The after-Christmas let-down has begun....

Well, it's not so tragic as all that, but there is a certain post-traumaticness to after Christmas, isn't there? I certainly hope all who stop by here on occasion had their Christmas wishes fulfilled! We narrowly avoided a catastrophe with our outside Christmas lights. I had forgotten to protect the outlet strip I used from the weather and apparently the strip got wet and melted from all the rain we had. I think our home was saved from a fire due to how wet everything was...sheesh! Our family did very well for Christmas otherwise as my mother and sister chipped in to get us a Wii! I can't even begin to tell you how much fun we are having with this. It's a great family gift as we were all up past midnight challenging each other with this thing. I did put my shoulder out while golfing however! I even managed to hook it up to our wireless Internet here at the house and you can check the news and weather on that thing. You can even insert your digital camera's SD memory card and do fun things with the photos. The only thing that is a let down is that it won't play regular movies, like our old X-box did, but it's a small complaint and otherwise, this thing is "da bomb"! Really, tons of fun and many thanks to my mom and sis for this great gift. Otherwise, the kids did well with their requests and each got their fondest desire, Lulabell a game for her DS and Peaches skater shoes, plus a few other things. Stu and I didn't really exchange gifts this year, although he did surprise me with 8 pounds of fillet Mignon (which I thought was strange too), but we are stocked up with delicious steaks for awhile! Also, my mom got me a 72 pack of bacon from Sam's Club (which she thoughtfully wrapped for me) so I guess it was a meat Christmas for me...which is good!

Stu and I celebrated our 21st anniversary on Sunday quietly without much fanfare. I haven't been feeling well the past few days, very nonspecific symptoms of fatigue, loss of appetite, headache - not sure what to make of it. I know I have a cold as well so Sunday I pretty much took it easy and Stu was very understanding. I didn't even cook for our anniversary dinner (guess what? fillet Mignon), so our 21st passed in a quiet fashion.

Looking forward to the New Year - we will probably have C and D over as usual. I am planning on working a half day that day and Stu is off for the next few days. No big plans though...boring as usual! I extend my best wishes to each and everyone of you readers for a terrific new year! I will post Christmas pictures in the next day or two so check back, okay?

Jason Mraz - I'm Yours (

My new fave singer and song Enjoy!

Tired of the bloody eye, eh?

That's what my friend said in an email to me today, that he was tired of seeing that bloody eye and when was I going to post again? Okay.... here you go! Oh I am so neglecting this site….when things around you are exploding and raining their hell down on you…..well, it isn’t THAT bad, but I do feel like a chicken with it’s head cut off, running here and there. I even forgot to call one of my best friends for his birthday yesterday. I have lost my address book so all the christmas cards I bought are just sitting in their box because unless somebody sends me a card first, I can’t send them a card! I totally went off on a store clerk the other day and I NEVER do that…it just isn’t me! It was at Lowe’s for God’s sakes too…I’m so ashamed. My daughter was trying to calm me down and the clerk looked at Lulabell and thanked her for trying to defuse the situation. My hubby had sent me to Lowe’s to look at what was left of their anorexic christmas trees because he said they were cheap now, about $20. So, I packed up the kids, plus D&C and we headed to Lowes. Once there, I had the choice of about 10 trees, all of which were terrible. I finally located the least terrible looking one, about 6 feet tall, and headed to the checkout. She bundled up the tree and totaled up the price, which came to an astonishing $29!!!! Well, I was a little taken aback at that price, considering how crappy the tree really was… "Just how much was this tree before the discounts?" I asked incredulously. She told me the unimaginable sum of $59!!! Oh My GOD!!!! $60 for this tree? Are you crazy????? I completely lost my sh*t for some reason…and began berating this poor woman, who had absolutely nothing to do with pricing the trees…..I could not see reason….I was ranting and raving while my daughter was tugging my arm and whispering frantically "calm down mom". I was having none of it. Meanwhile, the boys were just staring at me with their mouths open….I finally just threw my credit card at her and paid for the damn thing because the last thing I wanted to do that day was go traipsing around at the tree lots looking at expensive, ugly trees. So, I asked for and got some twine and the boys and I tied the tree down to the roof of the van and set off for home….with me still mumbling to myself about the outrageousness of those people to charge so much for so little…I’m still a little peeved but I have come to realize that my behavior was not appropriate. In fact, when I told Stu what had happened he was absolutely horrified and said, "you know, WE HATE those kinds of customers, who just yell at you even though we didn’t have anything to do with their problem!" Well, that made me realize even more how shitty I had behaved and I am quite remorseful about it, especially that I did it in front of my kids….what kind of mother am I? A stressed out one, that’s for sure. I intend to go apologize to that woman sometime in the very near future.

Part of my stress has to do with worrying about christmas, trying to arrange for rides for my kids to all their events and wrestling and singing and school things, plus getting my husband to and from work and myself to appointments and such….this is a very difficult time of year to have only one car…but we seem to be managing so far. Peaches is training constantly and attending wrestling meets left and right. The boy is just covered in bruises and apparently is being used a punching bag by his wrestling/training partner. He is afraid to let loose on this kid but I have encouraged him that he needs to stand up for himself and give this kid as good as he is getting, you know? He is having a good time overall though and was pleased as punch with his new wrestling sweatshirt he has earned. Lulabell is singing her heart out 2-3 times a week at functions for her show choir (only 2 more concerts, YAY!) They are being very well received but I have to say I know all 4 songs by heart now! She is having fun with it though and I am glad she has had this opportunity.

Well, that’s all I can manage for now, got to work now. I will try to post some pics here so check back….