Holiday Rooftop Revolving Lounge Decorated here 4 U from Now to New Years Day

@jeanne-mayell Thank you for getting this rolling Jeanne!  I am technically slow.

Have struggled to stay positive this year.  After nearly 3 years of Covid, no travel, relentless political BS and the death of my closest friend … I’d thrown in the towel on Christmas Spirit.  And then ….

I was picking up dinner for a gathering and passed a woman with a walker seated on a bench.  As I passed her she gave the most radiant smile and hello.  It was clear she was homeless, but she had the warmth of an angel.  Walking back to the car I kept getting a strong message "give her your dinner".  So I turned around and asked her if she had eaten today and then honored the message.  I know there was an etheric touch to the experience, but that woman’s smile helped me find Christmas spirit this year and was a reminder of what a simple act of kindness can create.  

@jeanne-mayell Oh, it will be nice to visit the holiday rooftop revolving lounge during the celebration season.  Thanks for decorating!  Last night I went to a winter solstice celebration here on the island.  We met outside around a beautiful wooden sculpture of women and children dancing around a fire and my sculptress friend even added a fire in a metal vessel on top the sculpture.  It was a great celebration starting with recognition for the Native American tribes who inhabited this space: the Nisqually and the Puyallup.  Then we recognized all the cultures and religions of the earth who celebrated the winter solstice.  We recognized our ancestors and especially the ancient ones who celebrated the solstice in similar fashion.  We sang and danced, threw our losses into the fire and made our best magick for a better new year, full of unity among all peoples and love for our earth.  

It was a cold night and even though we were outside, everyone wore a mask.  I was reminded of my grandson who told me a few weeks ago that when I wear a mask, I need to smile with my eyes.  My eyes are smiling at everyone here in our forum community.  May this season be a season of joy in the midst of darkness.  Better days are coming.  The light is coming.

Wow @jeanne-mayell - I have never seen so much tinsel in one place.  You've gone all out, and I especially appreciate the chocolate fountain in the center of the room.  I do question the stuffed Krampus in the corner but who am I to pooh pooh anyone's traditions!

I have gained 20 pounds since our COVID quarantine in October and I've decided to embrace it in the short term (2022 is only a week and a half away) and just realistically used all the holiday bargain pricing to buy two more pairs of elastic waistband pants with drawstrings.  I'm calling them my paternity pants and I'm happily not beating myself up for this weight gain because thanks to Keto it'll be gone again by March.  In the meantime my wife and I are dropping the kids off at Grandmas for an overnight tonight and we're going to get chinese food and binge some Desperate Housewives while wrapping presents.

Happy days to all!

My mentor sent me this via e-mail a few minutes ago and I celebrate it with you all:

HOLIDAY EATING TIPS 

1. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly, it's rare. You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas! 

2. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Holiday party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello? 

3. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again. 

4. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert, Labor Day? 

5. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat. 

6. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission. 

7. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog. 

8. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Holiday spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls. 

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards. 

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner. Remember this motto to live by: 

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body.  Better to skid in sideways, chocolate and wine in one hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming " WOO HOO what a ride!" 

And MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

@jeanne-mayell Well the lights are sparkling! I especially love those old timey bubble lights up there around the top of the tree.

Yesterday, at dawn on the Solstice, I was thrilled to be visited by a pair of coyotes trotting behind our house, with a nearly grown pup hurrying behind. They did not break stride at our (astonished) dog behind his dog fence and were beautifully silhouetted in front of a misty setting Moon still high in the NW sky. Can you see it in your mind's eye?  I hear them howling in the big woods near our home and have been hoping for a sighting.

So I offer you Coyote's Trickster Magick - the humor of the ages, the light of cheer, and the joy of laughter.

@marigold Oh, I see that moon and those pups, parents and child. And the old fashioned bubble lights. I don't know if you meant what I'm seeing hanging up here, but we used to have one. It was red and when you plugged it in, it started bubbling. It was old fashioned even in the 60's. 

@dannyboy, yes, it is a little tinsel town up here and there's a little train set going all around a little village. There's a mayor (female) serving her fresh baked cookies, some carolers, some protestors carrying signs (not sure what they are protesting at this moment but maybe someone here will know). And I'm making eggnog.

@jeanne-mayell The blue stocking with my name on it that appears to be filled with peanut m&ms was a really kind gesture and very homey feeling touch!  

@dannyboy omg, peanut m&m's a.k.a., Reeces Pieces, are my favorite. Oh wait.  You meant peanut M&M's. That's okay. I get it. You haven't tried peanut-BUTTER M&M's. 

@jeanne-mayell I ... uhhhh... have tried them.  I'll keep the peanut M&Ms, but now I know what to fill your stocking with :-)