A line from my teenagers’ childhood just popped in my head as I struggle to think of how to start this blog. “Just say no”. However, something keeps me from using this phase on the “blog pusher”. Could I secretly want to do this? Things keep happening reminding me of reasons why I should not embrace it. The latest happened tonight when I began the procedure of starting the grill. A little background here: we possess only a Weber grill; the kind that you put charcoal in and then figure out how to start without any mechanical, (a switch) or chemical (charcoal fluid) help. It is all we ever have had and probably all we ever will have. We have the means to purchase a gas grill but it is not going to happen. Many reasons exist why but at the moment I can only think of one. It is all Fred (my father) ever had. We have, though, extravagantly purchased a coal chimney that assist in starting the coals (Fred had one too). I think you can purchase them at your favorite discount store (I’ll save the push for the “you-know-where “ till later) for about $10.00. Anyway, how this chimney works is that you put coals in the top part and newspaper in the bottom part; two and ½ pages of newspaper to be precise, and that is what almost stopped me from writing a blog. It took me 10 minutes to decide which part of today’s paper to part with and it was a Sunday paper. You see, I don’t ever take the time to read the paper, but in trying to decide what part to use I kept finding articles I would like to read if I had a few minutes. I would love to find time to read the newspaper but it does seem that whenever I do actually read it, it never fails to put a crimp into my happy-go-lucky day. Today, for instance, I read an article of a homeless woman that died on Christmas day. That in itself depressed me, but what really bothered me was a paragraph that came immediately after the paragraph where her mother talks about how beautiful her daughter was (she was in several hometown pageants growing up, she had beautiful brown eyes, long eyelashes) ….right after that the paper felt compelled to tell us that “a series of mug shots….over four years showed her deteriorating appearance.” Now why would they feel the need to write that? What possible added value did it give the reader? Was it suppose to make us feel better that a beauty queen did not pass away. Ugg. So…I will write instead of read. And I will read my siblings blogs, now that’s entertaining and informative and usually not too depressing. I will, I will give blogging a shot.
My oldest daughter just read what I wrote, her comment—“kind of scattered, Mom, but I guess that is what you are.” So, now you are forewarned, I am scattered. Those, or more precisely, the one who wanted me to write this so bad may be sorry. But, however painful it may be, you, (and you know who you are) must read every last word.
By now I am sure you are on the edge of your seat wondering what I am going to blog about. Well before I get to that let me set this up. You have learned (those who are reading this and know me learned nothing here) that I am scattered. So here’s another thing about me. I like to buy things. Whew, I said it, I admitted it. The first step to recovery, right? No, I am not going to blog about overcoming my purchasing addiction (someone has to help this economy). Remember, I am setting this up. Where Bill, my brother with the Custom Crafted Violins blog, has confessed his inheritance of large sums of money from our parents, I on the other hand only inherited my mother’s gift to spend. Oh, I also got tons of valuable items (my siblings had no idea of the warehouse full of antiques my parents left me, surely worth well over $600,000) but that is beside the point. We are getting closer to the point. Now one of my greatest purchasing weaknesses is Christmas decorations. I looooovvvve Christmas decorations. They adorn practically every inch of my common living area. I love the color red and fortunately it goes quite well with my year round décor. A huge problem lies with this, uh-addiction-- time. I spend lots and lots of time putting up and taking down these decorations. Usually, they are not all up until the second week in December and if I get them down before Feb. 1st, it is a miracle (that is just the “Christmas” decorations, snowmen stay up until March.) This year I felt a need for an incentive to get them down quicker (getting really close now to the point, sort of). I decided I would not officially (this is just the unofficial start) start my blog until they were all (except one item, The Advent Box) down. Thus, the name of my blog--- “Everything is put away but the Advent Box”.
Now, I am sorry, but, I must back up, just a bit. Once upon a Christmas shopping expedition with my husband, I found this really cool Advent Box. I have included a picture but I have to describe it a little. It is 18” by….well the size doesn’t really matter, other than that small presents can go in each door. The first year after purchasing the box, my husband took it upon himself to fill it, or at least the presents for me. He decided we (the three girls in the household) would take turns opening a day. The man even typed and printed a schedule. Oh, it was so much fun. I got lots of cool earrings that year (really the only things that would fit in the holes, but that was good, earrings are a very close second to Christmas decorations in my material world). Anyway, the piece is well handsome, not junky, sturdy, classic maybe. Other than the numbers on the door, it could really stay up all year. So…that is precisely what I intend to do, keep it up all year. But why? Well, the problem with packing it away is that by the time I have found it again the next year it is usually well after the first of December when we should start opening the doors. Thus, after the first year we had it, the slots were never filled again. So if I keep it out than it will be ready to fill when the time is right. (Did I just hear someone out there say “oh my gosh, get a life”? Oh believe me it is only going to get worse.) So I am leaving it up, in my room, by my bed and do I have an idea of what to do with it. (Oh, I can almost smell what I am going to blog about, it is that close. But first….) Along with my mind, my house shares my scattered disposition. Let’s just say my whole life lacks organization. I am not sure I have a reason for it but I have managed to justify it. I have a friend that whenever she goes on a trip she wants her house in order so that if something should happen to her the people who would come in to do whatever people do when something happens to someone won’t be too burdened. I, on the other hand have it all figured out. I think that God would never let something happen to me because he would never be so cruel to the people that would have to do that thing that they have to do if something were to happen to me. So as long as my house has chaos, I travel in peace. However, a person can live with only so much disorganization, so…THIS IS MY BLOG PLAN: I have numerous things that I would like to do to organize my life. Maybe organize is too strong. Let me just say there are things I have been-- putting off. Some are very quick fixes, some, a more a little more complex. I have written out 25 things (for a start) that I would like to “get done”. Hmm 25, that’s a familiar number. I believe that is just how many doors that are in my advent box. Now I would love to wrap this up and tell you the entire “plan” but…first, I must put away my Christmas decorations, all but of course the Advent Box. And then the “official” blogging might begin.
Nico and Grand "Jane" 
Nico and his Aunties
