HOLIDAY SEASON AND CHRONIC ILLNESS

HOLIDAY SEASON AND CHRONIC ILLNESS

This time of year sees the malls and parking lots jammed full. Tempers flaring, anxiety growing, bank accounts emptying and stress higher than Santa's reindeer in full flight. 

For people with Chronic Illnesses, this time of year is a nightmare at best. The constant agony of trying to shop, carry bags (yeah right) and deal with the demands of family and friends is quite overwhelming.  In the seventeen days of December, I think I can count on one hand the non-flare up days. The closer it gets to Christmas, the worse it seems to be getting.

Yes, the added stress is certainly contributing and likely so is the wet damp weather (that is the West Coast). Of course, the bad news from the Specialist with regards to my Meniere's Disease and it's progression isn't really helping much either. 

The attempt has been made a couple of times to go out and do some shopping and other holiday related activities. Each time, the pain has been unbearable but I keep a 'brave' face on and keep going. 

Being someone who is a total 'foodie' and loves to cook and bake. This time of year is now extremely depressing. Gone are the days that I could bake and cook for hours on end and collapse around New Year's. Now, it's a struggle just to stand in one spot long enough to make a batch of cookies. I can no longer work dough with my hands because they cramp up too much. 

Wrapping presents is a challenge. I can remember sitting on the floor, surrounded by bows, wrapping paper and tags and spending the evening making sure every gift was wrapped in elegance. Now, I'm lucky if I can make sure the wrapping paper is cut straight.

Everything about the holiday season now is troublesome and problematic. There aren't enough medications on the planet to make me feel joyous this year. I'd be perfectly content to sleep my way into 2012. Alas, I don't sleep so even that idea blows. 

Any way you slice it, Chronic Illnesses impede your daily life. Even the holidays  can't fix that. 

Enjoy the holidays, the best you can in whatever means you can. Inner strength comes in waves but it is there. 

Maybe, we can luck out and Santa will bring us all cures!

Merry Yule, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Channukah, Blessed Ramadan, Happy Unbirthday! 

My Holiday Movie Picks

MY HOLIDAY MOVIE PICKS

This is my favorite time of year for watching movies. To have a well rounded video collection, I recommend the following holiday themed movies:

Classics:

Scrooged

It's A Wonderful Life (B&W version)

Christmas in Connecticut (Barbara Stanwick version)

A Christmas Carol (B&W version with Alistar Sim)

The Santa Clause

Home for the Holidays

National Lampoon's Christmas

Miracle on 34th St (B&W version) 

Holiday Inn (B&W version)

Christmas With the Kranks

White Christmas

The Bells of St Mary's (my personal favorite)

A Christmas Story

For those who like 'Action' in their holiday movies, I suggest:

Die Hard

A Long Kiss Goodnight

Reindeer Games

Home Alone

Lethal Weapon

The Ice Harvest

The Last Boy Scout

Cartoon wise you can never go wrong with:

A Claymation Christmas

A Nightmare Before Christmas

A Winnie the Pooh Christmas

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

Frosty the Snowman

The Little Drummer Boy (my personal favorite)

A Muppet Christmas Carol

Polar Express

Of course the holiday season wouldn't be the same without these Tear jerkers:

I'll be Home for Christmas

Prancer

One Magic Christmas (my personal favorite)

The Family Man

The Night They Saved Christmas

Of course, these are but a mere slice of the holiday movies out there. Go out and check out some of the lesser known movies, they are worth while and make a great addition to any one's movie collection.

Happy Movie Viewing

A PAGAN CHRISTMAS

A PAGAN CHRISTMAS

Right now, as you read this, your mind is in a state of panic. What could I possibly mean by a 'Pagan Christmas'?  Well, it's not that far fetched as you might think. Christians 'borrowed' a lot of Pagan traditions to form what is now known as the Christmas Season. 

Over the next couple of weeks leading up to Christmas, I'll be exploring different aspects of the holiday and how they relate to Paganism (specifically Wiccanism) and Christians alike. 

Celebrations are universal. No matter what you celebrate or which religion you practice (if any at all), we all enjoy spending time with family and friends. We love good food, good times and presents of course. 

Spend this holiday season learning different ways to celebrate this wonderful time of year.

Merry Yule!

Celebrating American Thanksgiving on Canadian Soil

Celebrating American Thanksgiving

on

Canadian Soil

It happens every year without fail. Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving in October, and Americans celebrate Thanksgiving in November right? Wrong, Yes, those are the months they are indeed celebrated but more and more Canadians are hoping on the turkey bandwagon and marking the November holiday with just as much enthusiasm as their neighbours' to the south.

We have always celebrated both dates in my home. Being not only a 'border baby' but also half American, it was a normal occurrence. The almost 'ritual' now is watching Macy's Thanksgiving Parade (85th annual this year) followed by the National Dog Show and Miracle on 34th Street (original b&w version only). Let's not forget the football!

Embracing all the traditions of the American Thanksgiving by watching the TV. shows, watching the football and dining on turkey with all the trimmings is becoming big business in Canada. Canadian merchants are finally jumping on the 'Black Friday' train and using it to make a bigger dent in their holiday profit targets.

Personally, it's brilliant! I remember standing in lines and mobs during Black Friday just to put a $20 pair of jeans for $5. I'd much rather do that on Canadian soil and contribute to my local economy. Of course, now in the age of 'web commerce', waiting in endless lines and pushing through crazed mobs is on the verge of obsolesce. Ordering online is easy, painless and security measures have greatly improved making it safer and more attractable to consumers.

This is a day to mark the official end of harvesting and the beginning of the 'holiday season'. Not everyone celebrates Christmas, but almost every one celebrates Thanksgiving. It's a time for family, friends, joy, food and laughter. It's the one day out of the year that I am truly homesick.

So Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Canucks who are celebrating and of course to my cousins, friends and family in the United States. May you all find joy, happiness, and love today and the rest of the holiday season.

THANKSGIVING DAY

Today is my favorite holiday in the whole year. Yes, I'm obsessed about Halloween but Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday by far. 


It's the one day out of the year that family means everything. Not everyone celebrates Christmas but everyone celebrates Thanksgiving. It's not by fluke that today is the busiest travel day in the United States. Students, far away relatives all flock to the main homestead to spend the day/weekend watching t.v., devouring more food than you can shake a stick at, arguing over who is gonna kiss that weird Aunt first. 


While my homestead in 3300 miles away, my homestead here is embracing the tradition of American Thanksgiving as well. Since I can't make it home, I do what I can here to make it as festive as I can. 


My day is almost ritualistic after so many years. Macy's annual parade, the dog show, Miracle on 34th St (only the black and white version for me today) and food. OK, so there is football in there too (shh this is a hockey house) I love the aroma of the fresh baked pumpkin pies merging with the sweet smell of savory sage and apple stuffed turkey. It is how I know that the holiday season has officially started and it's time to get my ass in gear and start to Christmas shop, decorate, bake and generally be nicer. (who am I kidding, I'm not 'Mary Poppins')


Thanksgiving has always been about celebrating the end of harvesting and cherishing things that are important to you. If you consider that as the motive, why wouldn't you celebrate it twice?


Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving in October, but I'm here to tell my fellow Canucks that there is nothing wrong with celebrating Thanksgiving twice. Twice as much love, happiness and turkey. What more could you want?


I know:  The great deals that start tomorrow!!!! Black Friday, the #1 highest grossing sales day of the year. Tomorrow is how most merchants will gauge what their year end will be like. It can be a make or break day for some retailers. 


I say, eat turkey, shop, enjoy your family and remember that the feelings that the holidays bring should stay year round.


Happy Thanksgiving to all and a very safe, blessed holiday season!

Dear Santa

Dear Santa,

I wanted to write you a letter to tell you I still believe in you. Everyone has tried to tell me that you don't exist but I think they have just forgotten what it is like to have the imagination of a child. 

At 44, you would think that I wouldn't still believe in you. The truth is, if I didn't believe in you then I also wouldn't believe in love, compassion, tenderness, empathy, faith and most of all humanity. You have given me so much throughout my life that you have to be real. Right? 

I mean, who could make so many people smile and feel warm and tingly inside even in the harshest of winters' nights. People are so nice this time of year. They open doors, say 'hello' and 'Happy Holidays' while bustling around with shopping bags and screaming kids in tow. That is a miracle right there in itself. Santa, if you aren't real then I have to look at the world with different eyes and I'm just not prepared to do that. 

I don't want to look at the world with hatred, disgust and contempt. I don't want to look at people and see the worst in them. I want to smell the roses not just see them for the flowers they are. I want to think that people are inherently nice and that it takes an act of anger to make them mean and hateful.

Santa, I know I have rambled on and on, and usually, you get a few choppy sentences with a giant list of toys from a wee child instead. I'm hoping you will read my letter with an open mind and open heart like I believe you possess. 


If you are able, for Christmas this year, all I want is: To have the heart of a child and the ability to look at the world with compassion, tenderness and hope.


If you can't bring me this for Christmas, I'll understand. I won't stop believing in you. I'll just keep hoping until next year.


Sincerely,


me


ps.... I really really want a Food Processor :) Come on, you are Santa after all!!

MAPLE RIDGE HAS SOMETHING TO 'WINE' ABOUT

Maple Ridge has something new to 'wine' about. 

Swirl VQA stores has opened a new location for wine enthusiasts with over 650 different wines from British Columbia. Located at 22286 Dewdney Trunk Road, it's centrally located in the downtown core and minutes away from the Golden Ears Bridge.

When you walk into the bright and airy store, the first thing you'll notice is the well stocked shelves. Broken into types of wines rather than company, the consumer has the ability to compare bottle to bottle easier and even find something other than what they originally planned.

Of course, one of the best parts of visiting Swirl, is the wine tasting. A selection of 2 whites and 2 reds will certainly either make your choice simpler or more complicated. The wine tastings are free so be sure to give one a try.

Too many wines to choose from? How about joining their Wine Club and letting Swirl put together a collection of reds, whites or a combination of both. You place the order, they do the work and you pick it up packaged and ready to enjoy. (prices vary depending on club level)

No wine store would be complete without accessories and Swirl has a great selection to choose from. Crackers, chocolates, wine glasses and decanters are just a few of the items they have. With the holiday season quickly approaching, have Swirl prepare a gift basket up that will be guaranteed to please any friends, family or co-worker.

Open 7 days a week, you can visit one of their three locations: Maple Ridge, White Rock or Yaletown.

Everything goes better when paired with a BC Wine.

swirlwinestore

Halloween

HALLOWEEN

Every October, the house gets a complete makeover to transform into a house of horror? Okay, so it's not like 'Fright Nights', but it is my happy oasis and my obsession as most people describe it. I've always been a freak for Halloween. From dressing up and trick or treating as a young child, to parties and taking a whole month to decorate my house as an adult. Each year, I pick a theme and design the house around that theme. Fake walls, cemeteries, vampires, zombies, you name it, I love it and would like to own it all. 

This year, the house is transformed into my personal homage to 'True Blood'. Calling the house 'The Howling Fang Pub" complete with menu and designer drink list. (AB+ sells at a premium per ounce). A cute notation at the bottom of the menu to mark all the 'blood' was graciously donated. Having a sick and twisted sense of humor is a definite plus for this holiday. 

Of course, my Halloween isn't complete without baking. My recipes for 'Frankenbars', 'Black Widow cookies', Were claws are crowd please'rs but usually it's my cakes that speak spooky. Last year was a cemetery complete with 'Carrie' hand gummy prop. This year, something a little simpler. A tombstone that lists names from True Blood. 

Fun and creepiness aside, Halloween is also a high holiday for me. In the Pagan world, Samhain is similar to New Year's. We spend the 30th speaking to our ancestors, connecting with the spirit world and thanking them for everything they have put before us. We atone for our shortcomings (mine is gonna take days and days), bless our homes and families and start a new year fresh and clean.

DAILY PSYCHIC TIP OCT 26 2011

DAILY PSYCHIC TIP

PAGAN HOLIDAYS

Pagan holidays follow the calendar quite similar to Judeo Christian Calendar of holidays. Yule = Christmas, Ostara = Easter, as well as Pagan holidays that have been 'adopted' by society. Samhain = Halloween, Beltane (Beltaine) = May Day.