Of late, whenever I’m approached at a red light by someone from a church organization looking for a donation to keep drugs off kids or trout-mouth slatterns out of the Senate offices or whatever, I tell them I’m an atheist. I’m not (per se), but it ends the discussion and makes me feel like I’ve ruined someone’s good time. I know. It’s horrible of me, and it’s also becoming something of a compulsion. One that I’m going to have to get control of, especially after what I did a few minutes ago.
Last night, we had snow in Austin, and my friend Ann changed her status on Facebook to something about how we should all pray for more snow, and then this happened:
It gets worse, the respondent is a kid, maybe 19. It’s like firing cannonballs at a dinghy, I know, but… eek. This is not good, and certainly not in the Christmas Spirit. I’m not moved to apologize or delete the comment, mind you. I’m more concerned about my becoming someone I wouldn’t want to hang out with.
Christmas is always a joy for me, but ever since my nephew Dominic has been old enough to rip through wrapping paper like a tornado through Kansas, it’s been that much more special. Christmas is for kids. Having a kid around makes the holiday even better. Here I have a video of Dominic and my brother looking for me during round 100 or so of “Hide & Go Seek”. I’m in my Mom’s closet (go figure…) peeking out through the crack. Notice how even though Dominic has a sword in hand, he is the first to skedaddle when I leap out yelling. Heh. Heh.
Oh, and sorry for the dark quality. I’ve put a (flashed) picture below.
“Don’t go home,” Jack said. “Spend Christmas with me.”
“We’ve just met,” I smiled.
He seemed hurt, which made me feel bad. “I can come tomorrow night. Same place.”
“Lost in the same place in my woods? Good luck with that,” he pouted.
“My parents’ place then,” I offered. “They’ll want to thank…” Jack embraced me unexpectedly and kissed me like every boyfriend I’d ever had was kissing me all at once.
My parents found me on their porch the next morning; my wrapping-paper skin blue with frost and a frozen smile like I’d gotten the best Christmas gift ever.
My friend Michelle and I hosted our second annual Christmahannakwanzaastice Charity Party for Animal Trustees of Austin this past Saturday. Our theme was “wine and cheese”. Over 30 people showed up with donations of food and litter (and a carrier!!) for ATA and the animals they care for (we provided the drinks and snackie-poos; gotta get ‘em in the door somehow!). All my cats (Zaph and M and Rose) were neutered at ATA and my dog (Hogan, seen in the picture above) had his heartworm treatment there. And Michelle’s six dogs and one cat… don’t get me started. Fun was had by all and four lucky people won door prizes – a gingerbread man kit, an ATA calendar, a bottle of wine with wine spouts, and a bottle of champagne. By the end of the night we were exhausted and way toasty, but for what a reason! Next year we’re doing “beer and shots”.
