Saturday, December 19, 2009

Oh, sort of frazzled. You?

Christmas is in less than a week. I'm not ready. That's why I'm posting a photo of the swings at Washington Park instead of the Christmas tree at City Hall or the decorations at Christmas Tree Lane or the Balian Mansion in Altadena.

I'm notorious for this, but at least I'll have gifts in the mail to my family before New Year's this time.

Are you ready?

32 comments:

Cafe Observer said...

I'm now ready to work on my ThanksGiving Leftovers. Turnovers, too, if see any.

Dina said...

It's a shame that Christmas has become Stressmas.
The good thing about not having Christmas here in Israel is not having to gift shop.
Would much rather spend the time on those swings. :)
Good luck, Petrea. If yours arrive late, you can always say they were Epiphany (Jan. 3) gifts.

Shell Sherree said...

I finally put up our miniature tree last night and the 2.5 ornaments that fit on it. The swings are fine by me, Petrea!

Book Dragon said...

I'm with Dina, I'd much rather be on those swings. And Stressmas? Love it!

Ready for Christmas? Nope. I've got gifts to mail too and they're ornaments! At this point I just want them to arrive in time to be put away with the rest of the stuff.

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

I am all but ready, Iwould like tothank you for the most interesting blogs you have posted.
I came to Pasadena last year ....the last place on a package tour where I went to a concert. It, I think is a wonderful place.
Happy Christmas and a peaceful new year to you.

Yvonne.

LPB said...

Don't forget a couple of Christmas Tree lanes in San Marino. Here's the roundup:

http://ablogawayfromhome.blogspot.com/2007/12/neighborhood-christmas-light-displays.html

Italo said...

I'm ready. I made gifts, tree and the nativity (you know what I mean!). And I make the Diet. Christmas food is war, A SERIOUS WAR, and I will FIght with honour.

Bellis said...

Aaaargh, all those hoops to jump before the 25th! Frazzled's the right word. I always feel insecure sbout the gifts I've chosen so I run out and get more. And now I have to fly to England with a bag stuffed with presents and land on the day a massive snowstorm is predicted. But what about the terrible weather on the eastern side of the US? My thoughts are with everyone expecting relatives from there or flying eastward for the holidays .

Anonymous said...

I really like this shot. It would never occur to me to see it from this angle.

Katie said...

Fun photo! I'm wondering if you pushed one swing sideways whether you could get them all going like those little balls that clank back and forth knocking the end one out each round. Sorry, your photos distracted me from your question. Yes I'm almost ready for Christmas! I had to plan ahead since my mom and I are going to upstate NY to be with my sister and her son and we didn't want to take presents in our luggage.

I'm curious now about Italo's diet plan. Actually, I'm curious about all the Christmas foods he's going to have to fight against!

Laurie Allee said...

I'm frazzled, too.

Vanda said...

I'm looking forward to life returning to normal and days slowly getting longer.

Petrea Burchard said...

I think Dina's coined a new word.

I like giving and shopping and decorating. It's all fun. Why we've focused it all on one time of year is weird. But like anything else, it evolves. Christmas is changing, it's not like it was when I was a kid. We'll see what happens.

Thank you all for your comments! Welcome, Book Dragon. Thanks for the link, L. Barlow. I never knew about the San Marino lights. If I get it together (BIG if) I'll head there with a tripod. Camera, too, if I remember to take it with me.

mark said...

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I like this photo alot. Great job of framing the shot. I love the depth of this too. And that shade of blue is my all time favorite. This photo would be perfect framed and hanging in a children's bedroom. It would also make a perfect backdrop for an inspirational poster. Can you tell I really like this photo? You have talent.

Margaret said...

I am almost ready, but then I had to finish before the kids started their winter break.

Susan Manning said...

I'm with Book Dragon....well, if I were sending presents out....

Besides, what's the rush, we still have 5 more shopping days!! And Xmas eve is my favorite day to shop...not to start, but to get more finished.

Of course, now we are getting clobbered by the snow fairy and it could be that Monday will be a good day to start...

Love the shot of the swings; reminds me of a bell...

Petrea Burchard said...

Mark, you're my new best friend.

Margaret, is that because of Santa and secrets? Or because of freeing up your time for the kids?

Susan, your storm is in our headlines. It's sunny and 80 degrees as I write this. You left here on purpose.

TheChieftess said...

Haven't wrapped a gift, haven't finished my shopping...just not really into the ol' "Spirit of Christmas". And Christmas is my absolute favorite holiday!!! Ah well...the decorations are done, the Christmas party is over, and I still have time to shop and wrap...after stopping to take a swing!!!

And Petrea...I love this perspective of repetitive form...it's a view I've shot many times...check out my golfing shots on my blog... http://thechieftess.blogspot.com/2009/08/f-o-r-e.html

wv: indsc...kind of like the precursor to indecisive!!!

Ms M said...

Great shot and perspective :)
And with all the Christmas stuff everywhere, it's refreshing to see something that isn't part of the holidays.
I'm with you on trying to get things sent out in time; all my family live far away.
Have a glass of good wine -- it helps. ;)

Petrea Burchard said...

Nice shots, Chieftess. One doesn't have to play golf to enjoy them.

Mine all live far away, too, Ms. M.

I've been handing out baskets of clementines on the block. I'm about half finished. It's getting me in the spirit. Maybe when I've finished the block I'll be there.

Jet said...

Your blog is very nice :).I really like it !
Merry Xmas !


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John Sandel said...

I don't give a damn what I do for Christmas, or any other day, as long as I do it with you.

Petrea Burchard said...

Thanks, Jet.

J, every day's a holiday with you.

Pasadena Adjacent said...

croquet anyone?

I love the twinkly lights, clean air and my cyber optic tree.

Natalie said...

I'm not ready at all! I've been a Scrooge up until recently. I'm definitely frazzled. Is it January yet?

Virginia said...

no i"m not ready and I'm sitting here blogging instead of wrapping!!! Love the swings. Great POV !!!

TheChieftess said...

Petrea...Antonia from the Sofia Daily City blog, and across the globe, also just posted a pic of a children's play area in a park...like minds from across the globe!!! Check it out!
http://sofiadailyphoto.blogspot.com/2009/12/white-childrens-playground.html

Cristina Cho said...

Yes, miss, I am! I'm done with my shopping -- just have to look forward for the dreadful WRAPPING of the gifts! :P I'M SNOWBOUND in Jersey!!!!! Hope all is well with you.

Petrea Burchard said...

Ha! PA, good idea. I like the twinkly lights, too. And how could we not love this air? I admit, though, I'm a lover of heat.

Natalie, Virginia, sometimes does it feel like Christmas is more obligation than pleasure? We must bring back the pleasure. That's our only obligation now. The best gift is one you take pleasure in giving.

That's a great one, Chieftess. I left her a comment.

CC, Missy, now that you're snowed in you can drink hot toddies, wrap presents and listen to Christmas music, which sounds like a fine use of your time.

Amy said...

I was hanging in and doing okay until this weekend. I'm not even sure what happened from Friday until today. It was fun but went by in a holiday blur...not enough downtime for me. Those swings look much more relaxing!

FA said...

Yes, Dina is very creative...and she's so right. Do take time out to enjoy this beautiful season.

Great picture!

Petrea Burchard said...

Thanks. Yes, I think that's it, not enough down-time, which we're used to having during the rest of the year. All that up-time is fun but exhausting!