Hope you experience a most pleasant celebration of your planet’s winter solstice…and a most logical New Year. –Mr. Spock
I have post-capitalist ennui, but it all seems worth it as we drive the long windy road into the mountains. I hadn’t seen snow for almost 20 years. This is one of the disadvantages/advantages of living in California, you don’t have to worry about the weather too much as you go about your daily routines. We finally reach our destination–a beautiful two-story cabin deep in the woods. I had been admiring the look and serenity of the snow during the long trip and could finally touch it. My admiration for the substance quickly turned less poetic and became more biological survivalist theory as I tossed the stuff like a celebrity throwing out the first pitch. My hand was frozen solid.
My girlfriend and I decided not to celebrate Christmas this year–well, at least not in the traditional sense. Life had gotten in the way and the next thing you know we were thrown into the bizarre world of family, gifts of things we didn’t need, overindulgence of food we would never eat otherwise, and drinking copious amounts of alcohol in order to bring the gelatinous madness together. We didn’t even get around to the trivial task of buying a tree. Seems a bit silly….don’t you think?
Coco Crisp's Afro 
Happy Snowy Holidays, Gary! A day with the one you love — unburdened by the stuff that people think you should buy, and eat, and do today — sounds awfully good to me. Here’s to new traditions!
thank you so much! 🙂
Yeah, I hear you, ‘Fro. It’s hard to find, among all the consumer madness, the thing that this time of year is actually about- the half-forgotten thing about love and hope, and connecting with community, but it’s there, when we don’t allow ourselves to get so cynical that we can’t see it.
By me, you guys did celebrate Christmas, by celebrating what is important, including gratitude- in this case, gratitude that you can go inside and thaw your hands, and gratitude for each other. That’s what matters, more than any tree.
Happy Yule, and, remember, pitchers and catchers report in about a month and a half. I’ll try to pay more attention to the A’s this year, but my Gints look like they’re gonna be monsters, right out of the gate. Hurry up, Spring!
Thank you John…very well said.
As far as the Giants are concerned I think I might have to ease up on the “hatred” a little bit seeing that I have a few cohorts on wordpress that are Giants fans. No doubt they will be a solid team because of the Cueto signing and that dangerous line-up. I’m still not sold on Samardjiza yet.
I hope your Christmas was everything you hoped for and more.
All in all, it sounds like you had a pretty nice Christmas.
Good for you, man.
Cheers, Bill
Thanks Bill, I hope yours was special as well.
I’ve been following your Mets this off-season….yikes! 🙂
A trip to the woods is most logical approach to celebrating your planet’s solstice, Gary. Keep your arm iced.
Thanks Bruce. It reminded me of that scene from The Sandlot….”You throw like a girl!”
Happy Holidays to you and yours.
Oddly enough my family found it this year traipsing through construction at two in the morning, fueled by a coffee thermos filled with Bullit and little else.
Also, I will take two sweaters inspired by that kitten picture.
It being the strange inexplicable whatever of Christmas something.
Whoa…it sounds like there may be an interesting story somewhere in there.
I’m a little late to the party, but glad to be here, to hear of your escape up the side of a mountain with your girlfriend, to a Christmas cabin and first pitch snow balls. Sounds wonderful! Hope the new year is healthy and happy for you and family Gary and here’s to a comeback for the A’s as well!
Thanks Steve. Here’s to a comeback for the Brewers as well. I’m not holding my breath for either team! 🙂
This sounds awesome. Really love your description of throwing around snow. Made me think of when 50 Cent thew out the first pitch at a Mets game. Being from the East Coast (where oddly it was 70 degrees on Christmas) I’ll tell you that throwing snow is fun the first few times only!!! 🙂
Thanks Maria. As someone who has tossed a baseball probably millions of times it’s a bit odd when someone can’t throw one with any zeal. I suppose it’s probably pretty difficult when you don’t have the muscle memory.
….yes, yes, yes…those of you who know how to hurl one make it look soooo easy!