Snapshot from Along the Broken Road: December 2012

A photo of me:

Crazy-eyed self portrait at the Spectacle of Dancing Lights.

1) Candle scents this month:
Spiced Pumpkin. Sparkling Cinnamon. Vanilla Bean Noel (Bath and Body Works, unlike everything else I burn!). Harvest. Vineyard. Pumpkin Pie. Napa Valley Harvest. Orchard Pear. Autumn Fruits. Harvest Welcome. White Christmas. Christmas Cookie. North Pole. Red Berry and Cedar. Christmas Cupcake. Welcome Christmas. Holiday Bayberry. Mistletoe.

2) What I am reading this month:
I finished The Gunslinger (Stephen King), and moved right on to The Drawing of the Three (Stephen King), the second book in The Dark Tower series. The first book was a little rough in spots, but obviously didn't deter me from continuing. And holy cow. The second one was one trippy story! I really need to get back to Knuckler: My Life with Baseball's Most Confounding Pitch (Tim Wakefield with Tony Massarotti). Time to get that one done!

3) Three things on my mind:
1. We don't think enough before we speak or act. Case in point, the Australian DJs who prank called the hospital in London with the Princess was receiving treatment for severe morning sickness. There isn't a single thing funny about that. She feels lousy, to the point of requiring a hospital stay. Give her some space and some respect and a *lot* of compassion. Don't try to turn into a joke. It isn't funny.
2. The tragedy in Newtown, CT. I don't understand why the most common response is for people to lash out at one another with hate and judgment, and then refuse to see how this only contributes to everything that is "wrong with the world today." Shouldn't we be coming together, in compassion and shared sorrow and horror?
3. There don't seem to be any reliable methods of delivering packages anymore. I have had bad experiences with post the USPS and FedEx this year, and I wouldn't send something UPS on a bet, after what I have witnessed outside my office window on more than one occasion.

4) Movies I saw:
The Polar Express. Elf. A Christmas Carol (George C Scott version and the Disney version). The Nativity Story. It's a Wonderful Life. A Christmas Story. Ted. Plus the traditional Christmas specials: Charlie Brown Christmas. How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Prep and Landing. Prep and Landing: Naughty or Nice. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

5) Calendar image for the month:


6) New recipe tried this month:
Peppermint Crunch Sugar Cookies.

7) Restaurants where I ate:
Datz Deli (Tampa). ABC Commissary (Disney's Hollywood Studios). Five Guys. Osaka (in California).

8) Five things I am loving this month:
1. I cannot get enough of being up late in the evening and catching glimpses, through the window, of the Christmas lights on our house. Or the way I can see the Christmas tree's lights reflected in cabinet doors and the glass of picture frames, in mirrors and sliding glass doors, in the silver tinsel garland. I feel like I am imprinting it on my heart: this beautiful season in our new house. I feel so peaceful.
2. My new pillow. I splurged a little on a more expensive feather-and-down pillow. It's been incredible to finally wake up with out my neck or shoulder feeling sore, now that I have a pillow that actually does what I need it to do.
3. My new iPad! I was so surprised when I opened it Christmas morning. I never even considered it a possibility.
4. Upgrades to first class. Those long cross-country flights are a lot nicer in a big soft comfortable seat.
5. Making a new New Year's Eve tradition with T: a midnight toast with our wedding champagne flutes.

9) A goal I had for this month:
Do *something* with that disaster known as the laundry room closet (mission accomplished and I love it!). Get Christmas out the door by the 17th (mostly accomplished, except for getting foiled by a late delivery of one Christmas gift, which delayed that package until the 22nd).

10) This month I looked forward to:
Having Christmas lights on our house for the very first time. Celebrating Christmas. Visiting Nichole and Daniel.

11) Something I want to be thankful for this month:
New Christmas traditions and old, existing in the same season. I love that there's room for more traditions. There's room for anything, if it's important enough to us.

12) A photo I took this month:

Sometimes, a girl just needs her favorite shirt and her favorite stripey socks on the same day.