"Top o' the mornin' to ye!"

In the United States, we are notorious for our over-indulgence habit. We frequently look for excuses to consume excess amounts of food and drink, guilt-free.

Our biggest excuse? Holidays.

I've already lamented the sugary spectacle that Valentine's Day has become.
Next up: St. Patrick's Day.
Barely a month after an excess of candy hearts and chocolate, we have beer. Lots and lots of beer. Frequently the beverage will be dyed green, the color associated with with the Ireland-originated celebration.

Speaking of origins, I decided to find out exactly what green beer has to do with St. Patrick. So, again out of curiosity, I researched the origin of the mid-March holiday.

Turns out, beer and St. Patrick are as compatible as St. Valentine and chocolate.
Which is, to say, not at all.
According to one account of the legend:

"...as it happened, a certain 16-year-old Welsh lad [named Maewyn] was kidnapped by [a band of] Irish marauders, and during the six years Maewyn spent in servitude as a shepherd in Ireland he experienced a religious awakening, then spent years studying in a monastery. He took on a new name, Patrick, and a new calling — converting his countrymen to Christianity.

Patrick certainly had the luck of the Irish — as a young man he escaped the captors who enslaved him, and several times later in life he escaped arrest by the druids who didn't appreciate his missionary activities in their midst.

He was successful at his chosen mission, too, founding schools and churches and performing baptisms; within 200 years Ireland was a Christian country. The shamrock, a trifoliate clover, became his cleverest teaching tool, which he used to explain the Trinity — three elements forming one entity...

There is some blarney in the stories about Patrick, too, most notably the one which has him delivering a sermon on a hilltop and thereby banishing the country's snakes. Unless one understands this symbolically to refer to pagan practices, it can't be true, for Ireland had no native snakes."

At least the legend briefly mentions 3-leaf clovers, a symbol of Irish folklore and a staple of the Americanized holiday imagery. Well, technically we idolize the "lucky" four-leaf clover. But how many people actually know why a 4-leaf clover is lucky??
According to Irish lore, the leaves of a typical 3-leaf clover stand for hope, faith, and love, respectively.

As for the extra leaf on a four-leaf clover...

...it stands for luck!

And then there's the drinking thing. Did you know that Ireland used to close all pubs on St. Patrick's Day? People went to church all day instead, since St. Patrick was a holy man and March 17 was considered a holy day. I mean holiday. Hm...

Ireland is famous for producing Guinness, but that happened centuries after the death of St. Patrick, the man we now "celebrate" by consuming countless pints of the fizzy libation.
When I say "we," I'm referring to the collective United States. I, personally, drink very little beer (it's too bitter for my taste). I prefer a nice emerald-green Sprite.

Whether you choose to pay homage to beer, religious doctrines, or Irish folklore, have a fun and safe day!
And don't forget to wear some green...otherwise you might get pinched!

Sticky Fingers

Today I had an amusing conversation with a 4 year old boy about stealing:

Harris: "Bad guys do do bad things. Swiper is a very bad guy. He steals things." (Swiper is the fox from Dora the Explorer. He is notorious for his thievery).
Me: "That's right. Swiper is a thief."
Harris: "And he's a robber."
Me: "That's another name for it."

Whatever you call it, stealing is wrong. Even kleptomaniacs*(like Swiper) are capable of recognizing that their compulsions are a problem. They just have a harder time putting an end to the poor behavior.

*Kleptomania: an irresistible impulse to steal, stemming from emotional disturbance rather than economic need.

When I was slightly older than Harris, I went through what I now refer to as my "klepto" phase. My first two offenses were bookmarks I filched from Book Star (now owned by Barnes and Noble) on two separate occasions. The first time I pocketed the laminated cardboard strip, I felt a guilty thrill. The second time, I just felt guilty.
I did not steal from a store again. Instead I wrapped my sticky fingers around "less-consequential" items: those of my friends and family. I figured that stealing from them would make me less of a "bad guy" because the items had been paid for already- just not by me (remember I was only about 5!). I pocketed all sorts of trinkets over the next couple years: slap bracelets, My Little Ponies, Power Ranger trading cards, Pogs, marbles...all little things that I could take away in my pockets.
My life as a little thief was not particularly adventurous, and I wasn't particularly interested in changing that.
Until one night when I was about eight.
Some friends of my parents had a daughter a little younger than me. The daughter, Erica, had a stuffed toy that I coveted. When we were invited to her birthday party, I brought along a backpack, claiming I needed it for a change of clothes (which was actually true, since we were going to a swim party). I waited until everyone was outside before staking my claim on the toy, then stashed my now-bulging backpack under Erica's bed. When it was time to go, I wrapped my arms around my backpack in an attempt to hide its obvious growth. When my parents mentioned my pudgy pack, I told them Erica had said I could have her toy.
The theft of the stuffed animal was by far my biggest robbery, and my lie ate away at my conscience. Before long I confessed my crime to my parents, who insisted that I return the toy to Erica myself. They drove me over to her house, where I came face-to-face with her parents (Erica wasn't home). I figured that Erica's parents would be furious with me, but instead they invited me inside and offered me a root beer float. As I sat at their kitchen table slurping vanilla ice cream, my guilt intensified dramatically. I hadn't expected such kind understanding.
When we left a little while later, I still felt guilty. But mostly I felt relieved.
I have not stolen since.
I'm sure there's a name for a guilt-turned-relief-induced change in behavior, but even with my love of psychology I don't know what it is!
All I know is...
Don't be a Swiper!

 

"Welcome to the Kitty Hospice!"

My mom and I frequently joke about our home being a "kitty hospice," because the house is full of cats who require medical attention. At one point my mom said "cats come here to die." That's not a very accurate statement...if that were true we wouldn't still have all of them around! The truth is, we take such devoted care of our sick pets that they've all ended up living way past their life expectancy! Cats come here to stay alive, man!!

Take Buddy for example. My homely but affectionate baby boy has been living with diabetes for nearly 8 years!! When he was first diagnosed (my junior hear of high school), the vet said we'd be lucky if he lived another 3 years. Since then he's had most of his teeth removed and a few scary blood-sugar spells, but he still has full mobility and his eyesight!

He doesn't even notice the insulin-filled syringe I stick in his neck every morning (the trick: do it during breakfast!).

Jacob has a benign tumor in his abdomen, discovered in late 2008. Because he is so old (17 years!), surgery to remove it is out of the question. He gets a (crushed) steroid with his breakfast every morning, which on most days he chomps like a champ!

Thankfully, the tumor's development has been stunted! Not halted, as it has grown slightly, but for the most part Jacob still seems comfortable.

Giving kisses!

Once the 'roids kick in I can't resist teasing him about his "roid rage" behavior, because he gets so wound up (especially about dinner!). He sits by his food bowl and yells at me every time I walk by...

Spitter, on the other hand, doesn't require any medication- she's just fat!! I have her on a diet, but my kitty-girl eats everything! She loves butter, eggs, cheese...and guacamole (isn't that bizarre?!). She will even lead me to "her breakfast spot" each morning, because she knows exactly where to go! It's hilarious!!

 

     

The whole "kitty hospice" notion came to fruition when we learned that Zuma is in the early stages of renal failure. So far her only "treatment" is staying hydrated, a pretty easy prescription to keep filled!

The other night the subject of animal adoption came up (following that sad Sarah McLachlan ASPCA commmercial). This is how the conversation went, pretty much verbatim:

ROSS'S FRIEND: "There are so many animals that need adoption. It's crazy."
ME: *nods sympathetically*

ROSS: *looks from me to his friend* "Don't say that, don't give her any ideas!"
ME: "Don't worry, I don't think we could fit any more animals in this house anyway." (what I was really thinking was, With our luck, another cat would bring yet another medical issue. The cats we have now already run the medical gamut, I don't think I could handle another one!)

Even the craziest cat ladies have their limits!!!

Life: A lesson in...well, life!

Earlier this week I babysat my 7 year old cousin, Tia. When I got to her house she had just come home from school, and she wanted to go to the park instead of do her homework. This is the (condensed) conversation that ensued:

ME: "Let's hurry up and get your homework done."
TIA: *scowls at me and crosses her arms defiantly* "But I want to go to the park."
ME: "The park is a reward, Tia. You have to do something to earn it, like do your homework."
TIA: "But I don't WANT to do it right now!"
ME: "I'm sorry you don't want to do your homework, but sometimes you have to do things you don't want to do. It's called 'making compromises,' and it's part of life. Grown ups don't want to go to work every day, but we have to make money. You have to do your homework. It's not a choice. I'm sorry you don't like it."
TIA: "But the homework is harder than you think! It's nouns."
ME: "Well let me look at it, and I'll help you. I majored in English, I know nouns! Do you remember what nouns are?"
TIA: "Person, place, thing, or animal."
ME: "This will not take long at all. Let's just get it done, then we can go to the park."
TIA: "But if we wait too long, it will be too dark!"
ME: "Let's compromise. This homework has two parts. Let's do the first half, then we'll go to the park. When we come back, you will finish the rest."
TIA: *nods her head 'yes', then begrudgingly sits down at the table.*

For those of you who are thinking that my compromise turned me into a sucker, you are wrong! Tia is a very smart little girl, and she is actually very good about getting her homework done. I could tell that her "meltdown" mostly had to do with needing a break, since she had just come home from school.
Just how smart is Tia? See for yourself, in an exchange she later had with a family who was also at the park playing:

LITTLE GIRL: *Pointing to the school across the street, which also happens to be Tia's* "That's my school, I'm in kindergarten next year."
LITTLE GIRL'S MOM: "No, honey, you'll be in preschool next year. You're only three. You're a little kid."
LITTLE GIRL: "Well, soon I will be a big kid."
TIA: "I'm a big kid. And you know what?"
LITTLE GIRL'S MOM: "What?"
TIA: "When you're big you have to do things you don't want to."
ME: *Mouth falls open with shock and pride*
LITTLE GIRL'S MOM: "Yes, that's certainly the truth!"

We left the park an hour later. After we had rested for a bit Tia led the way to the table, and we had the rest of her homework done in about 5 minutes!!

Rewards come in all forms, whether it's something tangible (like a trip to the park) or simply felt (like recognizing that you've been heard and heeded).
Tia and I both learned something important that day: in every Situation there is a Lesson to be learned...

whether we want to hear about it or not!!!*

*Yes, I'm also referring to myself... I would have preferred that Tia listen to me the first time around instead of argue, even at the expense of forfeiting the day's Life Lesson! But who doesn't feel that way during a willpower-showdown??

"Oh yeah, today is that romantic holiday..."

I don't like Valentine's Day.

Maybe it's because I don't need any more "socially acceptable" excuses to eat obscene amounts of chocolate and candy.

Maybe it's because I'm single and I don't appreciate a holiday that makes me feel insignificant or inferior compared to those who are "lucky enough" to be in a relationship.

Either way, this year I chose to avoid the commercialized hype by researching the origin of the so-called "holiday."
As is typical of many an American holiday, our present-day interpretation has nothing to do with the events and/or people associated with its creation.
The historical account of the holiday is centered around a man with the surname Valentine. Exactly who Valentine is, however, is actually somewhat mysterious. I found a number of different interpretations of the legend. This was my favorite interpretation:

“One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men — his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl — who may have been his jailor's daughter — who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure.”

So okay, Saint Valentine was a romantic. His importance in the modern day holiday, however, is virtually non-existent. Cupid-the winged, arrow-wielding, practically naked adolescent of Roman mythology-gets more recognition!

My Freshman year of college, a bunch of my single friends and I got together and declared the day Singles Awareness Day. Our boycott included ordering pizza and watching Love Potion #9.

*Ironically, and perhaps a little disappointingly, the acronym for our anti-romance holiday turned out to be S.A.D. But it was a very fun night, not at all sad!

Single Ladies at the Sechrist front desk

Getting cozy on the infamous blue futon to watch the movie! (I'm holding Melvin, my stuffed moose and the "official" mascot of Sechrist hall!)

Two years later I spent Singles Awareness Day indulging my crush on Dr. Derek Shepherd (known as "McDreamy" on the TV show Grey's Anatomy). That was a lot of fun, too!!

Me and Becca (and Melvin the moose again!)

This year I officially named Melvin the moose my Valentine "by proxy." He's been around for the last five years, and I've never given him due credit!

Me and my man (I mean moose!) Melvin!!

Whether your day includes candy hearts and roses or not, remember to wish a happy "statehood" day to Arizona...the Grand Canyon State is 98 today!!

Anyway

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;
forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
be kind anyway.

If you are successful you will win some false friends and true enemies;
succeed anyway.

If you are honest people may cheat you;
be honest anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

(You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;
It was never between you and them anyway).

-Kent Keith
(-Mother Theresa addendum)

Smiling through frustrations

If there's one thing I've learned about surviving the dismal state of our economy (and the 10% unemployment rate), it's that being anything less than optimistic is futile. Even when my frustration threatens to erupt, I check my attitude at the door. Or the log-in screen.

Frustration: I've filled out about a bajillion job applications.
Optimism: I could plant a virtual rain forest with the paper I've saved by filling them out online.

Frustration: My left wrist is chronically numb from the tension in my neck and shoulders.
Optimism: My massage therapist is amazing. Or, when I'm in a financial pinch (like now, for instance), my dad is a pretty awesome substitute. So is my BedBuddy heating pad.

Frustration: My increasingly pessimistic sense of despair.
Optimism: My smile.

Studies have shown that smiling is beneficial to your health, and not just because it's the universal symbol for happiness. Smiling can literally boost your mood because it releases endorphins (aka "happy brain chemicals").
Knowing this, I decided to do an experiment during my many tedious hours filling out applications. By the time I came up with the idea I had been filling out applications for hours, so I was good and grumpy.
So I pulled up the next online form, smiling big. It felt weird at first because I was in the wrong mood for jubilation, but after a few moments I noticed something interesting.
My shoulders had relaxed.
My eyes were less squinty.
I felt calmer.
Optimism had piggy-backed the endorphins, and my foul mood had lifted.
Not entirely, of course. I wasn't any more enthusiastic about finishing the application. But the smile had facilitated the necessary attitude adjustment to keep me dedicated to my task. As an added incentive I played some Springsteen, because listening to "my boyfriend" always makes me smile. Listening to music is known to have mood-boosting effects, as well.

Next time you are feeling discouraged, frustrated, or grouchy, I encourage you smile. Smile like you mean it, even if you don't. Your endorphins are gullible, they'll fall for it. Whether it's an all-day exercise or just long enough for you to get through a daunting task, smiling will make you feel better.
In the words of Nike: Just Do It. Smile through your frustrations. You'll thank me later. And your well-being will thank you.
Trust me.

Home For The Holidays

I love Christmastime.

Ross and I are always in charge of decorating the tree. This year we almost didn't have a tree, because originally my mom wanted to put a live tree outside (my dad is allergic). I voted for setting up the fake tree inside, because it just didn't seem as festive to have the Christmas tree outside, away from the festivities. Ross and I set to work:

Delicately placed ornaments (and stale candy canes) on the branches.

Tinsel flung unabashedly all over the place.

For Christmas Eve dinner the next night, we carved a “roast beast.” At one point the conversation branched into two completely separate conversations that managed to intersect hilariously. The topics were 'roast beef' and 'body anatomy' (with a focus on a particular region...ahem). I'll just say that at one point there was discussion of a “strip” and something being “clean cut”...it was either New York strip steak, or...Yeah.

And today is Christmas Day!!! I put red food coloring in the frosting for the cinnamon rolls that accompanied my dad's Christmas brunch pear pie. Yumm!!

Then it was time for presents! I don't care that I'm a “grown up,” the sight of presents under the tree still makes me giddy! I'm not being materialistic here...for me, presents under the tree adds to the festive atmosphere!

I always struggle with the feeling that unwrapping the presents is anticlimactic in some way, but ultimately curiosity wins out and I just focus on tearing through all the wrapping paper and tape!

Ross got gifts from "Victoria's Secret" and "L'Oreal." Hilarious!

I love all my gifts, though my favorite part about the presents this year was that mine (as in, the ones I gave) were all themed. I felt like I needed to make up for Christmas 2008 when I announced that everyone's Christmas present that year would be my presence (I was a scroogy recent college graduate, don't judge!). My conscience beat me into submission, and I ended up running to Safeway to purchase some truly last minute items: gift cards. I cringe whenever I look back on my 2008 Christmas spirit, so this year I went all out to make up for it. I bought everyone two gifts that correlated ingeniously, just like last night's dinner conversation about...steak.

Dad's theme: Music

Musicophilia: the effect of music on the brain (Oliver Sacks) and David Garrett's new CD

Mom's theme: Books

Kafka on the Shore (Haruki Murakami) and a mug that says "A book, a cat...life is great!"

Ross's theme: Money

The movie Blank Check and a homemade gambling certificate (just the slot machines, don't worry!)

I got many wonderful gifts, too! I did my Mary Murphy 'Hot Tamale Train' impression when I unwrapped this one! (skip ahead to :40 in the video):

 

Merry Christmas, everybody!