Nov
21
Actually, I’m relatively calm right now, although I spent most of the day running around like a marmot on crack, trying to clean the house (half clean), grocery shop (done, I think), finish my work for the week (still need to write my EM column), and ignore my kids (did okay on this chore). Except I had to take the girl to the doctor, which was a two hour adventure, because no one could see her at the downtown office, so I had to drive her out to Enka, then wait. Then she had a strep test. Then we waited. The doc said it was positive. I asked for a shot for her. We waited. She got the shot and was immensely tough and brave, because she just is all that. And more. Then we waited to make sure she didn’t have a reaction to the shot. Then we drove home.
So, I have nine folks coming to dinner at the pnav tomorrow night, half of whom I don’t know. Some family of mine (Mom), some family of E-spouse’s (cousin), cousin’s significant other, her parents, and her parents’ friends. Actually, I randomly met one of the parents’ friends at the NC Writers Network Conference last weekend. This woman came up to me after I’d asked a question during one of the panels and said, “I think I’m having Thanksgiving dinner at your house in a few days.”
Oops, the cuz and SO are here, so I’ve got to go entertain. More tomorrow. I hope.
Happy turkey day to all!
Nov
4
I filed a column yesterday with Mt. X about the Halloween candy problem. It won’t run until next Monday, by which time, most intelligent people will have thrown out their leftover candy. After a week, we typically dump our reserves into the pantry candy jar and dole it out one piece at a time after dinner. Except, of course, adults are allowed access to the candy jar any time.
I’m supposed to be dieting, but those plastic pumpkins of forbidden goodies keep calling my fat cells, which seem to want more company (don’t they always?). My kids seem to like sorting and reorganizing their goodies almost more than eating them. My girl has built houses for her Calico Critters from multiple small boxes of Nerds.
So, here I am, focused on the after effects of Halloween: pumpkins rotting on the front porch, orange lights still hanging in the window, drawings of ghosts adorning the fridge.
But yesterday I realized that I need to get it together for the next holiday already. No, not Thanksgiving, but Christmas! Yes, city workers have already hung wreaths on downtown street lamps. The Biltmore Christmas tree went up on November 1. And I went to Fresh Market to grocery shop and about collapsed. The poinsettas aren’t available yet, but all the holiday gifts and goodies are already on display: Stollen breads, gingerbread cookies, stocking stuffer candies, even their Christmas Blend coffee.
Yowza. Now the holiday season lasts two months? Maybe I should just go ahead and put up my Christmas tree. Think I could baby it enough to last for two months?
