12 Days of Christmas (Tech Toy Version)

On the first day of Christmas my good friend gave to me
A cell phone ringing.

On the second day of Christmas my good friend gave to me
Two HD TV's and
A cell phone ringing.

On the third day of Christmas my good friend gave to me
Three Dell computers,
Two HD TV's and
A cell phone ringing.

On the fourth day of Christmas my good friend gave to me
Four Wii consoles,
Three Dell computers,
Two HD TV's and
A cell phone ringing.

On the fifth day of Christmas my good friend gave to me
Five Ipods playing,
Four Wii consoles,
Three Dell computers,
Two HD TV's and
A cell phone ringing.

On the sixth day of Christmas my good friend gave to me
Six camcorders recording,
Five Ipods playing,
Four Wii consoles,
Three Dell computers,
Two HD TV's and
A cell phone ringing.

On the seventh day of Christmas my good friend gave to me
Seven Garmins directing,
Six camcorders recording,
Five Ipods playing,
Four Wii consoles,
Three Dell Computers,
Two HD TV's and
A cell phone ringing.

On the eighth day of Christmas my good friend gave to me
Eight Tivos taping,
Seven Garmins directing,
Six camcorders recording,
Five Ipods playing,
Four Wii consoles,
Three Dell computers,
Two HD TV's and
A cell phone ringing.

On the ninth day of Christmas my good friend gave to me
Nine Elmos talking,
Eight Tivo's taping,
Seven Garmins directing,
Six camcorders recording,
Five Ipods playing,
Four Wii consoles,
Three Dell computers,
Two HD TV's and
A cell phone ringing.

On the tenth day of Christmas my good friend gave to me
Ten surround sound systems,
Nine Elmos talking,
Eight Tivo's taping,
Seven Garmins directing,
Six camcorders recording,
Five Ipods playing,
Four Wii consoles,
Three Dell computers,
Two HD TV's and
A cell phone ringing.

On the eleventh day of Christmas my good friend gave to me
Eleven DS games,
Ten surround sound systems,
Nine Elmos talking,
Eight Tivos taping,
Seven Garmins directing,
Six camcorders recording,
Five Ipods playing,
Four Wii consoles,
Three Dell computers
Two HD TV's and
A cell phone ringing.

On the twelvth day of Christmas my good friend gave to me
Twelve Blue-ray players,
Eleven DS games,
Ten surround sound systems,
Nine Elmos talking,
Eight Tivos taping,
Seven Garmins directing,
Six camcorders recording,
Five Ipods playing,
Four Wii consoles,
Three Dell computers,
Two HD TV's and
A cell phone ringing.

Grateful For.....

It is -5 degrees F with a windchill of -25 to -35 degrees F. I'm watching the snow blowing and swirling out the patio doors as I type.

I am grateful for many things on such winter days: a roof over my head, my functioning furnace, wool socks, cozy throw. But I am most grateful for indoor plumbing.

Good Samaritans

It is heartwarming when people can help others, but the good Samaritan role takes on a brighter glow during the holidays. On Friday I watched one stranger do several acts of goodwill to another, and I'm still enjoying the happiness.

I rang bell for the Salvation Army from 2:00 - 4:00 Friday at a Walgreens. The temperature outside was in the teens and the wind was blowing fiercely, but business was brisk. (I was fortunate to be ringing between the doors of the store so was able to stay warm) Around 3:00 an old, rusty truck with a handicap license plate parked in the handicapped parking space, and its owner limped into the store. The driver had long gray hair, glasses, a long gray beard (I will call him ZZ since it was a ZZ Top beard), a dirty, worn insulated denim jacket, dark jeans, scuffed boots, a brace around his right knee and he brandished a cane.

In short order he made his purchase, returned to the truck, and after repeated attempts, failed to start the engine. ZZ lifted the hood and tinkered with whatever one tinkers under truck hoods but could not start the vehicle. In time he was approached by a customer offering help. This person, who shall be known as GS (good Samaritan), dressed in slacks, leather shoes, nice ski jacket, gloves, but no hat, spent the next 15 minutes helping with the tinkering. Eventually ZZ came into the store looking for starting fluid. He came out purchaseless and rejoined GS. After a few more fruitless minutes they drove off in GS's van eventually returning with HEET and some spray for the carburetor.

Things got exciting when the carburetor spray started on fire and flames were coming from under the hood. Running into the store I tried to find a clerk and fire extinguisher but to no avail. As I was poised to call 911 the two men put out the fire with their gloves and some metal disk thingy from under the hood. For the next 30 minutes they continued to work on the truck, a fire started once again, was put out, but the engine never kicked in.

My bell ringing shift ended, and on the way to my car I stopped to ask if either wanted coffee but no one did. ZZ was on a blanket looking underneath the truck and GS stood by. The Samaratin informed me that ZZ is from Iron River, just got out of an Appleton hospital, and did have friends with whom he could stay until the truck was fixed. GS was going to give him a ride to that friend's house.

Seeing a stranger so dedicated to helping this obviously disabled man with this old old truck is what allows me to continue to believe in the goodness of people. GS seemed genuinely surprised when I thanked him for his kindheartedness, but I had seen many people walk by the truck and ZZ without a word. And I had watched as this hatless man stayed with ZZ for an hour in the freezing cold. It is easy to ring a bell for two hours, and it is easy to drop money into the red bucket. True charity is stopping to help on a cold cold winter day and giving time, patience, and assistance for a needy person.

I experienced the giving vicariously but it touched me. GS gave a gift to ZZ, to me, and to himself. I hope ZZ has many good Samaritans in his life, and that a stranger's kindness made his Christmas merrier. GS impacted my holiday, and I wish him as much joy as he gave me.

What I Learned Today

Just a few simple lessons I learned (or re-learned) today:

If you have a cut or broken skin on your hands, do not apply Purel! It burns and stings if you do!

Turn off your cell phone. It isn't always a bad thing to not be found.

A&W root beer from an A&W is much better than canned root beer.

Some days it is better to just listen and not give advice.

Neutrogena makes some darn good hand lotion.

None of these are life altering, earth shattering revelations but today they are my lessons learned.

Children's Names

I grew up in a generation of children named Kathy, Susan, Debbie, John, Michael, and Daniel. My name was considered unusual. My children's names are not exotic although not as common as one might think. My daughter was the only one in her school with the name Ann. There were a few other Patrick's in school with my son but not an overabundance. We tried to avoid the popular names. As a teacher I often experienced a classroom with four Christine's, three Jennifers, or three Jason's. We did not want our children to have the same names as many others.

The past 15 years have seen an upsurge of unique names, some of which are now common. It first started with naming babies after states: Montana and Dakota were front runners in the state name game. Kade, Hunter, and Madison which were unique years ago are now common.

I can appreciate a parent wanting to give a child a name that is uncommon because a name is an integral part of an identity. But, planting a different name on a child who for the rest of his/her life will have to spell it aloud or explain its origin is not what a child needs. Again, in teaching I slaughtered the pronunciation of Siobhan and Taylee (accent on the first syllable). During breaks in the teacher lounge on the first day student names would be discussed. Names such as Heaven, Norval, and Nived (Heaven's father was a minister, Norval was a family name, Nived was Devin backwards).

But what I heard on the radio this morning was so bizarre. In Holland Township, NJ, Heath and Deborah Campbell named their children Adolph Hitler, JoyceLynn Aryan Nation, and Honszlynn Hinler Jeannie Campbell, a girl named for Schutzstaffel head Heinrich Himmler. Mr. and Ms. Campbell are Holocaust disbelievers whose living room is decorated with swastikas, and other German war memoribilia. This family came to the media's attention when a store refused to decorate a cake for little 3 year old Adolph's birthday. They have also refused to make a cake for JoyceLynn Aryan Nation. However, Walmart has consented to make the cakes. If you care to read more on this story, it can be found at http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/warren-county/index.ssf?/base/news-0/122923112231930.xml&coll=3&thispage=5 The parents do not consider themselves racist and do not believe the names will cause their children harm.

Huh? Are they serious? Names are so important to a person's identity. That may be shallow on the part of society, but let's face it, we have preconceived notions of people from their names. While one may not want a name common to many others, to give a child the name of a historically odious person is cruel.

Ironically, German law insists that all German baby names must be approved by the German Standesamt, also known as the 'Office of Vital Statistics. (YeahBaby.com). While most do not want that much government involvement in their lives, people like the Campbell's do give me some pause. I wonder if their children upon turning 18 will rush to court for a name change.

Snow Globe Living

I love Christmas. The decorated trees, garland, Santa decorations, shopping for gifts, outdoor lights, the spirit of the holiday. However, there are people in my life who do not share this Christmas joy. This year, rather than being beaten down by their bahumbug-edness, I have announced that I am living in my snow globe world, ignoring all Christmas nay sayers, Grinches, Scrooges.

Holiday music plays in the background of my snow globe; "It's a Holly Jolly Christmas" is number one on the list with "Welcome Christmas" (the fah who for-aze song) a close second. The snow sparkles, I'm warm and cozy with an inner glow and the only shaking of my globe is when I'm jumping for joy. If a Humbug comes into my space I just turn up the music and loudly sing along. I have an example from just this morning. I went to Shopko, which has two entrances, and Salvation Army bell ringers were at both entrances. I donated to the volunteer, did my shopping and at the opposite entrance the bell ringers were singing. Hmmmmmm. I made my purchases, exited the store, and encountered the same non-singing bell ringer to whom I first donated. I was almost out the door when I had a thought which I shared with him, "The other bell ringers are singing." He replied, thinking he had an excuse, "I know. I can't carry a tune."

Always wanting to expand my globe I told him I would put $5.00 in the bucket if he sang a Christmas song. As often happens with unsure Christmas celebrators, he hesitated with an uncertain look on his face. To help him out I started, "We wish you a Merry Christmas" and we sang two verses together. Since I believe my singing voice was worse than his, I hoped he felt more comfortable. When we finished the song I place my money in the bucket, clasped him on the arm and said, "See, there you go! Merry Christmas!"

I'm not sure he was totally enveloped in my holiday snow globe, but we gave it a good try. You never know what seeds of joy, Christmas, and happiness you plant. While I try to keep my globe intact, I don't mind letting others in to enjoy the warmth and Christmas spirit!

Sears Commercial

Sears is broadcasting a holiday commercial that has caught my eye. Or rather, has caught my ear. The background music is very enticing, and I finally googled the commercial and came away with the song name -- "World" by Five for Fighting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-kpR32B-Uk&feature=channel

I became acquainted with this group's music a few years ago when I became enchanted with their song "100 Years." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-kpR32B-Uk&feature=channel

Five for Fighting's music has a pleasant light rock quality, but the lyrics secure its place in my heart. The lyrics are thoughtful and touch a very emotional part of me. While I have often felt that certain songs are ruined when used to promote commercialism (remember the "1812 Overture" and how it became the Puffed Wheat theme song), I must thank Sears for bringing my attention to "World."