Christmas Day

christmas passed

the wrapping paper is out in the shed

egg nog is floating its way to my head

i don't want to see the credit card bill

i just want to stay here on holiday still

What do you get when you gobble down sweets?

Augustus Gloop was the luckiest kid, EVER! He was, of course, the German boy who won the golden ticket (along with Violet Beauregard, Mike Teevee, Veruca Salt, and Charlie Bucket) that gained him entrance into Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. The reason why he was so darned lucky, you ask, is because he got to drink, nay, bathe in a river of chocolate. One could be so blessed. This evening, Micki, the kids and I went to a friend's house for a Chocolate Fountain Party. Strawberries, Pineapple, Coconut-covered marshmallows, Schnozberries, Pretzels, Oreo Oops, and more. We took decadent to a whole new level. I took out my pocket blood-sugar meter and my meter read "758". I think that may be high, but I'm not sure. My blood type changed from A-positive to Marzipan. Washed it all down with Diet Mountain Dew from Buffalo Rock. Delicious. I'm glad Christmas season only lasts for 35 days or so, otherwise I'd blow up like a Macy's Parade float. But this is what the season is about. Getting together with friends, eating good food (never such a thing as BAD chocolate....well, maybe the bittersweet cooking chocolate, but only when you eat it before using it in a recipe) and talking about life and such. And we're going to do it again for New Years. Maybe we'll have a deep fryer there; I haven't had a deep fried Twinkie or Hot Dog or Snickers bar. A man can dream.I'll dream of funnel cakes with sprinkled sugar on top (looking like snow we aren't getting, still!) instead.

Torrey and the other teens walked around Stonebrook Village and took pics of the decorated houses with their cameras. She took a few pictures of the houses and tons of the other teens. Figures. She took so many pix that my battery died. But they had fun and no one got lost (on a circle, it could happen), so no search parties were launched. Saturday we go to another party. Better wear my Sansabelt slacks and a beach shirt!

O Tannenbaum!

Lighted and green, the Christmas tree stands in the living room watching over the ever growing pile of prettily trimmed presents like a faceless gargoyle of the forest. It has taken days for his true form to develop and now he sits on the hearth as though he was on a flying buttress of Notre Dame. However, unlike a gargoyle, the tree fills those who look upon it with hope instead of dread. Hope that someone truly loves them enough to place a gift under his protection with the hope that behind the thin veil of paper lies a bit of magic that will transport them to another dimension. Hope that Christmas is not just another day, but a mirror of the soul of the world. A reflection of peace, joy and love; a harmony that six billion inhabitants cannot completely destroy because deep down inside all of them hope wells up, refreshes and nourishes them, giving the ability to make the world a place for their children to fluorish. And Christmas tree, I've charged you with illuminating the smiling faces of my children on that wonderful morning, letting them know that all is well with the world, if only for that moment. The moment before Mom and Dad wake up and they can just be kids.