Ooh, Happy Shane Day to all, and to all a good day!

I'm really not feeling the holiday spirit this year, and I'm feeling guilty about it because I really don't want to ruin it for everyone around me. There is so much left to do, and I am feeling incapable of doing it.

ION, I am watching Rachel Maddow's special from last night and she was talking to those directly affected by DADT about the Congressional vote, and I am getting all teary eyed.

Happy Birthday, Shane!!!

sj, take this year to figure out what you and teacup guy want to do together. I have friends that years ago decide that Christmas was just so crazy busy and pressured that they exchange gifts on NYE. The kids get there stuff on christmas, but they get a little time that is just them on NYE. In general , we don't do anything on Christmas day. We make phone calls, open presents, eat food. Other things can happen, ut there is no crazy running around

Yup, that's good advice. At first we did the familial thing, but once the SO & I started doing our own Christmas (sans kids) we decided to do what we wanted. So our own couple Christmas tradition is Chinese food. And probably pumpkin pie, because I have the pumpkin despite the feared pumpkin shortage.

beth, TCG feels obligated to do what the family expects of us, and, for the most part, I do too. This year has just felt especially crazy for me, mostly because of things that should be happy. Trying to get out wedding announcements and thank you notes while also trying to Christmas stuff done has been overwhelming for me. And, per usual, I'm not feeling well and am very low energy. I know what I really need to do is figure out what needs to be done and break it down into doable chunks as well as decide what just isn't necessary. These are two things that I am very bad at, unfortunately.

And wow that is a lot of memeing, sorry.

Thanks for the b-day wishes! Shanie is enjoying all his presents and loves the Happy Birthday song.

Hubby keeps saying that cell phones are too expensive. I think I'm going to endrun him by getting myself a Cricket, at least. He's generally at home, so I can call the landline if I'm out at the store. He can borrow it when he's out so he can call home. Off to research prices.

When you buy a phone from someplace like Tracphone, do they include the charger?

That's what I figured,sj. which is why i told you about my friends alt way of finding a little Christmas just for them.

When Dh and I were first married we spent the first year running back and forth to spend it with both families on both days. then his family got cCE and mine got C , based on when everyone opens presents. If we were still all back in CT, I think I would be the meany time keeper. But his family stay up way late on ce and mine gets up way early on xmas. I have one sister that is out here and we spend thanksgiving together, not xmas