Home Alone

Traditionally, when i lived in Ohio, my family and i would watch A Muppet Christmas Carol every Christmas Eve.  In recent years, my best friend had joined in this tradition.  i especially liked pointing out Ebenezer's former lover Belle's flaring nostrils during her solo, "The Love is Gone."  i did this without fail... every year. 
This year marked my first Christmas as a resident of anywhere other than Ohio--South Carolina.  i have no  blood relatives here (although i do consider my spectacular in-laws to be family!), any friendships that i've built here are still painfully new... and i was a little worried about my first Christmas away from my mom.  However, the OCD tendencies i've always had during the holidays made for good distractions from all of this.  i enjoyed Christmas shopping and crafting very much.  i love wrapping presents, and i REALLY love arranging presents under the tree (or, in our case, the clock.  The tree is up on a little end table and out of the way of a certain furry creature).  In fact, whenever more gifts would appear near the clock, i took it upon myself to rearrange them, ensuring the finest display possible.  i love it. 
Well, since i don't actually own A Muppet Christmas Carol, i watched the Home Alone movies instead.  i mean that i watched Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.  i don't consider it a Home Alone movie unless Macaulay Culkin, Daniel Stern and Joe Pesci are in it.  Upon watching them, i discovered many things about these movies.  Here i go:
1.  i think i really started liking Christmas music because of these movies.  i know for sure that the first time i heard "O Holy Night" was when i first saw Home Alone.  i was very young, but i still remember it giving me goosebumps.  Props to the music in Home Alone.  It is absolutely spot-on and set the mood for both movies.
2. i used to watch these movies and think some of the obstacles the thieves faced were more painful or dangerous than others.  i think i vaguely remember thinking that the whole scene where Kevin is throwing bricks at them from the top of a New York apartment building was pretty boring and not much of a threat.  Now, however, i look at that scene and think, Yeah, that would kill Marv.  Don't get me wrong... i totally LOVE these movies and appreciate that they are not gory and stuff, but realistic they are not!
3. The one thing i don't really like about these movies is the notion that one good deed cancels out a bad deed.  It's not a Biblical principle, and i'm sure Perry Noble could have a whole sermon on it.  The pigeon woman has good intentions, but i think she is misinformed.  And if you don't believe me, think about that one person who said something that really hurt your feelings.  i remember when someone says something negative to me much better than i remember compliments.  Maybe that's just me.
5.  If i were into this kind of thing, i think the first two Home Alone movies could be fantastic drinking games.  Take a shot whenever Kevin screams.  Or whenever his mom or Harry or Marv screams.  Or whenever anyone screams.  i don't know if you realize it, but a lot of screaming goes on in these movies.  If i opened a door and suddenly found my head on fire (twice) i'd scream, too. 

Well, it's back to work tomorrow.  i don't know that i could bear to go back if i didn't know i'd be off again after two days.  i like my job, but going back to my regular schedule isn't going to be fun after this blessed break! 

Christmas crafts

Ok, so i remember a time when "home-made" meant lame to me.  i remember an episode of Friends in which Chandler and Monica are supposed to make each other Valentine's Day gifts and neither of them can come up with anything.  And now i look back and go, huh?


Give me some material and i will whip something up.  i love to embroider, sew, crochet, and quilt.  i like making jewelry.  i like to upcycle clothes.  i like working in collage. 

This year i wanted to do a completely handmade Christmas.  i wanted to try out some new jewelry making for my sister, some scarves or little bags, soaps, homemade pretzels and candles and embroidered handkerchiefs... but i didn't really think of the fact that i now live in the South and have hardly noticed Winter coming on.  Needless to say, the idea got away from me. Maybe next year?