Living The Christmas Message

It is Christmas!  Next to me sits a 8 year old one with his unwrapped present and a gigantic smile,  also quite near is a Christmas tree with still lots of presents under it and I am playing Christmas songs... So this must be Christmas....and my mind came to a total stand still...something that is quite hard to do if your name is Stallie. 

Normally this girl goes totally insane the days before the Holly night... I jump on the metro for last minute shopping in Brussels, where I have to find my way amongs tons of lost tourists who are basically are only after two things: the location of their hotel and chocolate...  The supermarket and I also have some Christmas issues going on because it then happens more then once that I have to overcome tons of obstacles that only occur at this time of the year... My Christmas tree is also a source for worries because the moment you have dressed up that whole tree for the occassion and try to switch on the lights...nada..  Stallie feels then how should I put it a bit less Chrismassy... I then even tend to pout a bit..

Still, this year I decided to twist things and keep up that smile that I had during the lovely Christmas luncheon at work. This year I wanted to be one of these jolly Christmas people who just manages to get all the Christmas duties done without falling into the Christmas mood-trap.  Stallie was going to show how she can survive the Christmas rush to the world... I even did let people jump the line but this only by adding a line like:'I guess you have got the Chrismas turkey in the oven and do not want to get it burned' or 'You still seem to have lots of work to get done before being able to have a peaceful and calm Christmas.' Some of the faces I got to witness where priceless.   The face of my mail man was also a happy one because he was missing for quite some time but he decided that he just could not let his 'clients' down for this special&intense time of the year..

Now one night further I do know that celebrating Christmas should come along with a manual... because there are people who have missed out at getting to the central message of this whole universal occasion.... Stallie tries to be world citizen and tries very hard to be aware of all the global conflicts that go on around her.... I do feel sorry for people who just do not seem to get the central meaning of Christmas....

Stallie does not always agree with the mortals who suddenly think it is the time to write a speech and call it their 'Christmas'-message.... Suddenly my newspaper, radio station and television is filling up with people who think it the right time to get their message across.  Many feel called to coppy the angel Gabriel whose message did for sure came across.Well, sorry boys and girls your timing *ucks... I wonder who came up with that idea in the first place?  It almost feels like that some of these people feel the neccesity to make us concentrate on certain issues.

Hey, I am not stupid that there are very crucial problems that have to be taken serious but can we please wait till I have stored away the Christmas linnens,have emptied a few bottles of Champagne, written my Christmas cards, visited my beloved family and friends, had a minced pie and a mug of muled wine, made some long distance phone calls, perfected my art of giving...and most of all prayed and was granted a few moments to be hopefull, prayed, tried to medidate and perfect my mindfullness... all things that I do consider quite important in order to become a better human being? Just wondering because honestly this year I still have to come across a VIP-Christmas-message that justifies this timing...

Perhaps is Stallie a bit naiev and too romantic to get the whole thing about broadcasted  'Christmas messages'.  The content of these speeches has got no effect on me.... because they more and more sound like something that is more fitting for the first of January after that we took the time to take a good look at our selves and eat, pray, love and miss what we care about deeply.  After all I do not think it is fair to rain on the parade of Jesus and Santa...  Perhaps I should next year for Christmas ask for a 4 star quality umbrella!

Have yourself all out there a wonderful Christmas and I bet that I do need to point out what the real message of Christmas is and how any of you should live or act around this time of the year.  Chances are that most of you have already found out yourself!  Happy Holidays next to manger or beyond... Many of you will be missed and wished to be standing under the mistletoe with me...

 

The 'Lady' In The Mirror

 

I have got a blog and do blog about things that matter to me or  that I have got something to say about.  Writing a blog gives me a space to open up and let out the words that you might hold back. This year I have not been that active but I had lots of things going on in the non-digital world. Not that I have got any intentions of quitting out here.  The blog is now a part of me.  But what does it tell about me? Is there in most blog entries something that tells you who I really am?  Would you be able to describe me by means of this blog?

Now please do not start to leave comments about what you think about me because that is not what I am after.  More important I have to note it down myself. No, I am not kidding, it is even an assignment.  Plus I have to stay quite positive about it without walking into the dark woods. *deep seigh*

I mean how can you start writing a text describing yourself. It is like you are asked to write a commercial about yourself. And I have been told over and over by my parents and many adults who tried to put some sense into me that it is not decent to boost about yourself. Plus I do believe in the words that 'Nobody is perfect.' But then there is Garfield echooing in my head who says then with his typical cat-grin:'I am Nobody!'.

And I do have got an other issue going on with this because I do think it are others that kind of define you. It are the people around you who are the ones who use the words that can describe you. The remarks, criticism,opinions, etc.... are all words that can give you more depth. But how many times do you talk about yourself or have a positive monologue about your own content?

Not for nothing stands the mirror symbol for vanity.  Okay, I do stand now and then in an elevator with a mirror and will then look at myself and then whisper to myself:'YOU CAN DO THIS! YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH WORSE! SO GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER!' I might then even give myself a slap in the face and once the elevator doors open I snap back into my safe mode.  Many of you will recognise this....

Just put this way: I am not good at promoting myself or coming up with things that I am quite good at. The fact is that I did promise a few people that I was going to give it a try and no I am not going to copy the content of my job interview. That would be kind of cheating.  So this morning I did take a good look at myself in the mirror and did try to look passed the wrinkles and the dark circles.  It was already mind exercise #1 trying to keep focused on the postive things.

So......
..................
Euh....

*gettting up to get a drink*
 Okay, well .......

*putting some xmas music on*
Come on!  Can't be that hard, can it.....
..................

*staring blank at the screen of my computer*
 .................

*head landing on the keyboard*

Guess it won't be for today..... but at least I gave it a try!

So you think you are funny? Call again!

 

There are these very funny moments that you are about to laugh very loudly because of a joke a good mate of you tells you while you are having a drink after a long week at the office... or there is this moment that you just start to laugh spontanously because you suddenly remember something very funny.  Bet that also many of you have seen some of these 'funny' youTube clips that are tapped 'by coincidence' and turn out to be hilarious and cause many global smiles. Then there are these moments that you end up in rather hilarious situations and that the only thing you can do is laugh.... A laugh turns out to be a very powerful weapon in some situations.  In some cases you manage to laugh things away.  Laughing is also told to have positive health side effects and causes you to end up less wrinkled. So in many ways laughing is for sure fun...

The thing is that what I consider funny you might not think funny at all. P&I differ quite a lot when it comes down to humor. Luckily this does not cause relationship problems because he loves the 'Green Wing' as much as I do.  No, I respect my partner his opinion in many things and also in laughing matters and then there are these moments that we both do not see the 'funny' ingredient in certain 'humorous' situations.

Yes, I admit it here openly I did smile a bit when I read in the morning newspaper that Princess Kate was admited to hospital with 'Hypermesis Gravidarum' or in less Harry Potter sounding language she is under the spell of morning sickness. While reading this I that many women would laugh at this news because many mums to be manage to stay out of hospital while suffering of this.   Some people even made openly funny comments about it.

At the same time I had flashbacks of some of my colleagues who suddenly run out classes and the only aim they had was the bowl.  The relief on their faces I got see after that visit made me smile but I knew they felt rather awful.  Being pregnant is such a ball! Most women just try to make the best out of this morning sickness and keep in mind that it will pass once their pregnancy gevorderd. Once you have got your baby in your arms you do forget about all these times you had to have always a bucket close by. You will even be able to have some laughs about it.

Still, one look at Royal Kate and you just know that this lady is rather delicate. Yes, being pregnant can be so much fun but your body has a will of its own and your body undergoes major changes. Do I need to elaborate on this subject because I do think that many of you know what I am after. It is not just because this is a Royal baby in the making that we suddenly become all experts on pregnancies. Or do we? Nope but many of us suddenly want to find out every detail about the Royal in the making. Journalists suddenly consider this pregnancy as public

So then when last night I read that the private nurse who took care of  Royal Kate was found dead in her apartment I did not laugh. Total silence filled up our living room. Disbelief even for a second.  Our press was very fast by telling us what the cause of death was: suicide.   What had I missed? Because appearantly this dedicated nurse had done something that had made her do this. When I read what was the story behind all of this I did come across words like joke, prank and hoax.

Surely this isn't funny but that nurse did end up becoming the laughing stock of many. The media is now trying to explain why this happened.  Well, honestly for once I do not get the joke... I realy don't and perhaps we will never find out what went on in that hospital once that the mangement found out what happened.  Not that I wish to know.  I consider that internal affairs and yes, we may now wonder if there is no code of conduct in many places when VIPs are involved.  Blah blah blah blah...

Sorry for that blah blah blah but this is exactly the point that I wish to make here.  I am all for free press but there are limits in my head when it comes down to this.   Lately journalism seems to be after a certain entertainment content. Yes, I like my breakfast show presentators who can pull it of to make phonecalls to our Prime minister before he has put on his hallmark red bow tie.  I do smile when they manage to get performing artists or sport personalities on the line to ask them how they are doing after a good show or victory.

All of this while these humans are still digesting their morning muesli or power bar.  I can tell you that the voice of Kim Clijsters in the morning does not sound that crispy as when she used to take on journalists after being defeated in the 3rd round at the Olympics. It is during these interviews that we find out tha they are only human!  But a good radio show is in my honest opinion also one that respects the privacy of the people or at least to a certain extend.

I wonder what these radio presentators tried to proof. What were they after when they came up with that 'joke'?   Were they aware of the consequences of their prank?  Now, please do not start me on the fact that journalists have got the task to go after a story and find out the truth. That is in this case not the issue.   I wonder if Mel & Michael ever tried to call the White House pretending to be Osama Bin Laden?  More importantly is what I wonder journalists learn of this...

Many of us will jump into action and not only the management of that one specific hospital... nope believe me that many hospital and other care giving institutions will suddenly be triggered by this news.   Phone protocols will be revised and many of us will find out sooner or later that finding out information about our loved ones once they end up in hospitals close or abroad won't be that 'easy' anymore.

We here at home wondered if these people had still some 'scrupules' when they were doing their job. A word that matters greatly when you deal with humanity in general. None of us like to be made fun at openly or becoming the laughing stock of the nation.  Especially if you think you are doing a decent job.  Yes, harm can be done over the phone.  Just what ticks me off in this case is that if these 'funny' radio presentators did even for one split second were aware of what harm could be done?  

Yes, before composing this entry I did listen to this interview (I had not intentions to do so but a writer does his/her research)and the moment that they called it the eassiest phone prank ever I was tempted to turn it off.   No, I don't have a solution for what went on in Sydney. All I find out now is that this had devestating consequences in the UK. On top of that chances are likely it will have consequences for many of us. I just wonder if Mel&Micheal will be LOL when they won't be able to find out how one of their next of kin is holding up in hospital. Not funny? Well perhaps it is wise to keep in mind that there is a thin line between humor and seriousness even when you are on the phone... 

P.S.: My other significant one being a doctor is very upset by all of this and can't even a listen a 2nd time to this 'notorious' interview.  He thinks that many will end up being a victim of what happened. One newspaper who published this news their readers awarded this news with the label 'depressing'.  So over 78% considers this then also as the ultimate bad joke...

P.S.: I had not such an easy time picking some fitting music for this entry... because it is not such 'positive' one... but besides laughing also music has got some healing power.  So I picked out these a more upbeat numbers because I do wish to end with a smile, a genuine one and hopefully you don't get me wrong....;-)

And this is a 'prank call' that the other signficant one and me can make me LOL.
It might not be your cup of tea but we are big fans of  'The Green Wing'.

  

The Holiday Season On Toeshoes

 

It is the Holiday season and I also link this festive season with certain kind of music. Not only the many xmas carols or angelic hymnes that I might hear when I turn up the radio. There is one piece of music that for me expresses the ultimate xams feeling. I even know where I was when I did hear this for the first time. I fell in love with it. This for some very obvious reasons but also for some less obvious ones.  This piece of music can evoke many great memories I have in my life but also some less nice ones.

Today while driving home it was on and yes I have got some dark skies coming up. There is snow in the air and once that Saint Nicolas has passed by A&I will set up our xmas tree.  This piece of music can trigger something inside of me because there is a certain power in this music that can make me feel very happy and getting into the xmas spirit.

Okay, there are many great xmas songs and I do love the classics but this is just that bit extra. Yes, I have been for quite long time dancing on this music myself. My favorite part: The Trepak/Russian Dance. Today when I drove home from work while some wet snow was falling out of the sky and with in my Hello Kitty lunch bag a Sinterklaas food treasure (kruidnoten, amandelstaaf en speculoos) I did suddenly get into the spirit.  Sadly to say it was rather hard to dance the Trepak in my tiny car... 

Xmas Count Down

 

Yesterday A got his Saint Nicolaas gifts because next week we will getting ready for exams. Something I not look forward to because it will mean that I will be coaching a kid who prefers LEGO-bricks above numbers and spelling.  I might have to get some prozac into this house in order to survive this period of the year. Believe me that we sometimes are doing incredible mental acrobatic tricks to finish homework.  I would love to be Edward Cullen at these moments. I mean, I sometimes do not get it what my son does not get.

Still, chocolate is all over the place and the advent calendar is out. This means that Stallie is getting ready for the Holiday season. Today we even woke up under a duvet of snow and had cancel the indoor baseball tournement because driving in this natural product P just can't handle. In a way we are mentaly snowed in.

This week I had already sometimes that warm feeling that makes me feel rather fuzzy and more postive about many things. 

- A watching every evening with me to the DVD 'Dag Sinterklaas' and getting into the spirit for the good Holy man to deliver. We had once more amazing conversations about this anual festivity. A even ended up on his lap during a company party.  He ended up with a board game with a high educational content what was a bit hard to explain. P&I had to make clear to him that the old guy is not always bright enough to remember the preference of all his well behaving children.  The box will be used when the dark and cold January and February evenings arrive.  Can you tell that I am very happy with that box.

- Chocolate shopping. Stallie and chocolate are a very special combo. Not that I consider myself a chocolate addict but I love that brown gold. The smell of chocolate can make me already smile.  I was then also not happy when a certain person in the national press did dare to describe Belgian chocolate as 'over the top'. EXCUSE ME?  Turns out that he only tasted the mainstream brands and did not even bothered to dive into the hidden treasures.  He even admits this openly. FAIL!! Major FAIL! There are some out here that can still make your head spin. Our favorite will be delivering the chocs for the Ritz in London. Visiting their tiny shop and look in atelier is like being dragged into a gigantic bowl of 4 star chocolate.  This holiday season I will very glady bite into af few extra pieces because some of them are prepared with love by Geert or other 'chocolatiers' whose heart beats faster for the 'authentic' Belgian chocolate.

- Spoiling many around me and getting xmas packages ready. I am slow on this part. It takes ages for me to find that one perect gift that I think some people that I wish would be closer to me. Chances are few that the box will make it to you in time to rest under the xmas tree. Just consider it then an after xmas gift.  Best moment so far was having one of my God children over and spoiling him. It was so nice to see his great smile even when it was covered into spaghetti sauce.

- The xmas-bazaar at work where I ended up working in the 'surprise room' and where only children can buy presents.  I had to be the personal shopper of many under 12 kids and had to show my best wrapping skills.  Xmas morning many mothers and fathers will end up with gifts with a high laughing content but it was so lovely to see the effort they put into making up their mind and creating tags for them. Unforgetable and also the fact that my principal showed off the singing skills while I tried to tackle wrapping paper and tape made this day unforgtable.

But most of all I love the be able to start off with using the advent calendar.  Together with the advent wreath those are the true heralds of the xmas season.   A his advent calendar is quite daring because it is a Star Wars themed one and I settled for a rather boring looking one. I also still have to look for the perfect green wratch with ribbons to put out in our living room.  Slow...remember I am slow... but inside my head candle #1 is lightned and am I counting down the days.

 P.S.: This one is in Dutch but chances are likely that part of this so cliché advent discussion you will even understand even if you speak Chinese, Italian or Arabic.

Nativity Set Issues

 

Advent is a fact! Like mentioned before Stallie loves this time of the year.  A and I even have our own calendars. Mine is rather boring to his one. I mean Star Wars Lego figurines and such will always win the battle of a paper snowman.  I hope to find very soon a wrath as well because I do like to fill up our house with xmas spirit. But first Saint Nicolaas has to get back on board to Spain and then we drag down the tree and other garlands.

But all around me many of you are already gtting into the Holiday spirit. But I have got a dillemma going on. A few weeks ago the present pope was so kind to give his personal interpretation about one of my favorite xmas objects: the nativity set.  At this house we have got a Playmobil version but also one from Equador. Undoubtely many of you know what a nativity set looks like.  Well, the pope has changed his mind about the interiour design.

According to him the following do not belong in there: the oxen, the mule, the camels, the sheep, the 3 Kings and also the singing angels should be evicted.  He backs his point of view up with the Holy Scripture. Nowhere they are mentioned and so what is the point of letting them show up in there if there is no proof of them on paper.  I can tell you that when I was reading this news article that I slightly was producing words that are for sure not part of Pope Benedictus his daily vocabulary.

Adjusting our nativity set is not so much work. We can just leave them in the carton box and perhaps we then also should not listen to the lovely xmas hymnes that are sung by lovely female voices. Not such a big deal but I am having an issue with this. I do... Because in my head only a genuine nativty set that makes xmas complete is a filled up one.  Looking at that set tells me so much about what the central meaning should be about at xmas.  Yes, Stallie loves this time of the year and it is then that my hopes are a bit more positive for the world all together. And I do not leave out anyone or anything in that spirit. Not even a camel and if one of my younger nieces wants to put a plastic elephant or flamingo in it who am I to evict it?

Now that I found out that Amazon won't deliver the Kindle I am after as a xmasgift I am very much tempted to order a new 'complete' nativity set.  In this house all will be granted Holiday assylum and can enjoy with us the xmas spirit.   So even if you are an elephant or an ostrich or even a flamingo or a lost soul you are all welcome to move into our nativity set!   We will glady turn up the music and sing with angelic voices Silent Night!