We’ve reached the point of the year with Project Reverb where it goes to a daily prompt. As I already have so much to talk about, I’m going to limit myself to one post per week where I address as many of that week’s prompts as seem appropriate. They’ve made it easy for me on the weekends, as there are Instagram challenges instead of full posts. If you’re interested in seeing my response, head on over to my account each Saturday and Sunday.
December 5 // Just Not That Into It: Everyone has their own tipping point. What do you hate about the holidays?
I hate the commercialization. I hate the fact that when I went to Home Depot back in early October for Halloween decor, there was a large section of Christmas items. I hate that TV commercials start telling us to BUY MORE STUFF on November 1. I hate that the seasons and holidays don’t each get their own breathing space (I like November to be about Thanksgiving!!!). I don’t like that there are multiple radio stations playing 24 hour Christmas music for months on end. That toy stores send out giant catalogs that encourage kids to believe that the only reason for Christmas is presents. If I could just decorate and eat and be with the people I love – that would be a pretty great holiday.
December 6 // Sunny Surprises: Most of North America starts to get frosty and cold this time of year. If you had an unusually warm (tank tops and flip flops warm!) day unexpectedly and didn’t have to work, what would you do?
I don’t like changes in weather. If it’s going to be winter, it should be cold, and I will find ways to bundle up. If it’s going to be summer, it should be warm (although…I kind of wish summers were cooler too. The challenges of being a redhead are REAL). Otherwise, don’t mix the two. I am just going to get sick if they’re mixed up! But if the day is nice – not too windy, but still with a bite in the air, I would probably go for a long walk with the Boy and visit one of the nice restaurants in our neighborhood. We’ve also got a goal to finish walking to Mount Vernon along the Mount Vernon trail, and if we found ourselves with some free time and good weather, that might be a good use of our time.
December 7 // White Elephant: What are the gifts you’re looking forward to giving, or hoping to receive?
I have a present that I bought for the Boy nearly a month ago. It’s something we’ve been talking about for a long time, and even though I don’t believe he reads the blog, I don’t want to say anything. I’m just so pleased with myself for a) remembering b) following up and c) gearing up to give him a thing that I know he will love and not expect. And chances are that you all will hear about it sometime in January.
December 8 // The Griswolds: Family is everything- a gift, a struggle, an unpredictable mess. Give us your Griswolds story that would end in #wearethegriswolds
Hey friends, truth time. I’m not sure I’ve ever actually seen National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation all the way through. Ever. So…I don’t know how to answer this. Jelly of the month club? Next.
December 9 // A Day in the Life: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays can be busy days and they can also be lazy recovery days. Tell us about yours (or your plans for a day this weekend) from top to bottom.
Some of the Reverb group is doing their Day In the Life on Instagram. I’m not joining in, because my day would be super boring. Wake up, get ready too quickly. Commute. And then no pictures for HOURS. We aren’t allowed to use cameras at my office, so it would be deathly boring on my end from the moment I get to work to the moment I leave. Today though, my fellow reference librarian and I are going to pull out the very old and dusty Christmas tree that lives in the storage room and set it up. We’ll put on lights and dig through ornament boxes from the 70s to make things in our library fun and festive. Tonight I’ll be going home, kissing my boy, and then prepping batter to make Yorkshire puddings for a potluck party tomorrow. When the batter is prepped, we’ll either watch The Grand Tour on Amazon or The Crown, and maybe play the video game we’re doing together and obsessed with. Early Saturday morning I’ll wake up earlier than usual, and go have breakfast in the neighborhood with a friend and his family. I’ll come home, do some cleaning, and then prep the rest of my dishes for the potluck. I’ll make sure our Christmas tree has water, and that needles which have fallen are swept up. At the appointed time we will drive to the potluck, dishes and games in hand. We will hug our friends, eat all the good food, and laugh ourselves silly. On Sunday we have no plans, and so I will probably sleep late, and then be a lazy bum for quite a long time. Maybe I’ll work on the knitting I’m doing as gifts. Maybe I’ll watch a movie or two. Perhaps I’ll finally get in touch with my sister to find out what she and her husband want for Christmas. But this will be our last lazy weekend day until Christmas, and I fully intend to take advantage of the relaxed time.
Details: This post is part of Project Reverb 2016, which sends a daily writing challenge for bloggers during the month of December. If you’re interested in participating, sign up here or visit their facebook group.
“If I could just decorate and eat and be with the people I love – that would be a pretty great holiday”
This is why Thanksgiving = best holiday.
“Perhaps I’ll finally get in touch with my sister to find out what she and her husband want for Christmas.”
I texted her the other day and just said, what does everyone in your house want for christmas, because Nicole and I are a little stumped for them
Maybe I like the aesthetic of Christmas (the winter and holly themes) better than Harvest. And also that it’s a longer season?
But yeah. M is the worst to shop for. I’ve asked SO MANY TIMES. Maybe we do a bigger group gift for them.
[…] I loved. That thing that I loved? The series “The Crown” on Netflix. I think I mentioned it briefly back in December, but never wrote about it. Of course, here in March saying that I love […]