Linda L. Oestreich

It’s 23 December and I think we’re getting off work a bit early this afternoon! I’ve already placed my order with BevMo to get the “spirits” I’ll need for the Bad Santa punch I plan to make for my Boxing Day Gathering. Here’s the recipe…I give you permission to use it at your own discretion!

1 cup Cointreau (or TripleSec to save a buck or two)
2 cups Brandy (not cognac)
3 cups orange juice (no pulp)
1 bottle of sparkling wine or champagne

Put it all in a pitcher and stir. Serve in cocktail glasses over ice…garnish with cherry if you wish. Sounds DEE-LISH! I’ll let you know how it goes!

My shopping is done. I have two rather bulky gifts in the garage yet to wrap or put bows on or put in very large plastic bags (tacky, but not out of range of my wrapping etiquette). I designed and printed out two certificates that I’m giving to two very close friends…that makes it nice so that I can put the certs in their Christmas Cards or, if I’m in the mood, I might even wrap them up like presents. We’ll see about that.

My home co-owner and very close friend, Jeanne, arrives at 8:30 pm Christmas Day to stay until New Year’s Day. That’s pretty cool cuz next week is a 3-day work week for me: Monday is the holiday, and Friday is my regular day off (I’m on that 9/80 plan). If things here are really quiet, I’ll take a little more time off to be with her and enjoy the holiday week. Big difference from my time at HP when the place shut down and we were forced to take vacation! Guess the Feds never really close…that is, unless they don’t pass the continuing resolutions! But that’s another story for another time…

It took me awhile to get my own ”spirits” ready for this Christmas…but I think I’ve moved through my blues and I’ve come out in a pretty nice place. I watched a video this morning of a flash mob singing Christmas Carols–so I looked up one for you to see! Click here for a short one that is quite uplifting! I love the chubby guy in the workshirt!

So, Merry Christmas to you. I hope your days and nights to come are filled with love and happiness.

Tags: Bad Santa punch, Boxing Day, flash mob, Merry Christmas, spirits
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I have to give thanks to Bozoette again for sharing the theme of “trains” in her blog…which led me to realize that I, too, have a wonderful memory of trains. Bozette says that she got the idea from CafeWriting. I’ve added that blog to my reading list. One more item I seldom get to won’t hurt!

As I reminisce, the first train trip that comes to mind was not the first that I took or the one that lasted the longest, but the one that made the biggest impression on me.  It was a short trip–only 94 miles round trip–and the whole thing, including a stop for sightseeing and lunch, took only 4.5 hours.  I don’t remember the exact year of the ride, but it was probably Spring 1998 or 1999. At the time, my mom was living in Mountain Home, Arkansas (that’s a story in its own right), and I had driven up from Houston to Northern Arkansas to visit her. We drove to Flippen (population about 1300) so we could get on the White River Scenic Railroad and see the lovely beauty of the White River from Flippen to Calico Rock (pop. 850) (these are real names of real towns…cool, huh?). The train had a great open-air platform at the end of the car and it afforded some views of the river and surrounding cliffs that my camera couldn’t even begin to capture. I remember seeing my first American Bald Eagle on that trip, and it was icing on the cake for a special day with my mom.  I still smile as I remember the day. It was one that I’ll treasure forever. It’s wonderful how reading Mary’s (Bozoette) blog brought me this lovely memory. Thanks, Mary!

The next most prominent train trip I remember was with my daughter, Connie, and it was on Virgin Trains. We took the train from Liverpool, England, to Edinburgh, Scotland. We were in Liverpool for two nights–we went there specifically to see The Beatles’ Story Museum–and were headed to a B&B in Edinburgh for another 2-3 days before heading for Paris on the boat-train.  (Despite my Austrian last name now, I was born a full-blooded Scot. I thought it would be nice to see the land of my foreparents!)  We had almost missed the train and the only seats available were at tables (two seats facing forward; two backward around a small table) with others. We chose to sit with a young woman who looked interesting (at the time, I thought she wore a little too  much makeup and showed a little too much cleavage). But, in retrospect, it really doesn’t matter–Joanne Lamb came into our lives. JoJo is a hoot. She was interesting and funny and insisted on getting us an upgrade to First Class for the second leg of our trip (she worked for Virgin, although she wasn’t working during the ride). She shared her stories and listened to ours as we rode together those couple of hours. One would think that was that…but it wasn’t. We exchanged contact information, and that was good because upon arriving in Edinburgh, I realized I had left a huge bag of things in my Liverpool hotel (remember that we were late for the train?). I contacted JoJo, who lived in Liverpool, and over the next few months, she managed to collect the things I had left and mail them to me! She is a force of nature and if you check out her Facebook page, you’ll see what I mean. I look forward to seeing her again, which is quite likely, because this young woman now is a flight attendant on Virgin Air, and she flies to the U.S. quite regularly!  What a delight that train trip was…and what a treasure we found in our friendship with JoJo.

Other trainworthy notes:

• My maternal grandfather was a railroad worker–can’t remember his job title. He died before I was  born, so I never knew him, but my mom spoke about him often and always quite fondly.
• Mom and I traveled all around France, Switzerland, and Italy by train in 1978. Mom paid all the bills; I made all the arrangements and carried the luggage.
• Sometime during Connie’s childhood, she and I flew to the San Francisco area and returned by train. I wanted to give her the experience of traveling.  But, just as I’ve forgotten so much of what was going on during those days, I’ve forgotten when it was–1980 maybe?
• The Coaster travels from San Diego up the coast–I occasionally take it to San Juan Capistrano for STC events. It’s inexpensive, great fun, and without traffic!!!

OK. That’s it for that particular train of thought.  (ba-da-boomp!) Till next time!

Tags: Arkansas, Bozoette, CafeWriting, Liverpool, memories, Scotland, The Beatles' Museum, The Coaster, trains, White River
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 It’s two weeks until Christmas and three weeks until 2012. What a year it’s been. Everyone around me has had their ups and downs, but we’re here and we’re moving through this time of stress and craziness and looking under every pine bough for the peace and love and laughter we know is still here.  I’m sitting in a beautiful city that almost never freezes and feeling as though I’m in the cold north. I have my wall heater on and two space heaters going from time to time (yes, I’m being ultra careful).  I think I have the majority of my Christmas shopping done, but I still need to mail a few things and, of course, wrap everything.

The house is partially decorated, and that’s good. But it’s not completed, and that’s not good. Jeanne arrives for a week’s visit on Christmas Day. I’m considering having an open house type of gathering for Boxing Day. Entrance requirement? a box, maybe? That and a simple something to eat…just to keep costs low. This afternoon is the local STC chapter’s Holiday Party and I magically turned a dozen eggs into two dozen deviled eggs!

I am happy and sad, too. The biological father of Cheryl’s son is in Jacksonville, FL, in a coma. Cher and her son, Glynn, flew out there yesterday. My heart is with her. She and Glynn senior have been friends despite not being together these last 40 years or so. Why do these things happen so often at or near the holidays? I’m sure there’s a reason, even if it isn’t one I like.

Not sure why I’m blogging at all today…I’m in a kinda blue mood…but I read the blog of bozoette and it made me want to blog! I wish I were more constant about doing so. Maybe this coming year?

I’ve begun piano lessons and classes at UCSD begin on 9 January. In addition, I’m going to Curves when I can to get some much-needed exercise to support the weight loss I’m having because of the Sept 19 gastric bypass.  So far, I’m down almost 50 pounds.  And, that’s definitely a very good thing!

Holidays are here for us all, no matter if you’re Christian or Jew, Muslim or Buddhist. This time of year affects us, even if we don’t celebrate the same things…we are caught up in the melee of wonder and insanity.  Let’s do our best to stay focused on the good, keep an eye on our health, support the friends we hold near, and live life with the gusto our Gods intended. I know I’m doing my best to do so…and although I slip from time to time, I’m OK with that.

Happy Everything to you…may your 2012 be prosperous, sane, and beautiful…every minute of every day.

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