Christmas/Holiday Spirit

I have had a bit of a difficult time getting into the holiday spirit. Somehow the commercialism of it all, and sometimes the expectations......get to me. I am about to go and visit family, where I know the children will help to get me "into the mood." It is, for the most part (and I've heard many a parent say), for the kids. The expectation of SantaClaus, the smiles and shouts of joy in the morning ARE all events that make me smile when I think of Christmas' past, and the one to come.

All of these "feelings" gave me a moment of pause as I drove to work this morning.....I began to think of what this time of year is really like for me. It is an ending....therefore I reflect. Today and many days, it is GRATITUDE that comes to mind. I'm grateful for lots and lots of things and do try to focus on this most days. It occurred to me, however, that there are many things and people I am grateful to, and for various reasons, I do not have an opportunity to acknowledge to them this fact. Some will read this, some won't, some have passed on, yet I thought it would be a good acknowledgement for them and a good exercise for me if I jotted them down:
I'm grateful to Kell for bringing me to these mountains
I'm grateful to Terri for Chicory coffee, super sweet at 4 inthe afternoon
I'm grateful to Justin for my little Delilah
I'm grateful to my Nana for her accordian and playing "Babes in the Woods" over and over again
I'm grateful to my Aunt Sandy for being the "cool Aunt" I hope I am most times
I'm grateful to Aunt Mary for her "wildness," and for my present day dislike of canned fruit salad
I'm grateful to Fount for teaching me about the "old ways" here
I'm grateful to my Father for "talks" while we drove in the car
and to all the folks who have touched my life at various times and in various way, living or dead, who I have neglected to mention here.....I'm just grateful that you gave me space in your life..........

Winter weather....

I dearly love the change of seasons...growing up in Southern California, though we did have seasons, they were certainly not as pronounced as what I experience here in East Tennessee. The first few winter's I was here, we had a bit of snow, it was cold, and I took to it like a fish to water. I walk my dog everyday, we don't even care if a bit of snow falls. Then came the winter of 2007.........I was completely caught off guard, ran out of wood, could not split the wood I got, could not keep the stove going. I gave up and put blankets up to close off my living room and bedroom and moved in to the center of my cabin and used electric heat. Thank goodness the power never went out.

Winter 2008........long, lot's of snow. Though I was prepared wood wise, figured out how to keep the outflow of my water draining, so as to prevent the bathtub from overflowing....I forgot to mention that in '08. I thought I was okay. Then, it snowed, and snowed and snowed. And, with snow and the freezy nights come ice. I did not get out for almost 9 days. I did, indeed, go a bit stir crazy......just ask Meggie:)

2009.....things looking good as I have an office closer to town now. I can stay here when weather gets rough, and I did several times. 2009 felt a little "better."

Well now here we are in 2010. I'm at the office....good....and I have been since Sunday. Did I mention I am having a party on Friday night. Barely have an ornament up. Oh, and the pipes froze here at the office, and poor old Delilah and I both slipped off the porch. We were not hurt but must have been a sight!!! It is icy out there yet but I am hopeful and I am sooooo hoping to get home tonight......I really want to put on a dress and have that party...........

This is not profound....

But....AT LAST.....the lids are here!!! Production will now resume.

holiday stress.....

Do you suffer from holiday stress? I generally, like to "appear" But, of course, I do. And on top of trying to get to a lovely town where I might do some shopping, ie Asheville I have this, may I be so blunt, damn lid scenario, which is preventing me from getting orders out, mind you I ordered them before Thanksgiving.....they were on the way, oh...sorry, they were never shipped, oh.....they are shipped, oh, sorry they really weren't, oh, now they definatly are, they arrive, they are the wrong cap, meanwhile, another case shipped, it is 4:30 on Monday, they still are not here............another day of production gone to crap!!! I think I have it all planned out to a T.....ya know, and then life happens. Well..........to use a Southern term, with a bit of inflection mind you, Well............I am just trying to "buck up" and move on. I do, however, have an employee who could, and would, love to be working this week. grrrrrrrrrrr.....alas, as she so wisely said, shit happens. Tomorrow.....digging through the muck......:) still smiling........

Stories....

I have a wonderful friend who thinks that I am incredibly funny. She often suggests that one day she will pull together a book of all my stories. I am hoping to make this blog a place where I share my personal, as well as professional insights, which seem always wrapped in some sort of "story."

The craziest thing, often when I sit down to write......I go completely blank. I assume this is writer's block...............dang it!! In the future.....when they hit me, I shall write.

The latest "happy place" in my business world has been Facebook. I have found it to be the most useful tool..........I had thought it would even phase out my blog....but learned, from another wise woman, that one must diversify. So...blogging. My big amazement with Facebook has been my MoonMaid page. I watch with wonder what seems important and attractive to folks, and how they respond to my business activity posts. I have just recently, crossed the 1000 fan mark. Those of you who know me well know that I am giving a big uuuuuuuuuwhooooooooo!!! It felt really good to cross that mark. My posts, the little ads, pictures and sales....really seem to attract customers. This past week I did a cyberMonday sale and had a huge response. Still trying to get those orders out....ran out of lids, distributor order a big giant bunch of stuff and well, it has just taken me longer than I thought.

Instead of stressing out..........I remain smiling and know that I'll get there.........and everyone will love the products and me!!! Good feeling for a drama queen...................

12 Hours

Twelve hours is an, admittedly, long time to be on the road. That is, travelling in a car. Despite all the times I get out and stretch, walk the dog etc, I find myself anxious and sooooo ready to be home once I get there. I find that I simply want to "fall into" my surroundings for a day or two.
And....life does not always offer that luxury. I sort of hear a theme song here.........it's chipper, and one moves along.....then as it goes forth....it drags out a bit.

Needless to say, I came home from this journey to lots of orders, mail to catch up on and the usual things of life, bills, production issues, pet needs, home needs etc etc etc or, as I prefer to say, blah blah blah...........

And this is all, not to say, that I most definitely love my "personal" time in a car with the dog. I drive along. I observe my surroundings. And I must say that EVERY time I travel, I notice something I did not notice the time before. And, did I mention I have travelled this route hundreds of times. anyway....there is a pearl of wisdom in every journey...this journey

love, really love and appreciate where you are at, see your future with a great big smile......and that love will carry you to where you are going. Not profound for sure....but it hit me like a great big brick.

Thanksgiving

The "holidays" have always been a time of travel for me. Because I am single with no children...it is easier for me to come to my family then for them to put the kids in the car and come to me. Not to mention that my home is a one bedroom cabin in the woods. It use to require a plane trip for me as my siblings and parents were scattered about California and Florida and Indiana or Illinois. Now, my sisters and families are in Central Florida and my brother and his family are nearer to me in North Carolina. Make things just a little easire.Since my Dad died, I have made a point to be with my Mom at Christmas, always a special time for her. She loves to decorate. So, it is wonderful that my sisters, nephews and nieces and Mom are at least in the same state. This always makes for a good time....complete with all the stuff that comes along when large families get together.

Last evening I watched a show called Parenthood. I don't watch much television as I don't have reception at home. This show really kept me glued to the TV. It was family stuff, with all it's lumps, bumps and compromises. It made me smile, as well as bringing a tear to my eye several times. I will even look for a DVD set so I can get all the background and understand the characters. Good acting...good show, if you should find you have a moment on Tuesday evening.

After Turkey day I will travel home. Though a long drive, I have my my particular rest stops I visit with my travelling companion Delilah, pictured above, a couple of restaurants that appeal to me as well as certain gas stops. It is a long day, but I am grateful MoonMaid allows me to make these journeys when I want to. Plans always seem in flux......yet, there are those moments that make it all worthwhile. I did not get to go hang out with my sister's and nephews in Daytona this trip....things got complicated. Perhaps another time. I will enjoy our Thanksgiving meal and miss those who aren't there.

Something I realized while watching Parenthood, is that I have never really created my own holiday traditions.....aside from travel. Well, and watching A Charlie Brown Christmas and listening to the sound track again and again. This show made me yearn for something, but I am not sure what. Perhaps on the long drive home on Friday...things will percolate to the surface.

Meanwhile, I hope you and yours have a most wonderful Feast!!!