I just made some tea, using my new tea kettle, my new flavor of tea and am drinking it out of my new green and gold tea mug. Ahhhhhhhhh.

Still sick, but am feeling as though I've crested the worst of it knock on wood.

{{Laura}}

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no, it is not. And, frankly, as much as I love Brendon, he needs to take some responsibility here. Of course, if his family thinks that "boys are like that", that might explain how it happened. But, it will NOT happen again.

This is what dh said (minus the loving Brendon part, because he doesn't know anyone). Brendon needs to remind the boys, or take them shopping, or ask, somewhere during the month, because that will teach them to remember on their own, eventually.

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no, it is not. And, frankly, as much as I love Brendon, he needs to take some responsibility here. Of course, if his family thinks that "boys are like that", that might explain how it happened. But, it will NOT happen again.

This is what I was thinking too.

ION, we've got a bit of family drama here. Not directly in the house, but from my aunt who is supposed to be visiting tomorrow. Ugh. She's insisting on bringing her dog, without even asking. Blech. My poor SIL is furious.

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Oh, man. I feel for all of you who have had less than lustrous Christmases so far.

If you discount my migraine (which I do, because that's all on me) and the tentativeness it induced in my family, the most drama was me trying not to kill my PT cousin who insisted on roughhousing with my newly sprained finger. No actual arguments, and my mother deliberately avoided getting into one with me about said cousin. And I stepped away from a couple myself. Weird feeling, that. Maybe I'm grownup.

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I've been thinking about Laura's situation a lot. I Know B isn't good about gifts on dates. and I understand it. I am horrible about birthdays that are not in my face. Which is part of why I work so hard at christmas. But I just told DH that if his brothers feel preessured by christmas we can scale back, or only kids or whatever. I don't want to pressure people over something that should be fun. So I think you should tell them you aren't haveing fun ( and i mean all three) and that things are going to change. - and it will be a group disscussion that will end in you not doing all the work - which might mean no tree and no presents - because it doesn't really seem to matter to anyone- but just a family dinner. I am actually kind of curious about what matters to them.

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My Christmas actually turned out really nicely. And five days off work, can't beat that.

I like beth's suggestion for Laura.

I got a wonderful gothy dress for Christmas, and now I need a petticoat. Also a waist cincher would look nice with it. Shopping pointers?

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eBay.

Then again, eBay is my answer for anything.

"Where can I find vintage stockings?"

"eBay."

"I need an iPod skin."

"eBay."

"How can we fix Iraq? And get out?"

"eBay."

Speaking of, I need to figure out my costume for the masquerade at the Con next month. Joe says I should do Queen of the Elves again from Lords and Ladies.

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Then again, eBay is my answer for anything.

nods

This is my answer too.

Everyone who had less-than-happy holidays has my sympathy, and a wish that the next set of holidays is much, much better. Ours was wonderful.

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Emmett's fan-festy collection of presents - including the Jack Sparrow painting and Avatar goodies.

Kiss the baby!

Siblings!

Emmett gave Matilda his Stellaluna for Christmas

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Cross-spammage from Natter:

My new favorite picture of Matilda.

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