Monthly Archives: December 2011

Friday night – sweet by bitter-sweet

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Today was sweet, really sweet.. with a few tinges of bitter-sweet that come with the season..
That’s why I say sweet-bitter-sweet.. like north-by north-west. more north than north east.. you get what I mean.

I spent most of the day cleaning out my lab.. a huge and blissfully mindless undertaking.. getting ready for a few new big projects. Around 2, Max,Gab and I went out in search of a christmas tree.. we nearly came back empty handed..most of the places were closed for the season.. but we persisted and went back to our local tree farm (Puritan’s) and coaxed them out of the house to let us buy one.. It’s a great family ritual.. I could almost see Sam walking beside his brothers as we picked the perfect tree… sawed it down. strapped it to the car and drove it proudly home..



then home and on came the lights….

in the spirit of lights. tonight is also the 4th night of Chanukah.. and is our blended tradition, Diane shredded, mixed and fried up 15 pounds of potatoes into the most delicious Latkes I remember ever eating (really !)


with tons of toppings.. traditional (sour cream and applesauce and not-so–traditional (hummos, kim-chee, mustard, habanero sauce, sambal , barbeque sauce)

 


 

after dinner a bunch of the kids retired to sam’s old room for video games.. just like old times.. but… not exactly…

 

Fianlly, I did a quick recital of my new tesla coil doing it’s four favorite christmas carols.. again.. the sound i yoiu hear is only the spark heating the air.. it’s loud and scary when you’re in the same room..

 

ok.. that’s it for tonight.. I need to sleep off my latkes..
happy chanuchristmas everyone

nite all, nite sam
-me

Thursday night – nothing in particular

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I had a peaceful and industrious day.. I was finishing up the multitude of loose ends I’d generated in the course of the year that’s closing down.. work stuff, financial stuff… web site stuff. stuff, stuff, stuff. My head was full of stuff when I got up . and by the time the sun went down.. it was empty.. the way it should be I guess..

I made a point to listen to Christmas music today.. it was remixed electronic versions.. but Christmas music nonetheless. I was really getting in to it.. In fact.. I’m feeling the cristmas spirit more than I have in years.. which is sayign soemthing for a jewish/bhuddist/agnostic.. ..  The christmas spirit really does take over the world.. everyone is a funny mix of happy and stressed.., nostalgic and fun.. bittersweet for many.  it’s strange how one religions holiday can hold such sway on 300 million people That got me wonder just how many people actually have christmas as part of their religion. The numbers (see left) were pretty surprising..   >78% christian.. that explains the strong presence of Christmas.. ‘unaffiliated’ was the next biggest group.. which kind of surprised me.   My birth religion (Jewish)  1.7 % is the same as number of Mormon’s.. who knew ?! .. Though some days  I might count myself in the 0.4 % New Age group. or either of the ‘Nothing in particular’ categories.. Some days I’m feeling part of the 6.3 % secular unaffiliated and other times I feel very much part of the 5.8 % religious unaffiliated.  I was surprised that Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists make up such a small percentage of the US given the large number of persons of those faiths that I know..   and Unitarians ?.. only 0.7 % ?!   We definitely need more of them.. they are such  fun and interesting folks ..  I think we need to create some evangelical  Unitarians to turn that number around.. !

Anyway.. I love the mix in this country..we all put something into the christmas spirit.. viva la difference !..

merry everything folks !

nite all, nite sam

-me

Wednesday night – solstice

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First night of winter …. The longest night of the year. Our ancestors would light huge fires to chase back the darkness . My pagan friends still do that today . In fact most cultures have some sort of light festival around this time of year to lift peoples spirits as the nights grew longer Chanukah . Christmas , Yule, santa Lucias day, quanza, Diwali belting… All involve fire, gifts and prayer.
I for one news that now. I have to confess that the dark days and long nights burrow into my soul. Its a hard time of year to get through… But even tomorrow will be a bit brighter .. And the next day brighter still .. Lets keep our eyes on the dire for now
Happy Chanukah , hag sameach, blessed be

Nite all, nite Sam
-me

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Tuesday – applied laziness

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Diane and I were sitting around in a post-yoga class bliss when I suddenly realized that I wasnt thinking about anything !.. Diane told that that meant i was relaxed.. Ive heard that word.. but .. I cant say that I really know what it means.. I told her that perhaps it was just applied laziness… 🙂

Speaking of laziness.. that defined the day.. I had a few work meetings.. but I cant say any of them got my full attention.. my head was already doing this relax thing.. I managed to sneak in some shopping downtown between calls which was great. not the shopping per sec.. but seeing the people. I ran into all sorts of freinds.. and was lazy together with them for a bit.. it did much to put me in the spirit of the season..


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I took a brief break from laziness when some friends and climbed up a bell tower I knew about off off church street. What a view !?!

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I finally got home and relaxed some more. in dianes gentle yoga class.. actually it was a gentile yoga night.. we did our stretching to Christmas carols.. .. though diane through in a nice talbiet schlocky oken Chanukah song for me

Gabe came home from an MMU basketball game shortly after . totally pumped from their 70 to 35 win.. (

He then fanatically helped us kick off the first night of Chanukah…

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Chappy Chanukah to everyone out there.. hope the lights brighten the darkening days for you

nite all, nite sam
-me