bring me a white horse for christmas

[ontology]

I was greeted upon waking this morning by post! -- a card from lightofjudah -- proper illustrated Milne Winnie the Pooh! Pauline, you are a wonder -- and a little parcel from miss_baxter containing music! And it was so terrifically cold that Mum drove me to work, so I wore a skirt for the first time in a week. I feel rather dreadful, wearing trousers constantly -- lately even my days off have seen me trouser-clad, as this weather calls for either those or industrial-strength stockings (maybe wool ones, cable-knit). Oh dear. Perhaps this is why I have been feeling un-myself lately?

At work, I had the most magnificent customer: a gentleman, perhaps fifty, in a long grey peacoat, and a very sophisticated yet eccentric tie, all orange and green (it looked a bit like the one that Noah wore to Alessandra & Roberto's wedding, here-folk, except more epic), and he had on a waist-coat, and I am quite sure that he was either a rare American member of the Watcher's Council, or a wizard pretending to be a Muggle and being somewhat more successful than most.

(I also have an inordinate amount of people asking if I have puzzles. Not puzzle calendars -- puzzles. Why, I don't know. We sell calendars. It says so on the sign on top of the kiosk. Calendars and puzzles aren't really connected at all except by virtue of being generally square-shaped and given to people as last-minute presents when you don't know them well enough to figure out what they might really like. The first time someone asked this, I was not especially perturbed -- people ask me all sorts of idiotic questions. After the fourth time I am beginning to be worried.) 

(And when I arrived home, a package had come for me -- only it was an anonymous Fed Ex package, and I hadn't ordered anything, but when I opened it, after epic struggle -- they make cardboard thick! and even the "pull this tab you silly twit" tab came off when I tried to pull it -- it turned out to be from bornofstars, and there was a present and a lovely handmade card, and my message board is quite respendent with the fruits of my f-list's labour just now; it makes me quite cheery to look at it.) 

I have been trying not to be tense and cross. It is only working out about half the time. Alas. But I curled up on my bed with paper and stamps and ink and started making Christmas cards, while playing Over the Rhine's and Neal & Leandra's Christmas albums (my favourites: and warmest and sacredest). Some of said cards I am extremely pleased with and others are not quite as excellent, but I haven't delved into the stamps in quite some time. Be forewarned: I cannot cut a straight line. It is physically impossible. So, as much as I have tried to even them out, your cards will have at least one odd-shaped edge.

And now I haven't got to work for three days. It is delicious. Tomorrow, Dad's Christmas Eve service, in which I am ... um, doing most of the singing, oh help. And then the long car-ride to my aunt's for the holiday. I love the late-night Christmastime travel -- there's something cosy and old-fashioned and magical about being all smashed up in a car with packages falling on one's head, while Dad keeps changing the radio stations trying to find good Christmas music, and finally putting on CDs, and falling asleep, and looking up to see the palm-familiarity of my aunt's neighbourhood, turning into the dark driveway and then trying to be very very quiet greeting everyone (and when you are twelve, you only want to yell).

The Mix: it is uploading as you read this.

Comments

[everydayjoy.livejournal.com]

This post is so full of Christmas deliciousness that I am quite delighted.

*hugs*

[barefoottomboy.livejournal.com]

I sort-of misread the last part of this post as your Dad falling asleep, which (since I assumed he was the driver) initially alarmed me rather. :-)

[missbaxter.livejournal.com]

Glad that the parcel made it in time! Merry Christmas!

[cherise.livejournal.com]

I saw the cards and couldn't resist, and I knew you were getting one. :) Goodness I do love Christmas and the excuses I can have for sending people things. :D

I almost forgot to comment on this because I promptly went over to balladrie, and hooray! Right so, actually commenting on the mix over there. *runs*