A New Year

1.3.17

It's easy for me to get really frustrated and cranky for whatever reason; when things aren't going the way I feel they should or when I feel grossly inconvenienced. A prime example is this very moment. I'm sitting here at the laundromat washing and drying 2 comforters for two reasons. Xander yakked on my bed last week and it soaked through and I've been bitten several times at night by things I cannot identify with my eyes. Do I live in a nasty shack? No, I don't, so what the fuck? I'm itchy as hell and disturbed to imagine what I'm sharing my bed with. Does Xander have fleas? I don't think so. Maria recently had lice but I don't think they'd bite my ankles at night (was there Friday night). It's a new year and I think my resolution should be to put things into perspective and not get so irritated and cranky all the time. It can always be worse and I need to consciously focus on what's good and what's right. With that being said, I'm going to be optimistic that this hot cycle is killing whatever is feeding on my blood and won't be bothered again. 

I went straight to Ashley's after work Friday because we cancelled the previous Friday due to Maria's lice issue. We had dominoes and put the kids to bed then proceeded with our usual activities. We had talked about creating our own Christmas carols with a different theme but we never actually followed through "cough, cough". Come to think of it, we didn't do any of our usual night before the night before Christmas shenanigans. No Christmas movies, no running in the snow in our bare feet, etc. We suck. Saturday I stayed home and did stuff around the house, electing to stay in and ring in the new year with Xander from the comfort of my cozy bed. I also made cookies. Sunday, I was on call for 12 hours, working about 7. Monday, I was at Granny's from 2 to 6ish with my mom, Heather and Simone. We ate pizza and banana cream pie and visited. For me, it was mostly a visit with Simone. We played with her new dolls and roamed the hallways. Today is the last day of my second mini vacation. I'm returning to reality and routine tomorrow. I got up and went to a barre class this morning. My other big accomplishment today is washing all my bedding on a hot water cycle. I also sanitized and vacuumed my mattress...this better work.

Last weekend was another mini vaca. Friday night and Saturday, I stayed in. Had a lovely and quiet Christmas Eve with Xander. I spent all day at my moms Sunday. Did our usual, hanging out, eating and drinking. We did the tree after predinner snacks. Jason and Caitlin stopped by for a visit. As far as gifts go, Denise got me a scarf and my favorite slippers. My mom got me a candle, soap, lip gloss, socks and a bed bath and beyond gift card. Heather got me a massage. Ashley made me an amazing calendar with pictures of us for each month. February is my favorite lol. Some of my coworkers got me some stuff, too. Heidi got me a Mexican cook book and a bracelet and Archie got me the classic Sega game console with built in games. I don't remember what I did The following day but I do remember doing a lot of cleaning followed by a barre class last Tuesday. 

So the first full week of December ended on a very sad note. Emilee's mom lost her battle with cancer that Friday night. She posted on Facebook the announcement and I called her as soon as I saw it. She seemed ok and was actually heading to Grantham for the kids' soccer games. Brandi and Addi were at Kelly's for the weekend so I cancelled Saturday plans with them (we were going to do pottery with Heather and Simone) to go hang out with Emilee at her parent's house. I stayed for a few hours then went around the corner to hang out with Simone when they left for the funeral home. I was still able to see Kelly and Brandi and the kids at breakfast the next morning in WRJ before they headed back to Maine.

1.7.17

The wake was the following Friday at Stringer Funeral Home. I haven't stepped foot inside that place since my Dad's funeral (the 24th anniversary of his death was the other day). It was weird and it seemed a lot different than what I remember, although apparently it's exactly the same. My mom and Heather came too. Danielle actually showed up too, unexpectedly. She acknowledged some but not others. Bizaare to see her after everything that has happened in their family. When it was over, I stopped in to play with Simone for a little bit then met Emilee at the Imperial to drink. Sarah and Wayne were there for a round then left to eat but did not return. Alex came out for some drinks and we ended up closing the bar. She needed a night out. Our weekend in CT is next week. There was a gathering at her parents the next day but I elected to stay home due to snow. I ended up sleeping in kinda late because the previous night was a late night, which when combined with a busy work day, just drains me. Sunday night, Jeff, Dayna, and I made an appearance at trivia for the first time in a while as we are currently in the midst of the midseason break of TWD. We suck lol. 

The following Tuesday, I headed to Ctown to drop a few things off with Heather at Taverne then attempted to find a VCR for Ashley's Xmas gift at Nana's Collectibles on Pleasant St. No such luck, I found one but it had a tape stuck inside and obviously did not work. I stopped at my mom's before heading to Emilee's to go with them to Maddy and Logan's Xmas concert at their elementary school. It was interesting lol. I hung out for a little bit afterwards; we exchanged gifts (Emilee gave me a wooden block with a friendship saying) and played speak out. Pretty amusing. 

Tonight, I took Dayna over to Ludlow to meet the ladies. It was a success with mutual affection. We chatted, had some cocktails, ate beef stew with rolls, and played Aggravation. Good times.

Work is pretty much the same; fairly unremarkable. Busy with little time to breathe. I have to figure out how I'm going to spend my weeks vacation in March. California? Or maybe somewhere tropical with me, myself, and I. 

What I've been listening to: Stick Figure and Slightly Stoopid on Pandora.