The Last Week Of The Year.

Chirstmas is in the rear view mirror (except for those enjoying a day off because Christmas occurred on a weekend), Chanukah is down to the last candles and the Winter Solstice has left us all with a little more daylight each day. It's time to write down the game plan for 2012. But wait, what about Kwanzaa?

source: The Official Kwanzaa Website

Kwanzaa begins today and runs through New Years Day. Anything I know about Kwanzaa, I learned from Wikipedia, so please see the link for a brief summary of Kwanzaa. As I read about Kwanzaa, I realized that Kwanzaa is the perfect holiday for the last week of the year.

The foundation of Kwanzaa are the Seven Principles: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, collective economics, purpose, creativity and faith. Kwanzaa was designed as a unique African-American holiday. For those of us that don't celebrate Kwanzaa, the Seven Principles are a perfect "check list" for meaningful New Year resolutions.

I'm an annual member of the eat less, eat better, exercise more resolutions club. The better fitness resolutions are great, but since I make them annually my success (lack of) at better fitness is obvious. This year, I'm going to look to Kwanzaa and try and make changes that will make 2012 a true watershed year.

Best wishes to all for a Joyous Kwanzaa.

ROL: Winter Solstice.

ROL (Return on Life) is a qualitative metric modeled on the quantitative metric, ROI (return on investment). The concept behind ROL is to make small incremental changes in habits that generate a disproportionately greater increase in QOL (Quality of Life). Today's ROI involves seeking the light.

Today is the Winter Solstice, a pagan winter festival. In simplest terms, the winter solstice is the day with the least amount of daylight and the most darkness. The Winter Solstice is the darkest day of the year and for the next six months each day has a smidge more daylight and a touch less darkness. Yeah!

source: morgueFile.com

If you pay attention to the news, way too many people have had a rotten 2011. According to the U.S. Census nearly 50% of the USA is poor or nearly poor. Since Congress is perfectly willing to go on "winter break" despite this poor national embarrassment, I too will give politics a break until Congress returns to work. For those happy to be rid of 2011 the Winter Solstice indicates that the tide could be turning. A little less darkness and a little more light.

For those that flourished in 2011 the Winter Solstice means that each following day offers a little more light to shine on and bask in the accomplishments of 2011. It's great to celebrate success, just be careful to build on success while enjoying the fruits of those successes. Too much celebration and not enough planning could turn these successes into mere memories.

Since I've written all "sweetness and light" about the Winter Solstice, how will I handle the 180 degree shift of the Summer Solstice?, I hear you think. I've got six months, I'm sure I'll think of something. How about you? How do you view the solstice or any other of this winter's festivals? How was your 2011 and how do you feel about 2012? Take a moment and share with the class.

In My Opinion...

 I Got You Pajamas That Double As Underwear.

As we head toward shopping D-Day the local sports talker has a heavy rotation commercial from an e-tailer specializing in women's sleepwear. Pajamas thru the mail for your sweetie? It's cheaper and less work than department store jewelery, right guys? The pajama purveyor is offering a unique two-fer:

• A snuggie with hood and feet (aka sweat suit burka) and
• Silky pajamas designed not to wear too long due to lack of comfort and/or lack of material.

With the money saved, why not throw in a Chapstick? Guys, no jury would convict her.

source: morgueFile

 And 100,000 Pounds Of Doritos.

Former (as of yesterday) Chicago Bears wide receiver Sam Hurd was indicted on federal narcotic charges. At a meeting with a federal undercover agent Hurd took delivery on 1 kilo of cocaine. Hurd also tried to arrange weekly delivery of 5-10 kilos of cocaine and 1000 lbs. of marijuana. That's over 25 tons of marijuana annually. For comparison, two male and two female elephants combined would weigh an average of 23 tons. Holding in abeyance (for now) the discussion about legalizing marijuana: In the war on drugs, drugs are winning the battle and the war.

source: Wikipedia

 I Love My Kids. Really.

Today is the first day of seventeen consecutive days that my kids are out of school. The Rockford Public School system calls this winter break. The use of the word break asks the question, a break for who? Still, I'd rather have my kids to complain about, than not have my kids.

Only 4 full shopping days until the winter solstice. Enjoy the malls.

Happy Holidays. Nominations Are Now Being Taken.

Lest anyone think I might be secularizing a sacred holiday commemorating the birth of their Lord celebrated on December 25, Merry Christmas. Happy Holidays to the rest of us.

Something For Everyone.

source: morgueFile

Halloween is the de facto end of the fall season and with it's passing, the end of year holiday cycle begins. Think about it, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years all within 40 days. There is also Hannukah and Kwanzaa. For the pagan community there is the celebration of the winter solstice and Bodhi Day for the Buddhists.  The seasonal fluctuation of the Islamic lunar calendar doesn't leave a Muslim holiday specific to winter. Still, for the Muslims that live and work in the US, at least there are some days off of work. Ditto for the atheists and agnostics. This time of year holds something for everyone, although for Native Americans the season doesn't begin until December (Think about it. Have you ever seen the TV special, "Thanksgiving at the Reservation"?)

Lesser Holidays, At Least In The U.S.

The winter season also includes some recent and/or additional holidays:

• Black Friday and Cyber Monday are retail invented holidays. Hallmark should have the cards out soon.
• There's Boxing Day if you can sell it to your supervisor.
• College Football offers the week long build up to the National Football Championship, with the two highest selected football teams playing each other. I still remember when college football concluded on Jan1. and only four (Cotton, Orange, Sugar and Rose) bowl games were played.
• "Seinfeld" offered Festivus to celebrate...frankly I'm unsure as to what there is to celebrate when the holiday has it's origin in a sitcom about nothing.

Despite the plethora of holidays, and let's face it any day is a good day to skip work and spend with family, I want to add one more.

And One More.

Within a week of Halloween, there is a very special day. It's a day that offers something for almost everyone, yet asks nothing in return. Snooz-a-pa-gain-a is celebrated in the US on the 1st Sunday in November. Precisely at 2:00 AM on the 1st Sunday in November almost everyone in the USA is to set their clocks back one hour. This gives everyone an extra hour of sleep, provided they don't actually get up at 2AM to change their clocks. The technical name of the ceremony of changing the time is called "falling back" (festive, don't you think?). Of course, there is Snooz-a-pa-looz-a in the early spring, but that's months away.

So very early this coming Sunday Morning, don't forget to fall back. Happy Snooz-a-pa-gain-a.

Are there any other should-be holidays you would like to add?