Friday, December 18, 2009

So typical.......

How many days ago did I swear I was going to put the tree up??? Well, I never got it done.... until last night. I don't think I have ever put the tree up this late in the year. Life just kept getting in the way. I had made up my mind that the tree was going to be finished last night... no exceptions. I was not going to eat dinner, watch TV, do laundry, or do anything until the damn tree was up. Actually the tree itself was up, it was just naked. I had started to put it up three nights ago but I got invited out to dinner and since going out sounded a lot more fun then putting lights on the tree....dinner won out.

Things were going along just fine until my father walked in and commented that the tree had a lot of ornaments on it and looked kinda overloaded. I think I told him he was crazy and that he did not know what he was talking about. About 20 minutes later I stepped away to admire the tree and I noticed that it did look a little thick with decorations. Oh well, it would just have to be that way. Next year I will cull out the older ones and be a little more selective.

From then on it all went down hill. My mom's dog came into the room and peed on the ornament box. He was probably pissed because we had not let him in while we had been decorating. He had sat outside the door making little yipping sounds the whole time, voicing his opinion on not being included in the festivities. Then one of the strands of lights on the tree went out. The one that just happens to light up the top half of the tree. Crap!!!! There is no way I am going to take all the ornaments off so that I can replace the strand. No way!!! That would be like decorating the tree twice!!!! I tried checking all the bulbs to see if one was loose but I had no luck. Supid, cheap, made in China lights!!!! ARGHHHHH! So, the tree is half lit and it will remain so. I had bought new LED lights last year but they were multi-colored and I really wanted to go with clear lights this year so I just used the old ones. This is my payback for my not being environmentally responsible. Oh well.... welcome to my world. Like I said.... typical!!!!!

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Blue December..........

I always try to get into the Christmas Spirit this time of year but there is always a little part of me that is blue. Ten years ago I lost both of my grandmothers within a couple of days of each other. The death of my maternal grandmother was a blow that shook me to my core. I still think about her all the time.... I am even tearing up just thinking about how much I miss her. My paternal grandmother's death was a complete surprise and the way that I learned of her passing was cruel and unforgivable. She had been staying in an assisted living center and although she was old and frail, we did not expect her to go so suddenly. I received a message on my phone telling me that they needed to know what to do with my grandmother's body. This is not the kind of message you leave on some body's phone when the person you are leaving the message with has no idea that the person is even dead. Brutal!!!

This weekend there was a horrible car wreck here in Houston. It has been terribly wet and foggy here for the last week or so. Apparently a truck going at a high rate of speed went off the road early Sunday morning, struck a tree, crumpled into nothingness, and then caught on fire..... burning those in the car into such an unrecognizable state that it took two days and dental records for the authorities to figure out who they were. Three young lives were lost in that deadly wreck and one of them turned out to be our neighbor. Jonathan would have turned 20 yesterday. Heartbreaking. I live in a small rural neighborhood with about 12 families on my street so everybody pretty much knows everybody else's business. I can't imagine the grief that his family must be going through right now. So sad......

So with the holidays upon us, take a moment to reflect on your lives and all the loved ones (including pets) that you have in it. Be grateful and don't take a moment for granted. Sometimes we get so caught up in our own lives and all the trivial ups and downs of our daily routine that we don't appreciate what we have and who we have in our lives.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Seems like just yesterday....

I have not seen, thought of, or heard The New Mickey Mouse Club since the mid-70's..... but when I came across this clip, I somehow found myself remembering every single word to this song.... which kinda creeps me out just a litte. We are talking over 32 years ago. It is amazing what kind of useless crap the mind can store.




Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Christmas season 2008


Christmas season 2008, originally uploaded by "Lah-Rah".

I will put up the tree tonight!!! I will put up the tree tonight!!! Repeat... Repeat!!!! Sigh.... I have been working so late that by the time I get home, all I want to do is eat dinner, relax, and zone out for awhile. It is getting to the point of no return though. If I don't get it put up before this weekend.... it will never get done.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Nah...Nah, Nah nah....Nah!!!!

I am finished with my Christmas shopping!!!!!! I am not even quite sure how I did it all so quickly either. I was not even trying..... it just all fell into place this year. I will note that Hobby Lobby has the cutest gift wrap, bags, and holiday accessories..... and it is almost all 50% off too!!! Garden Ridge on the other hand sucks big time!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They were always one of the places I could count on for lights, accessories, and outdoor decorations. Not anymore!! Nothing is even on sale..... not that you would want any of it anyways. The new owners have ruined that place. It looks like some kind of 4th rate Mexican flea market. What is up with the made in China furniture, all of the bed in a bag crap, shoes (WTF?), and tables piled high with clothes????????? They got rid of all of the good stuff! They are permanently off my list!!