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One of the joys of the child-free livestyle is that the definition of “early morning” is not set by shrieking proto-consumerists hyped up on sugar, anticipation, and an extended period of greed-based “good behavior”. Enjoy ’em if you got ’em, and if not, enjoy the peacefulness…
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Baud
Merry Xmas all.
geg6
Merry Christmas, Juicers!
And I couldn’t agree more, AL, in regard to the lovely Christmas morning peace we childless (or grandchild-less, as the case may be) enjoy. Got a mug of good, hot coffee, two doggies curled at my feet (and sometimes on, which would be about 220 lbs.), and “A Christmas Story” on the boob tube.
This non-believer loves her some Christmas.
Sarah Proud and Tall
Feliz Natal!
Raven
JOYEUX NOEL ya’ll.
Waldo
Thanks, AL, for reminding me of my favorite part of the holiday — the sweet, sweet anticipation as I sit by the tree waiting for my little proto-consumerists to wake up and get their greed on. No offense, but I love this sh*t!!
jeffreyw
Ah, coffee made, dogs let out, kittehs stirring all over the house. Wondering when I should start dinner.
KyCole
Dogs and I have been up for hours. Dr. Who on the TV, berry trifle made and in the fridge, au gratin potatoes in the oven, and a ton of shit to carry to my son’s house later.
amk
A good christmas message from UK’s archbishop.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/mobile/uk-16328192
Mary G
Since I’m having trouble sleeping, and because it appears no one else has so little of a life as I do, I am shamelessly copying and pasting my comment at the end of the last thread regarding the 2012 Pets of Balloon Juice calendar:
“The black and white beauty on the top left corner of January (in front of Balloon Juice on the monitor) is my Chenielle. She wandered into a local foam and fabric store where they fell in love with her. Cats not being a good match with expensive bolts of cloth, and with severe allergies at home, they turned her into the shelter, where I got her.
She is convinced that the printer means me harm, so as soon as it starts revving up, she races into the room and leaps up onto the desk and attacks the paper ferociously (as soon as she gets over being startled and scared when it comes out).”
Also, too, the grey boy with yellow eyes to her right is Shiloh. They are not related but became very bonded at the shelter, to the point where they were sharing a cage there.
I have had them more than six months and no one else has seen them in person in that time. I was determined to ge a kitten this time. I found candidates on Petfinder. I even bought some Iams kitten food at the store the day before I went to the shelter to reinforce my determination.
At the shelter. I did look at one kitten for a second or two and that was that. Hordes of people were looking at rest of the kittens in front and over their heads I saw the row of adult cats with no visitors and I was lost. I couldn’t pick so I asked the volunteers and out came Chenielle and Shiloh. They waived the adoption fees and gave me a great expensive carrier, 16 pounds of dry food, and mailed the microchip registration paperwork in for me. An announcement was made over the PA and a mob of workers came out to say goodbye and carry everything out to my car for me.
They warned me that Shiloh was a bit shy and would probably hide for a day or two, but just to give him time and he’d warm right up.
We let them out of the carrier and they went under the nearest piece of furniture. I went to bed that night and they found an even more secure place to hide and I didn’t see hide nor hair of them for almost a week. Chenielle finally got bored and started coming out more and more but I think it was two months before Shiloh would even be in the same room with me. Now they follow me everywhere, snuggle in bed and fight over who gets the lap, but they are terrified of anyone else but me.
When the doorbell rings, they run for cover. When the mailman comes, they hide. When the meter reader comes, they hide. When the neighbor’s gardener comes, they hide. If someone walks a dog down the sidewalk out front, they hide. Once in an attempt to let my friend Susan, who came with me to the shelter, see them, I shut all the bedroom and bathroom doors. They saw her get out of her car down the street, not even in front of our house, and frantically started looking for a place to hide. They ended up mashed together under a sofa table. I tried putting some bonito flakes, Shiloh’s reason for living, on the floor just next to the table, in the hopes that they would at least poke a head out. Not happening. Susan and I went to a movie and dinner and came back and the flakes were STILL ON THE FLOOR. As a lesson to me. So I’ve given up trying to make them be sociable. I was hoping they’d grow out of it, but it seems to be getting worse instead of better. Oh well, I just put up with the accusations of having pretend pets.
PS: If, like me, you have trouble seeing all the months of the pet calendar and think that only January is visible, click on the words (View Calendar Pages) themselves, not the pix of the page. A popup window opens where you can click on each month.
Jane2
@Mary G: What a great kitty story! Several years ago, I moved mine 6 blocks and they’ve hid like that ever since. They’ll come out for friends though.
harlana
hi, i am unable to see my folks this Christmas (same as Thanksgiving, sick both times) – but I will be “home” later in the week as I am off this week.
My Christmas present(s)to me and my long-suffering family:
–An 11% bonus
–A 9% raise
(also health insurance)
Also, I have a paid week off, something I have not had in over 5 years.
I don’t believe I deserve it but at the same time, I don’t know how I could have continued on the way I was going.
All this is a great shock to me! But I have very special employers who appreciate me, for whom I am also thankful! After so many awful experiences and years of self-loathing and scrapping just trying to get some security and stability in my life, it’s certainly a welcome surprise, a priceless gift, a strong>miracle, even. Mostly because of the compassion and faith of a very special 29-year old girl who is perhaps an angel. And God, yes God had something to do with it (I hope that’s not offensive to say that here). I certainly can’t take credit for any of this, really.
Merry Christmas all!
Keith G
Whatcha talkin bout Willis?
My definition of “early morning” is chiseled in granite by two shrieking proto-tigress kitties hyped up on the notion that they must be fed by 5 AM and if I dare make a conscious movement earlier than that, the jig is up.
This AM, I gained consciousness (4 AM )and tried to guess the time. I couldn’t move since Izzy was nestled between my left arm and side. I opened my eyes just a bit to check if I could see the clock without arousing the troops. I could’nt see the clock but, I could see Meredith hovering over my face waiting for any sign of awake.
With that, a “Good morning – feed me” cry was released and Christmas 2011 began. It’s all good, indeed.
Joyeux Noël to y’all!
harlana
and, oh yes, I too am without “shrieking proto-consumerists” (love that!)
very quiet here, just me and my kitteh, and that’s awright wif me! i totally, totally need the peace and reflection time.
harlana
also, i forgot to thank the gubmint, because the gubmint helped me get this job
useless, evil gubmint, helped me repair my dignity and mend my shattered life
another example of how gubmint can’t do nothin’ right and should be strangled and drowned in a bathtub.
harlana
@Keith G: how I can relate to this, we gladly let our pets rule our lives, down to the slightest movement which could prematurely trigger a chain of events much too early in the morning for human beings who like to sleep now and then. =)
SiubhanDuinne
@Mary G: That is just a wonderful story. Funny, very lucky kittehs!
Thanks for the tip on opening additional calendar pages. I’ll try again.
@harlana: I’m certain you deserve the bonus and raise and time off! How wonderful that you have those things and that you appreciate them. And as an unbeliever, I am not in the least offended by your gratitude to God.
A very merry Christmas to all. I still have a few things to wrap, but I don’t need to be anywhere for another six hours, so plenty of time. And it is nice and quiet, just me and some traditional Christmas music in the background.
TheMightyTrowel
@harlana: COngratulations Harlana! That’s wonderful news and I’m sure you deserve everything that’s coming to you and more.
dance around in your bones
Has anyone ever had the weird experience that i just had?
Woke up, thought about starting the coffee pot I set up last night in anticipation of the grandkid monkey’s early AM antics, and wrote a whole Balloon Juice post about it….
Then I REALLY woke up and ….no comment, no big long totally interesting (to ME) post about any of this….hey, boys n’ girls, ’twas all just a dream.
Hahahaha! Happy Festivus fer the Rest of Us!
Now I am off to REALLY start the coffee, and to use my new Pastafarians mug for de berry first time :) YAY!!!
harlana
@SiubhanDuinne & TheMightyTrowel: thank you both for your kind words, i have complained here in the past, not so much wanting sympathy as to let others who may be suffering unemployment agonies in silence are not alone and neither are those who struggle with mental illness or both, which can, for obvious reasons, often be the case – all who struggle, the poor, the working poor, the disenfranchised, are never far from my thoughts and prayers for relief, for justice
thanks again for the congrats and Happy Holidays!
harlana
and as for the Virginia primaries, may i just say, in the inimitable words of Rick Perry: “oops”
harlana
but, but, how can this happen to Newt?? I thought he was the smartest guy in every room. :*(
harlana
my kitteh has the softest ears in the world. just saying.
HRA
“One of the joys of the child-free livestyle is that the definition of “early morning” is not set by shrieking proto-consumerists hyped up on sugar, anticipation, and an extended period of greed-based “good behavior”. Enjoy ‘em if you got ‘em, and if not, enjoy the peacefulness…”
It may seem like a joy early on except for what follows in the years ahead. You wake up like any other day of your life although the reminders of the day are all around you. The anticipation of the moment when they wake up and come running to the tree is a delightful lasting memory now. Yes, no matter how hard you try it’s the magic of the day that slips away each year. Cherish those days.
Now I am going to critique the margarita cupcakes I made for the celebration at the eldest daughter’s home and where we number over 30 for the feast.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays
WereBear
I’ve seen such behavior before; they are so happy where they are that other people become the symbol of leaving… which they never want to do.
You all adore each other… the shelter folks were right… and that’s the important part, after all.
Athenae
I miss my snuggly ferrets, but I’m with my in-laws and a sleepy husband, trading parts of the paper and stories from the Interwebs and coffee and treats, and in a couple of hours we’ll rouse ourselves to go from family party to family party. People call it hectic but I love it — walking in the door to people glad to see you saying “Merry Christmas!”
And a neighbor will look in on the beasties, bless her.
A.
WereBear
This past summer, I wrote a post on my view of the “Pets or Children” question… which isn’t a conundrum, after all:
Pets instead of children?
I was raised as one of four children without enough money, and I decided, early on, that I wouldn’t want to struggle that way. I wasn’t going to have children unless I had enough support.
But I never did… and I never did.
MattF
Ah, Ms. Lauper. I’m a fan, and it’s not just because I grew up in Queens, although that might have something to do with it. Vocal range, force, musicality, and an actual human being. What’s not to like?
eric
my little one is still sleeping….she knows santa was busy last night…she knows how he gets into her mom’s house (chimney), but not sure how he manages to get into my high rise….i told her he had special keys, and she wondered if that was a good idea ;) merry xmas to all this am….even you do not believe in divinity in nature, take a step back today and enjoy the sublime joy that comes from a moment of peace — even if it lasts for all too brief an instant. If we can all ease someone’s suffering this year, we shall participate in, or perhaps be, the divine. Peace to all.
harlana
@WereBear: me too, and that includes emotional support! i can barely take care of myself, much less another human being. but i haz kitteh, is all good.
Soonergrunt
Well, I for one wouldn’t give up my life with my kids under any circumstances.
They both are two amazing young people. Every day their compassion, wisdom, generosity, kindness, wit, intelligence, and love make me a better man.
Happy holidays to everyone!
harlana
well some people just aren’t strong enough to be good parents, that would be me. i wouldn’t wish my condition on anyone, much less a helpless, innocent child.
well, maybe the guy from my last job, i’d wish a lot of nasty things on him, like an alley-beating, for instance — wow, i am full of the Christmas spirit!
;)
Keith G
@harlana:
We need about 100 million more citizens to feel this way.
Our sloppy, labor intensive, industrial economy (say, 1880-1970) spoiled the perception of our society. Even folks who had blown earlier opportunities could find second and even third chances to fit in. In the mid 80s, I worked with young adults who had educational and/or legal issues. Even at that point, they could be brought back into the flow of society.
Similar problems now end up in much more dire consequences. So, a Dickensian underclass is being created and that needs to not happen. The being/symbol whose birth we are celebrating today had some very focused messages about this. I hope we can soon find a way to put his ideas into better practice.
harlana
@Keith G: True! Why on earth would we want to go backwards, this is what floors me. I do like to call myself a progressive in that I believe in progress, moving forward, improving on what we have built, improving and enhancing the lives of others (it’s not like there isn’t enough wealth in this country to do that!!) instead of shredding it apart, leaving millions to fend for themselves, which is the antithesis of true Christianity, I guess you could call it Christianistism which is really no more than a doctrine of survival of the fittest. Funny that, they hate Darwin so much.
harlana
Keith G: in the 80’s, I worked for a community mental health clinic. I saw the scorned people, people of the streets, schizophrenics and the like, folks who, even if perfectly compliant with their treatment 100% of the time, would never really fit into society,–being treated like human beings – it had a profound impact on me, I saw what good government can do and for the life of me, I don’t know why anyone would want to drown that in the bathtub unless they are just fucking plain evil to the very core of their being.
then i joined the private sector, which was a tad different.
harlana
i was in my 20’s, my first day, a patient acted out big time in the waiting room. i went home and cried, “i can’t do this” i thought. i was really scared. i had some kind of noble notion of what it was like to work with the mentally ill. looking back, i remember how the lady who trained me had a particular disdain for the patients and was rather rude to this man, as she was with most patients who didn’t have a submissive attitude. he may not have had all his faculties, but he knew disrespect when he experienced it and he was pissed!
anyway, i got over all that and i loved the patients and they seemed to like me, i never had to be the “bad guy” who makes them take their medication or get on their case about noncompliance. it was a great experience. i hate to think how many of those wonderful people (who had the tough jobs like case managers and therapists, unlike me) i worked with have probably lost their jobs since that time, due to austerity measures
Keith G
@harlana:
The history of this society has always been driven by the sheperding of resources. That is what drove our economy and our growth. Grand Banks fisheries, middle colony and southern tidal farmlands, Appalachian coal and iron ore, the Midwest bread basket, oil fields and even just the land itself. For 400 years, that is what drove our history and our development.
And now it’s not that they are all gone, but it is safe to say that those resources can no longer secure our future.
Our human beings are our last significant resource. It seems clear to me that our future will be determined by our ability to be good shepherds of this last resource.
4jkb4ia
@harlana:
And that speaks to a concern about Obama that even I had before he was elected. You can be the smartest guy in the room, but it doesn’t automatically translate to running the federal government, which is a lot harder than getting on the ballot in Virginia. And Newt in part believes in the federal government, so it’s not that.
SiubhanDuinne
@dance around in your bones:
I’ve never dreamt about posting a blog comment per se but some of the regular BJers, including front pagers, and pets, occasionally wander through my dreams. Usually just in walk-on (or pounce-on) roles.
4jkb4ia
@Keith G:
This is a beautiful comment.
Neil
My son’s second christmas; he let us sleep in until 7:30. When we all entered the living room, he didn’t even notice the presents. The big surprise this year was a wooden train set we got him. He had the biggest smile on his face. :)
SIA
@Raven: OMG just said the EXACT same thing on the other thread. Must be a Georgia thing. Reminds me – went to the Resort website. The owner is actually the daughter of a woman I worked with in the late 70’s. I remember her very well as a young girl. Small, small world.
ETA meaning the Joyeux Noel y’all part, not the rest of your comment.
SIA
@SiubhanDuinne: Hahaha! I’ve dreamed about John Cole.
SiubhanDuinne
@SIA:
He is dreamy :-)
SIA
@eric: Such a cute story, made me smile!
@SiubhanDuinne: LOL, you are clever!
Roger Moore
@harlana:
You don’t have to be actually evil in the “deliberately causing harm” sense of the word. You just have to be greedy and willing to lie to yourself about the real consequences of your actions. That’s why the BS about how the invisible hand will provide and poor people are lazy slobs who deserve what they get are so popular with the glibertarians: they let them feel virtuous for fucking the rest of us over.
Maude
@harlana:
I have been thinking about us poor people. The ones with children. How are they supposed to get through this winter? Since Reagan and esp. Clinton, it is almost impossible for someone to climb up out of poverty. What Clinton did was set things up so that a low wage job was for poor people and they had better be grateful for it.
This has not been in any way fixed.
Ah, when you’re done in that alley, can you come and get my landlord?
I am getting over pneumonia and feel so much better. I think I start walking to build stamina tomorrow. I have to be at a certain weight and then I’m off to the races.
Thank you for posting your comments.
The feds, SSA have been good to me.
AP headline yesterday, mentally ill showing up in ERs because states have cut services. This country is upside down.
Donut
I wouldn’t trade my shrieking little brats for nothin. I especially wouldn’t trade the pleasure of finding toys and gifts for them that spark the simple joys to be found in creative play. We are rockin a couple of awesome Hot Wheels sets and a fire truck for the three year old boy and robots, solar system models, cool software and Pokemon gear for the five year old girl.
Best surprise will be the super secret visit from grandma and grandpa in about three hours. Watching your small kids get loved and doted on by your parents and your spouse is a priceless gift and I’ll be reveling in that most of the afternoon.
It doesn’t have to be all about consuming.
Ruckus
Had a step-daughter 2 1/2 to 5 while I was there and christmas is a wonderful time to be or have a kid. At least it is if one is not poor.
But now I have a very needy dog. He’s like a 2 year old who has no idea this is a special day. His 5 pills a day, cleaning up after him, listening to him whine, just like a 2 yr old.
Wouldn’t trade him for anything.
Everyone have a nice day!
WaterGirl
@WereBear: I have been wondering how Mr. WereBear is doing. Merry Christmas to both of you.
Ump902a
As a grandparent, I get the best of both worlds. Quiet morning coffee and breakfast with my sweetie-pie. The sugar-hyped proto-consumerists arrive around noon with their harried, newly impoverished parents for a second helping of loot and first though third helpings of all manner of unhealthy food. It’s once a year, thank FSM. We will enjoy it all. Everyone enjoy the true spirit of the day.