You know, each year I try to make new year's resolutions, but I never seem to be able to complete them. Maybe I'm doing it wrong, and I'm just setting myself up to fail. Probably true, and so I'm going to try and make it so I can accomplish them this year. Hopefully next year I'll look at this list and say, "Check, check, check."
1) Go to the gym at least twice a week. This is difficult for me because I can only go early in the morning, and turning off the burglar alarm wakes Lovely English Lass. Hopefully I'll go more, but I think I can agree on twice.
2) Try to take my wife out for more date nights. She deserves the break, and we do need time alone away from the kids. Even if it's just dinner, it'll be a good thing.
3) Write more to my friends and family in the US and all over the world. You guys are very important to me, and I want to keep up with you and what is going on in your lives. I'll make the effort, and hopefully you will too.
4) Take my son to his first soccer match when I'm in England this fall. I want to be able to do this with him, and hopefully I'll make it happen.
5) Play tea party with my daughter. She loves it, and it's something that can strengthen the bond between us.
6) Try to be more patient with my kids. You know, it's difficult sometimes to remember that they are children when they are coloring on the walls or pouring water on the floor. I'm sure they don't mean it, and I need to teach them better.
7) Have my wife watch Blazing Saddles. Because, why hasn't she already? It's awesome!
8) Look for new music. I love music. (In fact, "Little Lion Man" is playing right now in my head.) I should support new artists and find music I can enjoy.
9) Play outside more with my kids. I agree with the First Lady on this, my kids need to get out more. Hopefully we'll be able to in the coming months and the kids will remain healthy and happy.
10) Enjoy life. There is no need for me to be down. I've got a great wife, a lovely daughter and a fantastic son. Look at the experiences we are having right now and make sure I take time to enjoy them.
Hopefully I can get all of these done before the new year. It shouldn't be hard, but they are important. I'll let you know later how I'm doing.
Well, it's raining outside, and maybe it's time for some tea. I'll ask my daughter to pour me a cup. Happy New Years everyone.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays
As I said in my last post, it will be weird to have Christmas in the summer. However, I want you to know that Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year, and has been for quite some time. It's amazing how much of my life has revolved around Christmas and what it means to me.
One of the earliest memories I have is of my great-grandmother, Grandma Wilfong, talking about how much she loved Christmas. That woman started shopping for next Christmas the day after Christmas. It was her favorite time of year. (I always joked she liked me best because I was born on the same day as her husband, who was named John as well.) She seemed to always know when we were coming to visit her for Christmas, as our presents were lined up under the tree waiting for us when we got there, or they showed up at the house prior to Christmas to make sure we had them. She was a lovely woman.
We always said she'd have to die on Christmas eve as that was the only day she wasn't out shopping for the next Christmas. Strangely, that is exactly what happened. It was afterwards that I found out she was married on Christmas day, which probably explained why the holiday meant so much to her.
I loved spending Christmas with my family, both close family and extended family. Seeing my grandparents and my cousins was great, but spending it with just my brothers and parents was great too. We'd wake up early and have to wait until my parents got up so we could go see what Santa had left for us. (We knew whose stuff it was by our stocking being left on the pile.) My parents were always difficult to buy for, which is why my mother may still have a bottle of perfume called NINJA somewhere in the house. I remember getting a bicycle and clothes. Ah to be that young and innocent again.
Since I've been in the Foreign Service, I've served as Santa Claus on two continents. It'll be three on Sunday as I'm Saint Nick for the Christmas party here in Johannesburg. I love doing that. One year I was Santa in Suriname, and they made me sit in a Sleigh during the hot weather outside. The Ambassador, a very nice man, sat next to me for pictures and asked me if Santa would like a plate of cookies and some milk. Santa replied he'd like a cold beer instead, but drinking and flying is frowned upon. I love the look on the kids faces, and even though I sweat buckets, I always feel so good inside afterwards. (That's what I tell myself when I should be working out. I'm just staying in Santa shape.)
As I mentioned previously, my wife, Lovely English Lass, and I got engaged two days before Christmas. LEL then traveled to Florida to meet my family. When we arrived on Christmas eve, we went straight from the airport to the house of my best man's family for the usual party we have every year. It still brings a smile to my face remembering my wife trying very hard to stay awake and seem interested when in reality she just wanted to go to bed. It shows her grace that she pulled it off superbly.
Not everything dealing with Christmas was a great memory. My college girlfriend broke up with me on Christmas eve my senior year in College. Not fun, I can tell you. (However, the depression did help me lose 40 pounds, and I looked great for a bit.)
This weekend as we set up the tree and realized we'd packed a box away in storage that held some of our Chistmas stuff, I thought about how much this season means. It's about peace on earth and good will towards everyone. Hopefully we'll have a good time this Christmas. The kids seem to be getting the hang of it, and they love looking at the tree. (Crazy Little Man came down from his nap with the tree lit up and said: "It's Christmas!") I am looking forward to the looks of happiness when they get their gifts, both from us and from their relatives, and hearing them say Thank you. Then it'll be time for Turkey and whatnot. I'm sure we'll have a great time, and one day I hope they tell great stories about Christmas to their kids. So, everyone Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Happy Holidays. May the new year bring you happiness, health and joy.
One of the earliest memories I have is of my great-grandmother, Grandma Wilfong, talking about how much she loved Christmas. That woman started shopping for next Christmas the day after Christmas. It was her favorite time of year. (I always joked she liked me best because I was born on the same day as her husband, who was named John as well.) She seemed to always know when we were coming to visit her for Christmas, as our presents were lined up under the tree waiting for us when we got there, or they showed up at the house prior to Christmas to make sure we had them. She was a lovely woman.
We always said she'd have to die on Christmas eve as that was the only day she wasn't out shopping for the next Christmas. Strangely, that is exactly what happened. It was afterwards that I found out she was married on Christmas day, which probably explained why the holiday meant so much to her.
I loved spending Christmas with my family, both close family and extended family. Seeing my grandparents and my cousins was great, but spending it with just my brothers and parents was great too. We'd wake up early and have to wait until my parents got up so we could go see what Santa had left for us. (We knew whose stuff it was by our stocking being left on the pile.) My parents were always difficult to buy for, which is why my mother may still have a bottle of perfume called NINJA somewhere in the house. I remember getting a bicycle and clothes. Ah to be that young and innocent again.
Since I've been in the Foreign Service, I've served as Santa Claus on two continents. It'll be three on Sunday as I'm Saint Nick for the Christmas party here in Johannesburg. I love doing that. One year I was Santa in Suriname, and they made me sit in a Sleigh during the hot weather outside. The Ambassador, a very nice man, sat next to me for pictures and asked me if Santa would like a plate of cookies and some milk. Santa replied he'd like a cold beer instead, but drinking and flying is frowned upon. I love the look on the kids faces, and even though I sweat buckets, I always feel so good inside afterwards. (That's what I tell myself when I should be working out. I'm just staying in Santa shape.)
As I mentioned previously, my wife, Lovely English Lass, and I got engaged two days before Christmas. LEL then traveled to Florida to meet my family. When we arrived on Christmas eve, we went straight from the airport to the house of my best man's family for the usual party we have every year. It still brings a smile to my face remembering my wife trying very hard to stay awake and seem interested when in reality she just wanted to go to bed. It shows her grace that she pulled it off superbly.
Not everything dealing with Christmas was a great memory. My college girlfriend broke up with me on Christmas eve my senior year in College. Not fun, I can tell you. (However, the depression did help me lose 40 pounds, and I looked great for a bit.)
This weekend as we set up the tree and realized we'd packed a box away in storage that held some of our Chistmas stuff, I thought about how much this season means. It's about peace on earth and good will towards everyone. Hopefully we'll have a good time this Christmas. The kids seem to be getting the hang of it, and they love looking at the tree. (Crazy Little Man came down from his nap with the tree lit up and said: "It's Christmas!") I am looking forward to the looks of happiness when they get their gifts, both from us and from their relatives, and hearing them say Thank you. Then it'll be time for Turkey and whatnot. I'm sure we'll have a great time, and one day I hope they tell great stories about Christmas to their kids. So, everyone Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Happy Holidays. May the new year bring you happiness, health and joy.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Holiday Season in South Africa
My wife has stated that it will be very odd having Christmas during the summer months. It is exepected to be quite warm here in South Africa on December 25. Being from Florida, I'm ok with not having snow or cold weather whilest opening my presents. Heck, when I lived in Arkansas I only remember a few times having a White Christmas. It does get cool in Florida at times during December, but nothing like the rest of the country. I've even been to the beach on Christmas day, so I can say I'll be fine.
However, it'll be difficult for Lovely English Lass. She's Yorkshire through and through, and darn it, December is supposed to be cold! There should be, if not snow, then weather cold enough that it might freeze the alcohol in your glass!
(Funny aside: in England there is a show called "Soccer AM." Each week they used to do a parody called Yorkshire News. One of them showed a football player scoring an amazing goal for Leeds United, a Yorkshire team. The "newscasters" weren't commenting on his goal, however, but on the fact that he was wearing gloves and that it wasn't THAT cold out.)
The one thing that isn't different here in South Africa is the ability to push the holiday season further and further back in the year. I think the first Christmas tree here went up the second week in November, and they were all touting possible Christmas sales at the end of October. It used to be in the States we had a firebreak with Thanksgiving to keep all of that out of November. Not any more.
Well, we're going to be putting our tree up and decorating soon. We wait until after Lovely Little Girl's birthday to make sure we give her a special day. The kids will help with the decorations, and we'll hope that none of them get broken this year. (Especially not the limited edition hand numbered one we got from Neuschwanstein Castle.) But it'll be good to see some of the ornaments from where we've been. LEL likes to buy wooden ornaments from our travels. It's great to see them, and remember what we were doing when we bought them.
While it'll be sad not to be with the rest of the family (both my side and LEL's side), I can at least be happy that LEL, Lovely Little Girl, Crazy Little Man and I will be safe and together enjoying our time together. And maybe, just maybe, that's all we need for the holiday spirit to catch on, no matter what the weather is like outside.
However, it'll be difficult for Lovely English Lass. She's Yorkshire through and through, and darn it, December is supposed to be cold! There should be, if not snow, then weather cold enough that it might freeze the alcohol in your glass!
(Funny aside: in England there is a show called "Soccer AM." Each week they used to do a parody called Yorkshire News. One of them showed a football player scoring an amazing goal for Leeds United, a Yorkshire team. The "newscasters" weren't commenting on his goal, however, but on the fact that he was wearing gloves and that it wasn't THAT cold out.)
The one thing that isn't different here in South Africa is the ability to push the holiday season further and further back in the year. I think the first Christmas tree here went up the second week in November, and they were all touting possible Christmas sales at the end of October. It used to be in the States we had a firebreak with Thanksgiving to keep all of that out of November. Not any more.
Well, we're going to be putting our tree up and decorating soon. We wait until after Lovely Little Girl's birthday to make sure we give her a special day. The kids will help with the decorations, and we'll hope that none of them get broken this year. (Especially not the limited edition hand numbered one we got from Neuschwanstein Castle.) But it'll be good to see some of the ornaments from where we've been. LEL likes to buy wooden ornaments from our travels. It's great to see them, and remember what we were doing when we bought them.
While it'll be sad not to be with the rest of the family (both my side and LEL's side), I can at least be happy that LEL, Lovely Little Girl, Crazy Little Man and I will be safe and together enjoying our time together. And maybe, just maybe, that's all we need for the holiday spirit to catch on, no matter what the weather is like outside.
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