Glasses raised we all say cheers
Could this be the one
Our new year
~ Tori Amos, Our New Year
@)–>—-
Every year I do this long year in review sort of post. I’m just not feeling it this year. I don’t know why. Perhaps because 2009 was such a lousy year for so many people, in so many ways. I’m not being a Negative Nelly on purpose, I just know what has happened in the lives of the people I love and care about. At work alone, 3 people have left their spouses, and I just found out about a fourth right before Christmas. Only that person isn’t in my office, though I did used to work closely with them before they changed jobs. These are not people who have only been married a handful of years. They are in the 20 or 30 years together range. I find that scary and sad.
Then there are the number of people who have had someone close to them die this year (including my grandmother). I know people die every year, but this year seemed way more obvious. And so many people died who shouldn’t have and out of the blue. Just in December alone the number of deaths, unexpected and of the young (in their 20s) was mind-blowing.
What the heck was up with 2009? No one seems happy this year. Everyone is tired, and overwhelmed and seems to be suffering so much. 2009 was supposed to be a GOOD year for me if it stuck to the pattern. For almost the entire decade I have had horrible luck in even numbered years (2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008) and the odd years I have done much better.
Until now. Until 2009.
I don’t believe that hooha about the world ending on 12-12-12, but after this year I really feel like it’s a sign or something that things are going downhill. Down to where? I haven’t a clue. But I am hoping that 2010, a new year and the beginning of a new decade will pick things up a little. Maybe give people some breaks. A vacation from all the death, illness and sadness that 2009 has thrown at them.
I have lost people I have loved in this decade. I have lost friendships I once held dear in this decade. I have gained the love of Shawn and the love of some of the best friends I have ever had in this decade.
Because of the losses I tend to appreciate the gains so much more. The friends I have in my life now mean the world to me. These are people I would never had met had I not made the choices I made in the last 10 years. Even with the bad, obviously the choices I made were good for I am so lucky right now to have the friends I do. Whether they be in person, at work, or online.
I have a house. I have a husband whom I love completely who returns that love completely. I have two wonderful, if not sometimes frustrating, dogs who make me smile every morning (even if they’ve puked on the carpet). I have a job (which these days is something to be VERY thankful for), and I have the best coworkers I have EVER had in my life. I also have the best bosses I have ever had in my life. So much so that I know when my big boss’ term is up and he leaves, I am going to feel horrible. I am trying to pretend that day isn’t just around the corner because the 3 of us? We make a good team.
This decade I have had surgery twice, been robbed, been burned out of my home, been double crossed by a stupid landlord after rebuilding the home, been broken hearted, have made friends, lost friends have been deathly ill and mentally ill. So much has happened. And I have survived it all even when I didn’t think I could.
I don’t give much of a hoot about New Years Eve and whatnot. For one, staying up until midnight has never been fun in my books no matter how old I am. But at the same time, I truly feel like September/Fall is the start of my new year. Maybe because even though it has been years since I have been IN school, I still work in an educational institution, I don’t know. But the end of August and start of September always feels like my metamorphosis time. That’s when I tend to start new things, make changes.
And, well, heck. This has turned out to be long again. Oops. Anyway, my point is, I am looking forward to 2010, not only because I find writing out 2010 by hand aesthetically pleasing (I’m weird, I know) but because I am curious to see if the next decade is going to have a better track record than this first one of the 2000s.
Also, and mostly, because it’s even closer to my birthday now. Woohoo! Let the countdown begin!!
What a bunch of days it has been. The exhaustion hit this afternoon once Jill left and I just passed out on my bed for over two and a half hours. I forced my eyes open once I realized it was way after 3PM and I should probably get up. But by golly am I exhausted. Our holidays have been eventful in an oddly non-eventful sort of way.
We ended up having turkey afterall with my parents. Mainly because at 7 in the morning on the 26th Shawn collapsed in the bathroom because his back hurt so much. That was fun, let me tell you. He can hardly move now and I had to phone my parents and let them know he wouldn’t be able to drive us over to their house for dinner that night. They kindly volunteered to come over with the left overs from Christmas dinner – so I got to have my mum’s stuffing and turkey afterall! I was so happy! Ok, the happiness was slightly dampened by the fact that my husband couldn’t move, but I was still happy. My mum also made me a fruitcake (which I normally ask for!) because I love the cake she makes. I don’t like all fruitcake, just the one my mummy makes.
It would appear I didn’t take one photo when my parents came over. That’s sad, actually. And we all ate dinner with our cracker crowns on, too. As it was the first Christmas without my grandparents I had wanted to take at least one photo. The scare with Shawn’s back and stuff that day, and the freezing rain outside sort of distracted me. Oh, well. I think my parents took photos. (I hope?) I am pretty sure I remember congratulating my mum on taking a photo without having her finger on the flash. (hehheh). So I will have to steal one of their photos!
Yesterday was low-key with Shawn popping the advil and robaxacet and icing his back. Still not moving very well, can’t stand straight or anything. And then around dinner time, Jinx’s girlfriend Jill came over! We ordered out (St Hubert BBQ, which she can’t get in California) and Jill and I watched some Better Off Ted while eating and then had possibly the most lazy game of Wii sports that you will ever see. We didn’t even stand up off the couch. Ha! We’re so old and tired. Shawn didn’t even come down to the basement. Poor guy.
This morning, Jill treated us to brunch and we had a lovely visit. I even got to see her father (whom I haven’t seen since high school) when he came to pick her up. And this time (unlike earlier in the month!) we remembered to snap our traditional photo!
Original BFFs!
It was a good Christmas, injuries aside. I don’t know why I am so exhausted though. And gifts of note:
Breadmaker! (from my in-laws. Once I figure out where it’ll fit, I shall attempt my own gluten-free bread!)
Disney’s Robin Hood DVD
Simon’s Cat book (I love Simon’s Cat!)
Dragon Age for PC – which Shawn is just adoring
Better Off Ted season 1 – watch this if you haven’t!
gift certificates to The Keg, which has the best steak ever!
Oh! Not to mention I got to have lunch with (and spend quality time in a dollar store line with) Marcel on my last day of work last week! I miss him so much!
So far this holiday has been quite lovely, family and friends (and food!) and I am content. If only Shawn’s back would heal itself faster, it would make this holiday even better!
Around 3:30 in the afternoon on Christmas day, we packed up the car with gifts and dogs and headed on over to the in-laws’ for dinner. Because we didn’t want to have two huge meals in a row, the dinner we were having with my parents the 26th was just going to be salmon and potatoes. I was sad to find out that we weren’t having turkey for dinner! My inlaws were concerned with us having turkey too much so they picked up fillet mignon, shrimp and scallops. Oops. The shrimp and scallops turned out fantastic though and I got to take the left overs home (which I had for lunch the next day – yum!)
As always, the living room is half-filled with presents. My inlaws’ spoil us completely. Of course a lot of those are for them as well – and the dogs. Actually, most of the gifts were FROM the dogs. I didn’t know my dogs got paid so well.
I had to film this, but got a quick shot as well. Hex was really into looking for his gift. Annie was more than content to be in the bed having her belly rubbed, but Hex and Jinx were all about sticking their noses into the gift bags. My mother-in-law told us that Hex had completely opened the gift for Annie & Jinx TWICE. Each time they hid it somewhere else and yet he got it. Good nose on that dog. Jinx still doesn’t like him though.
When Shawn got this present my MiL told me to get my camera out. So I did. Wonder what it is?
Shawn saw it first and just laughed. I had to coax him to open it more to see what it was! I wanted to know, too!
You probably can’t see what it says, but it’s not a whisk. It’s a head massager. HAHAHHAHA!
Although it’s not so comfortable without hair. It’s a little scratchy. Though for those of us with hair, it sort of shivers down your spine.
Shawn though the gift I got my boss and his wife was great, so he did the same thing for his parents – battle axes with HIS and HERS written on them. Although Hex is NOT a fan of people hitting each other with battle axes. He got very upset and tried to grab the axes away. He’ll learn. We’re a family that likes to hit each other with things.
That sounds wrong doesn’t it? Hmm.
Just noticed I’m not in any of the photos from Christmas day! Oops. Shawn and I at least have one together. Oh, well. There’s always next Christmas!
Christmas morning we were both up and out of bed before 10 (I sleep in now with this new pills and though I used to get up by 8AM on the weekends, I find myself sleeping until after 9 these days!). We were able to leave the gifts under the tree over night, with a nice ring of chairs around them to keep the dogs away. We did our gifts in the morning, had lunch and then made our way to the in-laws’ for dinner and more gifts. It was a rather long day even though not much happened. Hmm.
Stockings were hung on the piano with care – I mean, it’s not like I can play it, so I might as well make the best use of it. Right? Note the Christmas hippopotami on the far left. It’s not Christmas without a hippopotamus!
Tree with gifts and cards. She’s a pretty little tree.
While I was trying to snap a photo of the tree that wasn’t blurry, Jinx must have thought I was snapping photos of him because he kept posing on that mat. So I made him happy and took one of him. He was alternating between which paw was in the air. I must have gotten him mid-paw change. Silly dog.
I couldn’t help but take this one while he was lying on the floor next to me and looking out the backdoor. Natural light is the best light to take photos with. No scary evil flash eyes on the dog!
Even Finnegan got his own stocking because we are that pathetic. Each dog gets a stocking and now so does my stuffed elephant. Yep. We’re cool.
I have to admit I was a little nervous when I got this message on one of my gifts. I didn’t particularly want to open it. (Shawn put sticky notes on all my gifts with little messages on them. I loved it.)
This is what was in that box – a MightyGrip can opener. A joke based on the fact that a friend of mine and I spent almost an hour trying to open a stupid salsa jar while Shawn was working late (so he couldn’t help). I almost went over to the neighbours’ house to ask them to help us. We even alternated holding top and bottom of the jar. Finally Dylann got it open while I was cooking the chicken. But really! Stupid gluten-free salsa.
It’s not Christmas unless one has multiple zombie-related books. Such a happy boy was my husband.
And for me, this was the best gift! Not only do I now have Snow White on DVD and not only is she my favourite character and film, but this is the exact collector’s edition I wanted. It’s a box, shaped like a book, with a BOOK inside it.
See? Pretty book! Ooooooh!
And it’s just gorgeous inside, too. And it talks about the making of the film and the advertising of it back in the day, etc. All sorts of neat things. I ♥ Snow White.
And of course, Finnegan made out like a bandit and now has a complete wardrobe. Because why wouldn’t he? I mean, what 30-something couple doesn’t have a stuffed toy with an entire wardrobe? What started out as a joke last year, with the sweater, turned into a suit (for those fancy occasions), a new sweater, a sporty outfit and some overalls with a striped shirt. Yep. We are those people.
This was Shawn’s surprise gift from me. Wonder what it is?
Thor’s Hammer! I had already gotten him the battle axe and was so happy with it, however when we ended up in the dollar store together Shawn expressed delight at finding the hammer and mentioned it was way cooler than the axe. In the back of my mind I was going “CRAP!” So there I was in the dollar store at lunch time on December 23rd waiting in a line for over 30 minutes with a friend to buy my husband a $2 hammer. I am a wonderful wife. (After all, he did dance around like a Sugar Plum Faerie for me on Day 9, so I owe him.)
I have spared you the millions of photos we took of Finnegan opening his stocking and gifts. Heh. I did take some video of the dogs with their stockings, they were quite funny. But the best was how excited Annie was while Shawn was opening his stocking. She really wanted that battle axe (which was wrapped up). She even started to climb into his lap and Annie doesn’t climb!
It was a nice low-key affair in the morning. Next up! Christmas Day dinner at the inlaws!
We had a lovely Christmas Eve dinner last night – roast chicken, gravy, mashed potatoes (with sweet potato mixed in), veggies and some wine. My poor little cracker crown ripped in 2 places completely apart so I had to tape it all back together making it smaller. This was very important to do, because no Christmas meal is complete without your paper cracker crown!
My gift to all of you – the 12 Days of Christmas Out Takes! This took way longer than I thought to edit and that’s with having deleted a ton of clips before I thought to do this!
But I had a TON of fun filming these 12 days – huge thank yous to my husband first and foremost and to all my friends who helped me out.
And we all ate dinner with our cracker crowns on, too. As it was the first Christmas without my grandparents I had wanted to take at least one photo. The scare with Shawn’s back and stuff that day, and the freezing rain outside sort of distracted me. Oh, well. I think my parents took photos. (I hope?) I am pretty sure I remember congratulating my mum on taking a photo without having her finger on the flash. (hehheh). So I will have to steal one of their photos!
