I WILL SURVIVE

Yep...made it through another emotional holiday!

Christmas came and went...thankfully I had a family to spend it with! As far as I'm concerned Xmas is for kids and without mine, it would have been very sad and lonely indeed! Watching their joy was very infectious!

I also give thanks that they have learned the value of what they did receive and showed no disappointments in what they didn't get. This was also their first year my grand kids got to use their own money to buy gifts...so they got to learn how far money really goes. They loved it!

The only drawback to the day was the "Puppy Mill" Family! Sadly my daughter's Brother-In-Law's raises small dogs and they supplement their income by selling puppies. There were 5 breeders [one due to give birth Xmas day] and 2 puppies! I'm allergic to dogs and was wise enough to take allergy pills to help combat the situation. The allergy wasn't the problem...the barking and whining of these small dogs can drive a person NUTS!!! Needless to say we didn't stay long after the supper was over which would have been nicer to spend some time with the grand kids.

Next year Xmas is supposed to be at their place [Edmonchuk] and it might be only me and my son...so it might be the blues for me...but I'll worry about that when the time comes!

I did have a rough time again with the loss of my sister "Buttons"!
It's been 4 Xmas's without her! I don't believe that I will ever get over missing her!

As usual the rest of my family let the holiday go by without ever acknowledging that we are related...I was just as bad...although I did send cards which was still more than they did! I can be thankful that my two kids keep in touch with each other! My other sister and I did connect with each other yesterday so I guess that was better than nothing.

The next hurdle to overcome is New Years Eve...which can be sad also if you have no one to spend it with! For me, I will gladly spend mine being thankful that I no longer have to spend it with a partner who treated me badly! I'm not into the partying thing...last thing I want to do is kiss a bunch of strangers so...I will opt for peace and quiet!

My New Years Resolution is to TRY to manage my Diabetes better [I've been very BAD] now that I am finally getting used to the insulin shots and the hunger pains no longer rule my mind! Hopefully I can lose the pounds that I've gained!

Oh...I forgot to mention that I stuck my hand up again and volunteered to be the Stage Manager/Set Designer for our 3 Act Play this coming year [which by the way, we are taking to the 3 Act Play Competion being held in the Battlefords]. Just finished reading the play and it's going to be a technical toughie...the story line sucks but that will be the actors problem...or maybe mine because I hate prompting!

So if I don't get around to blogging until after the new year I want to wish all my faithful fans a Happy New Years!

PS...Did you know that "Baby Doodie's" Blog gets more hits than mine does...how sad it that?

THE EPIC OF SANTA...

THE ADULT VERSION

..... A XMAS CARD SENT TO ME FROM BROTHER-IN-LAW

T’was the night before xmas and all through the house,

There were bottles of booze left around by some louse.

And the mickey I’d hidden by the chimney with care

Had been snatched by some bum, who’d found it right there.

My friends for the night had been poured in their beds,

To wake in the morning with hung over heads.

My mouth full of cotton, dropped down with a snap

Because I was dying for one wee nitecap.

When thru the north window there came a loud yell

I sprang to my feet to see what the hell.

And what to my bloodshot eyes should I see,

But eight drunken reindeer caught up in a tree.

And there in the branches, was a man with a sleigh

I knew it was Santa quite tiddley and gay.

Staggering nearer those eight reindeer came,

While he belched & hiccoughed and called them by name,

“On whiskey! On Vodka! We ain’t got all night,

You too, Gin and Brandy, now all do it right!

Clamber up on the roof, and get off of this wall,

Get going you rummies, we’ve still a long haul!!”

So up on the roof went the reindeer and sleigh,

But a tree branch hit Santa before he could sway.

And then to my ears like the roll of a barrel,

A hell of a noise that was no Xmas Carol.

So I pulled in my head and I cocked a sharp ear,

Down the chimney he plunged, landing smack on his rear.

He was dressed all in red and white fur for a trim.

The way Santa swayed he was tanked to the brim,

The sack on his back held nothing but booze

And the breath that he blew almost put me to snooze.

He was both plump & chubby and tried to stand right,

But he didn’t fool me, he was high as a kite.

He spoke not a word but went straight to work

And missed half the stockings, the drunken old jerk.

Then putting his thumb to the end of his nose,

He fluttered his fingers as he quoted prose

As he sprung for his sleigh at so hasty a pace,

He tripped on a shingle and he slid on his face.

But I heard him call back as he passed out of sight

“Merry Xmas, you lushes, now really get tight!”

Just one more sleep......Have Your Self A Very Merry Xmas

XMAS CONCERTS

Finally! The last one was completed last night.

When one decides to have children this is one of the duties that a parent [mostly mothers] has to go through..."the dreaded Xmas Concerts"! Now as a grandmother I am going through it all over again. I love my grand kids and I'm willing to sit through anything that they have to do but it's a chore having to sit through the choices!

This years theme was mostly a religious one...not one of my favorite subjects!

It's hard to teach your kids about Christmas when the schools are shoving the "Birth" thing down their throats! Religion is not something that "we...PoD & I" want our kids to learn and we'd rather they learn to be kind to others through the spirit of giving rather than the sake of an unproven event! After all, Santa was a real person!

This year my grand daughter, AJ, had to play the part of "Mary"...a pregnant virgin! Try explaining that to a 10 yr old? At her age they are now taking "sex education" in school and nowhere in any text book will you see or read that you can get pregnant without intercourse!

This poor woman [Mary] is left to feel the scorn of an unexplained problem and the guy [Joseph] makes it all better by marrying her...cause he's such a nice guy? Ten to one he was messing around where he shouldn't have been and to avoid him being the part of the scandal by admitting to the deed, he tells everyone that he'll marry her anyways...making him the good guy! Mary goes down in history as a slut! Joseph the saint for being so understanding?

Now you know why I hate this part that AJ had to play!

Of course she loved playing the part...mostly because Mary is so pretty [her words] and a lot of the girls wanted to play her...not to mention that it also had the less lines! Thankfully the sex lesson still goes over her head!

The other part that I hated about their concert was that it was held separately from the schools concert and was only played out in front of the senior citizens [in their hall] and the old folks in the retirement home...during the day! Which meant that if you wanted to see your kid perform you had to take time off of work and the ones that couldn't, missed out. Some might say that it's a good thing but to kids, who wanted their folks to see them perform...it wasn't! Don't get me wrong, I'm all for the old folks getting a chance to see the kids when they might not have otherwise, but why not have them performing also at the school when the other concert is scheduled?

As for my grand son, JD, he played a Shepard [with no lines] and he's still too young to care about the "Birthing". The other thing he took part in was the singing which was a "Country Style Xmas". It was wonderful how they were able to squeeze that many kids onto such a small stage at once and nobody fell off! The teachers have to be commended on the great job they did with their students and getting them to memorize their songs and lines. No where did you see a script or song sheet!

AJ also sings in the "School's Youth Choir" and they had a special night for them to sing along side of the town's other choirs. I must admit I wasn't to happy to have to sit in a church to hear this, let alone be disappointed in the presentation of the Choirs [except for the sunday school kids...only because most of them couldn't read yet...they were they best]! All had to have their song sheets in front of them and this included the ones doing their solos. Also, I always though choirs meant that everyone dressed alike [or close to it] and mother's didn't let their 6-9 yr old dress like tramps...especially in a church!

Like I said....I'm glad it's all over!

Only to be repeated next year!

I think Santa Claus is a Woman....
by Monica Lewis (originally published in the Erie Times News)

I hate to be the one to defy sacred myth, but I believe he's a she.

Think about it. Christmas is a big, organized, warm, fuzzy, nurturing social deal, and I have a tough time believing a guy could possibly pull it all off!

For starters, the vast majority of men don't even think about selecting gifts until Christmas Eve. Once at the mall, they always seem surprised to find only Ronco products, socket wrench sets, and mood rings left on the shelves. On this count alone, I'm convinced Santa is a woman. Surely, if Santa were a man, everyone in the universe would wake on Christmas morning to find a rotating musical Chia Pet under the tree, still in the bag.

Another problem for a he-Santa would be getting there. First, there would be no reindeer because they would all be dead, gutted and strapped onto the rear bumper of the sleigh amid wide-eyed, desperate claims that buck season had been extended. Blitzen's rack would already be on the way to the taxidermist. Even if the male Santa DID have reindeer, he'd still have transportation problems because he would inevitably get lost up there in the snow and clouds -- and then refuse to stop and ask for directions.

Other reasons why Santa can't possibly be a man:
-A man can't pack a bag.
-Men would rather be dead than caught wearing red velvet.
-Men would feel their masculinity is threatened...having to be seen with all those elves.
-Men don't answer their mail.
-A man would refuse to allow his physique to be described, even in jest, as anything remotely resembling a "bowlful of jelly."
-Men aren't interested in stockings unless somebody's wearing them.
-Having to do the "Ho Ho Ho" thing would seriously inhibit their ability to pick up women.
-Finally, being responsible for Christmas would require a commitment.

I can buy the fact that other mythical holiday characters are men ...
-Father Time shows up once a year, unshaven and looking ominous. Definite guy.
-Cupid flies around carrying weapons.
-Uncle Sam is a politician who likes to point fingers.
Any one of these individuals could pass the testosterone screening test.

But not St. Nick. Not a chance!

THE REAL REASON...
WHY THEY HAVE ANGELS ON TOP OF THE XMAS TREES

It was supposed to be a happy time, but it wasn't.
Santa was really pissed!
It was Christmas Eve and NOTHING was going right.

Mrs. Claus had burned all the Christmas cookies. The Elves were bitching about not getting paid for the overtime they had put in while making toys, and the reindeer had been drinking all afternoon and were dead drunk. They had taken the sleigh out for a spin earlier in the day and crashed it into a tree, breaking off one of the runners.

Santa was beside himself with anger...
"I CAN'T believe it! I've got to deliver millions of presents all over the world in just a few hours from now and all my Reindeer are drunk, my Elves are on strike and I don't even have a Christmas tree! I sent that stupid Little Angel out HOURS ago to find a tree and he isn't even back yet!

What am I going to do?"

Just then the Little Angel opened the front door and stepped in from the snowy night, dragging a Christmas tree. He says: "Yo, Santa, where do you want me to stick the Christmas Tree this year???"

And thus the tradition of Angels perched atop the Christmas trees came to pass. . . . .

A XMAS SONG TAG GAME
challenging me from Blue

Favourite Christmas Music...

1. Favourite Carol: "The Little Drummer Boy"

2. Fav. traditional Christmas Eve [ie 12 Lessons Carol'Silent Night']: "Silent Night"

3. Favourite seasonal song: "Frosty the Snowman"

4. Fav. modern Christmas tune: "The Bells of St. Mary" by Aaron Neville

5. Favourite Christmas Album: "I'll be Home For Christmas" by Aaron Neville

6. Fav. Christmas musical: "Babes in Toyland"

How can you tell I have nothing to do [well, actually I do...I just don't want to do it right now]!
As to who I am going to tag is...Anyone with nothing to do or needs to fill in space....

I'M DONE...I'M DONE...I'M DONE!

I'm finished with everything...Xmas 2007!

Store decor was completed before the beginning of Dec.!

These are some shots of the store. To the far left is my xmas village sets. Next to them is my big "Halloween Tree" and he is putting the decorations on my shop tree [PoD's idea]. It's quite a conversation peice when customer's come in the shop. All of my old decoratios are on this tree. Most of the ornaments with memories have gone to my children for use on their trees [most of BillyRoo's are on on the tree at home]. The theme in my shop is about Santa Clause [which I collect] and is done in reds and golds.

I just finished my decorating at home and the tree's color this year is pink and blue [pink for me & blue for BillyRoo]. Like I said some of the tree's ornaments are BillyRoo's and I've invested in new stuff this year as all the old one's are of my bad memories...they went to the Ex [who doesn't decorate...but their his anyways...nobody can say I didn't share]! I also put lights on my phony plants and "decked the halls" with shiny stuff and more lights. This included the dinning room and kitchen [I decided not to bore you with pic of them...

Yesterday I spend 3.5 hrs putting up all of my stuff that I had for the outside of my place.

I then took pictures of it to show what I did because something tells me that the crazy kid next door might decide to make my xmas unhappy and undo it all. I put it off as long as I could and had sort of thought of not putting it up because of this bad feeling I have about this kid. Every time we meet eye to eye I still get this evil stare from him...giving me a real bad vibe! I kept myself from decorating outside for Halloween but I'll give him this chance for xmas?

Anyways this is how it turned out...

Lastly I finished my Xmas shopping! Cards and gifts that were to be sent away...have been wrapped and are gone! Presents for home have been bought and also wrapped and are nestled under the tree [at the shop]!

Not bad for someone who normally waits until a week before xmas and has to rush to get all of that completed...causing much stress.

Nope not this year...

The pessimist in me wants to add...what's wrong with this picture??????

ANOTHER MILE STONE FOR ME!

This a good thing and bad thing at the same time!

It's now been 1 whole year since I kicked the smoking habit...pot that is!

My agony and ecstasy with this habit has been on going since 1971! 36 long years of living in an altered state!

A sorry sight now that I think back on it!

The GOOD THINGS:
Some of my best ideas, designs and physical strength came from using that drug!

I was able to open my mind up to many great and even crazy ideas that helped my business flourish! My brain overflowed with ideas...even to the point of being overcrowded!

As for the emotional side, it kept me going through some of my roughest hours! It even held me together and gave me strength, mentally, to cope with the lack of partnership in my life! The person that I had chosen for my "life partner" turned out to be a bad thing for me and both my children and I suffered because of it!

Pot helped me "take that trip and I never had to leave the farm"!

As for the strength part...I could work for hours!

I still have bad feet and legs...pot smoking kept the pain down to a small roar!

The BAD THINGS:
I numbed myself to escape the mental and physical pain!

The downside about the long working hours was that it took it's toll on me physically! My legs and feet no longer are numb any more...this makes for long hours at night when I'm trying to sleep!

One of the worst thing about this habit...was the expense!

It wasn't expensive at first because I only used it occasionally...mostly on the weekends. But then it gradually worked into daily usage as things in my life got worse! Pot usage helped me deal with that part of my life that hurt me the most! It was a great escape medium! Others drink for escapism...I smoked!

Pot now had become my partner!

My children knew of my usage of this drug and why...I never kept it a secret from them! Of course this was told to them when they were old enough to understand why I needed it!

It was a great lesson for them also! I found that I spent more time with them when I was stoned than when I was straight [which wasn't very often]. Was I a bad parent...I don't think so! Pot makes a person mellow not ornery like alcohol does. I classified myself as a "functional" stoner...as strange as that may sound!

So why did I quit?

It also raised my blood pressure! With my heart problems this is not a good thing!

I had also got rid of my "partnership" problems and thus I no longer needed the "escape" medium!

Financially I'm better off...not richer but getting there!


I "joking" refer to myself as being perfect now!

-I don't drink alcohol [maybe 1 beer a year...for my friends who think I'm missing out on not joining them]!

-I don't smoke cigarettes [did try when I was a teenager...found I was allergic]!

-I don't need a man in my life to exist! Best one ever!

-And now I NO LONGER SMOKE POT!

So if it wasn't for my messy nature and not caring whether my house is clean or not [I used to HAVE to be a clean freak]! I would be perfect!


So what do I do now for excitement....

NOTHING!

I'm still battle with wanting to...

"Take that trip...cause I can't afford to leave the farm[business]"!!!


I'M AFRAID with me IT WILL ALWAYS BE, ONE DAY AT A TIME.....

OOPS....TAG GAME FORGOTTEN!

Well it's only been 4 days since I've been tagged for this game [by Blue] and I want to make sure that one of the only taggers keeps including me in her games...it's pretty lonely here without any more commenters than I have already? Can we say pathetic?

Back to the original topic...8 random thoughts about myself?

1. My family [including my fur babies] is the most important thing in my life!

2. Anything about the paranormal interests me a lot! Mainly because I have had some pretty weird stuff happen to me about it and still do!

3. Anyone who knows me, knows that my favorite time of the year is Halloween [go figure...my blog name] and if it was possible [& affordable] I would decorate my store year round in a halloween theme and sell halloween stuff but Dodge just isn't into that sort of thing. It's bad enough, that I always have to tell people, what it is, that I do at work anyways[they can't read the sign on the door as they enter]?

4. I love being single! I'm my only boss!

5. I love to build things from scratch...I hate repairs! Sculpting tops my list of creativity...which of course means using unusual materials...pottery/clay is NOT my choice of sculpting.

6. I'm addicted to ice cubes! Thankfully my son got me an ice making machine for xmas last year and I go through a large bag of ice every other day...that's probably why I have Bronchial problems?

7. I prefer silence than listening to music or the constant babble of the radio...even the hum of computers annoy me.

8. I'm a fighter for the under dog...injustice being done in the world frustrates me to no end...I strive for world peace!

I could go on but I've bored you [and myself] long enough!

As to who to tag....any one who has nothing to put on their blog and needs to keep the reader interested enough to keep coming back...

IF YOU CAN....

If you can start the day without caffeine,
If you can get going without pep pills,

If you can always be cheerful ,ignoring aches and pains,

If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,

If you can eat the same food everyday and be grateful for it,

If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,

If you can take criticism and blame without resentment

If you can ignore a friend's limited education and never correct him,

If you can resist treating a rich friend better than a poor friend,

If you can conquer tension without medical help,

If you can relax without liquor, If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,

..Then You Are Probably The Family Dog!