Things I Learnt This Christmas
1 - The Crown Plaza at the United Nations is TOTALLY worth EVERY penny you spend there. The room was AWESOME!!!!!!! The view was great (we even had a private balcony). The food was incredible!!!!! The service was impeccable - truly wonderful and helpful. The bed was quite honestly the most comfortable bed I have ever slept in. We were in heaven, absolute heaven. We indulged, we did. We ordered room service; We walked around in their big, fluffy, white robes; We didn't even leave our hotel room yesterday, let alone the hotel. It was heaven. I think I want to make staying in Room 1811 at the Crown Plaza our Christmas tradition EVERY Christmas we can't fly back to Australia - it was just superb!!!!!
2 - Cashmere really is the most BEAUTIFUL warm fabric to have against your skin. Daniel got me for Chrissy the most wonderful, white cashmere scarf. It is divine!!!!!! It feels so soft and silky but is the warmest scarf I have ever owned. I love it!!!! And my hubby rocks!!!!!!
3 - It doesn't have to snow for New York to be the most stunning city at Christmas Time. The city empties out and the streets are so empty - you feel like it's just you and the buildings (which are all very beautiful). And it's quiet. It's really lovely and VERY romantic to walk down the streets, bundled up, arm in arm with your beloved.... We walked to Central Park from our hotel on Christmas Day and it was just sooooo lovely - we couldn't get over how different the city is NOT swarming with people, and how beautiful...
4 - NEVER go see the Tree at Rockefeller Center on Christmas Day. I was less crushed by crowds and swarms of people when I was in the Mosh Pitt of a Metallica Concert!!!!! It was INSANE!!!! I think there was no-one on the streets of New York because EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THE ENTIRE CITY OF NEW YORK WAS CRAMMED INTO ROCKEFELLER PLAZA. It was complete chaos!!! I'm glad we went. I'm glad we saw it, I'm glad I can say that I went to see the Tree at Rockefeller Center on Christmas Day, but I will NEVER do it again.
5 - If one is going to go ice-skating in Central Park (as EVERYONE should - it was perfect), buy your own skates!!! They are, like, $25 and the skates that you rent at the rink in Central Park are the most PAINFUL, horrible ice-skates I have EVER worn. I have BRUISES on my ankles from them and Daniel couldn't walk properly for ten minutes after taking them off. They were AWFUL!!!! On the up-side, ice-skating on the frozen pond was AMAZING!!!! Daniel and I had never been on an outside rink and although it wasn't lightly snowing, and instead was lightly raining, it was the most beautiful and romantic experience I think either of us have had here in New York. It was so perfect.
6 - Bigger is not always better!!!! I bought Daniel a tool set for Christmas because recently he was complaining that he didn't have any tools here and he couldn't even fix the reception on our TV because he doesn't even have a set of pliers. So, thinking I'd surprise him with a big-more-than-he-could-possibly-need gift, I bought him a 54-piece tool kit. It came in a carry case and had screw-drivers, wrenches, a little saw, a hammer, several pairs of plyers and everything any man could EVER want to be a family-handy-man (which Daniel loves being). Upon opening it, Daniel's face immediately set into the "oh my god, what were you thinking??? Oh, crap, I'll try to look happy" expression. Trying to explain, he told me that all he wanted was a Leatherman (which is kind of one step up from a swiss-army knife - it's like 20 tools in one and small enough to carry around a film set). I told him that I was going to get him a leatherman but it just seemed so small and dinky for the quite-large price, and I figured for the same price I could get this MASSIVE tool set..... Wrong. He wants the leatherman.... Small is good. Small is convenient!!!! Small has been purchased and will be here in two days.... Tomorrow, I return the tool set!!!!
7 - No matter how many hints you give about presents you want, when someone really knows and loves you they can surprise you with the PERFECT gift. In short, TRUST!!!! I must have made hint after hint of several things I wanted, some impractical and sparkly and others totally practical and needed (like a cheap photo album - so many photos from this year just LAYING around our room with nowhere to put them). But at the end of opening all our Christmas Presents, Daniel handed me something I NEVER asked for, never THOUGHT to ask for, didn't even want for Christmas but am SSSOOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited about. He gave me tickets for the both of us to see Rent on stage, on New Years Eve. I could not be more happy and looking forward to it more!!!!!!
8 - When someone invites you to Christmas Dinner, GO!!! We went to the most lovely dinner at a very new friend's house (someone Daniel actually only met last week) and it was SUCH a nice evening. Our hosts names were Katherine, she's an Aussie, and her boyfriend, Luke who's an American. They also invited another friend of theirs, Laura, who was also lovely!!!! The meal was home-cooked, the apartment was cozy and these two are probably the most generous people I have EVER met. They were incredible people and we had such a fun night. It really just goes to show that when you take a chance (like, say, going to dinner at the house of someone who is a perfect stranger) it can REALLY pay off and surprise you in some really wonderful ways!!!!! I think those two may just become a couple of really close friends of ours. Such a pleasant surprise.
9 - Christmas really is the season of peace and love!!! I learnt this Christmas that it really, REALLY doesn't matter what presents you receive or give. It doesn't matter if you can't be with your family. It doesn't matter if you are the richest person in the world or have not a penny in your pocket. It doesn't matter if you uphold traditions or succeed in creating new ones when you want to. All of this stuff may SEEM to make Christmas better or worse, but none of it really matters. What matters is that you have just ONE person to spend that day with, to smile with and to truly learn the meaning of Christmas with.
Daniel and I were both so sad to be away from our family and friends. We were both so worried about the gift we got eachother (the number and cost). We were both so worried we wouldn't have enough money to do anything - even eat - on Boxing Day. We were so worried about being able to carry on some of the traditions of our childhood houses. And I was WEIRDLY worried about making our OWN traditions and setting them in place and sticking to them. But, with Daniel's love, I was able to relax and go with the flow and found that there were so many small, beautiful things to enjoy and love on that day. I found peace and was able to enjoy the day spent with the love of my life, my family, my Husband.
And finally, the last thing I learned this Christmas, Number Ten....
10 - It's a Wonderful Life. We may not have gotten to watch the film (and maybe it really is a crap film, like my Dad said, I can't remember), but I sure as heck believe it more after this past Christmas weekend. I am blessed beyond measure and have so many things to be grateful for. I sometimes get hung up on the negatives that life sends me. I miss our families; I deeply miss my friends; I'm impatient to go back to school and so terrified that I won't get accepted anywhere and of what that means for my near future; I want things that I have no way of getting, anytime soon at least, like our own apartment or more money to travel a little around the States and show Daniel things. All of these things get me down a lot of the time but this Christmas I learned that I am blessed with a loving, supportive husband who will ALWAYS be able to make me feel better and remind me that all the things I DO have are the things that REALLY make this world a wonderful place.
I leave you with a few quotes...
Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.
- Art Linkletter
God gave us our memories so that we might have roses in December.
- James M. Barrie
Reflect upon your present blessings - of which every man has many- not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.
- Charles Dickens
To be upset over what you don't have is to waste what you do have.
- Ken S. Keyes
The universe is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.
- Eden Phillpotts
2 - Cashmere really is the most BEAUTIFUL warm fabric to have against your skin. Daniel got me for Chrissy the most wonderful, white cashmere scarf. It is divine!!!!!! It feels so soft and silky but is the warmest scarf I have ever owned. I love it!!!! And my hubby rocks!!!!!!
3 - It doesn't have to snow for New York to be the most stunning city at Christmas Time. The city empties out and the streets are so empty - you feel like it's just you and the buildings (which are all very beautiful). And it's quiet. It's really lovely and VERY romantic to walk down the streets, bundled up, arm in arm with your beloved.... We walked to Central Park from our hotel on Christmas Day and it was just sooooo lovely - we couldn't get over how different the city is NOT swarming with people, and how beautiful...
4 - NEVER go see the Tree at Rockefeller Center on Christmas Day. I was less crushed by crowds and swarms of people when I was in the Mosh Pitt of a Metallica Concert!!!!! It was INSANE!!!! I think there was no-one on the streets of New York because EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THE ENTIRE CITY OF NEW YORK WAS CRAMMED INTO ROCKEFELLER PLAZA. It was complete chaos!!! I'm glad we went. I'm glad we saw it, I'm glad I can say that I went to see the Tree at Rockefeller Center on Christmas Day, but I will NEVER do it again.
5 - If one is going to go ice-skating in Central Park (as EVERYONE should - it was perfect), buy your own skates!!! They are, like, $25 and the skates that you rent at the rink in Central Park are the most PAINFUL, horrible ice-skates I have EVER worn. I have BRUISES on my ankles from them and Daniel couldn't walk properly for ten minutes after taking them off. They were AWFUL!!!! On the up-side, ice-skating on the frozen pond was AMAZING!!!! Daniel and I had never been on an outside rink and although it wasn't lightly snowing, and instead was lightly raining, it was the most beautiful and romantic experience I think either of us have had here in New York. It was so perfect.
6 - Bigger is not always better!!!! I bought Daniel a tool set for Christmas because recently he was complaining that he didn't have any tools here and he couldn't even fix the reception on our TV because he doesn't even have a set of pliers. So, thinking I'd surprise him with a big-more-than-he-could-possibly-need gift, I bought him a 54-piece tool kit. It came in a carry case and had screw-drivers, wrenches, a little saw, a hammer, several pairs of plyers and everything any man could EVER want to be a family-handy-man (which Daniel loves being). Upon opening it, Daniel's face immediately set into the "oh my god, what were you thinking??? Oh, crap, I'll try to look happy" expression. Trying to explain, he told me that all he wanted was a Leatherman (which is kind of one step up from a swiss-army knife - it's like 20 tools in one and small enough to carry around a film set). I told him that I was going to get him a leatherman but it just seemed so small and dinky for the quite-large price, and I figured for the same price I could get this MASSIVE tool set..... Wrong. He wants the leatherman.... Small is good. Small is convenient!!!! Small has been purchased and will be here in two days.... Tomorrow, I return the tool set!!!!
7 - No matter how many hints you give about presents you want, when someone really knows and loves you they can surprise you with the PERFECT gift. In short, TRUST!!!! I must have made hint after hint of several things I wanted, some impractical and sparkly and others totally practical and needed (like a cheap photo album - so many photos from this year just LAYING around our room with nowhere to put them). But at the end of opening all our Christmas Presents, Daniel handed me something I NEVER asked for, never THOUGHT to ask for, didn't even want for Christmas but am SSSOOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited about. He gave me tickets for the both of us to see Rent on stage, on New Years Eve. I could not be more happy and looking forward to it more!!!!!!
8 - When someone invites you to Christmas Dinner, GO!!! We went to the most lovely dinner at a very new friend's house (someone Daniel actually only met last week) and it was SUCH a nice evening. Our hosts names were Katherine, she's an Aussie, and her boyfriend, Luke who's an American. They also invited another friend of theirs, Laura, who was also lovely!!!! The meal was home-cooked, the apartment was cozy and these two are probably the most generous people I have EVER met. They were incredible people and we had such a fun night. It really just goes to show that when you take a chance (like, say, going to dinner at the house of someone who is a perfect stranger) it can REALLY pay off and surprise you in some really wonderful ways!!!!! I think those two may just become a couple of really close friends of ours. Such a pleasant surprise.
9 - Christmas really is the season of peace and love!!! I learnt this Christmas that it really, REALLY doesn't matter what presents you receive or give. It doesn't matter if you can't be with your family. It doesn't matter if you are the richest person in the world or have not a penny in your pocket. It doesn't matter if you uphold traditions or succeed in creating new ones when you want to. All of this stuff may SEEM to make Christmas better or worse, but none of it really matters. What matters is that you have just ONE person to spend that day with, to smile with and to truly learn the meaning of Christmas with.
Daniel and I were both so sad to be away from our family and friends. We were both so worried about the gift we got eachother (the number and cost). We were both so worried we wouldn't have enough money to do anything - even eat - on Boxing Day. We were so worried about being able to carry on some of the traditions of our childhood houses. And I was WEIRDLY worried about making our OWN traditions and setting them in place and sticking to them. But, with Daniel's love, I was able to relax and go with the flow and found that there were so many small, beautiful things to enjoy and love on that day. I found peace and was able to enjoy the day spent with the love of my life, my family, my Husband.
And finally, the last thing I learned this Christmas, Number Ten....
10 - It's a Wonderful Life. We may not have gotten to watch the film (and maybe it really is a crap film, like my Dad said, I can't remember), but I sure as heck believe it more after this past Christmas weekend. I am blessed beyond measure and have so many things to be grateful for. I sometimes get hung up on the negatives that life sends me. I miss our families; I deeply miss my friends; I'm impatient to go back to school and so terrified that I won't get accepted anywhere and of what that means for my near future; I want things that I have no way of getting, anytime soon at least, like our own apartment or more money to travel a little around the States and show Daniel things. All of these things get me down a lot of the time but this Christmas I learned that I am blessed with a loving, supportive husband who will ALWAYS be able to make me feel better and remind me that all the things I DO have are the things that REALLY make this world a wonderful place.
I leave you with a few quotes...
Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.
- Art Linkletter
God gave us our memories so that we might have roses in December.
- James M. Barrie
Reflect upon your present blessings - of which every man has many- not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.
- Charles Dickens
To be upset over what you don't have is to waste what you do have.
- Ken S. Keyes
The universe is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.
- Eden Phillpotts
posted by Taliesen K. Farmer | 12/27/2006 11:44:00 AM
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