Thanksgiving and whining all mixed together, with pictures!

So, I know I haven’t been around much these days.  Mostly because I have actually been doing stuff and going out-of-town.  Once I get done from any kind of outing I am tired and sore.  So by the time I get done complaining I haven’t been able to write a post.  I have been trying to keep up with my reader but that is a joke right now too. 

The first event to kick things off lately was my SIL’s baby shower that I helped her twin sister throw for her.  This kept me pretty busy…

Going out-of-town for Thanksgiving was nice because it was such an awesome surprise  for my mom and grandma!  It was so nice to get to see all my old friends. The friends I have there are the kind that last a lifetime.   They are the same group of friends that were there at the high school dances, in/at my wedding, held my hand at the funeral,  and will always be there.  No matter how much time goes by, it’s like no time has passed at all.  Instead od deciding whose house we were going to toilet paper that night we were wrangling all of our kids at a BBQ and talking about the next baby to arrive and who is getting married next.  I love how my husband has become such good friends with all my girlfriends’ husbands’.  They even golfed together the next day.  Being in Ocala is bitter-sweet.  The last time I lived there dad and the boys were still living.  It was my happy place, even though I didn’t know it as a kid.  Anyway, I am thankful that we were able to go and see SO much family and SO many beloved friends. Friends that will go downtown with you late at night to get your nose pierced (Mid recovery crisis, also I have always wanted it, so why not?) and get Starbucks instead of an adult beverage because you can’t drink on your meds or you will be “that girl.”

 

It was awesome.  Now I am tired. 

Now that Thanksgiving is over it was time to decorate for Christmas.  Mike and I went around and around about doing a tree or not.  I have a super-yard thingy I could gate it off with, but I can not decorate it myself and I am a perfectionist, so Mike doing it would drive me batty.  My tree looks like a department store tree with personal touches.  I like it that way ok.  So anyway, we were just going to skip it.  BUT when we got home my SIL who had been taking care of Bella for us, bought and set up a table top tree because she didn’t want us to not have one.  It was very nice of her and she is such an awesome person. BUT it just makes me more depressed than no tree I think.  It like constantly reminds me how effed up this year has been.  On how much my surgeries have taken over our lives this year, and will continue to into next year.  It is really hard to be merry.  That in and of itself is hard for me because I am Mrs. Christmas.  I got married on December 22 for cripes sake.  I LOVE CHRISTMAS.  This year? Meh? I can’t find my spirit.  I keep trying to dig it out, but it’s hiding form me.

The tree also makes me think about how small it will be financially this year.  This was the year that I needed to get a second job serving tables a few nights a week.  NOT the year where I have two surgeries and medical bills coming out of me arse.   My husband’s income has gone down a lot this year considering he is in a commission based construction industry related job.  I know we aren’t the only ones in this position this year and I constantly remind myself I am thankful that he still has a job.  Even if he does have to suffer a furlough in December. (Corporate asshats.)

 Christmas was never huge in a financial way as a kid because it couldn’t be, but it was all about the traditions with my mom.  BUT ever since the guys passed away Mike and I have tried to overcompensate for everyone with lavish gifts and sparkly distractions.  I know new jewelry doesn’t replace my brothers, but you see what I am getting at.   I love the hustle and bustle, I am a christmas junky you guys, for real.  I can’t even drive yet, so no hustle for me anyway. ( I am now the proud wearer of a spiffy compression sock and don’t have to wear the boot if I don’t want to. I think it gives me mental security though, and definitely less heel pain.  So we’ll see.  I start torture therapy on the 11th.)

So I have been hanging back some because I do not want to be Debbie Downer on everyone.  And honestly guys, I don’t even know who this Lu is.  I AM CHRISTMAS SPIRIT.  I am, but right now, I have none.  It’s killing me.  Like Mariah Carey says “I miss them most at Christmas time” and it’s SO true.  So when all this other stuff, especially my foot problems get mixed in, I feel like I am breaking down, but I don’t even know how to do that because that’s not what I do, I press on.  I just gotta find that on button.  I’ve just misplaced it somewhere.         

Since my whole post is whiny here are some pics from my trip with friends and family mixed in…

                                                                     

Meme Time Again (Yes I do memes. Yes I like them. No, I don’t care what a Facebook quiz would say about that.)

Today Maria from Bored Mommy is calling it, MEME Monday.  Sounds good to me.  I have so much going on I don’t have the emotions or energy for much else.  So thank you Maria.  You are a mind reader, I SO needed this.  Also if you guys aren’t reading Bored Mommy you are seriously missing out.  You should follow her on twitter too because she is one of my homegirl yo.

1. Name someone with the same birthday as you.  My college roommate, Scott Simon.

2. Where was your first kiss?  Lips baby, all the way!

3. Have you ever seriously vandalized someone else’s property?  Shamefully, yes.

4. Have you ever hit someone of the opposite sex?  Oh yes.  In play and in a “I’m gonna beat your ass” (and I did) kind of way.

5. Have you ever sung in front of a large number of people?  A bazillion times.  I miss it ALL. The. Time.  I wish there was a singing moms club or something.

6. What’s the first thing you notice about your preferred sex?  Overall demeanor, or vibes.

7. What really turns you off?  Cockiness

8. What do you order at Starbucks? The biggest french vanilla latte, skim milk, 4 Splendas

9. What is your biggest mistake? Taking my “fat clothes” to goodwill. Because guess what? After a kid and 2 foot surgeries I am fat again.

10. Have you ever hurt yourself on purpose? No.  I am a baby with pain.  Although I have had things pierced and knew it was going to hurt.

11. Say something totally random about yourself. I love Wedding Planning and may get back to it someday.

12. Has anyone ever said you looked like a celebrity? Yeah. When I was maybe 15 an old lady at church brought in a picture of Brooke Shields from a paper or magazine to show my mom because she thought it was me.  Also when clueless came out I looked a lot like Alicia Silverstone then.  Our hair and skin tone especially.  I think it’s all hilarious. Now I probably look like Jabba the Hut.

13. Do you still watch kiddie movies or TV shows?  Oh yes.  I had all the Pixar DVD’s (that were out) before I had Mason and now it’s even more out of control!

14. Did you have braces? No, I always wanted them though because my friends had them.  My husband says I am crazy though because his were really painful.

15. Are you comfortable with your height? Yeah it’s pretty standard.

16. What is the most romantic thing someone of the preferred sex has done for you?  Asking me if holding up my cast would make “it” more comfortable for me. Heh.

17. When do you know its love? When I can’t breathe, think, or be without him or make a single decision without him.  But honestly, I just knew, yes on the first date.

18. Do you speak any other languages? I spoke fluent Italian as a child.  I understand it now better than I can speak it.  I took and grew up around a lot of Spanish, and with how similar it is to Italian I get things confused.  So pretty much I just speak English.

19. Have you ever been to a tanning salon? Even though I grew up in Florida, yes.  Now days if I go, it’s just for a quick spray tan, like if I am in a wedding or something.

20. What magazines do you read?  A lot…People, Southern Living, Parents, and Town & Country to name a few.

21. Have you ever ridden in a limo?  Sure, weddings, birthdays, and other occasions few airport rides and stuff like that.

22. Has anyone you were really close to passed away? My father, my dad, 2 brothers, my great grandma, my grandfather, and two very close friends.

23. Do you watch MTV? Yes, but I am very sad by how few music videos they actually show.

24. What’s something that really annoys you? Morons and people who tell me how to do my job. Pretty much one in the same I guess.

25. What’s something you really like? Snuggle time with my very busy 2-year-old.  It is usually only 30 seconds, but the best 30 seconds of my day.

26. Do you like Michael Jackson? I like his music.  I don’t know Michael Jackson.

27. Can you dance? Um, yeah.  I can dirty dance like nobody’s business.  So dirty I was once removed from all school functions for a semester in HS.

28. What’s the latest you have ever stayed up? I have stayed up all night before. Once upon a time I was a teenager, I think it’s a requirement.

29. Have you ever been rushed by an ambulance into the emergency room? No

30. Do you actually read these when other people fill them out? YES!

31. Tag 5 people!

Ok so if you are in the playing along mood do so, if not, my feelings will not be hurt.  Do with it as you please, but it is a proven fact you will be cooler if you do it.   Also I will do my hardest not to be a repeat offender and tag you more than once for these things.  (If someone else tags you or tagged you for something else recently, oh well.)

Becky from Life Out of Focus 

Ali from My Life with Them

Colleen from The Mess Potential is Exponential

Karen from Worn Off  Novelties

Sara from My Party of Five

(FYI: In case you’ve never done a MEME, just remember to link the person that tagged you, answer the same questions, and then tag five people to do the same.  Actually I would be shocked if one of you hasn’t.  I just copied what Maria had. LOL   Have fun!)