CHRISTMAS 2022 (December 18-25)

Many in the country had to endure the "mother" of all snowstorms just in time for Christmas. Snow that measured in feet snarled traffic, created white-outs and horrendous pile-ups, cancelled flights and the ability to move to our destinations curtailed many a celebration. Some insisted on venturing out regardless, their fate still not known at this time. Our own family extravaganza has been postponed to New Year's Day which will sport a balmy 40 degrees and rain. However my kids live in town and some very good friends whose children were in scattered parts joined us for dinner so celebration, lights and special goodies were enjoyed. Our Joe was innundated with Dolphin paraphernalia, much of which he wore to cheer on his beloved team. 

                                

Hard not to recall other memorable Christmases. A little girl watching out the window waiting for Dad and Mom asking what that noise was. I said "just the Christmas tree snapping it's fingers". Grandma's metallic tree with the revolving color wheel; high decor in the 50's. Or my senior year gifted with a trip to California to visit my brother in the Marines. A memorable trip surrounded and entertained by a large group of young marines. Though too naive to understand the collective and muted gasp when a black marine asked me to dance. In 1968 race relations were smoldering, but all I saw as a 17 year old girl were young men who wanted to dance. 

As newly marrieds of three months trying to scrape up enough to have a few decorations (blue as I recall) and gifts for family. Then the back and forth to parents for the holidays until the OH's folks booked for Florida in the winter.  We started hosting though I remember collapsing one year in sleep just as dinner was finally served which began a domino effect as each family member fell ill in turn (except Dad who enjoyed the now-deserted feast). We were stacked sideways three to a bed and thank goodness two bathrooms. No, it wasn't my food, just a nasty little virus running through the crowd. 

One year we braved the arctic chill and snowstorm and dark of night (yeah we were young) to head north for the holidays as the California branch was eager to be home for Christmas. In retrospect not our best decision. Years there was no snow and the year with no power and bone-chilling cold where we wandered like the proverbial holy family to find room at the inn. The year that Mother passed and the sisters sat together in such grief that it alarmed our children until we decorated the oldest sister's car with Rudolph gear to make her laugh. Though it did start the tradition of the sister gifts as we each spontaneously wanted to give the others a token of healing from the loss. 

The year when our Kristen was born exactly two weeks before Christmas (70 degrees that day). I still remember Mother cuddling the sleeping child in one arm and serving dinner with the other. Then 13 years later when an unexpected pregnancy ended in the wee hours of Christmas morning with tears over a new life slipping away. 

Christmases with a grandson and it starts all over again. Especially the year when Joe, at the tender age of two, ignored our debate as to whose house would stable the riotous new rocking horse. Upon noticing his disappearance we found him at the back door where he had dragged his horse. Debate resolved. So many changes and children and memories; joy and tragedy overcome by love and hope for the new year just around the corner.  

Happy Haanukkah, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, Joyous Solstice and Happy Holidays.  There have I satisfied the snowflakes in the room?  After watching people (evangels' and foxy folks) explode if you use the wrong phrase I have to wonder who is the snowflake they are so fond of chastising.  At any rate it is a wonderful time of year for us if we let it as we watch those defending their country (and all democracy) from the marauding horde of Putin's domination folly.  I see them cheering their downtown Christmas tree (lit by a generator) as sounds of explosions occur in the background. I see them share a meal by candlelight and song.  Just as Mr. Grinch found out, it's not the tinsel and gifts that identify Christmas as once again the Prince of Peace will not be stopped from coming.  💛💙

                                             

 

PODCAST MUSINGS, ETC. (December 11)

 

DECEMBER FOLLIES Forty years ago today, the sweet little treasure of my life was born.  A beautiful, talented and independent woman today.  As she cheerfully reminded her husband of his upcoming 50th, we gleefully reminded her of her own milestone birthday.  LOL 

Obviously I wrote that before my laptop decided it wanted to spend the week at the Geek Squad cave teaching my new laptop how to relate to me.  Week lost so caught up on my pile of magazines.  Though reading New Yorker predictive articles from before the mid-terms was rather amusing.

LIFE OF POD One of my next podcast interviewees is an Occupational Psychologist.  Funny, I told him. I used to have an employee with the same Phd designation.  He named him.  Apparently these folks run in the same circles. I still say that was the best job interview I ever held so there is something to this psychology stuff. As we discussed our experiences he told me I was a pioneer for women in the EHS field though I retorted there are still a lot of the male persuasion at the conferences and trainings I attend. Another thought. Pioneers or those "who go first" do not set out to be a pioneer, example or breakers of glass ceilings.  We just do the job with no particular thought to the historical connotations. We're too busy. 

My ex-cop, current security company drug expert podcast launches Monday and I found him very interesting.  We always like to talk to doctors, lawyers and police officers, or at least I do.  After chatting for about an hour and a half before the recording he told me I should have been a cop.  I told him most safety folks kind of are...along with wearing a preacher's collar.  He also told me living in a smaller area he rather knows the bad guys when he sees them.  Consequently as his town sports a casino he says guess where they hang out in the middle of the night. Not gambling, but no doubt other nefarious activities.  Great, just ruined my desire to hit a casino at 3 in the morning. 

He also shared that many new/young officers get into the biz to "get the bad guy".  His words. A lot are ex-military. But traffic duty is where they spend the bulk of their time and efforts. He had a hilarious take on the methadone reckless drivers on Monday mornings, rushing to get their "medical fix". (Sorry didn't make the interview). His job was to "season" the eager beavers to teach them to take their time, do their research, make a judgement rather rushing in where angels fear, etc etc.  Suicide by cop was an example that he used when responding to a call of a "guy with a gun" if  proper consideration is not done before a rushed, eager response. (podcasts are on  michsafetyconference.org  website among others)

Also there is a peculiar sense of humor associated with police officers that is a bit macabre to say the least as in most cases, they've seen it, stopped it or arrested it.  Reminded me of the first fatality I had to investigate at work.  The local police interviewed me after the incident to finish up their report apparently.  I told them I was nervous as this was a first. They chuckled and said "why, did you kill him?"  See what I mean? Although I received unverified information later that may have had some bearing on why the deceased followed the action that he did I didn't share it. But you never forget your first.

JOE & OTHER STUFF On the Joe front, he came down with that RSV syndrome the night of our Christmas tree foray running a 102 fever. Pretty miserable for about four days with a bad cough. But by the following weekend he stayed with us and taught me how to play a card game which he won.  He apologizes when he kills me in the game which led me to suggest cutthroat Go Fish to even the score. He then insisted he knew how to make his own mac and cheese, but Nana was a little too helpful he told Grandpa later. He is polite to my face lol.

On another subject, we help out at the OH's church some Tuesdays when they provide a free community supper. It's usually hot dogs (which people clamor to have them roasted black) or sloppy joes with accompanying side dishes and a drink.  Upon arriving we saw that Weight Watchers was holding a meeting that night as they rent a space there a few times a week. Had sympathy for these folks who had to inhale the beckoning scents of baked beans and sloppy joes while trying to listen to a lecture on healthy eating.  I kept offering free food as they left the meeting, but no takers.  I also labeled the dinner "Scoop & Poop" as we had to scoop out the meat and well, there were beans.  Although amused, our friends said they probably would not use my slogan for advertising. Ok I have a peculiar sense of humor as well.   Peace Out....💛💙

AT YOUR SERVICE (December 4)

Crazy week with repair people.  As it is pratically an "act of god" to get anyone to begin with, one counts their proverbial blessings when you get a response, let alone a commitment. The demand is so great for knowledgeable people (and I wasted my time and money with college) that I picture them sitting on their little tool encrusted thrones determining which job provides the most money, excitement and, I'll say it, mercy.  Inspired begging/crying works but only from women. 

Job 1.  Called before Turkey day for a broken microwave. As it is a built-in, it's difficult to work around. We'll come out a week from Tuesday between 8 & 4' Wha?  Amazing all the little things one uses a microwave for not to mention the light over the stove is now missing. Anyway, bustling around on errands Monday I get a restricted call followed by another call 20 minutes later from repair company. The technician is at your house getting no response. Well, duhh, it's Monday not Tuesday. And, funny twist they think they're there to fix the washer. Hmmm.  

DIGRESS:  This same company did come to fix the washer a couple of years ago and determined I needed an expensive part and much labor. Enough that we decided to buy a new washer.  When going to his company to look at washers, the sales person happened to mention the hose has to be higher than the machine to pump properly. Went home home and elevated hose-problem solved -arrghhh. For this I pay an exhoritant service call that did not properly diagnose the, now, obvious problem. That should have been Chapter 1 of the repair manual.  However do it with flair so it looks like you earned the 80-90 bucks.  Much like the eletrician who had no qualms charging for a full service call when all he needed to do was plug the dishwasher back in. Were my face and checkbook red. 

Anyway,  I frantically zoom back to the homestead (with cruise on, so I won't overstate my speed in my anxiety). He's still there. He says didn't they call you Friday to say I'd be here at 1:00, Umm no. And btw it's a microwave not a washer. 2 mintes later (exaggeration but not much) he says I thinks it's a fuse. My boss will call you with a cost so we can fix it, about 200 bucks.  Ok I'm already in it for 90 for the service call and new ones cost about 300. Oh yeah the 90 is part of the 200. What are these solid gold fuses? Anyway, acceptable. 3 days later, no call. Checking with the company they tell me they've ordered and received the part for my WASHER. It's a microwave I frantically explain AGAIN. Oh yeah ha ha my mistake. Really. So when can you come back to fix it? A week from now. WTF? Stay tuned. I may be washing clothes in the kitchen if all goes as anticipated.  

Job 2. My programmable thermastat at the lake house (NEST) has been slowly taking over my life and consumers' bill. It joyfully turrns itself up and down at will, notwithstanding my remote commands otherwise.  They may be called "smart" thermostats, but apparently they are actually the advance guard on the robot take-over being planned. Silly humans-do not try to resist. After three years of this losing battle I agreed to a new smart thermastat with another cute name Sensi from a local HVAC company. We are old friends as they play with my furnace out there every year. I made it clear any issues are on their heads.  Ok, they can be there Friday at 1 pm. Have a podcast recording set for 10 so no problem-o. 

Job 3 But then my other mechanical device (laptop) decided an hour before broadcast time, to "gift" me with no speaker ability.  Damn I miss in-house IT.  After futile attempts and advice from headquarters office and my interviewee I hot-foot it to Okemos (about 20 minute drive) to record at headquarters. Podcast completed, I head back to GL in plenty of time to make it to Hastings for 1:00 service call. Phone rings at 11:50 (the technology worked in the car at least). Again another technician says I'm at your house, where are you?  Ahh the appointment was for 1:00. Oh. At any rate they came back at 1:30 and story has happy ending with a thermastat that appears to be behaving, for now. Except the bill was 100 more than expected.  Merry Christmas - I now have brand new tires and a thermastat, so I'm good. 

Had to take a break in blogging as the young people wanted to go cut down a fragrant green symbol of the holidays. A tradition that goes back to K's salad days when she was a bundled up little package then a perilous rider on the tree cart, puller of the tree cart and finally first assistant on the "timber" portion of the adventure.  Now her little boy has advanced from the bundle to cart pulling stage. Since we have the truck our presence is both tradition and necessity.  After both trees were snuggled all warm in their (truck) bed, we debated lunch options.  K was concerned we were forced to avail ourselves of take-out as our trees were just hanging out in the back of the truck. This prompted the quote of the day from her OH Matthew who proclaimed "Anyone who steals a Christmas tree is going straight to hell". Duly noted-we ate INSIDE the restaurant.  Peace out....💛💙