Sophie's Story

   The commercialization of Christmas has finally got to me. I'm tired of seeing ads for the perfect present. Tired of watching people crowd malls looking for the best deal on the hottest thing. Tired of hearing about a certain store who had a data breach.   The truth is I've been tired of it for several years now. I've had less and less time to go out and shop and no idea of what people want. Mostly it seems people want money or gift cards. The whole wrap it in paper and watch as someone unwraps it is out the window. Now it is just hand over the cash or gift card and hope the person doesn't look at and say, "That's it?!" No fun.   C and I have been asking each other what we want for Christmas. Neither of us really wants anything. We have enough clothes. We have enough books, music, towels, blankets and kitchen items. I don't need another hat and C doesn't need another tie. Even if I had time to shop I just wouldn't know what to get him. H

   This column is probably going to get me in trouble. I know it and I accept that. I'm probably going to make a few people angry. I know that and I accept that as well. There are a few things that have gone on this week that violate some of my principles and I simply cannot stand by and say nothing.    Earlier this week the network A&E suspended Phil Robertson, of the show "Duck Dynasty", for remarks he made during an interview with GQ magazine. Personally I find it a bit amusing that he was interviewed as I always thought of GQ as something read by men in custom made three piece suits who play polo on the weekends, but that is another matter.    During the interview he was asked to define sinful behavior. He did. He listed homosexuality,adulterers, slanderers,drunkards and swindlers. It was, of course, the first item on the list that got him in trouble. You can't say that in public. Saying something like that will get you fired, vilified, demonized and in mor

   The Ward Christmas party was last Sunday and I needed to bring a dish to pass. Since I was going to be working that entire weekend, it needed to be either something simple that C could make or something that could be made in a crock-pot. The main dish was going to be ham, so we needed something that would go with ham. We had talked about several possibilities. We could bring homemade macaroni and cheese or some sort of potato dish. I told C to let me know as I would need to buy some items. I needed to know by the end of the Thursday evening shift.    The deadline came and I did not hear anything from C. He was swamped with several other projects and was feeling overwhelmed. I was facing an entire weekend of work and the shame of attending a church party empty handed.   On Friday night in desperation I looked in crock-pot cookbooks for something we could bring. It had to be something that didn't require a shopping trip and it had to be easy. It came down to two choices, blac

   Recently I received a couple of very nice journals as presents. This brings the total number of bound journals I own up to about five.   The problem is I'm not quite sure what to do with them. That sounds pretty silly doesn't it. It's obvious what you do with a journal, you write in it. I shouldn't have a problem with this. After all I've been writing this column for roughly four years. I think I can say that I am a writer.   Except for to do and grocery lists, I've never been much for writing things down every day. I don't lead any kind of exciting life where it would make sense to keep a journal. It would be different if I travelled a lot, or discovered new things or was a performer and kept track of my performances. It would be different if I had children. Then I could write about my experiences in the hopes that they could read it and maybe learn from it. The fact of the matter is that that I'm pretty ordinary and if anyone would find my journ

     We're in a cold snap. I have just looked at the thermometer and it says -9 degrees outside. Most people would be complaining about this. I am not one of those people. I am one of those insane folks that lives in this part of the country by choice. I personally believe that cold weather is good for you. Today I am going to give some reasons why cold weather is a good thing.    I am an introvert. This means that, while I do like to be around people, for my own sanity's sake I need a little time where I am either alone or not around a lot of people. Cold weather is my friend. No one expects you to go out in cold weather. It provides all kinds of polite excuses for avoiding social contact. Your car won't start. You're feeling a little under the weather and the cold air makes it worse. No one would think twice about such excuses when the temperature is 5 degrees Fahrenheit or below. This means that I can have the quiet space I need so I can function better when I am

   I think Musak gods have been listening to me and for once they are being merciful. For the last I don't know how many years I have been enduring endless renditions of Christmas music starting promptly the day after Thanksgiving. One year the music started the day after Halloween.    The result of this is that I don't like most Christmas music and seldom play it at home. It's a shame because I have amassed a nice collection from Christmas lounge music to Mannheim Steamroller to James Taylor. I put them in my home CD player more because it is expected than out of genuine desire to listen to them. When C and I have to play something for a Christmas program at church practicing is a chore because the last thing I want to hear at home is more Christmas music.   This season is different. Several months ago the Keeper of the Musak, whoever that is, decided that any music played in the store would be strictly instrumental. This has a couple of advantages. The biggest one is