She's so funny

I have a sister who likes to remain the "smallest" in the family. When I say I don't want candy, this is wht she does. She purchases the biggest box of candy she can find. This is what she gave me for Christmas. I am not surprised by her antics. This is her nature.

Uh...that is not me holding the box of chocolates. I do wear glasses, but I don't have as much facial hair. I don't think. I snagged this photo for emphasis of the box size.

I watched "Lincoln".  I had to watch it twice. I should probably watch it a third time. The first time on the TV and the second on my PC. It was difficult to hear what he said from time to time so a second viewing was important to me.

It is interesting to read this article if you have seen the movie. I was a bit taken aback when they made that remark about the fifty-cent piece. imdb.com also has several "goofs" from the movie.

Tilapia

First time in my life I have fixed fish (other than the frozen, breaded kind). My niece fries hers, I baked this. It was fantastic. I'll be doing this a lot more often. My Mom hated fish. I worked in a restaurant that was known for its deep fried fish.

I have yet to try grilling fish. I baked this. I want to go with more seasonings and less butter. I followed the suggestion on the bag. Sweet basil and salt/pepper to taste. I want to try lemon butter next time.

This was my treat after a long day of wrapping last week.

Growing families

Perhaps every family goes through stages such as this. For a long time it feels stalled. Nobody having babies or one having a baby and nobody else for five years or more. Then the dam breaks and everybody is having a baby or hooking up with a lady who has a child or two of her own and the family mushrooms.

Such is the case this past year and damn, to me that is a good sign. Cripes I feel like I am acting like Jock Ewing. It seemed that all that guy ever wanted was grand babies.

For the first time since moving to my house in 2002, I am not hosting Christmas eve. I think. Yep. I am almost positive that each Christmas eve I have had my daughter and my niece and nephew here and my sister (niece and nephew's mom) when she was not incarcerated.

This year my nephew is hosting the event. YAY! He met a lady who has a young boy and my sister lives close to him and my niece with her new husband live close to them, also. It would be silly for all of them to travel to my house Christmas eve when now it is just my daughter and I. We can travel to them.

My daughter's beau is in Florida visiting his family for the holiday.

If  you travel this holiday, may your roads be dry and clear. (And "rein"deer free.) If you are feeling sickly, may you have a respite long enough to enjoy the time with loved ones. If you are feeling low may the spirit visit you and fill your heart with love and joy until you swell with the feeling of all that is good and promising in the world. May you savor a taste of good food, good drink and good conversation.

Just one moment to relish in the moment - to know that we are all one with each other. We all feel pain, we all feel joy, we all cry, we all bleed, we all want what is best for our loved ones and the world at large. We all suffer loss at some point in our life. We know that it passes. Time heals. Our brains are equipped to diminish the pain over time, but to also allow ourselves to remember the good times and hopefully learn from the hard times. 

For this holiday season and all to come - prevail. Ups and downs, good times and bad. Let us prevail.

Ha! ha!

This photo is far better than any I have taken recently. Sister 1944 took the photo and this is her latest grandson. (She has 3). This little tyke was deemed to sick to go to daycare but sure was happy about staying with Grandma and Grandpa for the day.

May you see joy in the faces of your family this holiday season. And, may they see joy in yours.

Hazard in my home

I still have one of these in my bathroom medicine cabinet. Yep. A health hazard. I cannot even throw it in the trash. I have to dispose of it properly. Maybe I'll just keep it. And here I am thinking if anything was going to be a health hazard it would be the mold in the basement. Or at least, the kitty litter box.

We used to play with mercury in a bowl when I was young. My brother would break the thermometer and we would roll the mercury around in a big white bowl and watch it bead up and separate and reabsorb itself back together. We poked our fingers into it to make it separate. My best guess in late 60's or very early 70's.

Kept us fascinated for an hour or two before just washing it down the sink drain.

And the mercury in my teeth? I have a lot of fillings. I was more fortunate than my siblings (being the youngest). I received the best dental care and was introduced to dental hygiene at an earlier age than they were. I am the only sibling without false or at last partial teeth in my mouth.

Reading about mercury poisoning, I can pretty much blame every problem I have on mercury poisoning. Yep. I love the one about children - a symptom of mercury poisoning is that they do not respond to their name. LOL! Then, every kid I ever knew and know has it!

Anyway, the thermometer reference means I am sick again today. Ear ache and sore throat and tired. I hate waking up tired. I have no motivation at work. Not since the latest incident. Sucked the joy right out of my work. I called off Monday, and wanted to go home yesterday. Another co-worker beat me to it and I said "Oh, heck with it. Just tough it out the rest of the day." 

Advil, coffee and a shower. Hey, I wonder if you can get a false leg with a boot that can kick you in the rear? You know, just attach it to your bathroom door like you would a mirror. Whenever you need a boost, just push a button and turn around - bam! One kick in the rear. Well, it may just make somebody a million. Well, what? There was that pet rock thing! And that god-awful singing fish on the wall!

Absorption

I can only handle a little at a time. For the first few days the blaring headlines and a few sentences in was all I could read before I began to get sick.

I do not have cable (or air) TV so I heard no news. If a web page began their video spewing prior to my clicking play , it was immediately paused. I want to hear nothing.

Three days in, I was able to read a paragraph or two - before I read something that horrified me so I had to quickly turn away and do something or read something else.  

Personally, nobody knows if more control will stop this madness or not. Nobody has a crystal ball. Perhaps we just feel that we have to do something instead of nothing.

The link to the above map:  

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/07/24/interactive-map-the-us-shooting-epidemic.html

Breathing

Not my photo - swiped it from the Internets

So there I was Sunday. The day after the party. I was uncomfortable. I was finding it hard to catch my breath. Really? I only drank half a beer and one tiny kamikaze. Which was very delicious, I might add!

I fixed dinner. I dabbled on the computer. I watched a Christmas special. I washed some clothes. Other than that I just didn't feel all that good. No headache, though. Just a tightness in my chest and short of breath.

I went to bed at the usual time. I woke up earlier than usual this morning. Hmmm. Tightness in chest is gone. I feel pretty good. I get up - take the dogs out. I had two hours before getting ready for work. I get on the computer, catch up on some stuff. After about an hour I feel that tightness in my chest again. And, that smell! Ugh. That air freshener I found in the Christmas decorations sure lasts a long time!

I had sprayed some holiday scent on Wednesday when I put the tree up. It is one of those tiny cans from Bath & Body scented in winter holiday or something like that. Yuck! That can got tossed, turned my fan on and am trying to air the room out. It is warm outside but not near warm enough to open a door or window. It is also wet and damp.

Smells have always been an issue for me, but now that I get fewer headaches I thought I could stand a spritz of holiday freshness. Can it.

Which brings me to the lovely picture I have posted above. Not very festive is it?

Brother 1953 loved bugs and snakes and frogs. He collected many different creatures of that nature. He wanted to keep them all so he kept them in jars of formaldehyde in our basement. Our basement shelves contained canned tomatoes, green beans, carrots and pickles on one side and on the other - spiders, snakes, frogs, and salamanders in jars of formaldehyde. When my friends were allowed to come over they wanted to go to the basement to see the bugs and snakes. Needless to say their parents always wanted me to come to their house instead of the other way around. Could be they heard of the bugs and snakes in our basement (along with the dad with the drinking problem).

Anyway, one time nephew 1972 must have been angry or just being a kid - broke all the jars in  our basement. Probably early 80's. Our house smelled of formaldehyde for a long time. I was away at the time. Somebody else picked up the critters, but the liquid was all over the floor and shelves. I can imagine how that smell must have affected the few of us still living in the house. Along with our coal fireplace. My mom loved that fireplace in our dining room. 

Air fresheners and household cleansers can be very obnoxious to people with sensitive sniffers.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/208333-health-risks-of-scented-air-fresheners/

Phthalates

http://healthwyze.org/index.php/component/content/article/184-how-air-fresheners-are-killing-you.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formaldehyde

Annual Christmas party

Photo courtesy of nephew 1977.

We had a record 37 show. Oldest is 70 and youngest is 10 days. The ten day old one barely opened his eyes the entire time. With a crowd and noise level like this, I don't blame the wee, little one. Keep your eyes closed. You are not ready to deal with this mess, yet.

The group was unmanageable. I lost control early into the evening. The games were sporadic at best. I did better playing the games with the bar staff - they were much more interested. This group (my family) were out of control. They were having a good time. And, that is much more important than any games or regime. Games are good if folks are bored - but this was not a bored crowd. They (we) entertain ourselves.

The kids were numerous this year. YAY! Our family is producing again! The three in the photo below are extras to the family - no blood relation at all. LOL! We (as a family) don't care. We love everybody. The more the merrier!

 

Photo courtesy of niece 1982.

 

I picked up flashing sunglasses that were "cartoon-themed". Here are three rambunctious boys showing off their shades and their latest gangsta movies. Or, dance move  - I don't know. I can't keep up.

My cheeks hurt from laughing so hard. I like to see folks having a good time and when we dispersed there were the younger ones still at the bar. I got more "alcohol-related" hugs than ever. I mean hanging on to me for dear life hugs. I guess they were trying to stay in an upright position. All had designated drivers, and all got home safely. Though I am getting the impression (from reading facebook) that something went down with a cop and Taco Bell that I am trying to pull the story out of my niece. Hee, hee.

An addict is an addict is an addict

I tell everyone "I hate to shop."  Actually, I am an addict. Probably. I don't know. I am a binge shopper. I was a binge drinker. You can go through life and never have a drink again. You can't go through life and never shop again. Not realistically. I have to be very careful when I shop.

I don't quit.

Christmas is the hardest. I have to start late because I do not quit. I have to keep buying gifts for people. I love to give, give, give.

We are having our annual family party tonight. At a restaurant. A record 40 are showing. There are a few friends coming, but still...mostly family. And their significant others.

And, babies. We have new babies this year. YAY!

Out of the immediate family two nephews cannot make it.

All 8 children will be there. I have to find my cameras and get them charged up!

I stole a couple of games from the party I went to on the first and I made up one of my own. I watched The Grinch carefully and came up with 10 wacky questions about the show. From the easiest "What color is the Grinch?" to the hardest "How many years has the Grinch put up with the Who characters making noise?"

We are in a new restaurant this year. They have promised us a private room. I tell them that there will be singing, laughter and noise. I don't want to disturb the other patrons.

Hopefully, I will have some pics to post tomorrow.

Vacation!

I have been on vacation this week. Either I am doing a bunch, or I am not doing anything. Sort of a balance, I guess. But, no posting. Huh? What is up with that?