Lovely happy pictures! I am enjoying the stories of happy celebrations.

Big B has been bending over backwards to make me feel better. He is a delight and appreciative of my daily efforts 365 a year. No present from him on a specific day doesn't matter at all. I spoke with each of the boys one on one. I told them I was hurt and why. They were each excuseycakes. I told them the only appropriate response was to apologize and promise to do better in the future. Just like math or laundry, it is my job to teach my boys how to treat people you love. And I will.

I've had a lazy day. Packed up my package for my Santee and am off to the post office. I also, ahem, have some new Doctor Who type tv to watch on my computer. Whee!

Oh I love the picture of Matilda snuggling with Stellaluna!

I've had horrible horrible luck with eBay, so I've basically sworn off eBay.

I’m sorry that the Christmas visit is an obligation and not a joy.

Hee!

I just had a letter "starred" for the first time in Salon... but for also the first time I didn't sign it "trudy". Ah well.

Turns out that someone with star giving power agrees with me that Pagent Girls haven't been role models since 1955.

Turns out that someone with star giving power agrees with me that Pagent Girls haven't been role models since 1955.

1956 was a good year.

Yay for stars!

I've resigned myself to the fact that I'm going to have to make my dress for the Con. I can use stretch fabric so I don't have to worry about zippers. I can use trim to finish the edges and hems and make a choker. I can use braid for the belt - if I want to or I can wear a corset over the dress.

I just need a pattern that I like.

Laura, I dunno what to say, other than that you have my sympathy. Other Bitches with weirdness in their families, I'm feelin' ya, too.

I am currently mildly creeped out by the Xmas card from my mom, which just arrived today. This is the 18th holiday season since my dad died. The first 2-3 when Mom was on her own, she signed Dad's name to our presents. Then when she got together with her second husband, she signed his name to stuff for the next 15ish holiday seasons. This time, after separating from and starting divorce proceedings against that guy, she has reverted to including Dad. She wrote "Happy Birthday to your Dad, Dec. 20, 2006" and "Love Mom (&Dad in Heaven)". The more I think about it, the ickier it gets.

I can see the "love mom and dad in heaven part." I mean, I don't know much about your relationship with either parent, but I can see how she would include that. The "happy birthday" part does seem odd to me. I would be wondering why she included it. (Like, what's the point to it?)

Matt isn't much of a holiday person, too much family strife. I grew up in a family where the idea of holiday strife was what happened on TV. We had very mellow and relaxed holidays. Interestingly, it has made for a good mix in our family. Thanksgiving is Matt's day to shine. he is the head chef - and loves every minute of it. It gives him a lot to do - so that he doesn't get restless. And he loves to cook. Christmas is my holiday. For me it is a secular, warm up the winter holiday- a lot like thanksgiving. Once I realized it really didn't matter to him, I started doing what I wanted. The tree goes up when I feel like it. I bake, becasue I ant to , but only as much as I feel like doing. I like buying presents, so I do. Matt's jobs at christmas are: 1) buy me presents( which he likes to do) 2) complain about christmas music 3) help me with ideas for his family ( even if it is only a tiny bit) and 4) help me with some of the mechanical process like the getting the tree out of storage and wrapping some of the presents to be shipped.

I can think of other ways we could change things in the future if it needed to change. Like next year I want to get all of the presents mailed on black friday. I have no idea if this is possible, but it would make me much more relaxed. I'm all about the mellow and low key

I read and read and had all sorts of things to say, but others said them already, so no advice to Laura, just punctuation. I hope you got the champagne, if not the mimosas! More punctuation to all the others whose Christmases were less than stellar, for family or other reasons.

Thanks to all for your reassurances and advice re: my uncle. It was helpful and I'm feeling pretty ok about my actions.

My Christmas was quiet and lovely. I didn't get all my prezzies, but that just means I get to look forward to them longer! Mostly, I had a wonderful dinner with friends and watched DVDs with them. Cozy and nice.

When I got home in the evening, I found out that a good friend's mother passed away in the morning. It's never easy, but it was expected and what she (the mother) wanted at this point. While it's hard for my friend and his family, his mother had a good life and a good passing.