Hey, guess what.

It’s funny that choral directors talk about the Christmas season in past tense, when Christmas hasn’t even arrived yet. But there you have it. Done and done, and now it’s all — wait. It’s all arrange music for spring, choreograph a tap routine…but truth be told, I love it. It’s a good way to spend some time off.

Yesterday, I ran around the town with 12 awesome teenagers who sang in three different locations, then came back to feed them at my house. It was wonderful and special, and fun was had by all.

And now we rest. Christmas Eve is the next gathering, and I’m looking forward to that.

So, the new RtB digs. What do you think? There could be more changes; I’m not 100% sold on this one, although I think it’s pretty. Not sure it’s me, and not sure how I will incorporate my new logo on it. I will be goofing around with it over the next couple of weeks, so if you happen to check in and everything looks helter-skelter and higgeldy-piggeldy, you’ll know why.

But for now — Christmas is coming! The goose is getting fat! (So are the Fink and the Thriller, yikes…gotta get back on the wagon.)

Holiday hugs to all my fiends this day.

Last time I repainted and changed the locks on Rockin’ the Bourgeoisie was June of 2010. It’s getting to be time to tidy up around here again, don’t you think? Especially since I just received my shiny, new, personalized Rat Fink logo. How fun!

The awesome Andy Nortnik designed her, and I think she’s delightful. Nerdy, sassy, kind of artsy, but with the requisite amount of silly. I think he nailed the persona, from the ubiquitous turtleneck to the John Lennon specs. If you ever need custom cartoon art, hit him up. He’s a super nice guy, and he’ll cut you a sweetheart of a deal.

OK, back to me. Focus. I need to find a new blog template that will incorporate little RF perfectly. The search begins.

Hopefully, the next 48 hours pass quickly and happily (there is much merriment at the school house today and tomorrow), so we can get on with the weekend, which will consist of grandsons, flash mobs and chili for 20. Piece o’ cake, piece o’ pie. Mavis and I have been known to bash out a magnificent feed or two in our day.

I hope your work day goes fast, too. Unless of course, you’re one of my favorite you-know-whats, to whom every day is Saturday.

Fink, off to search the WordPress themes

We’re down to the happy wire, fiends. Last night’s high school concert marked the end of the school Christmas gigs. Now it’s just the fun stuff for the remaining “performance” (a quick flash mob at a local grocery this Sunday, followed by chili at my house for the mobbers), then hello, Christmas break. Family in the house! Grammie kisses for grandchildren. Love the thought of it.

Now to keep my HS choir from lying down on the floor in protest. “Time to get out choir tour music.” Ah, I can see the faces now…

Heh heh.

Over halfway there, my pets. Over halfway. Three gigs down, two to go. High school concert on Tuesday night, and our little flash mob next Sunday. Then it’s done for another holiday season.

Today, I go to the band concert, come home and wrap more gifts (I made a dent last night, although this cold seems to be reluctant to exit, and I didn’t get as much done as I’d have liked), and gear up for the last full week of school. I will also say at this juncture that, while the Thriller and I have decided to forego getting live Christmas trees anymore, I am sad about it. I miss the look and smell and decorating fun. Blah. Perhaps next year I could ring up Lars and ask him to haul the tree in from the car. Mebbe? I think he’d do that for us.

Update: Just got this text from Lars: “Of course I’d haul the tree in for you!” He’s such a good son.

Anyway. How are you coming with wrapping?

When my kids were small, it seems I was always running around dangerously close to (and sometimes, even on) Christmas Eve, trying to get last-minute shopping done. Nowadays, I’m 90% finished by the end of the Thanksgiving weekend. Not that Christmas is all about the shopping for me, mind … I love the time of year, actually, because it means more family time for us. Everyone’s so incredibly busy, including me. I hate it. Each year I make a silent promise that I’m going to slow down and enjoy the holidays a bit more, but “stuff” just gets in the way. My intentions are good, dangit, but cripes. One day I will learn.

The worst part of this Christmasy, snowy weekend is that I’m still not “over it” enough to be around the Fab Four (our grandsons). I feel like a big fat Grammie fail.

But that comes to a screeching halt on Friday. Come on, virus gods. Let me go.

After tomorrow, I’ll be over halfway done. Does that make you want to dance and sing?

Last night, my 5th-8th graders sang like angels, and hopefully delighted their audience. There was one little behavior issue involving less-than-professional comportment on the risers that I must deal with this morning. Students presenting poor posture and attitude on the risers is a rarity, and I was disappointed. But I will dispose of the problem forthwith. Bank on it.

My dastardly cold is finally starting to subside, thanks to DayQuil, NyQuil, and clean livin’. I plan to be back on track to Grammieville by one week from today. Once we get there, all gigs except for one (a fun one that involves a flash mob of sorts) will be history, and I can really start enjoying the holiday.

What about you? Do you have any plans to go away for the holiday? I  know a couple of you fiends (David, PK, maybe others) are having family in. That’s a good part about being the matriarch/patriarch, ja? I remember hitting the road every holiday when my kids were young; it wasn’t something one thought about — one just did it. Pack up the kids and go to Mom’s for Christmas. I loved doing it, and it never felt like work. Nowadays though…wow, I don’t know how we did all that. My own sons and their wives are constantly on the move with their kids at the holidays, hauling bunches of gear with them (especially Lars and Helen, whose children are much younger than the Js).

Wears me out thinking about it. But I surely do appreciate their willingness to do it.

OK, enough rumination for one morning — especially when I’m running 15 minutes late. But hey, I can see the weekend from here. Yay for some more couch time and finally hitting this cold out of the park.

And speaking of cold: five degrees outside this morning? Are ya jokin’ me?