Scary Near Miss

Have you ever experienced a “near miss?” A car accident you avoided at the last minute, a relationship that ended in time to save you from years of misery?

I experienced a near miss on New Year’s Eve, and I don’t mind admitting it scared the crap out of me.

Just after midnight we donned our coats and headed out to my friend’s front lawn to watch the neighbor set off fireworks. He did a great job and gave us a pretty good show.  Shortly after he finished his boom-boom-booming, another neighbor came out with Roman candles.  He set these off with little regard for onlookers, and the things shot off in all directions. Before I fully registered that the blast was headed straight for me it zoomed past, a mere 6 inches from my face.

I’m terrified anew every time I consider the consequences had I been standing only 6 inches forward. There were teenagers there who also might have been hurt when the thing hurtled past.

I got lucky, buttercup. Fate was with me on this one, and instead of a 911 call and a trip the hospital, we instead hightailed it indoors and continued our festivities.

After such a “near miss” I’m sure you’d forgive me if I admitted to downing a few extra alcoholic beverages; but no, that isn’t my comfort. I noshed on lemon-pepper wings and triple-chocolate cake. Nectar of the gods. Yum!

I’ve thought a great deal about that Roman candle and the fact that 2012 might have started out quite tragically for me. I’m grateful that it didn’t, that I got lucky this time around. I've been sending ooh-gobs of thank-yous out to the Universe every day since.

I won’t be watching home-presented fireworks again, either. One near miss is quite enough.

Have you ever had a “near miss?” Something that made you grateful from your head down to your toes?

See you next for Book Blurb Friday!

Lisa

One Last Gift to Open!

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011!

Christmas 2010 is a memory, but there is yet one gift to open.  2011 stands before us, 365 days waiting to be unwrapped.  Just like a colorful box under the Christmas tree, each day holds within it the unexpected; what we do with the contents is our choice. Make each day count!

Thank you to everyone who reads my blog. I appreciate the time you take to read and leave thoughtful comments. I've connected with so many wonderful people and fine writers this year. I can't wait to see what I'll unwrap in 2011!

Wishing each of you a healthy, happy and prosperous 2011!

See you next year -
Lisa

Clip art courtesy of Webweaver.

HAPPY 2010!!

Have you ever wondered why New Year’s Eve dances on the heels of Christmas?  I have a theory about that. 

See, the Christmas fuse is lit after the last “trick-or-treat” is hollered, and the sparks fly.  There is all the cooking and baking for Turkey Day, the cooking and baking for Christmas, the addressing of Christmas cards, decorating (inside and out), wrapping gifts, delivering gifts, and keeping the pets out of the Christmas ornaments.  By the end of December everyone is either comatose or desiring to be.

Then, hallelujah, New Year’s Eve beckons.  New Year’s Eve is the culmination of all that craziness.  It is the last hurrah before the New Year sets in and life returns to some version of normal.  Even people who crawl into bed before the Times Square Ball Drop (or the Underground Atlanta Peach Drop for us Georgians) recognize that the madness is—thank you, Lord—boxed up ‘til next year.

Now, I know what you’re thinking.  You’re thinking I’m using New Year’s Eve as an excuse to drink too many margaritas, eat too many goodies and wear a silly hat. 

Okay, well, maybe you’re right about the hat. . .and I might concede the margaritas and goodies, too.  But that’s just the point! After all the stress and end-of-year build-up, the New Year’s Eve doctor arrives and his prescription is to “let off some holiday steam” and most people do. (As the NYE doc is a metaphor he can look however you want him to.  Mine looks like George Clooney and he has a brownie in one hand, a margarita on the rocks in the other, and he is wearing a big, sexy smile.)

Can you imagine the end of the Christmas rush without New Year’s Eve following after? Whatever would we do with all that pent up frustration and stress?  If there were no New Year’s Eve to set us up for January how would we muster the energy to de-ornament the tree, the house, the yard and put Frosty-the-giant-balloon-Snowman back in the attic?

New Year’s Eve is medically required therapy and good for our mental health.  The margaritas and brownies have nothing to do with it.

That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.

Have a safe and happy New Year’s Eve, and may all your doctors in 2010 look like George Clooney!

‘Til next time –

Lisa

Maintain the Muffin-Top!

Today was supposed to be the first day of my diet.  I planned to hit the Weight Watchers points system—the only weight loss program with which I have ever found success—intent on dropping the ten big ones I’ve gained since PaPa moved in and took over the kitchen.  PaPa is a wonderful chef who believes taste trumps calories and to whom low-fat means frying in olive oil instead of butter.  My muffin-top is a testament to his spatula wielding ways.

Anyway, I gave up the diet plans in favor of a happy holiday.  Initiating a diet between Thanksgiving and Christmas would be nothing short of torture, and I am not a masochistic madam…so to speak.  All those goodies!  Far better to nibble in moderation than to not nibble at all because, let’s face it, we all know I’m not going to pass up praline pecans or Auntie Honey’s annual fudge.  Or Carrie’s turtles.  Or Linda’s nut rolls.

Or, heaven forbid, dark chocolate Peanut M&Ms in those bright holiday colors!

Instead of actually dieting, the big challenge will be to somehow not gain an additional five pounds between now and January 1^st.  I think that is an admirable goal, all things considered. 

Since the thought of counting points through the holidays was stressing me, I think I should be congratulated for inventing a means of relieving holiday food guilt.  I abolished dieting but retained an admirable goal: Maintain the Muffin-Top. 

Hmmm…somehow that sounded better before it was actually put in writing.

What I mean is, as long as I don’t gain any more fluff, I’ll consider the Christmas season to be a rollicking success.

Soon enough the New Year will loom large and I’ll be measuring my Raisin Bran portions and noshing raw carrots.  And that will totally work for January. 

But this is December, my friends—the season of cookies and candy and mulled wine; of holiday parties and New Year’s feasts. So I say eat, drink, be merry, and Maintain the Muffin-Top!

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and good eats –

Lisa