dual personalities

Month: December, 2012

December 4, 2012

Flyover weekend II

by chuckofish

This past weekend my best Grace girlfriends and I headed out of town for our second annual flyover roadtrip.

diet coke 2

We stayed in the same log cabin Bed and Breakfast that we visited last year. We were greeted by some old friends.

goat

The honeysuckle was blooming…on December 1!

hneysuckle

The house was decorated for Christmas and looked lovely.

stairs

We spent Saturday afternoon investigating antique malls and shops in Washington, Missouri, a nice old river town. I never laid eyes on a true antique, but I saw lots of fun vintage items and piles of junk. But that is the expectation. I found a Christmas present for the boy and lots of other things I restrained myself from buying, like these guys:

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That night we sat on the porch–it was 71-degrees–and enjoyed the sunset.

sunset

We played Scattergories and attempted to play cards, but that was so much work. In other words, we had to choose between playing cards or drinking wine. It was an easy choice for me.

scatter

On Sunday we had a wonderful breakfast

breakfast

and then went to Hermann, Missouri, another lively town on the Missouri River. We hit the Kristkindl Markt again and were as successful as last year.

sign

sleigh

It is the beginning of December and I am in good shape (spiritually and commercially) for Christmas. I will not have to go near a mall. I can now concentrate on awaiting the birth of our Lord and Savior in the season of Advent in a relatively calm state of mind. I hope this feeling lasts!

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Oh, come, our Dayspring from on high, And cheer us by your drawing nigh,
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel!

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December 3, 2012

A Monday pick-me-up

by chuckofish

wayne301

We went three and four afternoons a week, sat on folding chairs in the darkened hut which served as a theatre, and it was there, that summer of 1943 while the hot wind blew outside, that I first saw John Wayne. Saw the walk, heard the voice. Heard him tell the girl in a picture called War of the Wildcats that he would build her a house, ‘at the bend in the river where the cottonwoods grow’.
As it happened I did not grow up to be the kind of woman who is the heroine in a Western, and although the men I have known have had many virtues and have taken me to live in many places I have come to love, they have never been John Wayne, and they have never taken me to that bend in the river where the cottonwoods grow. Deep in that part of my heart where the artificial rain forever falls, that is still the line I wait to hear.

–Joan Didion, John Wayne, a Love Song

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December 2, 2012

One dual personality attempts Christmas charity

by chuckofish

but only manages ¡Feliz cumpleaños! (that’s Happy Birthday, I believe”). The community giving tree card, which I chose at random, told me to buy either a “Disney princess” or “Dora” present for a three year old girl. With visions of the dreaded “pink aisle” dancing in my head, I braved Walmart on a Saturday afternoon to find the right gift. As the mother of three boys, I had hitherto managed to avoid the unspeakably awful pepto-bismol pink aisle — let alone the pre-Christmas orgy of pink plastic.

pink aisle

The Disney Princess stuff was completely unsuitable for a three year old. Not only was it all bosomy blonds and tacky shocking pink, but every toy had lots of tiny, swallowable parts. I sought advice from women with small children and was eventually shown the (not very cute, but much more suitable) Dora dolls.

dora

“Aha!” though I. “I’m saved!” Feeling somewhat smug, I finished my shopping and went home. Imagine my chagrin when I discovered that I had purchased the “Happy Birthday” Dora doll, complete with bi-lingual singing! Oh, well, I guess a three year old won’t care, but her poor parent might be a little confused. Better luck next year…

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December 1, 2012

A little holiday cheer

by chuckofish

It’s December! Time to get out the Christmas decorations and start to panic about finding presents for everyone on your list! And what better way to kick off the season than with a vintage photo of the dual personalities enjoying some Christmas cheer?

dual personalities

And speaking of holiday cheer…in our house when I was growing up, the tipple of choice on Christmas was Harvey’s Bristol Cream or Dry Sack.

harvey's bristol creamdry_sack_-1

The bottles weren’t so fancy then, but the sherry was delicious. Once we were past the thrills of childhood, Christmas became relaxed and civilized. We got up late, had a leisurely breakfast, opened the stockings, got dressed, and eventually started on the presents, most of which came with elaborate home-made cards, including poems, quizzes, and all manner of chicanery. Shortly after noon we would take a break and open the sherry — the present opening often extended into the early afternoon. There was much hilarity, not all of it alcohol induced by any means. Perfect days.

We have maintained that tradition pretty well in my household, albeit the sherry drinking has been reserved for the adults, which now number three. And I confess, we do not always run to Harvey’s or Dry Sack but sometimes go for something more pedestrian like Taylor’s golden sherry, which is serviceable and inexpensive.

Don’t let the amount of shopping, baking, and holiday associated commercialism prevent you from enjoying a wonderful family time. When thinks get crazy, just stop, lock the doors and turn off the phones, get in some comfy clothes, put on some relaxing music, grab a civilizing tipple, and remember to enjoy yourselves (in moderation, of course!).

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