One Step at a Time - December 2015

[Lizann]

Aww, rusty, it's fine! I made an eggs Benedict casserole that turned out delicious if I do say so myself! That is so sad about you're friend s parents. Very sad! Makes me realize even more how blessed we are!
Christmas was hectic, but good. Ate a lot, and drank not. Savored everyone enjoying themselves and was totally present for all of it! Not gonna lie, I'm exhausted but there's lots of leftovers to enjoy,
I am enjoying a quiet morning, enjoying all the family photos on Facebook.
Dottie, thinking of you this first holiday without hubby. Sending extra hugs your way.
Fen how did you manage?
I'll check back later guys. We got through it!!!!

[fennel]

Thank god Christmas is over.

I got to mom's early, but she dicked around and we were late getting to my cousin's farm...which was fine, as we were among the first to arrive and the last to leave. : ( Mom's side of the family is Irish/Catholic and I have 31 1st cousins alone, going all the way up to age 70- so you can imagine just how many people come and go throughout the day. Some holidays, it's not unusual for 75 people to have been there. They are mostly farmers, so they arrive between chores.

Anyway, I am an introvert and at one point, there were 26 people in the kitchen- that's just the kitchen. I had to get the eff out and take a walk, and took some charming photos of feral barn cats and limping border collies and muddy cattle. They really were charming photos. I will post one later.

Three hours later, most of the company had left and I began herding mom in that direction. She went to pack up her portable O2 supply, then inexplicably whipped out a fat envelope of photos and began passing them around to my cousins. Gah! Finally, that was done and we had her coat on, all bundled up, and one of my real busy-body cousins insisted upon packing up food for my mom. All well and good, but she has the attention span of a tse-tse fly and began chatting with another group of cousins. I sat and stewed. Finally thought "screw it" and we started leaving again and then finally busy body cuz ran out to her car to fetch those gladware disposable food containers.

As we were finally grunting all her crap down to the car, mom was laughing at how she's always the last to leave, and I wanted to strangle somebody.

I will continue to get mom to these gatherings as long as she is alive, and I know my cousins enjoy seeing her, but it's really hard for me to sit around that long, with that many people and that much freaking loudness. Fortunately, there wasn't any drinking. Things can get pretty wild at the birthday parties.

On the way home, mom informed me that baby sister (lives an hour south of us, but might as well be in outer Mongolia) is coming up for her husband's family's christmas party and that she and her hubs and kids would show up "sometime" today to have our Christmas and she'll call me when they arrive.

I have an issue with baby sis. She's never available to help with mom, which is okay- my wives help me out. The thing that still infuriates me is that she is unable or unwilling to commit to an exact date or time for a celebration. I'm so pissed off that even on Christmas day, she can't do any better than she'll drop in "sometime" on the 26th. I am so done with Christmas, I'm not going.

I just tell myself that the day will come when I spend the holidays with my family of choice.

Thanks for letting me vent.

[fennel]

Sun, I am so happy for you! :hug: That's great news.

Rusty, that's so sad about your friend. I agree with you...so great that we are getting our acts together now.

What is cheese strata?

Nora, I hope your holiday went well.

[fennel]

Mama, Liz...sounds like the two of you had a great holiday. :love:

[paulywogg]

Hey all,Fen sounds like the day from hell!and your sister sounds like a typical younger sibling, I too cannot deal with too many people or too much noise, I like serenity, peace and quiet sounds like we all survived in one whole piece though, its done over,New Years is a non-issue for me anyways so I don't even care,I was never a NY lover even during my "party hard" phase did see that Anderson Cooper has to deal with freakin Kathy Griffin again in times square, god he looked uncomfortable last year with her dumb jokes,took today off gonna clean this pigsty up,or just lay around in it again haha! Hope we all have a nice Saturday

[fennel]

Pauly, I am thrilled to hear that I'm not the only one who isn't into all that togetherness!

I hear you about NY, too. Not a big New Year's gal. I saw that about Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin- yuck!

[fennel]

Feral kitty peering around edge of door...

[fennel]

Dawgs.

[fennel]

Bovines.

[paulywogg]

Nice countryside Fen

[paulywogg]

Think I've had too many days off with hubs Ilove him but he's too damn chipper sometimes, ready to punch him just to get some peace haha

[mama bear]

Hello Love Bugs. We had a great day with Nana. There was just the six of us. Fen - I CANNOT imagine all that noise and insanity. You are a good daughter. I would have to had some beer or wine to deal with all that, tbh.
We roasted a 20 pound turkey and cooked more dishes that I can remember. Nana is so happy when they boys are there and that makes hubs and I happy.
Rusty, I am so glad you had such a nice day. 10 and 1/2 hours wrapping presents? Jeesh!! I used to make beautiful creations, but not anymore.
Pauly - hubs and I are going through a bit of an adjustment since we are both home some during the week. I feel ya!
Off to continue Christmas clean up and 100 loads of laundry.
Fen - my offer to escape to Fla is always open.........I'll get you here too..xoxoxoxo
HI SUNNIBUTT~~~~
and Samstone
Love at all I didn't mention and congrats on the engagement Nora!!

[Nursie]

Merry Christmas everyone! I'm doing better. Reading a ton and trying to make life better all around. A year of being sick has definitely taken its toll. There is much to be done physically and mentally, not to mention the house! All my habits are discombobulated.

[Guitarista]

Merry Christmas everyone! I'm doing better. Reading a ton and trying to make life better all around. A year of being sick has definitely taken its toll. There is much to be done physically and mentally, not to mention the house! All my habits are discombobulated.

Good to c u Nursie! I reckon 2016 will be an absolute pearler of a year for you. G

[Rusty]

Nursie!! Hey....great to see you back here! Are you drinking, AF, struggling to stay AF? Let us know where you are at so we can be the best support group we can be here. You had a motherf*cker of a year in 2015 so I hope and pray 2016 is SO much better for you!

Mr. G-:love:You probably think that by now, I have moved past my schoolgirl crush on you and found someone more accessible, but I am here to tell you that, ah, no, that didn't happen! LOL I am sure you are relieved that we are separated by an ocean!!