Over X-mas, Ryan and I flew to Wisconsin to stay at Mom's. We rented a car and then drove to Minnesota to visit his family the weekend before X-mas. I got several gifts. It was a great time. His parents like me. We made cookies with his real mom. They were very fatty, but very delicious.
After driving back to Wisconsin, we had one day to repack and then we drove to the U.P. of Michigan to be at Grandma's house for the actual day of X-mas. I was very disappointed in the free-for-all opening style of the presents, being that Bre and I were the hander-outers-of-gifts. I missed almost everyone opening gifts because I was still handing them out. I really wanted to see Mom open the one present that I had gotten her that said: "To: Mom B. From: Cari B." I was a nostalgia moment, but unfortunately, I missed it. Sad, really.
As far as the rest of the stay at Grandma's, it was pretty chaotic. In fact, I had a breakdown the day we were leaving. Nothing was working right and everyone was so busy with everything. The kids were running amok... and then, BOOM! I just couldn't take it anymore. I screamed and spazzed out. Ran out of the room.
Next thing I know, Mom is knocking on the door wanting in. Fine. Sigh.
She offers me food and juice. Everyone that experienced it thought I had low blood sugar, so Mom brought juice. Fine. Sigh.
Then Ryan knocks on the door. No. No more. Mom was even too much. Don't you people realize I want to be alone... but I can't get away?!
Ryan wants to be in the room. I don't want him there. Mom tries to get rid of him, but blah blah blah. I'm cranky. Then he's there. And he wants to talk.
I want no one. No sound. I want alone. Instead I get chatty cathy Ryan doll and Mom with juice.
Next I hear Erich outside the room asking where I went. Mom puts it gently, "Carisa is trying to detangle" or something along that line. I just want to be left alone. Erich probably nodded.
Other than that incident, I was okay. Just too many kids, too many people, no alone time... whatsoever. Ryan was around the entire time of the MidWest trip, so I never had a chance to just be alone. I need alone time or I blow up. It was all too evident.
I talked to Erich on X-mas Eve night and asked him how much money he had on him and if he'd be interested in giving some to Sass, because I know she's financially hurting, and it's not helping her stress levels any. He said he had some money, and it sounded like a good idea. I didn't ask Ryan because he had made it clear that he didn't have any cash on him and he needed to get to the bank. So, X-mas day, after all presents were opened and food was eaten, I finally remembered what I had thought of the night before.
Crap! I'm probably too late. But then I think, no, it wouldn't be too late, it would just have to be less "announced" or whatnot. I make a little card saying that I hope Sass has a great X-mas and a happy new year and then I sign the bottom and ask Ryan to go find Erich. Erich signs his name and we each get out some money. I put it in an envelope and then try to figure out where to put it so Sass will find it before the day is up.
Bre suggests her purse. Great idea! I set the envelope on her purse.
Chaos ensues, and then I'm playing a card game or something like that when Mom comes up to us and asks Erich and myself if we could go with her for a bit. She tells us that Sass wants to see us in the bedroom because she can't come out. I walk in there and see her holding the envelope and crying. She just stands there when I walk up to her and give her a hug. She's repeating the words Thank you over and over again. I start crying because she's crying. I tell her that I know the holidays cost a lot and I wanted her to feel better.
Erich then leans down to hug her after I'm done. I feel so good about what I've done. I really made a difference. I helped. Sometimes it's the little things that make all the difference. Even afterwards, Mom told me that Sass asked if Mom knew anything about it. Mom didn't, so Sass was even more touched.
I've been kinda hooked on DDR lately. (Dance Dance Revolution for those of you out of the loop). Thursday, Ryan and I had dinner with Jesse and Kat and two of their friends. We went to the DDR place afterwards, and I played quite a bit. Then on Saturday morning, we went to the place to get (nearly) half-priced tokens and played a few games then. Turns out Saturday at about noon, they installed the newest version of DDR. Ryan wanted to wait around until it was done to just play it once. I had plans of working out ... like weight lifting ... but we sat around for about an hour and then it was installed. We had to wait our turn after that hour. So finally, I think it's safe to say I'm the first person to play the newest DDR on light mode (if someone in Seattle hasn't already - they got it first, but only the truely maniac types come out of the woodwork for the newest versions).
Then Sunday, Tim and Sarah flew in, and we went to eat with them and found out another friend of theirs (from college) was going to be in the area, so we took him to DDR place. And I played a lot on the old machine. It was fun. I'm in no rush to wait in line for about an hour just to play 3 songs when I can play without any wait 5 songs for the same number of tokens.
Next, was yesterday. I went into work with Ryan so I could go work out (the fitness center is really nice at his work and I have a membership). Then we had Tuesday night dinner on Monday night at Tim and Sarah's. I brought DDR along with us. I insisted that we play. I played so much that I didn't even realize the time. We didn't leave Tim and Sarah's house until about 12:30am! Oops!
Today, I'm taking a break from it, because we are going tomorrow for DDR Thursday (which is on Wednesday's now due to my new class and Tim has a class on Thursday as well).
Oh yeah, my new class! I'm going to be taking an accounting class for free (except I'll have to pay for books, which reminds me to call today). It's at a community college. I'm not sure why they are free, but it's not a credit class, so it probably just helps in the work force aspect, and not the "getting a degree" sense.
Either way, I'm excited and nervous about it. Mostly nervous because I'm not sure how long it takes to get there. It's almost all up and down hilly roads, so I'm probably going to have to take the bus. Too much strain to walk.
Thanksgiving, we went to Ryan's Dad and Stepmom's house. We had some really good turkey there. I met Ryan's grandma then. She and I got along really well. She's in a hospitaly type place now until she gets knee surgery, so it was kinda sad to see that she couldn't get out and about. She didn't get to have Thanksgiving with us, but we brought her some turkey.
We had a petsitter take care of the girls while we were gone for X-mas. She kept a journal to let us know how things were going. She was super nice. If we need to go away again, and Tim isn't available, I'm definately going to have her come again. She was very professional, and yet gave my girls the care they needed. It was a bit pricey, but then again, so is everything in California.
Maxine seems to be doing good. Tierna has some little scabs on her back. It worried me they she keeps scratching. I have to give her a bath and see if that helps. Perhaps it's just dirty skin that is irritating her. It's been a long time since she's had a bath. My other concern as to what it is, she had her cage overrun with ants quite awhile back and I don't know if they bit her or anything like that... or gave her some other bug or something, but it may or may not have been around the same time as I noticed her scabs. Either way, if it doesn't get better this month, I'm going to call a vet and see if they know what it is. Ryan attributes it to her getting older. I hope that's not the case.
I am having a decompressing sorta day. Since we've been back, it seems like we were on the go everyday. I finally have a day to myself, so I'm just being REALLY lazy and enjoying it. And hey!, It's a new Buffy tonight!
I'm shocked at how much I've written, but then again, it's me. So, not overly shocked here. :) I think I better stop soon.
Oh wait! I just thought of something. I made one new years resolution: try to bite my nails less. Doesn't mean that I have to stop all together, but if I reduce the amount gradually, I think I can finally kick the habit. I only realized this last thing to add because one of my NAILS!!! is bumping my thumb when I hit the space bar. (Weird keyboard angle).
Carisa
Happy idea for today:
seeing people you haven't seen in a long time
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