Memories of Christmases past

Christmas Eve is here (in the U.S) for some of you it's Christmas day so Merry Christmas!

A lot of places in the world celebrate Christmas, even if the family's religious background is not Christian, it is universally a time to spend with family or another loved one. In Japan some families will buy strawberry cakes, set up a tree and celebrate Christmas in a similar fashion to how they do in the states. In Spain, Christmas day is still celebrated, only in that part of the world Santa clause climbs in through the window and not the chimney. Most houses out there are not built that way so naturally being the diverse expert that Santa is he accommodates when delivering presents. There is a holiday known as 3 Kings, which is celebrated on January 5th symbolizes the three wisemen who paid homage to baby Jesus and his family, these wisemen are considered more popular then Santa Claus! Presents and treats can be found everywhere around the house, and processions are commenced on January 5th with elaborate parades, where children receive even more treats from the passing floats. I never witnessed one of these celebrations due to me being out of the country each time or working during the holidays but from what I heard from friends it was a site to be seen. (it was also a pain to wander through the town during these holidays, due to the MASSIVE crowds. There are about 8 Spanish holidays in December alone, the holidays were always a pain at work due to the amount of local nationals we had to hire, lovely people but during December we didn't see them much so naturally we had to pick up the slack, unfortunately when Americans are in foreign countries this is where it is hard to adjust because the big people in charge don't believe in that sort of cultural acclamation. I had a good laugh at the people who continually ask me "oh so did you get to siesta in the middle of the day?" NO! Never, but they Spanish workers left around 1500 (3 o'clock pm), for the day during the summer months, I sometimes stayed until 1700.

Me being silly in front of the completed tree.

 My first Christmas in Spain was spent with my ex Princess in Italy, it was a very modest and simple Christmas but one I will never forget and cherish. We bought a tree, ornaments, some of which I special ordered ahead of time on the internet and all miraculously came in on time to use, and presents, I did not make very much money but I bought a variety of gifts and Christmas was enjoyed and celebrated in a lovely hotel room. We even put up Christmas lights and lined the hotel dressers with lights and it lit up the room beautifully. The tree was against a large window which glowed from the window when we would walk outside and bask at how crazy of a idea it was to drag all our luggage and presents to this hotel, but we felt so pleased that we pulled it off. We even baked Christmas cookies, Princess had hauled her tiny oven and we baked cookies and had frosting. On Christmas eve we ventured out onto the streets in Naples to find the main Duomo (cathedral building) of the city, it was pouring rain pretty bad out that night, and we did find the building at one point, a friend of hers had accompanied us but like most cities in Europe there was no place to park! The area was too confusing for him to leave us off and find another space, we probably would've never seen him again. So we found another church, it was very old but beautiful this place had been around since the 17th century. It looked so dark and gloomy, several people looked up and eyed our bunch with curiosity, we were obviously foreigners, it looked like a "regular goer" kind of church and we had never been seen before. We sat in the middle and just admired the dark paintings on the walls, since the mass was in Italian, but when songs were sang the whole church lit up, revealing Christmas lights aligning the different columns of the church, there was even dancing, girls were dressed in white robes, wore wreathes around their heads, held hands and spun each other in circles. There was something so magical and unexpecting about that. I had never seen dancing during a Catholic mass! A lot of Christmas songs were familiar to our ears, so we sang some of the songs in English along with the Italian lyrics, at one point I got funny and made fun of one of them, Princess was serious when it came to sitting still in church and scolded me like a child, so I obeyed lol.

To be even more funny when Princess opened up her presents on Christmas morning I had gotten her a printer as one and wrapped up a pile of printer paper, to hint of what was to come, she looked at me wild eyed then gave me a big smile and in her most sweet sarcastic voice chimed "I love it!" Princess always knew exactly what to say....It is times like that, that I miss not being single, but I still have my family and I am grateful to be home, but I am also grateful to say that I made Christmas modest but special for someone, Princess made it very special for me as well, several gifts I still use, like a quilt with sunflowers, I love sunflowers! A Marc Jacobs perfume, which unfortunately a moto TSA agent opened it and dumped out it's entire contents, so now it only sprays air.....boooo.....and a Jewelry box made in Italy or Switzerland, plays music and is just so beautiful to look at, so thanks for the memories Princess, I hope I can do that again for someone one day...

Today will consist of what I assume to be last minute Christmas shopping hopefully I find that extra special gift, already bought one big thing but I know somehow i'll find another special item to get one of those classical reactions similar to Princess's. I live for that stuff! Merry Christmas eve everyone! There is a subscribe button at the bottom if you would like to hear more from me!

Small town visit

Christmas is almost here! Snow was piled up on the ground and thickly coated on the roads everywhere in the part of Kansas my mom lives in!

 But that was ok, it was such a lovely but cold day outside! A whopping 10 degrees F but there is something so charming about walking outside despite the cold in a street where you can hear classics such as 12 days of Christmas, blasting over a speaker.....not to mention seeing a pro-life poster every five miles on the way there....: /! My mom had to get some of her fillings well refilled and other sort of dental work done in a small town called Seneca, about 40 minutes away from the small humble town of 500 that she currently resides in. Dentists offices, doctors offices make me pretty anxious, even if I am not the patient. This is extremely ironic considering I worked in a doctor's office but the moment I had to sit out in the waiting room the anxiety and panic set in. (in my OWN office) In the dentist's office I have to often stop myself from crying and running away, being the adult I am I know that that is no good and will only prolong my suffering but at the same time I rock back and forth in my seat waiting for the process of laying in the trendelanburg position (legs propped up on your back you use this position when you get blood drawn or feel faint, being on my back makes me feel dizzy for some reason). So I wandered about the small town while my mom was getting her procedure done. There was a modest clothes shop next door, it mostly had old lady clothes, what I mean by that is oversized shirts that wouldn't look flattering on any figure, and slacks with elastic bands on them. I never understood what the point of the elastic band was, most women who I see wearing that, usually 60's and up came from the generation where a girdle was commonly worn, so how much more support do you need?! My grandmother still wears sets similar to that, must be a pain....Very charming staff, an older lady saw me yawning and playfully asked if I was tired, they did have some cute long boots and shorter versions but at not so reasonable prices.

 It was a bit hard to figure out how to cross the street since there were piles of snow that towered way above my head, and dump trucks clearing snow from the road, contributing to the piles. This little town I discovered from a little headstone marker on the sidewalk, while trying to cross the street stated that this was a stop of the 2000 mile journey road by messengers on horses carrying letters and small packages, known as the "Pony Express", this system did not last long, about 18 months to be exact, due to the invention of the telegraph system. This journey began either from Sacramento California  or St. Joseph Missouri, from 1860-1861. According to http://ponyexpress.org/history/ it is said that only one package was lost! But a very financially cumbersome operation, which quickly lost it's appeal due to the rapid progression of technology.

I walked into another store shortly after this and I discovered toys of all sorts, and panty hose that looked like they had been manufactured in the late 80's to early 90's, none of which were my size, I think I saw a girdle or two in a small plastic package...huh....And this being the country there would be a whole isle of toys that are John Deer accessories and trucks, kind've cool to say that I've seen the real things in person, since I lived with my mom for a time on her boyfriend's farm, some of that stuff looked like something out of a movie, a robot harvesting wheat! These toys weren't exactly cheap almost $7 for one small truck, but the remote control John Deer did look appealing!

Then I came upon an isle in the back that looked like it was dedicated to crafts. I saw doll heads, and lots of them, porcelain doll heads. I could not fathom why they included a figure head and arms, until I found a package that included "directions for use". You sew together an outfit and stick wings on them yourselves and boom and angel is born! Pretty hilarious when you think about it, but the idea for some reason seemed pretty creepy and I imagined someone having all those heads laying around waiting for their body to be sewn up....kind've creepy!

Onto a lighter note I bought some glow in the dark stars for my room so I can have an estimation of where my bed is in the dark, without stubbing my toe or turning on my LED lit screen of a phone and waking my roommate up. (we share a room and there are no walls) Bubbles! Because I love blowing bubbles and several magnets with wise words of wisdom that I can't wait to display at work! :) The funniest part was when I brought my items to the register the cashier lady politely inquired, "Oh what nice stocking stuffers!" I just smiled and nodded, because these ain't no stocking stuffers that's why. After that I had been gone from the dentist's office for awhile I figured I still had time to go to one more place, a building that was once in the town bank in the late 1800's until about the Great Depression I believe, was now a malt shop. When you went in it looked like an old fashioned diner, even the chair I sat in I was afraid I was going to brake it because it looked so old, of course when I asked the "staff" how hold it was they had the most puzzled looks on their faces, the girl who served me my icecream which was vanilla shake with crushed oreos and gummy worms, told me "I think it's an antique?" Huh...You don't say.....lol not her fault she didn't know I myself was obviously a lot older then her how could I expect her to know. It's almost Christmas eve the most magical time of the year! (I still think it is...)



Typically out in the country people serving in the military are very much welcome and honored.

Beautiful Tiffany windows, with a view of the whole street!



The "antique" chair I thought I was going to brake on the left.

Magnets I  purchased at the store, my favorite one is of the old lady!

Making Christmas cookies....Mexican style! :)

Some people take great pride in carefully following a set recipe, whether it be from Betty Crocker or handed down from 5 family generations. For my family however, we have many unique ways we make a variety of food and it has always been to my satisfaction, I think my opinion is valid since I am extremely hard to please when it comes to food, I am the ultimate picky eater! My mom's style has always been to just throw it all in no measuring no nothing just guesstimate! But to make it a little simpler to understand numbers are provided

Christmas cookies (frosting) you'll need:

1/4 cup of Milk your choice.

One stick of butter

1 Cup of Confectionary sugar (for thickness and flavor)

food coloring

For the cookies:

All purpose flour to prevent sticking

Pillsbury Sugar cookie mix

Holiday Cookie Cutter of shape of choice

Wax cooking sheet

Step 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Step 2.  Prepare dough by removing from package. Roll dough into a dough like your playing with playdough, until it's round like a flattened snowball or ball, whichever you prefer and using a rolling pin flattened dough until it is semi thick, not too thick but not too thin because then the shapes after imprinting into dough will be harder to remove from the dough sheet and will brake in the oven during baking.

Step 3. This is the tricky part, placing cookies into oven you sort of guestimate when to take them out, by watching as the cookies rise and noticing how developed the outer portion of the cookie is in order to determine if it is ready to be cooled off. It helps if you have an oven light to watch as the cookies rise.

Step 4. Prepare frosting by mixing into a measuring cup or bowl, with 1/4 cup of milk, stick of butter, 1 cup of confectionary sugar, quickly mix ingredients, and add food coloring. If the frosting appears lumpy this is ok, it will still go on smoothly to cookie but it will be a bit more messy so it is important not to let the butter settle during mixing. If frosting appears to runny add more sugar as a medium.

Step 5. Spread, sprinkle, let dry, serve, enjoy!

Spread!

This is what happens if the dough wasn't spread right!

Sprinkle and enjoy! :)

Why do parents never come visit their kids in their exciting new location? And why do kids as grown adults never seem to travel anywhere but to see parents?

It's cold outside, so here is a random picture of a Tom cat that wandered onto the farm. There is a little house we have just for him and another female cat unfortunately, because this is the country there is a lot of animals wandering around, including wild cats one has found it's way into Buttons house (the cat's name) and is trying to claim his space as his own. The cat purrs when you just walk near him.

I am not looking up any statistics when I ask this question, but from generally running into a lot of people I notice that if I were to ask any typical person who did not grow up traveling places or whose parents did not travel they tend to stay close to home or it be a big deal or commemoration or milestone to get on a plane and go to a land that is maybe 500-1000 miles away from home. Or it's a big deal to visit the big city in their state or province. Who knows....It's a question I've asked people often and I seem to get the answer "In all the time I've been here my parents have not come to see me once but I go see them." and I ask if it's a money issue and usually the other person indicates that it is not, so I ask "Do you ever intend on visiting another country in the next year?" and usually the response is no. I was told a few times that people are afraid of traveling while other people who are even more seasoned of a traveler then myself ask me why anyone would want to stay in one place there is literally a whole world out there, and there is, so whoever reads this get out, travel, save your money and whatever excuse you may have, I am not a fan of adrenaline pumping activities but a large part of my age group is, but not me, yet I do things that people consider scarier then skydiving....I travel to places that are FAR away from home, often times alone. Granted I have to plan way ahead to do it and have somewhat of an idea when I get there what I will do and certainly where I will stay but parents should make an effort to explore with their kids a new environment, it creates countless memories and more bonding, during a time especially after the kids have left the nest. It can make one feel nostalgic and what a good feeling nostalgia is, and one that should be held onto in the moment so that it may be cherished long after the time has passed. Take pictures, as many as possible, even if you think you look stupid so what? But don't get so focused on it that you let the moment pass you by, which naturally when one is enjoying themselves I feel you'll know the difference. So once again I encourage travel, don't be scared the world is out there to be discovered even if you are alone or with family both can be enjoyed just as much. Either way your bound to meet new people, try new foods and have bragging rights to less seasoned travelers, family and friends, who knows you may inspire someone to push themselves out the door and into new experience.

Winter and a brief rundown of my last 90 days in Europe.

Welsh beach as seen from train on the way back to London.

    It's nearly 60 degrees outside but a day or two later a spiteful wind approaches, and then there is frost on the ground and the temperature drops dramatically, to the point where it is literally freezing. Another wind comes in and brings snow, that is more then powdery and blankets the driveway and dresses the evergreens in the back with gowns of white, making them somehow look more festive and "Christmasy". The tree is decorated in the living room, it's a real tree so it's prickly when decorating and a huge pain but in the end worth the labor, when it tinkles and has presents little by little appearing underneath the base of the sharp bristles now decorated with lights and ornaments of blue, red, silver, gold and green. I feel these joys long after the age of 8 when after from what it appears to me the "magic" and spirit in the holidays, not to mention imagination and creativity in this world by majority appears to end. But not for me, my whole life I will see the Christmas time as I have when I was 8 and will see if I live to be 98.

   I used to write quite a bit of poetry, essays etc. when I was in middle and high school, now when I feel like it I occasionally write about my surroundings. My best writing comes when I am inspired by a person, usually someone I've become smitten with, there was recently one but that fell through in an awful way. A lot can change in 90 days. I recently tried to write about the last 90 days of 2.5 years I was living on the Southern coasts of Spain. I am not a missionary worker, but I respect the work very much and would one day like to go out and try it, or go on those cruises that sail around the world the pacific countries and just help people medically.

As I was saying about writing, I felt that this may be a lot easier, I do not like using facebook to document my daily activities but it seems to happen that way. There is just something so insincere about writing bits and pieces here and there about what is going on with me. I do admit it has been great for documenting dates and keeping pictures, but I see people post so much negativity and then a bit of positivity in there daily status, something about that just drives me up a wall. I have very bad handwriting but I do not consider myself a lazy writer but I really do not have patience do document what I wish to write by hand any longer. A lot happened from August 2013 to October 2013, I was in love with a woman at the time, who this winter weather reminds me of Snow White, because her skin really was white as snow and hair black as ebony.  Within that time I fell for another girl, let's call her Devil, she did not have any characteristics of being a devil until I got to know her a bit better, but she used to laugh and call herself that... saying she truly could be one, I met her online. Devil is girl who lives in a land far far away but came from originally a land even farther away....so far it's a dot on a map. Snow White was a women with a very head strong, listen to me and you'll survive and thrive kind of personality. The Devil had a very quiet and modest personality, she barely spoke, which was a big problem for me at first because unless I am very comfortable with someone I am shy myself. I'd much rather listen to another person talk rather then have to volunteer a lot of information about myself, but Devil left me no choice so I had to learn to be more entertaining with less feedback. When Devil did speak her stories were usually interesting a few boring and a handful that were very sad but I managed to hang on to nearly every word. Snow White's stories were very exotic, and were a lot of times hard to follow, I had wondered how many were true, she told me wild tales about rainforests and tribes of South America, sleeping in treehouses, even getting lost and encountering wild animals that many of us only ever see on TV or read about.  It's funny how deep of a contrast Devil and Snow White had with one another. My first relationship seemed like a mash up of in between Snow White and Devil. Let's call her Princess, Princess, loved to be different, many men and women found her intriguing, but she had a very hot temper and personality, she kept me on my toes and I was deeply in love with her for 5 years, she could be very head strong and mostly was, but then could be quiet and very reserved, but I felt comfortable sitting on the phone with her in silence, and early on we often fell asleep on the phone with one another. With each time I fell for someone I took what I could from the friendship or relationship I had, some left me more traumatized then the other, and others I feel completely at peace, but some left me with much confusion and unanswered questions, resulting from actions that to this day I still have a hard time comprehending. Hence the "single" portion of the title of this blog :)

Pompei Main city square

La Vita Bella! Always at the Amalfi Coast!

A lot happened in 90 days, I traveled a lot....I took three trips before leaving Spain, one included a trip up in Northern Spain, a region I had never been to in the 2.5 years I had spent there, my only regret after that was not seeing more of the North. there is a BIG contrast between North and South in Spain just like in the United States.  My mom and her boyfriend flew all the way from their small home in Kansas to come and see me, we went to England, had a detour by train and a bus through Wales traveling to Dublin by traditional means train and ferry (which on the way back I almost became extremely ill due to the rough seas. (I have great empathy for those with any form of vertigo) The picture shown is views I had from the train of a Welsh beach and a Welsh castle known as Conway castle on the way back from Dublin, during our 15 hour trip back to London. Shortly after they left I traveled for the 6th time to Italy and went to Pompei, Rome for the second time visiting the Vatican, an ancient villa in a place called Trivoli outside of Rome, and the Amalfi Coast. I took this trip alone and had a wonderful experience I would like to experience another trip where I travel alone it was great to have everything on my own schedule and to run into a lot of interesting people from around the world as well as many kind Italian locals. I will be writing about stories having to do with my own personal experiences, places I've traveled through my point of view, and talk about things I find interesting. I did a lot in 90 days, I wonder what I will do in the next year.

Me in front of fountain built by a guy who was trying to collect essentially popularity by building lavish villas and fountains in order to secure his position as pope alas he was unsuccessful!