Bad Bad Blogger--For Shame!

It's not like I never have time to blog. I've actually been off work all month with a dislocated shoulder. And my arm still works. So you'd think I could type just one or two little blogs. You'd think . . . I don't know what my problem is other than I'm just a major flake, OK? Anyway, here are some things I've learned in the last month since I've written.

*When you tell your husband you're done with your Christmas shopping by Thanksgiving, and then he looks at all the purchasing that is going in the Christmas column, you know you're doing a fair amount of impulse buying. Like a month's worth. And everyone's getting WAY too much for Christmas. And you're sort of in deep doo-doo. Yeah, that's me.

*A dislocated shoulder for five days (yes, I rock) hurts like hell. Lortab is good for lessening the pain and for getting off diet coke!! Yes, I'm off it after 25 years. And I owe it all to the lovely narcotic Lortab. Bless you! You eased my pain. As of this writing, I have not had caffeine, (well, OK, I've had some chocolate) since December 1, the same day I dislocated my shoulder trying to put up decorations. And I really don't miss it. I guess it is possible to improve your health a little at a time. Any ideas on how to get off the Lortab? HA! Just kidding.

*I think we underestimate the power of a good night's sleep. I've had sleep apnea for a couple of years now and just got diagnosed last month. Now that I am getting better sleep, everything is improving in my life. Lots of sleep is a beautiful thing.

*My girls can make more money babysitting than I can working in the public schools. All they do is babysit. I'm glad they can buy their own Christmas gifts since I've already exhausted that department. I'm proud of them for being good babysitters. Oh, and by the way, I used to make $1 an hour babysitting. And the kids I babysat were ROTTEN TO THE CORE! My mother made 25 cents an hour. And my daughters make wads of cash. Not fair that in one generation babysitting inflation has gone up 100 percent! My grandmother would tell me that life's just not fair, and that I shouldn't complain. She probably made 5 cents an hour! And she was probably just fine with that. Oh, the injustice of it all!

* My Christmas tree is gorgeous. It makes me happy. I will rip it down and trample it in another week, but for right now, it's just lovely.

I am loving reading A Christmas Carol. The language the message, the lessons are all so inspiring this time of year. I would like to take this opportunity to quote a passage that I find particulary moving. Scrooge and the ghost Marley are discussing Marley's demise because of his negligence of his "fellow-beings" AND Scrooge's imminent demise if he doesn't change his ways:

"But you were always a good man in business, Jacob," faltered Scrogge, who now began to apply this to himself.

"Business!" cried the Ghost, wringing his hands again. "Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!"

It held up its chain at arm's length, as if that were the cause of all its unavailing grief, and flung it heavily upon the ground.

"At this time of the rolling year," the spectre said, "I suffer most. Why did I walk through the crowds of fellow-beings with my eyes turned down, and never raise them to that blessed Star which led the Wise Men to a poor abode? Were there no poor homes to which its light would have conducted me?"

Have a Merry Christmas, and may we all remember to be concerned with our "fellow-beings" who are in need every day.