the old MWD light show in Griffith Park. They would take over Zoo drive and decorate it with really cheese-ball lights. Or the City of Santa Monica allowing the local church to put up large dioramas with Christmas themes along the park side of Ocean Avenue.
Now normally I would be all about separation of etc, but these were so cheesy- coffin sized grey boxes about 8’x5’x6′ with an open side to the street, with scenes from the Christmas story played out by used mannequins from the defunct Henshey’s Department store and separated from the hoi polloi from chicken wire. The whole effect was like a row of Jello Salads at a country bake sale. You know that they won’t be good, but they will be compellingly bad.