Is it Over Yet?

Let's face it.  2011 wasn't the my most stellar year on record.  If you've read this blog for any length of time, you know it basically sucked.

It began on the heels of the hubby getting laid off from his job.  Then came that fateful day in January when I had a surprisingly major run-in with a seemingly harmless patch of ice. Who knew it would lead to two surgeries, almost a year spent on crutches and a fetching boot becoming the mainstay of my wardrobe?

Issues on the home front added to the fun -- health problems, money problems and a mold infestation to top it off.  Needless to say, this series of unfortunate events caused a huge amount of underlying stress.

And you all know how well our kids handle stress.

Major upheavals in routines created a perfect recipe for disaster.  And disaster we had. Rages and meltdowns increased almost exponentially.  Unfortunately our ability to handle them did not.

We ended up exhausted and spent -- both literally and figuratively.  As far as I'm concerned, this year couldn't end fast enough.  I've basically been ready to usher in the New Year since about March.

As we head into 2012, things are starting to look up -- even if only marginally.   The hubby has embarked on a new career.  My leg is slowly starting to heal.  And Big Brother is showing some signs of improvement.

While there are still many major hurdles to clear, I am hoping this upward trend will continue.  A girl can dream, can't she?

So to 2011 I say bye-bye.  And to all of you I wish a happy and prosperous 2012. Read more...

O Holy Night

When I was young, we lived in New York, where one of our big family traditions was to go see the annual Christmas Show at Radio City Music Hall.

We'd get all dressed up, take the train into the City, then wait in a line that, as a kid, looked like it stretched across the whole of New York itself.   I remember standing there in the cold and the smell of the street vendors' pretzels and chestnuts.  Damn they smelled good.

But given my parents were just a bit frugal, I was denied. Repeatedly. Every single year. I'm not bitter, really I'm not.

This was, however, just a minor setback to an overall awe-inspiring event.

One memory in particular was etched in my memory.  No, it wasn't the Rockettes doing their dancing and kicking thing. Or the spectacular orchestra. Not even Santa prancing across the stage.

My absolute favorite Christmas memory of all time was when the theater would go dark and quiet, and a beautiful operatic singer would perform her rendition of O Holy Night as the nativity scene  -- complete with live camel and other manger animals -- was reenacted onstage.

I know the show has changed a bit since then.  Mind you, these were the days before political correctness.  It was still called the Christmas Show, not the Holiday Extravaganza.   There were no synthesized remixes or pop influences, just a big lady with an equally big voice.  It wasn't as flashy, but to this day this visual captures the essence of the season for me.

Tonight, I'm ripping a page out of the big lady's song book. Because at the center of all the gifts, the wrap and all the feasts lies a little baby.  Born to nothing, yet he changed the world forever.

So on this very holy night, I'd like to wish all of you and your's a merry and very blessed Christmas.

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Patience Young (And Old) Padawan

We're a family of tried and true Star Wars geeks.  Many pearls of wisdom have been gleamed from this epic tale, as evidenced by the multitude of sayings we've hammered into our kids, over and over again.

But at present, the above is by far the most popular.

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Will Someone Please Shut This Lady Up?

I have a confession to make.

I'm what one might call demanding.   I tend to be extremely vocal and am not particularly skilled at accepting no for an answer.

I'm also fairly intelligent, articulate and a smidge outspoken.  I've been described as a squeaky wheel on steroids.  And for those organizations that know me -- educational, insurance and mental health included-- I have a solid reputation of being a royal pain in the ass.  It doesn't help that I've been known to utter the phrase "just do as I say and no one will get hurt" on more than one occasion.   This usually leads to the agency-at-hand acquiescing in some way just to shut me up.

The funny thing is, I make no apologies and have no remorse.  Not. One. Little. Bit.

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If It's Not One Thing It's Another

I'm dating myself yet again I know.  But as the events of the day unfolded, I kept having these creepy visions of Gilda Radner spouting out this classic line over and over again.

First, I almost made it...the whole 30 posts in 30 days.  I was so close.  I even posted on Thanksgiving.  But a whole week at home with the kids caught up with me by Friday.  So did a birthday party with 11 six-year-olds and sheer exhaustion.

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I'm Thankful for Turn-Arounds

Remember yesterday when I said we had a calm, relaxing day?  Well, I typed too soon.

Last night, Big Brother quickly became agitated when I asked him to turn off the computer.  One thing led to another and he was once again whisked away to Grandma's hour for the evening to chill out.  Even after he left, the stress this meltdown caused was felt by his two sisters.  Much of the evening was spent working through their own struggles with his behavior and how it affected their lives.

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Six Times the Thanks

I'm not big on surprises.  I like things well thought out, well planned out and then some.

It was a little over six years ago that I got one of the biggest surprises in my life.  My oldest was eight and the twins were six and finally in school full time.  For the first time in years, I had free time and was loving it.

And this was when I found out I was pregnant with my youngest.  As far as surprises go, this one was about as big as they get.

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