Recovery

Well, it’s been way too long since my last post, and I really have no interest in doing a redux post, so I’m not going to. I do plan to post about Christmas and New Year separately however.

Christmas 2009

Christmas was great!! Ellie and I had a 4-part holiday this year because she was required to work. So we opened stockings in the AM, then gifts when she came home. Afterward we hit the road: first my dad’s house for dinner and presents with my folks, then NJ for her annual reunion party and Christmas with her family. Although we were EXHAUSTED when we finally made it back to MA, we had a lot of fun and came bar with a car full of gifts, which are now still mostly spread all over the spare room, although most of the kitchen supplies are put away, as well as the stuff my mom gave us to make over the bathroom (just need to paint and hang shelves, and buy liquid soap for the soap dispenser). BUT, Christmas still isn’t over…I’m getting together with Jere and Em tomorrow for our 2nd annual hot tubbing extravaganza, and we still have to make plans to make the trip to MD for Christmas with her other brother–there was just no way we could physically, mentally or time-wise make the trip then since it was our 3rd trip in 6 weeks. Hopefully we’ll be able to coordinate schedules in the next few weeks to make the trip–but I’m totally leaving THAT up to her

 

In Hopes that St. Nick Soon Will Be Here

Christmas is in just two days, and I don’t feel like I’m set for it. I know that everyone will enjoy their gifts, but I still feel like I didn’t do a great job with the shopping. Tomorrow is going to be dedicated to wrapping till my fingers bleed. Friday is going to be a HUGE day of more wrapping, visiting my folks, then Jersey for the weekend. As much as I love wtbrosie’s family, I’m happy this will probably be the last drive for a little while–three trips in a month is a lot.

I love the holidays, but I will be happy when they’re over. I think having SUCH a stressful period of time with finals and the end of semester right at the beginning of the holiday season is not conducive to the way I work mentally. I’m sure that being off meds for the first time in…6-ish years is part of the situation too. I’m not saying I’m having real problems this year, but it’s definitely more difficult than in previous years.

 

Thanksgiving Redux

I would have posted sooner, but I’ve had so much work due this week (and next, but I haven’t started thinking about that yet). wtbrosie and I hosted Thanksgiving dinner for my family and her friend. I think it went pretty well, although we STILL have leftovers. If we do this again next year, I’ll make sure to start cooking the turkey sooner, and will have people show up a little later–I was pretty anxious about trying to ensure my parents and uncle were entertained, even though I know that I really don’t need to worry, it’s not like they would have been doing anything different at home.

Friday, wtbrosie was lucky enough to get out of work super early, so we were on the road to New Jersey by 6pm–her brother and future sister-in-law (whom we were staying with) weren’t even in bed yet!! Saturday morning was the drive to Baltimore for dinner with her other brother and the family; I was super happy they had roast beef instead of turkey! That evening we made the ride back up to Jersey to stay with her sister, who didn’t go to dinner, and to cut a few hours off the ride home Sunday. Sunday was seeing the kids and then into the car to try and get home at a reasonable time–8 hours later, we were finally home, even before I would have been home from class!

I will say I’m happy we have the bigger car, and I’m taking ginger pills before I travel; they make the trip a lot more comfortable.

 

Not Gonna Cheat

I’m tempted to back-date this entry to yesterday so I can actually, you know, post every day this month…but even 29 out of 30 days will be a HUGE milestone for me so I’m just going to play along.

Today, wtbrosie and I went to NH to meet up with my cousin. It’s been…Gods, almost 2 years since I saw him, and that was in a less than ideal situation. It was cool hanging out and getting to know him better–although we’re cousins, our family is less than communicative, and we’ve learned well from them.

I’m supposed to be doing research for a paper due next Monday, so I guess I should get on that, huh?

 

Bad End or Bad Start?

This past weekend was absolutely amazing. Friday night wtbrosie decided she wanted to decorate eggs. I was totally game, although it turns out her idea of egg decorating is a little different from mine–she uses wax to draw on the eggs before dying them. When she explained, I got a little nervous, but we had a ton of fun, and my eggs turned out pretty good.

Saturday she worked, but it gave me time to put together an Easter basket and hide it–she had to follow some clues to find it, then she sent ME on an egg hunt in her living room–she’s so cute. We made dinner for my family that evening, so hopefully my parents are satisfied with seeing me for a little while since they’ve seen me the last few weeks.

Except me getting an absolutely disgusting cold sore, everything was all hunky-dory until today. I get a call from wtbrosie–her car had been robbed, they got her GPS and a bunch of change. Sucks, but she could have lost her SSN card, or checkbook (both of which were recently taken out of the car) or client files. The thief obviously wasn’t that thorough because her iPod was still in her gym bag, which I  think was untouched completely, although I’m not 100% about that. And this evening after I got home from work, I discover that my phone isn’t in my bag!!! I left it on my desk like an idiot.

So, was this a bad end to a wonderful weekend, or a bad start to a new week?

 

The Addiction Continues

Cherry Blossom

So I’ve finally decided on my next tattoo. I want a cherry blossom branch, similar to this one, across my back. I want it to be fairly simple, the branch done in blackwork with a small branch leading to Billy’s tattoo, and possibly room to either include or add symbols for my parents and uncle.  I have a feeling that I’ll have to work with the artist to at least plan for inclusion of 3 more images, although I don’t know if I’ll get them done at the same time or not (I’m still contemplating those three).

I want to make sure I use the BEST artist I can though, because of how delicate this will be. I have to admit to some displeasure will the work done on all of my tattoos other than the dolphin. I COULD try to get Tegan, but she’s only in the area one weekend a month, so will be REALLY hard to get. One of my co-workers suggested the guy her boyfriend uses, but I’ve only seen his work via cell phone pic. Then there is the guy that brontosproximo goes to, but I’d like to see more of the portfolio.

Not that I’m doing this anytime soon. Money is extremely tight right now, so it’ll probably be about a year before I feel financially stable enough to get it done. Not to mention the fact that I kind of want to be able to wear tank tops while it heals to cut down on irritating it.

 

The Weekly Update

To say it’s been a long week is an understatement. We went to Jersey this weekend, and although I love wtbrosie’s niece and nephews, getting woken up before 9 on a Sunday by three bouncing children (after going to be at like, 1) was a little less than ideal. Ah well.

wtbrosie has also been sick–two weeks of fever and decreasing appetite. She spent most of Tuesday in the ER, then all of Wednesday night there. They were of absolutely no help, although last night she finally ate something and kept it down, and it seems that her fever is finally starting to go away. I certainly hope this is the case, and that her working today doesn’t make her relapse.

Girl Scouts is slowly killing me. I love my girls, but being in a troop with a dozen leaders is not conducive to a good working environment. I’m contemplating leaving the troop next year and only volunteering with the Service Unit. Not just because of troop politics, but also because, if I am going to be in grad school next year, I’m going to have a lot less time or brainpower available. It’s the sensible thing to do, but I feel a huge amount of guilt about it.

Finally, I officially only have one car payment!! At wtbrosie’s suggestion, I used my tax refund to pay off the Cobalt. It’s so nice to look at my online banking page and see one less open account. Plus, it puts $250 back into my pocket that I am going to use to pay down my other debts. In a month and a half I’m going to finally own my laptop!

 

We’ve Come to the End

I should join the year-end posting frenzy that goes around all the blogs this time of year. Christmas was good, both with my family and with wtbrosie’s. My mom did really well with gifts this year; she typically gives nick-knacks and other crap, but this year she stuck to my list–movies, books, a new heating pad, and a few other useful things that I specifically asked for. It WAS weird though, as all holidays and occasions this year have been.

The train ride to NJ was pretty boring, but totally uneventfull, and it was nice spending time with wtbrosie’s family. I really love her brothers and sister, and they spoiled merotten; I was totally unprepared for it, despite wtbrosie trying to prepare me.

Last night we went to D’s to ring in the New Year. Very quiet and subdued, but it was nice. 2008 Was a pretty good year, but I’m really hoping 2009 is better.

 

The Holiday Crunch

So I have virtually no idea what to get anyone for Christmas this year. I’m working on my boss’ gift, but am not sure I’ll get it done in time to give her before we break. As for my other three co-workers, I’m clueless. Anyone have ideas for 2 women and a guy that are under $15? Maybe something I can make since I’m making my boss’ gift?

Mom should be mostly set, I just have to actually work no the gift. Dad and my uncle are another story altogether though. My brother and I had talked about getting a snowblower last year, but that kinda fell through, so I’ve thought about getting one this year, but really don’t have the money for anything that great (anyone know how well the electric ones do? They only need to be able to move the snow from behind the cars and the two walkways). I have some ideas for Ellie, but I’m nervous it won’t be perfect.

Most of my friends will be waiting till after Christmas, so I don’t have to be as stressed about them, but I at least need some ideas!! People, give me ideas either for yourself or for common friends (that DON’T involve me or wtbrosie in any state of undress, sorry brontosproximo)

 

Fancy That

So, I found out the strangest thing the other night. I stopped by my dad’s house to pick up some camping gear, and we were talking about my current place. He mentioned that I hadn’t given him my new address, so we went to his table to put it in his book.

When I said the street name, he looked up and said, “Hxxxxx? Hxxxxx Street? I know that street!” I gave him a pretty skeptical look and told him that I doubted it since I’m not THAT close to the street he grew up on (yeah, I’m about a mile from the house my dad lived in till he was 9). “No, no, that’s where Nan and Pup (my great grandparents) lived for a thousand years!” I was pretty shocked to be honest, and we even went into the other room to confirm it with my uncle. They aren’t 100% sure on the number, but are pretty sure I’m only about a block from the place my grandfather, great aunt and great uncle grew up. They’re actually going to look through the old paperwork to find out which house it was.