The past weeks weren't exactly happy ones in the RenB household... just same-old, same-old. Some people don't find the season especially enjoyable. On the contrary.
Especially the christmas card from your landlord wishing you all the joy of the season and include the new rate of your rent for the coming year, because, y'know, 'tis the season. I always find that tasteless.
Have followed the US news, and that was depressing. Although I did find that Susan Rice withdrawing her name from being nominated Sec/State was a good thing. The politics behind it were reprehensible, but the truth is that woman frazzles my last nerve. For someone who has had a career in 'diplomacy', she wasn't a good scholar. Because any time I heard her in her real capacity as ambassador to the UN, I cringed. Strident, agressive to the point of belligerency, and anything BUT diplomatic. A mean sort of cowgirl, if you will.
I do not think her style would have been much appreciated in the rest of the world, in other words. So you would have thunk that the Rethugs would have embraced her with open arms. But they remain a conundrum. Learning that she had a vast sum of money invested in the keystone pipeline was only confirmation for me that she wouldn't have been a good choice.
And all the blather about the fiscal cliff... good grief, let them just jump off, it'll be better all round. If the House has effectively blocked any legislation that would have helped improve the job market like investing in infrastructure, comprimising to fix it, how can anyone expect them to do anything now? They are evil and so in denial it leaves one spitless.
As to the NRA wanting to ban video games and violence in Hollywood films... well... european kids play the same games and watch the same movies, but they don't go on rampages with AK47's.... because they can't get any. They don't get guns that easily either. I liked Ron Reagan Jr.'s idea best. It should be like getting a driver's license... you have to prove you know the laws, how it works and pass a test. That's about as sensible a thing as I've heard in a long while.
I really don't see the joy in this season... especially when the austerity programmes keep you limited to sticking to the necessities of life... like having 'something' to eat in the house.
Yesterday was the big day in my part of the world. The country that gave the world 'silent night' lives up to its' tradition. By two pm it was virtually silent all around. I listened to the classical radio station which brought an interesting two hours of Christmas music from the Middle East, some of it in Aramaic. And assyrian. Not weird if you think about it... he did come from there, after all.
And there was some Bach. Which is always very nice. Then I turned in. Yesterday was for the immediate family. Today is for the etended family. Tomorrow is for friends, and maybe taking in a movie, or doing something fun together.
And me? Well, I tend to sleep through it. We*re halfway through, and then we get to go back to hibernation for the end of year drunk spree... because the year ends and a new one begins. Will sit that one out as well, and say good riddance on Jan 2nd.
But for those of you surrounded by family and loved ones, I do hope that these days are enjoyable and without all the fucking stress of trying to be 'perfect'. Most people seem to lose perspective.
For Peter and I... well, he loved doing the traditional things, and being pensive, and having all the beautiful decorations, and so on. Sitting afternoons reading by the tree at twilight. And me attending to the cooking. We always had freinds over for a formal dinner on the 26th. And his mother's oldest friend over after the New Year to see the tree, which she loved. We only exchanged small gifts, and normally gave big presents at other times during the year. The reason being 'just because'. I really liked that arrangement.
However you spend it, I wish you inner peace and quiet and enjoyment, in the way that is most meaningful to you.
Especially the christmas card from your landlord wishing you all the joy of the season and include the new rate of your rent for the coming year, because, y'know, 'tis the season. I always find that tasteless.
Have followed the US news, and that was depressing. Although I did find that Susan Rice withdrawing her name from being nominated Sec/State was a good thing. The politics behind it were reprehensible, but the truth is that woman frazzles my last nerve. For someone who has had a career in 'diplomacy', she wasn't a good scholar. Because any time I heard her in her real capacity as ambassador to the UN, I cringed. Strident, agressive to the point of belligerency, and anything BUT diplomatic. A mean sort of cowgirl, if you will.
I do not think her style would have been much appreciated in the rest of the world, in other words. So you would have thunk that the Rethugs would have embraced her with open arms. But they remain a conundrum. Learning that she had a vast sum of money invested in the keystone pipeline was only confirmation for me that she wouldn't have been a good choice.
And all the blather about the fiscal cliff... good grief, let them just jump off, it'll be better all round. If the House has effectively blocked any legislation that would have helped improve the job market like investing in infrastructure, comprimising to fix it, how can anyone expect them to do anything now? They are evil and so in denial it leaves one spitless.
As to the NRA wanting to ban video games and violence in Hollywood films... well... european kids play the same games and watch the same movies, but they don't go on rampages with AK47's.... because they can't get any. They don't get guns that easily either. I liked Ron Reagan Jr.'s idea best. It should be like getting a driver's license... you have to prove you know the laws, how it works and pass a test. That's about as sensible a thing as I've heard in a long while.
I really don't see the joy in this season... especially when the austerity programmes keep you limited to sticking to the necessities of life... like having 'something' to eat in the house.
Yesterday was the big day in my part of the world. The country that gave the world 'silent night' lives up to its' tradition. By two pm it was virtually silent all around. I listened to the classical radio station which brought an interesting two hours of Christmas music from the Middle East, some of it in Aramaic. And assyrian. Not weird if you think about it... he did come from there, after all.
And there was some Bach. Which is always very nice. Then I turned in. Yesterday was for the immediate family. Today is for the etended family. Tomorrow is for friends, and maybe taking in a movie, or doing something fun together.
And me? Well, I tend to sleep through it. We*re halfway through, and then we get to go back to hibernation for the end of year drunk spree... because the year ends and a new one begins. Will sit that one out as well, and say good riddance on Jan 2nd.
But for those of you surrounded by family and loved ones, I do hope that these days are enjoyable and without all the fucking stress of trying to be 'perfect'. Most people seem to lose perspective.
For Peter and I... well, he loved doing the traditional things, and being pensive, and having all the beautiful decorations, and so on. Sitting afternoons reading by the tree at twilight. And me attending to the cooking. We always had freinds over for a formal dinner on the 26th. And his mother's oldest friend over after the New Year to see the tree, which she loved. We only exchanged small gifts, and normally gave big presents at other times during the year. The reason being 'just because'. I really liked that arrangement.
However you spend it, I wish you inner peace and quiet and enjoyment, in the way that is most meaningful to you.
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