Just for fun

Today I found this collection of photos of ugly holiday sweaters, and I feel compelled to share. You all know the Holiday Sweater. These sweaters range from beautiful and timely to well...atrocious. Honestly, I'm a bit jealous of the souls who get invited to the "Ugly Sweater" parties, except for the fact that I would search the world trying to find the worst sweater possible and that would eat up a lot of time.

Fortunately, were I in need of such inspiration, I have this fabulous article from msn.com to hook me right up.

I can't decide if my favorite is number 4 (seriously, is that a baby goat in her lap?), number 8 (which I'm seriously considering reconstructing for myself), or number 9 because the guy's pose is just spectacular! I wonder if angels are singing directly to him.

I award honorable mention to number 16, the SLAYER holiday sweater. That's right, SLAYER. Because nothing says Christmas like a band with songs entitled "Angel of Death", "Raining Blood", and "Dead Skin Mask". (When one marries a metal-head, one gets to learn these things). I guess everybody has a Jolly Side.

Enjoy the photos!

Isn't this exciting?

I've become obsessed with hurricane Sandy. I'm watching the news and the weather channel like it was my job. This is odd for two reasons. First, I rarely watch the news, it's depressing and I get anxious when I sit and think how awful the world is becoming. Second, the idea that I'm only a few hundred miles from where a hurricane is about to make landfall would ordinarily have me packing up my stuff and heading for higher ground. But I'm not frightened this time. I'm excited. I can't get enough news about it. I think we're set with supplies, and my biggest concern really is my wakjob neighbor's yard full of "political signage" and I use the term loosely because it looks more like a yard sale and a crime scene made a baby that wasn't very bright.

Maybe it's the name. I mean, if you really think about it "Sandy" doesn't exactly scream horrifying cataclysmic event. In fact, the only phrase that comes to mind when I hear Sandy is "Beauty School Dropout" (Maybe I'm losing some of my chick-cred here but I've only seen Grease once, so forgive me if that song was based on another character...those girly girl movies were sort of lost on my teenage tom-boy self).

Mostly though, I think it's because this thing is immense. Massive. Truly the largest storm I've ever seen EVER on satellite. It's a once in a lifetime event, and it's truly amazing to be a part of it. Schools are closed for two days, I could potentially lose power for a week or more. If the winds don't drop below 35 MPH (and that could be a day or two after the storm passes) they can't even send people out to fix the power-lines. It's a terrific event in every sense of the word and I'm excited to see it unfold.

Here are a few sets of photos that you may find interesting if you're as geeked up over this as I am:
http://www.weather.com/news/weather-hurricanes/hurricane-sandy-pictures-photos2-20121025

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2224655/Hurricane-Sandy-update-Floodwaters-breach-rivers-submerge-towns-storm-century-barrels-East-Coast.html

Reality Check Cashed.

This morning my Google Calendar cheerfully reminded me that today is Patriot Day. Which helped me find a place of perspective that I have been sorely missing.

This morning was what you might call "crummy".  My cat threw up all over my bedroom floor, then climbed onto a dresser and started to let loose again. When nudged him off the dresser, he managed to puke on my pants as I stepped into the gigantic puddle of puke on the floor. I then had a small(ish to medium-large) meltdown, uttered some very unladylike words, removed my soiled socks and cleaned up the floor. I don't normally lose it, but it has been an unreasonably stressful few weeks. My mom was in the hospital with a kidney problem they are still figuring out, my kids went back to school, I'm back in school and working full time and trying to coordinate the kids schedules and be a good mom...and now this ridiculous cat threw off my whole morning! UGH!!

So I got myself ready for work and got the kids to school and when I checked Facebook and I had one of those moments. You know that moment that reality check moment? The one that says 'I know you're overwhelmed, but you do not know real suffering.' Sort of a slap-to-the face of my frustration punctuated by a stern voice saying "SUCK IT UP YOU BIG CRYBABY!".

I watched the outpourings of honor, gratitude, and memory and my heart was humbled. I remember where I was that morning, the horror, shock and disbelief that I felt. But I did not lose any loved ones on 9/11. I did not get a call from my husband on a plane facing immeasurable odds. I did not have to explain to my children why their dad was not coming home. I am awed by the spirit of the folks who were strong enough to keep searching, keep fighting, keep hoping, keep digging. Even more awed by the souls who fight for our country today, who respond when another soul is in need, who are there rain or shine, day or night to keep us safe and who try to save us when we need rescuing.

Patriot Day is an important day to our country, and especially for my generation, because it reminds us that Freedom is not free in a way that no other holiday can. It brings us back to a day that it is so important to remember in a way that none of us will ever forget.