Spectacle of Lights

For about the past ten years, Brian and I have made a tradition of driving through the nearby suburb of Lincolnwood to take in the celebration of extravagance that is their Christmas (and in some cases, Hanukkah) lights display. About 20 homes in the neighborhood are lit up so outrageously that we can practically hear their electrical meters whirring from our idling car. It is a real live version of Christmas Vacation. Last night we took Eamon through for a tour, now that he's old enough to at least look in the direction we point. He seemed to enjoy it.

This is a photo of my absolute favorite one. I hope Eamon believes it's all one big tree at least as long as he believes in Santa.

Priorities

The other night, Brian figured out that he could squeeze in a ski trip to Park City, Utah, in conjunction with a January business trip he has to make to Salt Lake City. Before Eamon, we went skiing out west nearly every year, and Park City (home of Sundance, and the Sundance Film Festival, where were it not for Paris Hilton's presence I would want to check out rather badly) has been on my list of "must ski" destinations for about five years.

We just took our anniversary trip to Cabo San Lucas a month ago. That was our first trip away from Eamon, and it wasn't quite as hard as I thought to leave him behind for a few days, but evidently I am not ready to leave the little guy again so soon. I turned down the opportunity to join Brian for skiing -- and my second favorite part, apres ski -- saying that not only does it cost money and we just spent a lot on a vacation recently, but we'd have to leave Eamon again.

I don't want to be one of those couples that never travels because they have kids, but I was shocked to hear myself utter the words "no thanks" when it came to a ski trip. Without hesitation.

Now, back to my Christmas cookie baking. Oh my god, I'm such a mom.

The Race Is On

I love this time of year. Yes, Christmas is great and the snow is still sort of a novelty and I'm not yet sick of having to wear gloves. But the best part is the list on my refrigerator every year of the movies I want to see now that the Oscar race is on. Some of the movies have been in theaters for months, some are already on DVD, but with a 13-month-old at home, it's tough to get to a movie these days. I saw Black Swan the other night with a friend, and it was the first movie I'd seen since Eamon was born. Last year on Oscar night, I had only seen one of the nominated movies. Usually I see them all by January 30. This year will be different.

So this year's list includes:

The Kids Are Alright - I usually avoid movies named after songs, but in this case I love the song and the movie got great reviews. So this is an exception to my rule.

True Grit - I have not seen the original, but I love pretty much every Coen Brothers movie ever made, so I'm excited to see it. And I read that it is based on the book, not a "remake" of the John Wayne film (for which he won his only Oscar, I might add).

The Social Network - Michael Cera -- I mean -- Jesse Eisenberg is often just playing himself, but I've heard so many positive things about this, and I love Aaron Sorkin's writing, that I have to see it.

The King's Speech - I really like Colin Firth and Helena Bonham Carter, and I always like to see at least one movie a year that I feel comfortable recommending to my in-laws.

The Fighter - Marky Mark has come a long way since "Good Vibrations." I'm looking forward to seeing this.

Baby Monkey (Going Backwards On A Pig) - Parry Gripp

My sister got this from her boss, she forwarded it to me. I'm not sure who among us has more free time: the two of them, for sending it on; me, for watching it and posting it here; or the guy who wrote the soundtrack to this short film.

Regardless, it falls in the category of "so dumb it's funny," and I admit it did make me chuckle.

For Display Purposes Only

To the woman nursing her newborn while sitting in the Glider in the nursery display at Target: I don't think you're supposed to sit in the furniture up on that platform.

Long Time, No Blog

I'm not sure what I've been doing with my time, but I know I haven't been posting here. I have, however, had some random thoughts:

1. I just realized that song, "You Think Your Cooler Than Me" is not, in fact, sung by Macy Gray. It's sung by some dude who sounds like a really tall black woman with a raspy voice.


2. I find these stickers really, really annoying, especially when they end with a cat. I don't care, Complete Stranger, that your husband knows how to sail, and that your three adorable stickfigure children each have a favorite sport or hobby. Most of all I don't care if you have a cat. The dog can stay, though. How about just a stickfigure sticker of your dog?


3. Nate Berkus, Oprah's gay friend and one of my favorite TV personalities, has a show of his own. I'm trying to tune in when I remember to turn on the TV, because I really want the best for Nate. I don't know him, obviously, but I wish I did. I think he could have a heyday with my living room decor. I have a feeling he would tell me to "edit."
4. Eamon is going to be 1 year old in just a matter of weeks. I can't believe how much he has changed even in the past few weeks. He's starting to lose some baby fat with all the crawling he's doing, and Brian is trying to get him to take a few steps. *Sigh.* At least he's still nearly bald.

Who comes up with these names?

The other day I was sitting in traffic behind a giant SUV. Who am I kidding? I sit in traffic behind a giant SUV every day. They are officially outnumbering cars on the road in my suburb, second only to silver minivans. But I digress...


The make and model of this particular SUV jumped out at me because of its attempt at drama:



Nissan.
Armada.


Armada? "A fleet of warships?" As in the Spanish Armada?


My brother used to drive a GMC Envoy. Okay, this name is a little much, but it does have a sense of sophistication, like a diplomat would be picked up in one after a summit in The Hague. Dramatic, yes, but at least it makes some sense.


Unlike the Buick Enclave. "An enclosed territory that is culturally distinct from the area that surrounds it." Or, your car that you use to drop your kids off at school. Huh?



I just checked out Nissan's Web site, where they're promoting their new electric car. What a cool concept, but what a weak name. The Nissan Leaf. So, this thing will fall, feather-like, from a tree, come October? I get the environmental reference, but "Leaf" does not get me where I need to go. Leaves remind me of Walt Whitman. Raking. Shade. There has to be a better name that evokes environmentalism. The people at Nissan are breaking new ground with this 100 percent electric car. Let's not make it another Yugo.



I still think Saturday Night Live's Adobe - the little car made out of clay! - has the most appropriate name. "It combines German engineering with Mexican knowhow!"