Merry Merry Christmas Everyone!
 

I sent my prayers for a peaceful holiday to all of you and your families. So nice to hear from everyone and to enjoy the festivities of this wonderful season.
Mine will be untraditional this year. It will include myself and my animals both inside and out. Just too tired to travel this year and do all the rushing around to make it happen. Geez I must be getting old!
Thanks to all of you for always be such compassionate woman. Taking time to listen is the nicest gift we can offer to anyone.
BLessings to all around the world!
Love,
Nae

The ho ho ho man has come and gone. Merry Christmas to all of the wordly chicks.

My cousins children were so cute. The 2 year old came in and immediately went to the presents chose one a ripped it open. Whitney and William were just as excited. You will never guess what William's favorite gift was. An old tire that one of the Nascar drivers had used. He is a huge Nascar race fan.

I talked to my sister that is visiting in Kentucky this week with her son, my nephew. Also talked to him as well. Now I need to call my sister in MO but will wait just a little while longer.

More later.

More Holidays!! Yikes!!!
 

HAPPY CHANUKAH
HAPPY KWANZAA
HAPPY BOXING DAY
HAPPY PROCLAMATION DAY

:xcheer: LOTS OF HOLIDAYS FOR MONDAY!!! AT LEAST ON MY CALENDAR THERE ARE. THE DAY WAS GOOD. I AM FULL BUT SOME MAC'N'CHEESE MADE ME SICK ALL NIGHT. THAT'S ONE WAY TO LOSE WEIGHT! LOL
THE KIDS WILL BE BACK TOMORROW SO I MIGHT NOT BE HERE. DEPENDS ON THEIR TIMING! I CAN'T WAIT TILL NEW YEARS COMES!! ROFLMAO
ONE OF MY EYES IS GIVING ME A REAL PROBLEM. STARTED THE MEDS. MY NEXT APPT IS IN JANUARY SO I HOPE I CAN LAST THAT LONG! :?:
THANK GOD THE BLDG. WAS QUIET TODAY AND I HAD SOME QUALITY TIME ON THE PHONE WITH FRIENDS AND CLARA UPSTAIRS. LOTS OF GREAT XMAS TV TOO!

:tree: NAE~ I HOPE YOU FOUND THE PEACE YOU WERE LOOKING FOR AND IF YOU DID PLEASE SEND SOME TO ME! ROFL

:candy: CEEJAY~ SOUNDS LIKE YOUR HOLIDAY IS GOING WELL TOO! BET YOU CAN'T WAIT TO GET TO KENTUCKY WHEN IT WARMS UP.:carrot:

:wreath: OK KIDS IT'S OFF TO BED AND TV WATCHING IN THE PRONE POSITION. SWEET DREAMS AND HOPE YOU ALL HAVE DANCING SUGARPLUMS IN THEM TOO!:ginger:

HUGS Nae. Thinking of you. Everything sounds nice Ceejay. Miss Melly hope you had a peaceful sleep.

Today is the first day.........you know the cliche.
I am really thinking about my focus.
Lots of other thoughts too. The kids and hubby slept in til 7:45. I lounged in bed.ahhhhhh.I love listening to the sounds of their activities.
Christmas was beautiful in every way.

On the Eve we stayed home and puttered about. I whipped up a delish candle light dinner of a mountain of shrimp and chinese side dishes, wine, pop in wine glasses for the kids in the diningroom.The kids were sweet and excited. We kept checking the Norad site to follow Santa. We watched Franklin’s Christmas and they went to bed at 8. Hubby and I had a cocktail. At 9 when we were sure the little angels were asleep we pulled out all the prezzies and wrapped the rest and placed them under the tree. We have been watching a cheesie movie most evenings.He stayed up and watched Blazing Saddles.
The kids woke at 7:15 AM. I wish I had been quicker with the video camera to record their voices and exclaimations.
They skipped down the stairs and sat giggling in wonder!!!! Can we really open them! Is this for ME??
They LOVED every present. Hubby was surprised and the things I got him.He picked me up new oven mitts and tea towels. Very thoughtful. Mine are ragged and I always burn myself.
Sweet!!!
We had some scrambled eggs and toast and the kids ate chocolate treats. Bella dancerella has been well used. DD knows all the words to the songs already. DS has not taken his hat off and loves the little stuff like his monster truck.
Hubby hasn’t taken his hat off either.
I made peanut brittle and fudge to take to my Sis’s, we all had nice long baths....we had shrimp and veggies for lunch and headed out.
It was a nice time at my Sis’s. To quote Hubby, “That was almost tolerable.” LOL! My Mom was VERY excited but not wiggy. Dad was great. My BIL’s folks were there too and I enjoy them. My Aunt keeps talking to me like we are buddies but I really dont respond. I hate to ruin the happines of my memories with anything negative because it was sooooo wonderful BUT she disowned me , apparently for about 6 months. For me it is forever. I am still very hurt and angry by her 30 years of two facedness and lies. Anyhow, I did let it slide off and I ignored her.
We watched ,"A Christmas Story”. Hilarious. Kids played games. We had a sing a long at the piano. DD did a solo!! She is so brave and really quite talented for a little monkey. She belts the tunes out!! BIL’s Dad is a singer and told me we should offer her music lessons because she has an ear for music/talent.
We had a lovely turkey dinner. My Mom and Sister did all the work ,They have been together there for 3 days getting ready. The old me always wanted to be a part of it all, but I dont fit in ,so I just sat back and visited with my Dad and Grandma and played with the kids. They all drank a lot .I didn’t. We watched video of my kids Christmas concert and then we left. We were home by 8. The kids played a bit with new stuff. DD and I put on our new matching kitten pajamas.DS put on his new goalie pajamas and off to bed. Hubby and I had a drink and relaxed. I dozed off and then went up to bed. Oh, Happy sigh.

Today feels like a new and refreshing start. I will be mindful of my food intake and exercise. I will be careful of my work load. I will take pleasure in small every day miracles.

This week should be stress free, relax and enjoy :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...peaceglobe.gif

Mel-- hope you feel better soon.

Madcat--We all need a good cry.

Holly--Today is a refreshing start. I've been thinking of setting new goals for myself and will diffinately try to get healthy this year. No whining for me.

PW--I'm safe and secured. Isn't it nice that your son is thinking about you.

I've been the lucky one today to get to work and answer the phone for the electric and water deparment and main office. Just counted the phone calls--67 so far and it's just 1:30 p.m. Most have been about garbage pick and about accounts. The last phone call claimed that the garbage was picked up this morning on certain streets. Liar, liar pants on fire. Politely told her the garbage trucks had not run since Thursday. They have been off since Friday for the holidays.

L. my co-worker was a little upset over her light bill for December. If mine is that huge I'll have to get a second job just to pay for the light and water. Another phone call stating that her utility bill was 400 dollars. Yikes. We have had some cold weather. We do not get any discounts working for the city. I may end up taking that hardship after all.

Happy Tuesday
 

So did we all have a nice time? And did we all behave? And did we all shed a few tears because it's all over for another 364 days?

Holly - good to hear you are on top the work that Christmas creates and that you have had a peaceful day with you family. Way to go girl. I'm proud of ya.
Kids make Christmas - well some of them do anyway, so enjoy these special times while they last. You are right too - it's time to get focussed.

Painter - how nice of your son. How really nice. You certainly did something right when raising that boy. I went to your blog and checked out the lastest entries. Chickens?? they were cute. And I laughed at the story of the shoes. My youngest always wore sneakers. Couldn't get him out of them. He still hates 'proper' shoes although he will wear them occaisonally.

Madcat - I am on for 'Official Clean Eating week'. Sounds like a darn good idea to me. I am going shopping today for food. I'll keep you in mind as I march up and down the aisles putting stuff in my trolley. I love seafood Christmas's - actually I have just had a surfeit of prawns. It's not the prawns that do the damage - it's that dressing that goes with it.
A few tears at this time of year does no harm and it doesn't matter what releases them. We spend a whole year working hard and at the end of this time we are often stressed and panicking. It seems to be life as we know it today - although probably many others have gone before, stretching dollars, cooking in heat and/or cold, trying to have a good time and stressing out on the enormity of it all. For all that, Painters story was so sweet and nice.
I didn't know you had a musical background???? Wish I could sing - for all that I am part Maori (think Kiri Te Kanawa here) I can't hold a tune and I can't sing to save myself. I aint got no rhythm! Poor me.

Mel - I told you a little white lie as I was already in the shower and had begun to shampoo my hair! I only answered the phone and dripped water and bubbles everywhere because I knew it was probably you. Anyway, not to worry, the hair got finished, I got to the airport on time, and flew out late as usual. I'm glad you had a good time at your celebrity bash (Mel the celeb) It does a body good to have some adulation just once in a while. Should be compulsory - sort of say something nice about someone once a week day. Maybe we should implement a 'be nice to ............(worldly chick) once a week.

Meadow - some subtle messages flashing there on my screen. Short and sweet. Hope you are enjoying the joy of Christmas with the family.

Poor Ceejay - back at work already! No peace for you hey girl. Take it easy and don't blast off the customers too much.

Happy - hope you are enjoying you time at home with the folks. Stay warm and safe. See you back here soon.

To Teel - still minus a computer - was good to speak with you the other day. Give the man a bit of a hurry up to get you going again. Teels computer has any number of virus'. Seems something must have triggered the virus protector to turn off and now things are not happy in the computers circuits and cables.

Linus - wee friend. Hope you managed to sneak in some peace and quiet during Christmas. You have the Scots special coming up - Hogmanay. You need to be in fine form for that one.

Tig - haven't heard from you in a while. I hope you have had a good time and that life is being kind to you. Are both of you lost on Slim's bike somewhere.

So to Morelli, Honey-dipped, LindaT and I think that is about it. I hope that you are having a good time - no doubt Morelli and LindaT are back at work and hard at it again. Most here don't go back to work until Wednesday.

I had a nice time in Adelaide. Met so many people it took some time to sort out the various relationships. I sat with Tullah - DS1's g/f Mum and she was talking to everyone - Greek to the SIL's mother, Italian to the woman across the table and English to me. All in the same breath. Every one else talked at once as well, I guess it saved time. The tables groaned with every type of delicacy imaginable. Steak, sausage, chicken kebabs, greek salad, pork, prawns, pasta salad, coleslaw (all with cream based sauces and heavy on the garlic). The prawns had a side dressing of cream, garlic, tomato, brandy. Then there was Almond Torte, Pavlova, Baklava, fruit, cheese, biscuits and of course the drink. Anything from soda to scotch with Retsina, brandy, wine etc in between. And that was just dinner! Supper was yet to follow.
At given times, some one would come out and say have you finished with that cheese platter? and take it away and come out with another, and another. Different cheeses - how can I tempt the palate??? The fruit platter got replenished and we were urged to eat the pav and torte because there is more in the fridge! :yikes: I think we need a smilie of a stuffed Shad about here. Very nice, very hospitable.
It was a joy to see the DS1 and see where and how he lives. Actually I am not quite sure that this is my kid? He is so neat and tidy! :faint: He really does look after his things. Doesn't have a huge amount of stuff, but it is all good stuff - as I would have expected from him.
I got to meet his new ladyfriend and the 20 or so of her immediate family. Let's see there was Tullah the mother, 3 sisters of the G/F, three husbands, at least 2 kids each, one of the husbands Mother and Father, and the sister of the husband, plus her DH. It took a while to work out which sister was attached to which husband and I never worked out the relationship of most of the kids. I'm sure there was more than 6 - or maybe it just seemed that way. That was through dinner and the evening. Others came and went and sometimes I couldn't even tell the difference. The DS1 is happily accepted there and they think he is a wonderful 'boy'. I did like the girlfriend. She is a very bubbly and extroverted lady but has her head screwed on fairly sensibly. He could do a lot worse.

Yesterday early, I went for a run around the neighbourhood. It was pleasant and not too hot. I'd worked up a good sweat when I got back. Later, I took the G/F, Mother and DS1 out to lunch and then we wandered around the city of Adelaide and the botancial gardens until it was time for the plane.

So here I am back in my quiet little space. Well it would be quiet if the cat ever shut up. There are times I swear!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, that's more or less the Christmas tale done for this year. Way past time that I should be dressed and doing something.

As big Arnie said - I'll be back.

Shad~ you are so right about being with young kids at Christmas. I have enjoyed their joy for every second. Your visit with DS1 sounds perfect and the food outstanding!!
I need to make a trip for fresh veg too. 4 cups of fresh veg a day is how i will start.I loved your pics.It was nice to see you up close. You did look quite impish in one. I will go back and look at the Canada ones to see where you ended up here.HUGS!!!!!

Hello, ladies, I've been lurking on this thread for a while, and know Shad from another thread. Now that the travails of Christmas are over, it's time to prepare for a new and better year, so I thought the time had come to materialize. You all seem to be such a kind and supportive group - I hope you'll allow me to join in and bask in a little of your sunshine. :^:

A clean-eating week sounds like a pretty good idea at this point - :p - I'll zip back thru earlier posts to see if there are more details on what it entails, not that my common sense doesn't give me a pretty good idea.

I'd be glad to provide a little bio if you'd like to see some credentials... ;)

Welcome Carla! The more the merrier ;)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...lyKittenYW.jpg

Whoo... we survived... with no major dysfunctions reported so far!
I am hoping that the adoption of a new avatar will motivate me to stay on program this year. I yielded to the back-of-the-book hype for a new weight loss book... It is much more about behavioral change and emotional sustenance than food plan, so don't worry that I'm going to only be eating alfalfa sprounds or something. (As if...) It's called The Right Weigh It's got some self-hypnosis and affirmation approaches that seem useful. AND it doesn't harp on self-denial or lack of will power! If there's adequate kindness, progress, hope and RESULTS, I might actually WANT to do the work required to live to the actuarial average!!

Mell: so sorry your tummy got upset.... and that your eye is giving you a hard time. I also had some TV watching last night while curled up on the bed in the study. I think it was Tony Randall and Dorothy Provine? they looked even funnier in 60's costumes with my head on its side!

Hollyhock-- you reminded me of the big huge family gatherings that used to always make me feel so crazy. Especially when I was the WASP amidst all the NJ Eyetalians!! I was just immature and didn't know how to hold my own. Actually all those Eyetalians are still friends... though we only see each other at major functions... next one will probably be DS's graduate degree graduation.

Meadow -- LOVE the gifs!! Peace, globally, fer shure.

Shad -- Sounds like you had quite the round of meeting family and extensions there of. I wonder if next year we'll be in Indiana and the snow with DS and GF's family. I'm glad you checked my blog post. I am grateful that kids forgive us (most) of our foibles... certainly the ones we own up to! Your feast sounds expansive.

Carla49.. WELCOME :snowglo:
Off to peruse the Avatars....

:welcome: Carla - so you finally got around to it!!!! If you like to go back a few pages then you will find a bio of each of us belonging to our little group - although not as little as it used to be - if you care to write us a little about yourself, then I will add it to the bio as I should do Morrili's. We can then take that post with us when we get moved along again. Uhhh when we shift house once more.

Painter - great to see you back and the book sounds interesting. I'll have a look at the link in the morning (when the brain awakes). Self denial is not in my vocabulary as I don't think it is for most of us. I prefer portion control and exercise. That way I don't have to say I can't eat this or that. That works better for me.

Meadow - are you lurking??? Just coming in with one liners at the moment??? What are you upto??? Love the graphic. It's so pretty.

Holly - What is the thing they have over here???? 5 + 2 I think it is called. 5 serves of veg per day and 2 of fruit. I'm going to try that one for Eat Clean Week. Follow the pyramid or something similar.

Today I got some glutin free, wheat free flat bread for lunch wraps. If you see it in the shops, give it a wide berth. I think I should have thrown the bread out and eaten the wrapper. It won't wrap and even if you heat it to soften it, it just breaks in pieces, tastes pretty awful and is totally useless without a knife and fork!!!! So I think I will break it up and make some pita chips out of it and serve it with a dip of some description. Life is full of interesting diversions - it seemed like a great idea at the time!

Right - bed calls. I've done practically nothing all day except lounge around and read. Apart from the shopping and 1/4 hour weeding this afternoon, I have done nothing. How lazy is that?

PW~ your avatar looks like me.Although, maybe more serene and goddesslike.

Shad~ I have tried wraps like that too. ew. I need to keep my veggies in the forefront. That is what slides for me. I feel great when I get them all in.

Meadow~ how was your Christmas? Were the girls little angels of glory and awe?

Yesterday I did not tidy, clean, do dishes at all!!!!!! I read, played on the puter. Chatrted woht the kids. Made tuna casserole for supper.An actual holiday. Today DD and I are going to clean out her room. She wants to give stuff away to kids who dont have much!! DS has the start of a hockey tournanment. DH is off work today still so he will do hockey today. I will the rest of the week.

A scrambled egg with a roasted red pepper for a side for breaky.

HUGS!!

Oops.... WELCOME CARLA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Quick Hi to all and happy third day of Christmas. I wish I had time to get to know everyone and respond to individual posts but with South Beach a-booming, I just don't have time. I do snoop and read though!

Everyone seems pretty darn positive in here. It's very refreshing. 2006, here we come!