What's everybody doing for the holidays this year?
My daughter and new son-in-law are up from the deep south. They drove, and spun out on the freeway in the blizzard we just had. They are ok. The car has minor damage. Whew.
I have a break for the holidays for the first time in over 4 yrs. We can basically do whatever we want.
What's on the menu? I'm always looking for new ideas.
How about a fruit-and-berry salad with maple-walnut sauce? Use pineapple, banana, dried cranberries, raspberries, red grapes. Serve with a warm maple-walnut sauce.
(It was good but I forgot to write down the recipe.)
I was thinking about my life and the changes since d-day. Ten years ago I was having a family holiday etc, completely unaware that my then H was several months into his affair. Consequently it was a complete illusion. It was a life that no longer existed, being propped up by a huge core-level lie.
This holiday is small....again. I'll be spending Christmas eve alone, but not Christmas day. Many aspects of life have changed, and some remain a bit unsettling. However, in spite of it all I know that this one is not shrouded in a lie.
I feel for anyone this holiday season who is being subjected to that facade.
The truth was bizzare, but nowhere near as bizzare as the lie. At least when intuition matches what you're seeing and hearing, the world isn't so confusing and crazy-making.
Here's to truth and all that it stands for. It keeps most of us in check most of the time simply due to the fact that it's powerful. Given time it will hold steady and come out into the light of day.
I'm also on my own Christmas Eve (night anyway) as the boys will be with their dad from then until the day after Christmas (bummer). Christmas day I'll be with a friend who's son will also be with his dad and later with a neighbor and her family. My life was certainly not like this before his A but I am happy I'm not with him anymore.
The day after X-mas early, the boys and I will go down to FL to visit my parents where two sisters and their families will be as well - should be fun!!! I just wish I could spend Christmas day with my family since the boys will be with dad - that is a bummer it's too far away.
They do? LOL Mine must think we have the same lifestyle as Italy. Mama's bambinos!
RW- Three of my sons will be in Roch., as long as they can get there. My oldest in Taiwan played Santa Claus at his elementary school. Go figure.
It will be my first Christmas without them. I will probably volunteer somewhere.
Oh, and if anyone wants to listen to my radio show of "A Christmas Carol" log onto KLCC.org click on archives and listen. I am the voice of a caroler, Madge, tiny Tim, Blessings ( a rag picker) and Caroline.
I feel so very sorry for my poor grand kids. Since their mom and dad split up earlier this year and mom and dad have new partners and those new partners have parents and then of course there are the biological grandparents and parents. Well, lets just say they will be making out like little banditos. The grand kids have had Christmas 3 times this year already at different extended family places and at least 3 to go.
We are keeping it pretty simple this year at our house. Small tree just for the grand kids, not us. A few friends and some family coming over Christmas Eve for finger food. Believe it or not, nothing going on here Christmas morning. I don't think that has ever happened before in 38 years. (I should probably cook breakfast for NM.) But, big party at son's house Christmas afternoon -----------so they will have to clean up.
I'm giving my son and his new hotsy totsy girlfriend a cruise for Christmas. Of course NM and I are going along to chaperone. Ok, NM will be chaperoning. She is a lot better at that than I am. I'll be minding my own business, probably, maybe, no promisses, don't count on it. I've already been instructed to stay off the topless deck. See, the chaperoning has started already. Booked it online back in October for 280.00 per person plus a fuel surcharge of 154.00 per suit that we are now getting back as on board credit since crude oil prices have dropped. Can't wait to get out of this blizzard weather.
Looks like I won't be alone after all, the gang cancelled their trip. Or rather, mother nature forced them to cancel. Threw up some lights and tree real fast- defrosting a roast. Whew!
RW, I have invited a bunch of neighborhood friends over for a New Years Eve potluck and young, cutie opera, guitar, piano guy is one of them - should be fun.
Old BF has been calling me the last few weeks telling me now that he can committ and now I'm not sure I want to get back together. We've gotten together a few times, but I realized when we were apart a few things that I didn't think were fair about our relationship - why does this always happen? Why when I've convinced myself why he was wrong for me does he now think he can marry? His ex-wife got married on Monday so I asked him if that is why he decided he can get married in a year or two now????#$% He said no. I definitely can't decide on that one until afer New Years !!! LOL
MM, that is great news for you - have fun!! Merry Christmas all of YOU!!!
Its 8 am and here I sit Christmas morning. NM is still sacked out and it is so very quite. There's no paper and box mess on the floor like so many years before. I'll start breakfast soon.
I just finished an article, a short story that a close friend sent me to read. She wants to be a writter. The story brought a tear to my eye so I guess she's getting there.
I remember last Christmas was in such turmoil. My son still lived in the marital home with his EX and their 2 little kids. Their marriage was over at that point as she was unwilling to give up her affair partner. She was using the kids in combination with the OM to oust my son out of the house. It didn't work as she planned but as you can imagine it made for some very bad times. My son was a wreck watching himself get replaced as a father, husband, lover, friend etc. but he won his custody fight. It was hard for him to keep a civil demeanor for the kids at Christmas but somehow he did it. It was hard for NM and I to watch. Any way this year is peaceful and the joy is oozing back in to all our lives. Son has a beautiful woman by his side who is a natural with the kids. My, how one year can make a difference.
Regarding the cruise, I watch 2 or 3 websites a few months before a target date of when we want to leave. I've learned to identify trends based on past experiences. At certain times there is a rush to book the majority of the rooms just to get people on board, then the price generally goes back up. Our last cruise was to Hawaii and it was a 7 day also. I booked that one for 436.72 per person after all the taxes and port charges. All of our cruises have been below 400.00 per person. But this one is the best I've done and certainly it has to do with the state of the economy. For about a week after I booked this one, it was actually running cheaper at about 250.00 per person but I'm happy with what I got. 280.00 per person divided by 7 nights is 40.00 per night and that includes really good food any time day or night and a room where they turn your bed covers down every night, a dozen different types of entertainment at any given time, 3 swimming pools, a state of the art gym with saunas, jogging track, tremendous service, 5 stops at neat places and lets not forget the warm weather. And, this is the only cruise ship with a bowling alley. I can't imagine a cruise ship with a bowling alley. I can't wait to see that. When I booked, the cruise line had a surcharge for fuel of 11.00 per day, per person thats 154.00 per suit. They dropped the surcharge recently and they are giving it back as on board credit which will be a great help on our bar and gift shop bill.
MEXICO CITY Three Mexican Navy boats and a helicopter were searching the waters off the Caribbean resort of Cancun on Friday for an American woman who reportedly fell from a cruise ship, authorities said.
A U.S. Coast Guard search-and-rescue crew using a Falcon jet halted its efforts to find 36-year-old Jennifer Feitz late Friday, but will resume early Saturday morning using a larger C-130 aircraft, said Petty Officer Third Class Nick Ameen. Feitz's husband reported her missing from the Norwegian Pearl cruise ship just before 5 a.m. EST Friday.
If you've never been on a cruise ship then you might think that someone can just "fall" overboard. Not true, especially on a new ship like the Norwegian Pearl. The rails are shoulder high for most people and the smallest kids can't fit through them. There are generally 3 possibilities when someone goes overboard. 1) They were thrown. 2) They jumped. 3) They were clowning around climbing disregarding the safety regulations. There was a woman back in May on the Norwegian Dawn that was climbing from one balcony to another. They have ship's video of her climbing and then falling.
Geesh we really have to coordinate this cruise thing H2C. :P
I'm sailing the Liberty in late February. This time around I'm bringing my mom with me.....that's sure to be interesting at best. Good job we aren't sharing a cabin!!
This time around is Puerto Rico, St. Thomas and St. Maarten.
Last year's cruise was two months after my dad passed away, and it was hard to be happy and cheerful. This one should be alot more fun and I'm looking forward to getting away.
Although I can't say I got it for $280 pp. I usually end up paying around $1500 but that's for just me in the cabin. What's your secret?
Kid, I was watching the Liberty as one of several possibilities but couldn't resist the price of Norwegian. They really dropped all their prices for a while there. This will be our 3rd Norwegian ride. We had to plan the cruise around both grand kid's birthdays. I just want to get into some warm weather for a while.
Living in ottawa is far warmer than the frozen tundra of Tbay, yet I still crave the heat
We got assigned our cabins today and no upgrade. Oh well, I'll have to live without my balcony. I'm rarely in my room anyway.
I'm hoping to try another cruise line next time but the Liberty is the best deal we could find when we booked. I tried vacationstogo.com and price was the same as what I got on Carnival.
Good news is apparently they will refund our fuel supplement! That's 6 drinks aboard ship lol.
