<p>H off to work this morning. Hope he stays all day but with the snow I doubt it. I am enjoying having a couple of days off and NOT having anyone home. Terrible I know but sometime I just need the time alone. If he asks me one more time if I’m going to do “x” (doesn’t matter what x is) I am going to scream! He’s always busy. Me – I like to sit and read or knit or sew – I’m ENJOYING my vacation. I refuse to work all the time that I’m off. 
Today however I will try to take down the remaining Christmas decorations so that when I go to work next week I won’t have to worry about that. Just one more tree to undecorate and then the snow village to pick up. Not much left to get back to normal.</p>
<p>RM, I totally get the wanting to be home alone thing as I am like that too. </p>
<p>My boss will be back today and we start quarter end close. I don’t like to wish time away, but still wish it were a week from now. H took S to the bus this AM, he’s going to the city to stay with D for a few days.</p>
<p>If you wanted me to confess to a crime I had not committed, just send me to the Winter Classic! Y’all are made of hardier stock! Glad it was a good game.</p>
<p>Yesterday H and I went to Kohls to paw through their sale racks. I scored some stylish workout tops for $2.24 each! Then we went to a local huge resort hotel to see the decorations. Their gift shops had their Christmas items 80% off, so another big score. Of course right before all that, H (the suspicious one) discovered that what younger D told us she did on NY Eve was a total fabrication. Good that I will be at work and that she will have to face H’s wrath without thinking she can turn to me for sympathy. I need to start eating really healthy to fortify myself for the year ahead!</p>
<p>We are back. S2 cooked Christmas dinner, using my southwestern chicken crock pot recipe for the main course but made it his own by adding chunks of sausage and other Cajun style tweaks. When the boys needed extra money growing up, we let them earn it by cooking the family dinner. They have therefore long been good cooks, but have taken their cooking to the next level as adults. S2 made an amazing gumbo another night and took us to several of his favorite restaurants. The food down there truly is spectacular. Of course, that is not helpful for his weight, but he will have to find that balance on his own.</p>
<p>He invited two of his co-workers for Christmas dinner. They were good conversationalists and had lots of pictures on their phones, which was helpful to see since S2 is not a picture taker. The young woman graduated from Rice as a biomedical engineer and is gorgeous to boot (blond, thin, and very stylish). These three hang out together a lot, but S said she is not his type from a dating perspective because she lacks practical household skills. He wants any woman he dates to share his love of cooking, at a minimum. His friends said that waitresses frequently give S their number, so he must click with women over discussion of the menu. He also likes to dance. One of the restaurants we went to has a huge dance floor, with benches all along the perimeter. Country style dancing (two-step) is popular and people mix and match partners rather than show up as couples. </p>
<p>The bones of Ss one bedroom apartment are wonderful, with built-in bookshelves, fireplace, large porch, laundry/storage room, and tons of closet space (two hall closets, linen closet, and walk-in bedroom closet). S had purchased a high quality living room and bedroom set, but that was it. He hates to shop and considered himself done. However, he didnt object to my decorating on his behalf as long as he didnt have to go with me to any stores. I therefore had lots of fun with mega shopping all week. H and S2 did any required assembly and picture hanging and his place looks amazing now. I cant remember the last time I had so much fun.</p>
<p>Wishing for a better 2014 for everyone. We had a relatively quiet NYE. Went to Happy Hours around 4:00 with both girls for drinks and apps. D2’s fiance had left earlier for a family golf vacation to Florida. The mood was somber as D1 wasn’t in the mood to celebrate or be social as she received her papers in the mail. Believe it or not her divorce is final! :eek: 
This dreadful turn of events took just about 6 weeks from the time her H announced he didn’t want children or to be married! She is truly a mess as she told us she thought he would realize he was making a mistake. We are trying to give her space and be supportive but it has not been easy as she has no one else to to take out her hurt and disappointment on. After HH H and I went to close friends to play cards and help watch their new grand daughter. We were home by 11:00 and everyone here was in bed . H and I watched the ball drop from our bed and then fell asleep. </p>
<p>D2 started her internship this morning. She is excited to finally start making some money! So funny to see her leave wearing her navy suit and athletic shoes as she has to walk through the skyway from the parking garage to get to the offices. I got her a new Kate Spade purse for Christmas because she wanted a more “professional” looking bag. She is thrilled.</p>
<p>eddieo…I really needed that laugh. Thank you.</p>
<p>missy…it was -10 when I woke up this morning. With wind chill it is outrageously cold. I sometimes wonder why we still live here!</p>
<p>RM…I am also like that. I am used to making my own schedule and doing things at my own pace. H goes back to work tomorrow and it will be good. ;)</p>
<p>All decorations are down here except for the frozen outside ones. Who knows when there will be a thaw to take them down!</p>
<p>TA, Your visit with S2 sounds great. Glad you had a fun time.</p>
<p>NM, Wow,I didn’t know a divorce could be that quick. But I guess good that it’s final if there was no hope of a reconciliation.</p>
<p>Sister and both sons are now gone (S1 was last to go yesterday -his girlfriend came for one night to go to a New Year’s party with him). H and I stopped in the party for a few minutes which was fun. Saw a lot of son’s old friends. </p>
<p>Have taken a couple decorations down but most are still up . Will probably wait a few days on that. Happy New Year!</p>
<p>Just started snowing here. We’re just snuggling up at home - I intend to do a lot of reading. As for taking down all the holiday stuff - I’m waiting for the UNdecorating elves to arrive …</p>
<p>eddieo - love your little game.</p>
<p>Oh, I also just joined Ancestry.com since the membership for 6 months is half price. I had been on several times in the past when they had “Free Trial” periods. So much information! My mother’s side of the family is documented back to the Pilgrims, but my father’s side gets fuzzy back beyond his grandparents. What fun!</p>
<p>Happy New Year to all my CC friends!</p>
<p>We spent a very boring night at home. NYE just isn’t our thing. I’m not one for crowds or lots of noise.
NM-so sad for your daughter. But maybe now the absolute bottom has been hit, and that chapter has been closed, and she will be able to start looking toward the future with some optimism. At least I hope so. </p>
<p>CBBB–my oldest son lives close to you–he and his wife bought a house in Brighton just a year ago. They are getting ready to hunker down for the duration after a crazy holiday season, and are looking forward to it! Although I did get a phone call from my son from the store–“Mom, what should I make sure I have on hand for the baby–am I forgetting anything?”</p>
<p>My grandson will keep them entertained for the duration–he is 9.5 months old now, and is a whirling dervish creating chaos on a nonstop basis. He crawls at demon speed and loves to climb–stairs, curtains, chairs–</p>
<p>Eddie–I love your game!</p>
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<p>Wow, pretty amazing. What a shock to her (and all of you.) I hope that in the future - as she knows people who go through extended and extraordinarily expensive divorce proceedings - that she will view it as ripping off the bandaid.</p>
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<p>What a fun age!</p>
<p>As perverse as it sounds, I am actually kind of looking forward to the undecorating process (which will begin on Saturday.) I love to organize things, so each time I try to label things better, anticipate what I’ll need next year, etc. It’s the finding a place to store everything that is stressful.</p>
<p>I am glad the holidays are over. Moda your book on introversion has been helpful I love having my immediate family around, but when I have too much “company” I can decompress. NYE I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I gave the book to D2 as well she always feels so “different” I think it will help her.
NM I hate that guy, I know I shouldn’t I don’t even know him, but I do, and I think she will one day say, she is better off.
Eddie, we do similar things, I have decided some family members are better in small, teeny, minute doses. This 2014 will be sad as we will more than likely lose H’s mom. I am going to concentrate on my healthy needs and try to cope successfully with all the drama.
Thank you so much for your listening ears. You are the best.
MP et all, join me on my quest to not implode by outward forces, May the force be with you!!!</p>
<p>I don’t hate NMn’s daughter’s ex, but I have absolutely zero respect for the guy. And she will be better off in the long run, but the short term is crushing, I know. My aunt’s divorce was something like two weeks and then four months later it was final… and they’d been married over 20 years! I think it’s all about agreement can be found of what the assets are and how they should be divided. Not many or quick agreement gives you a quick divorce. And no matter how you cut it, if she had any illusion he would change his mind, the fact they he didn’t must be pretty depressing. </p>
<p>And while I would never say this to her, I am curious to know if he’ll remarry soon since honestly? I find it hard to believe he isn’t having an affair or has another relationship in the wings since that’s usually the reason men leave marriages. And if she truly wants a family, he is not the person to do that with. She just knows it’s going to suck to get back on the horse of dating - and I don’t blame her there one bit, especially when not in school and at this point, still unemployed.</p>
<p>H leaves tomorrow to go skiing with girlfriend (who isn’t really his girlfriend, but is) for a week. And D goes back to school on Sunday. Realtor comes on Monday to get the house back on the market. I told H that we need to be on the same page because I get the feeing he is somewhat dubious on the whole thing…. to which he did not disagree. He doesn’t want to “take a bath” on the house, but I’d rather get wet and put money elsewhere at this point. I am really hopeful he gets where I am coming from because otherwise I’ll be literally moving to the Nook. I adore this guy, but he drives me insane with indecision and posturing. It’s like a constant state of limbo that will eventually have my life be behind me.</p>
<p>Analyst - I would have had tons of fun doing that too! I want to go out to my daughters, but I have the feeling her H, the graphic designer, is very involved and she defers to him a lot. Still… I feel like if she starts organized, it will be easier to stay organized.</p>
<p>Moda are you not telling us something hehe</p>
<p>Moda, your hubby has a girlfriend?</p>
<p>Skiing with the girlfriend…I hope this isn’t another way of saying Hiking the Appalachian Trail…</p>
<p>EddieO – that is a wicked funny game. I’m stealing it.</p>
<p>NM… I didn’t know divorce could ever be that quick, but it probably was for the best. I am really hoping that 2014 gives your D1 a fresh outlook on life.</p>
<p>Ancestry is one of my guilty pleasures, CBBBlinker – along with Archives and the Mormon Family History website (which you don’t have to be Mormon to use). I learned that John Adams and Marilyn Monroe are both relatives. The good news is that I don’t look like John. And the bad is that I don’t have much resemblance to Marilyn either. (And how’s this for weird: many of the family stories about how we were poor immigrants left me thinking we were part of the great potato famine migration, or refugees from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Well, poor, yes…but lots of ancestors who made it over here with the Mayflower and soon thereafter, with so much intermarriage that some of the relationships look a little funny.)</p>
<p>Happy New Year everyone! So interesting to read about your transitioning children. Maybe someday I will know what that’s like!
All is pretty well on the school front for #TS. Not perfect but reasonable. He always has one class that he mistakenly decides to let slide. But he is starting to figure things out, how to make it all work. He is quite happy with his school and course of study. And he is back to singing. Evidently the school has a choir which he found and joined. That pleases me.
As you know I graduated in June with my MFA in creative writing. Since then I have been offered publication for my book and I won a small fellowship and residency at a retreat. I am back to painting and working toward a show to take place around the time of my book launch so I can do a reading at the opening. Busy busy. Oh and if you’ll permit me one last shameless brag - one of my dogs was the #1 dog of its breed for 3 months running this past year and ended up with an invite to Westminster. She won’t go (out of coat) but it was an honor.
I will read back a ways and try to catch up a little and pop back in now and again. Hope you all had a wonderful holiday.</p>
<p>Good morning! Nice to hear from you, TM, kudos on the book and fellowship! Nice to hear TS has found his niche.</p>
<p>NM, I agree with the band-aid theory and am sending healing prayers for your d.</p>
<p>TheAnalyst, glad to hear you had such a nice visit with S2 and that all seems well! It’s very cold here right now…I think I’d like to go visit your s too :)</p>
<p>Moda, lol, I’m going to assume you meant S not H was skiing with gf Good luck with the listing!</p>
<p>I am looking forward to a quiet weekend, although I did agree to go out to see a friends band tonight. Apart from that, hoping to just putter and get some snowshoeing in!</p>
<p>Painter has started on studio and electrician is sick so still not finished. The home stretch on this buildout is driving me crazy (short putt, as they say ;))</p>
<p>Ps arabrab, does that mean John Adams and Marilyn Monroe are related? Sounds like a plot for a time travel cult movie :)</p>
<p>Thanks for checking in #tm. You sure have been busy. Congrats on the book, fellowship and dog. </p>
<p>moda - girlfriend?</p>
<p>NM- Still keeping your D in my thoughts, so sad for her. How is her job hunt going? </p>
<p>c_q I meant to mention that I am so glad your D is liking her job.</p>
<p>analyst - sounds like a nice visit with your S2. I often daydream about downsizing into an apartment and I think I would like the one he has. And I love your idea about paying the kids to cook. S is always looking for ways to make money (he has already found a lot of ways to spend it ) and likes to cook so this could work for us.</p>
<p>Hi #tm! So excited for the book launch! What an accomplished group we have here!</p>
<h1>TM - So good to hear from you! Sounds like exciting news all around.</h1>
<p>moda - I read your post and thought, “H went skiing with a pseudo gf? What the heck?? And what’s the rest of the story here??” So, waiting for more info/a correction …</p>
<p>Still snowing here. Hard to tell how much we have since the wind is howling and the snow has been blown all over. The current temp is 5, but with windchill it’s minus 14. Yup, another good day to read, research the ancestors and wait for the UNdecorating elves.</p>
<p>19 days until we leave for Florida …</p>