Holly, I am very impressed with your mushroom business! Just a few short weeks ago you were upset about it; you do such beautiful work, I can see this really taking off.

Lisa, how did your appointment go?

This is a tough time of year for me, but I am okay. The exercise helps, and I am quite pleased with my weight, although I have been eating too much with the different holiday gatherings. I have decided I am going to stay home on Christmas Eve - I never like going to the cousins' party, I always worry about the drive home, etc. I will go to my sister's for Christmas dinner with all other family members who live in the area. I have sent my presents (checks and gift cards) to all who will not be there. I have given gifts and gift cards to my favorite waitress at book club, the mail delivery woman, my newspaper person, my cleaning lady, my favorite waitress at the cafe where I get coffee, my hairdresser, and the woman who does my nails. I bought a few extra Target gift cards in case I forgot someone, and keep them, and some Christmas cards, in my purse. I am relieved with my decision to stay home on Christmas Eve and treat it like any other night.

I keep giving myself a pep talk - I am healthy and on no meds, I have no money problems, I have a beautiful home surrounded by nice, helpful neighbors, I have great friends, I am exercising six or seven days a week. There is no need to be upset because I feel awkward, out of place, alone ....on Christmas. I make myself feel this way, nobody else does. I am alone because I have chosen to be alone - after my long ago horrible break-up I decided this was best for me. My nieces and nephews always seem thrilled to see me.

Quite a pep talk! And, it seems to be working. I will get through the day, I will come home and start thinking about how to reward myself for getting through it!!! It just might be time for me to start dating.

Hello to everyone else.

Coop, I feel like an idiot. It's stress. She made me take some memory tests and I did ok. I thought I was a little slow.

All my fuss and it was just stress.


She did say I need to find a way to relax, that my problems would just continue to snow ball.


I'm going to look up mediation on Youtube. I've always wanted to learn, this might be the time to learn.

JesikaBeth, She did, I guess. I feel dumb. I was freaking out a lot. yeah, stress.

JesikaBeth, I hope you make it through the holidays ok. Just try enjoying the time with your wife.
I do kinda understand, I don't life family get togethers but I'm going on Friday for one. It's the first Christmas since my mother passed away in March. This will be the last family Christmas, at our family home. It'll be sold next year.

Holly and Monica, I had a full day today. I got a lot done. I'll tell you all about it tomorrow.

I've also decided that when I do forget something, I'm just not going to worry about it. There is no use in getting all upset.


Thank you for the well wishes. My appt was ok. I'm just kinda mad at myself for getting so upset.

Lisa, I'm so glad you got your answers. I'm not surprised she found you were stressed, you have had so much to be stressed about. Will you get much time to rest over the holidays?

Your Christmas day is going to be very sad, sending lots of hugs it will only last one day though, then you can look back on how strong you were to get through it.

Jessica - I hope you have a lovely Christmas and you can find a little quiet spot for yourself. Big family Christmases look like such hard work, but I'm sure you'll have a ball!

Holly - yay for your mushrooms! That extra cash will come in handy this time of year!

I never knew how much there was to know about rabbits until we took them on. They are such good pets, as long as you know how to handle them. They constantly make us laugh with the silly things they do. If you like a bit of cheek, you'd love rabbits

Monica, I hope you have a lovely Christmas, I think it sounds like a lovely plan. My gosh you are so generous with your gifts too! I hope everyone appreciates them!

I can't believe it will be Christmas in just a few days! We have had a hard time deciding what to do this year. It will be our second Christmas without my mum and OH's first without his dad. We normally spend Christmas with our separate families, and celebrate together a few days later with a second Christmas dinner. We decided to do that again this year, but I think his family are judging me for not dropping my family this year to support his. If I did that, it would leave just my dad and my sister to have a very quiet Christmas day, with two empty chairs at the table, and I just couldn't do that. Especially because I'd usually do the cooking! So OH will have a quiet one, just him and his gran this year, while I'll be with my dad and sister. It will be such a tough year for OH. I know they'll pull through though.

I miss the days when we could look forward to Christmas! But we will celebrate our Christmas together on the 27th, and I think that will be an easier day, because it's always just the two of us.

I think the best bit is that I'm now off work for 18 days, and I'm looking forward to the break! We need to get on top of our housework and just spend a few days relaxing. I can't wait!

Lisa, hugs

I'm sorry you feel dumb, but better to be safe then sorry is my motto.

Relaxation can help wonders. I meditate daily (or shoot for daily, anyway!) That is going to be one of my goals for the new year - daily meditation. I find it really helps a great deal with so many things across the board. Have fun researching. There's so many different ways to meditate as well. I suggest during meditation to use incense (or sage) if you are not too smell sensitive

Thanks everyone for the Holiday wishes! To you all as well

Today is my last day at work before Christmas and I'm off on Monday - WhooHoo . I'm here early today because I have a lot of lose ends to tie up, and I'm off at 3pm today.

Have a great Holiday everyone. I'll be back on Monday to check in

I'm going to try.


I'm having a down day. Not having any money this time of year, is so hard. I am supposed to make a couple of trips to my hometown, next week. I am not going to have the gas money. It just makes me cry. I had a bad dream this morning, too and today, I am just so incredibly sad.


I think everything is hitting me all at once. I feel so alone.

Lisa, it is tough being short of money at this time of year. Could you ask for someone to give you a tank of petrol for a christmas present this year?