Christmas And All That Jazz..

Well, here we are smack dab in the middle of what some call the "most wonderful time of the year" and some call "hell." However you feel about it, it's here and there's nothing we can do other than plow ahead and try to cross off a seemingly endless "to do" lists. For most, at the top of that list is decorating your house. I'm sure some people enjoy the act but I for one just like the finished product. If I could go to sleep and wake up to have my home transformed into a winter wonderland I would. Instead I find myself dragging out box after box of decorations that seem to have reproduced since I last saw them. Since I am in such a hurry to take everything down after Christmas I am guilty of throwing everything frilly nilly in any kind of box that I am able to find and in no particular order. "Ornaments with the table runners?" "Sure!!" " 6 miles of Christmas lights with the Lenox Rudolph wrapped ever so gently in a Kleenex?" "Why not." And so it goes. Suffice it to say I am greeted every late November with some broken items and some that I don't discover until Easter because there happened to be room in "that box." Somehow it gets done and I am happy for it and I enjoy sitting back and looking at how I few lights here and there, a tree and a few Santas just make things seem cozy.

The other part of Christmas is baking. I know I have touched on this subject before but I feel it needs to be mentioned again. I have baked no fewer than 15 dozen cookies over the past 2 wks and I am ashamed to say that you would be hard pressed to find one in this house. I know some people start baking in November and go on about how they have so much to do and where will they find the time and they have only made 10 loaves of some kind of fruit bread and 80 doz cookies but they haven't even begun to make the candy....WHAT??!! Do the other people in their house not eat? Do they not eat? I no sooner get 1 doz out of the oven and onto the cooling racks that I turn around only to find that 8 are gone and someone is pouring a glass of milk to wash them down. Long story short, I will be baking 2 days before Christmas and what doesn't make it, doesn't make it. So please, if you happen to be coming to my house for the holiday (and if so, please call first) bring me some baked goods because I know as sure as I'm sitting here that I will be lucky to have 2 chocolate chip cookies and a half a bag of Oreos left.

Christmas Cards, Lotion and Decorations

So, I've decided this year not to send out Christmas cards. It was not a decision I made lightly seeing as I have sent out Christmas cards for the past 15 years or so. First, I can tell by the amount that I am receiving that I am not alone in this decision. Postage rates continue to rise and quite frankly I just don't have the energy to do it. Since I was unable to get any good shots of the kids in the past few months I would be required to beg and barter in order for all of the kids to be on the same place at the same time, dressed in something decent and looking like they want to do this (which is, of course, not true!) Then I would have to dig up addresses of everyone I have ever met in my entire life so that I can send them said picture. I love getting pictures of other families and save them year after year in a basket but this year, I am sorry to say, anyone who wants to see what my kids looks like is going to have to stop by and do so in person.

It is with great joy that I tell you my outside Christmas decorations are up! My wonderful husband (on the coldest day of the year I might add) put everything up on Sunday and if I do say so myself, it looks awesome. We have quite a few things in the yard but the most perplexing is the cow with a Santa hat on. I understand the penguins and seal since when we think of them we think of cold climates but the cow remains a mystery. I love him none the less and he is out there as I type this, spreading Christmas joy. What's even more of a mystery to me is the dolphin with the Santa hat but we don't have one of those. Honestly, how would the hat even stay on in the water?? The cow's hat won't go anywhere since they don't do much but dolphins are quite active and I don't think it's very realistic.

Winter is here and so is my dry skin. Good grief, I was besides myself with itching. Jim was nice enough to get some Eucerine "calming" cream. Now, I was skeptical at first since I didn't really feel as though my skin was "excited" and in need of "calming" not to mention I have bought literally $1000's of dollars worth of cream that promised "silky softness" and many other adjectives that never quite materialized but I must say, it seems to be doing the trick.

I have recently joined Facebook and have been able to catch up with so many classmates and friends from high school. We are getting ready for our 20th reunion and the funny thing is that everyone, for the most part, looks the same. I wonder if they think that about me? I always recognize people but for some reason seem to think that I look nothing like I did back then and so no one would know who I am. Luckily that has not been the case and I must say it's been loads of fun catching up.

Thanksgiving-The Sequel, Christmas and My Hair..

Well, the First Annual Thanksgiving-The Sequel went very well. Lots of fun, lots of food and lots of laughter. I made the stuffing the night before and everything else the next day although somehow Jim got credit for the turkey since he sliced it. Are you kidding me??? Everyone was like "Jim the turkey's great!" WHAT!!?? Anyway I set the record straight as to who did what (I did everything and he stopped to get sodas on the way home from hunting.) Of course we played Singstar and I don't want to brag but I have been contacted by a few major record labels. I haven't signed anything so I'm not at liberty to give any names but you get the picture. Phrases like "The next Mariah Carey," "Is there anyway we can break our contract with Celine?" were thrown around. I may have to turn them down because while I am a gifted singer I think I need to focus on my writing and there is only so much of me to go around. Speaking of that I seemed to have gained some weight so there is more of me to go around then previously but I am hoping this is just a temporary state of being.

Christmas is coming at us like a rocket. With the economy being what it is this Christmas will not be like Christmas' in the recent past. Gone are the days of "Laptops for all my friends!" now it's more like "I know you like this kind of gum so..Merry Christmas!" It is important that we remember what this time of year is all about and no, it's not about how much money you can spend, rather having friends and family around you and being grateful for another year together. Or, being grateful the year is over and this person or that need no longer be a part of your life. Either way, it's not about the gifts. Try to remember that when you are feeling stressed over not being able to buy your 2nd cousin once removed that cashmere sweater she has been hinting at for the past 3 months.

OK, another month and another haircut. I think I finally got it this time and I think that in a few weeks I will like it even more. Hair is always at it's best a few weeks after the initial cut. It's shorter and not to brag but I have been mistaken for Mariska Hargitay. NO, that last bit wasn't true but I am happy with it. I have realized that although I love long hair it is not for me. Shorter is better, that's my new motto.