Mischief and Control

Sunday, December 16th
Myam and I went to see Fred Claus today in hopes to get us in the Christmas spirit. It was a funny movie. I liked it and it worked.

Monday, December 17th
Myam, Sam and I went to Marion's for pizza and beer. It was kind of nice and it was a school night. We never do things on a school night.

Tuesday, December 18th
More Christmas shopping.

Wednesday, December 19th
Sam, Myam and I went to see Wendy's baby tonight. He is only 5lbs and looks like a little old man.

Thursday, December 20th
Today was about shopping. I started in Yellow Springs because I love to Christmas shop there. It is so much more relaxing than the mall and you can find cool things there. Then I was off to the mall to get the things I couldn't in Yellow Springs.

Friday, December 21st
Tonight was the staff Christmas party. We went to Sharon's house for dinner and drinks. We had Mexican lasagna and margaritas. It was fun to hang out with everyone and there not be kids around. It was an early night after a long day.

Saturday, December 22nd
L and I had lunch today at the Fox and Hound.

Later on Sam and I went shopping and the headed to Angie's to see Kane. He is so cute and tiny. She is glad to have him home for the holiday. There was a chance he would have to stay in the NICU. He wasn't keeping a good body temperature and finally he was able to.

Myam and I went to see Sweeney Todd. I liked it. It is hard when a stage show gets transferred to the screen. I feel it looses something but I think Tim Burton was a great director for this one. I liked Depp as Sweeney but I was let down by Helena Bonham Carter. I don't know it is hard not to compare to Angela Lansbury.

Sunday, December 23rd
I got up and went to the grocery and to get last minute things for tonight. I came home and pretty much cooked. Sam, Tanner, Myam, Lorrie and Lucas all showed up just in time for dinner to be done and we had dinner and opened gifts.

Monday, December 24th Christmas Eve
I went to work this morning and had only one kid. There were only 7 total for the whole day. Marcia and I spent the morning cleaning out the storage closet. It was packed and that is a huge problem because that is my emergency shelter. So we got it to a place of order so I could actually fit my kids in it if something happened.

Ran home and showered and finished packing and headed to Kettering to head to Muncie with Frank Rita and Sam. Tanner came later with the dog's. We arrived and Carol and Rita set into Santa mode. It was to cute. We hung out and chatted and then headed to dinner at T's aunt Debbie's. Their house was beautiful and reminded me of my Aunt Clara's.

It made me miss my family a lot. I think next year I will plan to do something with dad. I realized I haven't spent a Christmas with my dad since 1993. That is sad a pathetic. I know a lot of it was work related when I was in retail. I couldn't get home. Then at the Goodman I just had been in the habit of not going or spending Christmas with friends, or weather. I do know I want to do something with him next Christmas.

Tuesday, December 25th Christmas Day!
Woke up and Santa had come! We opened gifts and stockings. Santa even brought me one all the way to Muncie. It was sweet. We all then sat around in our Christmas pajamas and watched Miracle on 34th Street and The Polar Express. Well watched and slept through the movies.

We soon discovered the Lucky had hoped the fence. A neighbor called and said they had found her so T went to get her but when he got her home she wiggled out of her collar and took off. We all went searching on foot (still in our X-mas pajamas) and then Sam and I got in the car and drove around for about 45 minutes when I spotted her. She hoped in the car and we got her home. T's dad made his traditional omelets for breakfast.

After breakfast I went to take a bath. They have a spa bath that is to die for. It was heavenly and incredibly relaxing.

Later on T's cousins Brooke and Brent showed up and we started drinking. They were a blast. Then we headed over to T's aunt Debbie's and played scrabble and they kept shooting at each other with these nerf guns. They just like to have fun where you see where Tanner gets it from. It was hilarious.

Wednesday, December 26th
Got up this morning and had breakfast and read the paper. T's dad showed us a project he is going to do with his kids at school. Sport Stacking (as it is called) is an individual and team sport where participants stack and unstack 12 specially designed plastic cups in pre-determined sequence. It was kind of fun and would be great for my kids.

We then packed up and drove back. Tanner had to go to work when we got back so Sam and I went to Target and then had lunch at Cracker Barrel where Myam met up with us after her therapy appointment. Then home to sleep for a bit and later Myam called to talk. She is really feeling the affects of Brian and we had a good talk about how life is changing and we all learning things about ourselves and those around us. How maybe the universe is giving us what we need so we can gain perspective.

Thursday, December 27th
Today I decided to get up and do a movie marathon. I first saw Alvin and the Chipmunks. It was cute and fluffy. Then I headed over to see I am Legend which was not so fluffy. It reminded me of the 28 days movies. I then did some shopping and bought this year's ornaments at Pier One. This year it is about glass birds and shoes. I don't know why those are the only ones I found anywhere I liked. Next stop to the grocery to get stuff to make ham salad out of the huge amount of left over ham I had. It turned out really good. Chilled at home the rest of the night.

Friday, December 28th
Called Myam to see what was up. I needed to go to Target and she asked if she could tag along. Afterwards we went back to her house and hung out all day. Just sat on the couch with the dogs.

Saturday, December 29th
Sam and Myam had a pedicure today and I went with them. Went to Panera to get a sandwich and it sucked so afterwards went back and got soup. I will stick to the soup from now on. I love the bread bowl. Then back to Sam's and we hung out for a bit and headed home.

Sunday, December 30th
Sam called and wanted to go to Jungle Jim's a Whole Foods/Trader Joe's type super market and then Myam called and said she and Midge were going to the boat to gamble. I picked the boat. $80 dollars the poorer I came home and chilled out for the rest of the evening.

Monday, December 31st New Year's Eve!
Today I took down the Christmas decorations and labeled each year's decoration and put them in their own bag. Since 2000 I have gone out and bought three ornaments that are similar and put them on the tree. I plan next year to ad to the labels where I lived that year and major events that happened in that year. So as I get older I can look back on them as I pull them out and put them on the tree.

Later on we met at my house and Myam and I started watching Steel Magnolias. S and T showed and we all headed to Don and Diane's for New Years. The expected people were there (Uhrichs, Wanzers, Lail/Fitzkees, Cupps and Don and Diane's friends and family). They had all the food in the garage and a huge fire goin on outside in the yard. The fire was really nice. I love them. I could sit by the fire forever. We drank some Madonna Spatlese that Sam got at Jungle Jim's. Everyone had to move inside because there was tornado like winds that kept blowing the fire around. Myam and I decided to leave before midnight. It was cold and we had been there for 2 hours already. We went back to my place and watched the rest of Steel Magnolias and cried in the New Year.

Tuesday, January 1st New Years Day!
Another movie and we saw Charlie Wilson's War this time. It was really good. I loved Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Tom Hanks was good. The movie was very poignant.

Wednesday, January 2nd
Back to work and I am feeling rather Zen. Today I had the kids all day. Came home tonight and took a nap. It was a long day but good.

Thursday, January 3rd
Sam's Birthday. I got a call from Tanner today. He wants to do Sam's dinner tonight as a surprise so we are all going to Sake later. The plan was for Friday but he wanted to surprise her. I met Myam and we ran around getting cards and last minute things due to the switch. We got there and it was a great turn out for her. The Uhrichs, Wanzers, Lail/Fitzkees, and Bubbles all showed. Sam was surprised and it was fun. Myam and I split pretty quickly because it was a school night.

Friday, January 4th
Work was good. I am still trying to get use to the schedule again. Came home and slept for about 2 hours. I think it is the weather and not drinking as much caffeine as I did over the holiday. I kind of let myself do what I wanted and drank a lot.

Saturday, January 5th
I went to sleep about 2am I then woke up at 4 am and then went to sleep at 6am. I have been waking up and then going back to sleep off and on and finally got up about 2 pm. I am off a little. Decided to finally post and later the plan is to see a movie. I think.