Amy,

Ha ha ha. DO EEEET.

Calli,

Sure!

I'm ready for my end of the year wrap up even though it's not quite the end of the year.

I'm still in VT and loving it. Will and I are still going strong, we had a awesome vacation to Maine this fall and hope to do it again.

Both my parents visited and I got to go back home this summer so that was a win as well. I'm not travelling for Christmas but that's okay.

And I'm cautiously optimistic about 2013.

Not so great things - I had a set back with my bipolar disorder that was a slow downward slide for most of last year that finally came to a head in the summer. The good news is I have a great shrink and therapist and I'm working with both.

I didn't find full time work and had a huge blow to my confidence with a temp job and then the stress of another really brought the aforementioned things to ahead. I'm not working while I get my medication sorted out. But again, great team of doctors.

My cat Dean died this year, he was never quite right and finally I had to put him to sleep. This time last year I was reeling from his sister's sudden death. But my kitty Penny is healthy and a handful.

I learned to knit and have been knitting with mostly success. I discovered a love for board games and Will and I started playing them. I tried my hand at needle felting but not quite my thing. In 2013 I'm going to take a drop spindle spinning class.

My hopes for 2013 are: meds that work, a job, a lot less stress, and being able to see my family some.

I am in holiday heaven!

Jesse, thank you so much! It is like you've been reading my mind...or paying really close attention over the years.

Y'all, Jesse sent me the nicest box of goodies.

The first thing I saw, upon opening the box was a really cool 'snowflake' shaped ornament made entirely of recycled glass and plastic, by women in Ghana.

Next up, a beautifully wrapped bar of traditional Greek olive oil soap. It has a little evil eye and all.

Then, TWO of my absolutely favorite Lush bath bombs...Honeybee and Vanilla Fountain. Gorgeous baths are my thing right now and I've been missing Lush stuff. ohmygoodness, ohmygoodness, ohmygoodness.

Okay, so I have this passion for boxes. Can't say why. This beautiful little wooden box with a peace sign on the cover just makes me so happy.

And, as if that was not enough, the last item is a notepad...can't get enough of those either...with a design by my all-time favorite architect. Macintosh!

Seriously, it's like she's reread everything I've reported liking over the last nine years.

The card was really sweet too.

Jesse. I am SO appreciative of your thoughtful kindness. Thank you, thank you.

happy-making posts.

Well, I suck. I officially flunked Xmas.

My secret santa box was supposed to go out today, but we had to work later than I thought and it didn't happen. The box came back home with me and will stay until Wed.

I tried the Post office...closed. I tried the grocery store where I'd mailed it last year...closing and no mail going out til Wed.

When I finally got home, I found the little slip of paper telling me to come to the post office to pick up a package.

Don't worry, quester! Late Secret Santa gifts are a tradition around here. Some have arrived in July.

Thanks, David.

The holiday this year is making me surly. I've been snapping at people like Scrooge.

I just want to get over this cold so I can be human again.

All I want for xmas is to feel relatively ok! Is that too much to ask for?

And the regular exchange is stated to be until the end on the year.

FEEL BETTER

Thanks, you are the Nicest!