Dear Everyone,

I love you, but you aren't getting a Christmas card. I'm sorry, but I'm not sorry. I hated buying a gross of the damned things, shoehorning the time between shopping and wrapping to write a personal message in each one. I was incapable of just writing "love, The Knoxes" 50 times because it was torture. Like lines at school. Back then, I'd get about 30 cards per season.

Then I moved on to sending a quick card after receiving one. Not such a great idea when 9 times out of 10 they'd arrive after the holiday. Those years I got 10-15 on average.

Today I opened my mailbox to a card. From the Mayor. Yesterday I got one from our real estate agent. These days I get 2 or three personal cards, tops.

I love getting Christmas cards. I really do. But for that you have to mail them out. What with the cost of postage nowadays, it can cost a fortune to do it, too. So it's not worth it for the tiny rush of joy that I get when I open my mailbox to something other than a bill. So don't worry about sending one to me and I won't feel guilty about shafting you. Oh, the spirit of Christmas is at work, isn't it?

kxx

Posted without comment

kxx

See?

Nothing that a fitful 5 hour "sleep" can't cure. Okay, I kid. But I do feel better after the public whine I had in yesterday's post. On to bigger and better things.

Tree is still up and naked, but I'm recruiting the kids to do it all. And not "let them put it up and change it to the way I want it later" but actually let them do it completely. I'm letting it go. I've got to remember I've got a houseful of practically adults who can help with things. And usually they're willing. And frankly, who cares if they aren't.

I was planning on a nice long informational post today, but you know what? I have no time. And I'm not going to stress about it. I'm off to make tonight's dinner (macaroni and cheese) and a cake for Friday. Fortunately, the dinner is actually to be consumed by the family... unfortunately the cake is not. Yup, still cooking for other people. This year has been bad for that. Remember the days when people had parties and did all the cooking themselves?

No?

Anyone?

Bueller??

kxx

Feeling overwhelmed

Yes, I know these are first world problems but honestly, they're my problems and I live in the first world so it's all I know. Everyone I've ever freaking met wants to get together before Christmas and there just aren't enough days. I haven't started shopping (or even worked out a list) and nothing around the house is decorated. The tree has been sitting untrimmed in the middle of the living room for 3 days. I sleep about 5 hours a night and that's taking its toll on my energy at home and work. I haven't made a family dinner 2 nights in a row for easily a month, but I'm cooking every day for potluck dinners and parties. You know how bad I feel when I'm making a beautiful cake and the kids come in asking for dinner and I have to tell them to make sandwiches? Again? Ugh. My family is running out of patience. Of course, I can say no but I'm always so worried that people will stop inviting me to things and I'll be sad and alone.

My mother used to always say "I'll rest when I'm dead". Then she died. I don't mean to be flip, but I'm grouchy. Ignore me... I'll be back to my normal sunny self in January the morning.

kxx

Photos!

This cracked me up

My newest uke Oscar (this makes 5)

Going to an ugly sweater party so I went shopping at the Salvation Army. Which one is uglier? This one?

Or this one?

Henry loves this car... I wish he was still little so this would suffice for Christmas

Ditto this...

That's it on my camera except for a bunch of pics from preschool that I can't post. Life has been busy and since Christmas is on its way and parties are ramping up, expect to see fewer blogs from me. Good news is that in the new year I plan to post more so gird your loins, people. Gird them!

kxx