Sunday, December 9, 2012

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas... But Not At Our House

Celtic Christmas weekend at RenFest
Christmas is 16 days away.  That’s just over 2 weeks – and I haven’t even started getting ready. 

We usually put our tree up the weekend after Thanksgiving, but that’s when Mike got sick, and then the cat got sick and, well… I haven’t really had the time to breathe, much less think about Christmas.

I bought a poinsettia for my husband’s hospital room, and we put it on the front porch when he came home. Does that count as decorating?  No, I didn’t think so.

The new tree that James and I bought back in November is still sitting in its box. We brought the decorations down from the attic so we could donate two older trees, and all the boxes are sitting in the middle of our living room.

I have Christmas cards and stamps, but I haven’t even started addressing the envelopes.  I wanted to take a new family portrait to include in our cards this year.  Yeah, that hasn’t happened either.

I haven’t bought a single gift.  I have no idea what I would buy anyway, even if I did have the time to go shopping.  I could shop online, if I knew what to buy.  Is it too late to have things delivered in time for Christmas?

The worst part about this is that I don’t really care.  It’s not that I’m anti-Christmas…it’s just that I’m not at all excited about the holidays this year.  

We’re planning to put up the tree tonight after dinner, and I have some eggnog in the fridge.  Maybe that, and a little bourbon, will put me in a more festive mood. 

Cheers!

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Thankfulness: A Belated Thanksgiving Post

I am thankful that we were able to enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving meal this year, and share it with my step-daughter, her boyfriend, and one of my son's best friends.

I am thankful that we were able to spend Black Friday at the Texas Renaissance Festival with my step-daughter and her boyfriend - even though my husband wasn't feeling well and had to stay home.  We also got to play a part in the big marriage proposal. It was a very special day.

I am thankful for all the wonderful people at the Conroe Regional Medical Center, who took such good care of my husband when we arrived early Saturday morning, and throughout his five day stay after his appendectomy. He came home on Thursday and is feeling much better.

I am thankful that my job provides medical insurance.

I am thankful for my son, who took care of things at home while I was spending time at the hospital, and took over hosting our house guests for the remainder of their visit.

I am thankful for my boss, who allowed me to work from home - on my own schedule - so I could spend time with my husband every day.  The free wi-fi at the hospital was helpful too.

I am thankful for the people at the West Davis Veterinary Clinic and Conroe Emergency Animal Clinic who cared for our cat. Puck became very ill with a blocked urinary tract on the same day that my husband came home from the hospital. He spent four days shuttling between these two clinics, and is still in the process of recovering - now at home.

I am thankful for my husband, who is taking care of the cats during his own recovery, so I can go back to work.

I am thankful that everyone is back home now.

I am thankful that I have Friday off.