Artsy-Crafty Edition

I assume nobody got run over at the shopping mall this weekend?  Good!

The season has officially sprung, and once again, I'm refusing to participate in total consumer madness.  Whatever the hot items are, I know nothing of them.  The sibs and cousins and I are holding strong on the family no-gift truce for the family holiday party (exceptions for under-18; minor cheating allowed for sneakily gift-carding young adult kids).  Nothing big, even among us chez nous.

But, I'm feeling festive!  And artsy -- a painting from an unbloggable provenance finally reached me after an unbloggable delay.  It was a humbling gift of the heart; a complete affirmation of the belief that something special rests in each one of us, and all we need to do is support the impulse and share the joy.

So, shopped the local arts store on Flack Briday, and discovered that the artist on duty is also a historian, whose day job is teaching community college classes (but his art photos are all about the western US); and a local art show, where it turned out that a colleague (married to an artist) was playing mandolin in the background at the opening party, and the organizing artist went to law school with another colleague.  Serendipity, no?  

All this sent me to the fabric store with an overwhelming burst of craftiness.  Santa always has stockings for everybody visiting on Christmas day, and I have a burning need to create new stockings.  Out of felt, the most forgivable of materials.  I bought 1/4 yard (72" wide) in 12 colors -- plenty for extra stockings to donate + decorative extras (trees; snowflakes; whatevah) -- the raw materials set me back a whopping $8.29, plus thread and tax.  And some other optional whatzits.  Just saying -- a little heart need not cost much or be hard to do.

I'm also behind, behind on some work thing.  gah.

What's the good, the bad, and the ugly for you?

Thankful Awards Show

First, a parade in the streets of New York! With giant balloons! And cheerleaders! Because kathy a. is seven weeks smoke free! Hooray for you!!

Sue is rocking the great ideas this week: slothing about, getting a bit of fresh air, husbands who shoe-shop, and best of all...earning her the Mullet..."Spouse-Be-Gone!!! Just spray liberally around the kitchen and those pesky helpers will be gone in no time."

Hugs to everyone who is missing someone special this holiday season, anyone dealing with sick kids or annoying relatives, and vertigo sufferers.

Hooray for found diamonds, relief of spousal stress, and leftover stuffing (my Southern self says "dressing," but whatever).

Apologies for the brevity of the awards ceremony, hugs to anyone who feels left out, and a round of thanksgiving for such good friends. Come back next week...er...tomorrow, probably, for more whining with kathy a.

Things For Which We Are NOT Thankful

Note: We U.S. pixies are counting on our Canadian counterparts to give us a bit of perspective and (probably several) reality checks this week. Thank you for your support.

I figure whining is the anti-Thanksgiving, so let's embrace it!

I am unthankful for:
* nap-skipping
* snotty noses
* inconveniently-scheduled weddings
* dressing (aka stuffing) that does not taste like my grandmother's
* tantrums (by me or anyone else around here)
* people firing rockets or other ammunition at other people and their children
* holiday shopping, and the advertising machine. I have things I need to shop for, and time to do it this week but don't want to get caught in the madness. Sigh.
* shoe shopping (for me or other parties)


On the other hand, I am immensely thankful for whining and the Wednesday whining pixie community.

Slow Awards

Cake for everyone!

Go ahead, have the big piece! 

What with one thing and another, your host has proven to be the kind of unreliable individual who bakes a birthday cake (the one in the photo is much prettier than the current cake) instead of attending to important ceremonies here at Whine Central.  On the other hand, cake!

By acclimation, the fabulous Debangel wins the coveted Elevated Risk of Mullet Award, for her bold decision to answer all of the pop quiz questions!  Brava!  We are particularly taken with the idea of a turtle flash mob, which should totally be a permanently featured video of this particular organization.  

Sue wins the Superhero Alias Award for Scrambled. Mystery. Purple.

Sarah wins the Ick on the Sick Award, for strep with no symptoms but congestion.   A medical mystery.  Kudos to Esperanza for advice. 

The Workplace Tech Fail of the Week Award goes to Sarah's boss, who has idiosyncratically decided to use Hotmail instead of the Official Email, and the hotmail account decided that everything from the office was spam.  Coooool!

Liz, she is not Mystery Mommy for nothing.  In addition to her considerable mad doorbell skillz.  :)

The Enlightened Response Award goes to Esperanza, who says:  "The last question is scaring me, so I refuse to answer."   

Esperanza's Sweet Baboo wins the Cowgirl Award, and an honorary position with the Posse, following a little horsy acting up at the lesson:  "Sweet is a genuine cowgirl, held on through the whole bit, and didn't even cry. She admitted later that she was scared, but was happy to get back on the horse. She is a tough cookie."

Much love and get-well thoughts to Miranda,  who was laid low in the fancy-ass hospital.  We are sure it is a lovely hospital, but we need you to be feeling better ASAP.  xoxoxo

Please join us next week, when the delightful Esperanza will host the turkey-related festivities!

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ETA:  OMG.  Of course there is a turtle flash mob video.  Actually, more than one.

Quick picks

Which do you prefer?  Discuss those that catch your eye -- and feel free to suggest additional choices!

Bonus points for whines and antiwhines addressing one or more theme.  We expect strong competition in the Mullet division this week. 


Maxwell Smart or James Bond
pig or cow
scrambled, fried, or poached
gelato or fro-yo
Mystery, non-fiction, or Sci-Fi
purple, green, or orange
chocolate mint or apple cinammon
bathroom flood or kitchen disaster
cat or dog
mountains or ocean
morning or night
spring or fall
robocalls or attempting to reach customer service
coffee or tea
white glue or rubber cement
cloth bandaids or cute bandaids
short or long
turtle or hare
flash-mob or parade
comedy or drama
comic section or sports section
science museum or art museum
potty training or driver's training

And the times, they are a-changing...

Apologies for running late again with the prizes.  We still have some Halloween candy (even some chocolate!), and I just saw some home-made pumpkin cream cheese frozen yogurt that I think we'd better taste-test, for the greater good of humanity.

The long ordeal is over at last.  Congratulations to all who participated!  We won't be doing a full postmortem here, but I'm not the only one who is very very pleased that so many strong women were elected to this and that. And, what a night for LGBT rights!

The Doorbell Queen Award goes, of course to Liz the Unstoppable, beating the pavement for what she believes.  This prize includes a courtesy pedicure and massage, and some brand new walking shoes for next season.

Future Voters of America Awards for Muffin Man, who helped Mama at the polling place, Miranda's kids, who discussed how important the election is and projected results, and every other kid who went to the polls with the parents, talked about issues and candidates, or otherwise paid attention.  Yay!  And yay for first time voters, and all voters! 

Rounding out our election coverage, Liz wins the coveted Elevated Risk of Mullet Award for observing, "the Midwest Rape Caucus lost --- big time."

But other things happened this week, too!

First of all, Congratulations to Esperanza's Sweet Baboo, who finally got her cast off!   

The Rock On With Your Bad Self Award goes to Sue, whose effort to protect a friend from injury was met with bad spirits.  She should know that you, of all people, mean only to help keep her body safe and strong.  (Hat tip to Liz, for the prize nomination.)

The Kids Say the Darndest Things Award goes to Debangel's Ari: "The other day, she was sitting at the kitchen table and passed gas rather heartily. She got a huge grin on her face and proudly announced, 'I fart! I fart LIKE DADDY!' ROFL"

The Addition to the Lexicon Award also goes to Sue, for invoking the "Pixie cone of silence" -- a promise that what's said here remains secret.  Congratulations to Debangel for the secret, an impending new sister-in-law!

The Cluestick Posse is saddled up.  Recipients include but are not limited to:  the jerk[s] messing with Miranda about unbloggable things;  the person/thing that made Sarah angry at night, also unbloggable;  Geriatric Barbie; and Liz' former friend, who is now lying about Liz' beloved -- that one calls for a double visit.

Best to all who are suffering from crankiness, boredom, tonsillitis and other medical maladies, excessive visits by Aunt Flo, sweeties who need medical procedures, the cold, and/or other afflictions.

Thanks for playing, and see you next week!

Let's Do the Time Change Again

The true seasonal whine has been lost amidst all the electoral angst and prognosticating, but I hate with a burning passion the fall switch to non-daylight-savings-time.  Pretty soon, it will be dark here around 5 p.m., and that makes me grumpy and sad.  Harrrumph.  (Although I have got nothing, compared to those Pixies located more northerly....)

So, let's return to the other big events of the week and/or season.  First in our hearts are those affected by Sandy the Menace.  Please share news affecting you and yours, and any tips on relieving the suffering of those afflicted and affected.  

Next, that thing that is ALMOST FINALLY OVER (hat tip to Miranda).  In a decent world, there would not be several straight years of insanity surrounding an election.  And yet, this one is important to many of us.  So, here are my 2 cents; please add yours.

* VOTE!  Protect the ability to vote.  Celebrate voting!  Remember, you can't complain if you didn't vote.

*  You can't vote responsibly without finding out about the things you are voting on -- right down to those ballot measures and local contests.  With the right, comes the responsibility.  Pass it on.

*  Care for one another.  That is the basic obligation of living in a society. 

*  Listen. People do have different points of view.  (Caveat:  "you're stupid" is not a reasoned argument, even if it is said loudly and often.) 

 I'm thinking we need to be passing the comfort food for the duration.  Suggestions welcome!

What's it like over your way?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ETA:  Red Cross donations -- where to send what you can.  This won't be over soon for a good many people.

Awards of FINALLY IT IS ALMOST OVER

Due to a convergence of deadlines and parenting duties, I have been away from my computer.  Here are some heartfelt, yet brief awards for all.

- Earplugs to unhear all political activity between now and Tuesday.
- TLC and more baby limas for Kathy A's knee.  Ouch!
- Many thoughts to Debangel's friends in her hometown.
- Lots of hydrogen peroxide and chocolate for our pre-Big M pixie friends, Liz and Debangel
- Flying points for Sue's dad so he can come visit.  Alone.

Thinking of all of you this week.  May it be quiet on the political front Wednesday!  Stay tuned for Kathy A who is our hostess with the mostest next week.