Gimme My Gifts

This year Christmas was better than usual for me. Not just because I worked Christmas Eve, came home and opened gifts before turning in for the morning. There was just something different this year...

Joe and I had to keep it low key because money is tight, as it is for everyone, but that still isn't it. For me it has always been about the holiday spirit, not about who got what at what price. I could care less about that. There just seemed to be an overall sence of peae and calmness that has been lost most other years.

I think this year was such a nice one because I got virtually everything I asked for. My wish list was really honored and that seemed to make a huge impact on the way I felt. I have been cooking up a storm ever since because all I really wanted was kitchen goodies and gadgets. 500 cupcakes aren't going to bake themselves.

With money from my parents & Joe's parents I was able to buy a new cookware set that I've been lusting after for about 2 years. We were also able to purchase a new over the range microwave. It will be nice for Joe to not have to lug out the current microwave because I refuse to loose the counter space over it. Other than that Joe got DVD's, games, ornaments, books and gift cards.

The only snafu this year was the "flannel granny jammies" Joe bought for me~ cute, but wrong size. Based on his decription of me ("big boobed midget"), I'm near impossible to guess a size for. Yes, we all are having a good laugh over that one.

Well, Merry Christmas & we hope that you got everything you wanted this year!

Winter Wollop 2009

Alright, I stole the title of this post from every single news channel out there today. In case you won't remember by the time that you read this today is that day when the "blizzard" hit the Mid-Atlantic & Northeast.

I know last night the south was hit hard. My parents were stuck in traffic for 7 hours in North Carolina before finally stopping for the night. They've arrived in Florida. I look at it this way... Karma got them back for not taking my heinie on vacation. Those bastards.

It only began to snow here about 3 hours ago & there is nothing but a dusting right now. Original plans for Lauren's birthday party tonight got canceled because of the dubious amount of snow that was supposed to be here by now. True to form the weather changed from a "dusting" to 2+ feet possible. I'm still waiting.... It's not stopping Joe from playing his UFC game, while I tend to the fire. Sugar & Eclipse are curled up beside me. To Sugar, the fireplace is just a warm thing. To Eclipse, the possible pyromaniac kitty, it's a source of immense fascination.

Well, I'm not sure what else to say. I hope while we sit here and freeze for a week, one of my parents gets a nasty sunburn. Preferably in such an area or manner that prevents them from having any fun in Florida.

Yes, I'm jealous...
No, I'm not getting over it...

Pondering Points of Life

I recently posted a comment on Facebook along the lines of wondering if there were parts of your life you wish you could do over? I would never change my marriage to Joe or our 6 "kids", that should go without having to be said. I'll say it anyway though.

What I was thinking was more along the lines of life evaluation. I'm not about to jump off a bridge ala It's A Wonderful Life. I was just thinking about how long it has taken me to do certain things in my life. For example, why didn't I just go to pharmacy school right after I finished my AAS in Pharmacy Technology? I don't know... Instead I worked as a nurse, have been going through burnout after being in the medical field for 10 years now. It never seemed so long until I really began thinking about it. Why did I say I would take 6 months off after getting my BS, only to have 2.5 years pass by. Now I'm *cough*, years old searching out a medical school that is top amongst older students. When the heck did I become considered an older/non-traditional student, by the way?

I know there is a lot of things that drive the choices we make; family, friends, money, location, and too many others to list. I just can't help but look back and sometimes wonder if the choices we all the right ones. Would things still have turned out the same? Probably not. Again, don't mistake my pondering for discontent. I am happy and thankful for the life that I have. I just have to trust that everything happens for a reason.

Christmas Lights

Christmas waves a magic wand over
this world, and behold, everything
is softer and more beautiful.
~Norman Vincent Peale

The Christmas decorations have made it up on the front of the house. With the snow still on the ground, visions of a white Christmas are dancing in my head. I love it! Inside our little tree has been dragged all around the house by the cats (Clover) when it gets knocked over. We're getting a much bigger tree from my mom this weekend. Some how she has managed to accumulate a few of them over the past several years. We all know she's not quite right...

Some presents are under our little tree & filling our stockings, which are hung by the chimney with care. It's really getting me in the mood for everything. I still have to plan Christmas breakfast for me & Joe. I'm working the overnight shift on Christmas Eve. I'll get home just in time for Joe to wake up & come running out of the bedroom to see what Santa has left for him (that isn't already under the tree). Jill is right, I married a Peter Pan.

Tonight Joe has trapped me in the living room (and I really need the potty) while he's in the dining room wrapping the gifts he got for me. I'm not sure what he got me. I hear a lot of cursing coming from the other room. Something about, "This wrapping paper sucks! It doesn't fold, the colors are runny and it rips." What does he expect, it's the $.88 wrapping paper from Wally World. It's not meant to be nice. Of course, he's not mentioning that he also sucks at wrapping gifts. It's the reason why I always do the gifts for everyone else.

I think he might finally be done. I don't hear anymore ripping, tearing, or cursing. Or maybe the paper finally won? I should probably go look....

Christmas On The Horizon

Well, the first snow of December has fallen. We were left with 4" of the white stuff over the weekend, which really got me into the holiday spirit. We put the Christmas tree up after Thanksgiving. I know, I'm turning into one of those people. Now the other stuff is getting put up as well. I decorated a wreath yesterday with ornaments so that was able to be mounted above the fireplace, as well as draping the garland around the fireplace.

This year began a new tradition of doing something different every Christmas, at least in terms of decorations. I'm using a darker version of lime green & fuchsia as a twist on the classic red & green. It looks really nice against the bright colored lights of our tree. I have to find silk ribbon in the same colours to use as a tree topper and then cascade the ribbon down the tree.

This upcoming weekend, I believe we will have the exterior decorated. Garland will be draped along the front porch as it was last year, while I will use faux poinsettias to decorate the enclosed porch, along with some more garland. The exterior portions of our home should take on a more classic holiday appearance. No giant inflatables for us! I also want to use decorations that can last through the winter season, not just through Christmas. I mean, all this effort goes into decorating and making everything beautiful, it should be carried through the winter. I see it as a bright spot until the hints of spring poke through the snow.

As for shopping. Well, that's been a slow go. I bought all the deocrations after last Christmas at 75% off. Frugal shopper, I am. This year however, has been a struggle for buying gifts. I know it's not about what I get Joe. He'll be happy no matter what I get him, but it's still the idea of Christmas morning that I have in my head that often defets me. He knows of only 1 of his gifts right now. I had to tell him so he wouldn't buy it for himself. I'm getting him a subscription to Xbox magazine. I know he will enjoy it because he'll get a new "gift" each month.

When it comes to our friends, we only got gifts for 2 couples the we're very close to. We don't hear from anyone else, so we're not worried about it. If the missing friends get cards from us, be happy, you're worth the 44-cent stamp. Sorry, that was a tad mean. My inner grinch came out.

'Tis the story for now...