On the Fly

Charlie Pete

"From wonder into wonder existence opens." ~Lao Tzu

Charlie Pete is our elf. He came to us last Christmas after Aidan's preschool teacher suggested  he might be helpful in managing some, err... undesirable behavior. (You see, Charlie Pete spends his days at our house watching the children, and at night he flies back to the North Pole to report their behavior to Santa.)

This year we aren't having to focus as much on Charlie Pete's job as watchdog and tattletale. We're just enjoying having the little guy around. He is usually in a different spot each morning -- although sometimes he finds a spot so comfortable he returns to it for several days in a row -- and the kids have fun looking for him when they wake up.

 

Lindsay is particularly enamored with Charlie Pete this year and has started a fervent penpal relationship with him. Her first missive was a simple request for a letter in return, but as her curisoity grew, things quickly became more complicated. Here are the transcripts... so far:

Dear Lindsay,

Thank you for the note. I am very happy to be back at your house this year. It is very busy at the North Pole, so I am lucky to be able to rest on your shelf during the day. So far I have been giving Santa good reports. He likes that you are working so hard at school and reading good books. He was also glad to hear that you and Kelly and Aidan have been getting along this week. Keep up the good work!

                                                ~C.P.

P.S. I hope you have fun at your basketball game tonight!

 

Dear Charlie Pete,

 

Thank you for writing back. I'm trying very hard to get along with my sister. But she wasn't all that excited about geting a letter from you. I want to know what your favorite color is. Mine is lime green. May you please write me a letter telling what your favorite color is and how you get your powers.

 

P.S. Can you talk to people? (Put that on the letter to.)

 

Dear Lindsay,

I am sorry to hear that Kelly is not as excited about my letters as you are. Perhaps I should ask Santa for some magic sprinkles to help her get into the holiday spirit. I'll work on that! It might take me a few days, because Santa is really busy right now. My favorite color is also lime green! Of course I also like regular green and red, too. Christmas colors are the best! As for my powers, well, I don't really know where they came from. I was born with them and Santa says it is all part of the Magic of Christmas. Unfortunately, I cannot talk to people, but I do enjoy writing letters, so I will write to you when I can.

                            ~C.P.                               

P.S. Congratulations on playing so well in the game. I am proud of you!

 

Dear Charlie Pete,

 

Thank you for the letter. I am excited to be writing again. You are a good elf. Could you please send me a letter that says are you ment to work and make toys? Can you actually see me play a game?

 

Dear Lindsay,

I like getting your letters. You are a good pen pal. In your last letter you asked if I make toys. I do have a job at the North Pole, but I do not work at the Toy Shop. A lot of elves do make toys, but many of us have other important jobs. My job is to help Santa organize the letters he receives from kids. I like my job because it is fun to see all of the different kinds of things kids ask for. If you have a letter for Santa, I will be happy to deliver it for you. I'll make sure it goes right in your file!

                            ~C.P.

P.S. I can't always see you when you are not at home (like at school or a basketball game), but somehow I always know what you are doing. It's just another part of that Christmas magic!

 

Dear Charlie Pete,

 

Thank you again for your letter. When are you leaving. Put that on the letter because I want you to have some cookies. Also tell if you are a man or a child. Tell how old you are and the names of your brothers and sisters. If that's not too much to ask.

 

                                     ~LDC

 

P.S. Your the best!

 

Dear Lindsay,

It makes me happy that you want to learn about me and I like to answer your questions. Sometimes they are hard to answer because we elves are not exactly the same as humans. I know this might be a little hard for you to understand, but believe it or not I don't know exactly how old I am! Remember the things I said about Christmas being a magical time? Well, we elves are a part of Christmas, so we are magical too. We don't really get older... we just stay the same age always. I have lots of brothers and sisters... way too many to name. Most of them are at homes just like yours this time of year. I will be leaving on Christmas Eve after Santa visits your house. I will look forward to having one of your cookies before I leave. Be sure to tell me goodbye before you go to bed.

                        ~C.P.

 

 

My One Wish for Christmas

A Holiday Tale by Lindsay

Dedacated to and for: Santa Claus

from: Lindsay

Once in a little town called Maple Way there was a girl named Sugar. Sugar and her family were getting ready for Christmas. She loved the jolly fun time she would have for Christmas: genger bread men, candy canes, games and presents.

The jolly time is great. Sugar had only one wish for Santa to give. Her parents didn't know what the gift was. But Sugar did. It was a dog.

Christmas was near. Her brother told her to decide what she wanted but she already knew. The time had come. It was Christmas Eve. Sugar went right to sleep. In the morning, she opened all her presents, but no puppy. But then her brother found one last present sitting behind the tree. It was a... camara! Just kidding. It was a puppy!

Sugar got lots of things in her stocking. Sugar said it was the best Christmas she has ever had! She ended up naming the puppy Co-coa!

The End!

 

113,306

That's how many pictures I have on my computer, according to the PhotoSync software I'm using to upload my photos to the web. Really? Is that even possible? 

--Sigh.--

I've been putting of organizing my photos for years and this news is not doing anything for my motivation. 

Red means stop.

A couple of weeks ago I got a ticket after running a red light while turning into the mall. I was in a hurry. The kids were bickering and I was grouchy. It was raining. Whatever... I just didn't feel like waiting for the next turn signal. You'll have to take my word for it when I tell you I never do that. In fact, it's one of my traffic pet peeves, and well... I just don't do it. I don't even inch out into the intersection on a turn signal unless there is clear road ahead after the very next car and I am sure I am going to make the green light.

Well, that day I did it and I got caught. I haven't called to see how much the fine is, but whatever it is I am not going to be happy with myself when I have to write that check. Apparently Aidan is disappointed in me, too. Yesterday he showed me a picture of a toy he wants for Christmas. It's a Star Wars vehicle thingy that costs $99.00 at Wal-Mart and it got terrible reviews (I checked... the thing is a piece of crap). A five-year-old isn't going to give a hoot about quality when it looks so cool, so I told Aidan he couldn't put it on his Christmas list because it costs too much.

He responded with more than a little disgust, "WE-ELLLL... if you didn't have to get a ticket you might have enough MO-ney."

--Pause.--

"Wait. Does Daddy have enough money?"

That's it, son. Always have a Plan B.

Ever read a book you just couldn't put down?

If you're a reader, no doubt you've experienced "the point of no return". You know... when you are firmly entrenched in good book, and it's way past your bed time, but you can't sleep for wanting to know what happens next. And then all of a sudden you are *thisclose* to The End, but you're getting to the point where if you don't go to sleep right now you might as well not bother at all. And you decide to finish the book anyway? You know?

So I finished this one at 5:30 this morning. Then I tried to go to sleep figuring three hours would be better than none, but I couldn't get to sleep because I kept worrying about how I would ever get anything done today on three hours of sleep. So I guess it will be none.

Geez.

Anyway, it is a good book with quite a few highly quotable passages. This one pretty much sums me up right now:

My life feels like a book left out on the porch, and the wind blows the pages faster and faster, turning always toward a new chapter faster than I can stop and read it.

That particular one is a little depressing, LOL... but there's humor in this book, too:

He loved me last night so sweet, I thought surely he had changed his mind, and he swore how he will miss me but he left anyway. Taking up marriage is a good excuse for taking up cursing, I think.

Indeed. :o)

A Fresh Start

"And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn - I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too." ~President-elect Barack Obama

Part of the reason why I keep this blog is to note bits of history. Most of it is, of course, family history (well, that and TV history :op) and not necessarily history history. But today I feel the need to mention this momentous day in American history, if for no other reason than to insert in into its proper place in the time line of our family history.

I am relieved that this election is over and hopeful that America is on its way to a fresh start. I have no idea what to expect -- other than my taxes to go up, LOL -- but I have to admit it does feel good to have optimism and hope in the air after a year (or several) of ever-lowering morale. Since I live in quite possibly the reddest community in what is a decidedly red state, the tone around my town was fairly subdued today. But witnessing the euphoria of the crowds in other cities all over the country and the world has me feeling alright about the outcome. Nothing wrong with being hopeful.

Let's hug it out.

"You throw a lot of Jew guilt for a Chinaman." ~Ari Gold, Entourage

Anyone else out there watching Entourage ? Ari Gold has got to be one of the 10 greatest TV characters of all time. He's one of the many reasons I hate for the credits to roll at the end of the half-hour. Adrian Grenier's looks don't hurt either (although I am more of an E-girl myself), nor does the fact that they made Perrey Reeves a regular. It just keeps getting better.

Another show I'd love to see go on for hours? Mad Men. Good looks is about the only thing my dad has in common with Don Draper, but since my dad started his career in the early 1960s, this show always makes me think of him. I love period pieces -- especially on TV when there is plenty of time for character development -- and this is among the best ever. If you haven't seen it, it's definitely worthy of catching up with on DVD.

Time to Rule the School

Elementary school, anyway. It's so hard to believe Kelly's in 5th grade now. (And even harder to face is the prospect of junior high next year... but that's a whole other post for another day.) When Kelly was in Kindergarten, the 5th graders seemed so... OLD. Not so much now, of course. This doesn't surprise me a bit, since one thing I have learned from being a mom is that everything is relative. Last week I worked on putting together Kelly's congratulatory "ad" for her last yearbook as an elementary school student. *sigh* The first picture is from her first day of Kindergarten. I can't believe I sent her to Kindergarten looking like that! She's just a baby, for Pete's sake!

Congrats, Kelly!

 

A Healthy Dose of Self-Esteem

"I want to thank my parents for somehow raising me to have confidence that is disproportionate with my looks and abilities. Well done -- that is what all parents should do!" ~Tina Fey

For those who don't know, I love school pictures. Love them. I always buy the whole package -- both sizes of wallets and all, even though we never give them to anyone other than the grandparents. I want to make sure I have plenty... just in case. (In case of what, I don't know.) And while my preference, like most moms, is to have a good school picture every year, I'm not too upset when a less-than-perfect one comes home. The goofy ones might make us cringe right now, but they'll most likely be the ones to bring smiles to our faces years from now when elementary school is a distant memory. 

So anyway, school pictures came home last week, and this is Lindsay's. Like always I planned to purchase the entire package, so when Lindsay asked how many we'd be buying I said, "All of them." And she said, "Good. I think they're beautiful."

I'm glad she thinks they're beautiful. I do, too. But the exchange did make me laugh and think of Tina Fey's Emmy acceptance speech. If Tina is right about a job well done, then I guess I am doing something right. 

A Good Question

The other day Lindsay asked, "Why is Oprah so famous when all she does is ask people questions?"

What else?

Have you seen the ads for the new CBS sitcom Worst Week? It's not the first time my life has felt like something out of a sitcom, but oy... things have been ridiculous lately. In the past two weeks we have experienced a broken (now replaced) hot water heater, a (second) car A/C breakdown, and the loss of our sweet rat, Ivy. She was chased out of the yard by our two dumb beagles after they knocked her cage over and it spilled open. (It's really not a good idea to have predator and prey living in the same house, by the way.)

Oh, and did I mention Aidan fell on his face and had to have a front tooth pulled? It doesn't seem to be bothering him, and a fiver from the tooth fairy took care of any residual suffering. I should probably make him put it the Pennies for Puppies box. We need a little good kharma to break this unlucky streak.

Philanthropy 101

It turns out kids just don't naturally want to share. If teaching this lesson is part of my job -- and I have to assume it is -- I guess I'd better get crackin'.

Aidan's class is collecting spare change for the local animal shelter. This morning he found a penny on Cecil's bathroom counter and the following conversation ensued:

Aidan: Is this Daddy's?

Me: Yes.

Aidan: Can I have it?

Me: Why don't you put it in your Pennies for Puppies box?

Aidan: No. I'm gonna keep it.

Me: That's not very nice.

Aidan, walking away: OK. I'll put it in there. 

        --pause-- 

        Nah... I'm just gonna put it in my wallet.

Let the character building begin.

Going Home

Many of you already know that my dad passed away a few weeks ago. It's taken me a while to write something here, because... well, it's pretty difficult to find words. It feels awkward to write this now, but I think it will feel more even more strange to say nothing... the elephant in the room, if you will.

Speaking of elephants... Mom and I have wondered what Dad would have had to say about the nomination of Sarah Palin as John McCain's running mate. Dad was a staunch conservative -- a true Republican's Republican -- and I think he would be impressed with Mrs. Palin and her conservative stance. But I know he'd crack a joke or two about her gender, and maybe even have some less-than-politically-correct things to say about a mother of five running for high office. That's Dad. :o) I am really sorry he'll miss the election... or I guess I should say I'm sorry I'll miss experiencing the election with him. It's shaping up to be a doozy, and I know he would have had a ball throughout the season.

Dad will be missed by so many. He was beloved in his community and by his family. I miss him terribly, and my deepest sadness comes from knowing how much my kids will miss their Poppy. I hope they will be able to remember him as they grow older. He loved them so. I can't begin to imagine how hard this is for my mom, who has been Dad's best friend and partner for over 47 years. Please keep her in your prayers.

And speaking of prayers... I am so blessed to have friends and family whose faith is strong. I am comforted by all of the cards and notes I have received, and by your thoughts and -- especially -- your prayers. One note of particular comfort reads, in part: "I know it is difficult to find any comfort at this time, but I can tell you he is now with The Father and would not choose to come back because of the glory of Heaven. Death is only a 'timing difference' to Christians, as we shall all be there together again one day." Amen.

Jim Dalton

June 1936 ~ August 2008

 

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. ~Psalm 116:15

It's a short list.

So I'm driving home from picking Aidan up at camp and we have the following exchange...

Me: How about some pot roast for dinner?

Aidan: That's fine. You can make anything you want.

Me: Anything? How about spinach?

Aidan: Well, anything but 'cept things I don't like.

Darn Hilary.

My friend Hilary posted a link to some photography tips on her blog, and now I have lost about 16 hours because of it. I've read every word of the Pioneer Woman's love story and now I'm dying for the next installment. Thanks, Hil. Thanks a lot.