Recoup the rest of the Year - Wednesday

[blessedw2]

I love a new day.

Every so often I give myself a gift for the year. I actually wrap something up and give it to myself Christmas morning. lol One year it was the sidetracked home executive tape which took me years on years to work at and I am still working at it. this year I am giving myself the ability to handle my finances and work on saving ahead for Christmas.

This year - i have given myself the gift of health.. moving outside more and more as I love it so and I haven't been doing what I love outdoors this year and my health has suffered from not having fun in nature or playing outside like I did when I was a kid. it requires planning on my part... so thinking of taking my kids to indian head mountain for a few days for January, a sleigh ride up there IF there is snow. and I am not sure for February etc. yet. also plan during the week to be outdoors with dogs.

[Cowinkie]

Morning y'all...
I always look forward to the day after Xmas. I like normal I broke off part of my back tooth Sunday and then spent part of Monday at the dentist office. While waiting to see the dentist it occurred to me that I was lucky. This unexpected change of plans did nothing to interfere with my Xmas plans. Everything that neede to be done was done. Plus I was able to enjoy a wonderful dinner with Sweetie on Xmas day. Both of us commented that we felt like we were on holiday and enjoyed the experience to the fullest. We came home and watched movies well into late night.

Today I will cook my turkey. Then I needed to return to the dentist. My tooth is cracked and I need a crown.

My thoughts for the New Years is to stay away from negative thoughts and people and to surround myself with good friends. I don't want to make room in my life for those who think otherwise. I talked to the "girl in my mirror" last night and she agrees with me

Lilac... Just tell your daughter the truth about her sons and set your own boundrays. Money does not equal privledge. My son grew up in a similar situation. His father was extremely wealthy and could give him anything he wanted....and 32 years later he still does. Early on I mad the decision never to compete. I made memories instead. This year I took my son horseback riding. That was during Thanksgiving. This Xmas I sent him 4 DVDs of movie classics that he had never seen. When he called me yesterday he said he was going to spend the day watching movies with his dad...it was raining there. I talked with his dad and he told me how exited my son was with he gifts. My dexh said...you alway come up with great ideas.

It pleased me to think my son was sittling in his dads million dollar plus home, watching movies and laughing together at my expense. Now that's a memory that's hard to beat. My son just doesn't know it yet

[Harmony]

Hello everybody! I love the theme today, I am closing out the month and the year here, working away at tying up all loose ends.

(Lilac) I did read your whole story. I feel really bad for those children, not because they don't get enough but because they do not "get" it, and what will their adult years be like if this continues. I know how much a grandmother's heart aches for their grandchildren when things are not right.

My idea of quilts for all the kids started out because one of my DGSons had anxiety and was having difficulty sleeping; I thought maybe a quilt would remind him how much he was loved and feel comforted, and that idea grew to include them all...

Watching the news channel, DD and family is off their train and en-route to the mountains and ski country in rented car. They are headed to Western N.Carolina.

I have one LOL hanging, it was a huge load! I have been working at my desk, writing checks, organizing the mess, and it's coming along nicely. I love when we have these extra days after Christmas, and when the Friday does not fall at the end of the year. That makes my payroll chores so much easier.

DDog paces quite a bit. I think she is still "settling in". She's a nice dog but overweight and has some sort of pain/lameness in one back leg. I put sheets on my comfy furniture in Living room and have allowed her to lay up there whenever she wants. My floors are hard for her. She is not that much trouble.

OK I'm back to my chores.

Oh, Cowinkie, that was so smart of you. I do not try to compete with DDiL's parents up in NC with our DGKids. They buy the kids everything! Their house if absolutely filled with stuff. We just try to pick a present or two that "fits" them somehow and send and not focus on the price, because we can't compete with that anyway. I'm not sure how much it matters anyway, we never get them on the phone with a thank you or anything, no acknowledgement unless like yesterday we ask "did our package arrive".. oh yes they're playing with everything...nothing specific, I don't even know if they know which were our gifts.. so you're right, it's the thought that counts!

[DeeClutter]

DD and I are back from our excursions this morning. Went to AAA to renew our annual passes to Disney World -could renew them there but not put them on the 'monthly' plan. So, we'll go to Disney some evening this week and get them done and possibly go in to watch all the lights for the Osborne Family Christmas. DD cried when we told her what we were going to do for her this year. It's always so special for her -she never tires of Disney. It'll be a much needed break for her from time to time.

Went to W mart and got some candles and things for next Christmas. Bought a few little things for dgks up north.

(Lilac)) I hear you. GD14 here was quite good all day yesterday. But now that she has all her gifts, she's returning to the 'true' person she is. DD is really frustrated with her at this point. She's being absolutely NASTY! As Harmony said:

I feel really bad for those children, not because they don't get enough but because they do not "get" it,

Me too. That's exactly what dd said about gd last night -"She just doesn't GET it!"

[lucylee]

(((Lilac))) No words of wisdom to add... just (((BIG HUGS))) -- and I want you to know you and your dh are doing a GREAT job! So much of this is out of your control.

Happy birthday, Norma!!!

I have so far ordered a camera for ddad to give dmom for a late Christmas gift! He couldn't find one he liked, so asked me to order one like my new one and he'd pay me for it.
I also ordered myself a new wall calendar b/c dh couldn't find the one I wanted -- Argyle Sweater -- nearest thing to The Far Side that I can find nowadays.

Now... must s2s and complete a few little tasks on my list for the day. NO SHOPPING. Ooohhh... I cannot face crowds like these big after-holiday sales bring out.

[Lilac]

Harmony, you absolutely hit it on the head, they don't "get" it. I do worry about their adult years. They live in 2 households and have everything at both places. Their dad and his wife got them a puppy and each of them a notebook! Dd2 and I were talking about all this while I was with her and the little girls this am. She said she told the boys, your dad wins because I can't and won't compete with a puppy and notebooks. She said dgs8 liked his Santa gift but he expected more. She admitted that it is hard to buy for kids who have too much. She also said that she feels like telling them next year, here's the deal, you have X amount of money and you can buy your own gifts before Christmas. Their dad is rubbing off on them and she can hardly stand it.

Cowinkie, I agree with you about not competing. That is why I spend so much time going to their games, programs, etc. Plus the time I spend with them. I am giving them time and you can not put a price on that. When they grow up, I hope they remember that I always took time for them and the memories that we made. I also have always babysit for whatever younger kid there was, so that their mom could take them to the movies, sledding, swimming, etc. that she couldn't take the youngest to.

Today while we waited in the car for dd2, dgd3 told me I was her bestest friend. I told her she was mine, too. Those 2 little girls make me feel really special. Dgd3 wanted me to go home with them but I told her I didn't have my insulin, so I couldn't today.

Cowinkie, I also agree with you about the day after Christmas. I never set foot in a store that day. I am most happy when things are normal. I don't have to constantly have something to look forward to, to survive my daily life. That is how my dm lives and it drives me nuts. That is why she is coming because she has nothing to look forward to until graduations in May. Huh? She isn't graduating, my dgs18 is and my stepbrothers dd is graduating nursing school. This will be dms 3rd trip out here in 8 months. If she wasn't a hoarder I could go visit her, instead of always staying in a hotel or with db and dsisil. This week marks 22 years, yes that is not an error, 22 years since I have been in her house. None of us have been there since then except 1 time db2 was in the area and stopped by. When she came to the door, he pushed his way in. She ended up serving him lunch in her motorhome and had to rearrange things to do that. I have adopted a new saying, "It is why it is!"

Another thing, Harmony, you posted the longest list of things to do, the day before your trip and I knew as I read that, that I wouldn't be able to accomplish all that in one day. So I applaud you for accomplishing so much in 1 day.

[Lilac]

Happy Belated Birthday Norma! I always enjoy reading about your time with Cowinkie and Sweetie.

[Ivy]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NORMA! Have a GR8 day all day and night!

(((((Lilac)))))

Twins' Mom, What a wonderful start-up today! It is amazing we have so many days left in the old year before the New Year, isn't it?

DD and Dgrson-16 are coming down the 29th or 30th to celebrate a late Christmas and DD's 41st b-day the 30th. I plan on getting my entry way china cabinet dusted because I display all my cut crystal dishes, etc... in it and the dust is "bugging" me.

These are the things I'm planning out right now in preparation for the New Year:
- writing, outlines
- reading to do (books and/or magazines)
- crocheting for the baby granddaughter
- organizing drawers/cabinets in the master bathroom
- to catch up on snail mail

I'm looking forward to the New Year because I turn 61 in Jan. and this means I'm 1 more step closer to S. S.

Also, DH and I have 4 gift cards to use for going out to eat! I told him when I've written 2 - 3 stories, we'll go "celebrate" that I've gotten my work done, so it'll motivate me to work! Also, when I go out, especially in restaurants, when I "listen" a.k.a. eavesdropping, I get some really great story ideas.

Happy Wednesday, Everybody!

[helia]

Change of plans; dh is out meeting a friend for coffee. It is snowing! He just called to tell me the roads in our neighborhood are very slippery. I think I'll skip the groc. store trip today. I have enough in our freezers to cobble together a meal or dh will pick up something from WF; he'll stop by there anyway to get milk.

I'm s2s, have had lunch, and will finish tidying the kitchen now.

[Lilac]

Talk about letting it all hang out! I have done a great job of that today. Thank you, dear friends, for not running me out of here.