Lights Out

In case you were wondering what that loud "CLICK!" sound on December 26 was, I think I've figured it out. It was the sound of almost every house in my neighborhood turning off their Christmas lights. Did it happen in your neighborhood too? Yes? Most of these lights have been blazing 24/7 since the day after Thanksgiving and then the minute Christmas Day is over, they're done. This is puzzling since many of the houses still have their exterior Christmas decorations up and you can even see lights twinkling inside their homes. Is it some sort of tradition or simply a way of saving on the electricity bill?

When I was a kid, the Christmas season extended until about January 2, when the decorations would finally come down. The week between Christmas and New Year's was a time for visiting friends and relatives. Lights still twinkled and ornaments glittered. Holiday food continued to be served. No one even thought of shutting the decorations down during this special week. Many even left their tree and all outside lights up and on until the Feast of the Epiphany on January the sixth.

There are a few bold ones like us in the neighborhood who still display decorations such as nativity scenes, light-up candy canes, sparkling snowflakes, Christmas stars and even an inflatable Santa Scooby Doo on this "late" date of December 30. Ours will be shining brightly until at least January 2. Why not celebrate and enjoy this beautiful season as long as possible? Happy New Year to you.

It's Christmas Commercial Time!

Picture this scene: The setting is a festive holiday party at a beautifully decorated house. The sharply dressed young man is walking through all kinds of happy holiday activity. He seems to be holding a gift behind his back as he walks to his destination. And then he sees her, and she might also have a little present for him! They meet, stand about 6 inches away from each other and gaze into each other's eyes. Now you're wondering what's wrong with this. I'll tell you -- these two kids are about ten years old! This is actually a scene from a Christmas commercial for a well known department store.

I saw another commercial like this while on the treadmill the other night. Again, it was a Christmas commercial for another local department store. This time a ten year old boy was obviously checking out a girl about his age as she flounced by. Does anyone else see a problem with this? Or am I just an old fuddy-duddy? Has it become socially acceptable for ten year olds to date?

Here's how the first commercial would play out in real life: First of all, the smart blazer that the kid's parents made him wear would have been tossed behind a chair somewhere. He would in no way have a gift for an icky girl, and if he did (because his parents made him), he would run up to her, throw it at her, and then beat a hasty retreat. Right? Isn't this how 10 year olds act? Or are they more mature nowadays, and I'm just out of the loop? I really wish that people wouldn't put kids into adult situations like this. Please, please let them be kids while they're able. As for dating, why back in my day we had to wait until we were 16. And that was fine!

OK, so you know which Christmas commercials annoy me. But wait there are more! What about the Gap cheerleaders? Perky and fun, or just plain obnoxious? Ummm, obnoxious. Almost all perfume commercials, just because there are so many of them at this time of year and they take themselves too seriously. Somebody needs to remind them that they're marketing scented water, and not the cure for all the world's ills.

My absolute favorite Christmas commercials are for Publix (a really nice grocery store located in Southern states). Their commercials usually involve family and the simple things surrounding the holidays. There was one a long time ago showing a family traveling by train to see relatives for Christmas. I loved that one. Their current one is a little story about a young doctor who seems to be away from home for the first time, and will not be seeing his family for Christmas. It shows him going back to his lonely apartment after his shift at the hospital, and calling his mom, telling her to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. She says she will and when he opens his apartment door, the whole family is there! Everyone from the tiniest kids to the elderly grandparents. They've also cooked a delicious feast for him after apparently breaking into his house. Can you imagine the logistics of what this family had to do? Call it what you want, but I still think it's a very sweet commercial.

I've also seen some Target commercials that are creative. There's one where the dad is hooking up something to the TV and the kid is videotaping his rear end so that it appears on the TV. The other kids in the background are having a good laugh. Another one involves a kid whose mom just told him that Santa makes the toys, and the kid goes on to imagine elves sloppily putting together goofy looking toys. And the hyper Target shopping woman cracked me up too, mostly because I've known people like her.

And if we're already tired of all of this marketing, that's too bad because it's only the beginning of December. We have weeks of this still to come. So enjoy the ones you love and turn the other ones off. Oh, and thank you Folger's coffee for finally retiring the one about the guy (Peter!) who comes home from college. That one was from the 80's and I swear they were still showing it last year. At least I think they retired it.

Is This Weight Loss Reality?

I have a secret. I'm a reality TV fan. There, I said it. I like to think of it this way: reality shows are so educational. Hey, stop rolling your eyes! They are! When I watch The Amazing Race, for example, I learn about different cultures and I can refresh my knowledge of geography. And by viewing Survivor, I now know how to survive on a deserted island, but only if Jeff Probst shows up with a flint and some fishing supplies. And food and clean water. Top Chef has taught me what a confit is and that "foam" looks exactly like spit. When American Idol is in full swing, I'm always ready to chime in with my opinion on the contestants' performances, even though I'm probably the least qualified person in the entire world to do so. Don't even get me started on how cool Project Runway is.

Now, I don't regularly view all reality shows. That would be silly. The dating and dancing things don't do much for me. On the other hand, I'll tune in to some shows occasionally when there's nothing else on and I want to catch up with what's happening. One such show is The Biggest Loser. This show follows the weight loss journeys of a group of overweight people. Now here's a subject I am qualified to comment on. When I watched last night's episode, I figured out that I had missed the first half hour of the show, which was probably the best part. The remaining contestants got makeovers and Tim Gunn made an appearance. The rest of the show followed the usual formula: The contestants a) did some sort of physical challenge; b) got yelled at by the trainers; and c) did the weigh-in. The weigh-in is always ultra-dramatic, punctuated with commercial breaks placed at crucial moments, and seems to take an awfully long time. Heck, at Weight Watchers, you stand on a scale and the weigh-in person says "OK, I've got it." and then either congratulates you or looks a little concerned for you. It takes like 45 seconds. But on The Biggest Loser the weigh-in takes about 40 minutes to weigh 6 people. This is also the part of the show is the part that gets me mad.

Last night one of the contestants, a young woman, lost 3 pounds. If I lost 3 pounds in a week, there would be a celebration. I'd probably call everyone I know and announce the good news. I'd feel all smug because I was obviously doing everything right and how cool was I. So this girl weighs in and loses 3 pounds, and SHE CRIES. Not with happiness or even smugness. No, she is sad and disappointed that she only lost three pounds. It's not unusual for contestants on this show to lose up to 10 or 12 pounds in one week. Usually this applies to guys, but women sometimes show big weight losses too. So while she's boo-hooing BECAUSE SHE LOST WEIGHT, BUT NOT ENOUGH, the camera focuses on the trainers, who are shaking their heads and their eyes are bugging out. How could she disappoint them like that? Despite all of the drama, the contestants do work really hard, take a lot of flak, and truly want to succeed. They also want to lose a lot so that they don't get voted out and miss the chance of winning the big money at the end. So that may be the source of some of the tears.

But is this the reality for your average viewer with a weight problem? Are they out there watching and say, "Well, I didn't lose 10 pounds this week, so I'm a failure. I quit."? One time I saw the Biggest Loser trainers on some show and they were asked if anyone could expect weight loss like this. They were very quick to say no. So I guess this kind of extreme weight loss makes great TV, but do not try this at home. Does this show set up unrealistic goals and expectations for those who really need help? Is losing "only" three pounds not good enough? You'll have to watch and decide. If you can get through that loooooong weigh-in.

I have to go and watch the latest episode of The Next Iron Chef.

Who Needs An Adventure Like This?

Over the last couple of stressful months, I haven't paid any attention to my eating habits. It seems that I had gone back to my old ways, eating whatever I wanted because.....well, just because I could. Deep down I knew that this was unhealthy, along with the fact that I hadn't gone to the gym either. No problem with that! I was burning all kinds of calories unpacking boxes and walking up and down all those stairs!! Riiiiiiight.

So with all this in mind, I gathered my Weight Watchers membership card, my weigh-in book and went online to look up the closest WW meeting. I decided to go to the Wednesday morning meeting and get started again. I was determined! As I was backing out of the driveway on that Wednesday morning, I was fully aware that the across-the-street neighbors had a very large moving van in their driveway. It was backed in with the front end out into the street. Somehow I misjudged the distance of the street and the truck and smacked right into it. Upon getting out of my car, I saw the damage done to my poor car's rear bumper and then looked to see what I had done to the truck. I looked, and looked again. NOTHING! What was this thing made of, and why can't they make cars out of it? I received words of sympathy from my neighbor and a couple passing by in a car, and the moving van guy said not to worry about his vehicle because "nothing's gonna hurt this truck".

After being assured by the van guy that everything was ok, I went on my way. I did call Mark to tell him what had happened and told him where I was headed. I got to Weight Watchers only slightly shaken and after weighing in, was a little more shaken. I've been going to Weight Watchers for several years and know how meetings can be. The same people tend to go to the same meetings each week, more or less, and it can get a teeny bit cliquish. So while getting my share of "who is she?" glances from the other attendees, I chose a seat in the back corner. A few minutes into the meeting, one of the WW employees comes in and asks if there is a Cathy Pa...Pal... I say my name and she replies that yes, indeed, that is it and then proceeds to tell me that there is a phone call for me. What? No one gets phone calls at WW meetings! (Cell phones are strictly prohibited. Oh, heaven forbid if your phone rings during a meeting.) All eyes are on me as I go to the phone. So much for trying to be inconspicuous. On the phone is a Weight Watchers operator saying that I have to call my husband right away. It's a police matter! I know what it is right away, and this is confirmed when I call Mark. The moving van guy has been told by his boss that he has to call the police despite the non-damage to his truck. Just damn. More Weight Watchers ladies' eyes on me as I leave. Oh well, they'll probably never see me again because I'll be in jail.

When I got home, there was a officer from the sheriff's department sitting in his car. I'm already putting my hands out for the cuffs as I walk to the police vehicle. But the policeman greets me, tells me that he's glad that I came back and then shakes his head sympathetically at the damage to my car. I find out that even though most of my car and most of the moving van were on private property, the impact actually took place on the public road, making it necessary for the police to be called. I also learn that I'm not going to be cited, but I have to remember the public road thing the next time something happens. I assure him that I certainly would remember that. No problem!

So I won't be going to the pokey! Or to court, where people will yell at me and I will cry. Yea!

But these questions remain: Will I be known by my neighbors as the crazy lady who crashed her car into a parked moving van? Will the Weight Watchers ladies always remember me as the crazy lady who had to run out of a meeting after receiving a phone call at the meeting place?

I guess only time will tell. I also know for a fact that after trying on some jeans that I haven't worn all summer, I WILL be going back to Weight Watchers. And cutting down on cookies. And pie.

The Best Kind Of Summer Camp

When I was in the sixth or seventh grade, the one thing I really wanted to do was to go to Camp Lawrence. If I remember correctly, this was a week-long Catholic summer camp for elementary and middle school age kids. For some reason, going to camp was the big thing that year. Everyone was going. My friends and I started making lists of the things we needed to take. All of our enthusiasm didn't make any difference to my parents though, or to the parents of many of my friends. It was a no-go. So my equally deprived best friend and I spent camp week at home, making hippie love bead necklaces, riding our bikes, and being annoying.

Well, the good kind of karma struck when I found out about Camp Iwannastitch, which is held at my favorite cross stitch shop, The Dogwood Patch. The store itself is located in Hiawassee, GA, with mountains and Lake Chatuge in view. What a beautiful setting for a relaxing, stress-free weekend!

My sister, Sheila, and I booked our camp spots with the expectation that it would be as wonderful as last year's and we were not disappointed! Armed with our stitching and supplies, we made the trip through the winding roads of the North Georgia Mountains. We arrived on Friday afternoon to greetings from the store owner, Terrie, and our fellow campers. The store was stocked with fabulous charts, floss, fabric and supplies, plus chocolate in the form of candy and brownies. Terrie and her husband, Kenneth, are great hosts and always made sure we had everything we needed. Who could ask for anything more?

So from Friday afternoon until Sunday afternoon, we stitched, ate (the food was good too), shopped, played games, had some great conversation and then stitched some more. Some people might be confused as to how this could be fun. They wonder how we can derive pleasure from "just sitting around and stitching for that many days". One of the other campers summed it up best when she said that you would only understand if you were a stitcher.

I finally finished Leaping Cat and started Little Ballerinas by Country Cottage Needleworks while at Camp Iwannastitch. It was a good feeling finishing something because I haven't been stitching all that much lately. I think I got a stitching jump-start! Now I'm excited to keep going with my current project.

None of us left until we absolutely had to on Sunday. We finished up our shopping and said goodbye to Scooter, Terrie's newest kitten. We said our sad goodbyes to Terrie and our fellow campers, who we all consider to be new friends. There was also an agreement made to attend camp together next year! It will look a little different next time because Terrie is moving her store to Buford, GA. It's new name will be The Stitch Store. I will definitely be back!

So They Loaded Up The Truck And They Moved To Berk-e-ley

I had never received so many astonished looks than when I told people that yes, we were going to drive to Berkeley, CA to move Matt to grad school. Then after we got back, people were more inclined to tell us that we were nuts when we told them that we had done the drive in 3 days. From Atlanta to Berkeley. And, no, we didn't break any land speed records in the process.

What we found was that driving on I-40 is not an interesting trip, even though I had never visited most of the states we drove through. I'm sure that all of these states have their lovely views, exciting cities and interesting attractions. We just didn't get to see them.

We saw some weird stuff though. Near Conway, AR is Toad Suck Park. We saw the sign for this sometime late in the afternoon during the first day, just when we were starting to get punchy. My traveling companions laughed in merriment, while I wondered why they would give what was probably a perfectly nice park such a revolting name. Later in the day, we met a very nice Starbucks lady in Little Rock who told us that she used to live in the city we just moved to. Small world!

Amarillo, TX boasts The Big Texan, which describes itself as a steak ranch. The big draw here is that they'll give you your meal free if you order the 72 oz. (that's four and a half pounds, for all of the mathematically challenged) steak and eat all of it. And all of the sides that come with it. Oh yeah, one more thing, you have to finish it in ONE HOUR! Neither Mark nor Matt was up to the challenge, so we travelled on.

One place along our route that I would have liked to visit is The Freshwater Pearl Museum. It sounds wonderful -- a guided tour, lunch and a jewelry showroom! I was driving at the time and was soooo tempted to pull off the highway, but I decided to save it for another time. It's not too far away from home.

By day three we were in the desert and it got seriously hot. Yes, our car thermometer said 105 degrees. We were somewhere in California when this picture was taken. The desert is pretty fascinating at first (Look! A cactus!), but after about 10 hours you find yourself wishing for the cool, green mountains of North Georgia.

And another bit of interesting info? When you enter California, you have to go through California Customs! Ha Ha! They actually stop your car and ask if you have any fresh fruits, vegetables or plants. We had none of the above, so we didn't get to find out what would happen if you did. Would they confiscate your apple?

You can only imagine how happy we were to arrive in Berkeley on Sunday night. It truly looks like Matt's kind of place to live. I predict that he'll be happy and successful there. Even though we'll miss him, both Mark and I are glad that he found a good place to live and learn for the next 5 (?) years.

We'll be visiting the beautiful San Francisco Bay area again for sure, but next time we'll be flying the friendly skies.

Cats On The Move

While we're all a bit stressed out about this move, I can't help but worry about our three feline companions. Everything I've read tells me that moving is highly stressful for cats especially. Dogs do a much better job at getting used to their new surroundings. But we have cats and we better start looking forward to that extra challenge.

There are so many websites and articles devoted to moving with your cat and getting him acclimated to his new environment. One website tells me not to pack in front of the cats. A former neighbor of ours used to travel a lot. Whenever she brought out her suitcase, one of her cats barfed on it. Now that's a statement. Another article says that seeing the rooms in their familiar house empty can make cats feel unstable. We've emptied out rooms before to clean carpets and the cats seemed to think it was great fun! What an adventure!

I already know that our three - Cosmo, Ozzy and Moxie - are going to hate the travel part. Luckily we'll only have to drive for an hour or so to get to the new house, but none of them have ever ridden this long in a car. Well, that I know of. And they all HATE riding in cars, although to varying degrees.

Cosmo: REALLY, REALLY hates cars.
Ozzy: REALLY hates cars.
Moxie: Kind of doesn't like riding in cars.

We've decided that we are going to divide the cats up and take one each. I'll take Moxie!! Oh yeah, one website tells us not to put your cat in the back of the moving van. What? Someone would do that? Another says to play classical music when you're transporting the kitties. Hmmmm. Yet another advises us cat movers to ignore their howling while in the car. Uh huh.

One of my favorite pieces of advice is to communicate with your cat on a regular basis and include him in your plans. Also you're supposed to "send your cat thought pictures of your new home". This was a gem. But I might do it.

My biggest concern is getting our three kitty friends used to our new home. From what I've read, this can be extremely tricky. Many of the articles I've read offer very good advice about confining the cats to one room in the new house where they can just chill out. This will be their room for a while so it needs to have everything in it to make them comfy, like their litter box, food, blankets and toys. OK, we can do that. Then after a few days you can start to keep the door open. There are also products that can help to calm your cat. One is an actual plug-in thing that you put in their room. Who knew?

The thing that scares me the most is that this acclimation period can take up to six weeks!

I'll keep you posted.