Saying Goodbye - Looking Ahead

The last remnants of Christmas have been tucked away safely for another year.

This evening my son and I spent a few hours de-decorating our Christmas displays in our home. It's always a little bittersweet but also fun because we spend the time sharing memories and talking about the ornaments and what he will take with him someday when he sets up his own household. It allows us the opportunity to reminisce about our favorite events this year as well.

Makes it so much more enjoyable now that he's old enough to really help out with the clean-up job. When he was little I was usually a little sad because I tended to do the put-away by myself and usually while he was taking a nap or had gone to bed for the night. It's nice to share the job with him now.

However, I must also admit that I love to get the tree out to the curb, clean up the needles, and get the house back in order. Seems to feel so much roomier when that tree is out of the house.

Last year we put up the tree in the family room. This year we put it up in the living room. I think I actually liked it a little better in the living room because I'd walk in the door from work and turn on the tree and hear the Star Spangled Banner from my Statue of Liberty ornament I bought when I used to travel to New York all the time. But then we also spend most of our time together in the family room so didn't see and smell the tree as much.

Next year I'll need to be sure and do more decorating in the family room so it looks more festive. I have so many decorations that it shouldn't be an issue. Time was the robber this year, what with hosting Thanksgiving and doing the Christmas play at church.

Even though it's hard to say goodbye to those warm fuzzy memories, I continue to look forward to what 2009 holds for us. I've a feeling it just may turn out to be a banner year.

I'm Back!

Tonight I officially rejoined my critique group. It was great to be back, though I'm still dealing with the effects of sleepiness.

Nothing like a group hug to get you in the mood for Christmas. Everyone looked great. Caught up on the family talk, the work discussions, and what all one can do with a camera phone.

Just ask Gary.

Since I still didn't have but one free night this week, I didn't get to do any critiquing. We all decided to shoot the breeze tonight anyway so the New Year will bring time to finish critiquing stories.

Got to hear about another new story idea Brian is cooking up. Not into horror personally myself, but I really like this new concept he's working on. Gave me goosebumps just to hear the skeleton of his ideas. Knowing Mighty Bri, it will be pretty interesting to see how he puts his conceptualizations onto paper.

Christmas is two weeks from tonight, so we won't be meeting at our regularly scheduled time. Gee, I finally show back up and we have to take an extended break. I feel so loved!

Well it will give me something to again look forward to in the New Year.

Thanksgiving Traditions

I'm going to cheat on my blog tonight. My sister Pam is the one responsible for making me sign up on facebook so I could answer her monthly question about what everyone is planning to do for Thanksgiving, traditions, favorite foods, etc. Therefore, for my blog post tonight I'm copying my response to her. I'd love to hear comments from any readers out there on what their plans are for celebrating Thanksgiving!


Okay, Pam, for you I'm taking a break from planning and chores to answer your question (thank you very much, by the way, for guiding me to the proper section here).

So for the first time in my adult life - I GET TO HOST OUR FAMILY THANKSGIVING DINNER!!!!!!

No, I'm not a bit excited.

Last year we moved into our big new house the day before Thanksgiving with the plans that since this year would be the B--- "on" year that I would be the one to host the entire immediate family. Expecting seventeen counting baby Madi. :-)

Of course we have to have turkey - I'm going to have a smoked turkey and a standard version. Hello, cranberry sauce! Mom's pumpkin pie, Pam's apple, Angie's chocolate, and my cherry (yes, the pies are the most important food group on the menu). Then all the trimmings of mashed potatoes, corn, sweet potatoes, broccoli rice, dressing, you name it.

Thanksgiving morning we girls will kick the guys out to go play golf or just walk/drive the course while we get ready to serve up a good turkey coma. The kids can run around the yard or walk down to the park to play some basketball. We'll go around the table and mention what we're thankful for (Angie's got something up her sleeve). After dinner the guys will watch football and talk about how they overate (while running for that second helping of pie) while we girls go pile on my mile high bed and watch a girlie movie (maybe a Boyfriend For Christmas!) while the chicken/turkey and noodles are cooking for supper. That night we'll either go out to see a movie or stay in and watch Silent Night.

Friday is my traditional day to go get my Christmas tree, but I'll probably wait until saying goodbye to everyone (waaaah!). Wait, that doesn't count as a Thanksgiving tradition, does it?