Christmas gifts

We kept Christmas low-key this year in terms of the gifts that my husband and I gave each other, but I loved everything I got!!!!

From my husband:

Charles Wysocki's Americana calendar. Love love love calendars. Love love love Charles Wysocki art.

Bata Shoe Museum's High Style calendar. Again, love love love calendars. Love love love shoes and the Bata Shoe Museum. Yes, there is a real shoe museum and I've been there. Check it out: http://www.batashoemuseum.ca/

A gift certificate to the Vintage Salon & Day Spa. It's an amazingly relaxing little day spa nearby me. Check it out: http://www.vintagesalonanddayspa.com/

From my stepdaughter:

Bon Jovi's Greatest Hits CD. Yes, I'm reliving the 80's.

From my stepson:

Juno Blu-Ray. I could watch over and over.

I also got much appreciate money from my Mom & Dad, Mother-in-Law, and my Aunt.

Thanks everyone!

All dressed up!

This REALLY makes me angry

It takes A LOT to make me angry. However, when people with disabilities are not treated with respect, I get angry. I was just reading a blog that I frequent and the latest post is titled, "The Exclusion of Eliza Schaaf." I actually thought it was a review of a work of fiction. No, it's not. It's about a young woman with Down syndrome who is asked to leave Southern Oregon University after she's audited a Ceramics class for more than half of the semester. A summary of the situation can be found here: Eliza's University Experience: One-Page Summary. The other pages on the blog tell of where things stand with getting Eliza reinstated as a student.

As a stepmother of a young woman with Down syndrome, I'm appalled. However, as a human being, I'm mostly appalled.

This & That

Random ramblings --

• School is OVER for the semester!!! I finished yesterday and I am so relieved. Taking two classes is HARD when working full-time.
• I'm allowing myself to relax tonight and then tomorrow the cleaning/prep for Christmas MUST start!
• I've already done a bunch of Christmas shopping -- most of it online.
• I'm excited to go to my friend Nancy's annual holiday party tomorrow. (And excited to make gingerbread to bring. Yum.)
• For the first time in about 15 years I'll be with my parents on Christmas. That's all I need for a gift.
• I have been trying different flavors of Woodchuck Hard Cider and I'm loving the 802 flavor. (John's loving the Raspberry.)
• I'm also loving a new TV show on the Discovery Channel -- Brew Masters. Why you ask?
• a) It chronicles Dogfish Head Brewery, located in Milton, DE with its brew pub in neighboring Rehoboth Beach, my new fave place and future retirement spot.
• b) I went to elementary school with Sam Calagione, the owner of Dogfish Head. And my mom was his teacher.
• I'm working on a list of things I want to do by the time I turn 40. I better hurry up with that.