Hi from the snowy north....

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Registered: 03-26-2003
Hi from the snowy north....
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Mon, 12-28-2009 - 12:00am

I've been responding to posts but haven't started a post of my own for a while. Let me say here and now...I'm so glad this holiday is over. As most of you know it's not my favorite and this year it really was a huge struggle for me. I don't even care about NYE because I've never liked it or considered it a "holiday" anyway. It's just a nuisance to me and totally amateur night. A good night to stay home as far as I'm concerned. I've only had one good one in my lifetime! Bah humbug, I know.

Anyway...I don't know where I left off...I guess with the ice storm on Wed. when I spent the day at the hospital.

Christmas Eve I packed up my stuff and headed to the "City" (actually a northern suburb) to my bff's house where I stayed until Sat. a.m. and celebrated Christmas with her family. She was expecting about 12 for Christmas Eve but about 20 showed up. There was plenty of food (fettucine Alfredo, 2 homemade lasagnas, lots appetizers, salad, and sweets) so no one went hungry. The champagne was flowing as was the wine. Friends of her kids came in as well as her late DH's family and it turned out fun. After most of them left and it was just my bff, her DD and a couple of her friends it ended with us dancing in the basement to The Black Eyed Peas and having a 4 person conga line through the house. (Remember...I don't drink!!!) I think we finally gave in and went to bed fairly early...around 11:00.

Christmas a.m. bff made a yummo breakfast of baked carmel apple French toast (I'll post the recipe later...really good)...then she her DD and I got ready and went to the movies to see "Have You Met the Morgans"...don't bother. Came home to the yummy pork loin roast we had put in the oven before going to the movies. Later on her oldest DS and wife came over for a Christmas visit and they exchanged their gifts. (Middle son had gone to his gf's house for the day...something that didn't sit well with DD...Mom was fine w/ it.)

It was nice being with my bff's family but it wasn't the same as being with my own family. I missed that so much. The reality of that not ever happening again was very hard.

Sat. a.m. I got ready...packed up the car and headed home around 11:00. I needed to get home and check on Sonny and get him some fresh water. I drove home in a snow storm but the major highways were fine until I got to my little town where it was really coming down hard. When I pulled into my driveway my wonderful neighbor was snowblowing it. We ended up getting 10-11" of the nasty white stuff.

My bff suggested we meet halfway and go to another movie in the afternoon and like an idiot I agreed. The snow was really coming down when I left and the normally 25 min. drive took me 50 mins. It was slow going but ok. By the time we got out of "It's Complicated" (really funny) the snow had stopped and the roads were ok to travel.

I was supposed to go to my nephew's house today to give The Divine Miss M her Christmas gifts but he called to say she wasn't feeling well and we'd have to do it another day. Whatever. He's getting VERY nervous about the new baby coming and is ever so jumpy. I just stayed in today and relaxed and took a nap. Loved the day of quiet. It was the 13 anniversary today of the day my Dad passed away and I was a little down because of that.

It's going to be cold here this week and I think we have some more snow due in around NYE.

Good to read what everyone has been up to over Christmas. I'm holding you all in my heart and just want to tell you how much you all mean to me. Your love and support this year helped me survive the worst year of my life.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 12-28-2009 - 3:58am

Blu I think everyone was thinking about you this year, knowing it was going to be a hard Christmas.

ladybugs-flowers-1-1.jpg picture by srpcep

Avatar for oahe
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Registered: 07-27-2003
Mon, 12-28-2009 - 6:40am
Christmas is a rough time, I don't care what anyone says.
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Registered: 04-02-2003
Mon, 12-28-2009 - 8:27am

SS is right, I know we were ALL thinking about you a lot the past few weeks,









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Registered: 04-09-1999
Mon, 12-28-2009 - 9:01am
Good Morning....(((((HUGS)))))....I agree with the others....that it was good you got to be with your BFF....It is difficult as we get older because the times change and there is a new 'normal' and we are not always ready or able to change so quickly......but it is thrust upon us...I am with you on New Years.....will be home with a book, and a glass of wine.....lol....Hugs, Ruth




 


Avatar for ladybugfranni
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Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 12-28-2009 - 9:27am
I agree with BB... it was so good that you and your bff were together, and that you have that kind of relationship.

 

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Registered: 04-02-2003
Mon, 12-28-2009 - 9:43am

Franni, this is EXCELLENT advice.









Avatar for gmapat539
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Registered: 03-25-2003
Mon, 12-28-2009 - 9:47am
Blu, I knew this Christmas would be tough for you. But I am so glad you went to your friend's houe and had a diversion. I know it was good for her too. I agree with some of the others in having a feeling that 2010 will be a much better year. I feel like it has something good in store for you. --Pat
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Registered: 03-19-2003
Mon, 12-28-2009 - 10:26am

In spite of the fact that you were not with "family" this Christmas, Blu, I am so glad that you were with dear friends. Christmas is often a very difficult time of year for many of us, and not just because we have lost a loved one.....it is just a difficult holiday! We set ourselves up for hurt with expectations that cannot possibly be met. Wishing for peace within our gathering, and perfect gifts, and perfect meals, and -- well you know how that goes!!



Then there is the simple fact that as we age the very idea of dealing with unpredictable weather begins to become daunting! You were brave indeed to go back out in that snow to go to a show! (Glad the show was a good one!!)



Has the Divine Ms. M's baby brother given any indication that he is ready to be born yet?!!



I am so-o-o with you when it comes to New Year's Eve celebrating ~ much better done in my own house! Of all of my years I can only recall two parties that I found the least big enjoyable. One was just a walk down the street to a friend's home, and the other was one my friend Tom and I gave at his home. Neither was extravagant but they were both fun! I do not like being out on the roads that night - at all! Even back in the days when I used to drink I didn't care for NYE celebrations!!



You do know how much you are loved by all of us ladybugs, don't you, Blu?!!! BIG Bunches...........

 


Co-cl for
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-28-2009
Mon, 12-28-2009 - 10:46am

I usually hate Christmas. I think it's the most depressing time of the year. I can remember one year, when my kids were teens, that I spent the entire day in bed watching continuous reruns of "It's a Wonderful Life". This year was a little different because we spent it with our older son, his wife and two little boys. They had 18 for dinner so there was no time to feel sorry for myself. We came home on the 26th and it's so good to be back in our quiet little house with our two cats!!


New Years Eve????? It's gonna happen whether I'm awake or not. So I might as well get some sleep. It's always way too expensive to even think about going out and I always worry about how much the other drivers have had to drink.


I'm glad you made it through the day OK. The reviews were awful for the Hugh Grant movie but I do want to see the Meryl Streep/Alec Baldwin one.


Take care..........Gail

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Registered: 10-18-2006
Mon, 12-28-2009 - 11:27am
(((((((((((Kathy)))))))))))
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