Aw, Nicole, thanks. That's very kind.

This Christmas, more than others than I can remember, has made me realize how much I love and hate my family.

I live about 8 hours away from them so visiting only happens a couple of times per year. This Christmas I was struggling with the choice to stay here in Michigan or move closer to my family. I have extended relatives close to where I'm at now, but I seen them rarely to never.

While talking with my dad about this decision, he told me he would support my decision and told me that I was always welcome to come home. We discussed the fact that this could be good for me because, although I would pay some rent to my parents, I would be able to save up more money than if I lived on my own and pay off some debts quicker and save money for a newer car (mine's a '92). I was feeling good about this until I talked to my step-mom.

I brought up the question of what she would think if I were to move in to my parents house. (I would take my brother's room in the finished basement.) She told me that for short term, 1-6 months, it MIGHT be okay, but not for any longer. She likes her space and doesn't want us kids to move back in. She also said that my chance to move in was right after I graduated college. (I'm 24 and single, so it's not like I have a family or kids that I'd want to move in...just me.)

I suspect that her reasoning behind the "it was okay then, but not now" story is that because I've been on my own for 2 years now she would not be able to boss me around the house. Two years ago, if I had moved back in, she would have been able to have more power over me. As the oldest of 4 kids (brother and 2 step-sisters) I've always been, in some way, competition for my dad's affections. I'm "daddy's little girl" and she's the wife and I think she thinks that if I moved in, I would "get my way" from my dad. I respect and love my step-mom, but she holds some kind of unspoken grudge towards me because of that fact. But the truth, in my opinion, is that she's jealous of my dad's affection towards me.

I love my family very much and sometimes it breaks my heart that they are not closer, geography-wise. So, my dilemma at this point, besides this being a big life decision, is whether or not I will become some sort of conflict between my parents. I love my two step-sisters as well. One still lives and home (6 years younger than me) and the second visits often (4 years younger and thinks she knows everything about everything), but the second step-sister also constantly insulted me while I was visiting.

So, I'm at the point where I'm not sure whether or not I want to move in for a short period of time or just move closer. There are other factors in this including finding jobs and paying bills.

To conclude this rant, Christmas was very neutral for me this year.

Beathen, btdt. Sorry, babe. Lisah, you are so right! "Bodymore," it was! :) My happies aren't like other people's.

My happies aren't like other people's.

Well...they're rather like mine so there you go. I don't know if that's a comfort to you or not.

I got yummy treats from Ginger! Baked goods are Da Bomb.

Still no Secret Santa package, though, so whoever you are, if you're tracking, well, there you go.

Still no Secret Santa package, though, so whoever you are, if you're tracking, well, there you go.

Ditto

My SS present hasn't arrived yet either, but the packages I sent to the West Coast, including Deb's, apparently went by Turtle Express.

Ginger! I, too, got a Turtle Express package! I figure last week's snowstorm slowed down the mail here in Cincy big time.

Thank you! (I love the Spidey clock -- it's on top of my computer monitor already.)

Report from my sources in the dungeons of USPS customer support--the massive snowstorms kicked all guarantees of delivery out the window. They do their best, but they're not omnipotent. People are being told they can apply for refunds, but what they're not being told is the chances of getting those refunds in this situation are pretty minimal. NOt even the USPS can plan for time-zone spanning mega-blizzards.

You should have heard the bitching when post offices and delivery routes were put on hold during the big California fires last year. "But you're supposed to deliver through storm and rain and dark of night!" "You'll notice that firestorms aren't listed anywhere in there, are they. I'm sorry, ma'am, our delivery people are not paid to risk their lives to deliver your catalogs."

No, I never said that, dammit.

edit: "Where's my mail!" "Um, your post office burned down, sir." "So?"

We had a package delivered USPS on Christmas day. She said she was getting 4x time, for four hours. Seemed quite cheerful, and her Santa cap was jauntily cocked.