You know, when I was college taking all my literature courses, we had to read John Keats...because he was, like, the staple amongst Romantic poets.

And he may have been great and all that, but really...an Ode on a Grecian Urn? How long did he stand worshipping the urn before he composed those fifty lines? I mean, I like pottery too, but not enough to write a flowery, prosy poem about it. Aaaah, what do I know about it?

Looking back, that above immature behavior was my youthful ignorance and underappreciation for the fine arts. And so, I intend to rectify that now. I do hope John will forgive for my poor imitation. It will certainly not be as beautifully lengthy as Mr. Keats'.

My subject will be one of my favorite breakfast cereals: Cocoa Pebbles

ODE TO COCOA PEBBLES

O sweet chocolate-sweetened rice cereal treat!
Thou art music to my tongue at break of day,
I would worship you every morning, had you feet.
Your delicate shape and airy form may
Remind of me of heaven and the wings of a dove.
Twelve vitamins and minerals added to every toothsome bite
It's you who makes my milk the chocolatey nectar of the skies -
And I would endure pain and suffr'ng sent from above
to experience your glory and revel in your carbohydrated sight.
Forget calories and sugar intake! I see naught but perfection
in your chocolate-coated eyes!


For Simpler Folk:

Roses are red,
violets are blue.
The only question today:
One bowl or two?

Hail Cocoa Pebbles!

So, at this most joyful time of year, one of the many things we parents have to look forward to is the annual school Christmas program...

which serves as a reminder to me of how much large crowds stress me out and raise my blood pressure. I can't help it - it is a crappy part of my personality...tons of people freak me out.

There is nothing more that says "Season's Greetings" than people clawing and pushing their way to their seats, which have been saved by them for the last half-hour. Then, how about fighting the battle of the parking lot? Cars driving on by, not letting anyone or anything in front of them. Cars driving, bumper to bumper, because someone might have the audacity to nose out in front of them!

Rant concluded. This too shall pass. Bah Humbug.

Tonight is the last Full Moon of the year.

Tonight I reflect upon if I have fulfilled my goals of the previous months. It does not really matter what the answer is, but that I renew my commitment to forward progress. I set new goals, and strive to remember them every day.

Tonight I welcome the lengthening nights, because it reminds me of the darkness within myself. It reminds of that place where I close my eyes and contemplate the mysteries.

Tonight I acknowledge the advent of the return of the Sun God. With his rebirth on Yule, the world will grow and be sustained in his waxing light.

Our family's goals were as follows tonight (we write them down on slips of paper, place them in the cauldron, and burn them at next full moon):

1. Kirby: I want to try to not fight with Spencer.
2. Spencer: I want to find better friends to play with at school.
3. Brent: I want to not bring the stresses of work home.
4. Me: I want to be a more devoted wife to Brent.

Bright Blessings!

Brent and I were married in August of 1997. Poor, destitute college students we were, and could only afford a honeymoon to Kansas City.

Now...ten years later, we are finally taking our real honeymoon. The big one. The Child Left Behind trip. We finally just got it picked this weekend.

See the map here!

Brent and Heather's Anniversary Holiday

Master Bennet sent me these questions. All in fun and fact-finding you know.

Feel free to copy and paste and answer them yourself.

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot Chocolate

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree? They are wrapped

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Both

4. Do you hang mistletoe? Nope...probably would be eaten by the kids or cat

5. When do you put your decorations up? Varies - sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? All of them

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child: Don't have one - they all run together

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? Don't remember - whenever it occurred to me that we didn't have a chimney, so how the hell was Santa going to get inside my house?

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Some years we do

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? I don't - the kids hang the ornaments

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Love it...until the second snowfall

12. Can you ice skate? Very poorly

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? No

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Visiting friends and family

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Any

16. Any favorite holiday tradition? For the past five years, we've had the kids put their handprints on the Xmas tree skirt in fabric paint. It looks cool, and is a nice little memory.

17. What tops your tree? Nothing

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Both

19. What is your favorite xmas Song? 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen'