Dear So and So....

I'm being a little lazy and well giving myself pops at the same time here, so to get the linky to do this yourself, go to my "other" blog (here) and you can read my more appropriate saner letters, as well as find out where this all started!

I'll be posting another post later tonight (I think) with my list o' resolutions for the year, but for now, my Dear So and So letters for your reading entertainment!

Dear Hair:

I'd very much like you to stay any color other than gray.  If you'd be so kind as to cooperate, I'll stop drowning you in icky smelling stuff every six to eight weeks.

Dear Eyes:

You're not going anywhere, you don't need bags.

Dear Nose:

I actually kinda like you, sorry for poking that hole it you, but you look cuter now.

Dear Lips:

Hope you're loving the lip gloss because you and the Sahara should have nothing in common.

Dear Crows Feet:

Do you get the irony here?  Those little feet looking things belong on birds, not my face.

Dear Ears:

Hope you're liking all the bling I've gotten for you.  We might get more soon.

Dear Neck:

Really?  Do you have to do the aging thing too?  You can stop, and get a little longer and more elegant if you'd like.  Promise I wouldn't mind.

Dear Hands:

Someone told me once you can tell a persons age by their hands before anything else.  You're messing up my agenda.  Please stop so I can continue to plead 35.

Dear Boobs:

I have only this to say.  The world is in front of you, not in your peripheral.  Pay attention.

Dear Tummy:

More to love isn't always a good thing.  We'll be working on that this year.

Dear Hips:

Your childbearing years are over, you can return to your regularly scheduled width now.

Dear Butt:

Come back?  Please?

Dear Legs:

Okay so you're kinda short and you get hairy way too often for my tastes, but if you promise not to start hoarding everything I eat, I'll shave you more often.  Promise.

Dear Feet:

Okay so you've been comfy in your cow slippers for most of this year.  Be prepared, we're gonna get wild this upcoming year.  I'm talking heels baby.  Prepare yourselves.

Dear Skin:

I know I didn't moisturize you like I should, but if you'll just cooperate with me now and play nice, I'll buy you any kind of moisturizer you want and we can play together every day.  Twice a day if you want.

Dear Back:

I'll make you a deal.  Stop being persnickety and creaking and generally being a pain and we'll talk about some more of that pretty artwork you like so much.

Dear Shoulders:

I know I've put you through a lot, but hey I'm an adrenaline junkie.  You can't tell me you didn't enjoy it while it lasted.  It would be wicked awesome if you'd stop with the pain and get with the program.

Dear Knees:

See Dear Shoulder letter above.

Dear Nails:

I got you the soft keyboard so you would stop complaining.  I try to take care of you.  You get really long and pretty, then for some reason you decide to revolt.  Let's work on that this year.  I mean really, hands have to deal with the housework too and you don't see them breaking.

Dear Head:

I promise I'm working with body to make you look proportional again.  I miss the hats too.

Dear Joints:

Get over it.  Strikes are for people, not body parts.  I'm not going to stop using you just because you complain.

Dear Suzie:

I know you've missed your friend, but I promise I'm going to make an effort to set up more playdates for you two this year.  (somewhat edited for well, edited.)

Dear Donna:

As much as I complain about you, you're okay for an old chick.  We've been through a lot together over the years and I know your body is battered and bruised and scarred to show for those good times when we were crazy and did stupid things, but you know what?  Every one of those scars tells a story and reminds us of stuff we did, good and bad.  As much as I'd like for us to be twenty something again, it ain't happening so we'll just have to deal with it.  Make the most of what we've got.  Your husband and daughter think you're beautiful and I'm really glad that you've learned to see that beauty inside even if you don't always see it on the outside.  We're gonna be together forever, so let's just do this thing.  Have fun, stay young at heart and live every day like it's our last.  If we get a few more scars and a few more pains for our efforts, well, it's worth it in the end. Take care of me and I'll do my best to take care of you.

Sincerely,

Today was the big day.

4:00 was my appointment with get this....a psychologist (no awkward humor or nuclear comments allowed here or ELSE! Rawr!)  for my disability application.

Now, you're probably wondering how someone like me is eligible for disability.  If so, look up the following:

Ideopathic Hypersomnia.

First word means and I quote from a professional medical doctor - "We have no clue what the hell causes it"

Second word hyper meaning excessive or excessively, and somnia meaning to sleep.

It's basically Narcolepsy without the leg tremors and hallucinations.  Unless mass quantities of liquor are involved.

There you have it.  My doctors were becoming concerned that my sleeping was reaching the point of being a danger to me and others in a working environment.  Yes peeps, it's THAT bad.

So today was my appointment.  This is the second round since I was denied the first round because and again I quote "The condition can be treated with medication" after I told them 8 billion (at least) times that I've been on the medication for oh about seven years and it's much like popping a tic tac now.  I was on Adderall and Ritalin for all those years and before you go WTF? let me tell you that while it's used to treat ADD in children, it has the opposite effect after you reach puberty.  Kids + Ritalin = Chill.  Adults + Ritalin = well, speed.

Soooo, I'm all okay, we'll do this your way, so this is the transcript from my appointment today.

Hello Ms? Riley?  Is it Ms. or Mrs.?

Yes.

What is the date of today.

Yes.

Who is the President of the United States.

Yes.

Point to my left ear.

Yes.

What do you do during a typical day.

Yes.

Do you contemplate quantum physics?

Yes.  (Lie.)

Do you pee on a regular basis.

Yes.  (No lie.)

Do you think I'm mean, rude, that this exam is ridiculous, and feel as if I'm expecting you to remember what you did while inutero?

Yes.  (Also no lie.)

That pretty much sums it up.  Okay so I'm exaggerating, but not by much.  Do you guys remember how long ago it was since you had appendicitis and how old you were?  Or the dates you've worked at every job you've ever had or am I really getting senile in my old age?  If given three words to remember and then asked to recite your history from age 2 to present would you remember those damned three words, or again am I losing my mind?

Anyway, I think the whole mean and rude thing was part of the exam for some reason because he actually let up after he had me so frustrated I was in tears (and yes, I loathe admitting that I actually cry like a human being) when he offered me tissues (not Kleenex by the way, a generic - you'd think a PhD could afford Kleenex wouldn't you?) and gave me some websites to see if I could find any research studies or help figuring out what the hell my problem is.

Now I'm playing the waiting game, it'll be about two weeks before the SSA gets his report and who knows how long it'll be before I hear anything, but at least it's over and done with and I don't have to worry about it anymore!  So wish me luck and maybe one day can you image?  I'll get money from the government to sleep. Does it get any better than that?

Hot Diggity Day! I Gots an Award!

The Life is Good Award!

What better way to wake up than with a beautiful award!  The lovely, talented and oh so sweet AubrieAnne at Who's Your Editor? decided to pass this award along to me and wow, girlie you have no idea how happy you made me!  Wow, now I've gotta do some serious thinking!  

Here are the things you have to do when you get this award:

1. First, thank and link back to the person that gave the award.

2. Answer the 10 survey questions

3. Pass the award along to other bloggers whom you think are fantastic.

4. Contact the bloggers you have chosen to let them know about the award.

1.  If you blog anonymously, are you happy doing this?  If you aren't anonymous, do you wish you started out anonymously, so that you could be anonymous now?

Well in my usual subtle fashion I'll say that I don't get the whole blogging anonymously thing.  I know a few people who do, and I understand THEIR reasons, and I guess others have reasons as well, but I'm way too something or other to do all this hard work anonymously, even though it is fun.  Besides I like sharing about my life and the trials and joys in my little slice of heaven, showing off my Kitty princess and even telling on the hubs!

2.  Describe an incident that shows your inner stubborn side.

Wow, just one?  Or maybe I don't have to answer this one at all since I have no "inner" stubborn side.  All my sides are stubborn.  Probably the biggest one that comes to mind was playing soccer when I was about 13?  I was 5'4" and weighed about 90 pounds soaking wet.  The team we played against had this guy (Eric, whom I later worked with and adored) and even as a kid he was ginormous.  6'6" inches tall and probably at least 230 pounds.  He had the ball.  I wanted the ball.  He thought I'd back down.  I woke up on the sidelines looking up at the sky.

3.  What do you see when you really look at yourself in the mirror?

For a long time I saw every single imperfection.  Some days I still do, but not often thankfully.  Now I see a woman who has lived life pretty much on her own terms, who has been through hell and back and wears the tee shirt with pride.  Someone who finally after over a quarter century learned to love herself and be comfortable in her own skin.

4.  What is your favorite summer cold drink?

Definitely iced tea.  That's my all around fave drink ever actually.

5.  When you take time for yourself, what do you do?

Wow, I'm guessing sleep isn't an answer, or not a fun one anyway, although usually that's the answer.  Active things?  I love to write, read, and work in the yard.  My Mom asked me what I wanted for Christmas this year and I told her mulch.  She didn't get it, cuz she's tired of getting it for me every year instead of something she actually likes to buy :)
6.  Is there something that you still want to accomplish in your life?

Honestly, I think if you're not dead, there are always things you want to do.  I want to have a book published.  I'd love to see Three Days Grace in concert and meet Adam Gontier (drooooooool) I want to build a house exactly like I want it and spend the rest of my life making it mine.  I want to go base jumping at the Cave of Swallows, skydive and bungee jump, go parasailing and snowboarding, scuba diving and race dirtbikes, among other extreme sports :)  I wanna see the world and be there the day doctors discover how to make my Mom see again.  I want to see my daughter graduate from college and begin her life because I know she's going to be great at it.  I want to do one majorly spectacular thing that will help either a group of people or a cause that will make news and get me arrested.

7.  When you attended school, were you the class clown, the class overachiever, the shy person, or always ditching?

Oh wow, this is going to come as a surprise to all of you.  I was shy.  Painfully so.  I still am in come situations, but most of the time I love to talk about anything or everything, it just takes me a while to open up in person.

8.  If you close your eyes and want to visualize a very poignant moment in your life, what would you see?

I see my Dad looking down at me with that endearing smile, telling me he loves me the last time I saw him before he died an hour later.

9.  Is it easy for you to share your true self in your blog, or are you more comfortable writing posts about other people and events?

Is this a trick question?  I'm probably painfully blunt about my true self.

10.  If you had the choice to sit down and read a book or talk on the phone, which would you do and why?

Book book book!  The last job I had I was on call 24/7 365.  I logged an average of 9000 minutes a month on just the cell phone when I wasn't at the office.  I'm SICK of phones!

I would like to pass this award on to:

Bryan over @ nuclearheadache just because he razzed me about radioactive reindeer and messed up my mind with theories of relativity and math and I think it's time he thought about something a little easier for the masses to comprehend!  And cuz I'm just evil that way!  :)

I'm in Love.

Yes, I know, it's shocking.  But true.

See, my mom got me new sheets for Christmas.  Our bed is a queen size, but it's ummm, for lack of a better word - ginormous.  The sheets that fit 18" mattresses are too small for it, that's how thick it is.  So I was a bit tentative about whether they'd fit and with a heavy heart, I had almost decided if not, I'd take them back and exchange them.

N.o. w.a.y.  i.n.  h.e.l.l.

Those bad boys aren't going anywhere!

You know those really uber soft fluffy throws they've been selling for some years now?  The ones that get softer and softer every year until they feel like something sinful wrapped around you?  Well that's my new sheets.  I'm surprised someone didn't think of that sooner, but

Oh

My

God.

They're fantastically orgasmic.  Obviously since I've devoted an entire blog to bedsheets, but yeah, I'm seriously in love with these sheets.  They're like foreplay only better.  I'm actually tempted to give in and have sex with the hubs just so I can roll around in the sheets.  Aw hell, he's gonna read this and then question my intentions.  Ugh.  It's for New Years baby, really, I swear!

Can a Human Head Spontaneously Combust?

Okay so there are a few reasons I've been MIA.  One of course is the emotional roller coaster my darling, sweet, precious, oh so blinded by love little girl has had me riding since Christmas Eve.  Since I'm not too sure I can still form coherent thoughts, (lack of good sleep, exhaustion, cleaning for upcoming visit, etc.) I'll just make this easy.

Dec. 23

• Kitty Princess texts me to tell me the bf proposed.
• I inquire about a ring to find there isn't one.
• When will there be one?  Maybe spring.
• What did he get her?
• Nothing.
• Kitty Princess texts me to say "hope you didn't tell anyone, it's not happening"
• I say ummm WTF?
• She says she'll explain when she gets home.
• She gets home and it's "on" again.  Everything is fine.
• Mama Kitty asks very few questions since head is in danger of imminent explosion.
• We all go night night.

Dec. 24

• Christmas Eve!  Yay!
• Kitty Princess wants to know what time bf should come over.
• Kitty Princess is working til 7.
• I tell Kitty Princess not a good idea.  She just saw him and Grumama will be all nervous.
• Kitty Princess agrees and we have a lovely dinner and gift exchange with grandparents.
• Come home and Kitty Princess gets on the phone with bf.
• Boyfriend tells her his best friend's parents are getting him and best friend a job in California at a pharmaceutical company.
• Mama Kitty is happy.
• Then Mama Kitty finds out he wants her to go with him.
• Kitty Princess and bf fight.  A lot.
• Kitty Princess is crying.
• Hysterically.
• Boyfriend is going to break up with her.  Engagement is off.
• Mama Kitty is happy.  Bad Mama Kitty.
• Mama Kitty explains that bf is an ass.  Tells Kitty Princess that even God couldn't get a job at a pharmaceutical company since God doesn't have a four year degree.
• Sometime in the wee hours of the morning (after ruining Christmas Eve) bf decides he still loves her and they don't have to go to California.
• Mama Kitty is not happy again.
• We all go night night.

Dec. 25

• Christmas Day!  Yay!
• Kitty Princess wants to know when she can see boyfriend.
• Fight ensues when she's told that paternal grandparents are coming over and then we have to go to their house for dinner.  No time for bf to come over.
• Kitty Princess pouts.
• Mama Kitty is happy, not about pouting about no bf on Christmas.
• Enjoy Christmas, opening gifts from in-laws, go to dinner to have repeat of sad from niece who is told SHE can't go home with her bf because it's snowing like a bitch and she has to work the next day and boyfriend lives a zillion miles away.
• Decide all females under the age of 25 are systematically insane.
• Come home and Kitty Princess talks to bf rest of night.
• Boyfriend gets mad at her over World of Warcraft and another fight ensues.
• Mama Kitty is tired of the fighting by 1:00 a.m. and leaves the Kitty Princess to go to bed.

Dec. 26

• Kitty Princess works til 9:30
• Kitty Princess gets off work and bf asks where she's been since he KNOWS that her employer closes at 6 p.m. on Sundays.
• Mama Kitty is shellshocked that Kitty Princess didn't go the hell off on bf.
• Apparently bf's best friend worked for two months at GameStop and knows everything there is to know about their practices including holiday hours, amazing since he never worked a holiday hour in his life.
• Mama Kitty isn't asking any more freaking questions cuz her head is going to explode.

Dec. 27

• Kitty Princess has day off.  Spends day on phone with bf playing World of Warcraft.
• Mama Kitty wanted to make cookies and watch movies.
• Other stuff happened that made Mama Kitty not happy.
• Mama Kitty went to bed with monster headache and the very real desire to give the hell up.

Dec. 28

• Blogging is safe.  Mama Kitty shall return to blogging where she can rant and rave and sound like a lunatic about the horrors of bf and having an intelligent, beautiful daughter who is blinded by the thought that love is possible with a good for nothing, worthless, horrible person who doesn't even buy her a gift for Christmas.

And there you have it.  Is it any wonder I can't put more than two words to paper without feeling like my head is going to explode and checking to house to pinpoint the location of every available pointed or sharpened object I own?  Ladies and gentleman, gather round and pray with me that THIS

never, ever, ever, ever, ever happens.  Please and thank you.

Mommy Wants a Pair of Those Rose Colored Glasses!

Well, well, well, what a couple of days.  You guys are not going to believe what happened last night since I'm not sure I believe it yet.  Let's just say I got a rather surprising Christmas ummm, announcement?

Apparently, my kiddo is quasi-, semi-, possibly- maybe- engaged.

Yeah.

That's what I thought.

I've been on these tirades about the horrid, terrible, awful, hideous boyfriend before right?  Well this time he kinda took the whole kitchen, not just the cake.

Apparently, if you have been partying for weeks, sitting around letting some other girl lay all over you, high or drunk out of your mind, without a job or any intentions of getting one, it interferes with your shopping plans.  The only thing to do in that case is to well.....propose.  Without a gift.  Or a ring.  I mean, telling the "love of your life" you've got good intentions is enough right?  Supposedly the plan is to save up money and get the ring in the spring.  What money is still beyond me as he's still not working or even attempting to.  But that's not my deal I suppose.
Really?  How much is a damn ring pop people?  Couldn't he have at least done that?  Some symbolism for less than a buck?  Nah, why?  Because this was a SPUR of the moment decision, brought about by guilt for not having anything for her.  Is this the kinda guy my little girl wants to be with forever?  Sigh.  Talk about rose colored glasses.  Apparently she's got a collection of them I didn't know about, and I'm gonna be looking now because I could sure as hell use a rose colored view of the world right about now.

I'm really trying not to just roll around in the floor screaming, because I'm pretty sure that would lead my precious if naive daughter to believe I'm not thrilled for her, but damn.  It's hard not to.  So for any of you reading this?

Dear Santa:

I know it's a little late to be writing to you, but well, this is kinda an emergency, and being Santa and all, I'm sure you know how that goes.  You see, the worst case scenario has happened.  Well, maybe not THE worst, but close.  The daughter's boyfriend isn't a serial killer or a rapist (that I know of) but other than that, I can't seem to find a single redeeming quality in him.  Since he got into some Christmas spirit last night (or panicked because he didn't have a single gift for my daughter whom he's been dating for TWO years) and proposed to my little girl, I'm at a bit of a loss.

She came home without a ribbon, box, or bow, without a candy cane or a Hershey's kiss, without a present, wrapping in tow.  No ring, no necklace, no earrings, not even a ring pop, that's the least he coulda done right?  Anyway, I'm writing to you to ask a favor.  I don't need anything at all, you see, but I do have a list.  Please bring:

A really strong pair of glasses for my daughter to see the truth.

Some toothpicks to hold her eyes open when they get that lovesick thing that makes her blind.

A little bird to sit on her shoulder and tempt her to explore other possibilities.

Seventeen feet of snow to keep them apart for at least a month.

A best friend who will be honest with her and tell her he's not the one.

And maybe a little clue that a guy who doesn't have a single gift for her when they've been dating for TWO years, who proposes because he feels bad for not having a gift since he's been partying too much to go shopping with money he doesn't have because he doesn't have a job, who takes her to his house and hour away knowing if he decides not to bring her home, I'll HAVE to come get her, and who yells at her when she dies playing World of Warcraft and can't HEAL him anymore, just might not be the best decision for a future husband.  Oh I could go on, but Santa?  I think you'll get the point by now.

So really, that's all I'm asking for this Christmas.  And if by chance you decided to convince Mark or Jeff to come by with a little sprig of mistletoe and a nicely wrapped gift for her too, that might be nice.

Again, sorry to throw this at you on Christmas Eve, but hey, you've still got a few hours before the shit hits the fan right?  Thanks in advance for any help you can throw my way.  Love ya!

Your biggest fan,

Oh and because I didn't forget you guys, you can go here to read my wishes for all of you, my bbfs.

Sorry guys....

I thought I was better, but apparently the past couple of days have kicked my ass.

Feeling really, REALLY icky, hubs brought me home hot chocolate and I'm gonna go find a warm spot to crawl up and feel sorry for myself.

Love you guys!

Robes for Tall Girls are Elusive. Traffic is Not.

Sorry for the lack of posting today, I'm s.t.i.l.l. on the warpath searching for that damned elusive robe.  I'm almost ready to admit defeat.  Not quite though.

Hit two Ross today, two T J Maxx, Burlington, two Stein Marts, Macy's, Penney's, Sears, three Kohls and a couple of big lady shops and nothing except aching knees and a tired back.  Oh and a half tank less of hubby's gas in the car.

Tomorrow we'll return to our regularly scheduled attempt at humor, sarcasm, wit and general entertainment.

Hope you all have a totally fabulous Saturday night and Sunday and I'll return.  Hopefully with a robe in hand. 

Or bag as the case may be.

Anyone love Ross like I do?

Okay, so.

Took the youngling to work today and I've got this list of stuff that I have to buy for other people.

My mom wants me to shop for gifts for my stepdad from her.

My stepdad wants me to pick up some things for her from him.

Mom wants me to shop for gifts for the kiddo from her.

I love shopping.  I love just walking around even when I don't have any money to spend, but the best ever is shopping on someone else's dime.  That's like the cats meow!

So anyhoo, on the way home, I'm kinda looking around cuz I don't go out to that part of town very often, not real sure what's there.  I see the sign for Ross.  Heard of it, but never been there.

Unbelievably, my stepdad is the ONLY one who knows EXACTLY what he wants.

A bottle of Chanel No. 5.  The real stuff, not cologne, but p.a.r.f.u.m. to the tune of about $100 an ounce.

A robe.

Sound simple right?  The robe I mean.  I got the Chanel off eBay for $86 with free shipping.  The robe though?  A whole nother story.  My mom is about 5'9".  So robes are always too short.  Plus, she only wants one that zips up.  Has to have cuffs.  No little split at the bottom, and a collar.  Not picky at all.  Riiiight.  Oh and light colors are bad.  Has to be dark.  Blue, Black, Red, doesn't like green or purple.

Not simple.  Can't find one anywhere.  So I figured I'd try Ross.

Well, I'm enthralled now.  In love.  In lust.  In way over my head cuz I have no money at all to spend, not a dollar, not a dime, not even two pennies to rub together and make a squeaky sound.  We have, are you ready?  $13 in the bank to last til the end of the month.  Ugh.  Hello mayo sammiches.

Anyhoo, I found Mom some REALLY cute stuff to give my youngling for Christmas.  A set of Aubrey Hepburn coasters, one of those really frilly mannequin type jewelry holders with a to. die. for. dress on, and an Aubrey Hepburn 2011 planner.  All of this was approximately 15.00.  Needless to say my Mom loves me right now.

Spent the whole afternoon there which is why I'm only now getting around to telling you guys all about it.  THEN when I went to pick the youngling up from work, I took her.  She fell in love with it too.  I could literally walk around there for hours just looking and wishing.

They've got the most fantabulous home furnishing section and I might have to go back to take pictures just so I can show you guys all the beautiful stuffies I found!

So, the kiddo got her Dad (edited since he's going to be reading this) which he is going to L.O.V.E. and she got a new pair of shoes for herself with her first paycheck.  She picked up a gorgeous elephant to give her paternal grandparents and a box of blue gummy whales for the sorry horrid boyfriend which I still pretend isn't so sorry and horrid.

Spent two hours there with her so now I'm finally home, have neglected you guys horribly today and now I'm exhausted!  But in a good way!  So that was my day, first really exciting day I've had in a while and now I need a serious nap!  

So have you guys been to Ross?  Did you love it too?

Mommy Madness - Christmas Favorites!

I'm all about the hoppin' these days and this one looked like so much fun I couldn't resist.  I saw it the first time over at Ashley Plus Three and followed it to Life with the Lebedas!
Now all I've gotta do is write something.  Easy right?  Suuuure.
This hop is all about Christmas favorites, and I'm all about Christmas so here goes!

• Decorating!  I love decorating.  I've got Christmas lampshades, figurines galore, candles, even the dreaded Christmas sweaters, that I pretty much refuse to wear anymore, because the only time you can get away with wearing old lady clothes is when you're NOT an old lady!  I put garland on everything, from the mailbox and lightpost, to the banisters and light fixtures inside.
• Kisses!  No, not those, the Hershey's kisses.  All the fab flavors they come out with during the holidays.  This year I tried the cherry ones!  So much better than the chocolate covered cherries!
• Christmas Music!  I adore Christmas music.  Except when you work in the mall for 14 hours a day from Halloween until January.  Then it just sucks, but I don't so I do!
• Candles!  I love candles all the time, but there is O.N.E. that I adore.  I had a whole case of them that I bought from Home Interiors when it was still Home Interiors years and years ago and every year I've burned one.  I think it's Cranberry Peppermint or something, but this year I'm on my last one so I haven't lit it yet.  I'll wait til Christmas day!
• Staying home!  Yes, finally!  This year the in-laws are coming here, so I can enjoy Christmas morning, then a nap, then a visit, then a nap, then some lazy time, then a nap.
• Riding around seeing everyone else's decorations.  The lights at the James Center make me feel all warm and fuzzy and that's how you're supposed to feel at Christmas right?
• Candles in the windows.  Love them!  Leave them on all the time even when they make it hard for me to sleep.
• Snow!  I so hope we get snow for Christmas this year!
• Spending the day with my husband and youngling.  They're my loves and my life.

I'm sure there are things I'm forgetting, but that's what I can think of at the moment.  Usually I'd put gifts on the list, but there won't be any of those this year.  We've managed to do a little something for the past three years, but our finances are at an all time low.  Trying to keep the house from being foreclosed on and the utilities all turned on continues to be a struggle and I've pulled about every miracle I can out of the hat.  We've cashed out retirement plans, used all our savings account, I've even sold anything I can stand to be parted with to bring in some extra funds.  The guys at the bank look forward to me bringing in rolls of pennies now!  Although I am thinking about selling my wedding rings since gold is at an all time high.  That would go a long way to helping out and then maybe I'd have a little bit extra for a Christmas present for the kiddo!

I'm holding out for an insurance payment for $1500 that they are dicking around with, trying to come up with any reason possible to not pay it, and hopefully (fingers crossed) my disability will come through soon which would be a pretty big initial payment and a monthly payment that would make the house payment from then on every month.  Until then, we'll keep doing what we can, but even that won't keep me from enjoying the holidays.  As much as I wish I had some money to spend on a thing or two for her, she's my little angel baby and she understands how it is.  I'm so looking forward to the day I can make up for this Christmas and her 18th birthday too when she got zip for the big day!

Anyway, we've learned that Christmas isn't about the "stuff" it's about the time.  The spirit.  The whole experience of Christmas and that's what matters.  That's what we enjoy and that's what I hope for every one of you, my lovely bloggie buddies!

My Little Cindy Lou Who

Couldn't resist.  Hairstyle by yours truly.  Kid by yours truly as well.

Mama Kitty - 1; Hubby - 0

If you haven't figured it out by now, I'm the cat lady.

My husband hates it, my daughter thinks it's hilarious, but the truth is, if anything were to ever happen to my husband (God forbid) and my daughter move out on her own, I'd be the crazy old lady on the corner with 200 cats in her house, sitting on everything, making me fall and break a hip and eventually having my own special on a "Cops" episode, or maybe one of those animal cruelty prevention shows.  Still can't figure out how it's cruelty if they take over YOUR house and you're starving while they've got fat little bellies and clean places to make poo, but I digress.

It's been cold here.  Not, just cold, but c.o.l.d.

Our four cats are good cats.  They stay in the house where it's warm.  They've obviously evolved past the whole "Oh look it's white stuff, let's go play in it" stage of their lives.  The others?  Not so much.  When I came downstairs this morning, they were huddled around the french doors looking pitiful.  So I let them out.

Why is this a problem?  Because they have decision making issues.

"Do I want to come in?"

"Maybe."

Door opens.

"Nah"

Cats run.  Away.  Not in.

Mia and Muffin - Creators of Tango, Skunkbutt, Oreo and Juliet

Repeat this scenario about twelve times and there's a snowdrift on my office carpeting and I've gotten "nipply".  Not to mention the tolerance level across the room (Hubs desk) has plummeted like the temperatures outside.  Now, having a LOT of the little furballs running around outside, you can already guess that they're not all going to want to come in at the same time.

The only thing they all do at the same time is poop when the litterboxes are clean.  Why is that anyway?  The second a litterbox is clean, every cat within scooping distance discovers the sudden and inexplicable urge to immediately take a dump.  Still haven't figured that out.

Anyhoo, I've managed to corral the four kitten cats (Tango, Oreo, Skunkbutt and Juliet) in the house, although they're still sitting at the door looking longingly out the window.  Tough shit guys, not happening.  Now I've got KJ and Hissy, Optikitten and Deceptikitten still outside.  Yes, the last two were named after Transformers.

Skunkbutt, Juliet, Tango and Oreo

The funny thing though is that they are having a blast outside.  I open the door and kittens and cats alike go sailing across the snow, sending up roostertails of the white stuff, skidding off the deck, rolling around in it, making snowballs (Yes, Patch has discovered how to make snowballs, which she then eats) and chasing each other around until they're freezing and trying to decide if they want to come in or not.

I won this round, Hubs has gone back to bed.  Where it's warm.  So I'm free to freeze my arse off opening the door a zillion times waiting for the little turds to decide when it's time to come in.  Unfortunately, by the time the other four decide it's time to come in, the others will be sneaking around trying to get out.  I've gotten pretty good at keeping their little butts inside, but every once in a while one will sneak past my defenses.  Then while I'm lamenting another thirty minutes of drafts trying to get that one back in, another sneaks out.  Then another.  Then I'm back at square one.

Hubs keeps saying they're not cold, cuz they have fur, to which I reply I've got a coat but I still get cold when it's fourteen degrees colder than a witch's booby in a brass bra outside.  Last night I took a huge bolt of fabric and wrapped it around the little house outside.  Then wrapped it in a tarp and put their food inside so it would be warm and insulated against the snow and wind inside.  Put a deck chair against the door so the snow wouldn't blow in the open door part.  Ugh.

You know this all sounded logical before I wrote it down.  Now I feel like well, the cat lady.

What's a woman to do?  Youngling is grown, so maybe I'm doing the whole caregiver thing, but with cats.  Maybe it's empty nesting.  Maybe I'm just as crazy as people have suspected for years.  At least I haven't done what I did last year.  Yet.


Hey, they loved that!  It was ingenious!  Damnit.  Now I'm feeling bad that I didn't do that.  I prolly should have done that.  Psht, nah, they're ALL in my house now, they don't need shelter, they just need to COME IN the damn door!

Someone please tell me this is normal?  Please?

Wordless Wednesday - I Heart These Guys!

What's on Your Mind Wednesday.

Really?  I'm not sure the world is ready for this, but Tanya over at A Taste of T inspired me.  So it's all her fault. Besides I need some fun in my life today because cat litterboxes are calling me and that is so my least favorite chore in the entire house.  Four cats pooped enough, but since it's 18 degrees colder than a well diggers rear end outside, I suckered up and there are ummm, twelve?  fourteen maybe? cats in our house right now.  Hubby says that's why they have fur.  I think they're still cold and need someplace warm to hunker down.  They agree with me by the way.  So with that said, and before I go to explore poop mountain (not to be confused with Candy Mountain which is much more magical and even has a magical leopluridon) I shall explore what's on my mind for your amusement.

• I should really get my makeup case out of the car and let it thaw
• I hope we're going to get the snow they're calling for tomorrow
• I need to visit Poop Mountain
• Thinking about Poop Mountain the words Veni, Vidi, Vici come to mind.
• I wonder if the ribs are going to be edible
• Crap, I forgot to turn off the crock pot
• My cow slippers are dying.  They have -le gasp- holes in the toe.
• Why is there an empty basket in the middle of the living room floor?
• Matchboxes always say "Strike on Cover".  Isn't that obvious?
• My cat has eye boogies.
• If I were a fairy, I'd have a knoll.  A big one.
• Without mushrooms cuz they're creepy.
• Happy Bunny is my hero.
• I should go back to bed where it's warm and read a book.
• I can't take a nap because I'm going to Poop Mountain.
• I'd rather be going to Candy Mountain.
• If Candy Mountain was real would it still exist or would people have eaten it?
• They make miniature dogs and miniature horses, why can't they make miniature cats?
• Miniature cats would poop less.
• I need tea.
• I'm hungry, but I don't want anything I've got.
• We're so screwed this month.  Wonder if they'll shut off the power when it's subzero outside?
• Anthony thinks my house is pretty.  I like Anthony.
• David thinks my house is a hellhole.  I hate David.
• I'm not going there today.
• I'm going to Poop Mountain.
• Now.
• Soon.
• Maybe.
• What the hell is a magical leopluridon anyway?

If I'm  not back by nightfall, send help.

I think I've got the best blogging friends ever.

Ugh, where to start.  It's still a bad day, I think it's going to take some time to pull myself out of this this time around, but you guys?  You're all amazing.  I finally sat down and read through your posts, all the things you said, all the hope, all the encouragement, and I'm crying.  Again.

God, when did I become such a wreck!  I think it's taken me 46 years to realize that I don't have to always be a rock.  That's what I've been for a looong, long time.  Living with parents that were blind offered so many challenges, and losing my dad two weeks after I turned 17 just threw more of them into the mix.  As much as my Mom tried to be there for ME, I wouldn't let her.  I insisted on being the strong one.  The one who helped her see her way through the grief of losing a husband.  How the hell did I figure that was the right thing to do?  I was a kid!  I'd never had a husband, much less lost one.

When other events in my life would have left me broken, I told no one.  Dealt with it myself, even though I still have nightmares about that particular time.  I've got a wonderful Mom, a wonderful Husband, so why don't I ever let them help me?  Why have I always been so determined to get through everything by myself?  I think I feel some kind of foolish pride in being able to be like that.  To be able to take the worst life has to offer and throw it back, but I'm finding more and more that what I'm throwing back is a boomerang.  Sometimes it comes back right away, sometimes it takes years, but it always comes back.  Sooner or later.

I'm rambling again ugh!  Sorry guys, I guess what I'm trying to say is that everything you all said to me, it helped.  More than you know.  I think after all the times I've been pounced on to let people help me, it took you all to really make me see that there are people who care.  I've never really had friends, I guess in some ways I can sympathize with my kiddo about not feeling lovable.  Maybe I try too hard, maybe it's something I haven't figured out yet, but thats how it is.  My best friend lives in New York and maybe that's why she's still my best friend ha!  Other than her, it's just me and my little family pretty much.  Until now.

You're all scattered all over the country yet your words touched me, made me feel like there really are people out there who care, who willingly support me whether I'm trying to make you laugh, or well, like I was yesterday.  I've got my mom, my husband, but like my daughter, I know they love me and they're always going to be there for me.  It's part of the job.  I don't take them for granted, I don't, but this is different.  To know that people out there who have never met you, have only read words you've written on a screen, that those people are willing to reach out, to offer so much thought and consideration?  Thank you.  For making me feel not so terribly, horribly alone.

I love you guys for that.  I really do.  Thank you.

Words Fail, Hearts Break, Life Goes On

It's funny how things can change in an instant.  How one little event can leave you feeling like nothing will ever be the same again.  I knew when I had a child there would be times that would make me question myself, my parenting ability, my own confidence, but I'm finding that having an adult daughter comes with it's own set of problems, ones that can't be solved with a big hug and a snuggle on the sofa.

Today, I'm torn between shaking her and screaming at her to open her eyes and see the truth, and sitting back heartbroken watching her find her own way in the world and in her relationships.

It's so easy to see things from the outside in, and it's so hard to stay on the outside, looking in, seeing the train wreck that's coming and having to stand aside helpless to anything other than wait for it, and be ready to offer those hugs when the world as she knows it crashes around her.

Having a job, helping our family financially was so much more important than I would have ever dreamed.  Having lost that, I've struggled for the past four years to find some kind of purpose for my own life.  Some days I do okay, others not so much.  As hard as I tried to find a job, and I do mean thousands of applications, hours and hours of scouring job sites, clicking on links, submitting resumes, nothing would shake loose.  I was okay for a while, I felt purpose just from looking for a job.  But eventually I gave up on that even.  Three years with not a nibble or a bite tends to take the fight out of you.

Now with every month that rolls around, every mortgage payment we don't have, every time the power gets cut off, or the gas or water, every time I have to call and ask for extensions on my bills or call the bank and try to have an overdraft fee reversed, everytime I have to fix food I wouldn't have if it weren't for the kindness of others, I feel a little bit less like a woman.  Ugh.  That just slipped out.  I've never really hit it like that.

A woman is supposed to be the heart of the family.  The one everyone turns to, the one who makes everything alright.  The one that no matter what has everything in control and manages to make everything turn out okay in the end.  The one who heals the broken hearts, soothes wounded pride, helps her children find themselves in the world.

I haven't felt that in a very long time.  I don't talk about it much, I'm a very private person when it comes to the things that matter, but today it's all leaking out and I can't seem to stop it.

My next door neighbor can't find her cat.  That might seem out of place in this post, but she was on vacation and I was supposed to be taking care of Daisy.  She's older than dirt, sick, horribly thin, and until day before yesterday she was at her house, and she was fine.  Now she's missing, and I feel responsible.  She was here the other night, clawing at the door wanting in.  I've got a dozen damn cats in the house and yet I didn't let her in.  She was lonely.  And now she's missing.

Life - 1; Donna - 0

My daughter....ugh.  She's racing full speed toward having her heart broken, and she can't see it.  She's with a bastard who has sucked all the self worth she had out through his infantile manipulations, left her feeling like she's not normal, that she's LUCKY he loves her because she doesn't deserve love.

Every guy that knows her wants to be with her and she insists that if they KNEW her like the boyfriend does, they wouldn't.  That he's the only one who really knows her and loves her anyway.  How do you call that love?  She's missing out on so many opportunities because she's settled for someone who treats her like she doesn't matter.  Sure he has his charming moments, but HOW can she not see what I see?  A stubborn, selfish, childish human being who will never change.  He's almost 21 years old and hasn't worked for the past two years.  My daughter has never been on a real date.  He manages to ruin every single special day in her life one way or another.

How did this happen?  Why couldn't I do anything to stop it?  Why didn't I see that he was blinding her to all the things that make her wonderful?  It's not just that she's my daughter either.  She's got a heart as big as all outdoors, she loves to help people, to make people smile.  She'd do anything for a friend.  She worries about me when I'm upset.  She cries when I do.  Her spirit is so beautiful, and it's like a little bird, trapped in a big ugly cage, beating it's little wings until they're broken and bleeding and it hurts me so badly I can't even express the pain.

Everyone says she's got to do this.  She has to learn and discover on her own, but if you've ever given birth to a tiny baby girl, ever held that fragile little body in your hands and known with all your heart that she's truly yours, that you're responsible for her, for helping her grow up to be a beautiful, wonderful woman, you'll know that doesn't make it better.  I can't help but feel like I've failed some massive mother test, that I've let her down in a way that is totally and completely unforgivable.

I want so badly to fix this, to fix everything.  To go back to when our lives were different.  To when I could kiss her little boo boos, slap on a Hello Kitty bandaid and wait for that smile to shine through the tears.  Hers and mine.

Rain Rain, Change to Snow. Please?

Yes, it's a rainy day in the town that ruined Christmas.

I'm refusing to watch the weather, instead waking up every morning hoping there's some of that lovely white stuff on the ground.  So far, that one little dusting is all we've gotten.  I refuse to believe that we'll be denied snow this winter.  They said it would be a dry season, (unlike dry county, which would suck, just so you know) but it's been raining for daaaaaaaaaaays.  How is that dry, dear weatherman?  Now all I need is a little cold air, a nor'easter and some good old fashioned luck.

Surprisingly, I woke up at 11:30 a.m. this morning.  Yeah, for me that's more like it.  Not that I didn't enjoy waking up at the butt crack of dawn, I got a lot done, but I pay for it.  Dearly.  As in "Oh honey, I'm so glad you suggested.....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz".  No, not sex you pervs!  Although come to think of it, that's probably exactly what he was suggesting.  Hm.  Funny.

So hubs is out doing his good deed taking a friend without a license around town to pick up some things he needed.  The kitty princess is still in her nice warm waterbed, bestie is working, and I'm all alone for the most part in a quiet house.  I'm thinking a cup of russian tea and a movie is in my immediate future.  And maybe a warm furry body or two snuggled up on the couch with me.  Oh and lots of candles.

I really do enjoy these little quiet times I manage to steal in the middle of the day.  I don't mind going out, I'm one of those people who dread the thought until I'm actually out, then I enjoy it, but I'm most assuredly a home body.  I've spent the last 17 years making my house a home and for the most part, I love it.  There's too much stuff, too many plants, way too many cats, and it forever needs vacuuming, but it's mine and it makes me happy being here.  Not to mention I appreciate it a whole lot more since we've almost lost it three times now.  And knowing Bank of America, you can add counting.  Three times and counting.  They seem to love my home as much as I do if the times they've tried to foreclose on it count for anything.

I know I've got another blog to post on, and more people to discover and more lovies to leave here and there, but ladies and gentlemen, it's time for a little me time!  Now I just hope I don't turn the tv on and someone had it on the weather channel.  Bleh.  We WILL have snow damnit!  I insist, and we all know....

When Mama Kitty's not happy, nobody's happy.

Until later lovies!  Toodles!

It's Seriously Too Early!

Youngling is at school taking her ACT test, Mama Kitty is still attempting to cough up a lung or two, and OMG a chocolate chip cookie was probably not good idea for breakfast.  You know the "give a mouse a cookie" syndrome?  Well it works for Mama Kitties too.  Except with coffee.  Or cocoa, or Russian tea, but the problem is that Mama Kitty wants to go back to sleep, not get up and go make any of the above.

Mama Kitty got about six hours of sleep last night which is oh, at least four hours less than she needs in a single night.  Not including naps of course.  Did I mention it's cold?  Reaaaally cold?  Sitting here rocking the knit scarf wrapped around my neck, but the back door is open.  Why?  Because there are kitten cats that like to go in and out.  And in and out.  And in and out.  And in and out.

Sigh.  Will I never learn?  Probably not.  Waiting for Juliet to reappear and then it's nap time!  Why they want to be outside when it's perfectly warm in here is beyond me, but hey, that's the ONE thing I can't commiserate with them over.  Sleeping, yes.  Being petted yes.  Being spoiled, yep.  Leaving a nice warm house to go hunt various small critters in the backyard.  Nope.  Granted the door is only open a little bit, but the cow slippers aren't really doing their job to keep the toesies warm since even a little bit equates to arctic breezes caressing them.

Arctic is pretty in pictures.  Not in cow slippers.

Oh wherefore art thou Juliet?!?!?!  Come in where it's warm and toasty and we can snuggle in the blankets and I'll rub your belly!

Okay, it's official, I'm insane.  I'm leaving without her.  In a minute.

I told you guys my inspection sticker on my truck was expired right?  Well I took an empty cool whip bowl and filled it with warm water and went outside and filled it up with dirt.  Yep.  Made mud.  Splashed it all over my truck, making sure to cover up the bright yellow sticker that proudly screams 11 / 10 and that I'm a horrible procrastinator all at once.  I have to hand it to hubs, it was his idea, but a good one.

I passed probably 12,000 police officers the first day and not one of them pulled me.  BUT....that night I went to bed and in the midst of a really strange dream I dreamed that Juliet got hit by a police car.  My daughter of course, the Freudian genius that she is says I'm extrapolating or something.  That Juliet isn't going to be hit by a police car, but hey, now I'm skittish.  It probably wasn't 12,000 either, but it felt like it.  The conscience is a powerful thing, and guilt seems to be one of it's specialties.

So to make a long story, well shorter since it's already been long, that's why I'm sitting her freezing my toesies off waiting for Juliet to reappear.  See?  It's not crazy at all!  Right?

Gonna try the front door now, and then I swear I'm going back to bed!

Til next time!  Toodles!

Oh Noes!

I'm sicky!  Again.  Ugh.

Not bad though, but that's why I was feeling so icky yesterday I think.

On the plus side, I did get the rest of the decorations up, I got the trash ready to take to the dump, I got the bed made, did some Christmas shopping for my mother, got the youngling picked up from work, cheated on dinner and stopped at BK, fed the neighbors cat, AND got cat food!  As much as I wanted to crawl in the younglings' water bed, I resisted and actually felt pretty accomplished at the end of the day when I crawled in to my fresh newly made bed and promptly passed out.

Unfortunately, that's when I decided that I was sicky.  A cold or maybe bronchitis left over from being sick as a dog earlier this month.  I went to sleep great, but woke up sometime in the middle of the night having as asthma attack and attempting to cough up not one, but both lungs.  Nose stopped up, achy, congested, icky.

Today has been a little bit better, got some errands run, got the youngling from school and to work again which is making me wish she could drive even though I'm having nightmares of 900 car pile-ups with her as the cause.  I did not however, go back out into the cold to freeze my arse off while figuring out how come only one third of the outside tree is lit.  Our neighbors will just have to deal for a while.

I wrote my post for my other blog, and got around a wee bit there leaving some love on my blog besties pages, so I'm going to try to do more of that when I'm finished here.  Oh and I'll mention it here since I did there too!  I've got three guest bloggers lined up for the first week in January when my bestie is here visiting, so if anyone is interested, let me know!

Tomorrow the youngling has to take her ACT test at the school, so it's another early morning for the Mama Kitty.  I'm gonna so go back to bed though and hiberate after that.  No school, no work, she's heading to the evil, horrid, terrible boyfriends house, or so I'm told now.  Who knows.

So I guess that's all for the day, thanks for all the comments and lovies from yesterday, you guys are so totally awesome it's ridiculous!

Until next time, Toodles!

Overdoing it....Again.

Sometimes I forget about the narcolepsy. I have days that it's not so bad, some days that I can manage to actually get some stuff done. I love those days, but lately? I've had too many in a row I think. I'm totally exhausted. Physically and mentally.

My stepfather has been feeling bad, which means I'm trying to pick up some of his stuff for my Mom who is legally blind.  Not the legally blind where you can still do anything, the legally blind that is just a smidgen away from total darkness.  She can't drive, has a hard time getting around, especially when there are sounds like music or the television or such.  They tend to upset her balance and she ends up with black eyes and busted shins.

Anyway, today I promised her I'd take her to WalMart to get groceries.  Now that the kiddo is working, between that and school my time is chunked up to where it's hard to plan anything.  Sooo, against my better judgment, I said I'd be there at 9:00 a.m.  Remember I said I'd been waking up inexplicably early?  Well of course this morning that didn't happen.  I rolled out of bed at 8:30, grabbed clothes that I hope match because I still haven't bothered to look.  Went out of the house with wet hair in 18 degree weather and barely got to her house on time.

My Mom is a stickler for being on time.  No matter what.  So no way was I going to be late.  That would have disrupted her ENTIRE day and thrown her for a loop.  I don't get it, since I'm late everywhere.  I was polishing my nails five minutes before I walked down the aisle to get married.  But that's another story, I'll try not to ramble too much here.

So we get to WalMart, get her groceries, text my daughter to let her know I'm not going to make it by 11:30 so she can take a nap before work, and end up picking her up at the time she normally gets out which is a little after noon.  She's anxious for a nap, and my Mom, bless her heart wants to eat out.  No nap for the youngling today.  We did enjoy a really good lunch, Chinese, which my Mom adores, and I got the youngling home in time to nap for a half hour still before we had to leave to get her to work.

I was struggling to stay awake all the way there, and managed to wake up a little bit driving home with both windows down and Three Days Grace blaring from the speakers.  I think people thought I was crazy because it's cooooold out there, but I needed the freeze to stay awake!  I was awake enough when I got home that I dragged out the little trees for the front yard and the three deer and set them up, got them hooked up and lit even though about three-quarters of one tree is going to be dark tonight.  I'm not up for standing out there freezing my buns off to check the bulbs.

I still need to get the rest of the wreaths and candles in the window, rescue the two that the wind blew into the bushes a day or two ago, take out the trash, feed the neighbors cat, put my bedsheets in the dryer so I can make the bed before time to crawl in it, figure out when to go out and get a few tiny things I need for a project and pick the youngling up from work at 9:30.  Ugh, and dinner.  And stop by the store since I forgot to get cat food at WalMart.  Why I don't get two bags at a time I have no idea because they go through it faster than I can get it.  No wonder they're all little butterballs.

Anyway, as much as I've been enjoying blogging, I'm just too freaking tired today to get into the spirit of it.  I went to a few blogs and left comments and every time I sit down at my desk I just want to drop my head onto the top and sleep.  I can't go get in the bed for an hour or two because the sheets are still in the washing machine!  Of course......the youngling has a waterbed.....a nice, soft, warm waterbed.....hm....

I guess I just wanted to say if you don't hear from me for a day or two I haven't disappeared, I'll catch up soon, I've been doing so good, and who knows, maybe tonight I'll have a sudden burst of energy and catch up then, but if not, don't think I've forgotten you, still love you guys, and still love to hear from you, I just need some sleep, and if not sleep at least a little bit of rest.  Thanks to all of you who have stopped by from various blog hops, I loved reading all the new comments and I can't wait to get around and visit everyone and leave love on your pages too!

So until later, toodles and lovies!

Hop with an Angel!

Well, maybe not a REAL angel, but pretty darn close!  This is Kate's hop over at Love is Everywhere so you should all totally go there NOW and tell her hello and how wonderful she is!  I promise just visiting her blog and reading for a minute or two will have you smiling from ear to ear!  So go do that and have a wonderful Thursday, and well a few hours of Wednesday too!

Telling on the Hubs!

Since this is the manly post of the holiday season, there won't be any pin up girls posted in the post.

Wait....maybe there SHOULD be pin up girls in the post if it's a manly post.

Hm....

Oh well, since I'm adding lots of pictures I think we can skip the pretties for now!

I posted some pictures a day or two ago of some of my favorite ornaments on our tree and the hubs said "Thank God you didn't show mine so everyone would know what a geek I was!"

You know what that means right?  Without further rambling, here are some of the hubs fave ornaments on our tree!

The infamous sock monkey.  The youngling bought it for him so of course it's a fave!

Awww, isn't it cute!  He made this in Kindergarten!  Okay this is one of MY faves, he'll be mortified it's here.

Funny how he hung these together isn't it?  Can you say passion?

 Yes my friends, it's the Starship Enterprise.  And it plugs in.

Okay, I'm cheating this is another of my faves.  But he better love it too!

Yes.  Yoda.  On my tree.

When we first got married, we made a trip to the Christmas Mouse in Williamsburg.  At the time he was all into fantasy, wizards and dragons and such, and we found these little crystal castle ornaments that we both loved.  Unfortunately this is the only one that's survived the past twenty years, but it's still beautiful!

He won't admit it, but he loves these guys too!  Left to right, Juliet, Skunkbutt and Tango!  Oreo was being stuck up!  I'll catch him later!

Hope you enjoyed the show!