Pages

Monday, December 26, 2016

So long, 2016!

I'm really ready for this year to be over.  You?

Christmas dinner was lovely.  My back is ouchy today, though.

Sue, sounds like things went well with your inlaws, too, which is great news!

26 comments:

kathy a. said...

Despite the no-present rule, the future in-laws brought me a box of VERY cute cat-related items -- coffee mug, wood salad tongs, dish towels, socks, etc. It was very sweet! They claimed the stockings are cheating, so there.

Everybody ate for hours, we sent the kids home with a bunch of food, and the refrigerator is still full...

esperanza said...

We are at the grandparents'. Traffic was horrible and added at least an hour to our trip.

AW: But my mom made the best supper: chicken fried steak (I know this is a regional thing: bread a tenderized, thin piece of steak as you would if you were frying chicken, then fry in some oil in a deep skillet. Restaurants deep fry, but it's better at home). She made it from venison, which was delicious. Mashed potatoes, green beans, homemade rolls. My tummy is happy. This is my soul food.

Sue, glad the inlaws were able to enjoy their time with you.

Kathy, I hope you're getting some rest!

kathy a. said...

Chicken-fried steak has inspired lifelong devotion in a number of friends who *aren't* from your region, Esperanza. It has mojo.

My favorite food is leftovers; so between that, the advil, a few hugs, and a butt on chair policy today, feeling better than this morning!

esperanza said...

Glad you've perked up, kathy a.

The best chicken fried steak I've ever had was made by my great aunt, from their grass fed beef. This venison backstrap (which is equivalent to beef tenderloin, aka filet mignon) was a close second.

kathy a. said...

My husband made soup using scraps and vegetables and some lentils, so we're set for dinner tonight. The more popular leftovers have totally disappeared! There was a huge batch of pilaf, though, which is perfect when festooned with a big ladle of soup.

My daughter scarfed down the last of the sweet potato gratin. I guess if you put in enough cream and cheese and spices, she'll ignore the fact that the main ingredient is something she normally declines to eat. ;)

Liz Miller said...

Carrie Fisher died. It's like a punch in the gut. I didn't ever meet her, but she had a huge influence in my life. She played the first self-rescuing princess I knew of, and I wanted to be that princess. She played a character that really spoke to me in When Harry Met Sally (not the adultery part, but other parts of that character).

kathy a. said...

I'm sorry, Liz -- and everyone who felt that connection.

Further proof that 2016 has sucked in a lot of ways.

xoxo

Sue said...

Yay leftovers!

Yes, 2016 is officially the worst year ever. Carrie Fisher was brilliant on so many levels, but she connected with me by being so open about her mental illness. She wasn't ashamed and spoke openly about what it takes to live with mental illness. She'll be missed.

And 2016 can stuff it.

kathy a. said...

My son came; he picked up a package that came here for him; he applied tools to the used fishing reel in the box; he took a huge piece of pie, so he could share with his sweetie; he hugged me several times; and then he went home. I kinda like all that.

Annie Mouse said...

Major meltdown at the homestead last night. Not Fun.

Liz Miller said...

I'm so sorry Annie Mouse.

Liz Miller said...

Had a great couple of job interviews yesterday and today. Today's was for a job I think I'd really enjoy. They DID ask the question, why are you leaving your own company to go back to corporate work and I answered extremely truthfully,

"You may not have noticed, but Trump won the election, so we figure that the ACA is going to go the way of the dodo and the ACA required insurers to sell policies to individuals. One of us needs to go back to corporate work to make sure we still can get insurance coverage, and we can hire a replacement for me easier than we can hire one for my husband.

"So, I need to be truthful here. I'm leaving my dream job. But since we have time before ACA ends and we have money in the bank, I can be choosey, and this job looks like something I'd really enjoy doing."

They all liked that answer.

BTW, I continue to be amazed at how much more poised and confident I am when I'm wearing full makeup and hairspray (and a skirt suit and heels).


kathy a. said...

Liz! Sounds like a great interview! And you were honest all around, about the "why now" and about why this would be a job you'd enjoy.

Sue said...

So sorry Annie Mouse. :(

Go, Liz!!

kathy a. said...

I'm about done with 2016.

p_k said...

My kids were saying things to me all week like, "You've been a bad girl this year, so you deserve to get just coal in your stocking."

I told them that all I wanted for my birthday was for them to spend time with me and help me clam the house. They really weren't interested in doing either of those things, at all. I suggested they might like to bake me something. Nope. They were interested in going out to dinner (on my dollar, of course) but only because they like eating at restaurants, not because they actually had any interest in celebrating my birthday. Only one of the older three even told me happy birthday. The middle two still refuse to say "I love you" to me, ever, and only grunt if they respond at all when I say it to them.

They all told me they would not be getting me gifts for Christmas. I said that was okay, but I'd really like it if they made me a card. The response: "But that would be work."

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

I finally sat them down in front of the piles of gifts I got for them, Christmas Eve morning, and I said, "I put a lot of time and energy and money into trying to make a nice Christmas for you. I don't expect anything material in return, but I do expect you to be civil to me and not be rude and mean to me today. I expect you to be polite, not whine and complain about the gifts I got you, say thank you, and allow me to take photos without arguing or complaining or refusing to cooperate. You will smile for the pictures without trying to hide or ruin the photo. And, you will not say rude and mean things to me like that I only deserve coal in my stocking or you hate being forced to spend time with me. If you want the gifts I got for you, you *will* treat me civilly today.

They pretty much did, for the most part. They even sat with me at church and posed with me for someone else to take a photo of us.

Sue said...

Oh, pk, I'm so sorry your birthday and Christmas were so difficult. You deserve better. How much of the children's behaviour would you attribute to stbx's influence over their emotions? I'm wondering if there needs to be some intervention from the GAL or the children's therapist?

kathy a. said...

Oh, PK. Well, it sounds like they at least recognized the need for civility, and I hope that move in the right direction blossoms.

I share Sue's concern that they are being poisoned by STBX -- and being put in the middle like that is not good for kids.

xoxo

Liz Miller said...

Thinking of you, PK, and sending love and hugs. I'm so sorry that they are taking all their anger out on you.

If I can be Pollyanna-ish for a minute, tho, I think it's a sign of how safe and loved they feel with you that they can show you this anger. For sure, they know their dad is not a safe person to be angry at.

kathy a. said...

I'll second Liz, on the girls having a safe place.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Oh, PK. xoxo and extra supportive hugs. I'm so sorry about your birthday and Christmas, and the clear effects of your STBX's parental alienation attempts on the kids. I'm glad that they were civil at Christmas.

p_k said...

The dynamics and behavior of the kids changed drastically when H told them the separation was all my fault, etc. and is always worst when they first return from time with him. We had a warm, close and mutually respectful relationship previous to the separation. I'm hoping the GAL will see it for what it is.

Liz Miller said...

I hope so, too.

kathy a. said...

So, here's to the GAL seeing what's going on, and a gentler home life in coming months!

Here's to making the difference we can, in the ways we can, as things move along.

xoxo

kathy a. said...

I've had this burning desire for a cheeseburger for a couple weeks. Like, I'll wake up at 5 a.m. thinking of a cheeseburger -- but I usually eat something else, and then it fades until some ungodly hour when again, I want a cheesseburger.

So I got one today! Just at j@ck in the b0x, but it hit the spot. It is probably the only one I ate all year.

kathy a. said...

Happy New Year! We had an uneventful evening, and I didn't even wake up at midnight. Today -- lazy! Later we'll have pork chops, white beans (standing in for black eyed peas), greens, and maybe broccoli. Plus, we have traditional Japanese fresh mochi with bean paste filling!

xoxo

p.s. -- My daughter reminded me of the burger craving that had to be fed after my surgery in February, so I stand corrected. LOL