I got my seekrit santee gift off in the mail today. finally!

2006 has been a rough one financially, mostly due to my mismanaging, but also to being underpaid. I announced to my employers that I would be looking for greener pastures but I haven't written, let alone sent out, my resume.

I hope my giftee will understand that I had to do a bit of scavenging for the gift package.

My father died in January, but that was actually a relief. He lived one year and half a month longer than my mother, which is longer than I thought he would.

One of my nephews spent most of the year in Iraq, but he survived the experience and is supposed to see his mother the day after Christmas. So that's good.

I get wrapped up in my own stuff and forget how rough some others have had it, that I count myself lucky that I'm still here.

And that I can come here and commiserate.

This past August, I got a kidney stone. I arrived at the ER at 2:00 am, and a doctor didn't get to see me until almost 6:00. When I was finally getting helped, the nurses were surprised that I hadn't been crying out in pain, as their kidney stone patients often do.

So, anyway, an important lesson: If I don't cry out of help, the pain won't go away.

Now all I need to do is figure out why that's so difficult for me.

My Christmas miracle was getting my secret santa present out in a reasonable time. t looks at post above; ducks so Tom doesn't see me

And now I have fruitcake! Thanks, Anne!

My secret slacker gift will likely be a little late, but that's because of (a) baby making a hash of my every attempt to carry out any planned task on schedule; and (b) confirmation from a third party that my giftee would probably very much enjoy one of the two baked goods I'm actually really good at, so I'm'a attempt that this morning and send off the package as soon as it's out of the oven (baby permitting). And it's mildly fortuitous, as (c) yesterday I happened to stumble across a item on my giftee's Amazon wish list, so if I'd sent the package out already I wouldn't have been able to include this.

Still, sincere apologies. There's a reason I signed up for the Slacker exchange.

SailAweigh, I never thanked you properly for your Matilda gifts -- the Winsor McCay DVD helped me survive the doldrums of bedrest, and the portable changing pad continues to be the best thing ever. Thank you so very much!

And I think of all the Buffistas every time Matilda goes into her Baby Bjorn or her carseat, gorgeous things that are going to keep her snug and safe (and portable!) for years, and that we couldn't have managed in this strangled-by-poorness year without you. Matilda is utterly blessed in the community of loving folks she's been born into.

Last night we received a package. It said, basically, "I heard Santa might have a hard time finding your house this year, so I'm making sure that he does. Love, your Elf."

I'm not sure who it was. I can't recognize the handwriting and the box was addressed to me with all five of my names, which very few people know, and I'm not sure any Buffistas know it, but I wanted to cover my bases.

So thank you, secret Elf. We feel well and truly blessed that you think enough of my family to send us tokens of your affection for us.

MWAH!

I am now the proud buyer (soon to be possesser, depending on mailing speeds) of Buffy DVDs S2-S4. Via eBay, financed by lovely Buffistas. S5 is waiting for the auction to end. I'd already have them, but neither Half.com nor Amazon takes Paypal. Stupidos! You lost sales because of that!

Still . . . mine, my precious, mine . . . soon to be reveling in Xander in a Speedo . . .

You guys are the bestest.

2006 is on my list. It was not a good year for me. There were pleasant moments, and some good things happened to people I care about here, and in my other lives. Personally the year was just an endless grueling stream of chores and work. School work and my boys are not mixxy things and it would be nice if less of my parenting life was spent in battle. Business is stressful and the rewards do not come close to justifying the hours. Blah.

I have much to be grateful for in my life. The health of my loved ones is good. There were losses, but such is life. I live in paradise and have great friends and family.

2007, please bring less struggle and more joy for all of us. Thank you in advance.

Dear Seekrit Santee, I did order the stuff in time, but I have been informed that the shipper can not track the order from the 4th and are shipping again since they assume now it is lost in transit. Rather than send part I think I should wait and send it whole. This makes me sad because I would love to think of you opening your goodies now now now. But it still should find its way to you before the end of year.

Dear Secret Santee,

Your package was mailed Monday, via USPS Priority, which in theory means that you could be getting it today, but surely by tomorrow or Friday.

I would track it and tell you how close it is, but the USPS's "tracking" service is CRAP. (And therefore it is On The List.)

Lovens,
Elf Teppy

I'm not sure how 2006 stacked up. We had a lot of deaths Mr. Jane's grandmother, my uncle, a friend's brother. Marital problems, family issues. Had to cut some people out of my life after they caused some pretty severe pain.

I would chalk it upt to being pretty crappy, however, I've reconnected with some family, Mr. Jane and I seem better than ever, and I've had to go out and make an effort to make some acquaintances into brand new real friends. I lost 6 pounds while I was depressed, but that's turned into losing nearly 25 through eating right and working out.

I'd say 2006 was stripping away the bad stuff, so that 2007 can be a great year.

Christmas is always bittersweet for us. Alex died on 12/13, his birthday is 12/22 and then we have our Christmas on 12/24. He's still very much missed and would be 19 on Friday.

JZ, I'm glad you enjoyed the gifties. When I saw that Winson McCay DVD I knew it belonged with you.

Speaking of gifties, I GOT A PACKAGE IN THE MAIL TODAY!! Oh, such a wonderful package it made me cry to see such lovely things from a lovely woman. I've got toasty purple pretties to keep me warm outside on cold, cold days (inside, too, I'm wearing it right now AIFG!), including the most cunning little set of mittens that hide glove like fingers with the ends cut off. They button! A calendar of old timey travel posters that makes me wish I could frame every month's picture. Cookies! Nummy, melt in my mouth chocolate ones in particular. Music (I'm listening to the Christmas mix right now and feeling all mellow and cheery.) Some classy note cards with my initial on them. A handmade picture frame that is absolutely gorgeous. Best of all a pair of sterling silver amethyst earrings that exactly match a necklace I bought in Chicago on my last trip down. Since I'm wearing it right now, it seemed divine providence to get them in the mail today.

Thank you so much, AmyLiz. You are the rockingest Sekrit Santa.