Christmas Decorations

“Tis the season to be jolly, fa, la, la, la, la, fa, la, la, la…”

 

If this is the case, then why are there so many angry people around at the moment?  It seems as though everywhere I go, I see scowling faces, twisted and scrooge-like, united in their anger.  It disappoints me and makes me feel a little sad.  Like a lot of creative people, or so I’m told, I am a bit empathic and sometimes find myself affected by the way other around are behaving.  But I refuse to let this get to me.  I am going to be jolly, dammit all.

 

***

Aren’t internal dialogues funny things?  I don’t know about anyone else, but sometimes I find I talk to myself like I’m hosting a television show in my head.  Most of the time, it is while I’m cooking, so I’m hosting my own cooking show.  What concerns me more than this habit is that I seem to know these shows so well that I can copy them.  Do I watch that much food television?  I guess the answer is yes.  

 

***

We’re planning on a very quiet Christmas day this year.  We are actually looking forward to pleasing ourselves on the day, something we don’t often get to do usually because we’re elsewhere and are constrained by the schedules of whomever we’re staying with at the time.  There is nothing wrong about this but it is nice to be planning a Christmas just for us, for a change.  

 

I’m going to make up a big batch of our favourite cocktail, while Toni is going to make Gravlax, a lovely salmon dish we have been having at Christmas for the last few years.  You might say this has become one of our family traditions.  Last year, we had turkey and all the trimmings for lunch but this year, we’re going to have duck instead.  Toni has sourced a great organic bird for us, along with ham and we’re planning on having salad from our own garden.  All this talk of food is making me hungry :LOL:

 

***

On the music front, we’ve had some good news lately.  A number of songs we recorded a couple of years ago have been used by Fuel Television Australia in a number of productions.  The production company also plans on using some of our music in further productions to be aired on commercial television next year.  I don’t know whether this will mean anything but we’re pretty excited about it regardless.

 

The same production company is also looking for incidental music for other productions.  I’ve got so many pieces recorded that I’m planning on going through and picking out a few for them to use.  Again, I’m not sure what this will mean for me, but it is nice to know music I’ve written is going to have some use, even if it doesn’t make me any money.

 

***

While we’ve got a lot of rain here lately, we’ve also had really strong winds.  Being right on the coast means we do get a lot more windy weather and our back garden is pretty exposed to these conditions.  While I don’t particularly mind this, especially when it is hot, our poor garden has not been so lucky.  We haven’t had too many warm still days in a row. 

 

Our first lot of tomatoes haven’t had much of a chance to ripen before being hit by white moths.  I don’t mind them taking a few, but they really gave our bushes a going over this year.  We’ve taken a whole lot of green tomatoes off so looks like we’re going to have plenty of green tomato chutney. 

 

Our corn and beans aren’t doing so well.  We’re still learning about the best spots to plant different vegetables.  Some seem to tolerate the wind quite well while other crops hate it.  We’ve just pulled the first lot of spring lettuce and are preparing to plant the next lot.  We still have quite a bit of spinach and lettuce to use, as well as squash, cucumber and beans.

 

***

Finally, I would like to wish everyone, particularly my friends here, all the best for the holiday season.  I am having a couple of weeks holiday over the Christmas period and don’t know if I will be online that much.  But thanks to everyone for their friendship and support throughout the year.  I look forward to furthering our friendships in the new year and beyond.

 

Peace to all.

11,802 views 19 replies
Reply #1 Top

Aren’t internal dialogues funny things?
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Mine get a bit distracting at times...especially if I'm studying (like I should be right now :P ).  I just kinda wonder off in my own head... :dur:

The production company also plans on using some of our music in further productions to be aired on commercial television next year.
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Ah, nice! :)

We haven’t had too many warm still days in a row.
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What a coincidence!  Neither have we. ;)

I look forward to furthering our friendships in the new year and beyond.
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Back at ya, mate!

~Zoo

Reply #2 Top

Hey Zoo, thanks for the comments, mate.  

I don't mind my internal diaglogues, for the most part, as these are a great way for me to develop ideas for writing.  But the cooking show dialogues are just weird, I think. 

What a coincidence!  Neither have we.
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:LOL:  I wonder why.

Now, get back to those books! :D

Reply #3 Top

I'd like to go to your place for Christmas!

 

Except I don't want to interrupt your two-togetherness and my brother is finally coming to visit me in Japan after living here for 11 or so years.

 

Internal dialogues are great except when you verbalize them without intending to in front of other people.

Good job with the garden.  I did some cherry tomatoes in a planter box on my balcony. They were ok, but tough skinned.  I had one cucumber from three plants and my pepper plants were fabulous.

I'm torn about decorating for Christmas.  A few people do it, but there aren't a lot of options for gear and though we moved into a house I don't want to store stuff like that.  Living in a tiny apartment has made me really conscious of storage space.

 

I will try to have Christmas cheer and spread it around.

 

I hope your holidays are wonderful and safe.

Reply #4 Top

Now, get back to those books!
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Did that, did that...now it smells like bacon here...but it's only my brain frying. X|

I love biology, but damned if it isn't a huge pain in the ass to study for.

~Zoo

Reply #5 Top

I'd like to go to your place for Christmas!
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You'd be more than welcome, too. :)  I hope you enjoy your brother's visit.  While we're looking forward to a quiet time, it is always nice to be around family at this time of the year.  One of my brothers and his family will be coming to stay with us between Christmas and New Year, which will be fun.

Internal dialogues are great except when you verbalize them without intending to in front of other people.
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:LOL: Yes, I know what you mean.  I try to save my dialogues for when I'm alone, but sometimes it slips out,  particularly when I'm being creative. 

Our cherry tomatoes are just coming on now.  We've got about a dozen other tomato seedlings ready to go as well.  Hopefully, the weather will settle down and we'll get some good ripe ones out of the next crop.  Otherwise we're going to have so much green tomato chutney, we'll have to give it away.

We've decorated quite simply.  We have a couple of small fake trees and a few tinsel decorations in our lounge room as well as a lovely hand-made wreath on our front door.  I like to think we're being tasteful.

Thanks for your wishes and I hope you and yours have a good time over the season.

Reply #6 Top

now it smells like bacon here
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Hmm, bacon, is there anything it can't do?  :LOL:

Reply #7 Top

Merry Christmas Maso...sounds like you have a nice peaceful one all lined up.  Enjoy it.

I don't know if it's possible...but if there is one way the wind typically blows into the yard....like from the east, could you possibly put up a trellis and grow ivy or some sort of climbing vine for a natural wind shield?  Or possibly even used bushes to hedge the garden in as a wind buffer.

Just a thought.

Have a great New Year...and I hope your music does well in 2009!  (Isn't that the way of things?  Just when you decide to move on, someone comes along and makes you think maybe you should re-think the whole move on thing...heh.)

Reply #8 Top

Hmm, bacon, is there anything it can't do?
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If it could make me ace all my exams with ease, then I'd be frying some up right now. :P

~Zoo

Reply #9 Top

I wish you and your honey a very cozy and Merry Christmas.

Congratulations on the music. You are learning so much from your garden. Just think this is practice for your real garden in your future home.

 I am a bit empathic and sometimes find myself affected by the way other around are behaving. 
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This is starting to happen to me more and more. It's no good. Unless they are the happiest people on earth. :w00t:

Reply #10 Top

along with ham
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At times like these, I am so glad I am not Jewish!

Hmmmm!  Hammmmm! ;)

Have a great Christmas!  And the best of New Years.

Reply #11 Top

Tova,

You know, I am thinking along the same line as you, but thanks for your idea anyway.  Personally, I would like to put up a hard wall of some sort but the ivy option is a really good one.

Just when you decide to move on, someone comes along and makes you think maybe you should re-think the whole move on thing
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Yes, isn't it always the way indeed.  Ideally, the music will become very popular and make me lots of money so Toni and I can retire to the tropics.  Keep your fingers crossed for me :)

Zoo,

I'd be frying some up right now
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:LOL:  What the hey, fry some up anyway.  At least you'll have a tasty treat while you study.

Kelly,

You are learning so much from your garden. Just think this is practice for your real garden in your future home.
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This is exactly how we're looking at what we're doing now.  It is only going to help us in the future.  We'll have the best garden then.

This is starting to happen to me more and more. It's no good. Unless they are the happiest people on earth.
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I know what you mean.  I really try hard these days not to let the nastiness in others affect me.  It can be hard sometimes, though.  I'd much prefer to be surrounded by smiling, happy people, as would most of us, I'm sure.

Doc,

I am so glad I am not Jewish
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Oh, so am I.  I can get by without lots of things, but I love my pork products. :)

Reply #12 Top

 Sorry I'm so late to the party, Maso! Been real busy of late (Christmas approaching and work stuff and celebrating my wife's 50th birthday 'n all). It sounds like you have a lot goin' on down there! Glad to hear something's shaking on the music scene for you too! That sounds like a great Christmas present for sure! :congrat:

Reply #13 Top

Joe,

Well, they don't call it the silly season for nothing.  I'm on holidays now and while I have been working at some music, I've mainly been enjoying kicking back and relaxing.  As you say, though, finding out about our music doing good things is a great Christmas present indeed. 

Hope your wife had a wonderful 50th birthday.  Did you do anything special for her?

Reply #14 Top

Hope your wife had a wonderful 50th birthday. Did you do anything special for her?
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She did. She got quite a few cards and small gifts and a group of her oldest friends surprised her with balloons and candy and a gift certificate to her favorite restaurant. And my brother in law and I also chipped in and bought her and my sister (who happen to share the same birthday) a cake and surprised them with a small family party. It was a good day.

Reply #15 Top

Mark, good news about the music!  I hope you all get very famous from it!  You deserve your 15 mins!  It's been nippy here too, and windy, but tomorrow is supposed to be nice and hot!  I'm leaving to pick up my brother from the airport and my nephew in a few.  BTW, the mailman brought me a nice surpise in the mail today! 

I hope you and Toni have a really wonderful Christmas day! Enjoy your holidays!

Reply #16 Top

P.S. My youngest turns 18 on Christmas day!

Reply #17 Top

Roy, I'm glad your wife had a nice birthday and you all enjoyed yourselves.  And congrats to your son for his 18th birthday.  Soon it will be just you and your wife.

Serenity, thanks very much.  At the very least, I hope I make some decent money out of the music we're putting out there.  It would be nice. 

Thanks for the Christmas card and the lovely sentiment too.  I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year with your family.

Reply #18 Top

I used to have my own TV show running in my head and then I got a blog, hehe...you are right I have made a person upset already with my blog.  I am glad others can enjoy the REAL world...

Reply #19 Top

I am glad others can enjoy the REAL world...
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I know what you mean.  I wish some people would lighten up and realise we are all free to live our lives as we choose, within the confines of our societal regulations, of course.  I don't like the preachy, holier-than-thou attitudes some have here.  If they don't like what we write, then they don't have to read it.  I honestly think there are some who want to provoke others with asshole attitudes.  Don't let them get to you.