Fog lights required

I am in a Christmas fog.

It happens every year, like a lazy depression. Not actually depression, but more of a "winding down after the hype." There is so much build-up to Christmas day, with all the preparations and gift-buying and decorating. The holiday spirit lives in our house for a solid month, a crescendo of excitement and wonder. Then Christmas day happens and it's over, just like that. As soon as the last present is unwrapped we usher our Christmas Spirit out the door, where it sits homeless and frightened until the next December rolls around.

Every high has a low, and every low is hard to climb out of. But the good thing is this seasonal low is met with a new year, meaning new chances and new promises. Most of those promises I make to myself will undoubtedly be broken, but at least, like every year, I'm going to try. Who knows, maybe this is the year I succeed.

My first plan of attack: actually go back to spin class no less than twice a week.

My second plan of attack: work out with my husband so we can hold each other accountable.

My third plan of attack: have my implant removed.

My fourth plan of attack: have my cavities filled. 

My fifth plan of attack: pay down my debts.

And there you have it. All these plans are worth turning on the lights and slowly driving my way out of the Christmas fog bank. Now if I could just accomplish them all from my couch ...

Snickerpoodles?

Christmas is a time of year that fosters the need for baking. I'm not much of a baker myself, so many of my attempts are as basic as possible. We're going to a friend's cookie exchange party on Monday night that requires me to make seven dozen cookies, so I needed an easy recipe. Neil and I both love snickerdoodles and I was so happy to discover their simplicity and frugality (because I'm cheap).

Neil helped me make the dough and together we assembly-lined five big batches of it. I quality-tested each one, you can rest assured. The doughs are chilling in the fridge tonight and will be baked tomorrow afternoon. I can't wait!

We also have to bring copies of the cookie recipe to share with everyone at the party. I retyped the recipe into InDesign and included a screen shot of the nutritional value from the website I stole the recipe from (ssshhh). I organized them two on a page, created a PDF and sent it to Neil asking him to print some copies for me.

He comes home with this:

My husband sure is Mr. Crafty. I love it. Takes a lot of the pressure off of me to be creative all the time. I have always admired his ability to go above and beyond in everything he sets his mind to. Even a task as simple as printing copies of a recipe is no exception.

It was a fun night to spend together, baking and laughing. I love these moments.

All I Want for Christmas is You

It's December again.

Wow.
December.
No one asked if I was ready for you.

Neil and I spent Thanksgiving at Mt. Shasta with his family. It was cold, but we had a chance to take the dogs down to the partially frozen lake so they could get some wiggles out.

We also went up the mountain to hunt and kill a Christmas tree. The trip is never without frustration, but always ends with a happy result. A very beautiful tree in our living room, complete with lights and Star Trek ornaments.

And so now we begin the process of budgeting for as many Christmas gifts as our meager paychecks will allow. Neil and I have opted out of presents for each other so that we can still give to our families as well as save some money. It's such a fun time of year, presents or not. So we put the Christmas decorations up early and are enjoying the feelings as long as possible. That's really all we need for the season. That, and each other.

We are so thankful for the amazing year we've had and for everything we've been blessed with. We don't know what the future holds (who really does?) and it may or may not come with significant changes. Next year our lives may or may not drastically change; life as I currently know it may evolve into an entirely new path of adventure. Or it may not. But if it does, I welcome it. Bring it. I can't wait.

Winterapathy

What is with my apathy as of late? Oh ... yeah ... Winter. Oh why must you be so rainy and cold? I'd actually much prefer you be bitter cold and snowy than your typical damp, achy and soaking. Feels like I'm always just getting out an outdoor shower, but with no towel to dry off. Weird, but it does. Some people call the winter depression seasonal affective disorder. But I'm not depressed ... just lazy. My word for it is "Winterapathy." (trade marked, Jaime England Inc.)

But other than the uncomfortable weather and ugly, bare trees ... the feelings are right this time of year. Like for instance ... normally I would be freaking out that Neil's two ER trips this month cost us $400 and my car's recent trip to the shop is going to cost us another $400 (all a month short of our trip to Hawaii). Normally ... I would be a tightly wound ball of stress regarding this unfortunate setback. But Christmas seems to make everything better. I just sit on the couch, bask in the glow of the tree lights while drinking my eggnog, and completely drown out the world. I'm going to miss this escape when it's over.

One thing I can say though ... it's so great, for my weak will power's sake, that eggnog is only sold seasonally.

'Tis the season

Just realized I've been kinda lame at updating this lately. 'Tis the season to get distracted I guess.

Christmas is just around the next corner, so soon after closing the door on 2009's Thanksgiving. It was another interesting turkey day this year, spent up in the cabin near Mt. Shasta. We spend this holiday with Neil's family and make a point of going up the mountain to barbarically chop down a living tree for our holiday amusement. I love it. The tree part, not so much the being in a small cabin with a lot of people for several days part. But that has its moments too. It's definitely not a time without its memories; both good and not so good. But either way, we're very thankful for the beautiful tree and the Christmas merriment that it always brings to our humble dwelling. My, aren't I fancy?

Anyway, need to get off the computer for now. I forgot my glasses and a migraine is the last thing on the menu for today. Actually, maybe I'll leave it off the menu all together.

A recap

Here we are, halfway through November already. (did I just say November?)

I turned 27 this year. Neil planned the most romantic, surprise, long Halloween weekend trip for us to Los Angeles/Disneyland to celebrate. It was such a fantastic time! Disneyland is phenomenal during Halloween. Jack-o-lanterns and orange flowers everywhere, and the Haunted Mansion was decorated to the theme of The Nightmare Before Christmas. The kids in their costumes were adorable and the weather couldn't have been better. Makes me want to spend Halloween that way every year. Although I know one year it would be so much fun to go if we ever have a child. I was about to tear up seeing everyone else's little cuties ... watching the little ones' eyes light up when they saw Mickey or Tinkerbell. It was a blast, and of course I love my husband all the more for it. He really knows how to make me feel like a million bucks. :)



But now we're back into the swing of things and getting ready for the next big holidays. Thanksgiving is just around the corner. In two weeks we'll be at the cabin with Neil's family and all the dogs, getting ready to go Christmas tree hunting on Mt. Shasta. And then the day we get home we'll begin transforming the house to Christmas.

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And as usual for the Oliver side of my family, we have another elderly family member in the hospital during the holidays. My great aunt went in for a hip replacement surgery and had a minor stroke during the procedure. Her lucidity is night and day now from before her operation and that worries me. Hopefully the stroke is something she'll be able to work through but it seems for now her hometown will be Elk Grove, instead of the beautiful Monterey Bay she's accustomed to. It's so incredibly hard to watch your family age. And man does it happen quickly. Time has no sympathy. It's just business as usual. Something we should all do well to remember.