Celebrating the Season

With 25 members of the family here yesterday, chaos reigned.  But it was a good chaos – boisterous and fun.

Drew, Kelli, and their kids spent the night so the day started with a smiling baby early in the morning.  Bud made the dressing and cooked the turkey, the “kids” brought the side dishes, and I took it easy.  There was more food than we could possibly eat, although we took that 22-pound turkey down to not much more than bones.

Friends stopped by during the day and evening to add to the commotion, and by the time it was over I was totally exhausted.  Even though I tried to take it easy all day it was more than I am up to at this point.

So today?  I slept half the afternoon.  It felt good, too.

I only made one mistake (I think) with presents, neglecting to get a second, small present for one of the five-year-olds.  He noticed, too, and I felt bad about it.

Me:  I’m sorry you only got one present.  Would you like me to get another and mail it to you, or would you rather have money?

W:  Money.  I want to be a millionaire.

Done and done, although I didn’t give him anywhere near a million.

I Must Already Be Crazy If I’m Doing This

Merry Christmas everyone! 

I’m tired of “taking it easy” after surgery, so did some baking today.  Well, not exactly.  It was more like crafty assembling. 

And….  I invited the grandkids next door to help.  I must be crazy.  Guess it’s been too long since I worked with frosting and other edibles around kids six and under – I didn’t remember just how much chaos could be involved.  The five year old kept eating the “antlers” for the reindeer, while the almost two year old thought the reindeer all needed lots of antlers and noses. (Can I tell you how hard it is to cut a mini pretzel in half without breaking it?  -  the rest of the bag was sitting there for the taking while the carefully cut ones were being munched on.)

I had fun with them, and hope they had fun too.  Here are some pictures of our reindeer, and the mice I made too.

The mice are a Hershey’s kiss and a marashino cherry dipped in chocolate, sitting on half an Orio Double Stuff and finished off with almond slivers and piping gel.  I could’t find cherries with stems, which would have made the dipping a lot easier and would have given them tails.  I burned the chocolate and had to start over – twice.  Finally got it right though, and they are so cute.

The reindeer?  A graham cracker cut diagonally in half, turned, and glued together with frosting.  Then more frosting, chocolate chips, a cinnamon red hot, and those halved pretzels finish him off.  The kids said they are all Rudolphs.

There will be 16 grandchildren here tomorrow.  Trying to make it special.

Also trying to keep from going crazy from “taking it easy.”  I think it’s too late.

Health Care – One on One

Sitting here, watching news about the Senate reaching their goal of 60 members to vote for their un-read health care monstrosity, I can only give thanks that I had my surgery this week.

Yes, I know their healthcare delivery system won’t go into effect for at least three years, if it ever goes into effect at all (I can hope, can’t I?).  Still, just the thought that the federal government will have control over any aspect of healthcare is dismaying.  I spent too many years being “served” by military health care, and know that I never want any part of government controlled care again.  It was just terrible.

Anyhow, I had a lot of surgery on Wednesday, came home on Thursday, haven’t taken any pain meds today, and might actually have considered going to church for one hour tomorrow if my better, wiser half wasn’t standing guard to make sure I don’t overdo it.  I’m supposed to do just about nothing for two weeks, but feel too good to stay down that long.

And can we talk about hospital food?  I called to order lunch there and was answered by a cheerful voice saying, “Creative Cuisine.”  And believe me, it really was cuisine.  Wonderful food, cheerful nursing staff – the best that capitalism has to offer.  This is what we need to keep.

A Love Song

This is as sweet a love song as you will ever find.

Sworn In and Sworn At

I was sworn in for my third term at a dinner Thursday evening.  All the township officials who were elected this year had the opportunity to be sworn in there by a judge - black robe and all.  The robe made it seem oh-so-official.

Twenty county officials were elected this year.  I was the only woman.

That “sworn at” part of the post title?  That comes from some of the calls I take in the office and a few of the citizens who have come to meetings.  Most people very nice, but then there are those others…

Hint:  If you need something from your local government, treat whoever you talk to kindly.  We’re just people doing the best we can, and like anyone else we respond well to respectful behavior.

I’m Feeling So Organized

Unlike normal years when I am working up till Christmas Eve to get ready, I am pleased to admit I have almost finished my Christmas shopping, have baked five batches of cookies and two batches of fudge, have visited ALL the sisters on my visiting teaching route, and have given gifts to all my co-workers.

The tree is up and trimmed and the presents are wrapped – thanks to my wonderful husband who is the official wrapper in the family.  The turkey is in the freezer for Christmas dinner and the shelves are filled with food for the winter.  What more could I ask for?

I know, I know.  I still need to do the Christmas cards.  Maybe a miracle will happen and they will address themselves?

I’ve had to get organized this year, to get ahead of the power curve before down time after surgery next week.  Nothing major…  correction, it will be pretty major surgery… but nothing scary or threatening.  It just needs taken care of, and this is when it worked out to get it done.

I’m liking having everything done early though, and may try to make a habit of this.  It has taken all the pressure off of Christmas itself, so I will be able to concentrate on the spiritual aspect of the season.

Tomorrow I will venture forth and try to finish the last of the shopping. 

Life is good, and I’m enjoying every minute of it.

Christmas Is Coming Too Fast

It’s December already and I’m nowhere near ready for Christmas.  I have to get everything done before the 15th this year, since I will be slowed down for a couple weeks after that.  A little medical adjustment, don’t you know.

Anyhow, Katie and I watched Drew’s oldest for three days this week (yes, Katie, I know you did the heavy lifting) and we had Drew here for the evenings and nights too.  Kelli and the baby were also here last night, so it has been a busy week. 

I got some shopping in this afternoon, after a pre-op consultation in the morning, and helped decorate for the ward Christmas dinner this evening.  Oh, and worked on the FEMA grant and submitted it again – for the fourth and hopefully last time. 

Now if I can just get some cards addressed and finish the shopping, bake lots of cookies and decorate the tree, wrap the presents and clean the house…….

Bud took tomorrow off work.  Maybe together we can get a lot done.

Make New Friends But Keep The Old

I met a friend for lunch today, a friend from 25 years ago.

Wow, can it have been that long?  Yep, we moved here 26 years ago, and that is  pretty much when Pam and I drifted apart.  We reconnected through Facebook, and I wondered if we would still have much in common.

We met at Mimi’s at 11:30 for lunch, moved to the Cheesecake Factory for dessert, and finally headed for home after 4:30.  We talked about our families, religion, and politics, and found we do in fact still have much in common (not the politics! – but the interest in politics). 

Pam joined the Church while we were friends, and she decided to have her last two children because of the Church’s influence – and Katie’s.  Katie was a toddler when Pam and I met, and she loved Katie.  She wanted another little girl, and ended up having a boy and a girl.  She was active in the Church off and on over the years, but not so much for quite awhile now.  We talked about her younger daughter’s interest in coming back to church, and her openness to coming with her if she does.  And grandchildren – we talked about the great blessing of grandchildren.

What a wonderful afternoon!

Happy Thanksgiving To All

Ten things I am thankful for today:

10.  My oldest granddaughter found her first job last week, working the counter at a Chinese restaurant in the mall food court.  Good training in responsibility and in life.

9.  Katie lives next door to me, so we can borrow from each other when we need an egg or a cup of sugar, or go shopping together every now and then.

8.  Financial security.  Not wealth mind you, or anything close, but security in knowing we will have a roof over our heads and food on our table.

7.  Conservative news outlets, like websites, talk radio, and Fox TV to tell the news no one else will report on.  Anyone else following the ACORN data dump scandal?

6.  The release of documents showing how fraudulent the “global warming” researchers have been, and what a hoax it is.  We will lose our freedom over this one if people don’t stop believing all that hooey.

5.  Modern medicine to fix the things that need fixed.

4.  Being able to work with wonderful people in my community to try and make it a better place.

3.  Having four responsible, intelligent, well educated adult offspring who have blessed us with wonderful sons- and daughters-in-law and many grandchildren.

2.  My fantastic husband, who is always there for me and does more than his share around the house.

And the number one thing I am thankful for today:

1.  Thanksgiving dinner is at Doug’s house tomorrow, so I don’t have to get up early to put a turkey in the oven.  Woo-hoo!

Now to get out in the kitchen and bake a few pies, make some cranberry relish, and whip up a few hors d’ouvres.

 

…And I’m Published

My submission to American Thinker was published today.  You can read it at http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/11/the_epa_and_me.html 

Let me know what you think.