Saturday, December 29, 2007

Random Thoughts After Christmas and an Apology

Christmas is over and I've had/have a lot to think about as 2008 approaches.

* Christmas, as it has been for quite some time, was difficult. It makes me cranky that I don't really enjoy it much anymore. However, that doesn't give me permission to take it out on y'all. I am truly sorry for my unattractive, whiny vents on Wednesday and Thursday. I try to hold myself to a higher standard than that. Thanks to my good buddy Xtreme English for her no-holds-barred reality check! And thanks to all y'all for your support.

* Christmas Day was nice. Volunteering was, as always, gratifying and it's always a pleasure seeing how many are willing to come out on the holiest day of the year to help those less fortunate. A few of my cronies came by for Kay's Killer Eggnog and snacks and general insanity. Godaughter Emily and little Matt, age two, were here to deliver and collect gifts. He liked his toys but as usual he played with my chess set mostly. We all are wondering if we have a prodigy on our hands. I think it means that Auntie Kay had best dust off her rusty chess skills so in another years or so she can teach him to play.

* My son still hasn't returned my call. I am not going to call him. What I am going to do is do some heavy thinking about who I want to handle my affairs when I can't any longer. I had thought my children would be best for that but re-thinking is in order. People who won't return calls are not good candidates to count on for assistance whether I'm dead or alive. I have a smallish life insurance policy that is (hopefully) enough to cover a small, not too fancy funeral. Currently my son is the beneficiary and has instructions but I'm going to change that. Can you blame me?

* I actually had a date of sorts last night. A gentleman, who I went out once or twice with before The Man intervened, called and asked me out. I agreed to meet him for a drink. He is nice enough but boring which I had forgotten. It hit me that I was in one of last places I wanted to be so I made my excuses and took myself out for a steak dinner at the pub that is our local answer to Cheers and hung out with old friends -- infinitely more interesting and more fun. Hanging out with friends beats the hell out of dating I've decided -- it lasts longer and is simpler than dating.

* I gave up New Year's resolutions years ago but this year I feel compelled to make some. After a less than stellar year in most ways, I think I have to take a step back and decide how I'm going to spend the rest of my life -- however long it lasts. I'm working on the list.

* Are y'all like me? Do you get ideas for blogs and not write them down and then kick yourself 'cause you can't remember what you wanted to write about? I am implementing a new practice. If I get an idea while I'm doing something else around here, I pull up my dashboard for a new post, add a sentence or link about it and save it as a draft. I think it will help a lot.

* The queue for The Friday Groaner is nearly empty. Contributions are required if y'all want to continue the insanity.

* Tomorrow's blog will have a suggestion on how to zap our Congress Critters re: the Thought Crimes Bill (HR:1955 and S.1959) and I hope y'all will join me in my effort. It's just an idea I had that might bring a bit more attention to it.

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!

Kay

12 comments:

  1. If you can't vent to us - your readers - who are you supposed to vent to? Not a problem, and I'm glad to read that you're giving some thought to your plans.

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  2. KAY< If I had a dollar for every "title" I have put in blog drafts, I'd be rich. I put the title in and then I cannot for the life of me remember what I wanted to day about it.

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  3. Vent on. . . . we all need to at times and the holidays can be terrible.

    My family has at least two members (one on my husband's side and one on mine) that simply are not able to bend and have to control even the smallest things.

    Fortunately,this year went smoother than any of the previous ones and we are now relaxing with the new puppies that we picked up yesterday.

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  4. Colleen: Thank you -- you are too kind!

    Judy: Title isn't enough. I put title (draft) and put a sentence in the body.

    Maria: I understand. My wretched children are a lot more like their dad than I ever though possible. It hurts like hell, too.

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  5. kay, I can completely understand your anguish

    I have 2 step children who were 19and 22 when I married their father and 2 grand daughters. For years I have tried everything I can think of to be friends with them -- all to no avail.

    A few years ago my step son threatened to kill his dad (in a drunken rage) and we had a restraining order put on him. Obviously we have not spoken since.

    Things with my step daughter had been at least civil until last Christmas when I "neglected" to say anything about her or her daughters in the annual Christmas letter. She wrote us a flaming letter and has not spoken to us since, even refusing to come to my daughter's wedding (which in retrospect was a blessing I believe).

    I have officially given up on these two which have never figured out that things were not working between their parents and that I'm not the enemy. I wish I could make them "get it" for my husband's sake, but I've decided that is not my responsibility.

    Be strong! (and I agree, you should find someone else to handle your will, etc., and perhaps leave specific things to those grandchildren so they'll at least know someday you were thinking of them)

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  6. We have all had one or two toes in the same shoes you're walking in. Though no two situations are entirely alike, we can still feel each other's pain and hold sincere hope for the best for you and yours and certainly not judge you. Overall, you are an extremely capable, talented and knowledgeable woman with nothing to apologize for.

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  7. We have all had one or two toes in the same shoes you're walking in. Though no two situations are entirely alike, we can still feel each other's pain and hold sincere hope for the best for you and yours and certainly not judge you. Overall, you are an extremely capable, talented and knowledgeable woman with nothing to apologize for.

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  8. I have great ideas for blogs that I can never remember. I have great ideas for comments that I can't remember by the time I finish reading the post, too.

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  9. Anonymous11:00 PM

    "get ideas for blogs and not write them down and then kick yourself 'cause you can't remember what you wanted to write" ALL THE TIME, KAY, ALL THE TIME. I'm going to try the method you suggested. Happy 2008!

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  10. Thank you all for being so kind!

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  11. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  12. Granny Annie -- your groaner will be published on Friday! Please use the email in the sidebar in the future. Thanks!!!

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