Welcome back, Cattywampus

My daughter has interesting and intelligent friends- Kenny immediately springs to mind, he of the lightning quick and cutting wit- but there are others, some of whom I got to meet during the one year we shared together at Motlow College - her last year as a student there and my first year there as an instructor. One of the brightest of her friends is a fellow named Griff, who writes THREE blogs; one on beer, one about geocaching, and one that is essentially the random musings of a most original and humorous mind.

I have just reinstated a link to my favorite of his blogs, Life Among the Natives (AKA catty wampus comments), to which I became addicted during Griff (and Kelly's) old Tullahoma.net days. Kelly was Griff's editor on the college paper as well, and so he has taken to calling her Darth Kel, which tickles me no end. I must warn you that he doesn't blog there often anymore, but when he does, it's choice, so dip into his ramblings from time to time. They are worth the wait.

Before you forward any email tragedy stories, or dire warnings about polluted purses, check out the veracity of the email at Urban Legends and Folklore. I have a link to that site as well. All sorts of weird and wonderful (and sometimes gross) things on that site. I particularly enjoyed the larvae infested breast- which, by the way, is true.

I have linked to the blog of my interesting and intelligent son, but he has not blogged in some time. He has been too busy. Aside from building a garage the size of the Taj Mahal, he has been going to school and taking piano lessons, while working a full time job and supporting a wife and four daughters.

My stage maven daughter will be here the day after Christmas with another of her intelligent and interesting friends in tow. Everyone here is so pumped about their visit. I can't wait. She is currently appearing in a most bizarre San Diego production of "The Importance of Being Earnest" as Mrs., rather than Lady, Bracknell, who, in this rendition, is apparently a yenta. Go figure. It kind of reminds me of the Richard III that was being produced in a movie called "The Goodbye Girl". Richard Dreyfus was being compelled to play the lead character as a gay cross-dresser with a lisp, a portrayal sure to offend everyone and end an actor's career. Sure hope "Earnest" doesn't go in the same direction. My daughter will pull it off, of course- she is wonderfully skilled at what she does- but why tinker with a classic, especially one so completely rooted in Edwardian England, and intimately intertwined with the British railway service? Some plays are just so anchored in a point in time that it is impossible to update them, and shouldn't be tried. Only my opinion- I could be wrong.


Well, my hand surgery went well, if a bit more painful than the last one in August. I have a magnificent bruise that covers the entirety of the palm of my hand and travels four inches up my wrist and two tiny incisions in the base of my hand. I actually think I am having a harder time without the use of my left hand than I did without the use of my right- and I'm right handed! I get the stitches out the day after Christmas. Looks like it is going to be an eventful day.

My Christmas is all ready to go. All the gifts are purchased and wrapped. My daughter-in-law Becca already knows every damn thing she is getting. It is IMPOSSIBLE to keep a secret from that woman! My son got one of his gifts early, of course. He is persuasive, and I am a push-over. Everyone but Mama seems to be in the holiday mood. Maybe if we all got grumpy, she would cheer up just to be contrary. Friends have been in and out, and Dave and I will be stocking the larder tomorrow. I love Christmas. I hand made all my Christmas cards this year and sent them out in vellum envelopes far and wide. I have received Christmas cards and early gifts, and mistletoe. David has brought home an obscene amount of spirits from his friends and co-workers; that's what men do at Christmas. They buy booze for the men and jewelry for the women, and so can shop in less than two hours. I, on the other hand, have been shopping since October. Of course, I shopped for 30 people as opposed to Dave's 9, and since I wrapped his gifts for his coworkers, he only had to wrap mine. No matter. Everyone is going to have a wonderful holiday.

My club, the GFWC Centennial Woman's Club, adopted a family this year, a single mom with seven children from what had been a blended family. We provided tons of gifts for the mom and children, as well as food baskets and a gift card to Kroger worth almost $400. There never were nor could there ever be more good-hearted and generous women than the good women of the GFWC. Toys for Tots, Karing for Kids, adopting a family, knitting scarves and assembling food baskets- you want to see the true meaning of Christmas? Come to my little town.

Which will be the subject of my next blog. For now, I will close with a sincere wish of health, prosperity, love, and all God's blessings for this wonderful season and the new year.