Diary of a Crazy Red-Head

The January that was 2012

Well, my interest in blogging has waned. But I promised myself I would at the very minimum do a monthly blog post just to jot my happenings down. I am horrible at reading other people's blog, so I really don't know why anyone would still be coming here. 

 

Anywho, January 2012 was fabulous. Truly a fabulous way to start a new year. I am sort of sad to see February on the calendar. But I am also excited with the prospects of new challenges and adventures.

 

So here is January 2012:

January 1st: Polar Bear Swim tradition. I can't find the photo...oops. We survived and will do it again until one of us has a coronary. 

California Road Trip:

Gail, Alexis and I adventured to California. Lots of laughter is so good for the soul

Staples Center to see the Coyotes and the Kings. Crappy officiating and a lose in OT

My girls in The Circle

Goofing on Chapman

This is what happens when you clean out a crappola shed and use up 17 cans of spray paint. This is now the home for my Christmas Decor. 

This is what happens when you don't put your tennis shoes back on for the final coats. Oh, and a healing broken toe.

Right about here...the 18th? The Coyotes/Red Wings Suite night. I have no pictures...none. But we had a fabulous time with Marvin and Kathy, Dominick and Alexis, Rudy, John, Steve, George and his wife and my hubby. I learned that I can fit 2 bottles of Bud Light, 4 bags of peanuts, 2 bags of Skittles and a box of licorce on my personal being. Coyotes lost. Some bitchy girl was offended by John's dead puppy sign. I put her in her place. Go me! 

GNO at Johnny Fox's with Teresa, Sherry, Gail, Dawn and Michelle. This is also known as the "I'm keeping my uterus party" formally known as the "Bon Voyage to my Uterus GNO". 

Winter Formal. She's my world and I love everything about her!

In here is the Buck Bash with Bill, Gail and Scott. Fortunately, there is no photos of this epic event. But the images are forever etched in my memory. 

Our first Coyotes Carnival...perhaps our last. But we loved every second of it. The players are first class and so charming and appreciative. I love hockey.

We ended our month with a play night with Marvin and Kathy at Mike's Rigatoni. Ate the Athenian pizza with feta and lamb. Not a fan. Came back to the house and had a pinball tournament. I love Marvin and Kathy. They are truly like my big brother and sister and I cherish them so much.

Hospice. If you look closely...in the back...you see the white Diner rounders. Even though the Diner is still a mess. All the donations are done. And could not be more happy about how the Diner turned out. God knew what I would need in 2012 and I am so grateful for the blessings He continues to give me.

 

So add in a couple more hockey games, a scheduled surgery, a postponed surgery, 2011 paperwork, massive amounts of organizing (including all my Christmas gear) and there you have it....January!

 

 

 

 

Ordinary Day...

On the 13th day of December

 

My favorite Christmas song. I have always loved it. Now it reminds me of all the Christmas Eves when we would watch Christmas Vacation with my dad. Shitter's Full. Classic. Timeless. Christmas will always have special moments, but it always has in-law moments too. It's just the season.

 

I haven't decided if we are going to keep this tradition. Seems sort of empty for me now. It's been a rough month. I haven't been healthy. Lots of sitting and thinking. I need to feel better so I can go and do and not sit and think. Tomorrow will be a better day...I just know it! I claim it! 

 

A break from Christmas prompts

It was about changes in Christmas and I really don't feel like being sad tonight. ;)

Today, I did something. Good I think. I am not posting this for my glory, but because I realize how one little thing can make a difference.

I was at a local grocery store shopping for my mom. I walked past the butcher area and there was a bit of a crowd. There was a lady talking very loud and looking like this:

Complete with spandex jogging pants and camel toes (the effect NOT the color). 

Anyways, she was very loud and was hitting the "door bell" for help. The butcher was standing right in front of her but helping another woman. The butcher at this store is awesome. He always helps me and is a geniunely nice guy. The "woman" starts yelling at him, "she is tired of waiting", "she needs the meat cut a certain way". UGHS! He politely tells her to wait while he is finishing up with the first customer. Meanwhile, a crowd is forming because she keep interuptng him and not able to finish what he is doing.

I went on my way and when I was checking out I noticed she was talking with the manager. Arms flailing, still talking loudly.  I was pissed and mentioned it to the cashier...she was like..."yeah we can't please anyone". I love the people that work at our grocery store. They know me. They are always kind and grateful we shop there. Why would I be rude to them over a rump roast?

So, I cashed out and started walking to the car. I am not happy with the situation. I stopped and just then the lady walked by. I wanted to call her out...but in my opininon arguing with someone like that takes me to their level and I wasn't going there. So I went back in, with all my stuff and talked with the manager. I told him she was being a bitch to the butcher (yes, I said bitch) and that the butcher has always been so kind to me and the service and quality is terrific. 

The manager was very grateful and said, "I was surprised with what she was saying too, but we can't watch everyone. Thanks for letting me know what happened." I left feeling good about myself.  I just thought...if he were my husband or dad, I would want someone to stand up for him. I probably was skipping to my car. LOL

As I am unloading my cart, this elderly lady walked up and said..."what you did in there was a very nice thing". It wasn't that she said that...it's that she took the time to say it. That made it all even better. It reminded me of this commercial:

 

Wouldn't it be nice if our world was like this? You know one by one we can make our days better.  Cliche and cheesy, but we can. Take the time out to right a wrong, a smile, help someone load their groceries, take in your neighbors trash cans. Easy stuff. It's the holidays, so these things should even be easier, but I am striving to be like this everyday. We can change the world around us. The more we dwell with our own problems, the more obscure the world around us. It's a good world if we take the time to make it so. 

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me."  ~Erma Bombeck  I want that to be me!

 

 

 

The tale of two Christmas trees

Probably my favorite part of Christmas is decorating. Each year, I seem to get a little more into it. Up until 5 years ago, we had one tree. One 12 foot mother of a tree. Originally it had a Mardi Gras theme with masks and feathers. My theory always was that Christmas isn't about the tree...it's a Jesus and a Jesus tree seemed odd or overly religious. Really I don't worship my tree, nor should we. It's really just a decoration and that's it.

When we moved into this house, the 12 foot tree didn't fit into our family room, the room we spend most of time in. So we set up the old tree in the gameroom and changed all the decoration to glass blown ornaments. I had been collecting them for years...in boxes, un-admired. Alexis was 10 and they were to be her's on her wedding day. My dad was on chemo and the reality of life and death was a main focus. I decided to give her the ornaments, but use them now. She loves them and has her favorites. 

We set up a wintry themed tree in the family room, by the fire. Face it, I live in the desert and it's hard to get in the spirit when it's 80 degrees outside. My tree is filled with sweaters and sleds and snowflakes. I love it. 

Two years ago, our life was so hectic. Dad's cancer had returned. I had gotten the flu. The 12 foot tree became a chore. It would take me 4 hours just to get the lights on (it was old school...not pre-lit). I decided to donate it and make life easier. So last year, I got the retro aluminum tree. It goes perfect in the gameroom and it still displays all the glass blown ornaments. I love it too!

So that is the tale of our Christmas trees. I really would have one in every room. I love Christmas trees. I love seeing other people's Christmas trees. But I hate storing all the crap. So I will stick with 2 only.

I also want to note that today I spent 4 hours in ER. And yes, it's going in my Christmas Journal.

A high quality photo here. One handed, perocet looped, happy girl! 

ER was able to remedy my immediate problem, although in the long run I am back to square one. It's girl stuff and I just need to find what is right for me. But for tonight, I am SOOO very thankful to be pain free. It's been 6 days of extreme pain. I fought it, tried to ignore it, medicated it, boozed it. 

I will take the entire experience as a blessing. I am grateful for Johnny. He has been such a great caregiver this week. Truly concerned and so helpful. I realized that most of the stuff we do for Christmas isn't necessary. It was not to sit back and enjoy the tree, online shop by the fire with a Bailey's. I love how God sets me back to where I need to be. I love that my heart is wide open enough to see what is pure and good and what is truly important. Yes, I have many things I want to get done this week, but really am satisfied right where I am. 

Day 10 only 7 minutes late!

Gift Wrap? Yes, my packages have to look perfect.  I think packages are part of the house decorations. I love putting gifts in the tree. Not everything has to match. I prefer using tissue paper to wrap with because I love the sound of it. I like to tie gifts onto gifts...layered it fun and festive.

One year I would love to wrap everything in kraft paper and make our tree look like a magazine cover. 

Wrapping won't occur in my house for at least another week....if my mojo makes an appearence. 

Woo hooo...I am awesomely caught up! Pictures tomorrow...making it a goal!

Day 9...and oh crap it's after midnight and another day was added :)

Day 9 is about traditions again. Um. Already chatted about that. So I will sway. My nightly tradition is to watch Everyone Love Raymond. It's basically the only show I watch. Monday through Friday 10:30pm to 11:30pm. I laugh. I cry. I relate. I love it. Silly huh? I have even started saying "Oh Crap" like Peter Boyle. Oh crrrrap!

Day 8

TIme is just flying! LOL!!! 3 days in 20 minutes! Okay so today is about visualizing your Christmas via photos. I have taken some almost daily but haven't done any edits. So I will vent!  I changed from a Windows computer to a Mac in July. Big mistake. I am a quick learner. I get computer stuff. But I my brain doesn't flow the same way as a Mac. Everyday I try and learn something new about it. I have even taught John things, but I am still struggling with the photo side of it. One of my New Year goals is to get my photos organized and start using Lightroom and Photoshop. It's a desire, but it's stressful for me too. So I am waiting until the holiday stress passes to dig in.

 

I also want to start a list of things I need to be taking photos of now. I can keep "virtual" post-its on the Mac desktop, so I can check off photos as I click them. 

Day 7 on the Ten spot

Christmas Organizing...LOL!  The two words really don't go together do they?

1. House is decorated.

2. Half of my Christmas cards are mailed. Half are sitting on the counter.

In my mind, that is all that needs to be done by this point.

What really needs to get done this week?

1. Shopping. I have done online shopping, but I am just not finding what I want this year. Or maybe it's just that I am tired of being cooped up and need to go out and shop. Alexis and I are going out one night this week if I am feeling up to it. I really don't have much to do.

2. Crafting. I am making a few gifts and really should be done with them, but the Diner is a mess and crafting takes some mental preparation. 

3. Hospice pick up. Yeah, that NEEDS to get done. Tired of it being on my to do list. 

4. My car. When my car is organized life falls into a cosmic alignment. My car sucketh and needs a good vacuuming. 

The week before Christmas:

1. Wrapping.  I like doing all my wrapping all at once. One mess, one time.

2. Baking. Everything has been purchased, just need to get it organized and decide what exactly I will be making.

 

So aside, from cleaning, that seems like an easy list to get accomplished. Now to add all the stuff I need to get done for my mom! {O.O} Take the above list and multiple it by 2 and a half because her stuff just takes me longer. 

Dear Jesus...I need my mojo back. Thank you, Sherine

Oh...here come catch-up

I really don't have any excuse for being behind, except that I am not the embodiment of the Christmas spirit right now. I have left my house 3 times since Tuesday (a doctor's appt)...grocery shopping, a Christmas party, and hockey tonight. My female parts are rebelling and today I sat in my chair for 8 hours...only to get up and pee. I am going nuts! Online shopping isn't even fun. So tonight I am digging deep to get in the spirit of things.

I believe I left off with day 6. And to keep some sort of organization I will pretend today is December 6th :) 

So today's post is all about Christmas past. Christmas as a child was always awesome. My parents did a lot of events for the Lion's Club and what was then called "the Crippled Children's Hospital". My parents also did an amazing about of gifts of the other kids in our family (cousins, etc). I am so blessed to have generous and loving parents.  My parents (mainly my mom) would go to Toys R Us and buy like 1 of each game, 10 dolls, etc, etc. Then all like items where wrapped the same. She never tagged any of our gifts...she was able to remember everything.  We would take so much to the Lion's Christmas party. She made little Santa favors. The children were always so happy. It a good memory for me. 

I also remember going to the Veteran's Hospital with Christmas gifts. I was probably 11-12 years old? It was very difficult for me. The men were obviously not of stable mind and would grab and hold on. And of course, there were maimed bodies that were disturbing for a young girl. I do know that it was hard, but I also felt a feeling of gratefulness, even as a young child. 

The last couple of Christmases have been the hardest. With my daddy being so sick, in our minds we always wondered if it was the last Christmas. Last year, it was so obvious. I remember so much about last year and honestly it's very painful. I was so glad dad lived through Christmas but our memories of those final weeks are heartbreaking. I just know now that Christmas isn't about the stuff...although stuff makes us happy and I don't think there is anything wrong with stuff, it's more about the moments. I don't remember many of my gifts growing up, but I remember the get togethers. I remember laughter and love. We create our childs memories by what we create today.