In all my stress because my mom changed our Christmas menu from chili to ham! I forgot the original side I was bringing- salad!

I want braided turkey legs!

Also, my mom is really annoying me with this ham thing. No one likes ham, I don't know why she is doing it, except I can't eat beans. But I can eat around the beans! Sheila said she would bring a sandwich tray, and that made my mom think she didn't want chili! My mom "told" me we were switching by asking me if I could eat ham, but I thought she was just asking. My uncle has only been talking to me, so we have sides and bread for chili. But now I need to make new sides. I bet Sheila will still have the sandwich tray. We are four people, how is communication such a disaster?.

I am pretty sure my mom is just trying to be nice, that is the issue, so I am also a little angry at myself for being annoyed. But if she just let it go and let me do everything we would not have all this agita! And we would be having better food that everyone like, with actual sides that go with that type of food. My mom somehow never learned to plan a coordinating meal, because my grandma cooked when I was little, and then I cooked for most family holidays until I was thirty and my mom all of the sudden decided she should, when I am happy to. And we added Sheila, who also cooks. But I started planning and making holiday meals in 7th grade, I am capable of it!

Also, my mom is really annoying me with this ham thing. No one likes ham, I don't know why she is doing it, except I can't eat beans. But I can eat around the beans! Sheila said she would bring a sandwich tray, and that made my mom think she didn't want chili! My mom "told" me we were switching by asking me if I could eat ham, but I thought she was just asking. My uncle has only been talking to me, so we have sides and bread for chili. But now I need to make new sides. I bet Sheila will still have the sandwich tray. We are four people, how is communication such a disaster?.

I am pretty sure my mom is just trying to be nice, that is the issue, so I am also a little angry at myself for being annoyed. But if she just let it go and let me do everything we would not have all this agita! And we would be having better food that everyone like, with actual sides that go with that type of food. My mom somehow never learned to plan a coordinating meal, because my grandma cooked when I was little, and then I cooked for most family holidays until I was thirty and my mom all of the sudden decided she should, when I am happy to. And we added Sheila, who also cooks. But I started planning and making holiday meals in 7th grade, I am capable of it!

So I am now going to make mashed rutabaga, mashed cauliflower and sweet potatoes to go with ham. I already made greens (with bacon). I can't get a straight answer out of my mom if there will be other sides (like maybe she is hiding them from me because I can't eat them!)

Renewed license achieved!

On the downside, plumber charged $475 for visit, fetching small fancy brass part, and now says that the hot water tank has to be replaced for like $6K+.

Hoping panicky roommate who is onsite is not being misled. At the least, a second opinion (and quote) is advisable.

Theo, I was going to suggest you look at getting a heat pump, but it would be more expensive (at least in the short term), and it looks like most of the rebate programs have expired.

Oh no, Atropa! I am so sorry to hear you are in that level of pain. Backs were indeed poorly designed.

My SIL decided once again that I was to provide a meat lasagna as well as a vegan dish. So I am buying a frozen lasagna, but will still make a super tasty pasta/capers/broccoli/beans dish I like.

I am off to the grocery store. Take pity on me.

I am off to the grocery store. Take pity on me.

I kind of need to go to the grocery store but we only need like two things and not super-urgently.

I keep having to remind myself that my 3rd Night of Hanukkah is most people's Christmas Eve and I should not expect my co-workers to respond to things! But we sent the kids to skating camp for the day and I'm getting so much work done!

Jessica I have been cursing all these work people for working while their company (our client) is actually closed, but then I'm reading the emails, so?

My sister and I made molasses cookies and dough for the brown butter chocolate chip cookies (they have to rest in the fridge). We may also make a third kind. We shall see. Tonight we do dinner with the family and exchange presents. My father is in a rehab wing of the nursing home but apparently we are allowed to check him out for dinner. And my brother is a 36 year old man who didn't bother to buy any presents. So I'm not giving him one. Hmph. But apparently last Christmas while I wasn't here (was holed up with my broken ankle), he and my sister very nearly came to blows so...fingers crossed we can keep a lid on it tonight? We only spent about 20 minutes with him yesterday.

Yesterday was an interesting experience in mail delivery. Somehow the Costco book of values and three Christmas cards were soaking wet! I had to carefully peel envelopes away from cards and prop them all up to dry.

Loved the return address from the Ho-Ho-Holts. Thanks dcp and Aurelia too. It is very merry getting Christmas cards again, I was sad that went out of fashion so suddenly. Glad we thought of doing cards this year.