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Saturday, December 21, 2013

Oh the weather outside is frightful

...and if in case inside is not delightful, we have the Pixie Holiday Brigadoon to lift your spirits.  An assortment of holiday treats, cleaning elves, decorating fairies, and beverages of good cheer are available to lift your spirits and provide a little Merry as you slog through over-tired children, impolite relatives, too many social obligations and cats who dislike antibiotics.

If that fails, we have Ralph and the Posse at the ready.

Safe travels to those on the road and/or affected by this ice storm hitting the Mitten State tonight.  Most of all, may all of you end the year surrounded by those you love while following the traditions that give you peace and joy.

130 comments:

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Mr. Q's birthday today! It was something.
W1: I was awake for half of last night with first-time-since-baby-born-Aunt-Flo-related Cramps, made way worse by the fibroids. I took Naproxen, but it took quite a while to take effect.
AW1: Mr. Q got up early with E, and let me sleep in. I didn't get up until she was taking her morning nap.
W2: E responded badly to the disruption to her routine and to the lack of Mommy. Took a lot out on Birthday Dada. And only took half of her morning nap, when we needed her to take a big nap. The day went downhill from here.
W3: Whole she did fall asleep in the car on the way to the in-laws' house, that nap was cut short by everyone deciding that it was a great idea to shout a bunch, right near the room where she was sleeping. This happened later that day, too. She got her nap in tiny chunks, interrupted by boisterous family who forget that maybe they should keep it down or move to somewhere else, and I spent a little too much of Mr. Q's birthday doubled over in pain, rocking a screaming baby, and resenting everyone.
W4: you have to wait 12 hours to take the next dose of Naproxen, but it wore off after ten and a half. I gave in and took more an hour early, but it took a while to take effect, and that was during the awful mid - afternoon.
W5: E pooped in the bathtub, for the first time since she was tiny. Well, that's more Mr. Q's whine. (He was giving her the bath and had to handle it.) At this point, the day had gotten so ridiculous that we started laughing.
AW2: after E went to sleep, my sister picked me up and we did a bunch of Christmas shopping, and the stores weren't too busy. I needed to get out, after all that. That also allowed Mr. Q some time alone with his new tech toy from his parents, and that time alone rescued his birthday for him.

*Sigh* By the time he was fishing poop out of the bathtub, he said, "Well, this want my VERY worst birthday..."

esperanza said...

Oh, QWP, those first-after-the-baby cramps are the WORST. I'm so sorry for the bad timing, too.

And Mr Q deserves his own reward for fishing poop out of the bathtub on his birthday. That does not a happy birthday make.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

(wasn't, not "want")

kathy a. said...

This is a very birthday-intensive month for the Q family! Regards to Mr. Q. Oy, sorry about the cramps. Hope today is nice and quiet!

purple_kangaroo said...

QOWP, you might try taking extra calcium, magnesium and vitamin D around the time AF is due.

Happy birthday to Mr. Q.

My birthday is today too. Lots of December birthdays among the pixie families, it appears.

I had a dental crown fall out Friday night, and won't get it fixed until tomorrow. Not that it matters since I don't think anyone is planning to cool anything special today anyway. DH is taking the kids to MIL's Christmas celebration for all the grandkids, so it will just be Baby Nae and me. DH did inform me that he bought me a package of the cookies I like--those hard crunchy wafers filled with chocolate--in leiu of a birthday cake. I may just have to bake myself a cake.

I did, however, get a nice new tablet computer device for my birthday-slash-Christmas. And a baby. Can't forget the baby.

kathy a. said...

Happy birthday, PK! So sorry about the crown; glad you can get that fixed tomorrow.

Do you mind if I cluestick DH a bit? xoxo

purple_kangaroo said...

Cool=cook

purple_kangaroo said...

Birthdays have never been DH's strong suit. Except he does a great job of making birthday parties for the kids--including baking cakes. The last birthday we had here he helped Ebee make Minion cupcakes for her party, which he planned.

I think I figured out why Nae has been so fussy, spitty and uncomfortable--it appears to be a milk overproduction issue rather than anything specific I'm eating.

Sue said...

Happy Birthday to Mr. Q and PK!!

QWP - Sorry about the unfortunately timed visit by Aunt Flo - now with bonus cramps.

PK - sorry to hear about your crown. Bleh. Yay about your new tablet computer though - have fun with it!

W: Hubby had a rough night last night. No ER visit, but close to it. I'm still at the office but heading home soon for an epic nap.

AW: Great service this morning. Best part - a very socially awkward little girl in our church who rarely talks to me, found me during coffee time to show me her craft from Sunday School. Then she asked me to come with her to the tree so she could hang her craft in "just the right place."

I was darn near tears, as was her Mom.

Sometimes all the "pain in the duff" stuff just disappears and my job is the Best. Job. Ever.

kathy a. said...

Sue, that is so lovely, with the little girl!

Hoping that your beloved is feeling better today. So much he has had to deal with lately. xoxo

Several days into the Epic Struggle of medicating the cat, we discovered that she will take the liquid antibiotics mixed with a little wet food. (She absolutely will not take crushed pills that way.) Please disregard the whining you may have heard from this direction.

kathy a. said...

AW: Did the main food run before 9 a.m., before things got really nuts!

W/AW: A person should maybe have a menu planned before shopping. Guess we're good for the duration.

Time to get to the sorting and wrapping -- can't really remember what I got for who. I may have accidentally shorted someone, like my beloved. (He really wants a puppy, but that's not happening....)

esperanza said...

Aw, Sue, now I'm about in tears. Reminds me of Sweet.

W: grocery store this afternoon. How do I get myself into these things?

W: Mr E has a migraine, Mini running a fever, both taking naps.

kathy a., my whole family wants a puppy! Also not happening.

A. Nonnie Mouse said...

Jeepers Louie-pers. Pretty much everybody in the family seems to be hanging on by a raw nerve or two. Working hard to not respond in kind, or speak ill of the afflicted.

Anonymous said...

Raw nerves here too.
I totally sympathize A. Nonnie Mouse.
We are about one day into vacation and my kids already need to be separated. This does not bode well.
Also, trying to catch up on a week's worth of work, and get ahead a little before Tuesday when I go visit my family and then go visit hubby's side. The second part (husband's family) will be nice. I joked to my fellow teachers that usually at this time of year, given a choice of another week with our students or time with my parents, I would take another week with the kids anytime. This year, it's about even (we have a tough crew.)

sigh.

Need to adjust my attitude before the travels begin--I just don't have enough patience reserves for this trip like i usually do.

Oh well.
Hugs to all the pixies in similar boats, or with migraines or fevers, or raw nerves, or ill spouses. May this coming week bring a renewal for us all.
Happy Christmas to all celebrating, and Happy New Year everyone!!

--Neighbor Lady


esperanza said...

Hm. I was pretty sure Mini had flu symptoms (sudden onset, fever, yucky cough, aches). A dose of ibuprofen and a two hour nap later and she's back to her usual shenanigans. An hour and a half past bedtime. Fever down to 99. But if I don't take her to the doctor in the morning...I won't have a chance till Thursday, when we're supposed to be leaving town. Sigh. The cough is still here, so I guess that's justification enough for a doctor visit. Where is the grownup who will make these decisions?

purple_kangaroo said...

Well, DH and the kids went to the family Christmas celebration. I thought I might bake a cake while they were gone, or have a friend over to watch a movie, but instead Baby Nae and I took an epic nap. We slept for the better part of 5 hours and woke up just as the rest if the family got home.

kathy a. said...

Recipe, in case you need one for sweet potatoes and don't want the marshmallows. I had lost track of this one!

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Happy birthday, PK! That nap sounds like the best birthday present of all.

Esperanza: oh no! Poor Mini. I understand how hard it is to make that call, with the holidays making it so that you can't see the doctor. (I would go, but that's just me.)

Nonnie: I'm there with you. Hugs.

NL: I hope you get a break during the holidays.

Sue: hugs about Hubby's rough night. I'm so glad you had that wonderful breakthrough with the little girl.

W: the next few days will be mayhem. E already isn't handling it. And, with this headache, neither am I.

esperanza said...

W: Shrinking fabric. I had a great idea to make my nieces (sisters, ages 18 and away at college and 5, lonely at home) matching pj's. Purchased appropriate amount of fabric. Shrunk when I washed it such that only one pair will fit. Store is an hour away, my kid is sick. Not a happy seamstress.

kathy a. said...

Esperanza, can you add something complimentary/contrasting along the sides that will work to stretch the amount of fabric and also add a little something special? Just an idea.

purple_kangaroo said...

DH and the kids got home. . . they stopped and bought me some chocolate truffles, which were not the kind that are safe for me to eat (apparently DH didn't really listen when I tried to tell him where I got the safe ones, and didn't check ingredients).

Dinner was reheated meat and potatoes, which I ate by myself because the rest of the family apparently ate at MIL's house.

The kids did bring me homemade cards this morning, which said things like, "Dear Mom, there are no presents and no cake, but happy birthday anyway!" and DH did make my favorite banana waffles for lunch before they left, and sent one of the kids to bring me some in bed.

purple_kangaroo said...

And, yes, please send the cluestick posse.

kathy a. said...

The Posse is saddled, PK. xoxoxo

esperanza said...

p_k, you deserved a much more special birthday than that. Although a 5 hour nap sounds delicious. Posse on the way.

Seamstress crisis averted, I think. Slightly unorthodox positioning of pieces (turning some 90 degrees from the way they are supposed to be oriented) is going to work. She said confidently, way past her bedtime. If it were something fancier than pj's, I probably wouldn't do it this way. And I'm not going to cut it out tonight, because I'm tired and getting stupid.

purple_kangaroo said...

Turns out DH was out taking care of an emergency with my animals (which he's been taking care of for me for the past several weeks) at dinner time, and had intended that the kids eat with me and had asked them to make sure I got food. He also made all the kids come downstairs and made sure that we got some quality family time tonight, because he knew that would be important to me. <3

Liz said...

Still saddling up, because it's not as though your birthday doesn't come on the same fireplacin' day every fireplacin' year. A little forethought would have gone a long way.

kathy a. said...

He's blaming the kids for not feeding you? Thumbs down.

Further refinement of the cat medication regime: if I put the food/meds on my desk, where she likes to hang out, the other cats don't have a chance of eating it. I think this means I am officially nuts, but Whatever Works.

kathy a. said...

Esperanza, hope Mini is feeling better. Also that the re-arranged fabric does the trick!

QWP, hope you are feeling better!

Neighbor Lady, hope the kids back off, you get enough done, and that you have some sanity breaks during the Festive Family Holiday Visit! Sometimes a little family togetherness is quite enough, thank you. Might you be able to escape to view local sights, using the [valid] excuse that the kids need to burn off energy?

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Whatever works indeed, Kathy a. Especially if it means that the kitty gets her meds, and the other kitties don't.

P_k: I'm glad DH was taking care of your animals, but it sounds like we still need to saddle up. (I told Mr. Q about your birthday, and he has a lot of sympathy. Birthdays within days of Christmas + small children = disappointing birthdays, it seems.)

W: This morning, with the wind, it felt like -49C/-56F outside. That's not okay.
AW: allegedly, in the next 36 hours the temperature is supposed to go up to -4C/25F.

Sue said...

Sorry Nonnie and NL about holiday family dynamics and that last nerve everyone is hanging on to.

I hope Mini is feeling better today esperanza. As for sewing, I am an unskilled pixie, so I have no advice only admiration.

PK - you deserved a big birthday celebration. Saddling up here too.

kathy - so cats don't usually eat on the table/counter/wherever they want? Hm. *rethinking my whole life*

QWP - you win winter!!! At -49C, no one wants to top that. I hope it warms up quickly and soon.

W: Another night at the ER with hubby.

AW: His trouble seems to be sorted for now.

AW: If nothing else, there are always entertaining moments during the experience. The staff were great. We happened to be in a room near the nursing station. There was a nurse named Lance and every time someone was looking for him, they said "Hey, where's Romance?"

He even answered to Romance when they called him. Lol.

kathy a. said...

((( Sue and her hubby ))) Lance/Romance is pretty funny! Glad things are better. xoxoxo

kathy a. said...

Everybody experiencing negative temps of any kind wins loads of prizes, in my book. Brrrr. Kudos to the Northern Pixies!

Dealing with his sister [with severe early-onset dementia] during the holidays has not exactly been cheerful for my beloved. She wants an apartment right now; she wants her ex to come drive her around and go shopping; and yadda. She can barely feed herself, and needs help dressing now. Plus, the mountain of crap.

For reasons unknown, my beloved brought 2 dining room chairs home from the storage unit for SIL's stuff. Pixies, they still had plastic over the seats, direct from the showroom. So our former family room (now the dog room, and bike and electronic workshop) also features a Parade of Sad Furniture -- her chairs, the ugliest recliner you ever saw, a large armchair that the cats tore up, a loveseat with rabbits that SIL dumped on us 15 years ago, etc. Guess we can wait to thin the herd; this season seems like a bad time to argue about it.

esperanza said...

Sorry for all of that SiL business, kathy a. But this bit caught my eye ...a loveseat with rabbits..." It came with a free bunny? It's printed with rabbits? Scary ones?

QWP, that much cold is simply unfathomable to me.

W: Mini has the flu. Pediatrician gave her and Sweet t@miflu but wouldn't write me a Rx for it. Nor hubby, who clearly has to work tomorrow night. This is disrupting our plans mightily. 48 hours fever free, he says, to ensure she's no longer contagious. That should be just enough time for someone else to get it. The females in the family got the vaccine this year; this strain wasn't covered in it.

W: she doesn't actually seem to feel that bad. She felt crummy yesterday afternoon when it hit, but she's almost at full speed today, just with a fever.

Liz said...

I would've expected a nurse named "Lance" to have the nickname, "Boil"

kathy a. said...

Liz for something -- boil? ha.

Esperanza, here's to a speedy recovery and no shared germies. Fingers crossed.

The loveseat has rabbits woven into the fabric. SIL had this during failed marriage #1, and she dumped it and other furniture in my living room when she moved in with the man who became [failed] husband #2 -- it was just easier to dump the furniture than deal with it herself. Ho ho ho.

Liz said...

I have two words for the bunny loveseat: Craig's List.

Or maybe: Thrift Shop.

Or maybe: Women's Shelter.

Or maybe: Halfway house.

kathy a. said...

The bunny loveseat is [because I do not like to argue about furniture] now a fixture of the dog room. But seriously, it will soon be time to unload the Parade of Sad Furniture. My beloved bought the terrible recliner 25 years ago, and I have hated it ever since.

SIL's dining room chairs and the table they go with are quite nice, and probably could be sold, except my beloved stuffed the table tightly in a corner behind some built-in cabinets on one side and an array of electronics on another, and put all his electronics stuff on top of it, so it cannot even currently be photographed. Fa la la la laaaa....

kathy a. said...

I should point out that I made him take from the front room, in turn, the terrible recliner, the bunny loveseat, the cat-torn armchair, and other items. More public areas of the house are more presentable. We do have problems unloading crap, though.

esperanza said...

You need a crap-unloading posse, kathy a.

esperanza said...

AW: family doctor (also hubby's church member) called in prescription for the grownups, without us having to fight for an appointment.

AW: and Mr. E, in an uncharacteristic spasm of health responsibility, actually called the doctor himself, in a timely fashion.

W: definitely, definitely feeling sorry for myself.

AW: I do not have a rabbit loveseat.

kathy a. said...

Woot! A called-in Rx is definitely a score.

Miranda said...

I fireplacing hate the fireplacing holidays. Next year I would like to dump the offspring on their father and go somewhere far far away. Preferably alone. :(

kathy a. said...

Can we go with you?

kathy a. said...

I mean, separately? Requirements for space; no-judging rules.

esperanza said...

ooh! Hawaii? Australia? Single rooms only. No families allowed.

Miranda said...

I'd totally go with Pixies. Relatives are a clear NO A CHANCE IN YOU KNOW WHERE!!!

Liz said...

I'm feeling irritated with a significant person in my life, because this person often audits my speech (words I use, grammar) and yet takes exception when other people audit OTHER PEOPLE'S speech for mistakes he thinks he might be guilty of making (racism, sexism).

But then he gets upset if I ask him not to audit my speech. Dude, if you don't like it when others do it. Don't do it!

kathy a. said...

Ralph has a good bonk upside the head in mind, Liz. Possibly also a menacing rabbit.

Miranda said...

esperanza, I just saw your comment. I love your thinking. I believe the location will depend on the lack of cell/data service.

So grammar censors allowed on our private resort. Or sad furniture. Or cold meals served in bed by clueless spouses.

Miranda said...

I'm making this Christmas Day. http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/09/2008_the_year_of_the_pot_roast/ For brunch, we are having homemade (gluten free) sausage gravy and biscuits.

Liz said...

I'm making a Prime Rib (recipe from Alton Brown's I'm Just Here For the Food).

Miranda said...

Grammar censors are NOT allowed.

kathy a. said...

Spiral-cut EZ ham; the sweet potato thing; green beans; wild rice mix; salad. I may bail on a special dessert since we are floating in sweets already.

My dog tried to kill the mailman via barking for the 48 millionth time. I gave the mailman some nice chocolates.

esperanza said...

I have no idea what I'm making. We had a Christmas Day invite (to a place with no other relatives. Family dysfunction is ever so much easier when it's not your own). But. See above re: flu.

I probably have stuff to make chicken fajitas.

esperanza said...

W: a dumb mistake (really) led to wasted time and effort and another trip to the store on the sewing project

AW: flu means that I'll have extra time to finish it on Christmas Day.

kathy a. said...

Esperanza for the silver lining award.

While I was calling the vet to check on the 2d med that hadn't arrived yet, I realized they overcharged us by A LOT (15 x) on the antibiotics. Then the other med arrived after all, and I got a big refund. Woot!

purple_kangaroo said...

Well, he actually cooked a leg of lamb in the crock pot the night before, to have prepped ahead. And he got out the food and put it in the microwave, then went out to deal with a malfunctioning watering system, which was dripping water on the animals, so it was a situation of immediate urgency.

I told him that, in general, it's important to me to have a nice dinner together as a family on my birthday, with some sort of dessert that I can actually eat. He asked me to remind him next year, because he's afraid he won't remember. :-/

Miranda said...

p_k, the posse is saddled to help DH with his memory skills.

The cake is in the oven. I need to glaze the cake on Wednesday or tomorrow, devil eggs, make biscuits (I do drop biscuits made with whipping cream into a muffin tin - easy peasie), make pot roast, and make mashed potatoes. Tween Son has already pledged to help prep and to assembled the nasty H!ck0ry F@rms platter my former in-laws insist on sending every year.

AW: Getting to use my grandmother's eclectic serving dishes (ie what ever she found on sale or second hand). The deviled eggs and pot roast are both in her memory. She is the one who taught me how to cook from scratch for a crowd. She liked plain food albeit with lots of garlic (she WAS the daughter of Italian immigrants).

esperanza said...

Mini is fever free and fighting bedtime, per her normal.

kathy a. said...

Biscuit recipe?

Miranda said...

The recipe as given to me by a friend. I use a 425 degree oven and I'm subbing a gluten free flour blend for the wheat flour. Plus, I don't knead and drop them into muffin tins because I hate rolling out dough. They won't be pretty but I'm dumping sausage gravy on them and I am not looking for a job hosting a show on the Food Channel. You may need extra liquid for it depending on the consistency of your biscuits. I have also just cut them into squares because I don't want to roll out dough multiple times.

Mile High Biscuits

* 2 cups flour
* 1 tablespoon baking powder
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 tablespoon sugar (you can add a bit more if you want a sweeter biscuit)
* 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream (half and half or milk don't work – I've tried!)

In a medium bowl, stir together all ingredients just until the dough forms a ball and ingredients are moistened. Turn the dough out onto a work surface that is dusted with a very small amount of additional flour. Fold the dough in half and press down with the palms of your hands; knead the dough this way for 5 to 7 times more, adding just enough flour to keep the dough from sticking to your hands and work surface. Gently press dough out to half inch thickness; cut dough into 3" size rounds (use a cookie cutter or a small juice glass). Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray and place biscuits on it, leaving at least 1" between each biscuit. Bake at 480 degrees (yes, a very hot oven!) for about 10 minutes, until golden brown on bottoms and tops. (If yours turn out overdone or underdone on the bottom, you might adjust the temp a bit the next time. Deen's original recipe calls for a 500 degree oven, but the bottoms of my biscuits were too crispy and brown.)

esperanza said...

...and STILL fighting bedtime. I think she's in the clear. Now we just hope the other shoe doesn't drop.

Miranda said...

Glad Mini is on the mend.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Oh, esperanza, between the flu allowing you time to sew on Christmas Day, and Mini's fighting sleep meaning that she's getting better, you really do need a silver lining award.

During this holiday season, it looks like Ralph had enough places to visit that he's going to need to hitch a ride in Santa's sled.

AW: my family had a lovely "little Christmas Eve" supper of rice porridge (a Norwegian tradition). My favourite.

W: E had been perfecting a high - pitched scream, which she particularly enjoys practising in my ear. Not helpful for either my head or my sanity.

AW: finally finished present shopping, and two presents away from being finished wrapping.

Sue said...

Sorry about the SIL drama and the Parade of Sad Furniture - especially the killer bunny loveseat.

Liz - boil! Ha!

esperanza, so sorry about the flu. Ugh. I'm glad you got the prescription for all of you. Way to see the silver lining!

(((Miranda)))) those biscuits sound amazing.

QWP - well done! Shopping and wrapping done!

W: I was hoping to avoid it, but the Not So Merry Migraine hit this afternoon. I went to bed and slept away the day.

AW: sermon for tomorrow night is written and ready to go.

AW: hubby continues to improve.

Miranda said...

Sue, great news about your hubby!

I checked the Bat Phone and learned that one of my colleagues passed on Sunday. I believe she was only in her 50s. My heart is so heavy for her family and other loved ones.

I also saw that I've been summoned back to the Mothership next month. It is so disruptive on my family life but due to the work Ick, I need to stay memorable.

AW: When I do finally go to bed and wake up, I will be meeting my HS friends for brunch which is an annual Christmas Eve tradition.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Hugs for both Miranda and Sue. Miranda, I'm so sorry about the loss of your coworker, and I'll be thinking about her family. And Sue, I'm so sorry that your husband has had more health emergencies this week, and am so glad that there's improvement.

W: family + coordinating plans - bad communication = frustration

Anticipating a whine: we're staying at my in-laws' place tonight. I have fears regarding E's ability to sleep there.

I hope you all have a great couple of days, and a Merry Christmas to all that celebrate it.

kathy a. said...

Sue, glad your hubby is better! Hope the headache moves right out. Glad everything's set to go.

Miranda, so sorry for the loss of your friend. Hope you have a great time with the old friends!

Fingers crossed for a peaceful night, QWP!

Today: move a load of books out of the living room; dust; vac; clean bathroom; run to store for all the stuff I forgot; wrap presents; do stockings. Some of this,

I hope to offload some to daughter. But yesterday she helped by loading a few dirty dishes on top of the clean ones waiting to be unloaded -- must ensure she is awake this time.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

W: so, Mr. Q thought he'd be helpful and surprise me by rearranging E's bedroom. Today. When I needed her to have one big nap at home before two days is away from home festivities. And forgot that I was holding off on moving her crib (to next to the window, but away from our shared wall) until we bought room - darkening curtains.

She napped for half an hour.

esperanza said...

Ugh, QWP.

Mini had fever during the night, but none since waking this morning. Sweet coughed all night long, nebulizer treatments notwithstanding. But no fever. And other than tired (me too, Sweet Baboo, me too), she seems pretty ok. Does she have the flu? or not? Who knows. Pediatrician is closed today. If I get really worried, he lives across the street and doesn't mind us coming over for a consultation.

kathy a. said...

Oy, QWP. Would you care for a visit from Ralph?


kathy a. said...

Esperanza, is Sweet prone to asthma-type symptoms? No fever; I assume you would have mentioned anything like ear pain, green snot, sore throat, barking, pook problems, etc.

Sue said...

Oh dear, QWP. Ralph saddling up...

Sounds like a long night esperanza. I hope everyone at your house continues to improve today.

AW: our sons LOVE Christmas. They are 30-ish and still include toys in our stockings every year, even the boy who has to mail his parcel to us. If either of them have children in their future, those will be the luckiest kids on the block!

kathy a. said...

Sue, that is so fabulous! Ya done good, raising those boys.

I totally forgot toys for the stockings... And yet, still went overboard!

Liz said...

AW: My SIL and I are in total agreement

W: That her family, including my husband, are deliberately making plans around tomorrow more complicated than they need to be.

AW: It's really nice to have an ally.

The mishigas started because her in-laws, disappointed that she and her husband and their 3 yo son couldn't make it to FL for Xmas this year, decided to come to VA instead. And then decided to surprise them by arriving a day early. Who does that?

So she, husband, and son will not be joining us and my MIL and her husband for dinner. But they will be joining us for dessert (with her MIL, FIL and GMIL in tow).

Meanwhile MY MIL is getting confused about plans. And is whining to my SIL that SIL did a piss-poor job of hosting T'Giving (which she did NOT. It was lovely) And my DH is not really helping matters since he hates all things holiday and bah humbug.

So basically, I wanna grab my SIL, her son, my son, the prime rib, and the dessert, and head on up to Miranda's.



kathy a. said...

That sounds like a plan, Liz. Excuse me, but SHOWING UP A DAY EARLY and riling everybody up -- not acceptable.

Kudos to the allied SIL, who sounds like she could use a Pixie getaway, too. As for the rest of them, Ralph's a gonna be busy this week.

esperanza said...

Liz, I am not sure I followed that entire soap opera, but "surprising" someone a day early is...what's the word?...RUDE! I hope the shenanigans settle down and you can enjoy the holiday.

Is every Pixie (except Sue) a little perturbed with her spouse and/or former spouse and/or inlaws? It sure seems like an epidemic this week.

Sweet is indeed prone to asthma symptoms (see: NICU, oxygen tank for 9 months). She says her throat hurts when she coughs, but that is her only other complaint.

kathy a. said...

The only up side to asthma symptoms is that you can rule out contagious things, do the drill to keep symptoms down. Hugs to you and Sweet!

Yeah, lots of complaints about extended family and beloveds this week. I like to think we're collectively rising above, but a person is only human, ya know?

Liz said...

I just don't have the patience I used to, is all.

kathy a. said...

Liz -- many hugs, 'cause the problem isn't your lack of patience.

esperanza said...

I need to clear out the "Things You Have Done That Annoy Me" list in my head.

kathy a. said...

A "List of Why You're Great" is helpful for that. ymmv, but works for me.

Cute websites are also good for head-clearing. Also, you own no killer rabbit sofas or suchlike. ;)

kathy a. said...

Sugar plum fairy on a glass harp.

kathy a. said...

12 days of Christmas a capella mash-up.

kathy a. said...

My son called at 2:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve to ask what he should get his sister. Which is a good thing, but I'm not full of answers at the last minute. It will all work out!

Queen of West Procrastination said...

AW: Mr. Q came home early from shopping, put E's furniture back to its normal place, and used Daddy Cuddle Powers to get her back to sleep. She napped enough that she was fine through our dinner and present opening. And it all went nicely. And now we're at the in-laws', where game playing is happening in the basement, while E sleeps upstairs. It's coming together.

Esperanza: oh, poor little Mini.

Liz: I'm not sure how showing up early is a happy surprise!

Sue said...

Wow Liz. I'm glad you've got an ally for the festivities. Ralph is on the way to inform the early arrivals that it is NOT COOL to just show up unannounced. Gah!!

AW: Another Christmas Eve service done. Nothing went up in flames - I count that as a win. My third Christmas Eve service I set one of the linen cloths on the communion table on fire, so every year that doesn't happen is good.

W: I skipped a few parties I was invited to attend - just not up to it. Folks understand.

AW: I'm (hopefully) off for a few days.

kathy a. said...

Sue -- not setting the linen on fire during a service is a fabulous anti-whine! Glad all went well, and that you'll have a bit of time off.

QWP, glad that things are back to normal at home, and that there is some good space between festivities and sleeping babe!

Hugs to all, and to all a good night.

Liz said...

Merry Christmas!!! Santa is tweeting selfies from my tree.

Miranda said...

Merry Christmas!! Or Happy Day Off if Christmas is not your thing. :)

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Merry Christmas, you guys. I'm taking a fifteen minute break from festivities with new tea in a new cup. E had a good night, and a good morning nap at my in-laws' house, and so I am a million times more sane than I was yesterday.

kathy a. said...

Merry Christmas!

You know how when the kids are little they'll be up before 6 a.m., bouncing off the walls? That doesn't last forever, and it leaves us at loose ends while we wait for the tribe.

kathy a. said...

Full house! Brunch, stockings, presents, dog walk, and the snacks are rapidly depleting. My husband is corrupting young adults with videos of music from the 1960's. ;)

Feast in about an hour.

Senior cat was caught on the dining table, trying to drink the cream out of someone's abandoned coffee mug. She is certainly full of something today!



esperanza said...

Merry Christmas!

Just as Mini's 48 hours without fever was coming to a close, Sweet starts running fever. Sigh. We may never get to go to the grandparents' house.

kathy a. said...

Nooo! Hope everybody's fevers go down, and tonight is a snuggle and quiet night.

Sue said...

Merry Christmas pixies - I hope the day was good for all of you and your families. We had a lovely quiet day, a great feast, and even a nap or two.

I went for a walk too! I got a pair of winter outerwear pants that are the best ever. Not bulky at all but super warm. I had to try them out so I was out for about an hour.

Yup, a good day.

esperanza I sure hope the fevers all drop so you can work in a visit with the grandparents.

kathy a. said...

Christmas was lovely.

W: today, going with my beloved to visit his sister.

Liz said...

It looks like we're going to be eating Prime Rib for days. Can't say I have a problem with that.

Also, cake.

Muffin Man created a playable (by which I mean, it not only works but is enjoyable) video game for Mr. Spock for his Christmas present. It's called "Secret Santa" and he only asked for help twice.

I am looking forward to being maintained in comfort through my declining years by my computer genius son.

kathy a. said...

Yay, Liz! Go, MM!

Miranda said...

The food was delicious yesterday but I discovered that with any kind of family outing I can either be a food/logistics host or a social/logistics host. My family of poorly socialized cretins is incapable of doing either very well so I need to either not host at all or find a way to invite more people next year.

My friend, the one who was ready to break up with me, came over with her daughter for a bit. We patched things up. The hour they were here was probably the only hour I truly enjoyed myself. I was finishing dinner too but my friend helped and offered suggestions and was funny and kind. I love entertaining but I realized I don't enjoy hosting my family unless I can have enough other people with actual social skills present to balance it out.

I can't do another year of holidays like this last one and no one will make changes if I don't.

Side bar: my sixty something year old mother won our game of Cards Against Humanity. Probably because she acts even less mature than the assorted teenagers at my house (Teen Daughter invited some of her friends over for dessert and games). Otherwise, she is a lump on my recliner, noted with some concern by my friend who specializes in geriatric care.

I have basically 40 years of mainly disappointing Christmases under my belt. Next year I have to change that.

Sue said...

Yay Liz and MM!!! Your leftover roast beast is sounding much better than the leftover turkey in my fridge.

(((Miranda))) Sorry about another disappointing Christmas. As you said, there's next year!

Forgive me if I'm being bold in asking, but did your friend understand that what you give to the friendship is enough? Is she still hoping/expecting that you will change?

AW: I heart boxing day, especially when I don't have to leave the house.

Miranda said...

I agree to at least tell her I am overwhelmed instead of just going off the grid. She agrees to accept that my life is kind of full of unpleasantries at the moment. She did back off once I let her know just how awful it has been the last four months.

I'm am Stupid Loyal as a character type.

esperanza said...

Sorry about Disappointing Christmas, Miranda. I'm right there with you this year..

Super, super whiny about the flu. Unimpressed with t@miflu. Tired of myself being super, super whiny.

Miranda said...

esperanza, that is terrible about the flu and the efficacy of both the flu vaccination and the t@milflu. With the whiny-ness, is it possible you are fighting it too? Get lots of fresh fruits and veggies in you and stay away from crap. I find eating crap adds to feeling icky.

Do I tell Family Member With Legal Issues that he must seek out mental health treatment as a condition of his continued residence here now or after his legal challenges are over? I truly believe he will have additional challenges related to the one he currently has without some drastic mental health assistance. His next court date is in two weeks but won't likely be his last. Family Member is already pretty wound up and I worry this will be perceived as the straw that broke the camel's back but I also know I can't continue to live with Family Member's bad attitude and that his constant blaming of his parents for all of Family Member's ills will not serve him well in life. For a view of how this might work out, see my father. He blamed his parents, then his ex-wives and according to my brothers, he now blames the three of us for the fact his life really, really, really sucks. When this was brought up, I kind of snapped. It felt really good to have both SILs validate my outburst. The SILs rarely agree on anything, btw. Tis the season to experience the repressed rage of childhood - yeehaw.

AW: Tween Son and I are home alone and reading books on our respective sofas. It is peaceful and calm. We have a month of leftovers on which to nosh as the mood strikes.

Liz said...

Miranda, I think it would be a loving step for you to take. And I wouldn't necessarily put it off to a time in the future, because there may always be a reason why you can't bring it up now.

Maybe you can talk about it in the context of being a good thing to have in the works for the court date. Voluntarily seeking out treatment goes over well with judges.

esperanza said...

Miranda, possibly I do have a touch of it. I haven't really gotten well from the bronchitis I had at Thanksgiving, plus some allergy craziness. So it's hard to tell. Whiny because this is further delaying our trip to the grandparents', which is (additional whine) being squeezed from the other side by my brother's planned trip out of the country. This is the second year in a row he's taken part of the Christmas break to travel and thus dictated when it is we can all get together. I assume, however, he does not want to leave the country while carrying the flu virus. It is also, at this point, jeopardizing Sweet's already canceled and rescheduled trip to the Big Ortho Doc in the Big City near the grandparents' house. I don't want to make a separate trip for that, but...also not nice to take the flu virus to the Ortho hospital.

And if they both had to get the flu, why couldn't they have gotten it on the same day and not dragged it out interminably?

Liz said...

So sorry, Esperanza!

Sue said...

So sorry to hear about the dang flu esperanza. Ugh.

Miranda, I'm with Liz. Sooner, rather than later, sounds like a good plan for a mental health intervention.

Miranda said...

I have already tried that tactic. It has been ignored.

kathy a. said...

((( Miranda ))) Why don't you get in touch with Family Member's lawyer, and explain the situation from your end? The lawyer's oath of confidentiality might mean you don't get a lot of info back -- but Liz is absolutely right, that courts respond well to defendants who voluntarily undertake treatment. In addition, mental health treatment could well end up a part of any sentence, whether he likes it or not.

If he is homeless before the court takes care of things, that makes judges less likely to think he's going to pull things together. The fact is that probably you and his lawyer (and the court) are all after the same thing, helping him get his act together for the long run. xoxo

Esperanza, so sorry about the flu and all related whines. xoxo

kathy a. said...

Went with beloved to visit SIL at the memory facility, and take her to lunch. On the up side, I thought the facility looked good, and the staff seemed interested in her, even fond of her.

On the down side, her abilities are very clearly eroded -- her gait is very unsteady, she has trouble getting in and out of the car, the fork doesn't work so well for her any more so she used fingers for her salad. Etc. She's needing help dressing and bathing, and with the makeup she must wear. We heard ~ 80 times how she is having her hair done tomorrow, and she needs an apartment, and she wants her cats back. Maybe the saddest thing is that she kept going on about how she has lots of money, because Rose (a nurse) gave her $5000 (of xeroxed play money), so she can get an apartment. Sigh.

kathy a. said...

On the up side, the meds have really taken down her mania and anger -- she's repetitive about her issues, but no longer wanting to hurt everyone thwarting her. She mostly talked to her brother, but surprised me by hugging me at the end.

Oh, she wants her driver's license back, too, and wants to go see Dr. Y -- Dr. Y will say it's ok to drive. Her last psychiatric hospitalization in May was after she physically attacked her brother, and tried to attack the doctor, in Dr. Y's office. Mmm, hmmmmm. My husband is a saint.

Miranda said...

I find when I visit ill relatives like that, I always need to come home for a good drying out period. ((kathy a and beloved a))

Miranda said...

Also, award will probably go up on Saturday. Somebody is scheduled to work tomorrow and actually has a fair amount to accomplish. :P

kathy a. said...

Sentimental AW: met my sweetie on Christmas night 1980, at a party thrown by our mutual friend's parents -- in a part of the state distant from where we then lived, but where we were each visiting relatives for the holidays. Yeah, we were escaping our own relatives, and doing our friend a favor. Worked out.

Miranda can't give herself a prize, but I thank her for being a lovely host this busy week! Awards are optional with so much going on. xoxo

Liz said...

(((Kathy)))
(((Miranda)))

Muffin Man ate thirds! Of leftover roast beast!! WITH GRAVY! (He never eats gravy) I checked him for fever, but am diagnosing hollow legs.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Muffin Man is growing!

So many hugs for Miranda. I have no advice, but support you in asking him to get help.

(((Kathy a))) I hope you now get time to recover from your visit with SIL.

AW: we're home, and E survived two nights staying at the in-laws' house! E had a lovely time: Mr. Q's sister brought her boyfriend and his two little girls, and they all stayed over until Boxing Day too, so that we could all have more time together. E is so enamoured worth the little girls that she figured out how to say their names!

Small W: now that we've hauled home all our belongings and our presents, or little apartment is a disaster zone. (And oh my goodness: how many toys can one toddler own?! I'm thankful she has toys, but now that she's had birthday and Christmas, it's time to purge the little baby toys.)

W: E's stocking was full of non-toddler-appropriate things, and she keeps finding them, and I keep having to take them away. Lots of temper tantrums in response. It's time to get rid of the stocking stuff.

Anonymous said...

QWP that sounds lovely.

Liz, Tween Son hasn't stopped eating either. I have to buy a adult mediums to accommodate his shoulders. He's going to be tall like his great grandpa namesake. He's sweet the way I remembered Great Grandpa when I was first married.

AW: I love the picture of my kids on the book if faces.

Thanks for listening to my many whines this week. It's been a challenge. :).

- Miranda

Sue said...

Thank you for being an award winning holiday host Miranda!!

Liz, that does sound like hollow-leg, a common occurrence in young teens. :)

kathy a - I hope you and your beloved take some time to recoup. I also hope you know how amazing you are for going to visit at all. You would be surprised how many patients with dementia don't receive any visitors.

QWP - glad you're home and settled in after the holidays.

purple_kangaroo said...

We had a very nice Christmas, complete with family dinners and family game time. We're all enjoying the baby so very much, and my older kids are growing up and are more often becoming just good company and enjoyable young people to hang out with--when they are getting along with each other, that is.

Hugs to all the pixies and thanks for hosting, Miranda.

kathy a. said...

Hollow leg! When my son was a teenager and his band often practiced here, we never had a problem with too much food in the fridge. ;)

QWP, glad you are back and that all is well. Can you donate some of the excess/outgrown things?

kathy a. said...

And PK, that sounds lovely!

esperanza said...

Another day, same as yesterday. Sweet still running fever, still coughing, still snotty nosed. Mini is on the mend, which means that her energy level is more than the sum of everyone else's. Probably more than the product of everyone else's.

kathy a. said...

Esperanza, sorry about all of the feverishness and the energy of the one in recovery. xoxo

AW: my aunt sent sweet hot mustard, made with a recipe from her grandmother. And the recipe!

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Esperanza, I'm so sorry that you're dealing with one sick and one energetic child. Are you sick now too? Energetic child + sick rest of family = extra exhausting.

Kathy a: that is so nice of your aunt! Also, we very much are planning on donating E's outgrown toys. E already have a box of clothes ready for a local outreach, and I'm going to try to have another one of toys and jackets.

Miranda, thank you for hosting is during such a rough week for you. Award winning indeed!

W: I only did the tiniest bit of sledding yesterday, but it was enough to make my hip go out. I'm shuffling like my grandmother today.

esperanza said...

I am not sick now. I don't think. But I'm not sleeping well because I wake up every time Sweet coughs. Hopefully tonight will be better.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

I hope you all had a better night last night. (Hug)

esperanza said...

no fever today!!

Still going to miss the appointment at the Ortho hospital. But we will overlap just enough with my brother's family to exchange gifts and eat together. Not ideal, but we'll manage.

kathy a. said...

Well, glad everybody's feeling better, and that much worked out, Esperanza!

Miranda said...

Hooray for better health and a chance to be with your family, esperanza.