12.25.2006

...and to all a good night



It's been a busy few weeks and while I'm happy the craziness of December will end for us after tomorrow (when scads of family will descend upon Lemony Villa to celebrate Mr. Lemony's birthday), I'm always just a little bit sad to see another Christmas pass, mostly because I like the tree and would keep it up all year if I didn't think the neighbors would think me even crazier than they already do.

I think Lemony Mutt likes the tree, too, since she's eaten through more than one branch and completely destroyed Lemony Teen's Barney the Dinosaur ornament, handmade by a family friend back in nineteen-ninety-something when the child was enthralled by the purpley weirdness of the damned thing.

Maybe the dog is smarter than I think she is.

The tree lights up the darkest corner of the family room. This makes me happy, but presents a problem to Mr. Lemony since he'd prefer we never EVER put a light on in the room he parks himself in to watch TV every night. Personally, I think it's kind of nutty to sit in the pitch black when we have electricity, but he insists. It drives me wonky crazy mad to have to find another place to sit to read when there's a perfectly good couch RIGHT THERE, but I go, because I know if I start demanding light he'll start demanding dead silence when we go to sleep, something I canNOT abide. I need the white noise of the fan. He would, too, if he could hear himself snore.

Mostly, though, the tree reminds me of the first time I understood what home means. The first time I understood what love means.

Yep, one of the most important defining moments in my life came wrapped up in the shape of a Christmas tree.

My life, it is crazy.

Peace to all.

12.11.2006

music anyone?



We have music playing all the time here at Lemony Villa, so when the magnificent Jennifer tagged me with a music meme, I didn't have to go searching for the iPod. I never have to search for the iPod. Really. Never. Because...um...I have a problem. I think I'm addicted to my iPod.

Yes, I said addicted to my iPod.

Stop laughing.

My iPod, a plain old, boring, silver, 4GB piece of heaven, plays an ecclectic mix of stuff from speakers strategically placed all over Lemony Villa. Mr. Lemony, a tecno-nerd-geek kind of guy, thought it would be cool to wire the entire house to the docking station we keep in the family room. Now all I have to do is pop that sucker into the little slot and *DING* I'm listening to the cast recording of Wicked while pairing socks. Tracy Chapman while washing the dishes. Sarah McLachlan while scrubbing the tub.

I can even listen to Seether while cruising Quiet Village or while sitting at the drive-thru window waiting for a grande, non-fat, gingerbread latte, extra-hot, because, yes, I have an adapter for the iPod in my car.

The shiny little thing has become part of the daily routine we call Leaving Lemony Villa.

"Do I have my purse? Yes. My cell phone...wait...it should be in the side pocket...yep, got it. Who has to pee? Do it now because I'm not stopping at Mobil on Main...no...tough...pee now...thank you. Coats? Get it on, man, it's winter out there! Zip it up. Yes. Yes. Yes. I don't care. Yes. Thank you. Do you have your homework? Backpack? What do you mean you left it upstairs? Go. Get it. Yes, I'll wait. Hurry. Listen, Teen Girl, save the 'tude...I'm just...hey! Watch out for your sister! Dog. Crate. Collar off. Okay. Seatbelts! Let's g...WAIT! The iPod! Run and grab it, please. Please. Because I said please. Because the car is running and I said please. Because I have your allowance in my purse...wait...where's my purse?"

I need help, I know it, but it's so hard to just say no when Jason Wade is warbling, you know? He's so cute...and playing through the speakers on top of my kitchen cabinets right now, this minute, as I type.

Okay. My most current very favorite playlist includes ~
  • You and Me, Lifehouse
  • For Good, original cast recording of Wicked
  • So Far Away, Staind
  • Landed, Ben Folds
  • Crucify, Tori Amos
  • Lullaby, Alana Davis
  • Plush, Stone Temple Pilots
  • All These Lives, Daughtry
  • Lacrymosa, Evanescence
  • Crazy, Gnarls Barkley
  • The Four Seasons - Winter, Antonio Vivaldi
  • Somewhere Only We Know, Keane
  • God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen, Barenaked Ladies with Sarah McLachlan
  • Ray of Light, Madonna
  • She Talks to Angels, The Black Crowes
  • Constant Craving, k.d. lang
  • Levon, Elton John
  • Snortin' Whiskey, Pat Travers
  • Ain't No Other Man, Christina Aguilera
  • Snow White Queen, Evanescence
  • Good Enough, Evanescence
  • The Riddle, Five for Fighting
  • Breathing, Lifehouse
  • I Dare You, Shinedown
  • Cannonball, Damien Rice
  • Dear God, XTC
  • Lightning Crashes, Live
  • If You Could Only See, Tonic
  • Sexyback, Justin Timberlake
  • Mad World, Michael Andrews
  • Hallelujah, Jeff Buckley
  • Requiem - Lacrymosa, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Yes, I realize Justin Timberlake and Mozart on the same playlist is a bit of a stretch. I told you I need help.

12.06.2006

pah rum pah pum pum?

More like...

Twelve in-laws fighting

Eleven "But I want it!"'s

Ten temper tantrums

Nine UPS trucks

Eight books of stamps

Seven weeks of cooking

Six trips to Target

(negative) Five parking spaces

Four maxed credit cards

Three screaming children

Two cats puking tinsel

and a dog chewing on the tree.