Tonight is good. I will just be cleaning and who doesn't want/need a break from that! I have most of my xmas shopping done. I hate to do it before Thanksgiving but I need to spread it out money wise. I can help you if you want.
I do need to run to the store right after work, but should be good after 6:30 which is 5:30 your time. If that works for you I am good. I am going to text you my home phone since I don't always hear very well on my cell.
kat
Me-53(and learning!) S24, S21, D18, D17 Just keep swimming, Just keep swimming. Dory
Back when I was married and had money, I usually had all the shopping done before Thanksgiving. The only thing I left for December was stocking stuffers. I really miss that. It frees up finding time for fun. Though I will freely admit that the reason I did it then was to eliminate my holiday anxiety. I filled up the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas with expectations and activities just so I didn't have to deal with the reasons behind my anxiety. So perhaps that makes me somewhat of a hypocrite?
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that peace follows shortly. You and your family deserve a little peace about now.
Hugs-Bets
"There are only 2 ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."
Haven't updated in a while so here goes in case anyone might be interested:
1. Crazy sister - She's out of my mother's house (yeah - happy dance!) and in a pseudo rehab center almost 100 miles away. I say pseudo because there really isn't any therapy provided, it's more like a halfway house with curfew laws and they do random blood testing. Any positive test for any drugs or alcohol and she gets the boot. I have low to no expectations, so hopefully she'll prove me wrong.
2. Stressed out Mother - To get my sister out of the house, she had to put it on the market. It sold in just 2 days for above the asking price. The downsize is she could only find a smaller and a bit less functional place to move into. She is angry (as am I) that it took putting her house on the market and having to move to get her daughter out of her house and to stop the harassment. I am traveling down to see her this weekend and help her get things boxed up and ready to move into the new place. She closes on Monday the 8th.
3. Girlfriend - Things are still going very, very well with her and I. Dec 6th marks the 1 year date of when she first contacted me on Match. So I guess that means she likes me ;-).
I had a great Thanksgiving with my oldest daughter visiting from Wisconsin. She helped out with cooking the Thanksgiving dinner and I must say it turned out pretty nicely. It was a small gathering, just me, her, GF and her two kids. D18 and D16 were with their Mom and my son had a "Friendsgiving" near where he lives.
That's about it - no real drama in my life right now of which I am eternally grateful for, which makes me wonder if that should concern me, i.e the quiet before a storm that I am unaware of...
Thanks SP. Life has been good to me as of late and I am very, very appreciate of it and take nothing for granted.
On another note - to all of you that I know in the alt, I will be deactivating my account there that was solely for DB friends. You can find my real life account under the same name.
I ditto SP's commentary about the quiet. It's not always waiting for the shoe to drop. At least I'm pretty sure of that.
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1. Crazy sister
Sigh. Well, we do/did have this in common. My brother was homeless before he died. I know that one stresses your mom out as well. But truthfully, the barn door is open and the animals are probably in China by now. There is no time like now to get sober. Or not. Either way, not your mom's circus or her monkeys. I do pray for peace for you guys, though. I know it's elusive and extraordinarily difficult when the actions of an addict affect everyone around them. It's hideous.
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2. Stressed out Mother
Sigh. And I know it doesn't help anyone to point out the obvious that your mom had a hand in this outcome. She and my mom would probably get along really well in the enablers group. The only reason my brother was homeless was because he stole all my mom's jewelry and pawned off all her silver. She had lots of both, and I found out 2 weeks ago that the replacement value was $27K. Yes, $27K. My dad was so furious he told my mom that she better agree with him to kick his a$$ out or he would file for D. That was the first time in 30 years of my brother's addiction that my dad had the final word. But I could totally see my mom allowing it to happen if my dad were not there. My sister finds herself getting torqued about it, but I remind her that 1) our parents forgave him; and 2) he spent his part of his inheritance. She always told us that one would get the silver, one the china and the other the crystal. My bro just took his before she was done with it. I say this with a sense of lightness because it's done, my parents have made peace with it, and he won't be able to pay them back. So it will be buried with him. And trust me when I tell you that when I'm buried next to him, I'm gonna kick his a$$ for miles. I'll also be grateful that my sis and I won't have to deal with his drug addiction the day we divvy up their stuff either.
Hopefully, the negatives to downsizing are outweighed by the peace she will have without this albatross around her neck? At the very least, the albatross around you and your siblings' necks???
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3. Girlfriend
You so deserve this, BA. I think the bittersweetness of life keeps the balance and serves as a reminder to be grateful for the good in our lives. I know it's been true for me this year. I've had such a tremendously good year here at work this year - which has balanced out the personal losses for sure. Then when I'm back for the funeral, it will be another reminder for me to be grateful for my kooky family. Please feel free to join us at the visitation. I'm awfully certain that scotch will follow. Nobody does wakes like the Irish and Scots. I've got both in my family. And I might have to do an AC/DC tribute for him afterward. Something that includes Highway to Hell - which was both our favorite song of theirs. I'm sure my mom will be appalled...
There probably are storms in all our future. Can't get around that. But without rain, there are no rainbows. Of course it goes without saying that without sun there are no rainbows either. But then again, you need both to see the sheer beauty in things, right?
Hugs for you, my friend. Bets
"There are only 2 ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."
There probably are storms in all our future. Can't get around that. But without rain, there are no rainbows. Of course it goes without saying that without sun there are no rainbows either. But then again, you need both to see the sheer beauty in things, right?
Thanks Bets. Wise words as always and much appreciated! Seeing how we've both weathered hurricanes in our past I guess I shouldn't be concerned about any unseen or unknown storms beyond the horizon.
So you didn't mention, but how did Thanksgiving go with Mr. Wonderful? Did you behave yourself?
Look for me at the visitation - I'll be the Irishman in the corner thirsty for Scotch - oh and I just can't wait to hear you belt out Highway to Hell!
BA-Hurricanes! Yes, that's probably the truth for both of us this year. 2015 will bring calmer seas... hopefully.
TG went well, and nothing was out of the ordinary. We drank wine and noshed on appetizers in the afternoon while watching football. I wound up inviting my cop friend over, as he was on duty and my hood is in his patrol area. Unfortunately, he had to deal with a drive by shooting and 2 suicides, so he couldn't make it. (How awful is that? One of the suicides was hideous - out in the driveway while the neighbors and wife watched in horror.) Anyhoo, the 3 of us ate well and then D20 and her BF facetimed us right at the end of the meal. We were all leaning over on my iPad and she started to laugh... she saw we were drinking our wine and said with a huge grin, "I miss you all. You know you're really weird, right? But I love you for that." We had to laugh.
He washed dishes, I dried and put away and we watched more football until he and D17 were nearly falling asleep. As they walked by me to leave, he tickled my foot with a grin and said, "Later, Tater. Thanks for everything."
I love your term, "friendsgiving". I think that's what I'm gonna call it from now on. Of course, I'll give you literary credit for it, okay?
The visitation after work is from 6-8 with the rosary at 7. Being the good Catholic you are, bring yours. I don't know if I'm gonna belt it out or just play it on my iPhone. I'll use that song as the last act for the evening play, just like Mr. Wonderful and I did at our wedding. It will be my tribute. But if we all sing it, I'm sure that it will be a better showing... right? And I'll say with 100% certainty that my bro will be laughing his ass off at that. I won't do it at the earlier one, because that's going to be loaded with friends of my parents that won't ever get this...
Right now I'm trying to stave off a cold that I've felt coming for a few days. One of the office staff at the dentist this morning shoved some oregano oil and garlic pills in a baggie for me. I'm now burping oregano. I kind of wish I had some marinara sauce to go with this.
"There are only 2 ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."
Rough day today. We had to put our 12 year old Irish Red and White Setter down. She has been in pain and unable to really move around at all. Took her to the vet and they felt that was the best option for her, that there wasn't a lot they could do for her. We've had her since she was 9 weeks old and was such a huge part of the family. She will be missed so much.
