Hear Me in the Harmony

“I’ll come to your birthday party and do an interview for a hot dog and a glass of orange juice.”
— Chris Jericho, pro-wrestler, on his willingness to do whatever it takes to give an interview

I’ve got some pictures and stories from Michigan to get up, but for now, let’s play the interview game.  Jane did it first, then Lydia, then Julie, then Lyrically.  Now it’s my turn (my questions came from Julie).

1. If you had a genie with three wishes, what would they be?  Wishes that you can’t pick are: more wishes, cash, and world peace.

I’m also going to abide by the rules of Aladdin: genies can’t grant wishes to kill people, bring people back from the dead, or make someone fall in love with you.

Hands down, my first wish would be that I could have my hearing back.  That’s a no-brainer.  My second wish would be that I could, somehow, be able to see how the lives of the Princess and the Conductor, and my eventual children, turn out.  My third wish would be to have one year to travel wherever I wanted, all expenses paid (that’s not the same as wishing for cash, is it?).

2. If you could be one person for 24 hours, who would you be and why?

I don’t know.  Maybe Jennifer Garner?  She’s married to Ben Affleck, and I’ve loved him for a long time.  But I’d like to specify that I would not like the 24 hours of her life that involves giving birth to her new baby.

3.  What is the one material possession you have that you can’t live without?

I’m not sure there’s anything that I literally couldn’t live without, but I sure do love my iPod and the fact that it connects directly to my processor so that the music basically goes right into my brain.

4. What is your most favorite song ever?

This was hard.  I’m going with I’m Alive, by Jackson Browne, but Champagne High, by Sister Hazel, is a close second.

5. If you found a baby on your doorstep, what would you do?

This was surprisingly easy – call the police.  One of the books I read recently – Blessings, by Anna Quindlen – was about this exact thing.  He did not call the police, but how could you just take a baby in without anyone wondering where it came from?

Want to play?
1. You leave me a comment saying “Interview me!”
2. I choose 5 questions and email them to you.
3. You post the answers on your blog.
4. You include this explanation and offer to interview others.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you email them 5 questions and the fun begins again!

Television has changed a child from an irresistible force to an immovable object.
— Unknown

So here in Michigan, they have a place called Meijer.  When David first told me about it – it’s where he worked through high school and college – I thought it was just a grocery store.  Boy, was I wrong.  It’s got everything.  It’s kind of like Wal-Mart, but with wider aisles, better lighting, and better stuff.  And everyone here shops there.  I’ve been there three times in two days, and I don’t even live here.

When we were leaving the store after our first stop there, I saw this:

These are TV Karts.  Put in a dollar and pull out one of these carts, and you can stuff your small child inside where he can watch “quality children’s programming” as you load up your cart.  I’m not kidding.

Give me a break.  You really need a TV Kart to entertain your child for the 45 minutes or whatever that you’re in the store?  If that’s true, you have bigger problems than a TV Kart can help you with.

What is the world coming to where parents can’t manage their children for even short trips out without resorting to things like this?  David and I saw a family out at a restaurant once – two parents and three kids, one of whom was a baby.  The two older kids, probably twins about 3 years old, were watching a portable DVD player at the table while their parents talked and ate.  I couldn’t believe it.  If you don’t want your kids’ company, get a baby-sitter.  In my opinion, you do your kids harm when you don’t teach them to entertain themselves without mindless electronics or when you ignore them rather than use the opportunity to spend time with them.  Maybe that’s just me.

Anyway, I hope you’re all enjoying the post-Christmas lull.  Michigan, although covered in snow, hasn’t really been as cold as advertised since I’ve been here, and for that I’m grateful.  David’s family is lovely and welcoming, and I’ve enjoyed meeting them all.  Maybe later we’ll go bowling and I’ll get to wear my new purple bowling shoes (one of my Christmas presents from David – I love them)!

Peace also takes courage.

(image is Peace on Earth by Renie Britenbucher, via Google Images)

“I’m talking about France, my queen.  Don’t you want to see the Eiffel Tower, stroll along the Champs Élysées?”

“Is it so much better than Detroit?”
— from Polish Wedding

This is it!  This morning we’re headed for the Great White North.  Yes, I know that’s really Canada, but you almost can’t get any closer to Canada without actually crossing the border, and have you seen the Detroit weather reports?  David has been torturing me with thrice-daily weather updates for at least a week – he knows there’s nothing I hate more than to be cold, and it is hella cold up that way these days.  I’ve packed every sweater I own and about 12 pairs of socks, plus boots, my big winter coat, a scarf (maybe I’ll take two!), and gloves.  I’m still going to freeze, I just know it.

The purpose of our trip is to visit David’s family for the holidays.  Of course, this is my first time meeting his mom, dad, step-mom, and brother, so I’m a little anxious.  He assures me everything will be fine, and I believe him.  I’m looking forward to meeting them, and his friends.  One of our old co-workers is also from the area and will be there with his wife at the same time we are, so we hope to meet up with them, too.

This is the first Christmas I’ve ever spent away from my family.  I’ve tried not to dwell on that fact, but I might be a little homesick that day.  The Conductor’s birthday is on the 3rd, though, so I’ll get to see everyone pretty soon after Christmas anyway, which is good.

We’ll be back next Tuesday, probably, after a stopover in Central PA at my parents’ Monday night.  Perhaps we’ll start back Sunday instead, depending on the weather forecast along our route.   And, I might actually really get to Canada – David told me to bring my passport because “going through Canada on the way back only adds 30 minutes, plus Customs.”  So we’re maybe going to have lunch in Niagra Falls.  If we do, we should swing by my grandparents’ outside Buffalo, but that may be too much to do in one trip, we’ll see.

I’ve got Pico all set up  with plenty of food and water, and my downstairs neighbors will be checking in on him.  I hope he doesn’t go too crazy while I’m gone.   The plants are watered, the trash is taken out, and the heat is turned down.  I’m sure I’m forgetting something, but I don’t know what.  It will probably come to me about the time we pick up the Pennsylvania Turnpike.  Whatever it is, I hope they sell it in Michigan!

You might get one more post before my return, but I’m not making any promises.  I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas, if you’re celebrating (and a happy early birthday to Karen, a Christmas Eve baby); may Santa bring you whatever your heart desires, and may there be peace on Earth, at least for a little while.

Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations.  I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them and try to follow them.
— Louisa May Alcott

Karen and I have nothing on this lady.

Don’t even talk to Jean Scardina about all the Christmas shopping and baking you have to do. She will humble you with the hand-knitted dog sweaters she made for her daughter’s rat terriers, gingerbread houses and marzipan figurines of Santa’s workshop she makes as decorations — oh, and the 6,000 cookies she bakes as gifts.

Wow.  What else can you say?