beyond the bag, it is about change, recycling, choice, connections…

Walking and listening to old Terry Gross interview’s on my I-pod is such a treat. I’m never at home or in my car when Fresh Air is on, so I miss a lot of great radio. On this particular day, I was listening to Terry interview Rosanne Cash about her newest CD, “The List.”

Thirty-five years ago, Rosanne’s father, Johnny Cash, gave her a list of what he considered the songs she absolutely had to, at least, be aware of if she was going to call herself a well educated musician; he called the list 100 Essential Country Songs.

I seldom choose to listen to country music, but after this interview, I couldn’t wait to hear (the first installment of) what Johnny Cash considered must-know country songs.

I’m enjoying the whole CD, but her interpretation of Motherless Children hit me like a fist to the gut. I’m sure it was because my brother-in-law just lost his mother. Dorothy E. (Lefevre) Sandlin was 90 years old and very sick, so her death was a blessing for her and the rest of the family.  By changing the word “dead” to “gone”, Rosanne Cash infused this sad song with even more longing, more sadness and more resignation than the original.  (Lucinda Williams (dead) - Rosanne (gone).

The wake and the funeral are over; unfortunately, the missing and the forever start now.

I am sitting in my den (junk room/computer room), peeling a butternut squash into a huge bowl balanced on my knees, so I can listen to the Eagan and Braude radio show on my computer. I can’t get the station on my radio, and my computer has little tiny speakers, so I make excuses to sit in and listen to the live streaming.

I may be late for work, but I have a smile on my face and dinner (the best soup ever) is all prepped.

There are certain items that you can’t wash in your dishwasher, and my popcorn bowl is one of them.

Washing and pondering - why does it take so long to take off those last few stubborn pounds?

Running late, I jumped into the shower while brushing my teeth. With toothbrush and drool dangling (it’s OK, I’m in the shower), I apply shampoo directly to my head.

Brushing while lathering is not as easy as it sounds, and once again, I had to stop and laugh at myself.

So unintentionally, I recycled a long ago training and rediscovered a whole new set of morning exercises. Forget the gym. I’m now using  Awkward Ablutions to perk up my morning and my mind. I’m just curious to see if anyone notices….

This weekend, Saturday, January 9, 2010, the wavyo women will have a vendor table at Evergreen: Responsible and Sustainable Early Childhood Practices Conference at Cape Cod Community College. What a great way to start 2010.

Registration begins at 7:30, so you know we’ll be there bright and early to set up. I cannot wait to show everyone our new, recycled bags!

If you’d like to join us, please contact Kristen Lind at Child Care Network: 888-530-2430,  kristenl@cacci.cc, www.childcarenetwork.cc.

The tree has been defrocked and dismembered. Bulbs put away and pieces added to the garden - she has moved on to her next life.

Back to work. I think I like my vacation life more than my work life. Balanced? No yet.

Combine an over enthusiastic nature with impressive amounts of Grey Goose, stir in the perfect combination of family and playmates, and garnish this combustible concoction with a dash of dancing favorites.

For the young = a perfect evening.

For the young at heart = A strained, pulled, and over extended (including typing fingers) wreck of a body. I’m blaming Sister Sledge and the Black Eyed Peas.

I’m a list girl, and I love the end of the year bests. Best songs, best books, best scandals, best movies - a totally biased review of what we’ve all been through together.

I also have my own personal lists, and right at the top of my gratitudes I place this sweet, rescued letter to Santa. I love this letter because

1) it mentions my name and invites Santa to the most happening holiday party on the Cape.

2) the letter doesn’t ask for anything. It invites the big man to stop, take a load off, enjoy some refreshments, refuel and re-energize. There might be the implication of, “…and then get the heck back out there…,” but you don’t really know. It’s all up to the reader’s interpretation (like everything in The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck).

3) nothing is more amazing than children when they start to connect the dots of written language: the misshapen letters, the mixture of capitals and smalls, the not enough room on this line, so I’ll finish on the next….

4) and how can you possibly resist the “Sincerely”? Not the gushy ass-kissing all my love, or I’ve been the best, or I can’t wait for you to get to my house; that other kids write.  Simply sincere and restrained excitement from three, very lovely, little boys.

So if lists and resolutions are not your thing, you are welcome to a few of my mine.

1) Do more entertaining: friends and family are the finishing touches of a well lived life.

2) Eliminate the expectation of receiving and concentrate on the giving.

3) Take more classes, attend more lectures, listen to more music, write more, and continue to grow.

4) Exercise restraint and focus on truth telling.

What does your list look like? Happy New Year from wavyo.com!

Husband is out doing last minute shopping; Wavyo bags packed and delivered - (Call if you need more. I will deliver!); Carols are on; Snow is falling; Soup is on (vegetarians - check); Ham is quivering and a-waiting the big heat (meat eaters - check). Merry and bright.

Last minute supply check before venturing out: tape, gingerbread house, stocking stuffers, toilet paper, foil and brush for ham….

WTF!

Emergency - holiday spirit in the crapper. Nemesis struck and I am furious. I don’t have one of those cute stocking-capped , snuggled-in-the-wall-with-a-sweet-piece-of-holiday-Gouda mice, I have a major-sadistic, a-hole of a rodent-thug who, during the night, ate my favorite (and only) pastry brush.

My goal for tonight - not a creature stirring.

Merry Christmas wavyo friends! And to you all - happier and healthier goals for the holiday!x0×0x0×0

We have the loveliest across the street neighbors. A young couple with three squirmy boys, all under the age of four.  When we have extra (couches, pies, information), we usually share with them. I’m not sure how they view us, but I see us as the old Yankee aunt and uncle a) that can’t throw anything away a like to share and b) that they can call on if they are in a bind: not to close, but comforting and available in case of emergencies.

This week Bruce and I had what I call the holiday appliance discussion. “If we buy a flat screen, we can call it our Christmas present to each other.”

“How is that a present for me if I don’t want a new tv?”

“But it’s for both of us, and you won’t have to wear your glasses when you watch it.”

Man logic/vs/woman logic, and as you can see from the photo, Santa left us an early present.

In his euphoric  Santa-heard-me-and-I-got-what-I-wanted-for-Christmas mood, Bruce generously offered our old television to our sweet neighbors. Unfortunately, he didn’t check the DVD player for the last movie watched.

In an effort to revive my waning holiday spriit, I ordered Naked Men Singing from Netflix. Yowza. Wicked fun if you like naughty musicals, but NOT a movie you share with your neighbors (especially ones with young children that like to push random buttons).

Maybe I’ll run over and tell them I need to get Bruce’s movie back….