Free

In the beginning of a change,
the patriot is a scarce man,
and brave, and hated and scorned.
When his cause succeeds,
the timid join him,
for then it costs nothing to be a patriot.
~Mark Twain


God bless our Veteran's!

Secret Heathen Past?

I Am a Yule Log

While you do have holiday spirit, you have a secret, heathen past.

What Holiday Food Are You?

Refundable.

We saw this last night...


It was OK. It didn't give me that cheerful holiday spirit kind of feeling at the end, and there was no cheering and clapping when the credits rolled (like there was at the end of Christmas with the Kranks). Spoilers follow, so stop reading if you don't want to know.

My biggest problem with this movie? A main storyline revolves around Santa's brother (Fred) and his girlfriend and why he won't commit to living together.

ISN'T THIS A FAMILY MOVIE????

I realize this wasn't a religious film, or even a sweet, soon-to-be classic (it is Vince Vaughn, after all). I was also pretty sure at the get-go that we would be watching a secular, "gift-giving is King" kinda film.

That being said, I was very uncomfortable with this message of immorality being broadcast to a room full of families with their children who thought they were there to see a holiday film for families.

The worst part? The big payoff in the final scene is that he DOES commit to moving in with his girlfriend. THAT'S the happy ending to this Christmas movie?

How much more difficult would it really have been to write this character with his inability to commit to marrying his girlfriend? Absolutely no more difficult. At all.

It's a sign of our times. And I don't like it.

Underdogs.

The football team from my kids' school & the team from the school where I teach (different states) reached the playoffs this season. (Football's B-I-G here.)

In an odd coincidence, they will both be on the road, and they will both play against wealthy private schools tomorrow night.

But I have a soft spot for my alma mater (the kids' school) and the scrappy way those boys fight to the very end of the season to make the playoffs every year.

Sometime late tomorrow afternoon they will travel via rundown yellow school buses to a gated campus surrounded by million dollar homes. A campus with a $60 million auditorium & private music rooms. Eight tennis courts. Every advantage you could want or imagine for your child.

Our boys are from a poor farming community. There are no navy blazers here. There are no tennis courts or swimming pools. Our stadium hit the quarter of a century-old mark at least a decade ago. The city swimming pool was closed in the early 1990s, and the gymnasium is exactly the same as it was when my parents (now in their 60s) were in high school.

It makes you wonder...just what makes a winner?

God bless them all. The priveleged and the poor, the entitled and the determined.

And good hunting, boys.

Halfway!

The easy half is done in my Hannah Montana meets McLeod's Daughters at Christmas outfit...


No pattern used (and my pattern stash ain't getting any smaller). I just measured Lu for length and went at it! This is a longer skirt, below knee with an attached black gauze petticoat & ruffle. You'll notice I haven't changed my serger yet from the red. ;)

Since I have a couple more things to roll hem in red, I figured what the heck & sampled the red on the black gauze. Loved it. So it stayed.

(MajorSheppherd assisted with photography duties.)

Now it's on to the Hannah Montana half!