Christmas | Being Emme

Holiday Tip #3: Dinner Conversation

We have all spent holiday dinners where we’ve discovered that our family still hasn’t a clue as to what we do, who our lover of over a year is, just what our best friend or business partner’s name is, or are inadvertently criticized. At one time, I use to let such conversations get me upset, set off a fight, take hugely personally and end up in tears. Somewhere along the way somethings shifted within me. Maybe I just realized that it’s not all about me and not meant personally, or maybe it’s just that I’ve grown up and realized that there are real stresses in this world and such moments should not be made into a stress. So rather than turning such moments into fights or tears this Christmas I am turning them into laughter.

Photo by Zolotkey

One moment earlier this week whilst enjoying a pre-Christmas dinner party at the neighbours, my Dad announced to the table that I no longer play any sports. Rather than taking this into a totally irrational translation of ‘you’ve become a lazy couch potatoe’, before I knew it out of my mouth came, “No Dad, I still play sports. I do pole dance after all.” Needless to say this had the whole table laughing and is unlikely to be forgotten in the neighborhood for years to come. I’m now ‘their pole dancing daughter from Vancouver’ – that is what Vancouver does to a gal after all.

Here goes nothing by you.

Perhaps the moment that my Mom and I enjoyed the most, however, was Dad asking for the kazillionth time who Lola was. Lola one of my greatest friends of all time and one of my writing partners!?! Mom started to respond with “her partner”. And once again, my mouth opened, “Yeah Dad we thought it was about time to tell you that there’s a reason why I have yet to bring a man home. Thought it was important for you to know now as wee little m, isn’t your only grandchild. You have two other granddaughters too, as it took Lola a while to recognize that she was a lesbian. Don’t worry you’ll get to meet them shortly, they’re all coming for Christmas.” Sadly Lola, I gave Dad a quiz after all of this and dear old Dad still doesn’t remember your name or that of your daughters. He is happy that we’ve found each other, however.

laughing Emme by Lola May.

So my suggestion this Christmas is don’t take dinnertime conversations personally, it probably isn’t meant that way, and it’s far more enjoyable to laugh than to fight.

Win a Fuji Camera!

December 21, 2008 By Emme 1 Comment

Apparently teasing the devilishly sexy Mr Ingram about his win has paid off as Fuji’s Get on the F List Campaign is giving us a Fujifilm FinePix S2000HD digital camera valued at $300 for one lucky reader.

I will post the details on just how you can win this camera tomorrow. I can tell you though, that it will involve our holiday flickr group – ‘A Very Sexy Christmas‘, so if you haven’t checked it out, please do. It is all about the lighter side of the holidays and creating a few smiles and chuckles. In the mean time, I will mention a few other ways of winning a Fuji camera from the Get on the F List campaign:

Sign up for the F List using this link and it’s secret code to win instantly.
Check out the F List’s Best and Worst Ever Gift Contests, upload a pic of your best and worst gift to contend to win the weekly prize of a Fujifilm FinePix S2000HD digital camera. You can also help judge the winners by voting for your favourite Best and Worst Gift Pics of the week.

Unfortunately, I don’t have any pictures of my Best and Worst Ever Gifts, so I’m feeling the need to subject you to the story instead, mainly because the Worst Gift Ever involves Lola. She and I were at a Christmas present stealing party. Everybody brought a present and you took turns ‘opening’ or ‘stealing’ presents. When my turn came round, I choice an especially interesting looking present that Lola had brought. Being especially proud of this present she watched on with bemusement whilst my face fell upon opening something as uninteresting as a bag of potato chips. In her defense, they were Miss Vickie’s Potato Chips, but still. What was she thinking!?! After a second or two, I gathered there was more, so I turned the bag over and there was some of BC’s finest crop, which although it created some understanding, was in my mind the worst present ever and it showed all over my face. And no – I am NOT a stick in the mud, its just that it gives me migraines and it wasn’t until after this particular incident that Lola showed me that what I couldn’t smoke, I could eat. Thankfully my disappointment was overshadowed by much glee from others in the room and the present was quickly stolen away from me.

These rock. by Andy Caster.