i hate this time of year ....

[liv2padl]

tomorrow we've been invited to mikes for an afternoon of fun, which means eating and drinking. sunday we have to head on over to jim and krista's for christmas dinner. more eating and drinking. that starts at 2:00. then at 6:00 we have to leave jim and kristas and go to Alice's for yet more christmas dinner, which means more eating and drinking. ellen forgot we were supposed to go to Alice's for Christmas dinner so she accepted jim and krista's invitation for essentially the same thing. we must go to both jim and krista's and alices you see, lest we hurt anybody's feelings. monday morning we're off to mark and julies to cheer and clap and watch their kids gwenny and elizabeth open their presents. we've been doing this for 10 years. can't stop now. naturally, julie will make a huge breakfast. tradition ya know. monday afternoon at 2, we're off to spend christmas day with mark and julies family of 50 or so. brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins twice removed on their mothers, aunts side or something. and of course all the kidlets from all those people. lots of food and drink. monday evening, after all this eating and drinking is over, i finally get to come home ... fall into bed with a terrible headache at minimum and probably a stomach ache which will persist into the next millenium. while lying there twisting and moaning and holding my stomach, i'll swear to not do this again next year. but i probably will 'cuz .. i don't want to hurt anyones feelings. anyone got some aspirin? i feel a headache comin' on and i haven't even left for the first party.

[Rbishop]

My schedule is not as bad as yours, thankfully!

Plant party yesterday..bland food, no drinking, (probably would have improved the rating of the food), but enjoyable company.

Dine out tonight, with folks we see rarely at a place that I do not prefer, but I'll be nice.

Final shopping Saturday...for stocking stuffers for g-kids. You know...those cheap toys that will break in an hour or a choke hazard for the little ones? Or the fruit that will still be on the counter a week from Monday? Or the candy that will wire them into oblivion and maintain the house at 95 decibles?

Saturday evening party, with wife's co-workers. None of who I know well or have anything in common with.

Sunday, get gifts to all the right houses, without g-kids seeing Santa gifts. Lot's of coordination here, 5 houses to go to, with showing up at the prescribed monent when kids are elsewhere. Christmas Eve dinner, formal, at local country club, suit and tie, 30 + people.

Monday, make the rounds to all the places we were at yesterday so the gifts can be opened, ooohs and aahhhhs. Another sit down meal for 20 at somebodies house, I think he is a brother-in-law.

But, it is all a blessing actually. :cool:

[Lila]

Well...

I work Christmas Eve morning (making other people's breakfasts), then go to my father's and see my family.

Christmas Day open presents at home, rush to my in-laws and spend the rest of the day there.

Next day, go to Ohio and visit some relatives for two days.

Come home, put all the presents away (well, as many as we can) and go back to work.

We don't do a lot of drinking, which is optional anyway.

Hope everyone enjoys their Holiday. :)

[Chickieepooh2u]

This weekend should be a breeze compared to the last one.

Last week: Thursday, Christmas program for oldest. Friday Morning Christmas program for preschooler, followed by a cookie social. Saturday, 15 little kids here for the preschooler's 5th Birthday party (B-Day actually the 27th). Sunday, up to the Mother-in-Laws to eat dead cow (I'm a Vegetarian) and open presents.

The week: Christmas Eve here as usual, Potato soup, and ham for the carnivores. That night ....SANTA!! Next morning, off to the Father-in-Laws to wait on him and his elderly parents hand and foot. fun fun. They'll tell me what I have to cook for them when I get there. :( Open kiddie presents and ohh and ahh. yada yada yada. Then off to the Uncles house for some more dead cow *gag* Steak this time.

Did I mention that I'm still not done shopping yet! AHHH! Only got about half of what I need bought. Today I have to finish decorating the cookies, make more caramel, fudge and some homemade jelly. Oh and it's the first day of Christmas break for the kids so I have 5 of them here!!!:sad: 7 yr old, 5 yr old, 4 yr old, 3 yr old, and a 2 yr old. :sad: :sad: (NO they're not all mine, only 3 of them lol) Oh yeah...and the 4 yr old is sick. I'll have to schedule some sleep next year sometime.

I both hate and love the Holidays! I'm just currently leaning a bit more to the hate side at the moment.

[Ghost_knife]

I like my schedule...Sit on my butt all day

[ILOVEBETTAS]

I hate this time of year because:

My Mom: CLEAN YOUR ROOM! LOOK ITS SOOO MESSY! NO ONE EVER HELPS ME! YOU DON'T DESERVE ANYTHING! CUT THE CRAP AND GET TO WORK! NO ONE EVER HELPS ME! ME ME ME! I WANT A GIFT FOR CHRISTMAS! CLEAN YOUR ROOM! NO FISH TALK, I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT! GET OFF THE PC!

Yeah...

[rosita]

Wow, I feel so lucky compared to ya'll (except ghost!!) It's just me and the critters (fourlegged and finned) although one of my students invited me to her home Monday evening--first time in my career, so I'll go for sure although my anxiety is hitting the roof. Am I becoming a grumpy old woman (at 48)? Or is it just my penchant for solitude? Just glad I get to do what I want to with no body nagging me (I feel ya, ILOVEBETTAS!! but it was always my dad).

[S.A.]

I am blessed...
to have a home to spend the holiday in,

I am blessed...
that I have family that I will have to rush home to home for,

I am blessed...
that I have food to indulge and drink to be merry with,

I am blessed...
that if I choose to worship, I may do so without fear of retribution and if I choose not to worship, no one will rebuke me,

I am blessed...
that my children remember the "reason for the season" and that two presents under a decorated tree and a warm home are more than many, many children will ever see - ever,

I am blessed...
to share a season of celebration with friends of many races and religious backgrounds,

I awoke this morning in a warm home, in a bed, next to someone who loves me, listening to healthy children resting in the other room - not to the sounds of bombshells, weeping, or murmers of pain.

I awoke this morning without fear, without hunger, without worry.

I am blessed.

[ILOVEBETTAS]

I am blessed...
to have a home to spend the holiday in,

I am blessed...
that I have family that I will have to rush home to home for,

I am blessed...
that I have food to indulge and drink to be merry with,

I am blessed...
that if I choose to worship, I may do so without fear of retribution and if I choose not to worship, no one will rebuke me,

I am blessed...
that my children remember the "reason for the season" and that two presents under a decorated tree and a warm home are more than many, many children will ever see - ever,

I am blessed...
to share a season of celebration with friends of many races and religious backgrounds,

I awoke this morning in a warm home, in a bed, next to someone who loves me, listening to healthy children resting in the other room - not to the sounds of bombshells, weeping, or murmers of pain.

I awoke this morning without fear, without hunger, without worry.

I am blessed.

Well, you make us feel bad... OPTIMIST! RAWR!

I understand that I'm blessed... but, I could have a more patient mom. At least I have a mom, but... er... you'd feel the same way if you lived with her. She is GREAT, but not when she has things to do.