'Tis the season of giving (and receiving)

• By TAMMY MALGESINI 

• Community Editor
 

• Dec 18, 2018

Bill Belichick is the National Football League’s version of the Grinch. The head coach of the New England Patriots recently said Christmas is very inconvenient — coming in the middle of the football season.

Whatever. I enjoy the Christmas season — the festive music, holiday parties, tasty treats and the approaching NFL postseason.

But mostly, I like to give. I love finding the perfect gift for those that are special in my life. I enjoy seeing people open a gift I chose especially for them or hearing them share about what it means to them.

One thing I purchased/created for my mom this year was a special Christmas ornament. Since John and I only have canine kids, my mommy is gram-mama to Lucifer and the General.

I found an ornament that had a picture frame opening and underneath is written, “Grandkids.” I decided to alter it to say, “Granddogs.”

I decided it would be best to sand down the raised letters before writing “dogs.” How appropriate that I ended up using our doggie pedicure nail grinder — it worked perfectly. I can only imagine the look on gram-mama’s face when she opened it.

In addition to giving, I also like to receive. When the package came from my parents last week, I rifled through the box. My mom had hinted about sending money as one of our gifts.

I look at monetary presents as an opportunity to purchase something that I may not otherwise buy. Since I still had some shopping to do on Amazon, I wanted to know how much I might have in case something caught my eye.

I found two identical gifts in the box. I told John I suspected they contained checks for each of us and suggested that we open them. He was more than happy to take a peek.

My parents enjoy knowing what we buy with our present money. The first year, we pooled our money and bought a flat screen TV. Last year, we spent half of it on heavy-duty dog harnesses (and I also purchased some titanium earrings and John got some vinyl records).

While I have yet to spend this year’s gift money, John ordered a really nice Hamilton Beach electric countertop stand mixer. I don’t think my folks will be too upset that he already spent the money. He promptly used it to make several dozen cookies, which were shipped off to them the next morning.

Despite Grinch Belichick’s sentiments about the holiday season, I’m looking forward to the regular season wrapping up. While my friends that are Seahawks fans are still on the edge of their seats, my Rams and Saints have already punched their tickets to the postseason.

———

Tammy Malgesini is the community editor. Her column, Inside my Shoes, includes general musings about life. Contact her at tmalgesini@eastoregonian.com or 541-564-4539.

Resolving to be more like my dog

Community editor Tammy Malgesini bases her New Year’s resolutions on what she admires about her dogs.

By Tammy Malgesini

Staff Writer

Published on January 2, 2018 4:52PM

What’s the point of making a New Year’s resolution?

Most studies indicate the majority of people that actually make resolutions don’t achieve them. For those who do decide to make New Year’s resolutions, it’s suggested to only tackle one. And according to a recent poll from Marist College in New York, the most popular is “being a better person.”

Studies show that dog owners can take a lesson from their canine kids in regards to becoming better people. So, in 2018 I will take cues from the General, my somewhat quirky 5-year-old German shepherd, and Lucifer, my husband’s majestic 8-year-old German shepherd. In the coming year, I will follow their lead by incorporating the following into my life:

•RELAX: According to the American Kennel Club, dogs typically sleep about 50 percent of the time. While I’m not going to sleep half the year away, I will further embrace the value of naps. Also, relaxing will include slowing down and taking time for myself — whether that’s reading, taking a walk or engaging in other hobbies.

•EXCITEMENT: Even though Lucifer and the General’s lives are pretty routine, they enjoy the sights, smells and sounds of daily walks. In addition, the General’s exuberant yelp when he realizes he gets to hang out with me at work is absolutely priceless.

While I can’t promise that I’ll howl with excitement, I’ll look for ways to spice up routine activities. Although I won’t feel compelled to mark everything along the way, I will attempt to stop and smell the flowers, which is going to be extremely exciting this spring. As one of my Christmas gifts, John revealed that he purchased and planted more than two dozen tulip bulbs.

•SIMPLE THINGS: Whether it’s riding shotgun to the store or getting leftovers from a dinner out, our dogs are thrilled by little things. While I thoroughly look forward to taking trips and going out for special occasions, I will take steps to initiate small things that touch the lives of others — meeting my friends for coffee, making a favorite meal for my husband and regularly sending cards or letters to my parents.

•BOUNDARIES: John and I have found that our dogs respond better with structure. It reduces acting out and behavioral issues. For me, it’s important to maintain boundaries regarding relationships and workloads.

When I’m feeling stress or have too much on my plate, I don’t dig holes in the yard or tear up a newspaper. However, rather than trying to be superwoman while my blood pressure skyrockets, it will be much healthier for me to talk about what’s happening and sometimes saying no.

•UNCONDITIONAL LOVE: Regardless if I’m happy or sad, my dogs are there for me. They don’t care if I’m having a bad hair day, if I haven’t showered or if I’ve put on five pounds. They love me. Period.

While I won’t be wagging my tail or licking other’s faces, I can certainly take a big lesson from Lucifer and the General in expressing love, care and concern to those in my pack, including my husband, parents and my chosen sisters.

———

Tammy Malgesini is the community editor. Her column, Inside my Shoes, includes general musings about life. Contact her at tmalgesini@eastoregonian.com or 541-564-4539.

New year brings ch ch changes

Community Editor Tammy Malgesini pays tributed to the late David Bowie's classic song "Changes" by going through several of her own in the new year.

By 

By TAMMY MALGESINI

Inside my shoes

Published on January 12, 2016 3:47PM

The new year is in full swing and with that, my life is full of change.

Whether it’s good, bad or indifferent, one thing is for sure ... it’s different.

Finally catching up with the 2010s, I am now the proud owner of a flat screen TV and blu-ray player.

While the TV made its way into my house on Thanksgiving (yeah, yeah, I’m one of those who went shopping while the turkey settled), it didn’t actually make it out of the box until after Christmas.

My husband, John, who successfully conquered my 4 Gift Christmas Challenge list, decided to go beyond the quartet of presents and slapped a bow on the boob tube and called it a gift. I’m not sure how right it is that an item I ventured out in the cold to get turned into my own Christmas gift. Wasn’t it enough that I had to stand in line to see if I was lucky enough to get one of the last remaining 40-inch specials at Wal-Mart?

But it’s all good, the wait resulted in only one evening of frustration rather than two because on Christmas morning, I opened a package to reveal a blu-ray player. We messed with cords, input jacks, remote controls and on-screen instructions to update my daybed room entertainment set-up. Sure, technology is awesome, but gone are the days of merely plugging something in and pressing the on switch.

“How do people like my parents deal with stuff like this?” I exclaimed.

After what seemed like forever, I was finally able to kick back and enjoy the fruits of our labor.

Another recent change in my life has to do with what’s in my cup. I’ve been a Pepsi fan for years. As a senior in college, among the “remember whens” was “Remember when Tammy Stockman didn’t have a Pepsi in her hand?

Disdaining the aftertaste of Diet Pepsi, I finally relented and began drinking Pepsi Next several years ago. With a third of the calories of regular Pepsi, my physician has still suggested I continue on the path leading to calorie-free soda.

Right around Christmas, I noticed a decline in the number of half-racks available on store shelves. Initially I thought maybe others were easing into a change to calorie-free soda as the new year approached.

Unfortunately, my switch in soda had nothing to do with a New Year’s resolution. Due to declining sales, Pepsi quit producing Pepsi Next. I was sent into a panic. I didn’t want to go back to the full-calorie product.

And the cost of Pepsi Next was soaring on Amazon.com. At nearly $90 a half-rack, that’s like paying $7.50 per can or 63 cents per swallow.

After much research and a few taste tests, I am now officially a drinker of Pepsi Max. According to the tag-line, the max stands for maximum taste.

However, I think it also has to do with more than twice the amount of caffeine. If my hands would stop shaking, I cccould read the label and tell you exactly how much additional cccaffeine is in the cccan.

“That’s all you need — more caffeine,” said Renee Struthers, our records editor.

Yup, ch ch changes for the new year. (RIP David Bowie.)

———

Tammy Malgesini is the community editor. Her column, Inside my Shoes, includes general musings about life. Contact her at tmalgesini@eastoregonian.com or 541-564-4539.

Column: Move over Weird Al, Tone-Deaf Tammy is here

Community editor has a voice best heard through newsprint, so if she starts singing, stuff some in your ears. Fa la la la la, la la la la.

By 

By TAMMY MALGESINI

Community Editor

Published on December 22, 2015 2:06PM

I can’t sing. I take the Bible literally where it says, “Make a joyful noise.”

And my co-workers can attest to this fact. I presented a short stand-up comedy routine for our office Christmas party, which included a couple of parody songs. I twisted — twisted is the key — the words to “The Little Drummer Boy” and “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer” in a way that was truly amusing to “all of the other Heralds.” I’m pretty sure my co-workers were laughing with me, not at me ... .

As I’m typing this I’m hearing the off-key words in my head,

“Write they told me

Pa rum pum pum pum

A new story to file

Pa rum pum pum pum

Our finest words we bring

Pa rum pum pum pum

To lay out the paper

Pa rum pum pum pum

Rum pum pum pum

Rum pum pum pum.”

Maybe, that’s why I like Bob Dylan so much. A brilliant songwriter, but with his raspy baritone voice his rendition of “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” is more like a funeral march than the joyous song it’s meant to be.

Also, it took several times of listening to “O’ Come All Ye Faithful” before I realized Dylan wasn’t singing the opening stanza in English.

Despite my singing handicap, I enjoy music and I like to make up parody songs.

When I ran residential programs for adults with developmental disabilities, I teamed up with Suzy Tosten, one of the group home managers. As The House Mommies, we co-wrote and recorded a Christmas CD for our boss, Candy Lukens. She played it during their family Christmas gathering, which included Jim Stearns, a former Hermiston fire chief.

After hearing the songs, Jim expressed amazement at how well Suzy and I harmonized our off-key voices together.

“They can’t really sing, but they are funny,” he said.

Weird Al Yankovic ain’t got nothing on me — well, except of course, he can carry a tune.

Tammy Malgesini is the community editor. Her column, Inside my Shoes, includes general musings about life. Contact her at tmalgesini@eastoregonian.com or 541-564-4539.

The 12 days of post-op, my true love asked of me ...

It's easy to take for granted a spouse's contributions until they aren't able to help around the house.

By 

By TAMMY MALGESINI

Inside my Shoes

Published on December 8, 2015 11:27AM

After many years of marriage, sometimes you don’t recognize all the things your spouse does in contributing to the management of the household.

Well, I got a recent reminder as John was laid up after having foot surgery. Overall, he was a good patient, focusing on his recovery and staying down.

However, at times he’d feel bad that he was asking me to do too much and I’d catch him hobbling around. To further complicate matters, we have a split-level house, which isn’t very conducive to someone who is non-weight bearing with a surgically repaired foot.

A couple of times, I swear John’s dog, Lucifer, knew his papa shouldn’t be puttering around and would trot upstairs to get my attention.

I had to start anticipating what things John might do before I got a chance, like the night he told me we were low on toilet paper. I figured I could get some from downstairs in the morning — nope, too late. And then there was the time the garbage was “over-flowing.” From that point forward, I took the garbage out when it was three-quarters full.

One thing that posed a slight problem is that I’m not a morning person and John is. I like to wake up and melt into the morning. As soon as John would hear me stirring, he’d call out for assistance — usually with his morning cup of coffee.

Also, neither of us are big breakfast eaters. However, because John doesn’t do well with pain medication, I became a short-order breakfast cook. This enabled him to take his medication, which was a good thing because I don’t really like cleaning up barf.

Prior to this past month, I can’t remember the last time I made a cup of coffee for John. Also, I did more dishes in November than in the entire year and the multiple trips to Wal-Mart have resulted in Post Traumatic Shopping Disorder.

To summarize the experience, I’ve written this ditty (feel free to sing it to the tune of “The 12 Days of Christmas”):

On the long days of post-op

My husband asked of me:

12 Loads of dishes

11 Leftover foods

10 Check the mailbox

9 Jugs of water

8 Library books

7 Trips to Wal-Mart

6 Scoop the dog poop

5 Take-out meals

4 Bags of ice

3 Pancakes

2 Vicodins

And a big cup of black coffee.

———

Tammy Malgesini is the community editor. Her column, Inside my Shoes, includes general musings about life. Contact her at tmalgesini@eastoregonian.com or 541-564-4539.

I’m not Scrooge, four presents are fine

No need to go overboard on the holiday gifts.

By 

By TAMMY MALGESINI

Inside my Shoes

Published on November 23, 2015 11:47AM

I’ve always loved the holiday season.

However, I don’t know if I’m just jaded, but it seems society has turned Christmas into a big gift grab. Honestly, I’m no Scrooge — ask any of my friends. I love to give.

Of course, like any kid, I enjoyed getting Christmas presents. Although, I admit requesting a big ticket item one year.

As a freshman in college I asked my parents for a car. I really thought they were gonna give me the keys to my mom’s car. A decade old red Toyota Corona, we affectionately called it Little Beep Beep after the Randy Newman song, “Short People.” I figured my mom didn’t need it because my pops drove her around the majority of time.

I wondered how they would present it to me. Would they put a big bow on the car or would they give me a new key chain? Maybe, I thought, they’d make it even more fun by doing a nesting box package with each box opened revealing a slightly smaller box until I got down to the key.

Nope, it was none of those things.

They gave me a wooden car Christmas ornament.

Recently I’ve seen something floating around the Internet called the 4 Gift Christmas Challenge. Some kids might be appalled with only getting four gifts. But if you think about it, that’s one more than the gold, frankincense and myrrh the wise men brought when Jesus was born.

The 4 Gift Christmas Challenge encourages parents to limit gift-giving to four items for their children:

1. Something they want

2. Something they need

3. Something to wear

4. Something to read

Looking back, my parents could have wrapped the 4 Gift Christmas Challenge all into one with handing over the keys to Little Beep Beep. Seriously, I wanted it and needed it — remember I was a college student without wheels. Driving gloves would have covered something to wear. And something to read, well the driver’s manual would sufficiently take care of that.

And, just in case my husband needs some shopping ideas this year:

Want: A Derek Jeter commemorative baseball;

Need: A box of black Pilot G-2 07 gel pens;

Wear: Altra Lone Peak trail shoes;

Read: “Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes Unofficial Guidebook: Rail-Trail & Community Guide” by Estar Holmes (the 2015 version).

Tammy Malgesini is the community editor. Her column, Inside my Shoes, includes general musings about life. Contact her at tmalgesini@eastoregonian.com or 541-564-4539.

Holiday cup: Pranked or punk’d?

Putting the Kutcher back in Christmas.

By 

By TAMMY MALGESINI

Inside my Shoes

Published on November 10, 2015 12:01AM

Have you caught any of the hullabaloo about the Starbucks red holiday cup?

A former pastor turned social media personality originally announced on Facebook (Nov. 5 at 10:56 a.m.) that Starbucks had lost his business and encouraged others to also boycott the coffee empire.

Joshua Feuerstein’s post also includes a link to a piece — “Starbucks ‘Holiday cups’ No Longer Contain Christmas References” written by Michael Cantrell on theradicals.com — that explains his sudden disdain for Starbucks.

However, it seems Feuerstein’s personal blackballing of Starbucks lasted a little more than an hour. In his follow-up post at 12:15 p.m., Feuerstein encourages people to join him in a movement he’s calling #merrychristmasstarbucks.

“Starbucks REMOVED CHRISTMAS from their cups because they hate Jesus ... SO I PRANKED THEM,” the post says, which includes a video clip shot in front of a Starbucks with Feuerstein clutching a holiday cup.

Feuerstein’s accusation against the coffee kingdom was in response to the company opting to go with “plain red” cups this holiday season. By the way, the cup is red and includes the green Starbucks logo, which, to me, displays the classic colors generally associated with Christmas.

According to the company website, the first Starbucks holiday cup introduced in 1997 featured “... a jazz-themed design in jewel tones of deeper reds, greens and blues.”

To me, this doesn’t exactly scream Christmas — other than the fact it included red and green.

The company website goes on to say, “Every year since, the cup has told a story of the holidays by featuring symbols of the season from vintage ornaments and hand-drawn reindeer to modern vector-illustrated characters.”

Starbucks notes people have been doodling images on their cups for years. This year’s “plain” holiday cup provides a “blank canvas” to further encourage the creativity of its customers, the website states. Starbucks has even held red cup contests with the winners receiving gift cards.

Although three of my Facebook friends “like” Joshua Feuerstein’s Facebook page, I had never heard of him until this whole Starbucks thing went viral. However, after browsing his page and listening to some of his YouTube rants, I have formed an opinion. I believe people like Feuerstein have a tendency to provide partial information and then dogmatically spread their version of “the truth.”

“Starbucks, I tricked you into putting ‘Merry Christmas’ on your cup,” Feuerstein said in the video clip, by telling the barista that was his name.

Personally, I just don’t get Feuerstein’s “prank.” He’s encouraging people to buy Starbucks drinks, then taking selfies with their red holiday cup and posting them on the Internet. So, not only are people supporting Starbucks by making a purchase, but they’re also providing advertisements by plastering the photos all over social media.

I’m just waiting for Ashton Kutcher and the old “Punk’d” crew to pop up any moment.

———

Tammy Malgesini is the community editor. Her column, Inside my Shoes, includes general musings about life. Contact her at tmalgesini@eastoregonian.com or 541-564-4539.

Ugly sweaters ring in the holidays

By TAMMY MALGESINI

East Oregonian

Published on December 13, 2014 12:01AM

Who knew ugly sweaters were going to become all the rage?

Of course, when we got those now “vintage” items they certainly weren’t ugly — well, unless our fashion impaired fathers bought them.

I bring up the ugly sweater for a couple of reasons. One, the Hermiston Chamber of Commerce is hosting an Ugly Sweater Christmas Party. The event is Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at Hermiston Brewing Co. Nookies Restaurant, 125 N. First St., Hermiston.

Debbie Pedro, Hermiston chamber executive director, will be attending her first ever ugly sweater party.

“I wish I would have saved some of my sweaters from the ’80s with the big puffy shoulder pads,” she said with a laugh. “I could have used one of those right now.”

However, Pedro did recently purchase a sweater that she’s going to alter for the event.

“It’s going to have embellishments on it. It will be very ugly,” she said. “I don’t know if anyone else would want to wear it.”

Those attending are encouraged to wear a sweater. There will be “very merry” prizes for the ugly, uglier, ugliest and most creative sweaters.

And another reason I bring up the ugly sweater is because I have one — a real one.

It initially came into my possession in 1992. It’s a size large, 100 percent acrylic men’s Kennington sweater. 

Two jobs ago, I managed residential programs for adults with developmental disabilities. When clients first moved in we’d go through their clothing and get rid of items that had seen better days.

It didn’t take much to determine “the sweater” was being relegated to the toss pile. Aside from the fact it was an ’80s sweater trying to make it into the ’90s, the sleeves were at least a foot too long. Seriously, even a spider monkey would need to roll them up.

Suzy Tosten, one of the group home managers, put the sweater on and did a little dance, twirling the too-long sleeves. The wheels started spinning in my head. Unbeknownst to Suzy, after she removed the sweater I rescued it.

The first time I gave it back to her was priceless. I had wrapped it up along with a couple of other birthday presents. When she opened “the sweater” Suzy didn’t initially recognize it. But I must say, her parents taught her well in being gracious in accepting gifts. 

Two months later was Christmas and would mark the second time I gave Suzy “the sweater.” Since that time, it has been passed back and forth between us in some very creative ways.

Suzy convinced a lady to wear it to an interview I was conducting. When she stood up to greet me, the sleeve swallowed up her hand. When Suzy was accepting an award at The Arc Umatilla County, it came with a box for long-stemmed roses, only there was the sweater wrapped around a single rose. Then there was the time the “unattended package” at the airport was delivered to me by the flight attendant (of course, this was way before 9/11).

Ugly sweaters seem to be gaining cult status. In addition to ugly sweater parties, I’ve seen notices for ugly sweater fun runs, ugly sweater fundraisers and ugly sweater stores.

So, look in the back of your closet, buy a cheap sweater and embellish it or get ideas on Google. Transform a simple office party into a fashion nightmare — get ugly.

———

Tammy Malgesini is the EO community editor. Her column, Inside my Shoes, includes general musings about life. Contact her at tmalgesini@eastoregonian.com or 541-564-4539.