PREPARATION

This has been a busy weekend. I brought our fiber-optic Christmas tree up from the basement, but instead of putting it on an end table in the living room where Speedy would want to investigate, I decided to put it in the bedroom. We spend more time in there anyway. Unfortunately, the only place to put it where the dog won't get at it is on top of the highboy. As you can see, it is not a good fit. Still, I'm not going to move it. The lights are nice in the evening.

I put up the Santa face on the door and a lighted pine garland on the mirror. They were in the same plastic crate as the tree. Our Christmas guest towels and the Santa tea towel and pot holders were also in the box, so they are also on display.

I wrapped presents while doing laundry. Noticing that several items had been overlooked, I braved the crowds for reality shopping. So a couple/three presents still need wrapping. The Christmas card list was easy to update this year. Mail merge addressed most of the envelopes for cards: there's always someone whose address I need to track down. I'll have the majority of them ready for dropping off at the post office tomorrow.

The word of the day for December 7, 2008 is "preparation" — Pronunciation: \ˌpre-pə-ˈrā-shən\ Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English preparacion, from Middle French preparation, from Latin praeparation-, praeparatio, from praeparare to prepare
Date: 14th century
1: the action or process of making something ready for use or service or of getting ready for some occasion, test, or duty. 2: a state of being prepared : readiness. 3: a preparatory act or measure. 4: something that is prepared ; specifically : a medicinal substance made ready for use [a preparation for colds].

Our quote for the day is from Doris Lessing (b. 1919), British novelist. "The Chronicler", in The Marriages Between Zones Three, Four, and Five, p. 141, Knopf (1980):

This is certainly not the place for a discourse about what festivals are for. Discussions on this theme were plentiful during that phase of preparation and on the whole were fruitless. My experience is that discussion is fruitless. What sets forth and demonstrates is the sight of events in action, is living through these events and understanding them.

;^)