Thread: DECEMBER Tracking

Hi all!

Can you believe it - posting two days IN A ROW! A small miracle!

Heather, I also love that little fireside icon - so apropos for our little group! Hey, did you ever post a pic of your new hair color?! I'd love to see it!

Alida, sooooo glad DSis is 'ok' but I'm so sorry you will not see her for the holidays - I know it can be a little rough to be away from loved ones at certain times of year - I've been there, too. <<<<hugs>>>>

Barb, I admit to a terrible fondness for Sugar Free Mini Reese's Peanut Butter cups... ugh... ONE a day? uh, I usually do a handful (gulp)... course haven't lately since I feel in desperate straits. I can't imagine working in the same place for such a long period of time - it sounds so nice and secure - and wonderful!


By the way - am having huge problems with email and want to let everyone know on these boards who has my email address to please NOT use the Earthlink address - it is only for junk mail and my outlook will not send out replies from it, etc.... Thanks!

[ In fact, have received kick backs from Shelley's and Bren's addresses when I've sent stuff out... <<sigh>> what a headache! ]

Today my folks get back from MA where they've been holiday-making with my DSis and family - We'll go up there next Sunday evening to be there for the visit of Santa on Monday morning. Can't wait!

Tonight is our first Messiah performance, am a little nervous - apparently they don't have a full house at the PAC center which s*cks - nothing worse than pouring out your heart to a half empty house.

Ok, need to go put out the trash, fold laundry, make lunch, etc... hugs to you all!

Oh, reading all your posts makes me feel so much better....I've been up to my ears with "Dad" and just too gloomy to write since I couldn't find anything positive to say. I've always been the one to handle Dad, since I don't think it's Jerry's responsibility, but yesterday Jerry saw I was SO upset that he marched down and gave Dad a quiet but emphatic and evidently effective message

Just quickly:
Peg, on the financial issue with DD. I love Barb's words. Remember that privileges can be confused with rights by our loved ones if we keep rescuing them. It is more compassionate in the long run for your dd to grow from her own experience and suffer her own consequences if need be. IMO, growing and learning is what we're here to do. That goes for the "giver" and the "givee." .........I am so delighted to hear your positive thoughts on your prospective place at the ofh! It will be a lovely home when you are though, and I know between the decorating abilities of you and your bf, will suit you perfectly. Take lots of pictures before, during, after, to share!

Shell, LOVE your fortune!! Truly a message we all could use, but how timely that it came to you when you needed it (and that you were wise enough to see the wisdom).

Bert, Rach, place always here for you.
Bert, yea on getting your place rented!!
Rach, I'd love to hear you and/or your choir sing. Perhaps you'll be able to put some music on line one of these days?

Donna, yup face to face. Wise advice from TB and Barb. This is her issue, not yours. You don't need to justify anything to her, and arguing will probably only fuel whatever fire she's trying to ignite.

Barb, thanks for sharing your journey and your wisdom. Enjoy considering your retirement

Alida, I have a "girl's nite out" event this evening, myself. This year is the 25th anniversary of friendship with two other gals I worked with way back when. Much water under the bridge: a divorce, a marriage, two kids, many job changes and changes of circumstance, but a lasting mutual support. I never laugh as much as when I'm with galpals

Judy! Thank goodness finals will be over soon and you'll get some deserved off days. Woohoo on all the trips!!!!! Do let me know your Chicago schedule

TB, oh gosh, I've been slapping myself silly to stay out of goodies. I don't keep anything at home, but I've had the car keys in my hand a number of times, having decided I "deserve" something. Sheesh!

Heather, you have a great attitude, and your boys are SO lucky to have you for a MOM.

I forgot to mention that in spite of not officially exchanging gifts this season, DH bought me a flute. What a neat surprise! The dogs, however, are not impressed

Peg: Get your butt up here right now if you want to see BIG weather. We are totally stranded in our little town. Started snowing yesterday just after lunch and just stopped now. The Fraser Canyon is closed, the Coquihalla Highway is closed, which means there is no way in or out of town. You should see the parking lot where I work....wall to wall semi's that can't go anywhere. The main street in town is full of semi's parked in a line down the middle of the street. Kind of neat really....except when I have to drive.

I decided at 2 yesterday that I'd put my poor stomach through enough stress and I packed up and went home. Remember how much I love driving through snow? Well, I got around the first curve in the bluffs and there was a car upside down that had gone over a little embankment. There were plenty of people helping so I didn't stop. When I got to the hill going into my town I put it in second and just crawled down that hill at about 20km./hr. I just kept telling the fukids...hang on girls. I don't think I breathed until I got to the bottom. I can't believe how much snow we got....it looks so pretty until you have to drive in it. It's supposed to turn to rain this afternoon. Can you imagine what that will be like if it freezes? Yesterday our driver going to Vancouver took 12 hours to make it to Hope which is 1 1/2 hours outside of Vancouver. It normally takes 4 hours. Just crazy.

So, when I got home yesterday I decided I needed a pick me up and I decorated our house and put up the tree. Looks so festive and actually relaxes me. I sat last night with candles burning and the christmas lights on and totally enjoyed myself.

Okay, I know you are all waiting for this.....Lissa showed up this morning. She had some christmas pictures of the grandkids for me. She didn't seem like she was going to bring up the topic of her e-mail so I did. She just took off talking and it didn't look like I was going to get to say a word. I finally had to be rude and interrupt her. I used your advice ladies and talked like you said. There was no arguement between us, it was very civil. I know my son....he holds an awful lot in and the only way to get him to talk is to make him mad. Seems he's very worried about money and has a lot of stress right now. He also has a hernia which needs repairing and the dr. says it's best to have it strangulate so he can be operated on. Otherwise it would be a 1 to 2 year wait for the surgery. So, he's pulled into himself and doesn't want anyone to know his problems. I can understand this. But, I had to tell her that I didn't appreciate being told to tell my son that I love him. The way she worded it made it seem like I was the bad mother and I didn't like it. I'll have a talk to him when I see him next. We've always been very close and this is hurting both of us.

Got to go...be back later.

Howdy everyone!! The power went out this morning. Was fun but of course started to get cold. Did 60 minutes on the elliptical at the gym so when I arrived at home 6:15am with no lights I lit candles. I love power outages in the dark because the house is so pretty and homey lit up by candles. I put 4 small candles in 7 yr old ds's room and he felt so grown up getting ready this morning. Then blowing them out he must have enjoyed because he sprayed wax everywhere! No worries, it comes off and when I have him clean it I'll tell him to be more careful next time.

Went to Salvation Army 1/2 off sale with my dad and stepmom and got a few cute things. I got some more tupperware I needed, cute miniature kitchen items and a little wagon that I can tie on my 2 year olds small bike which he'll love!! On the thought of the miniatures - they are going in my kitchen. I'm excited to have found something to put in my space. Kitchen mine while rest of house belongs to dh I might have mentioned before.

- - - - - -
Alida - Glad that you were able to talk to your sister. Sorry to hear that she won?t be coming home to visit for Christmas. :(

Barb - Glad that you like the fireplace. I thought it was very homey too. You are right, I don?t sit much. It?s 12:30 in the afternoon and I?m over 11,000 steps already. No wonder why I feel like a nap but places to go and things to do. Your vacation sounds like one of my days. Even though I have things to do I don?t have to rush through them which is so nice. The kids and I relax which I love. Sure, they have responsibilities like cleaning there rooms and other chores but I?m fortunate I don?t have to run them to a sitter or have to spend so much time away from home.

RQP - Oh yeah, I posted the pic of my hair a couple pages back. It turned out so great!! With a ? empty house at the Messiah performance it may only mean that those people there are those who will really appreciate it. Such a great story to tell, don?t you think?

BC - Thanks on the mom compliment. Have to say that I really feel it?s the best job in the world for me. Couldn?t wish on doing anything better. Flutes are so beautiful sounding. They remind me of fluttering butterflies.

Donna - I?m so proud of you for trying to work though this with your son. There is nothing like a bond I feel between a mother and her son. Of course I only feel this way because I have no daughters.

I'm back and we're getting hit again with snow. Driving into town to meet dh for lunch was quite the adventure. It was like some kind of game driving around semi's that just parked anywhere. Then they try to leave and they just spin out. It's days like this that I'd like to just sit at home and watch it all on tv

Heather: You really do brighten things up for me. Such a positive attitude no matter what life throws you. Your dh and sons are so lucky to have you!

Rachel: Here's to a great performance tonight.

Donna, thanks all the same, but I liked our sunny 60 degrees today. I didn't end up with the top down on the car, but it made my day "on the road" much more enjoyable.

Brenda--a flute?? Yet another surprise talent in our midst. Do you just play for your own pleasure, or do you belong to an ensemble?

I visited the Truman Presidential Library this morning. The Caroline Kennedy Doll collection was all right, but the rest of the library (much improved since I was last there) was very impressive. After that, I picked up my dad for lunch at dh's usual Friday place. Then I took myself to see Charlotte's Web on opening day. It's delightful, but no movie can come close to the charm of the original book. At the moment, we are watching the last episode of Lord of the Rings on video.

Break a leg, Rachel. Wish we could all hear the performance.

Nighty-nite, all.

Not able to sleep and it's 3am. Taking a break to stop by and say hi to my gals here at the fireside! Got a big day planned. Going to weigh in at my diet center (I'm in goal range by God's grace - yeah!), then we're off to the nursing home where we'll spend time with residents, eat a nice breakfast and then Santa shows up! The kids are going to be tickled and I've even talked DH into going. Not his comfort zone to be in such a noisy place but it's for the kids so he'll live. In the afternoon I'm meeting a little girl and her grandma at my dad's house. Through a church friend I've been asked to help out this grandma by watching her granddaughter while she is at work. This almost 2 year old's little girl's mommy is going to a treatment center to get help for alcoholism so of course I jumped at the opportunity to help. I would have done it for free but the lady pays $20 a day! Wow! Since I'm not getting paid for donating blood plasma right now this will be really nice. Not sure how long the job is for but grandparents are okay with the arrangements for awhile watching her at their place since landlord said no babysitting. Stepsister might be mad if she finds out but I can't watch nephew at her house or my mom's house because they have animals. A few days I was over at my sisters house and had a horrible time breathing. My lungs can't handle animals during the cold weather it seems. Thankfully my dad is pet free.

Whew! I've talked a lot but know if I don't stop by tomorrow it's because I've got a full day. Going to bake zucchini chocolate chip bread tomorrow as well for my 2 and 3 year old Sunday school class Christmas party. Don't you just love the way the house smells during the holidays because of the baking?

Donna - I am pretty perky aren't I? My dh says that it's sick that during the worst of circumstances I can find a positive outlook. It's probably a defense mechanism because if I focused on the situation and what it was for at the moment sometimes I would break down and never get out of bed sometimes.

Take care during the rough winter weather. You care for your dh an awful lot to have gone on that riding adventure to see him for lunch.

Barb - I can't wait to see that movie! I bet Julia Roberts did an outstanding job on the voice of Charlotte.

Good morning!
Like Heather, I'm up early on a Saturday morning. Dang! Wish I could sleep in on the weekends, but the old eyeballs pop open around 0500, and I guess in reality, that IS sleeping in for me, a whole hour...LOL.

Anyhoo...I've been trying to keep up on a daily basis here as we speed full tilt through the holiday season. Hope everybody is handling the pressures and your time management is better than mine! LOL

A few random thoughts:

Peg...I bet you are getting so excited about being with your DD3 and family for this holiday season! Have a blast, you Nana, you!

Bren...thinking of you sweetie. It's a shame family issues have to show their *ugly* side especially at the holidays. Hang in there and lean on Jerry. If I hadn't had my sweetie during our *dark days* with my mom, I would've lost it completely. ((hugs))

Barb...Will you be taking some time off for the holiday season? Is there a *sisterly* get together on Christmas? We used to have a big Christmas eve gathering at my Nana's house; a tradition I miss so much, but will live on in my memory forever.
My cousins and I were true *believers* and could hardly wait for ole St. Nick! Ahhh....the memories...makes me

Alida...on the sister issue...could she come by bus if you chipped in a few $$ ?? As I mentioned above...family is EVERYTHING at this time of year. I'm so sorry you won't get to be with your sissy.
Also, thanks for the heads up on using the erythritol on the spiced nuts. I was wondering if that would happen, seeing as erythritol is a sugar alcohol. I'll proceed with caution if I decide to make a batch of nuts.

Donna...glad the meeting came out ok with your DIL. I would have given much the same advice as you got from everyone here. I guess it's the little *devil* in me, but sometimes when I'm in a situation like that, I will answer the question with a question.
It does drive the other person totally NUTS, especially if they are trying to escalate the discussion to a full fledged argument.
Girl...I think you need a sleigh to get around in your snow!

Judy...are you out on break yet...or will it be a few more days? Will you get to spend time with baby Olivia over the holidays? Hope so. There's nothing as sweet as baby's first Christmas. We put our little munchkin under the tree, all dressed in red, and took a ton of pics. We drag them out every Christmas and smile. Oops...another Christmas memory!

Rach...I echo the gang...sure wish we could hear your performance! And speaking of Christmas memories...this will be a great one for you, eh? *Break a leg*!

Heather...sounds like a busy day for you! Have fun making some Christmas memories today!

Bert...wishing you safe travels and lots of Christmas cheer with your family.

Teel...will you get to spend Christmas with your sis?

I am really trying to hold the line, and I've got my heels dug in. But, I can feel them skidding as the lure of Xmas treats swirls around me.

Oh boy...I am SOOOOO there with ya, sista!!! I can't even tell you how many *treats* have shown up at work! And again, I will say, some of the gals I work with can eat anything and everything, and not gain an ounce. At this stage of the eating season, I'm pretty sure I'm gaining by just being in the same room with the stuff, let alone any *sampling* I'm doing...oye!

OK, goils...I have a mani-pedi and eyebrow wax today, then the hair appt has been re-scheduled for Tuesday after work, pending the other stylist will be able to help with the highlights. We are going to try a new *method*...we'll see.

Hope everyone has a super weekend...the last big push before the big day!

((((hugs to all chickadees!!)))

love you guys bunches!!!

Shell

Good morning, everybody.

Heather, those 3 a.m. "wake up calls" are annoying--but thanks for putting it to good use to visit with us. Glad to hear you have a paying child care opportunity that fits your circumstances. Stepsister can be all the mad she wants to. The reasons you've explained are entirely clear. DO BE CAREFUL with the candles--especially with the kids. We've had so many house fires in our area lately. As for holiday baking smells? I like the smells without the temptations. Fragrant candles or incense work for me.

Again this year, dh and I decided not to exchange presents. But then two wrapped packages appeared under the tree, mysteriously showing up at night. Then I added one, just because I was feeling bad. This morning, THREE MORE have appeared. We really need to have a talk. I've never bought a gift for dh that he liked or used, except for men's fragrances (which is what's in my contribution under the tree). And if he's going to buy me presents, I wish he'd ask for a list. For the money he's spending, I might as well get something I really want. Why am I feeling grumpy about presents?? He's good at spending money day in and day out for stuff he wants for himself, so I think this present-giving is somehow a way of easing his conscience. But it isn't working for ME.

Off to the gym this morning for class. I had to reserve a ticket, since the Body Blast class has become very popular. In January, it's going to get even worse. My scales are being extremely annoying. Some of it is water, I'm sure, but the extra lbs. are hanging around far too long. I tend to neglect drinking water on days off, so I'll be sure and glug down my full amount today. I hate to think about deprivation, but something's gotta change. Maybe that's the real reason I'm grumpy.

Sorry to get off to a bad start. Somebody be chirpy, okay?

See ya later!

Well gals? DH said the concert last night was magnificent ? said it was MUCH better than the performances we gave 4 years ago. We have a marvelous set of soloists this year. Bren, I?d LOVE to be able to send you snippets of the concerts ? but we are so bound by the union that manages the instrumentalists that no pictures or recordings unless they are paid royalties and whatnot? :( We sing again tomorrow afternoon and I feel like I?ve been through the ringer! I forget how rigorous it really is ? almost 3 hours of singing. It?s a work out!!

Bren? HOO-RAY for Jerry, what a dear to help you out in a difficult spot! A FLUTE!! Oh, my horn playing DH would be so excited for you

Donna, that is SOME weather you?ve got ? good grief!!! And what an odd situation for this woman to put you in? I wonder what her ulterior motive is. Sounds like you did the EXACT right thing!!

Heather, I agree with Bren ? and have said so as well ? you are a spectacular mother and are doing a tough, tough job, and doing it really well!! <<<hugs>>> And you are so right!! Tale is told that a spectator commented to Handel (after a Messiah performance) that he was highly ?entertained? ? Handel responded, ?I didn?t mean to entertain you sir, but to make you ?better?.? It IS a majestic tale and a beautifully told one!

Shelley, I hear you on the whole, ?being in the same room with the stuff??man, I swear all I have to do is look at it? LoL!

Barb, we are still struggling with the whole gift giving thing? the Donors Choose idea works because we still ?feel? like we are giving each other something and yet, no fretting about sizes, colors, cost, and the billion other things. We also, this year decided that we needed to have a digital video camera and so we bought it for ourselves for each other and keep saying it?s our gift to each other so we don?t fall into the trap. Yes, I do have a couple of wee little things for him, a Spanish language calendar and a mini (travel) bottle of his cologne, but in general we try not to go the ?surprise?! lot at all the loot I got you!

Peg, I hope you are soon en route to Christmas time with family.

Terry, I was fascinated, reading back some posts about the set up at the place you are teaching ? it seems very loose but rather effective in any case. How is that going? This is always a nice time of year to be around the children regardless of the medium.

Ok, I should get on with the day?. holiday shout outs to Judy, Alida, and Berta - hope you gals are having a good holiday weekend!!

We?re getting the tree up today, in addition to (maybe) some lights on the stockade fencing outside? see you later!

Oh Peg.... John Rutter... the only piece of liturgical music that I have stipulated in my "disposition of remains" document (about the ceremony-then-big-party that I want post mortem)... is the Rutter Requiem - I sang it once and it moved me so much it brings tears to my eyes, goodness!

random thought on music, if I may...
Christmas 2004 I won tickets to Mannheim Steamroller's Christmas performance here. OMG....fantastic. Anyhoo....I digress...I am totally hooked and have been listening to a song they played at that concert; Fum...Fum...Fum. Anyone else heard it? The video presentation was awesome when they played it. It's a very moving piece of music and played with instruments that would have most likely been around at the time of Jesus's birth.
Anyhoo...
Peg have fun tonight at The Nutcracker. I love going to the ballet and that is one of our favorites. Maybe next year our DD and DGS will be living here and I can give them a very special Christmas memory of going to the ballet/Nutcracker.

Rach hi!

Bren...got your card today, my sista of the heart!

Off to bake some sf banana bread for a diabetic friend....or I could do the spiced nuts on second thought....hummmmm.

later chickadees!
me

At the diet center I have to be between 124 - 134 which thankfully I still am at even though I'm in the high end of goal range. When I saw my # on the scale I was happy I'm still there especially this time of year. It's silly really and I feel like a sensitive teenager again but the lady said, " I thought you wanted to stay in the 120's?" I told her I plan on getting serious after the new year again because like last year I've been struggling (holiday's). I couldn't get her comment out of my brain and I left feeling like a failure. I know she didn't mean it to be hurtful, the lady is so sweet. I was just happy I was still within the 5 pound up/down they give me to be in. What did I do? Ate the entire day with no thought to my diet. Went to my parents and ate junk. They gave me junk to bring home and I helped the kids finish it... I hate that I let something so silly bother me when I was happy with my results. Why should I let someones comments dictate how I'll feel? Tomorrow will be a better day and I go back to exercising and eating well again. I'll be back tomorrow. Not able to check my e-mails as DH needs the computer but hoping everyone is doing great! I'm going to cheat a bit and do the copy and paste in a copy of threads here.