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Thursday, December 29, 2005
Holiday Hangover
Christmas is now 4 days in my past and I think I'm still suffering from a 'Holiday Hangover' and not the kind that you get from having too much fun...the kind you get from 'burning the candle at both ends', so to speak. I'm so glad that this is a short week at work and as a BIG surprise my bossman decided to close this Monday as well...so another short week. Thank YOU!!!! I've also been sick for a week so I'm really draggin' ass...and with an ass the size of mine...that is quite a feet...now let me tell ya!!!!! On the bright side my house is COMPLETELY dechristmassed...the monster tree is taking up space (lots of space) on the back deck where it will most likely stay until spring, all the decorations, pointsettias, garlands, tinsel (well except for what I'll still be picking out of the carpet in july) and lights are gone...Also gone are the chocolates, christmas cookies, breads, pastries, and every other leftover of christmas past. GONE I TELL YOU! Not to be seen or thought of for another year. Life will get back to normal...or at least as close to normal as my life ever gets.
Big guy is home from college until January 16, it is nice to have him home but it's also a bit hard to get used too again. He is such a slob...it took him only 3 days to create a mountain of laundry and to cause a 'stench' in his bedroom...I have NO idea where the smell comes from, he is a very clean kid and always smells wonderful...what can it BE? His grades were terrible, I can't believe that my straight A kid has turned into such a slacker...of course he assures me that he now has it 'all figured out mom'. He says it finally dawned on him that College is DIFFERENT then High school, something I've been telling him since his graduation...guess he's just a slow learner. I really hope that he is telling me the truth and not just blessing me with more of his eloquent 'lip service'.
Baby girl is enjoying her vacation which ends on January 3, it was very short this year and she has done very little, which is what she does BEST! She's been dealing with a few social issues over the past few months and I think she needs a little time to regroup before she takes a next step. We had a great talk last night, first one in ages, and it made me feel very 'useful'. Her birthday is a week from Sunday and we are trying to decide what we will do for it...It really sucks having her birthday so close to Christmas...no matter what we do it's always anti-climatic! Maybe I can convince her to wait until July for a BIG party on The BEACH..that would be lots of fun. I know that I've been babbling a little but that's just the mood I'm in today...babbling...bumbling...hungover...sickly...slightly cranky ME!!!
Monday, December 26, 2005
The Day After
Christmas is OVER...Yippee!!!! Just about 325 days before I have to start stressing again! Everything actually went very well over the week end. Christmas eve at my house was fun and relaxing, we even got my dad and his woman to play "battle of the sexes" with us. The kids, all teens now, even joined in with the fun and games. We decided to do a 'joke' gift swap this year, every one drew a name and had to get them a gag gift. My hubby got an inflatable wife  for those occassions when 'I have a headache'. My son received a nudie calendar...he was very excited until he opened it and found that all of the 'fun' parts had been blacked out.
The look on hubby's face  when he opened his new gun was priceless...he almost cried, it made me so happy to see him so happy....AND I can't believe that we all kept it a secret for so long...way to go US!
Kids hate it when I take pictures....here they are tolerating my obsession, Thanks Kids! 
Here's my sister (the good one) and her family 
My kids are still sleeping and will be for many hours to come...hubby is working and I have to face the daunting task of undecorating my MONSTER tree...If I start now I might have it finished by New Years! Happy Monday
Friday, December 23, 2005
Ha Ha Ha He He He
Twas the night before christmas....North Woods Style Twas the night before Christmas in an old hunting shack the rifles were loaded and hung on the rack Eight hunters were sleeping all snut in their beds, while visions of trophy bucks danced in their heads Then outside the shack something moved on the land. They ran to the window with rifles in hand When what to their half open eyes should appear, but eight trophy bucks, eight beautiful deer. The all raised their rifles and each took a shot, they all conncected belaive it or not! Then out of the dark came a voice loud and clear "You Stupid FLATLANDERS you shot my reindeer!" MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL
Thursday, December 22, 2005
A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words
Just a Few of my Favorite things!
My Favorite MEN
 My Baby Girl and Becca 
My In-Laws with all of their grandchildren ages 6-19
My babies pre-prom '05 They HATE this pic I LOVE it! My Family With Julie and Her Family This Summer Our Camp on Moosehead Lake Where Dreams Come True
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
GRRRRRRRR!
Have you ever had one of those days where you feel like breaking something...or screaming until it hurts...or crying for hours for no real reason? I've felt like that all day today and I don't think it has anything to do with the holidays...well not in the surface anyway. I know that my stress level is thru the roof but it's different. I keep going back and forth from feeling like screaming and feeling like crying. I visualize myself sweeping my arm across the top of my bureau, which is covered with 'stuff' and knocking everything on the floor, glass breaking, makeup flying, hairbrushes crashing...Would this help...probably not because it would be ME who would have to pick it all up. Today started with a staff meeting at work...changes in the air, I HATE CHANGE!...Then I got the Mobil/Exxon bill...baby girl had put $135 thru her car this month - she has a $60 limit...then my uncle, Dick the prick-the one who told me only months after my mother's death that she'd be very 'disappointed' in my, called the office for my boss, Dick is a car salesmen (the slimey kind), then I got home and found a mess in the kitchen...not a big one...but enough to set me off. I wound up yelling at both baby girl and hubby poo, for which I later apologized, and crying for a few minutes. Right now I'm having a drink, something I seldom do, in hopes that it will take the edge off. I'm headed to the Gym with baby girl shortly...maybe sweating my ass off will be enough to make my tomorrow better then my today...maybe I should take a dozen eggs outside and throw them at the trees...maybe I should break all the dishes in my cupboard...maybe I should just stop complaining and get on with my evening!!!!! YES we have a winner.
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Say It Sunday
Friday, December 16, 2005
Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow
It IS snowing like crazy here today and has been since about 9AM, we are supposed to get 8-12 inches of the white stuff. I am not exactly a snow lover, in fact I usually HATE snow, but when this time of years comes around I'd rather see snow then rain and it truely is BEAUTIFUL. I guess it's time to pull out the CC Skis and get the snowmobiles registered and serviced because once the snow starts in my "neck of the woods" it doesn't usually stop until MAY. The snow is lifting my spirits today (strange I know), maybe it will put me in the holiday mood. My plan for the week end is to get my wrapping completed and make a list of anything that I may be missing...Oh and planning the menu for Christmas Eve, which is at my house. I should do some holiday cooking too...or maybe I'll just buy some of those Christmas Oreos and the New Ritz crackers that are shaped like wreaths and call it good. ORRRRRRRR maybe just sleep around the clock. HO HO HO
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Christmas Meme
I borrowed...ummm Stole this meme from Larry...thanks!!! I am hoping that taking some time to think about my answers might help to get me out of the holiday SLUMP that I've been in.
Q: What is your favorite holiday movie? 
A: The Sound Of Music, you may not consider this, technically, a holiday movie, but growing up we always watched this movie as a family during the holiday season, we would all sit on the floor in the living room, my siblings and my parents, and watch quietly and smile. After having my own children I carried on the tradition...It's on this week end...YIPPEE!
Q: What is your favorite holiday song (artist and title)?
A: My Favorite Things - Julie Andrews from, of course, The Sound Of Music. We would all sing this, poorly of course, along with the movie. My mood is improving just thinking about this.
Q: What is the best holiday gift you were ever given and why? 
A: A silver locket. It's my favorite because it was the first gift the my kids every picked out for me ALONE...with no help or prompting from anyone. And because they were so proud of themselves for having done it.
Q: Do you have someone special to kiss at the stroke of midnight on New Years?
A: Yes, my hubby and my kids.
Q: Name of your favorite reindeer?
A: Strange question...ummm...let me think...You know...I have no PERSONAL relation ship with any of them....plus I don't want to slight any of them either so I think I'll take the 5th on this one.
Q: Favorite holiday food?
A: Mom's soft molasses cookies,  she's gone now but I have her recipe nearly perfected. I love everything about them, the feel of the dough, the smell of them cooking, decorating them...but MOST of all the memories that always come flooding back to me when I make them.
Q: Snow day-- Cuddle by the fire or Hand me a snowball?
A: Cuddle by the fire...with a good book and soft music playing.
Q: What was your New Years resolution for this year and did you stick to it?
A: The same resolution for the past 10 years....To become MORE healthy and yes, I have...for the most part anyway. I've been taking baby steps towards my goal for years.
Q: Is there a Santa Claus?
A: If there is I wish the bastard would start paying his bills.
Q: Present, or stocking stuffer?
A: I like both, I'm just a kid at heart. 
Ok...it did help a little, I had a smile on my face during most of the post...Thanks again Larry.
Monday, December 12, 2005
Another Sunday
Today is my 100th post, I can't believe it. I wanted to do something special to commemorate the occasion but couldn't figure out what so I just decided to post about my week-end.
Julie and her family arrived around 10:30 on Saturday morning. They came with enough stuff to stay for a week I swear, Julie is a very good guest and packs everyting, including her own bedding and blueberry bagles..hahaha. Baby girl had gone to pick up her newest 'fella' (not sure yet if he is her boyfriend) to introduce him to some of the family. Maybe this was her way of scaring him away..hmmmm. We all sat and visited for a bit and then then men, baby girl and Julie's baby girl hit the road to attend a hockey game in Orono with Big guy. Julie and I stayed home to start preperations for the big event on Sunday. Of course we started with a drink....or two. Yes, I will admit that I got a bit tipsy, as did she, we chatted, we laughed, we (she) danced, we (I) even cried a little. I really enjoyed her company. We then fried chix and venison for the next couple hours. She FORCED me to go for a walk in the cold. It was only about 1.5 miles but with the way she was 'staggering' all over the road it ended up being 3 miles. Being the party animals that we are we then fell asleep watching Polar Express...Whoo hoo.
I always approach such family gatherings very apprehensively, I always expect the worst, think of everything that could go wrong, whine, complain, ect. ect. ect. Well Sunday was no different. We did get everything ready, in fact it was ready FAR too early. I had laid out all the appetizers at about 11:30 expecting that my guests would begin arriving around then for the meal was to be served at 1. Nobody showed up until 12:50...NOT one person, therefore the appetizers were quickly removed and replaced with dinner. We crammed 21 people into my living room and fed them. Then we removed all of the tables so that there would be room for the kids to open their gifts, which they quickly did....and everyone, except Julie and family, were quickly back out the door before 3. Lots of work and stress for 2 hours. IT IS OVER! Yeah!
My family then headed to Dexter (40 mins away) for a candle lighting ceremony for Children who have died. This is a national event that strated 9 years ago. My sister and her husband founded a chapter of Compassionate Friends after the loss of their daughter 3 years ago. She always invites our whole family and this is the 3rd year that nobody except me and mine has showed up. I know that it really bothers her that the rest of the family won't attend but she hides it well. He daughter sang, people read poems and tell stories of their lost ones. It is a very emotional time, Baby girl cried for an hour. Her away message on AIM was to her cousin Savannah (the one we lost), tell her how much she is missed and how the candle ceremony brought back so many memories both good and bad. She doesn't talk about Vannah very often so it is good for her to get it off her chest once in a while. I'm proud of my baby girl for going with us, she knew that it would be hard but, unlike my dad and siblings, she went anyway...for me...for her aunt...for becca...and for Savannah.
Friday, December 09, 2005
The Finished Product
 I had to resort to Tinsel...the evilest of all christmas decorations...to fill up this monstrosity. My cats will have it strewn from one end of the house to the other, I will still be picking it off the curtains in July and be picking it out of the power head on my vacuum til next christmas. Merry Christmas! HO HO HO HO
Thursday, December 08, 2005
The Monster TREE!
Yesterday I made a dreadful mistake, now let me tell you that I seldom make a mistake...well one that I will admit anyway, I let my hubby poo and baby girl pick out our christmas tree. Before they left the house I reminded them that I didn't want a BIG tree...just 6-8 feet...NO BIGGER.
They returned from their shopping trip, pulling into our yard with at least 3 feet of tree hanging over the hood of our vehicle...I have a GMC Envoy, a very large verhicle and there was still 3 FEET of tree hanging over the top...I couldn't believe my eyes. My six foot tree looked to be at least 12 feet but I decided to wait and see what it looked like when they brought it in the house. Hubby poo had to recruit a neighbor to help him haul the gigantic thing thru our front door, he layed it in the living room and it took up the entire floor. Hubby and baby girl were so excited that they had picked the perfect tree...I was beside myself trying to figure out how I would rearrange my living room to accommodate the monstrosity. I tried very hard not to get upset, I didn't want to dampen their, otherwise, perfect day. They cut the end off the tree and begun the task of putting into the tree stand, that was actully a size or two too small for the thing, then well all huffed and puffed and pushed and pulled and twisted and spun the tree into place. Hubby then had to get the LARGE ladder from the garage in order to put the angel on top of the tree...then the lights...then we were all to tired to do anything else. Baby girl recruted a couple of her friends this evening to finish decorating my "6 foot" christmas tree. Here are some pictures of the elves at work...   
I will post a picture of the finished product if it EVER is finished!!!!
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
I am grateful for......
I think it's time for another one of those post about the GOOD things in life...my life anyway. Here Goes;
1. My kids, they are my biggest cause of stress but also my biggest cause of joy. I love and appreciate them more with each passing day.
2. My hubby dear, he drives me absolutely crazy but I know that he'll always be here for me....thru thick and thin (both literally and figuratively)
3. My health, I am as healthy as a horse. Are horses really that healthy?
4. My sister Terri, Her strength always amazes me
5. My house, it may be dirty but it's comforting...familiar...mine
6. The sunshine, it may be scarce lately but when it peeks thru it energizes me
7. My job, I hate it somedays but others it makes me feel capable....accomplished
8. My co-workers, most of them I've known for 15 years, some of them drive me crazy but a couple have become very important to me. I know that they'd be here for me if I needed them
9. Sheri, my best friend from childhood...she will never know how happy I am to have reconnected with her
10. Julie, my newly found friend, she's been my sil for over 20 years but only recently became my friend....I am thankful for her daily, even when she's stressing me.
11. My sense of humor, without it I would never be able to make it thru the day.
That's it for me...for tonite anyway.
Monday, December 05, 2005
Say It Sunday - Better Late Then Never I Guess. STRANGE!!!!
Sunday, December 04, 2005
Say It Sunday
Well...I really did do my Say It Sunday post this am...the phone said it posted but where to hell is it?  It must have wound up on someone elses site...poor blogger....they won't know what to think.I'll just give you a quick recap....I said "hi everyone...here I am for, yet another, Say it Sunday post...the week has again flown by; how can it be that the days seem to drag but the week go by so damned quickly? Shopping trip went fine....too many people....spent too much money...but I did get alot of stuff done. Hubby decided to take my niece to the movies, Harry Potter, so he was out of my hair for a couple of hours which let me accomplish alot more then I would have with him. Had a good dinner at a new place called  Texas Road House, met sister and her family there." I went on to talk about the upcoming week...."I'll be preparing for the big Erickson Party, which is at my house on Sunday, there will be 23-24 people and I am making Parmesans (venison and chicken). We got our outside lights up,  while freezing to death, but they look pretty good, also decorated a bit more inside, with any luck the tree will go in on Wednesday night. Sometime during the week, in between working 40 hours, doing regular household thing, cooking every day meals, doing laundry ect. ect. ect., I'll have to find time to clean my house and do a little baking for the big event." I ended with..."well that's all I have to say for now...so til next sunday keep on blogging"...there were probably alot of ummms and yeahs mixed in too, cause I still tend to get a bit tongue tied  while audio posting. It's not quite the same but this'll have to do because I can't seem to get thru on the phone lines now! Go FIGURE!
Friday, December 02, 2005
Blah Blah Blah
It's been raining here for so long that I don't even remember what the sun looks like. Today it has been switching between rain and snow...dark and dismal. Oh sun of mine...where for art thow? .... Speaking of Son, good segway ha?,...mine called me just a few minutes ago just to tell me that he'd gotten a B on his social psych test. This is the first time this semester that he's shared a test grade with me...now, being the pesimist that I often am, I'm wondering if this is the best grade he's gotten...is he keeping the rest of his grades from me because they are so damned bad. Hmmmmmmm...I'll have to dwell on that for a bit. I think maybe I'll take the 'glass half full' approach and believe that all is well. Baby girl is going down tomorrow to stay the night at big guys dorm with him, they seem to be looking very forward to the visit, I think that they miss each other, especially around the holidays and, of course, baby girl will get to hang with lots of college guys and be out of 'mom's sight!' Hubby and I are headed for a shopping trip in the AM...it is time to get serious about all that christmas shopping. Most of the trip will go like this.
Me: "Hon what do you think of this?"
Hubby: tapping foot wildly and trying to look interested "Oh it's fine"
Me: "I was thinking of buying it for your daughter"
Hubby: actually looking at the leapard print, sleezy, nighty in my hands this time "NO, very funny...."
Me: "Well pay attention when I'm talking to you...I just want your advice"
Hubby: kissing up "You always know what to buy for the kids honey"
Me: thinking asshole, why did you come then "thanks honey that is so sweet"
Me: just walk away and get it done!!!!!!!!!
Hubby: head for the 'tool' department
Lunch will be good though.
Have a great week end!
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