So I had quite a busy Xmas (and weekend lead up to same). Going into this, I wasn't feeling even remotely in a holiday mood, but somehow all this activity finally jump started some cheer. This is good because my big family thing won’t be until Sunday and I’ve been able to work out a few things to do for presents, which I hadn’t done until now.

It started Friday when I drove from MA to Canandaigua, NY and spent the weekend with the parents of the wife of my closest friend from college (also my freshman and first-year-out-of-school roommate). It was a haul, but totally worth it, though heading out in Friday's gale-like weather had me dubious at first.

Saturday was an all-day house party that was a blast. Food, lots of drinking and a table top shuffle board tournament (this was a serious set-up - the rec room was designed at least in part to hold the table along with the full-size bar) were on the agenda.

The only downside is that almost everyone involved is a serious conservative, including, sadly, my college friend who we used to call "the communist" to his approval. Oh well, people change as they get older. All incredibly nice people, though, and luckily politics mostly stayed off the table as a topic of discussion. They are also seriously lunatic NY Giants fans, but even as a Patriot's fan, I've never had a problem with the Giants other than those two specific occasions (a lot of older New Englanders are Giants fans from the time when they were the only team in this part of the country to root for).

I headed east on Sunday and detoured to Amherst to hang out with another friend I hadn't seen in a few years. She just got out of seriously bad relationship and is doing incredibly well. She's happier than she has been in years, and looks great. Almost ridiculously so. She's my age but she doesn't look much different than she did 10 years ago. So unfair.

After one night back in Salem, on Monday I took the train up to Maine which now goes to my hometown, which was a wonderful way to spend the morning after all that driving. I spent Monday night with my brother and two sisters (and spouses) at one of my sisters houses and just had a little quiet family time. My brother, his wife and I also did our usual Xmas light tour on the way there and back.

I got dropped at the house of the mother of a friend I've known since kindergarten, and spent most of Xmas day hanging at their house reading (they were at an Xmas dinner at my friend's brother's, and I wasn't going to intrude on that, plus I needed the quiet time). I also got out for a long walk, which was gorgeous because it was snowing just hard enough to get a light cover on everything, but not enough to be a nuisance. The trees were so gorgeous.

Xmas night my friend and I invaded the after dinner portion of another friend of ours family Xmas, since we love his parents and siblings almost as much as we do him. Got a ride back to Salem with my pal the next day (he also lives in MA for the time being). All in all, it was a lovely, low-key Xmas after the crazy weekend.

I'll head up to Maine Sunday morning for family blowout, and also probably hang with both my friends as they'll both be up for the weekend as well. Then on New Year's Eve, I'll stay over with a couple I often spend NYE with, and then hit SJs on Tuesday afternoon.

After dreading the holidays so much after everything with Mom in October, I'm actually seriously looking forward to having some more holiday time. I suspect just keeping busy is helping a lot. Plus I just got tickets for The Hobbit at a serious IMAX 3D theater for Monday afternoon for between my trip back from Maine and my NYE plans.

Oh ita, I hope the meds do their work.

What Burrell said.

I might feel worse about this, but agitating me clearly makes it worse, and I will get up and walk out of the room if she persists.

Yikes, ita. I'm sorry you're having so much trouble with your mother. I hope she figures out that you're doing the best you can to keep functioning. It's hard to be second-guessed by family when you're already having so much trouble with your medical providers.

As for my folks, we asked Dad last night why he wants to move (again). Sounds like it's mostly because Mom's unhappy in the new place (as expected), but also he's kind of bored. He didn't like cooking or cleaning, but it did give him something to do. (Well, cooking, anyway: he never really cleaned much.) He needs a new hobby, I think.

That sounds like a lot of good stuff, Frank! But also just a lot.

I've snapped at her enough times that I can see her swallowing her nagging instead of saying what she feels. I might feel worse about this, but agitating me clearly makes it worse, and I will get up and walk out of the room if she persists.

Yeah, that doesn't help. At least you got meds? Good luck with the trip back.

So last night we skidded into a gutter on the way home--serious snow and ice on the roads around here--but the car seemed relatively unharmed. Hubby took the car to our faux-son's garage and discovered that there is real damage. So 2 out of 2 cars need major work, with only one of them driveable though it shouldn't be. And car dealerships won't look at us unless we have $2K in hand. I told Hubby to get my car fixed, but no, "my car is still OK" and "that's a lot of money, we can wait on that." Well, no, we can't now, Hubby. The weather is fucked, we're in dangerous vehicles, and you insisted on dropping $300 on Christmas presents "because it's expected of us." If he says one more time "It'll all work out" I may scream.

That sounds like a lot of good stuff, Frank! But also just a lot.

You are not wrong on either count. I will be very happy once I'm past New Year's as I will be able to seriously chill out, but I am still really looking forward to all the stuff coming up before that. And I'm so relieved to be past the dread feeling I had leading up to everything.

Good luck with the meds, ita!

Connie, that's tough. If you sell one car for scrap would that be enough to fix the other car?

Frank, that all sounds pretty excellent, though tiring!

I am downloading all the emails that came in while I was gone, and thinking "WHY did I not take off today/tomorrow/monday?!?" But I have work that must be done...and a headache, and sore throat that presages a cold. Uh oh.

Today is mt day off with mac at camp. Even with a late start I have had a really good day thus far. Got white christmas tree 50% off, many books at half price books for mac, returned one gift and bought some jewelry with the store credit. Now comfort food. Next up giant antique store.

Comfort food lunch followed by peach cobbler ftw.