Hit Me Christmas One More Time: An Ode to Britney and Christmas

Come Here Santa One More Time
(To the tune of Britney's breakout hit: Hit Me Baby One More Time)

Oh Christmas, Christmas
Oh Christmas, Christmas

Oh Christmas Christmas I really do love you so
Because of the traditions
Oh Christmas Christmas you bring so much joy to me
And everyone I know yeah

Carols, stockings, movies, puzzles
Christmas trees, elves, how I love it all now
Oh because

My Christmas spirit is filling me
(And I)
 I must confess, I still believe
(In Santa)
When it's not Christmas I lose my mind
Give me a sign
Come here Santa one more time

Oh Christmas, Christmas, the reason I bake is you
Oh you've got me eating
Oh Special Christmas, there's nothin' I wouldn't do
To share the Yuletide feeling

Chocolate cherries, Toffifee, Mint SmoothiesCandy canes and Terry's Chocolate OrangeOh so good 

My Christmas spirit is filling me

(And I)

 I must confess, I still believe

(In Santa)

When it's not Christmas I lose my mind

Give me a sign

Come here Santa one more time

Why have a blog?

Ok, so I have been thinking.  First off, how many entries have started with the word 'ok?' Too many, I think.  So, as I said, I have been thinking about why I have this blog and if it is something I should continue.  Well, I have the blog for a hobby, to get myself thinking in depth about things, to connect with people, to celebrate JOYful things, to improve my proof reading (although not just yet) and hopefully to have some people challenge me on some of the things (or all of the things) I write about.

Writing the above paragraph made me realize that of COURSE I should continue.  I mean, look at all the really great reasons I listed!!  So, I have decided that I need to organize things a little and that from now on my posts will fall under one of five categories:

1.  Joyful things

2.  Books and movies I read or saw that you should or shouldn't see (category title still in the works)

3.  Femfabulous

4.  Thinky thinks

5.  I'm sure another category will appear

Please keep in mind that I may never figure out how to do this.  But, hey, anything is possible.

#7: The story of zip

So, it is a good thing I went back to re-read (and edit slightly) my first post, because it reminded me that I promised to tell you the story of how zip came into my vernacular.

My dear brother used to always say 'snap' if someone in our family made light hearted fun of someone else.  I am sure he did this with his friends as well, but I can't say for sure because I just wasn't there.  So, my brother would also accompany 'snap' by a hand gesture that mimed snapping a twig (or something) in half.   So, one day when my whole family was home for some reason, someone made a little jab at someone else to which my dad responded, "Oh, zip!" accompanied by a zipping hand motion. You see, he was copying my brother, but my dad just didn't get it right.  That was four or five years ago and since then 'zip' had been used almost daily by me and at least one friend.  It certainly isn't well on its way to common use, but is definitely overly used by me.  Adopt it if you wish.

When is too early?

Ok, Ok.  I know I promised a super interesting post about ethnocentrism and stuff, but I really can't get IT outta my mind.  What is this IT that has me singing, hoping, planning, listing, dreaming, searching and waiting?  IT is a very special something that warms me through and through.  IT makes my heart sing and dance (seriously).  IT gets me thinking about all the people I love, and IT brings all those people together (at different times).  And IT also gets me thinking about all my favourite foods and of how fun it will be to make them.  Um, ya, IT also gets me thinking about myself and all the things I want.  IT gets me shopping and spending money on people who need nothing.  Ok, so if you don't know I'm talking about Christmas, then maybe you should find a new blog (oh, zip!).  Just joking.  Don't go, I need you!!  So, it is probably pretty obvious as well that my attempt to show the negatives of Christmas is weak at best.  So, here is:

I FREAKING LOVE CHRISTMAS!!

I love EVERYTHING about it.  The things others hate like family gatherings that never work out and crowded malls?  Well, love those, too.  So, why is this blog-post-worthy?  I'm pretty sure it isn't.  But, the thing you have to know about me is that September and October are all about waiting for November 1st so that I can start Christmas stuff.  What 'Christmas Stuff' are we talking about?  Well, carols (of course), Christmas puzzles, Christmas movies (minimum one per week), Christmas baking (minimum one kind per week), Christmas shopping, and Christmas decorating.  I already have a my Christmas shopping list completed (although I am sure I will add more) and it has taken a lot of will power to not start buying just yet.  I know what I am making for Christmas dinner dessert (a pumpkin merengue pie with ginger snap crust) and every night consider all the options for Christmas dinner sides.

So, all I ask of you, my two followers, is that you tell me your favourite Christmas carol, your favourite Christmas movie and maybe even the best present you ever got!

Now, if Christmas is not for you because of family issues, money issues, or religious stuff, please know that for me Christmas is about one thing:  Joy.  Feeling it myself and sharing it with others.

So, Joy to the World, and let Christmas 2012 (almost) begin.

Looper: See it now or in the future.

**I have found since beginning this blog that I look at things in my everyday life a little bit differently.  I read or hear about something and think, that's interesting.  But then I ask myself if it is interesting ENOUGH to be blog worthy. This is great because it means that I spend more time thinking about and reflecting on things than I did before.   This, in itself, makes this whole blog worth it!!

So, for today I simply must review the movie Blooper. (Ok, so I have proofread this about 5 times and just realized I said Blooper instead of Looper.  Considering it is the only funny thing in this post, I couldn't resist leaving it.  Because, you know, I made a blooper.  Ok that is not quite how you should use the word, but come on.) I saw it.  I loved it.  If you have not yet seen the film, do not worry.  There are no spoilers until it says SPOILER ALERT.  I would never risk ruining a movie for you!

Before you read my review, you should be aware of my credentials.  I have taken one film class (History of Film).  I went to very few lectures and slept through the ones I attended.  I have watched lots of movies, most of which I thoroughly enjoyed.  I didn't get Citizen Cain.  I am known by many friends to have low standards in movies and television shows.  I recently watched all eight seasons of Monk and all twelve seasons of Murder She Wrote.  There it is.

Blooper:  See it now or in the future.  

4.7 stars

The Gist:  Old Joe is sent back in time by the future mob to be killed by a hit-man from the past.  The twist, as shown in the previews, is that the hit-man from the past is Joe himself.

Why I loved this film:

1.  The preview looked interesting, but the film was way better than the preview lead me to believe it would be.  Often times, the trailers of films are better than the films themselves, or the best parts of the film are in the trailer.  This is not the case with this movie.

2.  It was not predictable.  

a.  The story line did not follow a predictable path.  Many movies are predictable.  This isn't necessarily a bad thing. In fact, sometimes it can make watching a movie kinda cozy because since you know what is going to happen, you can just relax and enjoy.  Looper could not have been further from this.  I really had no idea what was going to happen at any point at all.  I loved this because it kept me engaged in the film because my mind was always working to try to figure out what was going to happen.

b.  The shocking moments were CRAZY shocking.   Even when a twist happens in a movie I'm watching, once it settles in I usually think, "Oh yeah, I can see that."  I spent a large part of this film with my mouth agape because I was could not f-ing believe what had happened.  Seriously shocking.

3.  It was subtle.  Maybe I've been watching to much MSW, but usually when there is some little tidbit that will be REALLY important to the plot later on (someone being left-handed or something) it screams 'I'm here because I will matter big time later!!!'  Many aspects of the story that would be of crucial importance later on were woven seamlessly into the story.  These tidbits didn't jump out and act as a clue as to where the story was going.

4.  It made me think, but not about time travel.  In movies that have a schtick like time travel, the best you can usually hope for is to leave thinking about time travel.  This is not the case with Looper.  Although there are some interesting ideas around time travel, I left thinking about bigger life issues like love (and not in a cliche way), sacrifice, age and personal growth, and responsibility.

SPOILER ALERT:  It's down a little, so don't scroll down if you have not seen the movie.

1.  Can you believe old Joe killed that kid??!!?!?!?  I am still in total shock.  I think it was brilliant because it was so unexpected and it helped begin to shift viewer loyalty from old Joe to young Joe.  Also, the fact that they did not actually show it I also think was super smart because I think that would have been TOO much.

2.  My FAV thing:  One of the things I loved the most was that what saved the day (so to speak) was love from a parent for her child.  So often in movies great change happens or the protagonist is 'saved' because of romantic love.  In Looper it seemed like that was going to be the case when it was revealed that old Joe was deeply in love.  Then when young Joe met the Emily Blunt character I assumed (as I think many people would) that they would have a romantic story line and that this would be crucial, as well.  Although these relationships were part of the story, they were not really what mattered.  After young Joe realizes what Cid is capable of he confronts Sara (Blunt's character).  She responds by telling him that she thinks she can make Cid good.  What in the end saves the future (at least the future Joe would have experienced) is his realization that perhaps Sara can in fact love Cid into goodness instead of evil.

*Please keep in mind that I am a new mother, and so it is quite likely that I am seeing greater weight in this whole mommy thing than others would.

#4: You are not the boss of me

Ok people.  One thing about being a feminist is that people think you are angry even when you aren't.  Well, right now I AM angry.  Fuming angry.  Well, ok, not THAT angry.  But let me tell you I certainly was when THIS happened:

So, I am in a local coffee shop to meet a friend.  I had borrowed a cell phone in case I missed my friend, which is exactly what happened.  I was standing at the front of the coffee shop sending a text to confirm that I had in fact missed her when Nosy McBossypants came in.  In short, he told me that I should get in line, that I shouldn't be texting and that he didn't even have "one of those."  My response?  "Neither do I."

So, why am I super angry?  I'll tell you why.  I'll type ALL about it.  But before I do, I want to share another story:

I go into a variety store to get my husband a coke and some chips (because I am a nice wife) and I decide to get a Joe Louis for myself because I love treats (hence the name, remember?).  As I try to pay the cashier informs me, in a very concerned manner, that I shouldn't be eating such unhealthy food, that it is not good for me, and that I should be careful.

So, I am angry because I believe that I experienced both of these events because I AM A WOMAN.  If you are a man please ask yourself how often some stranger tells you what you should or should not be doing.  If you are a woman, chances are you have experienced something similar.  My husband went into that variety store dozens of times and never ONCE did this man say ANYTHING to him about how he should watch what he eats.  These situations demonstrate the power imbalances that still exist in Canadian society.   Men believe that they have the right to speak to women in a way that they would not speak to men.  In a way that implies that a man knows what is better for a woman than she knows herself.  What will make this behaviour so difficult to change is that I suspect (and my personal experiences have confirmed this) that men who speak to women like this are doing so completely without malice.  They may even be doing it out of caring.  The behaviour itself may not even seem like a big deal.  You may even think I am being a little touch on the crazy side for making such a big deal out of something soharmless.  Well, it isn't harmless.  These instances undermine me (and other women) as intelligent, independent human beings who can and should make our own choices.  So, the next time you are giving unsolicited advice to a woman, (kinda like I am doing now --see, I just zipped myself) ask yourself if you would do the same thing if you were speaking to a man.

NEXT TIME ON SUE TREAT:  How can you tell the difference between a cultural practice and a human rights violation?  Is there such a thing as being too tolerant?

#3: Sue Who?

Although I had instituted a strict one post per day rule, I have had hundreds of requests to fill in my dedicated readers as to why I am using the pseudonym 'Sue Treat.'  To begin though, I should tell you why I feel the need to use a pseudonym in the first place.

I am a teacher and strongly believe that the personal lives of teachers should be inaccessible to students.  Not that I plan on having any followers, but I did not want a student to be able to simply Google my name and find this blog.  Not using my name means that I can truly say 'what I want, when I want' which is the whole dang purpose of this blog.

So, why Sue Treat you ask?  (Because you did ask.)  This may well be one of those things that was hilarious when it happened only, so be prepared.  As soon as I got the amazing idea to start a blog I messaged a friend to tell him.  I don't remember what I said exactly (although one day I will publish the entire conversation here for your reading pleasure), but I knew I wanted to use a pseudonym.  As you all know, I am a terrible speller, so when I attempted to spell pseudonym without much thought (because I really think I could have gotten it if only I had tried a little harder) it autocorrected to SUE TREAT.  Yep.  That's what happened.  So, I loved it because it sounds kinda like a name, AND, again, this will be no surprise to my nearest and dearest, I LOVE TREATS!!!  How perfect is that!?!  So, there is the story of Sue Treat, blogger extraordinaire.

#2: What moms say matter, too!

Well, although no comments have been made as yet, my blog seems to have received rave reviews. Seriously.  My only conundrum is what to discuss next!  I listed some possible topics in entry number one, but since then remembered two more things I wanted to discuss.  The first is the show "Once Upon a Time" which I started watching thanks to a recommendation from a friend who has great taste. (I hope again I have piqued your interest.  Notice the correct spelling?  I am a life-long learner.) The second, I think I will tackle right now.

So, I am a mom.  Super weird, I know, but true none the less.  While I was pregnant I told people (probably you) that I would not become 'one of those moms' who talked about her kids all the time.  I thought about getting a subscription to "Psychology Today" or something, to keep me sharp and to provide talking points during adult conversations.

Well, let me tell you, I look back on these thoughts with great shame.  I remember a conversation I had with an inspirational feminist during a late night 'study' session at my university residence in which she talked to me about how the art men produce is highly valued, but the artistic things that are primarily made by women are often not considered 'art', but rather 'crafts.'  The label given to these women-made things devalues them.

This is how I feel about the conversations that seem natural to someone (usually a woman, and certainly historically almost always a woman) who is at home with a child.  It is absolutely ludicrous to think that what you do 20 hours a day is something that should not be discussed.  I mean seriously people, who came up with this generally accepted idea that conversations about kids are boring and somehow wrong?  I mean, I've been there, bored, when someone is going on and on about something super uninteresting his or her kid has done.  But I am no more bored than when someone goes on and on about something super boring they did at work!!  However, you don't hear people complaining about how people talk about work all the time.  Of course they do!!  It is what they do!!  I argue that the reason people still feel comfortable minimizing, putting down, devaluing, and dismissing conversations around parenting and children, is because these conversations have typically been of the world of women, and let's face it three readers, things women generally do don't naturally garner (hope I'm using that correctly) respect.  *Patrarchy, I mean patriarchy be damned!!!  How have you weaselled your way in to every aspect of my life?

So, I say, talk proudly and confidently about your life as a parent.  When you start to see people's eyes glazing over (as I usually do when someone asks me about my life as a parent) just know that they are not as enlightened as you, and that they are propagating a paradigm where what women say and do is not valued.  Once you are done talking about your family and your day, ask them what they have done lately to further gender equality and take solace in the fact that just by talking about your very valuable life and life experiences with pride and not shame you have already done this.
*If you don't know the origin or the word patrachy and would like to, just let me know.  It might be worth it.

P.S.  Having a blog is everything I hoped it would be!  You should try it.  I promise, I will follow you if you do!

Please excuse my very first typo.  Apparently internet should be a capital.   Thanks hubby (again, who cares?  I mean, know I should, but I really just don't).  Also, who knew you piqued someone's interest?  Does that even make sense?  I say NO.  So, peaked it is.

My first blog entry

Well, I've become a blogger.  Or at least that is the plan.  Why?  Well, I am off work on a maternity leave, and one day I was trying to find something to do.  I had played one million games of Spider Solitaire, checked my email a bunch, and had read the news.  However, I still needed something to do, so I decided to read a blog.  Well, I am not a very Internet capable person, so I didn't really know how to find a blog to read.  Instead, I decided to write one.  I decided it would be a great thing for me to do.  A new fun hobby!  If you are here reading this, there are some things I would like you to keep in mind:

1.  I am sleep deprived and have no attention to detail, so will likely make many spelling and grammar errors.  Who cares!
2.  This is for fun.  I plan on talking about things that interest me when I feel like writing about them.
3.  The only people likely to read this are my close friends and family, so hi Besties!!
4.  In order to understand this blog you will need to understand what 'zip' means.  It can be used in place of saying 'snap.'  If you don't know what that means, go back to 2003 and find out.  Oh, zip!!!

Just to pique your interest, the next few blogs will be about how zip came about, why my pseudonym is Sue Treat, why I have a pseudonym (least interesting so far), and a dynamic and insightful (that was my fourth attempt to spell insightful, the first one looked like this: inciteful) review of the movie Looper.

The last thing you should know (although since you are one of my besties you already know this) is that I love books, movies, being a feminist and current events (ok, the current events thing is to try to add depth to my personality), and this is what this blog will include.

Enjoy!