A Fiscal Cup

So...that's it then?

As the President heads for Christmas in Hawaii and John Boehner tries to make sense of it all...licking wounds inflicted by his own party and learning the toughest lesson of all. Be careful John...they eat their own when there is blood in the water.

And the Nihilists amidst us are saying "Strap in and let's drive this sucker off the cliff. See what happens."

Admittedly, no economist...this is what I see if we boldly go over the edge.

1. An across the board increase in everyone's taxes. Yeah, rich guys...that means you, too.  15% for lower incomes 39% for the highest. Pre-Bush Era taxes.

2. A reduction (and in some instances an elimination) of tax credits.  Earned income, child exemption, et al.  (No more $1000 deduction for little Caitlin or Cory)

and a bunch of other fiscal stuff. 

But the real danger in plummeting over the edge isn't the fall.  
It is the landing.

Prepare to see the "now nervous" stock markets go full-tilt Gonzo...creating a domino effect nationally and then globally. IRA's and (especially) 401K's and with the gridlock in Congress when the debt ceiling issue re-emerges next year...I probably don't need to tell you how badly THAT is going to go. The Stock Market comes crashing down. Those who didn't want  to pay 1%-2% more in taxes (top earners) will watch the loss of much much more.  And they will have plunged us right back into a deep recession (possibly depression). The USD (already weakening abroad) will crumble. Companies will fold...their CEO's bailing early and floating gently to the Earth on Golden Parachutes paid for by their employees who will be unemployed and standing below them to cushion their landing...Unemployment will rival The Great Depression.  And so much more...and we will have (collectively) done it to ourselves.

 Oh sure...there will be those who blame Obama...and there will be those who blame Pelosi and Reid...and there will be those who blame the GOP or the Tea Party..but in the end...it isn't going to matter much. The finger-pointing and gridlock and constant bickering amongst ourselves will have brought about the downfall of America.

Congratulations. Pogo was a visonary.

Peace on Earth would be nice this holiday season...but I would settle for Cooperation in Congress.

A Christmas Cup

Hot cocoa with sprinkles, and a slice of vanilla bean cheesecake topped with dark chocolate covered cherries.

Kara's "Winter Cabin" wood-wick candle crackling and filling the air with cinnamony sweetness.

Tiny white lights on the tree and a fresh blanket of snow outside.

The Den cozy and warm.

It's beginning to look (taste and smell) a lot like Christmas!

Life is good.

After all this time, I have come to realize that Christmas isn't so much about the gifts we get...but about the gifts we already have. The gift of family and friends. Of laughter and love. Peace and Understanding.

Christmas is about Gratitude.

Not for " all the stuff",
                          but for everything we already have.


Wishing Everyone a Merry Christmas :)

Pre-Apocolypse

                                      illudium Q-36 explosive space modulator is
                                                                complete

All that is left is the Earth-Shattering Kaboom.

So tomorrow is it. The Apocalypse. End Times. As REM sings...It's the end of the World as we know it... Invited to a huge online EOTW party...it's kind of come as you are...lol. No parking problems and festival seating. Tickets? No problem.

Had a buddy from Tasmania write this morning that everything was "STILL HERE" as it was already well into 12/21/2012 there...and he was "going to bed"- but then another Australian friend pointed out that the Mayans did live in South America...so there is STILL time.

Thanks Gail, for that bit of reassurance. 

Enjoying the downtime before the holiday. Took a cat-nap with an actual CAT this afternoon. Tucker and I. Him purring like mad. Listening to the rain hit the window. Nothing is more relaxing. 

Baking tonight. 

Delivering the rest of my brownies and cookies and Christmas wishes to my friends/neighbors here, tomorrow.

Missing the Baked Dish Gathering/Sharing we always enjoyed at the Rose Cottage... ~sigh~ and especially Ken's Deer Chili. Talked to Sandy quite a while this afternoon and she is planning a trek this way after the holidays. We shall plunder the Amish, again. Love Peachy's with all the homemade butters and cheeses and breads :) 

And they are promising snow for tonight!  I'm ready :)

Let it snow...let it snow...let it snow...

Catch ya tomorrow...
                                  maybe.

A Relaxing Afternoon Cup

Settling in for a relaxing afternoon cup!

Big Deep Breath.

The outburst of yesterday, past. Thankfully. Proving once again I'm Zen, but also very human. It's a process.

A close friend reminding me this morning that the only way to overcome the hate and struggle is with Love and Light.

This is absolutely true.

And finally, perhaps, the Nation's conversation has turned to the death and destruction that civilians with assault weapons can wreak, in addition to a failing/underfunded mental health system.


If the deaths of these children can spark the beginning of the end of the insanity...they will not have died in vain.


The cards are all mailed. The Presents posted or wrapped. The cookie dough made and wrapped, to be cut and baked on Christmas Eve.  This is the week to relax. Enjoy the season. Read (and work on my new manuscript a bit.)  To Breathe.

The last minute chaos and crush of the crowds a thing of the past. It took over 50 years to devise a system...lol...

Christmas in 10 days. The Return to Organization. 

               (...actually working this concept up into an article...)

                                                will share

Admittedly, this has only existed in my life in the past few years. I could tell you horror stories about hours spent in malls and mall parking lots. Of watching people fist-fight over parking spaces. Of last minute shopping on Christmas Eve. And the holiday drone in the background of a thousand voices muttering

"I just want the holidays to be over." 

And it has gotten so chaotic...so hectic...so much of a greed-fest and so stressful...they really really mean it. 

So amidst the wrappers and ribbons...the boxes and bags...remember the important things. The things money can't buy.  Family. Health. Love. Gratitude. Joy. Wonder. Beauty. Peace.

Everything that 
                  (really) 
                           makes life worth living!

Cafe au lait...Gingerbread Cookies and A Plan

                                                    Bill and I (1992)


Yesterday would have been our 20th Anniversary.  We had such plans for this one. The boys grown and gone. We were going to renew our vows in Bora Bora...make love in a thatched hut over the turquoise bay...watch the sun rise and set together...explore the French Polynesia...sip umbrella drinks.

Well, in August 2010...we renewed our vows. Together with our sons at home. It was both wonderful and bittersweet. Four months later Bill died of leukemia. Bora Bora seemed a lot less important. 

Plans.

Yesterday I decided to modify our plan. To explore Bora Bora (virtually) myself. See all those things we had talked about seeing. Fix a Polynesian meal. Peruse The Black Pearl Farm. Sink into a bubble bath with an umbrella drink and a bit of chocolate. Lightly spray the sheets with Polo (his scent) perhaps to meet in my dreams.

                 (...want to make the gods laugh...tell them your plans...)

The morning silence disrupted yesterday by a tearful phone call from my oldest granddaughter's Mother. The same granddaughter that was always "...Grandpa's Girl..." Both she and her mother locked in a terrible row. Hearing the 7 year old proclaim loudly in the background

               "If you won't TAKE me to Grandma Rose's...then I'll WALK..." 

Did I mention that I live all the way across town?
They both needed the break.

And so...that is how I ended up spending this "heartdate". Playing with Playdoh...leaving the Polynesian ingredients for this afternoon in favor of "P'sketti, Grandma"...messily mixing up a batch of gingerbeard cookies

 (...cutting them with the same silver stars and Christmas trees and Gingerbread men cutters that I grew up with as a child and cut gingerbread cookies with her Daddy when he was little...)

Playing board games...chattering...and her standing on tippy-toes "helping" with dishes.  In the early evening by the glow of the Christmas tree we sat on the sofa...her curled with her "woobie"...a raggedy-soft blanket she has had since forever and read books. Books that I used to read to her Daddy when he was this age. And finally...her drifting off. to sleep...wrapped in the blanket stretched across my lap.

And somewhere inside I could feel Bill's smile at this turn of events. 

                       Where despite everything...the day turned out absolutely perfect.


Late that night I did "explore" Bora Bora...let me tell you...it is significantly less expensive on-line. Bora Bora having two modes. Expensive and extravagantly expensive. It is also breathtakingly beautiful. No multi-hour flights...takeoffs and landings or crowds, though. Discovered Hiano Pia ( the local beer) which Bill would have immediately tried. Bought a sample of Volcanic Chocolate Banana (...to be delivered this week...) which is a chocolate, banana and walnut energy bar specific to Bora Bora...And picked up a small souvenir from The Tahitian Black Pearl Farm...a single black pearl and silver pendant...also to be delivered.

The Pearl will outlast me.
 I will pass it on to "Grandpa's Girl".

Proving, once again, how circular life really is.

                                          The Beginning of A New Day






Polynesian Roast Pork with Pineapple and Peppers


1 1/2 pound pork roast (oven roasted and cut into bite sized chunks)

2 cups steamed (prepared) rice.

1 regular can pineapple chunks.

1/4 cup brown sugar.

1 cup Duck Sauce (sweet and sour)

1 Green Bell Pepper cut into cubes.

5 Marichino cherries halved

(can add thin sliced onions if desired)

Arrange rice in baking dish. Top with Roast chunks...pineapple...peppers and brown sugar...arrange cherries on top and cover with Duck Sauce. Cover dish with aluminum for and bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

Serve with sweet rolls (like King's Hawaiian rolls) and fresh fruit.

Enjoy!






















 

A Cup of Cocoa and a Candy Cane

Christmas Sax (CD) -(X)

Scented candles of Scotch Pine and Winter Cabin burning- (X)

Tiny White Lights twinkling on the Tree- (X)

Cards Mailed- (X)

Rolls of brightly colored gift-wrap...tape...ribbon...scissors...tags...-(X)

A Mug of Hot Cocoa stirred with a Candy Cane- (X)


Let the wrapping begin!!!

Tucker curled beneath the piano in "his corner" sleeping off the after-effects of shared KFC. 

"Spoiled, moi?"

With the shopping nearly done for The Grands and profusely thanking Fed Ex for the delivery of the girls Barbie Townhouse (with OMG...an ELEVATOR??? RU kidding me?)  Not your grandmother's doll-house, that's for sure. And dolls and all that is gloriously pink! The lift lifts...the doorbell rings...the toilet makes a flushing sound and there are lights. Even unassembled it it ginormous.

Thankfully, James can assemble anything!

And The Fisher-Price World rises again, with Brenden. When the boys were young they had an entire civilization built up of the Fisher-Price cars/trains/airplanes/little people/houses and buildings. It would fill my entire living room.

 A steady stream of family and company and sometimes family as company during the past few weeks. And Christmas love and hugs to Jim...well...because you-know-why :) And Pam, who already surprised me with the new Batman DVD...and a terribly tasteless laugh...yes...you're right...I am less apt to be shot in the comfort of my own home...and a huge box of one of my favorite chocolates...and some great classic tunes :) and the promise of a trip up in January!

 And Idgy and I, who have decided to give ourselves an end of the year gift-of-self by celebrating NYE and Day together!!!! 

I'm seeing Southern and (homemade) Coke Blak and much Confetti at Midnight! Real hugs and up-all-night chat and laughter and yes, crepes for breakfast...with raspberries!

Great way to start the New Year!

Finished Suzanne Collins: The Mockingjay...the third in the Hunger Games series. Nicely done. The Capital having burned District 12 to the ground and the remaining survivors fleeing to District 13 and The Uprising continues with Katniss as The Mockingjay. Darker...grittier than the first two books and a wonderful twist ending. Looking forward to seeing "Catching Fire" when it is released next year! Marketed for YA audience but entertaining and well-written for an older audience. Recommended.

Another random shooting...this time in an Oregon Mall...and a Dad in Texas carving a pentacle on his young son's back with a box knife on 12/12/12. Does it ever make you want to scream

"What the HELL is wrong with you people???"

If the answer is: EVERYDAY.  
Know that you are not alone.
Seriously WTF?

 I know that Peace on Earth and Goodwill Towards Men might be a tad overboard on the whole Santa List...but certainly don't shoot people around you or carve up your kid should be a no-brainer.

Anyway...back to wrapping. Sending love and light to everyone...with a reminder this week:

                 BE The Light and Love for Others!



 

A Pre-Holiday Cup

A week filled with children, grandchildren, Christmas crafts/candles and baking...and Holiday Cheer!

Exhausted...but smiling :)

The Holiday Sale went over well. Thanks Tess for inviting Kara and I to join you this year!  Thanking Lennon for helping me with the baking and carrying and Chris for providing live music on Saturday! Kara...the new Winter Cabin woodwick is crackling behind me as I type...and it may be my new favorite!

                                        My boys!  23, 24 and 25 now.

                                 
                                            Lennon up from College

                                  
                                                       Santa Dad!

                                              Kaylee and Hannah


And it is shaping up to be a "Pink Christmas" with the girls (and my honorary "granddaughter" Jasmine) this year requesting EVERYTHING BARBIE... ~laughing~

Brenden is definitely a car-guy like Dad (...and Grandma) so he is just happy if it has wheels.

"No girls...I am not getting him the Pink Barbie Convertible"

                                  Lennon and Chris... both doing what they do best!


Lennon with mad computer skills and soon to start "Penetration" courses as part of his Sys/OP Sys/Analyst.

Chris with his latest love...a "butterscotch blond" electric perfect for wailing the blues.

So nice to have them all together again for a while :)

And always over too soon.

Company flying in on Sunday...taking a breather till then.  Taking the afternoon to restock the pantry and clean house...then soak in a deep bubble bath...maybe with a glass of wine...and chocolate, of course. 

The book of the week: The Best American Short Stories 2012.   Collection by Tom Perotta. Contains twenty of the best of the genre. My personal favorite The Miracle Polish by Steve Millhauser. Also including the works of Joyce Carol Oates, Alice Munro, Julie Otsuka and many others. A great book for the hectic paced holidays that can be enjoyed bit by bit! 

Mailing the last of the cards tomorrow and finishing the Christmas shopping early next week...and relaxing for the rest of December!

A nice way to ring in the New Year!