Sean’s gone, off on another job interview, this time in Michigan. He’ll be gone until the afternoon of the 21st. I don’t like it. I’d cry but I’ve cried so much in the last week I’m afraid if I lose anymore moisture I’ll turn into a powdered wife and blow away on the wind. I never like it when Sean leaves me overnight but it’s especially hard for me this time because it’s the holidays when airports are crazy and the news keeps using that dreaded buzz word : terrorists. Just do me a favor and pray for him to come home safe ok?

Obviously the Clomid didn’t work because the wicked witch has shown her face. Not that I’m all that upset, at least all my parts are working normal now and the Doc seems to think everything looks good. I start the next round of Clomid tomorrow so wish us luck.

Oh and while you’re here, go see my pretty Solstice decorations. Click Me!

Good luck and blessings, Prana

It seems people are all in a tantrum over the use of the words Happy Holidays in place of Merry Christmas and frankly I don’t get what all the fuss is about. Let’s look at this from a completely unemotional analytical stand point. What is celebrated during December?

Hanukkah (Jewish) – December 26 to January 2
Saint Nicholas Day (Christian) – December 6
Fiesta of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Mexican) – December 12
St. Lucia Day (Swedish) – December 13
Christmas (Christian) – December 25
Winter Solstice (Pagan) – December 21st to January 1st
Boxing Day (Australian, Canadian, English, Irish) – December 26
Kwanzaa (African American) – December 26 to January 1
Omisoka (Japanese) – December 31

So that’s what…9 holidays? Based on that alone, saying Merry Christmas is rather exclusionist. We live in America, a cultural melting pot that prides itself on being a diverse population. So it makes no sense to insist that everyone say Merry Christmas when there are many other completely valid holidays that share the month of December. Should we favor Christmas over the other holidays? Should we simply ignore those people who aren’t Christian and pretend their holiday doesn’t exist? It just doesn’t make any sense to disrespect our friends, family and neighbors who may celebrate other holidays by refusing to include their holiday in our greeting. Furthermore refusing to shop at stores that use terms like seasons greetings or happy holidays is not only ignorant but childish. I wonder if these same people who are so adamant that their religion is being attacked simply because someone included everyone in their seasonal greetings would be supportive is say a Jew or a Pagan were to start booing and hooing that none of the stores specify Hanukkah or Solstice. I think not.

Now some people seem to think that we should all say Merry Christmas because the majority of Americans are Christian but I say that’s nonsense. If the majority of Americans were Jews would we ignore Christmas? If the majority of Americans were men would we ignore women? It’s like looking at the night sky and understanding that there are millions of celestial bodies in the sky but only acknowledging the stars because there are more stars than moons. What it boils down to is simple human decency, respect for your fellow man and tolerance of their religion or culture.

Others say that we should say Merry Christmas because Christmas is a very old well established holiday. That makes me wonder if these people know anything about history or religion. Jesus Christ himself was a Jew so maybe we should ignore Christmas in favor of Hanukkah since it’s an older religion. Better yet let’s only say Blessed Solstice since Paganism was around a long long time before Judaism or Christianity. This isn’t a battle over who’s religion is the oldest people. Oldest doesn’t equal best.

And all those folks whining about people getting holiday trees instead of Christmas trees or sending cards that say season greetings or throwing holiday parties instead of Christmas parties I say grow up. If you want to get right down to it Christians don’t have any special claim to December. Jesus wasn’t even born in December and if you care to look it up (if you value the truth I highly recommend you do) you’ll find that not only the tree but the holly, the mistletoe, the virgin birth and everything else that most people associate with Christmas was actually stolen from Pagan religions. Don’t take my word for it, go see for yourself.

This whole thing frustrates me to no end for several reasons. The first being that I’m sick of hearing about the Christians being persecuted when nine times out of ten it’s the Christians persecuting everyone else. On top of that Christians have control of pretty much every major branch of the government and make up about 80% of the American population. So as much as some of them would like to pretend that they are some kind of poor persecuted minority it’s just not true. How many Christian networks are there on TV? Now how many Buddhist networks are there? How about Pagan or Jew or Hindu or Atheist networks? None. Now turn on your TV and tell me how many Christmas movies are on. Do you see any Wiccan themed cartoon movies on for the kids? No, I didn’t think so. How about schools, which are supposed to be separate from religion. How many Christian songs did your kids sing at the school pageant? Kay, now how many Pagan songs did they sing? How about any other religious songs? So kindly get off your high horses, lose the martyr complex and join the rest of us in this reality. There is NO attack on Christmas or Christians. If you can show me even one single person or organization literally trying to outlaw Christmas please let me know.

Second it seems to me that we all have a lot of more important things to be worrying about, especially at this time of year. Who gives a hoot about semantics and labels? Why do you care if I say Merry Christmas or Happy holidays? Why should you care if I call my tree a squirrel and my holly Ben Franklin? What you should be worried about is what Jesus (or whatever deity or power you worship) would want you to be doing right now. Like spreading peace, tolerance, love and respect as Jesus did. Like being close to family and friends, bonding and strengthening old ties. Not putting up walls and pushing people apart. We should be out there doing charity work and making sure that everyone is fed and warm and safe. That every kid has a happy holiday and that everyone, regardless of religion or lifestyle knows that they are loved and valued by us and our various Gods. Really people, what would Jesus do? Jesus, who said judge not, who loved and respected even the lepers and prostitutes. Would he want you harassing people over a word? Or would he want you to spend your time doing something that would honor his sacrifice and his name.

I don’t know about you but I plan to spend the rest of the season bringing people together and doing everything I can to make sure everyone has a wonderful holiday. This stuff is silly and pointless and a waste of time. Let’s all forget these petty arguments and focus on the real spirit of the season. Good luck and blessings, Prana
P.S. Happy Holidays and Seasons Greetings!

Aside from a few stocking stuffers our holiday shopping is done. We ordered the cats pressies to and filled thier stockings with all kinds of goodies. The tree is up and decorated with an insane number of ornaments, the house is decked with holly and various holiday decor and tonight the lights go up. I even bought a bunch of holiday music off iTunes and turned the heat on for a few minutes. It’s almost above freezing in here now!

All our Thanksgiving food has been eaten and what hasn’t (yes I know it was you who shoved the stuffing to the back of the fridge where I wouldn’t see it!) will be thrown out. I’m so sick of turkey. But, I could handle some more pie, it’s sick.

We mailed all the packages and holiday cards today so you should get yours in a week or so. We also finished our holiday charity shopping. We sponsored two kids on the tree at K-Mart and bought them each a fleece gloves, hat and scarf combo and two toys. We spent a hundred bucks, which is more than I’d planned but we wanted the kids to get really nice stuff. We also donated a large 80th Anniversary Winnie The Pooh stuffed animal to the Toys For Tots organization and another fifty bucks to ChildsPlayCharity.org. I feel bad because I wish we could do more.

On Thursday I had both an external and an internal ultrasound. Fun as always. I haven’t gotten my results back yet so I’ll probably call the doctors office on Monday and see if they want me to come in. I hope the news is good.

Sean has an onsite interview in Michigan just a few days before Christmas which is a bummer but maybe it will lead to a really good job and we can get out of the desert. I do worry about traveling with all the cats, what if one gets loose and lost? But I trust in the universe and whatever cosmic plans are in store for me. Whatever is supposed to happen will happen and theres not a whole lot I can do a bout it.

If you have a free moment and you wouldn’t mind terribly, say a prayer to whatever deity or higher power you believe in, that Sean comes home safe and that we get our baby soon. That’s all I really want for Yule. Good luck and blessings, Prana