Catching Up

Long time no blog. You're probably expecting crazy stories about my yearly post-Thanksgiving shopping extravaganza. I'd love to share them but this year, they're non-existent. My "Black Friday" was spent at the urgent care center with a needle up my arm. I came down with a nasty stomach flu Thanksgiving night and had to have IV fluids administered to combat severe dehydration(and yes this all happened a mere two months after my birthday spoiling respiratory flu - my illnesses seem to have impecable timing). After a weekend diet of Gatorade and crackers, I'm feeling better but still drastically lamenting my missed bargains.

Borrowing ...Sort of.

Sometimes I just can't use my own words to describe really awesome things. Case in point, last Friday my church hosted a World Bazaar. Now if you're asking what a World Bazaar is, here's what I would say: (aka the event from my point of view)

It was all about educating people on global poverty and issues affecting impoverished countries. There were four main topics - Hunger/Thirst, Education, War/Refugees, and Disease - each area had items for sale to assist with the issue for different parts of the world ( i.e. Digging a well in Darfur, Hot meals in Haiti, Aids prevention in Cambodia, School Supplies in Sudan, etc. etc.) - and then various ministries (Global Family Rescue, World Relief, Compassion International, etc.) were represented as well. Our small group presented the disease portion and it went really well but it was loads of work. By last Thursday I was really overwhelmed and majorly stressed out - somehow I ended up doing the brunt of the planning and coordinating for all our activities and when we had two key volunteers switch to other jobs at the last minute I was ready to sit down and cry. I hit the point where I really had to give up my need to control things and just trust that God would bless our efforts and that we could only pull it off by relying on Him. Thankfully, everything went great. Our group really pulled together to fill in wherever needed and we had some impromptu volunteers join our area, all of whom did a great job. There's been lots of good feedback as a whole from people saying they learned something new and we raised over $12,000* as well. It was a headache at first but definitely worth all the effort in the long run!

But like I said, that's only my side of the story. And if you read only that you wouldn't get the scope of the whole event like the fact that GFR set up their own petting zoo. And the work that CCC's Kid's City did to raise money for a house in Rwanda. Or maybe you just want to hear about it from someone who saw a grander overview of it all.

It was an amazing evening and I can't say thank you enough to all the people who helped make it happen. All my gratitude to those who came out and supported this mission for a life-changing and life-saving event.

*As of 11/21/06 the new total is over $16,000 raised!

Haul Out The Holly...

Once upon a time the Christmas season started after Thanksgiving. This year I think it started a week or two before Halloween and I'm sure it won't be long before "Christmas in July" becomes "Buy Your Lights Early Because There Won't Be Any Left On The Shelves In December". Not that I mind. I think there's something nice about getting the hustle and bustle of the decorating and shopping out of the way in November and then having December to sit back and enjoy it all. Granted I may get tired of hearing 82 versions of "Sleigh Ride" played endlessly on the radio, but for the most part, I'm enjoying the way the Christmas season is already unfolding around me. In case anyone is in doubt (or denial), here's the signs that regardless of how early it's coming, Christmas time really is here:

Christmas Music: The radio station 93.9 aka WLIT aka The Lite FM made the festive switch to The Holiday Lite this year on November 1st.

Decoration Sales: Sears was selling Christmas decor as early as October 27th (and I have a hunch other stores had things out even earlier).

Santa Sightings: The ever so popular Salvation Army bell ringers have been at Michigan Ave store entrances since November 13th.

Christmas Trees: Festive evergreens have risen in such glamorous locations as The Hancock Building (November 10th), Union Station (November 17th) and my living room (November 12th).

Christmas Weather: Even mother nature decided to hit the holidays early as Chicago got a record early snowfall this year on October 12th. If that doesn't put you in mood for starting Christmas early, I don't know what will!

So for those that still resist the early holiday trend just know that for some of us, the song says it all:

Haul out the holly; Put up the tree before my spirit falls again.
Fill up the stocking, I may be rushing things,
but deck the halls again now.
For we need a little Christmas right this very minute,
Candles in the window, carols at the spinet.
Yes, we need a little Christmas right this very minute.
It hasn't snowed a single flurry, but Santa, dear, we're in a hurry!
So climb down the chimney,
Put up the brightest string of lights I've ever seen.
Slice up the fruitcake;
it's time we hung some tinsel on that evergreen bough.
For I've grown a little leaner, Grown a little colder,
Grown a little sadder, Grown a little older,
And I need a little angel sitting on my shoulder,
I need a little Christmas now.

That Certain Song

You know how there's certain songs that you can hear over and over and never get sick of? Especially older songs that you don't hear that often and then you hear it again and you wish that it was on the radio a TON more than it is? I just heard my Number 2* song like that on the radio (three cheers for 104.3 Jack FM for playing it) it's the off-genre song Silent Lucidity from the heavy metal band Queensryche and just hearing the opening bars of it literally gives me chills. The lyrics are as haunting as the melody and although some fans argue it's a metaphor for a drug trip, the band members have attested that it's straight forward about that moment in sleep when you realize you're dreaming and have the power to turn a nightmare into a sweet dream.

Can't explain my love for the song outside of the fact that it could soundtrack a Neil Gaiman graphic novel or maybe it's just my somewhat unhealthy obsession with power ballads. Oh yes, I admit it. I love the Power Ballad. You know the one, the heavy metal band's song that's neither heavy nor metal but marks the moment in the concert when you really wish you had a lighter. Is it the fact that singers normally drowned out by guitar riffs are suddenly revealed to have great vocals? Is it the cheesy lyrics that are ripe with raw emotion even though they're dripping with sap? Like I said, it's an unhealthy obsession and I can't fight this feeling. In fact, it's more than a feeling! I mean, what can I do? Every rose has it's thorn. I guess I just love power ballads and really, nothing else matters.

*My number one favorite song is and always will be Livin' On a Prayer by Bon Jovi. There's just no changing some things.

Spooky.

I'm not usually a big reader of horoscopes but I have mine (Virgo!) displayed on my Google homepage and today's was just a little too accurate. Let's just say things have been stressy crazy lately and on reading my astrological outlook, I couldn't have said it better myself:

No matter how you try to roll with the changes, you are not convinced that things are going your way. Normally, your analytical powers successfully guide you through sticky situations, but not today. The more you try to rationalize your next step, the less sense it makes. Setting your compass to your illogical feelings instead of facts may turn out to be the smartest move you can make now.

A Thank You in a Minute!

Obviously if you're reading this you have at least one minute of free time in your day so instead of reading my crazy ramblings do something productive with your minute and check out this link. It's a free service from Xerox where anyone who goes to the site can pick out a card design and they will print it and send it to men and women in the military serving over seas. It literally only takes a minute and as a relative of marines I know firsthand that greetings and grattitude are very much appreciated. Check it out and pass it on: http://www.letssaythanks.com And for those with two minutes or more, you can send multiple cards as well!

Come Cry With Me....

Oh my fellow Lost fans, I'm mourning with you.

For the sake of avoiding spoilers I'll just say I'm more than a little annoyed at J.J. Abrams for killing off the coolest character on the island!!!!

I'll be okay. It's just gonna take some time. *sniff, sniff*