random holiday thoughts

-tree is going up this weekend
-really really really want to buy a pink or white tree...maybe I'll wait till after holiday clearance sales
-one of these years I really want to host a cookie exchange....do I know anyone who bakes?
-sending out cards this year come hell or high water! I love getting Christmas cards and it's a wonder we get any I am so lame about sending them out
-kinda sorta feel the need for a tacky holiday sweater this year
-holiday sweater vests are truly awful

nothing like waiting till the last minute

yeah that's me still not finished Christmas shopping, mostly finished but there are some odds & ends oh and something for David who is impossible to buy for! We are doing out standard not buying for each other which means we really do buy gifts but just not extravagant but extravagant or not who the hell knows what to buy the man?! Generally he will buy what he wants, he is not particularly geeky with gadgets, his taste in scotch is particular, watches & cologne the same so I usually buy him some clothes which is kinda boring or I perceive that he finds that boring...sigh...anyone have any great ideas? quick ideas?

holiday tip #2072

if there is something really specific your Uncle Blah or Aunt What's her name wanted for Christmas perhaps you should have started looking before December 19th....just a a helpful suggestion

to-do-list

Christmas cookies are the plan for this weekend well that and at least 16 hours of retail!

new levels of exhaustion

working retail christmas was much easier in my 20s compared to my 30s and well in my 40s it may very well kill me!

are herbal supplements & energy drinks a load of bull?

yeah probably but I have a favorite, a favorite that I cannot not currently find which is tragic as I head into my first week or 50+ hours of Christmas retail hell spread out over 2 jobs. I found a hopefully suitable replacement & picked up some ginseng tablets this weekend. It is probably a placebo effect but the ginseng seems to be working this morning or maybe I just got a decent night of sleep either way I am feeling particularly alert this morning. We shall see how it goes by next Monday morning

here we are at fall again

my favorite season & the kick-off to the biggies as far as holidays go for our family plus birthdays..and while C's birthday technically a summer birthday he starts planning around October. Last year is pretty much a blur of doctors, hospitals, ambulance rides, stress & sheer panic. I am hoping to enjoy the holiday season a little bit more this year..a trip to the corn maze on tap, pumpkin carving maybe a few halloween decorations I need a costume, rumor has it C will not be trick or treating now that he is the ripe old age of 11 but I have a feeling that may change as the 31st draws a little closer. Thanksgiving, Christmas cards, decorations, baking and perhaps I will finally have that cookie swap party I have wanted to have for forever now! Also on tap will be the plans for a proper garden in the spring. Lots on my to-accomplish list!

I was so busy turning into to my mother

I might have missed the traits of my father that I seem to have picked up too. The whole travel at Christmas thing I am not a fan I want it to all be at my house. Growing up we NEVER went anywhere for Christmas it was always at home anyone & everyone was welcome but my father was not going anywhere for the holiday. I think that tradition started the first year my folks were married and there were issues about whose family they spent the holiday with. Now don't get me wrong I love my family & I hate not to be with them in CT for the holiday but quite frankly I was fussy about driving less than 5 miles to go to MIL's house for Christmas dinner.
We were suppose to go to CT for the holidays this year but did not not due to lack of vacation time and then David's illness would have thrown a wrench into all plans and the blizzard would have really thrown a wrench into things so our not going happened to have worked out. Don't' get me wrong I would have really rather been with my family but I can tell you the travel would have had me grumbling!

pity party for one

I am trying very hard to be the strong one, the positive attitude, one day at a time, baby steps blah blah one so indulge me in a little whine fest this morning if you will
-David's pain issues kicked into overdrive the weekend of my birthday postponing my birthday dinner at a restaurant I love and only get to umm usually once a year for my birthday
-we postponed to the following weekend the one we spent in the ER after the first of 2 ambulance rides last week
-I have been to zero holiday parties and/or gatherings I haven't even been to a festive lunch. It sucks one of the things I enjoy about the season is seeing and spending time with folks I don't get to see on a regular basis
-Our annual New Years Eve Party will not be happening this year...see above that part about not being able to spend time with friends
-my tree is up but without ornaments. I guess I should be grateful it is a prelit tree or it might not even have lights
-family tradition of each picking out a special ornament each Christmas has not happened
-plans for Christmas dinner involved going out to eat so no one had to cook...that is not an option
-Christmas cards are sitting on the dining room table maybe I'll get them done and out on Christmas Day
-Christmas shopping...the only one getting gifts at this point is Connor everyone else in the family will have to wait
-no holiday concerts or driving around looking at Christmas lights as planned
-I have not watched any Christmas movies or specials yet luckily a few are sitting in my DVR
-our second annual ATL holiday trip to shop, eat and just spend time together did not happen
-my Christmas cheer level is at an all time low....a damn shame as this is normally my favorite holiday and time of the year
so whine whine whine bitch bitch bitch poor me
at least David is home from the hospital and improving, not as fast as I would like but improving. I will find joy and love in the fact the three of us will be together and at home on Christmas day

and more on that illness thing

most of the right now angst for me surrounding David's illness is we don't know what is wrong and I am scared. I am not a particular fan of the unknown. After a long Saturday we called an ambulance to bring him to the ER to hopefully get some relief. Which we did some relief not a cure and a CT scan & blood work showed nothing. While grateful for that there is a small part that wished they found XYZ and we can do ABC to fix him however they sent him home. Yesterday was rough again but less so than Saturday. Perhaps now insurance will grant the MRI they were questioning clearly something is wrong with the man and I want him fixed dammit. Have I mentioned Christmas is less than 2 weeks away? We have a tree up with lights but no ornaments, my card were ordered just this weekend, have everything ready to do some baking it just has not happened, Christmas gifts well I am going to shop online for C today everyone else will just have to wait this year. I am hanging on by a thread trying to focus on just getting through each individual day.

the day after Thanksgiving rule

I am considering breaking my mother's golden rule you know the one about Christmas not beginning until the day after Thanksgiving...Yup I believe my tree is gonna get put up this very weekend, mere days prior to turkey day...shhhh don't tell her.
however I will respect the no Christmas music till next Friday, but next Friday all bets are off it's all Christmas all day

weekend what weekend??

-C has a basketball game in the morning
-I have to work 5-6 hours tomorrow
-homework and lots of it needs to be accomplished
-grocery shopping
-laundry
-a little house de-clutter really needs to happen
-we have current plans that involve foot ball watching most of Sunday at a friend's house
and I am not even going to begin to discuss my Christmas tree which yes is still up

holiday recap

they were good end of story..okay they were also busy and as usual I was far from prepared, overwhelmed and they are over already but as usual I also enjoyed them. I was disappointed to not be able to spend the holiday with my folks in CT but honestly Christmas is hard to get away. Now if we could get them to travel once in awhile it would be great but I am not holding my breath. Hopefully next year works out and we can trek up to CT to be with them, not always easy when you work in retail and have a kid and are in school etc etc you get the point I am busy. Already I am swearing I am going to be more organized next year but I think I say that every year don't I?? pretty sure I do & maybe one of these years I actually will be. Again not holding my breath I know me. New Years Eve was good we hosted our annual event with friends I had fun and hope everyone else did too. I was able to work in some new recipes for munchables which I always enjoy doing. Regardless of what is going on next year I hope to have a few vacation days saved up so I could take a day or two off to enjoy family and friends a little more and maybe just maybe not seem so rushed again working in retail..easier said than done. I do think David and I are going to add in the trip to Atlanta each year to celebrate my birthday, do some Christmas shopping and just spend some time together sans kiddo I am already looking forward to that too.

Christmas music

I have loads of Christmas CDs but with the advent of cable systems that do just about everything but wash wash your dishes and the 24 hour Christmas music channel I have not drug a single CD out of my collection this year and well the season is waning as far as Christmas music is concerned..ah well maybe next year

my heart may very well burst

have I mentioned I have the sweetest most kind hearted kid on the planet?? I am sure some girl will come along some day and squash all that..but another blog for another day perhaps today today this Christmas my heart is gonna burst with pride and love for my son. Waiting on David to do Christmas I let C open 1 gift and he happened to choose a tech deck thingy they has apparently "wanted his whole life" I didn't get into the whole well they haven't been around your whole life why ruin a moment right? Evidently one of the kids at school John Doe had given one like this to C as a Christmas gift this year but John Doe did not get all the boys a gift so C gave his gift to his best friend..is that not the sweetest freaking thing ever?

happy belated birthday

well to me actually! David and I are headed to Atlanta for the weekend and there a million reasons why we should not go the weeekend before Christmas but we are and I am looking forward to it!

down to 9 days..

tree up. check
cards mailed....um not so much
cards addressed?...good question
cookies baked?..errrr uhh
gifts purchased..hmmmm
the ones you have to put in the mail?...uhhhh
the ones you have are they wrapped yet....well okay not so much
crap can we push back Christmas by about a week????

Christmas is how many days away??

crap now I am doing pretty okay in the gift buying department but hell the tree is not decorated, the yard isn't either, cards have arrived but I have not even begun to start envelopes, there are cookies to be baked, rum cakes to be made, cheer to be spread...damn I do not have enough time in my day 'cause I have a ton or stuff backed up at work not good product needs to be on the sales floor so it can sell, have a ton of school work due in less than 2 weeks including 2 exams, several social events are planned and then the big belated birthday weekend in Atlanta the very weekend before Christmas. I am tired just thinking about it all..maybe I'll go to bed now and gather strength for the coming weeks
I should really add Christmas is my absolute favorite time of the year always has been even working in retail I love this season..I would really like to be able to enjoy it once in awhile because at this rate next time I blink it'll be Valentines Day

is santa coming to visit?

C has conceded there is "Mommy & Daddy" Santa but there is still Santa coming too..pretty funny I have even flat out told him it's okay Santa will still bring gifts but what the hell I still get presents from Santa well technically Klaus Von Bulow but that is another story unto itself

yay for the interweb

for someone who did a whole lot of scoffing at those black Friday and/or earlier Christmas shoppers I have an amazing..well amazing for me..amount of my shopping completed thanks to a few clicks here and there this weekend. Dare I say maybe I'll even start wrapping once they arrive?