Well, I Never!
Joelle said at some point on December 4, 2007
“Never” is a weird word if you type it a couple times. After a while, it starts to to look foreign. Like “What’s a never?” Anyway, I digress.
As I’m getting older, I’ve started noticing more things I’ve never done. You think when you’re younger that you’ll have forever to do adventurous and bizarre things, but as Janet says in the movie Singles, “Somewhere around 25, bizarre becomes… immature.” Not that I want to do anything too bizarre, but when you wake up on Monday morning, blink and it’s Friday night, you start realizing that time takes no prisoners. So, I’ve started an informal list of things I want to see or do in my life, be it monumental or trivial.
Last night I saw a woman on TV building a gingerbread house. It occurred to me that I’ve never done that. Not in all my 34 years have I ever built a gingerbread house. I don’t recall my mom ever engaging in that with me. Maybe we would have eventually, when I was old enough to figure out all the bits n’ parts, but we just never got that much time.
When I was about 11, I vaguely recall my future stepmother doing some kind of Christmas candy making when my dad first told me he was dating her. She invited me over to her house to watch movies and make cinnamon lollipops to distract me from the fact that she was making the marital moves on my dad… but no gingerbread house. That’s a fine how-di-do! Some woman shags your dad and you can’t even get a lousy gingerbread house out of it. 
What kind of a world do we live in?
I don’t even recall building one as a school project or ever picking up one of those “gingerbread house kits”. Suddenly, I want to make a gingerbread house just for the sole purpose of having done it. I also kind of want to get my art on, as gingerbread houses hold no edible appeal for me. I think they just look pretty, when done well.
I smell a project… like I need another one. All the projects piled up around here are starting to stink up the joint, but maybe this time I’ll actually find time to do it.
You know, after I make fudge, write my Christmas cards, finish shopping, wrap presents, mail packages, finish clients, launch our websites and roast the partridge in a pear tree.
I’ve never seen an actual partridge either. Add that to the list.
Moxie Design Studios™
from SD CA (this week) • Cocktail: Red Headed Slut
i wrote my christmas cards on the plane. i feel very accomplished. if you want to do a gingerbread house, that would be cool...i think me and a bunch of yelpers may have a gathering to do one...i’ll let you know.
from Michigan
I have my nieces and nephews over every year for a gingerbread house party. I make the gingerbread myself, build the houses, and they all come over (with their parents) and decorate the houses. It is an absolutely awesome time. You should make one. Definitely make one.
Also, I can’t believe how cliche it is, but time does go faster the older you get. That is the truth. The total, absolute, scary truth.
from Santa Barbara, CA
Hmm, I don’t think I’ve made one before either, but they do seem kinda fun! I hope you get around to it, as I’m sure the end result will be fabulous!
Isn’t a partridge just another name for a pidgeon? Or is it like a seperate bird altogether? Wow, it occurs to me that I have practically no knowledge whatsoever about partridges, besides The Partridge Family.
I had never made a gingerbread house before last year either, so we went to Costco and picked one up for a few bucks. It was fun! But also kinda tedious because I wanted it to be the PERFECT gingerbread house. This year, I spotted a gingerbread tree and now I want to make one of those
Cocktail: Amaretto Stone Sour
You ARE handwriting your cards right? And decorating your own butcher paper gift wrap? Oh, oh! Don’t forget those lovely bows that take at LEAST 20 minutes to make. Each.
Merry Christmas to you
BreeJoellefrom in my belly button
I understand about the ‘never’ but here’s a never…
I never worry if my actions or trying something new is immature. This comes from a girl who wore a Lara Croft outfit for 4 days straight (ok I had 2 of them) at DragonCon last year and showed pics to my coworkers.
Geeky, dorky, lame, immature? Yes. But I had the best time that I’ve had in my 30s and would do it with pride again.
But this time female Darth Vader.
I know these actions will “never” get my to a VP status at my company and well, I’m ok with that. At least I can make one person a day smile.
As far as an “I never” that I regret---I never went away to college. Commuter school SUCKED.
An “I never” I would like to work on---I never left the US.
I don’t think I’ve ever made a gingerbread house either - but I have given a kit or two as a gift. The Christmas cards are 1/4 done..the hubby has signed them and that’s a good start at least.
i’ve never done a gingerbread house and had a passing thought of attempting one this year. then i saw a kit in the grocery store and said, “hmmmmmm… maybe i’ll just try that!!” it sorta seems like cheating though.
from Portland, OR
Did the gingerbread houses and tree (kits) last year with my neice and nephews. An extremely fun and frustrating project. Keep the alcohol nearby for the umpteenth time your roof caves in . . . .