Daily Ooo's: Thursday, November 29

[faerywings]

I double-checked today's date. I walked around all day yesterday not sure if it was Tues or Wed. But it is Thurs Nov 29. At least it is right now on this part of the Int'l Date Line. But don't let me get ahead of myself.:fear:

Good news! I made two dinners in a row that both kids liked. Broccoli and cavatelli and homemade baked mac and cheese. That made dinner much nicer to deal with.
Other good news. Gary was not put on Mepron, the $1000/month medicine. He is one a different anti-malarial and it was one $128/month. Either way, it just goes on the credit card and I don't think of it until I have to pay the bill. But that gives me less of a heart attack than it otherwise would have done.
And one more good thing- I finished my mom's heritage book!!! Its all done and ordered and whew!!!!! As much as I like scrapping, and I love seeing old photos, I was really get sick of working on it. I also ordered my BFF a pretty charm necklace so I am getting some of the harder people crossed off my gift list.

This is going to sound weird and ramble-y but does this make sense to anyone? Now that my kids are older and I don't have many little ones in the picture, Christmas is not the same. I started to take down some decorations, I am seeing Christmas commercials, (m&m's seeing Santa and fainting-- too cute!), Elf on a Shelf posts are popping up on FB. And I don't feel any excitement or anticipation. But I feel that I *should.* So i waver between the cynical thoughts of how it is just another commercialized day and the desire to make it a special and happy month.

For those of you who have grandchildren, does the beauty and magic of christmas come back when you see it through their eyes again?

Oh well, I guess I am just weird. Who knew?? :laugh:

Temptation on Thursday:
I actually do want to start baking my Christmas cookies. I could live on cookies! My perfect meal- wine and pizza with extra cheese and coffee and cookies for dessert.

 

[faerywings]

Laurie- hope that you survived the day. 6 kids in a row, that sounds exhausting both physically and mentally. Enjoy today off!!!

Phyllis- hope that you made it through the day not too exhausted. I get those dreams all of the time-- losing stuff. My "classic" is being back in school and not having a schedule or showing up for finals and not remembering where the room is. Its funny how the sub-conscious works.
Too funny about imagining people's reactions to the card. I LOVED it, but I also "get" artsy. LOL I gave my brother a photo of his infant son's hand, cropped in real tight, and he looked at it like "WTH???"

Oh terry!! What a nightmare!!!! I am glad that you were able to feel ebtetr after crashoing so hard. It is amazinghow far the body can run on nerves and adrenaline. But yup, when you crash, you will crash hard. Hope that each day gets better. Great to see you back here!!

Nancy- oh no!!!!! Glad that your power was not out for long, but any time out is too long at this point. A fb friend said the same, their lights went out for a second and she about freaked!

Hi trudy!! Hope that you got everything on your to-do list done!

Sally- you make me laugh. "Only" 40 needle books?? If anyone can do it, you can! Can you post The Casserole recipe too?

Yup, trudy-- we will all be there with Sally!

Hi Linda!!

better get going, the car is going to need to run and warm up this morning for sure.....

xoxoxo!!!

 

[tanteva]

Oh well, I guess I am just weird. Who knew?? :laugh:

<--- resting

 

[tanteva]

Warning - long whining post

Dad is back at the hospital again. It's like one week at the hospital, one week at home lately. This time he fainted - had a high fever, and the ambulance picked him up yesterday morning. I went to the hospital with mom yesterday, and just before we came, he had fainted again in the ER. Causing the needle they add in the arm for meds to rip lose + he hit his head and got a jack in the head. They glued that one. Glad we didn't come like 10 minutes earlier, then we would have seen all the blood I guess. They were cleaning him and the room up when we arrived. No news today, mom is there now, and I'll call her later.

My sister Lotta (with the cancer) will come up on Saturday. Will be great to meet her. Something wasn't as good as thought there, I guess, because at first it was said she'd just have radiation after the surgery. Now they say she needs chemo too Right now they are fixing her teeth, she can't have any cavities or what-ever-it's-called-in-English "teeth stones" is what we say, before the radiation.

And John's mood is worse again. I guess it's all the stress with his grandpa. Missed his physio terapist appoinments the last two weeks now. And again - he's up late at night, and sleeps during the days. His computer is broken too, so I guess it's not helping either. He has all his friends and social life inside that box. We are buying him a new one, DH will be ordering it tonight after work. We had to wait for him to get his wages this month before.

I'm not gonna say anything about hoping December will be a better month, cuz that's just what I said about November. Any roads - now you know why I'm so absent. Tried to cheer myself up yesterday with a couple of episodes of Dr Quinn. Of course it ended up being the episode where General Custer kills all of Cloud Dancing's tribe.

Oh, and hey Chris - what does your kids eat? Maybe we all could help with recipes?

 

[LaurieW]

morning O fam- I survived yesterday and excited to have a day off. I think I will do a live workout at 11:30. Chris- I understand about Christmas and how your excitement about it changes as the kids age the next - huh moment comes when they leave home and don't seem to care about whether they are home for Christmas- hard for me because we don't live near any family- so it is just us- we had a few rough years- but now- have decided to not wait on the boys and just make our own plans-

 

[whatnext]

Chris, Christmas is definitely different as you get older. i grew up with my whole family coming to my childhood home on Christmas Eve, because my grandfather lived with us. there were tons of people there and a LOT of fun. then we grew up, my grandfather passed away, and all the Aunts and Uncles gravitated to their own families. then THAT generation passed away. with every generation, we all became more and more dispersed. after my MIL died, i took on my husband's sibs and their familiesfor Christmas, like she used to do. i've been doing that for 20 years, with an occasion bleat from one of the sibs that THEY would do it. then when they found out how much work it was, they backed out the following year, and there was ME again. my own family tends to be unhelpful with WORK, so that kind of soured my attitude about Christmas over the years. then, last year was such a bleedin' DISASTER that i told all of them that i wasn't doing Christmas this year. now i'm sitting back and seeing whether anyone in the family will invite US to whatever they're doing for Christmas. i am not holding my breath. so. that's what Christmas has become for me. i see it through a haze of anger, exhaustion and resentment. for several years we haven't had a big Christmas tree. we used to buy live ones with balled roots, and then we'd plant them in the yard. i have been liking small live trees in pots (i grew a few from pinecones over the years and kept them out on the patio.) but my goofy husband decided to PLANT them in the yards a few years ago, and they all died. so, this year, i've bought a norfolk Pine in a pot at Walmart. it is about 2 1/2 feet tall, feathery and very cute. i also have some crafty-looking fake trees of various sizes that i put all over the place. all my Christmas decos sort of blend in with my everyday house, which i like. i could probably leave them up all year long. the only one that doesn't is a reallly FABulous fiberoptic tree that i could watch for hours. it's the best one of its kind i've ever seen.

so, to make a short story WAAAAY too long: No. Christmas changes, like everything else. the challenge is to keep a little bit of it in your heart, despite the changes. my grandmen are just a TV show to me, so their attitudes don't color my feelings about Christmas. i was told by my son a few years ago that they would always be spending Christmas in Europe with my DILs family for Christmas "because it's the only time that DILs family could all get together." so. be prepared for the time when your kids turn their backs on every Christmas memory you tried to make for them throughout their lives, too, and, as Laurie said,

don't seem to care about whether they are home for Christmas

today, i think i'm actually going to do the "empty out entire closet to get to cubbyhole door and Christmas decos inside" thing. sigh.... :hurt: another reason i'm not enthusiastic about Christmas every year. funny what year after year of a difficult slog to get at the decorations can do to a person's attitude....

hmmm. bummer post by me.

Eva, hope your Dad and all of you gets "some mercy now." this has to be so terrible for all of you. so much all at once, happening so randomly. thinking of you.

Laurie, i loved your malbec and Criminal Minds cure!! sounds like just the cure for a long day.

OK. off to get my day started. at least i got 7 hours of sleep last night. it was in 2 parts, but it added up to a decent night's sleep!!

make Thursday work for YOU.


phylis

 

[whatnext]

Chris, i just read your favorite meal. sounds PERFECT!

 

[LaurieW]

Phylis- I too like Chris fav meal! I loved your "make today work for YOU" statement- I may need to print that up as a reminder!

 

[faerywings]

Eva, sending as many good healing thoughts to your dad and your sister and to John and to YOU!!!

 

[taxed4ever]

Morning lovely ladies... Well after reading everyones posts this morning, I am in total agreement with you all on Christmas! It is not the same when your children are grown and it does not get better with grandchildren, that is unless you are lucky enough to have your grandchildren with you at Christmas. Sadly we are not that lucky this year and like Phylis, my grandchildren are mostly seen on the computer screen.

Chris - I am happy that you finally found something that everyone loved for dinner! It is harder to think of prezzies for Christmas when the kids are older, they want things, its just that the things that they want are so darned expensive! Much easier to buy toys for the young ones!! I truly hope that your Christmas Spirit comes back to you! Mine is out in Alberta and Ontario :hurt:

Eva - How sad that you and your family are having such a difficult time!! My heart goes out to you!! Sometimes you wonder just how much more is going to be thrown at you!! I know the feeling, believe me!! But that what does not kill you makes you stronger my friend, in time you will see that. Not much of a consolation I know, but I pray that things will improve for you very soon!!

Phylis - I loved your layout about your worst Christmas ever!! I wish I could have been there for you that day! I would have helped you kicked some serious butt!!! :boxing: :rant: :fencing: Stick to your guns girl and never host Christmas again!! Not much for Christmas Spirit am I ?? But I feel your pain!! Similar Christmases for me each time I hosted for the family, they sit on their royal asses and do nothing, while I do all of the work! Except for my dear hubby, he is wonderful man and helps with most of the dinner clean up and keeping the the drinks full. Like you I miss my grandkids and wish they lived closer and could spend every Christmas with us. Sadly everyone is staying home this year and spending Christmas alone is a foreign thing for me. I am from a large family that over the years have had some terrible fights and no longer wish to be together for any reason. :sad:

Well I had better shut up and get to work :tape: I hope today gets better for all of you!! I feel better now that I have ranted and raved to you all!! LOL :sorry: :wave:

 

[nancyr]

good morning - Yes Chris Christmas changes as the kids get older. But I have come to believe that Christmas spirit is within me. We raised our kids Catholic because my husband my husband is Catholic. Anyway the Christmas Eve Mass always make me feel wonderful as the choir is amazing and I love that they sing my old favorite Christmas songs. Then we walk home and our town always puts up luminaria and its cold and peaceful and then I feel the magic. My newly married son and his wife are very respectful as to traditions and have asked if they could do Christmas. Even though they may not be at my house I still see my son carrying on traditions that we started as a family. I think that is pretty cool! I am sad that Christmas has become so much about presents yet I really love giving and receiving - so not sure what that says about me LOL.

My neighbors cut down what I call my hawk tree. I understand that after storms Sandy and Irene their pine trees fell down and so now they wanted to take down this tree but I have had hawks every year sit in the tree. It is so sad. I dont know where my birds are going to live now with so many trees that have come down.

Chris glad that the new medicine is less expensive. Hope it works.

Eva so sorry about your dad's continue problems. Hope December is much much better

Laurie glad your day went well

Have a great Thursday

 

[LaurieW]

Nancy, I hear you on trees- moving from CNY to mid Ohio- it is flat and near my house particularly devoid of trees. I decided when I was in Williamsburg that I am going to plant more trees near my house. I figure by the time they grow tall enough to blow over onto my house, I will be long gone! One thing they do here that I found terribly funny at first is in the late fall or early spring they top out trees like maples- kind of like a buzz cut for trees and then they start growing up all over again. I would guess it keeps them from getting too tall and blowing over on your house.

 

[cellomom]

morning, girlies!!!

Trudy, come on down!! Today is particularly beautiful!! Sunny and in the 60s...sweater weather for us thin-blooded Texans, but probably shorts weather for you Northerners!! (or Yam Dankees, as my Texan In-laws call all of us from the North!! LOL!!)

Chris, I agree with you that we lose a little of the "magic" of Christmas as those sweeties grow up, but somehow my mom never lost that magic...So I'm trying to be just like her...Santa will still come no matter what!! I found an advent devotional today that I'm hoping to incorporate in our lives this December...it'll be hard to do it all together with our busy lives, but we try to remember the bottom line of Christmas and the Hope that it brings!!! (off of preaching soapbox now...LOL!!!)

Phylis, I love your LO, too...I'm so sorry you had to deal with the crazies on that special day...I agree with Trudy...stick to your guns!! hugs!

Eva, prayers for your dad and mom and fam!! Sorry you have to go through this!!! glad you have some Dr Quinn to get you through...hopefully there won't be any more massacres!! eeek!!! hugs!

Laurie, I love your antidote to a busy day...although I can't really handle Criminal Minds, but I did watch Survivor last night to relax! so that makes me just as wild!! LOL!! And I loved seeing you around the holidays last year...isn't it time for you to come back down???

Nancy, we have an owl that comes by about every other night and perches in our Pecan Tree...I'd be heartbroken if someone chopped it down!! Those big birds are amazing!!!

Waving to Linda and Nana and everyone else who pops in today!!!
love you all!!!!!
Happy Thursday!!

 

[LaurieW]

Laurie, I love your antidote to a busy day...although I can't really handle Criminal Minds, but I did watch Survivor last night to relax! so that makes me just as wild!! LOL!! And I loved seeing you around the holidays last year...isn't it time for you to come back down???

I was just thinking about that- it was a wonderful time and next time I come down, I will plan on more time- I would love to hang and craft with you!

 

[tanteva]

Oh, I attended a wedding today - Byron Sully & Michaela Quinn. :luv:

Also, visited dad this evening, and he was feeling fine really. He ate while we were there, and we had a great conversation. He might be going home tomorrow ... they were waiting for some test results.

 

[terryb]

Wow! Bahumbug! Christmas does change the older you get and the kids grow up and have families of their own.

Three of our children live out of state so we rarely---I mean rarely---see them at Christmas. One son lives four hours away and has children of his own. He and his wife are setting their own family tradition---they want their children to be in their own house on Christmas. Can't blame them for that. The other child--the baby--well he is 20 and doesn't really want to be around the "parents" for any length of time. He's at that age.

I think that the times have changed drastically from when we were younger--all of us in the 60 year old range. Before the world wasn't so global and people didn't move away from home so much, much less to a different country. Since people move away--it makes it harder to get together during the holidays.

I still decorate my house and put up two trees. One is decorated with all of the kids ornaments--the things they made when they were in grade school. It's so fun to put that tree up---reminiscing about when they were little. We still go to the church Christmas Cantata and love the children's musical. I still get Craig to drive me around the neighborhoods looking at all the lights. I play Christmas music in the house. We volunteer for the annual community Christmas dinner and really enjoy doing for others during the season. For me--the season is special and we try to focus on what Christmas is all about.

Having said all of that---December is my busiest month at work and it is hard to find the time to sit down, relax, and revel in the season and all the festivities. I think I would enjoy it more if I didn't have so much work during the month.

After it is over--I am ready to get out of here. I generally take off around the 28th and we head out of dodge for a few days!!

Now that I have time to breathe, after a month of working straight through with no days off, I am just now getting around to firing up the computer and thinking about scrapping. Looking for the mojo as I type.

Maybe if I buy some new digi supplies I'll get inspired!