I know this Christmas is going to be low-key, but I'm still not looking forward to it like usual. We haven't even decorated yet.

I love the Holidays, but with Grandma sick there is no decorating at mom and dad's house to help with. mac is uninterested in anything that does not involve him getting a gift. it just is so un everything this year.

I think I may actually have figured out all of my gifts except for my father's birthday or Christmas. So close! Now I just have to hope that the packages get here. I've been waiting on some shit forever already, which does not make me confident...

I should have cleaned the snow off my car today, but I didn't. I'm going to regret that tomorrow morning. Meant to do a bunch of other things today, too, that didn't get done.

It's strange to be so grateful for temperatures that hover around freezing.

I'm sorry for the big blargh and awfulness, msbelle. It blows that you missed singing.

I worked yesterday and it was such a hole-suck of a day. I mean, really. I just can't. I also had to work until 6:30 the previous 2 nights (which wouldn't be a big deal in a regular office, but as it is, I was at work from 7:30 AM to 6:30 PM for two days straight). This week is the trailing off of finals week.

On the plus side, I made lemon curd, which K discovered she really liked. I've never understood why she would NOT like it as she adores lemon meringue pie. But for dessert there were Nilla wafers and lemon curd.

I also have packed the boxes for my family. All of my gifts this year, pretty much, are homemade. From candy, cookies and even legos (I have a lego fisherman for my brother). I'm super poor right now, I still have to figure out an insurance situation for Grace which is making my blood pressure rise each time I consider it and I can't afford to do anything except buy sugar to make candy. So if you get a box from me this year, it'll be sweets heavy.

Homemade gifts have the love baked right in, you know.

Well, I hope it's love and not despair, because I'm about halfway to despair.

Well, maybe not halfway. More like a few steps. Despair is sort of not my usual toolkit.

This week, we have half-days of school but finals week and grades are due. BLARGH. I have a cookie meeting for Girl Scouts on Tuesday. On Thursday my boss is having a work function holiday party at her place and I feel like, politically, I can't not go. Thursday afternoon I also have agreed to help at the twins' holiday parties. Perhaps cupcakes?

I am tired just thinking about this.

I'm tired just thinking about it. I hope your Christmas is full of rest and peacefulness and insurance solutions.

I haven't done any of the Holiday baking I wanted and I have more shopping to do and I need to mail. I am usually more on top of things. The grump is strong.