It's Starting to Feel Like Christmas

It's been a while since I've updated. You're busy, too, I bet. Actually, this past week I was a little overwhelmed and while I typically feel a little frantic at this time of year, it would appear I don't handle it as well as I once did. I'm sure I'll be much better next year unless it really is the Tamoxifen that is a contributing factor. When I get overwhelmed now ... with too many things to do and, especially, too many DIFFERENT things to do (aka: multitasking) ... my brain just kind of goes on "STUN" and then I'm not good at doing anything. Throw a little fatigue in the mix and I'm a write off. That's mostly how I've been all week. One day this past week I misplaced my keys, which I NEVER do. I had left them on the seat of Patty's van after a noon excursion. At least we relatively quickly figured out where they must be. Then, two days later, I lost my debit card, which I NEVER do! I used it at Walmart and then drove directly to Winners to return something for Kevin and when I got to Winners it was missing and so couldn't return the item. I spent most of the night driving around trying to find my bank card, which never has turned up. I had to find time to get to the bank the next day to get a new one. I wasted a lot of time doing things that weren't getting me any closer to being ready for Christmas! Sheesh! Really. I wish I could describe how my brain really does shut down whenever it feels it needs a rest. I have no say in the matter. I really needed this weekend mostly to sleep. I've learned to expect a roller coaster mentally, emotionally and physically through all of this and so it doesn't really come as a suprise that I would hit a bit of a low after the major UP of being told I was "CANCER-FREE"!! And even then, this isn't too bad of a low. I'm already over it. Pshaw!

And, at the worst point of my low, Elaine sent me such beautiful flowers (from Nosegay, of course) to brighten up my office and my life! Thanks, Elaine! They smell so pretty and I have them right beside my computer where I can enjoy them both visually and olfactorarily (is that a word?).

I feel better today now that our hall and stair project is mostly done! YEAH!! It took a month but it looks GREAT. Kevin did a lot of work. Yesterday he finished the painting of the trim along the stairs and today he sanded and varnished the railing. Yesterday I reclaimed the main floor of our house and got everything dusted, vacuumed, shifted, reorganized, deodorized, and even decorated ... all except for a tree, which we'll get this week ... I hope.

I had forgotten about this little pup that emerged from one of the Christmas boxes! I expected his battery to be dead but with a simple shake of his paw, he was singing and flapping his ears and I was laughing! Bonnie brought him last year. He's a cheerful Christmas character!

We were rushing to get the house looking like a welcoming refuge for the happily anticipated homecoming of Luke on Saturday night. Then, Saturday afternoon, I got a call saying Luke's flights had been cancelled because of the storm in Minneapolis. Delta rescheduled him for a flight on Monday. Two whole days later!! So Luke went to the airport in Louisville and managed to get on a flight today. Even while he was switching planes in Minneapolis, he was afraid that his flight would be cancelled because so many of them were. As it was his gate was changed three times and they had to wait on the tarmac for almost an hour but he made it here this afternoon! His girlfriend was supposed to fly home to Chicago today but her flight was cancelled because of a winter storm there.

So, as you can see, we have Luke home. The fridge and pantry have been stocked, he's been fed, and there's hockey on tv! There's not much televized hockey in Louisville.

Oh ... and additional happy news to report! I have lost another couple of pounds. If you recall, my goal was to lose 15 pounds before Christmas. Well, I'm at 14. It's been slow going, especially after a

n encouragingly dramatic loss in the first week, but I'm ONE pound from my goal. If I make it, and I intend to, I will have averaged 5 pounds per month, which is nothing to sneeze at! What was especially rewarding was that the Wii, which had calculated me at "obese", is now registering me as simply "overweight"! YEAH! In the new year, I'll set another goal to lose 10 pounds by the middle of March, which is when I think we'll be going to the States to see Luke and watch lacrosse.

I wish I could say I was ready for Christmas. Not even close. I need to get out and finish my shopping and then do a bunch of wrapping and delivering ... and some mailing ... and then I need to do some baking and cooking. If I think about it I start getting a little overwhelmed again so I'd better not think about it right now. I've taken the pressure off by not sending Christmas cards. Again. And I won't be doing the large amount of fancy baking that I like to do. Things will be a little simpler again this Christmas and, you know, that's okay. I think we're all just fine with that. And, as I've always believed, Christmas (like babies) comes whether you're ready or not and it's always a wonderful time anyway.

Happy belated Birthday, Ricky the Steamboat!