No Thanks on the Figgy Pudding — whatever it is.
Just popping in with a short note to say Happy Christmas.
I feel like a heel because I did not send out all the Christmas cards I wanted. In particular, I missed all of my favorite blogging friends. And now every time a card comes in from one of them, I feel like a dolt. Anyways, I’m going to (try and) post the family video that Ryann put together within the next couple of days. She did a great job on it. I don’t really know what dolt means. I hope I used it right.
In other news, I’ve not blogged for a while on account of several things. I’ve been sick – and whatever I have will *not* go away. I’ve also been reading a lot. I’m going thru The Tyranny of the Status Quo by Milton Friedman (everybody in America ought to read that book), America’s Gilded Age: Intimate Portraits from an Era of Extravagance and Change, 1850-1890 by Milton Rugoff (which is a biography of 35 different lives from the second half of the 19th century — superb), Future Grace, by John Piper (another book that everybody in America ought to read) and then I’ve started a new 1800s author, Thomas Hardy, that I am having a hard time ‘getting’.
I wish I could live in a library.
Lastly, Jess suggested that we come up with three resolutions for the New Year. She’s cute like that. I sent her my resolutions but I was only joking around to make her laugh (Jess, don’t you dare even make hints about what I said!). But seriously, I think if I do make a resolution, it will be to blog less and to make a more concentrated effort in making and investing more time into my IRL friendships. I have an inordinate compulsion to be very hermit-ish. I hate phones (hate them), and I’m not good at getting together with friends (even those whom I totally love). The internet is just so easy, you know what I mean? But I really am a bad IRL friend, so I think I ought to maybe work on that.
Anyways, I am keeping this short. I should be sleeping right now, but holy mozers, you should hear how loud Geoff the Great is snoring. It’s utterly beyond anything human sounding. Seriously… why can’t anybody in this great age of knowledge and progress find a simple remedy for snoring?
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December 24th, 2008 - Posted in Uncategorized | | 27 Comments 27 Responses to ' No Thanks on the Figgy Pudding — whatever it is. 'Leave a reply |
on December 24th, 2008 at 2:06 am
Hey Jen,
Just a quick comment to say that the link you made to Piper’s Future Grace is sad. I mean really, really, sad. I think you want to use http://www.desiringgod.org/Store/Books/62_Future_Grace/ as the link instead.
Also, you’re not the only one behind on Christmas cards. I have a pile sitting on my husband’s desk and I even have a stack of family photos somewhere, but life kind of fell apart before and after the big Christmas party. I think I can pick up the pieces and you all might get a card before the next big card event, Valentine’s Day.
on December 24th, 2008 at 5:28 am
If it makes you feel any better, I haven’t sent out Christmas cards since oh, 2002 or so? I do it (or don’t do it, rather) for several reasons: 1) save time 2) save money (on cards and postage) 3) prevent people from feeling like THEY now have to send ME one (isn’t it lovely getting a card in like mid-January from somebody you sent a card to? It’s so obvious they got it and went, oh NO, I need to send her a card! Why stress them out?) 4) saves paper (for cards and envelopes) 5) did I mention that it saves time, money, paper, and guilt trips on my friends?
Plain and simple, the first year it was because a certain someone overspent wellll beyond the budget I’d come up with and there wasn’t anything left over for groceries, let alone cards or postage. (He had a huge family, the postage alone would’ve been insane.) Plus he expected ME to write up all the cards – with a toddler who needed to her Mommy.
From then on I just chose to keep it going. It’s my personal holiday tradition, I suppose. Now I send cards to a very, very limited group of people: my grandparents (hey, they are in their mid-late ’80s – I think they deserve a card), my parents (sometimes – some years we agree to not worry about it), my in-laws (by proxy – only cuz Husband 2.0 feels he has to do it), my “German family” (when I think of it – we do boxes for each other and that usually takes precedence; they do the same thing where sometimes there’s a card, sometimes there isn’t)…. hmm, I think that’s about it, frankly.
Feel free to borrow my philosophy. Be green, be guilt free. 😉 It’ll make you feel all warm and fuzzy when you tell people, oh no no, please save your time, energy, and trees. I won’t send you a card, you don’t send me one. Just pop by my blog for a rousing MERRY CHRISTMAS to all message.
Tho that might affect the whole “friends IRL” thing, having them come to your blog. Ah well, you’ll still be less guilt ridden. I promise.
Would I lie to YOU????
(OH – btw – HUGS to all Igs and to all a Merry, Merry Christmas.)
on December 24th, 2008 at 6:26 am
oh GOODIE! I love that new year’s resolution. Are you *still* sick? Creepers. We are praying for you all to feel better soon.
See ya soon.
Merry Holidays.
~Annemarie
on December 24th, 2008 at 9:43 am
Julie… fixed it
Melonie… you are BRILLIANT
Annemarie… yes I’m still sick. You should see the headache I have
on December 24th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Well, I hope you don’t blog TOO much less … your blog is really a blessing to me, and I’m sure to others, and some of us don’t have the option of seeing you often! Your description of yourself made me snicker, I also have hermitish tendencies and a passionate dislike of the phone. I also suspect that I’m lazy. But I do love my friends and family and want to make the most of my relationships with them.
on December 24th, 2008 at 11:53 am
Merry Christmas Jen. You have been a blessing to me over the last few years. Yikes, has it been that long. Crazy! Also, snoring can be a sign of sleep apnea. It’s not good to continue to live with sleep apnea without a breathing (c-pap) machine. It’s hard on the heart and brain. Just ask yourself if hubby stops short in snoring and kind of gasps, or is easily awakened at night. If so you might want to check it out. If not, then get ear plugs! LOL
Susan
on December 24th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
“I wish I could live in a library” May I keep you company there?
The IRL friendships are a lot of work, and I find that often I’m disapointed when I put out effort and they don’t. Which leads me to be more drawn to cyber friends. weird.
on December 24th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
I think it’s an epidemic this year: lack of motivation to send out Christmas cards. I ALWAYS send out a fancy schmancy Christmas letter, but didn’t this year. You know what i’m going to do? A HOLIDAY letter… wrap Christmas and New Years together and then no one cares that it’s late. That’s what you ought to do too. And I hope you DO get your DVD up on the internet because it is absolutely awesome. I LOVE it.
on December 24th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
I love your resolution but selfishly as I hope it includes us seeing more of the Igs.. that would be dandy and swell.
Sorry your still sick. Even sorrier that is around Christmas.
Joe is out your ways to see Mr Parkey today. He has heard that the time is near… I am sad thinking about it.
Merry Christmas to my Iggy friends.
We Love you guys!!
Maria
on December 24th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
ps – I can’t get the video to work on my dvd player.. is it a computer thing? I will just have to wait for the online version : )
on December 24th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Maria, it will only play on your computer.
: )
on December 25th, 2008 at 12:13 am
I finally got my Christmas cards out, but not near as many as I usually do. The postage alone will almost kill you, so don’t feel bad. Besides, it’s a lot more fun to read your blog than a card. 🙂
Hugs,
Amanda
on December 25th, 2008 at 2:27 am
MERRY CHRISTMAS to the Igarashi family! I hope you all enjoy the day together tomorrow (as it’s still Christmas Eve over here on the left coast for about another half hour-ish).
I haven’t sent out my Christmas cards, either. I’ve determined they’ll be New Year’s cards instead and any family/friends/acquaintances should just be glad they if get one at all. 😉
So funny what you said about Geoff and snoring. It reminds me of a scene that plays out in our house whenever my dad comes to visit. He loves our cocker spaniel, Max, who — like my dad — is getting up there in years. These two will both crash on the couch in our family room, fall asleep, and commence snoring. Loudly. It’s a regular snore fest, just my dad and his granddog. I’m determined to get it on video one of these days!
Enjoy your Christmas (and get well)!
on December 26th, 2008 at 3:49 am
I think that I’m behind the times….what does IRL stand for? By the way, I love your blog, even though, I don’t ever post. It gives my sisters and I great laughs:-) etc…:-)
on December 26th, 2008 at 8:03 am
you really should love Thomas Hardy. If you don’t…well, you simply must. Read Tess of the D’Urbervilles. Makes me cry everytime. Or start with his poetry to get a feel for him before you start his novels. He is my favourite novelist. Love him.
on December 26th, 2008 at 10:30 am
Greensgirl: IRL = “in real life” : )
Barbara: that’s the book i rented, Tess. I’m only about four pages in so far. I will probably get into it as soon as i finish one of the other books i’m in. I’ll let you know what I think. : )
on December 26th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Happy Christmas to you too, Jen! I hope you do get that video up b/c vid’s of your familia always make me laugh!
on December 26th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
I’m a huge fan of the late, great Milton Friedman but I haven’t read The Tyranny of the Status Quo. Since “everyone in America” should read this book, I guess I’ll have to correct the deficiency.
I didn’t send out a single Christmas card despite having crowds of friends eminently deserving them.
on December 27th, 2008 at 7:03 am
I do know what you mean by this is so easy. We moved to the middle of nowhere about 17 months ago. We still haven’t found a church and have very few friends. It is so much easier to just relate to my blog friends and stay home.
on December 27th, 2008 at 8:17 am
There is a christian comedian named Thor Ramsey. He does an act about people who snore, you should look it up on youtube…very funny!
As I have in the past, I am stealing your idea. I have neglected some very important friendships this year and I so NEED to connect back with my dearest girlfriends…thanks for the suggestion on a resolution.
on December 27th, 2008 at 11:04 am
Gina… yep, I’ve seen him. “I am asleeeeeeeeeeep, You are noooooooooooot” He is funny, and so is Michael Jr.
: )
on December 27th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
That whole next to last paragraph is exactly where I am, too.
It’s just hard because I really do care about my cyber-buddies, so I have a hard time finding a balance. One difference, though…I kinda like the phone.
And then there’s the whole time thing on both counts… Simply put, I’m short on it. 😉
on December 27th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Ahhh…thank you! I was thinking,”internet related ?” 🙂
on December 28th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Please dont blog too much less! I LOVE reading your blogs! You crack me up! There have been times I’ve been in tears from laughing so hard! You are such a blessing! I do understand about the IRL friends though. I too am quite the hermit. However, when I am around others and try to make friends, I’m not that good at it. So, sometimes I too find it easier to be friends via the internet. I met my best friend (aside from my hubby)via the net and she too homeschools! She is great. So..I guess being a hermit isn’t all bad afterall. Hugs from up north, Jen! And Happy New Year!
on December 28th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Oh…and I HATE phones too!
on December 30th, 2008 at 2:12 am
Hey! I, too, like your new resolutions!! I hope that it includes us getting to see you and your precious family… we sure do love you guys!!:)
on December 30th, 2008 at 2:14 am
Oh….. and the snoring??? I heard that if you sew a tennis ball in the middle of the back of a pajama shirt… it is VERY prohibititve of back sleeping???????:):):):)