Finishing up the gifts

I am almost done with shopping; but have no earthly idea what to get my parents. My parents are not normal--let me start there. They don't have hobbies. My dad doesn't fish or play golf. He does watch NASCAR and some football; but he doesn't wear shirts that pull over this head--so no sweatshirts adorned with Jeff Gordon or the hallowed horseshoe will work. My mom sews but she has more sewing crap than Hershey's has chocolate--so that is also a no go. My parents do not go out and eat together. They are never together. [One reason they are still married, if you want my opinion.] My father works out of town alot so when he gets home he doesn't want to go out and my mom works evenings, so she eats dinner during her work day. They don't watch movies. They don't play cards. And, they don't have kids at home, so if they really do want or need something, they buy it. See where I am going with this...

My parents already have enough crap to fill up a dang dumpster--a threat I have given them more than once. They aren't hoarders; they just live in a big house and have lots of stuff. The 'rents kept tons of stuff from our childhoods [4 kids] and my brother and sisters seem to think that the building behind their house is their personal storage facility.

I am so not a "stuff" person. I always have a bag going for Goodwill. I value people and experiences over crap I have to move, dust or try not to lose. But, that is me. I am so unlike my parents that I often wonder if I was switched at birth. [I, on occasion, do peek at missing person photos just to be sure!]

My sister is getting them a gift card and when she told me that, I was dying to know where. Where do my parents spend money besides Wal-Mart? I am not buying them a gift card to Wally World. And, chances are good they would lose the card and then no one is happy!

So, I will have to rack my brain a little harder to find something. It will probably end up being handmade or at least partly handmade. Suggestions welcome!!

Disney On Ice

My mom bought all of the grandchild [above from left to right: Sierra, Sierra, Michael, Savannah and Max] tickets to see Disney on Ice last night--Opening Night. Michael was less than thrilled to go since he thinks he is beyond Disney; but he went and I think he had fun. I would never buy the tickets for us to go; but going with other people made it better, I think.

We had dinner at Johnny Rockets--that took FOREVER--and then we walked in the rain to the show. After the show, we walked in the rain some more to see the Christmas lights on the circle and for Max to mail his letter to Santa. There is a special box on the Circle that you can stuff you're letter in and Santa WRITES BACK! We are lucky to have a magic mailbox in our city!!

Needless to day, Michael was no fun to get up this morning and will have to take a nap when he gets home, I am sure!

Holiday Prep

When I was a child, I LOVED Christmas...the lights, the church program, the gifts, the snow....now while my inner little kid is still kicking and screaming to love it, I just have a hard time.

I am not close to my family for loads of reasons that would take a whole novel to spell out; but that takes away from some of the joy. I am not married any longer and that takes away a bit more. Michael will be with his father this year so for the first time ever, I will be by myself. Another piece gone. My grandfather died on Christmas Eve. Yep, another. You get the picture. I am turning into a bitter, lonely old woman!

The house is decorated after begging from Michael. I really just wanted to sack the whole tree this year; but it is up and so are most of the outside lights. I need help from my brother to do the ones on the roof. I am not that brave! I have purchased things to make Christmas sweets. I have purchased Christmas sweets and lots of alcohol! I have a few holiday parties on my calendar to attend. I have pulled out the movies and CD's. And, I have most of the gifts either made or bought.

I will get through it. I always do. But, I can't help but wish my life would turn out like one of those Hallmark Channel movies where the girl meets the guy of her dreams doing something for the holiday. Who knows? Maybe it will. I will try and muster up the courage to believe.

Thanksgiving

In a couple of hours, I will load the kids, an apple crisp, a cheese ball and crackers, plates, cups and napkins up in my little red car and head over the river and through the woods to my cousin Kevin's house. I live about an hour from where I grew up and since I am the only defector still in Indiana--I travel. [Everyone else smart enough to defect lives in different states: Utah, Texas, South Carolina, Tennessee, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Alaska]

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, even though by the end I will need an Advil and a beer. It is the one holiday my whole family gets together for. My mom has seven brothers and sisters who all have kids and most of them have kids. You get the picture. It is complete and utter chaos.

But as loud and messy as it is, these are my people. They love me no matter if I still have yet to lose those 20 pounds I want to get rid of. They think I am smart. They are proud of me and they help me carry all of the crap in from the car! Can't ask for more than that!!

Happy Thanksgiving, my friends. I hope your celebration is perfectly wonderful and that you take the time today to count your many blessings.

What has Teresa been doing?

The last few weeks have been interesting. I have been gone a lot both for work and fun. I have had company come to my house. I have taken on some planned and unplanned home improvments, my washer conked out on me this morning and the holidays are knocking on my door.

CALGON TAKE ME AWAY!!

Thank goodness my brother is willing to help me out on all of this stuff....he is helping me paint and replace baseboards and fix a hole in my tub that happened when someone fell. I am so thankful that my friend is okay and glad that we are able to fix this hole. Putting in a whole new tub would have been a MAJOR remodel I wasn't ready for. I have a one piece tub/splash thingy and those only go in new construction--you can't get them up the stairs for a remodel so we would have had to pull all of that out and put in a two piece thingy. [Like those technical terms??]

I will post photos of the new updates to my humble abode. I will have lots of time to work on it....I don't have to travel until the end of January!

Happy Veteran's Day!!

God Bless my sisters and brothers in camo!! And, God Bless those who are currently serving our country. Thank you for keeping us safe and free.

Blog Roll Changes

I have *FINALLY* updated my blogroll. I had several blogs saved on my computer that were not on my blogroll and now they are! So, if you are feel like reading something new--browse the links on the right.

There are blogs on slow food, publishing, paper crafts and raising little kids while husband flies planes in the Air Force.

If you ever hope to be published, I recommend Joe Wikert's 2020 blog. It's also chock full of stuff about how publishing is changing and IT IS changing. While all of the new digital stuff is exciting, it will never replace--for me--a real book! With pages! In my hands!

As most of you know I do work in publishing, so most of these new blogs are from our authors or [former] colleagues of mine. I, also sadly, deleted some blogs that are no longer active. I will miss you, my virtual friends!

If you come across some other interesting blogs--pass them on. I am always up for reading things new and interesting.