Time to Give Thanks

Made it through Thanksgiving. Charlie backed out on plans to hit the casino and the plaza lighting ceremony so I ended up at the Weissenbachs. First time ever. And, they served HAM! I was amazed. It was a good thing I had a turkey defrosting at home; I made my turkey and stuffing for dinner Friday. Then we were back over there this evening for a German Fest; brats as far as the eye could see. Shawn ate three! And he wonders why he has weight issues. (I ate one, and wonder why I have weight issues!!) Now it's on to Christmas. I have started a to-do list, which is sad because I was planning on making this holiday season lowkey. I can't even do lowkey right - frustrating.

I need to start working on a New Year Resolution list. I tend to write about a dozen and keep one only this year being as horrid as it's been I haven't even kept one. I'll have the sames ones next year, I'm sure (lose weight, get in shape, pay off bills, read a book a month, spend time with friends.) I'm nothing if not predictable!

Feed the Poor

George came by this afternoon to get better cellphone reception and to use my computer to send out some online apps. He also wanted to be fed. He has gone through the cash we gave him from the estate, he has no job and, thus, no food to eat. So I took him to Applebee's and fed him. I don't mind doing that every now and again but I don't want it to become a habit. I just got rid of one expensive sibling; I don't need to replace her.

I had my infusion this morning - the office is quite busier in the mornings! People were coming and going; it was all very interesting. And CNN was on the TV, not Food Network. It was like getting my infusion at a different office! Now I'm good for another four weeks - that time flies, too.

Wednesday I need to get Shawn's Christmas gifts before I spend all my money! Hopefully it won't be too busy at 1:00. I am NOT doing the Thanksgiving Day Week-End Sales thing! If I don't get the stuff Wednesday I will get it later next week. Then I'll be done with shopping and will just need to get things wrapped, in the mail and under the tree. What I would give to be able to just skip this holiday season all together!

Happy Birthday, Mom

Today Mom would have been 74. I can't imagine her being that old. I managed to get my 10-hour work day done by 4:00, got to the store for flowers and took them to the cemetery. I left flowers for the Hunt grandparents, flowers for the Santa grandparents and flowers for MY parents. It was the first time I had been there since Dad passed; it was surreal to see a death date for him on the tombstone. Green grass is just starting to cover the dirt. Needless to say, I cried all the way home. I really am getting tired of crying all the time!

I also bought some little things to send Mykenzie and Lindsey with their Christmas ornaments. It's a challenge to find non-chocolate Christmas candies! I wonder how long it takes to ship something to Greece. I will probably be getting the package in the mail in the next week or so. I can't believe Thanksgiving is next week; I have no holiday spirit at all. I would love to just kind of skip the holidays this year. But if I did that, I might never find it again.

I need a German side dish recipe. The in-laws are hosting a German Fest the Saturday after Thanksgiving. All the Germans seem to eat is brats, sauerkraut. and potatoes. Did I mention I located my sole German ancestor? She was on Dad's mother's side, the Reick side. I knew I had a drop in me somewhere! Maybe that one drop of German will help me find a unique recipe!

Dream a Little Dream

I had a dream last night; I was at home and Mom and Dad were heading out to dinner. As Mom walked out the door, I commented to her how good she was looking on her feet. Dad followed, hat in hand. Mom stopped, turned around, stepped back into the house and asked that I get a trash bag and a bag of M&Ms. I went to the kitchen, got the items and carried them to the door - only to find Mom and Dad had vanished. I said out loud, 'where did they go?' and someone said, 'they're gone' and I knew that they were. I was so despondent that I called my boyfriend, though I had never called him before. I thought that boyfriend was the old Marine guy but the voice that answered the phone said, 'Somebody and Weissenbach'. I hung up, realizing that the 'boyfriend' I was trying to call was Shawn, not the Marine, and the number he gave me was a work number as though he didn't want to get too personal with me. I was very upset and I woke up upset and have been upset all day. I don't quite get the Shawn detail but I do understand Mom and Dad were once again trying to tell me they are happy. I just miss them so much. SO MUCH.

Extended Invitation

I sent Susanna an email to see if the girls can go to the Christmas Lights Parade in a few weeks. I suggested she check with her dear husband to ensure they can get themselves down there as I'm sure she won't want to ride with me but the girls must be chaperoned now. I don't think they will allow the girls to go; I'm not expecting it. I found out they wore John down and he ended up paying their electric bill. I'm glad for the girls as they don't deserve to live in the dark but I'm angry that those idiots once again used someone else's money to cover their responsibilities. I wouldn't mind if Susanna and Gregg disappeared from my life forever; though I would miss the girls terribly. Having them out of my day-to-day has helped with my stress levels. And maybe being out of their day-to-day has helped with their stress levels, too. Maybe we aren't suppose to remain a family. I certainly don't miss them.

Spared Again

I've been spared again. I sat in stunned silence as one, two, three, four, five, SIX team members were handed their walking papers today. The company said they were laying off 17% of their work force but my team bled 32%. I sat with headphones on ready for the call from my manager telling me I had been given a pink slip. Fortunately it didn't come. The names on the list of people losing their jobs shocked me; from the mail lady to vice presidents - no one was safe this time around. This is the fifth time I've gone through layoffs; it is killing me. And it isn't over - layoffs will continue all week. I think they are going team-by-team; if so, my team has already been slaughtered. Totally shocked.