My Christmases

If there is a key word for Christmas celebrations in my house, that is repetition. First of all you have repetition of people, not only year to year, but also day by day... Within 2 weeks I've seen all 13 members of my close family (in the same combination, i.e. all together) about 4 times... More than what I see them in 3 months and some of them in 1-2 years.

Then comes the repetition of dishes. No matter how innovative you can be,with greek mothers cooking for 30 people when they only need to feed 10, there is little chance you won't eat something at least twice. That of course gives you the opportunity to make comparisons on who cooks better, and as a result everyone does their best! That also means of course many extra kilos and a wish there was a 2 weeks hibernation period after Christmas so as to digest. Blood tests for cholesterol and blood pressure are strictly forbidden till the end of January...

But the most important of all is: the repetition of talks. You know beforehand all the conversations that are about to take place: grandparents talking about high pressure pills, parents talking about old family controversies, and us, "the kids", whispering nonsense and making fun of the olders... (till we become like them)

I have to admit though that there is no surprise in these family gatherings. You know who is coming, you know what they are going to bring, you know what you are going to eat and what you are going to talk about! And since surprises are not always pleasant, I think it is great!!! You can take all precautions in time! You leave the wine close to grandpa, who just wants to feel it is always within reach, you leave the roast close to dad, so that he is in charge of the serving and does not pull a long face for having a small portion, you make sure there is the age division in the seating, so that you do not need to bend over 2-3 bold people to talk to your cousin, while your half-deaf grandpa shouts over to the equally deaf grandma about this new very strong pill that the cardiologist prescribed (most probably to avoid hear attacks during Christmas orgies...) And of course you avoid people shouting over the other end of the table...

But no matter what, I love Christmas gatherings!

Aaaarghl!!!!

Lovely colleague (of course male...) decides on Friday that he does not want to finish his lentil-soup, so the most logical (ie convenient, in stupid people's language) thing to do is to empty his lunch box into the sink... However, poor sink was not born with the ability to swallow, so it gets clogged (big surprise for the stupid colleague!!!!). The (stupid) collegue can see in my eyes that there is absolutely NO F... WAY I'm gonna put my hand in the sink to fix his lentil mess, so he tries to do it himself (HUGE MISTAKE!!!!!). He comes at last and says that it is still clogged... On Monday I come to office with this poisonous powder, which produces this disgusting fumes that supposely "de-clog" your sink, but practicaly send you to the grave a bit sooner than planned. To my suprise it does ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!!! And I think to myself: If I can digest lentils, why can't this think dissolve them???????? Oh my God what have I been eating!!!!! Anyway, after the panic attack, I call the plumber to fix it. Guess what!!!! The lovely, stupid, incompetent colleague had tried to take the lentils out of the sink by using straws, that he actually left them to fall in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 83 euros for 5 straws!!!!!

God help me, cause I am working in a kindergarden and I did not know!!!!!

IT'S NOT OK!! OK??

You're boarding on the plane and you find a middle aged man with notes and papers scattered everywhere sitting in the seat besides you. Which is ok, given that he doesn't stink... A few minutes later this gorgeous 30 something guy in a suit comes and claims that the middle aged man has taken his seat. And it turns out that the middle aged man has confused rows 13 and 14 . Ok! fate smiles!! Right? He stands up so as to move, but the gorgeous looking guy, apart from gorgeous (have I mentioned he's gorgeous??), is very kind and offers to swap seats with the middle aged man to avoid the fuss. Which is kind; but not ok anymore... Can it get worse? OF COURSE!!!! Right after, the middle aged man decides that, since the flight is not crowded, he will sit somewhere else, so as to scatter his papers and notes everywhere in peace. Which of course means that the gorgeous looking guy could have sat by you in the first place. And THAT is NOT OK! OK? Aaaarghl!!!!

At the opera...

There are a couple of things that I hate when I go to the opera, and unfortunately they always happen!!!!
1. Old ladies almost touching the ground under the weight of the jewellery shop they are wearing (did I say shop??? sorry I meant the whole Cristie's!!!!). Wake up "girls"!!! you;re nowhere near being pretty with all this glittering stuff around your neck; you are slow walkers anyway, now you almost melt on the pavement!!
2 So-called "artists" who wander with this feverish and "lively" expression in their eyes that my bro is calling "melancholic cow", facing the ceiling cause nothing less is good enough. Excuse me madam, but your nose is blocking my view!!!
3 Ladies (usually old) who have never been there before but only know 3 bars of THE most famous aria of the opera and they decide they can sing them along with the singer. If I had paid a ticket to hear you missy, you would have been 50 years younger and on stage! Not 3 rows behind me in the cheap area!!!

more than a year...

In fact, one year, 5 months and 4 days that I haven't written in my blog... Not that I did not have things to write. things happen all the time. I just did not bother. And i'm writing in English... That's kind of a first...Although it's long since I noticed that I can say things easier in English. Not better; just easier. I think that's because although I understand the essence of what I say it does not give me the feeling of how important something is. In English I can say things I would not dare say in my language. It's the same as swering... I swear a lot in English, but although I know the exact meaning of what I say i can say it withough blushing. Not that I blush in greek, but I simply cannot even pronounce some words. It does not feel right. So any conversation with therapists etc HAS to be in English. It's easier and more relieving...

I think I've changed a lot. Or rather, I've become my old self again. Before opening the blog I never used any means of communicating my thoughts to the world around me. There is a reason for this 'my'! If you share them then they become 'ours'. And I'm a bit afraid of this 'ours'. I've always been alone, I've never shared these things. I never liked sharing these things. although it's this sharing I'm longin for. Anyway... Too much sharing for tonight... Good night.