Sappho Speaks: The Day After Christmas

What Would Sappho Say?

Lectori Salutem! or L.S. (Greetings to the Reader!)

It's the day after Christmas and all through the house... there are probably bags and bags of trash filled with wrapping paper and impossible boxes everything comes in these days (especially if you have young ones in the family) plus the seemingly endless garbage that is generated from all the food that was created from the appetizers, the turkey, ham meal, or other tradition your family has for Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. If all went well, the top button on your pants is fitting a bit tighter than the day before and you have a warm glow filling your heart as your have had much more fun giving than receiving - a true sign of adulthood.

In our family we finally went to drawing names among the adults (the 3 children get an abundant of gifts to fill two trees!) as for years we all guessed at what each other wanted and it seemed a waste of each other's money since we all were partial to the giving process and none of us were very good at asking for things we wanted. We all are pretty fortunate people and have few wants and certainly don't feel comfortable asking each other for things. So, it seemed a great idea to pick names (spouses could not pick each other as they would most likely buy for each other anyway) thus increasing the likelihood each of us would ask for one gift if that was the only gift we would receive for the year. The limit was set at around $100 give or take and this year I must say I raked in on the receive portion of that limit!!!


I had gotten an XBOX 360 a little before Christmas as an early gift from Santa Claus himself, wanting to play games like Rock Band 2, Band Hero and the mother of all those games, The Beatles Rock Band. After receiving such a great gift from the Clauses (a great friend who went way overboard) I asked for one of the Rock Band games (not The Beatles one because it comes with all the instruments and is too expensive) and a guitar to go with it.

Well, I didn't know exactly who had drawn my name but had an inkling it might have been my brother or sister-in-law and was very specific about them not purchasing it if it was too much money but... he is the same brother who bought me a Waterford crystal vase while still in medical school. The boy has taste and has always bought great presents. This year was no exception and he really surprised me and bought not only one of the games but the entire system of ROCK BAND 2, complete with wireless DRUM KIT, wireless FENDER STRATOCASTER GUITAR (with 2 places to play the notes near the frets and near the neck), and a MICROPHONE. I had already purchased THE BEATLES ROCK BAND and a MICROPHONE so I have a complete kit for it as well so 4 people can play at once with harmony vocals - WHAT A GIFT! I was completely overwhelmed. My brother and sister-in law never do anything halfway, that's for sure and I love them to death for it - not the presents but the love behind the gifts over the years. I know my bro has a bit of trouble expressing his emotions so I know when he picks out something like this that he knows I will go over the moon for, it is all about the love.

SO, THANK YOU CHARLES AND MICHELLE1 IT'S A CLOSE CALL THIS YEAR BETWEEN THE ROCK BAND 2 AND THE CALENDAR AS THAT MEANS SO MUCH TO ME TOO! YOUR FAMILY MEANS THE WORLD TO ME!

That was supposed to be my only gift but some one broke the rules (Mom and Dad, Kaittlyn and Alex - my niece and nephew) and I'll keep their presents to myself but they are my heart and soul as well. It was a Christmas full of great joy even though I was feeling at my complete peak quite yet due to the hospitalization last week. I'm almost back to normal, just moving a bit too slow and took a scary trip down a flight of stairs at my brother's house that made everyone think I was headed back to the emergency room - most of all me!! The garland on the railing saved my life as it slowed my fall enough for me to catch the posts in my arm and stop my head a few steps before a slate floor. That would not have been a pretty sight although blood does match the red and green colors of Christmas.

Overall, we had another wonderful, intimate, family Christmas with a new visitor, my niece-in-law Autumn giving Kaitlyn a buddy to play with, make mischief with, but primarily have fun with. She was a delightful addition and hopefully becomes a fixture around our side of the family more often. I know that would please us all to no end!!!

As I said in my Christmas: It's Affect On Family, sometimes all you can hope for is a successful Christmas instead of a joyful and happy Christmas but this year I'll have to eat my words. While it was extremely successful with everything from the gorgeous house and beautiful yard my brother and sister-in-law had created (let's face it, mostly Michelle, my sister-in-law) in the spirit of Christmas; the amazing food cooked by both grandmothers (my mother and Michelle's mother) and the majority by Michelle, the desserts, candy, and appetizers in constant rotation for everyone to nibble one as well as the great contribution of freshly baked rolls bought at Randall's on the way over by me of course; the alluring fireplace keeping us warm on (finally) a cold winter's night; I have to say "success" was no where near a term to describe our Eve and Day. It was cheery, jovial, jolly, carefree, content, exultant, ecstatic and just plain happy. I'd have to go to a Thesaurus to come up with more words to describe the gleeful Christmas that made up 2009.

I can only hope the New Year starts out this good as an omen of things to come in 2010. Another year and another decade will come to an end. I am one of those that is of the opinion that while the millennium changed at 2000 because the official count started at zero, decades start at one as does everything else we count (ie birthdays, seconds, hours, days of the week - we never start with zero). So, the new decade does not begin until January 1st, 2011. This mathematical argument is brought up every time the decade flips and secular, non-mathematical people who just want to get a jump on the new decade continue to start referring to 2010 or 2000 as the next decade when in fact, they are still part of the previous. Really think about it and you will see that this mathematical argument is correct. Google it if you must.

JUST REMEMBER. THE 2010'S START NEXT YEAR!!!!!!

Much Love.


Inspired By Sappho's Muse

MUSIC OF THE DAY
The first track is off on of Pink's best CD yet in my opinion, Funhouse. I saw her concert promoting this album and this woman is well worth the overpriced tickets we all now have to pay to see an artist these days at a concert hall. Make sure you mix your drinks before the concert and take a cab to and from as a beer in $10 with a mixed drink upwards of $15. Don't drink and drive but definitely have your cocktails if that's your thing before you leave the pre-bar meeting locale or your home as you get yourself ready. The stage show for the main attraction usually doesn't start until 9:45 PM. Don't quote me on that. Call before hand to ask for an accurate stage time. All I am saying is from experience, Pink surpasses all expectations and her fans are diehard with lots of singing of all the lyrics on some Mizunderstood songs (I cool thing to witness on someone so young) and her energy is out of this world. I have picked a song that has yet to receive airplay (I see a video in it's future) called Ave Mary A. It's got a great beat and the lyrics are full of meaning as usual. I LOVE THIS GIRL. The second is yet another fro my favorite new artist of the year, Lady Gaga, called Speechless.

Ave Mary A     P!nk
Speechless      Lady GaGa

QUOTE OF THE DAY
When we are not sure, we are alive.
Graham Greene

The truth has never been of any real value to any human being - it is a symbol for mathematicians and philosophers to pursue. In human relations kindness and lies are worth a thousand truths.
Graham Greene