Monster Christmas Everyone!

Still celebrating?

The spirit of Christmas still swirling about like the first magic snow?

Don't let anyone shut you down.

Let your light shine and your voice sing loud and proud!

Enjoy!

I do love a good monster! Stop over and appreciate their cousins too.

Santa Came! Santa Came!

Woke up to gently falling snow outside the window this morning.

It truly is the most wonderful time of the year.

Santa did stop by as predicted and he did leave some juju fruits for the biggest boy, much to his delight.

My wish for you and yours is a holiday filled with quiet moments of sharing. Learn something about someone else. Try to make someones day brighter. Teach a lesson only you can teach. Laugh. Cry. Whatever your heart is called to do.

Like the song says, "Be of good cheer!"

Spread that cheer - it's scientifically proven that attitude is contagious. Keep that spirit passing throughout the year.

Merry Christmas!

A Christmas Eve Miracle

Ah yes... we gathered for Christmas Eve at the Macko Family homestead. As many of us that could were there and those far away joined by phone. Nana made the traditional items while The Husband made his famous pasta with chicken, peppers, onions and garlic - a changing of the guard he called it. The children held up well to the removal of cavatelli from the menu - no riot ensued to my amazement.

Speaking of amazement - Chip stupefied and astounded us with his feats of skill. Can your brother-in-law suspend a spoon and fork on the edge of a glass with a toothpick and then burn away half of it while maintaining balance? Bet not.

The Boy and I rounded out the evening watching "It's a Wonderful Life" before retiring to await Santa's arrival. (Yes of course I still believe. Don't even tell me you don't!) I'm pretty sure visions of sugarplums were dancing in some of our heads (except when some of the bigger kids saw them, they probably looked like juju fruit)

A wonderful and blessed time was shared by all.

Hope you too were able to spend the evening with someone you love.

Peace on Earth - good will to men. Especially our own families.

Magical Windows

I do enjoy a good television program. Make it a holiday program or a craft program (or a really bad SciFi movie, but I digress...) and I am totally there! Watched the 2007 version of this one last year and was totally smitten. The windows of Macy's (New York and Chicago), Neiman Marcus (Dallas), Saks (New York), Lord and Taylor's (New York), Hudson's Bay (Toronto), and the Denver's Museum of Outdoor Art are featured from concept to completion in HGTV Holiday Windows 2008 program. (Click on the link to see the original source for the pictures and some text here.) Can I just say that Home and Garden Channel rocks?

According to the folks at Macy's, they invented the holiday window back in 1862. I'll take their word for it - and I'm so glad they did! Holiday windows are, as one lady in the program said, "Fantasmagorical!" I thoroughly enjoyed the program... Many themes were shown from the modern to traditional and for children and adults alike. And the drama! Would they finish on time? Would the 94 year old hydraulic system at the Lord and Taylor store which raises the windows to street level need Christmas magic to make it work? And would dinosaurs, hippies, and snowflakes really work together for success? I came away with the wonder of Christmas firmly entrenched in my heart and with a need for many of the inventions envisioned by the artists in Denver: top of the list the teleporter and worry wringer!

One of the wonderful things about the windows is that many help to raise funds and support charities such as the St. Jude's Children's Hospital. It is helpful to keep others needs in mind during this season of excess.

For the Hudson's Bay Company windows, Ana Fernandes and Denis Frenette have dreamed up a fantasy forest, where holiday fairies guard special stones from an evil ice queen. In this window, Iridesca the Blue Fairy guards the Amethyst stones with the help of some friendly snails.

This window shows the Emerald Fairy, who lives in the deepest, darkest part of the forest.

Although the Hudson's Bay window fairies are spectacular, I think my favorite set is the one from Neiman Marcus. Store vice-president Ignaz Gorischek asked local kids to design their fantasy trees for the Neiman Marcus' windows this year. The winner Jordan McNair's design (top most photo) is featured as the Neiman Marcus' 2008 Fantasy Tree, which is made of globes and recycling items, giving it the moniker of "The Clean Tree." The entire tree is constantly transforming as it spins and changes colors. Another window (directly above) displays the Faith and Earth trees. The Faith tree, where children play on clouds, is created by a seven-year-old girl, who is undergoing treatment in the Children's hospital. Made of stones and crystals, the Earth tree is designed by a nine-year-old who loves adventures and the great outdoors. The tree below is designed by third grader Richard Forgarty, who was born with only one hand. His design is a tree called "Scottish Rite Rocks!" Made of crutches, wheelchairs, prosthetic hands and books, Forgarty's tree is an expression of his gratefulness for the gifts and care he receives at Scottish Rites Hospital.

Some day my dream is to go to New York City at Christmas time and see some of these gorgeous masterpieces. And of course go to Rockefeller Center to ice skate and see the giant tree. Maybe catch the Rockettes. Totally do the Big Apple - maybe even make mulled cider from it!

So I strongly suggest you check out the show. It plays again on December 24th and 25th. Check your local directory for times and set that DVR!

Come back and tell me which were your favorites!

For a few more "windows" visit Michelle Ward (Bergdorf Goodman's: Holiday, Winter, Autumn, Summer, Spring, 57th Street) and ArtsyMama (Anthropology)

Winter Solstice

Joyous Solstice greetings to all!

Give a nod on this day to our Earth and her Father Sun and Mother Moon. There is so much beauty and balance in our world if we only stop to take it in.

Like my friend the cardinal - may warmth, light, and cheerfulness brighten your holidays!

The Island of Misfit Lab Supplies

This year, Miss Stephanie and Miss Irene came up with a dandy idea...

Let's decorate our office doors this holiday season and be festive!

Enter corporate shenanigans and a week or so later we had a blow out contest throughout all the departments in the Plant.

I, being slightly touched as I am, came up with a swell idea incorporating all the 'old school' lab supplies and recycled materials we have laying around the lab. It all came together rather quickly.

For those who may not know, I am a chemist currently working in the quality field in the food industry. I also play a a microbiologist on TV.... well okay, I just impersonate one on occasions for fun at work. A woman of many talents.

First, with apologies to the original artist, as shown above in small print, are the reworked lyrics to a popular tune sung at holiday time:

The Legend of Frosty

Frosty the Quality Man was a jolly happy guy,

With a clean lab coat and some sterile gloves,

and some side shields for his eyes.

Frosty the Quality Man was a fairytale they say,

He was made of snow and the chemists know

how he came to life one day.

There must have been some magic in those instruments they found,

For when they placed them on his bench he began to dance around!

O, Frosty the Quality Man, was alive as he could be

And the techs all state he could test and plate

just the same as you and me!

Thumpetty thump thump,

Thumpety thump thump,

Look at Frosty go.

Thumpetty thump thump,

Thumpety thump thump,

Watch those microbes grow.

Frosty the Quality Man, felt the burner heat that day,

So he said, “Lets get to work, please don’t be a jerk,

now before I melt away!”

Down in the factory with a charm swab he would test,

He would rave and rant all around the plant

sayin’, “Won’t you please join QUEST*?”

He led them through the chopper room right to packing line,

He was doing checks for sensory - Oops! “Don’t drink that cooking wine!”

Then Frosty the Quality Man, had to hurry from the Lab

But he waved goodbye saying “Don’t you cry, Hope your Holidays are Fab!!”

Thumpetty thump thump,

Thumpety thump thump,

Look at Frosty go.

Thumpetty thump thump,

Thumpety thump thump,

Watch those microbes grow.

(*I know you need to know what QUEST is... it's our quality task force! "Quality Used Everyday Saves Tomorrow" they're clever too!)

I know it was really Rudolph and not Frosty that hung with the folks on the Island of Misfit Toys, but they're probably all friends like the rest of the beautiful people right?

If you're thinking that I'm especially talented making all those beautiful snowflakes using the filter paper from the lab - you too can amaze your family and astonish friends! Check out the Paper Snowflake Site like I did. Lots of totally cool stuff there!

I especially like the collage of ads from those free magazines creating the tree. Had a blast picking the best images for that one! Do you like the pipette tip star and garland?

Best use for temperature chart recorder paper I've seen! What other lab supplies do you recognize? Swabs? Plate Spreaders? Transfer pipettes? Slides? pH test strips? It was painful to sacrifice my bubble wrap stash...

Safety First! Note the use of safety glasses worn here, as well as hearing protection and hairnets! Safety all around!

We also decided to decorate the lab door...

Thank goodness we don't pour liquid agar into petri dishes anymore! Bless you inventor of PetriFilm Plates!

Now if only the house was decorated!

Stopped by Ralphie's Today

So, I stopped by Ralphie's house today. You know... Ralphie? Ralphie Parker? The kid with the leg lamp in his front window? That's a major award you know!

So many exciting things here in Cleveland... The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, LeBron and the Cavaliers, and the "A Christmas Story House"!

If you're unfamiliar with the movie - then I'm really excited because I must have readers from outside the USA!

Seriously though, thought I'd kick off the festive holiday season by sharing a few snaps from the neighborhood near where I work. Just a few streets over from the Plant, on my way to Chipotle and Target, is 11th Street. The real, live, actual house where many scenes from the movie were shot is right there! It's been voted Cleveland's Best Museum by the locals more than once. If you're able during the proper hours, you can go right in and see many of the props and other memorabilia.

The house is owned by a former Navy man, Brian Jones. He was a big fan of the movie and started out by selling the famous leg lamps. His wife sent him a link to the eBay auction for the house and without telling her - he bought it! Oh my. I'm sure that went over great at first!

It is a terrific stop any time of year - but especially during the Christmas Season.

Ironically, as I moved on toward more photo opportunities (stay tuned!) I drove past the Higbee's building downtown which is also featured in the movie! It's no longer operated as a department store, but still a Cleveland landmark.

Hope you enjoyed this visit and are having a wonderful holiday season so far. Have lots of fun and frivolity, be sure to drink your Ovaltine - but, remember to be sure to be careful!

or else...

wait for it

"You'll poke your eye out!"