Hi my friends!

Lisa I am so glad you are happy in the life you have built in Washington. It is sad your daughter is so far away but you are so strong to realize you can be a happy long distance Mom. I love that you have carried Elvira's collar with you but can send it to Jennifer. I wish I could see your badass boots!! and yeah we want you to rock your confidence with weight loss, makeup, girly stuff that makes us feel good.

Kathleen it has been so good to have you back here and loving hearing about Tully.

Very concerned that we haven't heard from Pat for so long Hope so much she is okay!!

I am trying very hard to adjust my thinking about things that upset me (the work lady) I can't control what she does; only control my reactions to what she does. That helps a little. It is still so crazy to me that I *think* my main function now is to just be there with her. Because there can be hours at a time when she is dozing in bed and I just sit there. Once in 2 months she said , at about 4:00 pm, 'why don't you go home early' because I really don't do anything other than ask if she wants dinner (lots of times she says no, she'll get herself something later) and feed the cats. and that was so great to leave early! but that was only once. like i said the pay is tremendous and that is what keeps me there.

Winter solstice today!!! we will start gaining daylight thank goodness!!!

and our State is currently restricting family gatherings, supposedly only same households can gather. we could NOT accept that for Christmas! so we (husband and I, 2 sons and girlfriend) are going to meet Christmas Eve at the hotel where my husband works, in a large conference room, to eat Chinese takeout (our traditional Christmas eve meal) and visit exchange our gifts. We will keep our 6 feet apart and wear masks. We chose the hotel for the large room to meet, as none of our homes are super large.

wishing my friends a happy and Merry Christmas

just indulging my self-pity for a minute ! these are things that bother me so much about the lady. I offered to wrap the few gifts for her great-nephew, her response - "I have all kind of wrapping paper put away in storage". But she didn't say 'yes please' or 'that's nice or you' or even acknowledge! I have brought in homemade cookies for her because I know she likes to have some late at night . She has said 'oh i already have some of those Keebler ones'. She doesn't say 'thanks for the homemade ones". I visited her on Thanksgiving Day and brought her a piece of homemade pie. She was talking to someone while I was in the room and she says "I was all alone on Thnaksgiving".

I haven't been here much this month. I'm v sorry. I feel like I let the thread down.

I'm kinda ready for Christmas. I sent Jennifer a present of lots of cute socks, winter hat, nice gloves and a Harry Potter scarf. It's not exciting but I think they are things she could use this winter.

I got my friends kids candy candy candy. Enough they can be all sugared up all of 2021.

No decorations here this year. None. Not this year.

Ok, that's rude. Are you sure you want to work for this woman, Holly? Jobs for caregivers are quite often plentiful. I'm not sure if they are in your area??

Most of my ladies I worked for were so kind. Yours sounds like a *****.

Holly,

I forgot to put Elviras collar in her Christmas present. I'm so mad at myself and v sad too. I wanted to do that. I wanted to give her something meaningful, damnit.

I will try to get pics on here of my bad *** boots.

I really am v happy here in Washington. III thinkhthink asbas iMI get out more, that love will only grow more. This is such a beautiful area. I can fly home for Jennifer's 1st wedding anniversary, if covid protocols improve.

My Dr Martens. I paid $180 for my pair.
https://www.dollskill.com/dr-martens-vegan-jadon-ii-mono-boots.html.

Pair #2. A more dressy boot.

https://www.zulily.com/p/black-irby-...-61360009.html


I own 1 more pair I want to share but it will have to be later.

Halloooooo Kathleen!!!!!!!

I hope you are doing well.

I'm going to Trinity's house for Christmas Eve.
Her kids will be the ones all sugared up. I bought so much candy. They have 5 wonderful kids whom i love, and they are constantly fighting for room in their small house. It's a constant struggle.
Instead of buying things for the kids, I went with candy. Candy will not last, unlike toys.

How are your children? My Jennifer is doing well, still working toward her PhD.

What are your Christmas plans?

I haven't been eating as well lately. That makes me sad. I'm not giving up, not even close but when I fall short in eating, I do get a bit sad.

Lisa please don't feel that way! you have contributed SO much to this place. You've inspired me with your confidence and i will always remember that Its cool if you haven't been here as much as you would have liked. we are always here and WHOA those ARE bad *** boots!!!! No Christmas tree for you? I remember in years past, you'd have pics of your tree here . LOL @ sugaring up your friends' kids!

thank you so much for commiserating about the rude lady. But then an hour later, she's ordering lunch for us and waving off my effort to pay. I think she truly doens't realize she's hurting my feelings. That doesn't excuse it, I know, but I am trying to keep things in perspective. What is REALLY keeping me there is the astounding amount she's paying me. It is the chance of a lifetime for me to bank some seriously $ and that is what I will do . But thank you, and Kathleen for the sympathy!

My husband said "don't let her rudeness take away your niceness". and I want to hold onto my kindness and not get bitter! so I am going to make her a Christmas stocking with gifts and cookies and I will visit her briefly on Christmas morning. I HAVE to have sympathy for her because she can't drive, her family won't visit (they don't like her, hmmm) and friends wont' visit due to Covid.

Because I for once have some excess $, I've been trying to tip people who ordinarily wouldn't expect it. their reaction is so nice it makes you feel good. And I got gas cards for our recyling/garbage collection people. I remember when I used to get Christmas bonuses, how great it felt. I have baked my usual hundreds of Christmas cookies and frozen them; and packaged them in pairs. and keep a box in the car; it's fun to send a couple thru the bank drive-thru window.

good night my friends!!!

Trinity is my dear friend, here in Kennewick where I live. We run errands together, constantly message on Facebook. Her husband says I am a member of the family.

Trinity keeps me sane. She's my rock.

Lisa: That is great that you have such a close and wonderful friend in Washington. And so nice that they consider you family. ❤

My kids are doing well. My son just graduated with his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. He has applied to Grad school for his Master's degree, and then he eventually wants to go on to get his PhD in Psychology. There was a period a few years back where he was really struggling with anxiety and depression and poor life choices. He has come such a long way. I am really proud of him. My daughter is a Junior in college and is majoring in Creative Writing. She has been dating a guy for about six months now (her first boyfriend), so that is the latest excitement in her life. Both kids live at home right now, which I love. ❤

​​​​Our kids opened their presents on Christmas Eve. This has become a tradition the past couple years. On Christmas Day, we went to my husband's sister's house. She had some great food prepared for all of us. We had decided ahead of time that we wouldn't exchange presents this year. Usually, his other two sisters come into town for Christmas from New York with their husbands, but they didn't this year due to COVID. So we just had a small but very nice gathering.

Unfortunately, I am right there with you on not eating as well lately... especially during the holidays. It can be very frustrating, but as you said, we can't give up!!!

Oh my gosh ~ last, but not least ~ your boots ARE definitely badass!!!

Hello my friends!!

Lisa I love that you have such a good friend, in Trinity! and can share her family's closeness.

Kathleen what a nice update on your children!! I do remember you describing the struggles your son went through ad what an accomplishment on his part, and a testament to your love and support. and how exciting for your daughter to be steadily dating someone, I hope you like and approve of the young man! And glad you had a nice small get-together.

We had a great time getting together with our sons and the girlfriend. We met in a big meeting room at the hotel where my husband works, we were 6 feet apart and wore our masks (which is such a pain!) but did our part to comply with our State' s regulations.

So I spent ALL DAY on Christmas with the lady It is partially my fault that I told her the day before, 'I have no time restraints, I can spend time with you'. And I know it is my fault that i just didn't come out and say 'i have to go now' because she had no one else come to see her. And my husband got mad at me because he thougtht I was being thoughtless regarding spending time with him. It was kind of crappy And at the end of the day she didn't even look through or open what i brought her (it was a bought stocking from the Dollar store but I had 3 small gifts wrapped in it) and a festive bag of cookies. I think they are still on the couch where I placed them. I do have a huge problem with expressing myself when I think there is conflict. But I have to let her know that she is hurting my feelings!! I washed her hair in the sink and we go in the bathroom to dry it; then she asked me to heat up her curling brush. I have used a curling brush on myself and I hate them, I can not control the tangling; that is why i use a curling iron myself. But I tried my best and she gets impatient with me. "Turn it towards the window" - well, I'm sorry, but you can turn it towards the window" two ways!! "You did okay until you yanked it at the end". I did NOT do any yanking!!! and I am not a stylist!!! jerk.