It is that time of the year to "put one foot in front of the other," and search for those last minute gifts. Venturing into the mall is not for the faint of heart. The champion shoppers, during this festive time of the year, are those who clearly love the thrill of the hunt and do their best shopping as the clock ticks down. We have learned how to weave through crowded parking lots without hitting other cars or pedestrians. We have made many new friends while waiting in the long lines and/or beaten a new level in Candy Crush.
Even though the title is "Holiday Catch-Phrases," this message is not for the planners who finished shopping months ago. You could not handle shopping right now. The long lines would make you demand a register open up just for you. You would complain loudly - "Bah! Humbug!" The lack of parking spaces would force you to pound on your steering wheel yelling "I'm gonna deck your halls bub!" Stressing out and yelling may make you feel better for a second, but "Christmas isn't just a day, it's a frame of mind..." I know you believe "Maybe Christmas...doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more." We procrastinators believe that too...however, we enjoy the adrenaline rush.
Even though advertisers and media want us to spend, SpEnD, SPEND (which we do), they remind us of the importance of people. We understand their sentimental or silly scenes are a cover for their subliminal "buy" message, and we are not fooled. As long as we score the sought after gift at a discount, we are thrilled.
My heart still leaps a little seeing the mall Santa. Wishing, dreaming,
he might be the 'real Santa'. I have to suppress the desire to yell "Santa! I know him." The thing I would ask from Santa would not require him to tell me "You'll shoot your eye out, kid." Yet, I would not ask for world peace or anything as selfless either. I would ask for no debt. On one day - one magical day - all of my debt would disappear. Student loans, mortgages, credit cards, and medical bills would just...be...gone. I would love this for me. My selfless act would be to wish it for you too. I know that we could possibly get into a hole again before the next Christmas rolls around. But...this year we could run through the streets yelling "Merry Christmas, movie house! Merry Christmas, Emporium! Merry Christmas, you wonderful old Building and Loan!"
The spirit of Christmas is alive and well in all of the long lines, crowded streets, children's laughter, and an old man's cane echoing through a lonely house. "Seeing isn't believing. Believing is seeing." During this time of the year, no matter your circumstances, dream like a child who believes in Santa Clause.
"At one time most of my friends could hear the bell. But as years passed, it fell silent for all of them. Even Sarah found, one Christmas, that she could no longer hear its sweet sound. Though I've grown old, the bell still rings for me... as it does for all who truly believe."
"And God bless us, everyone."
Thanks to these great movies:
- Frosty the Snowman
- A Christmas Carol
- Jingle all the Way
- Miracle on 34th Street
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas
- Elf
- A Christmas Story
- It's a Wonderful Life
- The Santa Clause
- Polar Express
- A Christmas Carol
Monday, December 23, 2013
Sunday, December 15, 2013
I DIDN'T CATCH YOUR NAME
What is in a name anyway?
The beginning of every school year brings sweat to my brow as I try to learn (and pronounce) 150 new student names. I find this one of my most crucial responsibilities, and I feel the pressure. After all, our names are our identity. It is great when someone remembers your name. They are saying you matter. Conversely, having to reintroduce yourself to someone each time you come in contact is not only frustrating but demoralizing.
I recently read several articles about the most popular and some unusual baby names for 2013. (I was so relieved that Poopy and Butt did not make the list this year. I still feel sympathy for the 3 Poopy's and the 3 Butts named in 2010).
For boys the top 10 names are: Liam,Noah, Ethan, Mason, Jacob, Jack, Lucas, Jackson, Logan and Aiden
Four of those names have come through my classes during the past several years, and the name "Jack" makes me smile because I think of my beloved Uncle Jack.
So far, so good.
Girls have an equally beautiful top 10 list: Emma, Olivia, Sophia, Ava, Isabella, Mia, Emily, Charlotte, Amelia, and Ella
Two of those names were used for my cousin's beautiful daughters, and four have been in my classes.
These are not the difficult to pronounce names though or even the usual names. Let's go down the "What were they thinking?" road together.
Ajax, Panda, Stetson, Hurricane, Tulip, Chevy, Rocket, Phone, and Flower. These parents must have played the game where you close your eyes for ten seconds and name the first object you see. Voila! They named their baby.
The other set of unusual names are credited to the foodies. They played a similar game, yet it could only involve something yummy. In about 12 years, I may meet Kiwi, Cheese, Butterbean, Chow, or Danish.
My children are older. My generation only messed with the spelling of names. I am not sure why we wanted to confuse the masses and frustrate our children. I named my daughter Marilynn (pronounced like Marilyn Monroe's name, not Mary Lynn or Maryland) and my son Jon (not short for Jonathan as you would expect). My third child is simply Joshua, but we have always called him Josh. About 2 years ago, he felt left out on the spelling craze and now spells his name Joshh. I would have done it first if I had thought about it, but by the third child, my creativity and sleep was seriously lacking.
I have learned to always listen closely and look into someone's eyes when they speak their name. If the name is unusual or difficult to pronounce (Amr, Baobao, Uther, Laki, Xochitl, and Aethylswyth to name a few), just say "I didn't catch your name."
The beginning of every school year brings sweat to my brow as I try to learn (and pronounce) 150 new student names. I find this one of my most crucial responsibilities, and I feel the pressure. After all, our names are our identity. It is great when someone remembers your name. They are saying you matter. Conversely, having to reintroduce yourself to someone each time you come in contact is not only frustrating but demoralizing.
I recently read several articles about the most popular and some unusual baby names for 2013. (I was so relieved that Poopy and Butt did not make the list this year. I still feel sympathy for the 3 Poopy's and the 3 Butts named in 2010).
For boys the top 10 names are: Liam,Noah, Ethan, Mason, Jacob, Jack, Lucas, Jackson, Logan and Aiden
Four of those names have come through my classes during the past several years, and the name "Jack" makes me smile because I think of my beloved Uncle Jack.
So far, so good.
Girls have an equally beautiful top 10 list: Emma, Olivia, Sophia, Ava, Isabella, Mia, Emily, Charlotte, Amelia, and Ella
Two of those names were used for my cousin's beautiful daughters, and four have been in my classes.
These are not the difficult to pronounce names though or even the usual names. Let's go down the "What were they thinking?" road together.
Ajax, Panda, Stetson, Hurricane, Tulip, Chevy, Rocket, Phone, and Flower. These parents must have played the game where you close your eyes for ten seconds and name the first object you see. Voila! They named their baby.
The other set of unusual names are credited to the foodies. They played a similar game, yet it could only involve something yummy. In about 12 years, I may meet Kiwi, Cheese, Butterbean, Chow, or Danish.
My children are older. My generation only messed with the spelling of names. I am not sure why we wanted to confuse the masses and frustrate our children. I named my daughter Marilynn (pronounced like Marilyn Monroe's name, not Mary Lynn or Maryland) and my son Jon (not short for Jonathan as you would expect). My third child is simply Joshua, but we have always called him Josh. About 2 years ago, he felt left out on the spelling craze and now spells his name Joshh. I would have done it first if I had thought about it, but by the third child, my creativity and sleep was seriously lacking.
I have learned to always listen closely and look into someone's eyes when they speak their name. If the name is unusual or difficult to pronounce (Amr, Baobao, Uther, Laki, Xochitl, and Aethylswyth to name a few), just say "I didn't catch your name."
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Catchable
The name of your blog becomes a make or break moment for many people. Will you have to say it twice for people to understand? Do you even know how to spell it without thinking? (You laugh, but I know there are some of you out there with that problem - at least the first few times).
catchable: adj. refers to the ability of being caught
While colds and the flu are catchable, we will focus on the positive things to catch.
Goals...
Ideas...
Dreams...
Creativity...
catchable: adj. refers to the ability of being caught
While colds and the flu are catchable, we will focus on the positive things to catch.
Goals...
Ideas...
Dreams...
Creativity...
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