Holidaze

This year I do admit that I’m not feeling really holiday-like.  Part of this is just how I am.  I tend to hang on to summer as long as I can and while I’m trying to embrace winter (see earlier posting) – I still am most surely a summer girl.  I thrive in the warm to hot weather; I like the feeling of the sun on my skin. Part of it, I think, is that it seems Christmas gets pushed on us earlier and earlier each year.   I remember seeing Christmas decorations out in stores, in the early October!   The other part of it is how commercialized the season tends to be.  Sometimes it seems to be more about who gets or gives the biggest and boldest rather than being nice to each other.  Of course there is debate about the this being the actual birthdate of Christ , be that as it may shouldn’t the season still be more about having an attitude that is like the golden rule?   Instead of black Friday craziness?  I do not do black Friday.  Well, at least I don’t do the doorbuster thing.   Black Friday now begins on Thanksgiving evening.  So now, directly after being thankful for what we already have, some feel the need to act like animals or worse in order to get some cheaply priced items.   Alright, that statement isn’t mine – I saw it floating around the web – but it’s true!   It’s true I don’t go out shopping for doorbusters no matter how great of deal - because I have no real urge to see society and people at their worst.  The cheap prices don’t make up for it.

  

Well, I still want to enjoy the holiday season.  Maybe it is alright to not be real into it some years.   Maybe a few simple Christmas decorations up, a Christmas card list of only the closest people and hopefully forgetting for the most part about the holiday yummies.

Don’t get me wrong – I do enjoy parts of the holiday season -

Holiday shopping is something I enjoy a great deal.   I was surprised to learn some people don’t like this.  Maybe I have a future in personal shopping then because I like finding unique gifts for people.  While gift baskets and fruit cake are fine – I like them!   I like finding things that people really enjoy – that they haven’t even thought of for themselves. 

I like the outdoor lights.  Mind you not that I put up a lot of them, but I do like seeing the ones that people in the neighborhood put up, from those with a Religious theme to those that look like gingerbread houses, or one I particularly enjoy – the house the decorates the woods near their home with multiple themes that somehow all fit together … there is something special about lights gently lighting the snow on the ground.

Another holiday that I really enjoy is New Year’s.  Time for the “Twilight Zone” marathon, and the airings of “Back to the Future”.  There’s our small holiday family and friends gathering and maybe, just maybe- if my friends are willing to do it – going out to rock in the new year. 

Winter in Minnesota

Winter in Minnesota

Winter can mean a lot of things to a lot of different people.    In Minnesnowta, I mean, Minnesota, snow is a topic we are well familiar with.  It means a lot of things to a lot of people, too.  To many children it means a wonderful experience.  It means play time, snow angels, sledding, snow ball fights and perhaps a cup of hot cocoa.   To adults it means having to shovel, go out and start the car ahead of time and bundling up.   And yet still some adults manage to enjoy winter here.   Something that I’m not always so great at.   So I’ve done some thinking about it.  What makes these adults different?  Sometimes they have a winter sport they enjoy.  Sometimes they like the beauty that comes from a majestic snowfall, flakes glittering like feathers of silver in the air, coating the trees with a thick and heavy layer of white.

 

Granted – I’m a summer type of girl.   I like warm, bordering on hot weather.  I like going outside and feeling the sunlight on my skin.  I like short sleeve shirts, sandals and eating outside.

 

However God made winter too.  Minnesota is where I live for now… so I have decided to try and enjoy winter – I might not go out and buy snow shoes or a fish house, but there is nothing wrong with enjoying a brisk walk all bundled up, to come inside a warm toasty house later and enjoy a nice cup of coffee or tea. 

 

Photo taken near Willmar, Mn - where I grew up

 

Election Impressions

I've never claimed to be big on politics, or how the process works.    This is because I don't believe that my vote makes a difference.   What can one person do too a system that more often seems to look out for big companies and large corporations instead of the individuals of a country?  But yes...  I still vote - for the principal of voting itself.  Besides...  if I don't vote, do I get the right to complain?  ;-)

So my post won't be on which candidate I liked, or telling you how you should've voted  like I've seen so many posts about on facebook - instead my post is about how I think the process should work, and this not from a political science major or activist, just from me.... middle of the road  typical average American. 


A two-party system.

That's odd.   I counted more than two choices for President on my ballot.   I think if the third party candidates jumped through the proper hoops to get their names on the ballot - then they should get equal time on the debates.

But why stop at the debates?   For a long time I've felt that political ads should not be allowed?   Why?   because it seems like the candidate with the best ads ends up winning.  How is that fair?  Instead I think there should be a 24/7 channel dedicated just to politics with each group appearing on the ballot getting equal time. 



And that's my more than 2 cents.