Merry Christmas To All And To All A Good Night

Photowalking Christmas Lights In Austin, TX Tomorrow Night – Join Us!

Please join Trey Ratcliff and me as we get in the holiday spirit and Photowalk 37th St. in downtown Austin, shooting Christmas lights in a jolly fashion. All is sure to be merry and bright!

Everyone is welcome, no matter what level photographer you consider yourself or what kind of gear you use from camera phone, to point and shoot, to DSLR. Come have some photography fun with us and socialize a bit.

When: Saturday, December 10th, 8PM
Where: 37th St. & Guadalupe, downtown Austin, TX
RSVP: Plancast http://plancast.com/p/8ufo

It may or may not be cold outside. Merry Christmas!

Frankly, it’s 54F outside right now, and the forecast high for today is in the 60s.  On a couple of days next week, it’s supposed to be in the 70s.  I will now duck your thrown punches. So, pretty much, no, it’s not really very cold here in Austin, TX.

Last year we had snow a week into the New Year (we were still living in Nashville).  Braden expects it this year, and I keep having to tell him we will probably not see it.

No matter the weather, we’re enjoying some Christmas spirit in our home right now.  We’ve been tracking Santa already and are currently watching The Polar Express.  I sense there will be cookies consumed later today – along with our usual brunsli and spitzbuben, I made these monsters yesterday.  Hey, at 433 calories a cookie, it eats like a meal! (Better get out my stretch pants.)

It’s been a wonderful holiday season, from the lights to the tree and the anticipation of the big day itself. Braden’s first time sitting on Santa’s lap and talking to him was a rousing success. My heart definitely grew to three times its previous size.

Now it’s Christmas Eve, and before I completely lose myself in:

• trying not to cry at the insanely joy-filled excitement spilling out of my son (already failed)
• The Polar Express, A Christmas Story, Elf, and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
• a pile of wrapping paper, tape, and cursing ribbons
• smoked salmon, crackers, wine and… yeah, really need to put on those stretch pants soon.

I wanted to share a little ditty with you guys that John and I recorded (home studio + talented musician, FTW!) earlier this month for The Fifth Annual Blogger Christmalhijrahanukwanzaakah Online Holiday Concert, hosted by Neil.

Just click the link below to listen to our version of Baby, It’s Cold Outside.  And whether it really is cold out for you or not, I hope this warms your heart and spreads a little of our Christmas Joy to you.

Baby, It’s Cold Outside

From our family to you and yours, have a very Merry Christmas.

Happy Holidays, my friends!

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Happy New Year, Beeshes.

It is the end of a decade full of a swirling mix of highs and lows – events, emotions, memories – for all of us, as is customary.  We are humans; this is our experience.  Thank you for letting me share pieces of myself with you, for supporting me in all the times when I came here and needed something, and for giving me insight into your lives and thoughts as well.  Humanity is alive and well, whether the world knows it or not.  I do.

May you all have the desires of your hearts this coming year, and in the new decade.

Love, Lotus

The Ghost of Crotchmas Past

I am far too much of a lazy douche to give you an original post today.***

Instead, I give you last year’s Merry Crotchmas photo:

MERRY CROTCHMAS TO YOU ALL, MAH BELOVED BEESHES.




psssst… keep clicking….

***Mail all angry rants to me at:
Lotus “Lazy Douche” Carroll
1234 Like I Give A Shit Trl
Nashville, TN 56789

The Elves Came Early

They told some of my friends to send me things… they all chose things that would comfort me… how did they know? Now these are good friends…

Like my Cheese, Fruit & Cookies-Giving Friend…

She even put in presents for Braden to keep him distracted.


Or my Coffee-Giving Friend…

Gorgeous Tumbler and Charged Card so I can buy coffee and get free internet access at Starbucks. Me time!
*faints*


Or how about my Beautiful Soaps & Chapsticks-Giving Friend?

This was so perfect for me… I have a chapstick addiction. Do you know what I mean? Anyone?


And who can overlook my Chocolate & HooHaa Care-Giving Friend?

Gotta love a pad with BEWBS drawn on the wrapper. Also? Don’t touch my Russell Stover German Black Forest Truffle or you will draw back a nub.

And then I will rip off your nub and bludgeon you with it.

Yes, it’s that serious.


So, Nub Bludgeoning aside… would you be willing to give me a gift? Do me a favor right now and gift me this Christmas by doing something for someone else.

It’s really easy; all you have to do is click a link.

That’s right. I want you to click a link. Until the end of December, every time you click this link, or load any of the other pages on that website, you help earn ad revenue, 100% of which will be donated to a non-profit charity called “To Write Love on Her Arms.” (You can check the charity out here.  Make a donation, buy a shirt.  I’m going to buy a shirt… I’ll post photos of me in it later, even.)

They are “dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for those struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide.”

So, from a person depressed as she’s ever been this Christmas, please click. Click as many times as you feel moved to click, between now and the end of December 2008.

If you click right now, leave a comment on that post, then come back to me and tell me you did it.  It’s like my Christmas present. But even if you don’t feel like coming back, just click anyway, ok?

Merry Christmas, to all of you. And thank you.

Of Junk, and Boxes

I need a little break from my sorrow.  You do, too.

Time for a favorite amusement of mine around this time of the year. 
I think I might just post this Every.Single.Year.

Perfect gifting solution for today’s economy, right?

You’ve got less than a week now, fellahs.  So buy that box and get out yer scissors.