Sparks and Butterflies...

I’m here, and I’m writing, but I’m not sure what I’m talking about… My brain has officially turned to mush. I’m confused about much. Let’s take a look at my life in equations, shall we? Kitty + Christmas tree = disaster. Let’s just leave it at that. Kitty + Christmas tree water = disaster. A messy one at that. Logan + Santa = disaster. \”I don’t want merry Christmas.\” My father + construction on my house = disaster. Student loans + student loans + student loans = disaster + headache. Kitty + ribbon = very humorous disaster. Joseph + Logan + any toy in vicinity = bodilly injury. my house + Christmas + in-laws + extra grandchild + parents = much alcohol. Logan + nightmare + parent’s bed = terrible lower back pain. Kitty + mysterious ailment + limp = pathetic. I’m trying to find something good right now. But the good news is, I finally have the Christmas spirit. Saving all year little by little has done a lot in saving my sanity. I’ve been doing holiday prep little by little. Wrapped a little last night. Have made all the gifts I need to make except for two bracelets, which will probably get done tomorrow night. The house will be clean, it’s already decorated, I sort of have a menu. I think it’ll be just fine. In other news, my husband – who’s a rather scary looking man – agreed to take ballroom dancing classes with me. Oh dear. This ought to be interesting. 6 week class at the local community college. We really needed something to do together that didn’t have to do with our finances, children, the house, messes, etc. My mom agreed to babysit, so we’ll do this together. We start the first week of January. I’m really excited about this, and just was amazed when he said yes – immediately, with no hesitation!

I totally forgot to write yesterday. I blew it. Yesterday was very busy and full. Went to Target and finished up all the shopping. All wrap buying, presents buying, and stocking stuffers are all done. I was really dreading it, but it wasn’t too bad. The crowd wasn’t too bad, and they weren’t rude! Next stop was Santa. Joseph talked to him a long time since the camera shut down… Someone had stepped on the cord, and so the computer had to boot back up again. Joseph talked to him, and then got his picture – which was very cute. Logan wouldn’t go near the man. I don’t hold with getting the picture with the crying kid anyway. So later, I’ll just tell him the reason he didn’t get any pictures with Santa for the first few years is because he was deathly afraid of him. Next stop – Christmas tree. Found a great tree place. Very Very fresh, even though we’re doing it a little late this year. Competitive prices (still too high if you ask me). Very friendly accomodating staff. One hitch. Santa was there too. We had to tell Joseph that Santa was just very very fast. Got home, got the tree decorated, and it was time to get ready for Jay’s company Christmas party. Jay told me business casual. Uh huh. I knew where the party was, however – the VP’s home is in a very ritzy area. I’m so glad I dressed properly. Jay was dressed nice, and then he put on his flannel jacket. Well, I convinced him that maybe he should wear his suit jacket. When we got there, if he felt uncomfortable he could take it off. We got there, and saw through the window the caterers in black tie. Wow. My premonition was correct. Very ritzy affair full of pretentious people. But we’re chameleons and got along just fine. Even eith the- um- eliteness of the party, we had a good time. And WHAT a lovely home. It really was. So, we had out first taste of a company Christmas party. But that’s okay – we did fine, and did what we needed to do. All in all, a very busy day. The christmas tree is just lovely. I’m satisfied.

There is much to do around our house. Shopping, menu planning, tree buying, tree decorating, house cleaning, gift wrapping… All to do this weekend in preparation for the influx of family. I’ve got to start making lists, that’s for sure.

We don’t know what to do about Bandit. Jay’s going to talk to the vet about it again today. The Xrays were clear. Rest and steroids didn’t help. So now what? Anyway, I’m not going to worry about it on top of everything else. You know work is bad when your boss forces a vacation on you. As a result I will not be working between Christmas and New Years. And boyo, could I use the break – not to mention it will be after Christmas, and guests, and I can put my house to rights again – literally and figuratively. I thought I had the Christmas shopping all done – until Jay dropped the bomb on me and told me that we had adopted a family rather than gifts at his work. Ugg. I didn’t budget for this. I’m all for helping a family in dire straights as we’ve been there – but on the other hand, we’re not that far out of the dire straights and stuff like that takes financial planning on my part. Oh to have the extra to not have to think about it… My mind is so chaotic right now I can’t think of another thing to write about, although there’s a lot going on.

Continued from 2 entries ago… The rest was a blur. We wanted the big church wedding, but we were met with a shocking resistance by our friends. They said we hadn’t known each other long enough, and therefore couldn’t condone the marriage. Ha! What was curious though, was that both sets of parents were all for it. They must have seen it in us – that something that no one else saw. In the end, the big church wedding was just too much with the budget my mom gave me and lack of willing participants. So, we eloped – with our parents. We each got to keep what we thought was important. For me, it was the formality. I wanted the dress, flowers, and the others to be dressed for the occasion it was. Jay’s request was that his parents be there. Almost 3 months to the day of our first date, we married in Lake Tahoe in a beautiful little chapel with candles. I had a beautiful, off the shoulder, ivory, pearl, and satin dress. A veil trimmed in pearls. A beatiful white & dark green bouquet that trailed little baby gardenias on ribbon. Jay was gorgeous in a tux with a stud collar instead of tie. His brother, best man, was in a regular tux, and Joelle, my maid of honor was in a nice dark green dress she picked so she would wear it again. Both moms got formal dark green dresses. Both dads bought dark green suits. I had bouquets made for all the ladies, and boutineers (sp?) made for all the men. It was just the 8 of us. Unfortunately, all I remember about the ceremony was that the pastor had a really big head, and that when I looked at Jay, he looked as if he was more sure of this than anything in his life. We had champagne & cake afterwards, and pictures. Our pictures are both in the chapel, and outside in the garden, with the lake and snowcapepd mountains behind us. We packed up, and Jay and I left to go back to San Jose for the night in our new apartment and then go to our honeymoon the next morning. Myles, Jay’s brother, decided he was coming with us of all things. I wanted to be alone with my new husband. My husband and I had never been together before, so I wanted this time to be alone. Anyway, we dropped him off at his house and hightailed it home. The rest, as they say, is history. We were told by everyone who knew us it wouldn’t last. In April, it will have been 8 years. And we’re happy. We seem to have lots of trials and tribulations, but we’re solid, still in love. We did this for forever – we took the vows seriously. I love my husband, and he loves me. While our marriage came about in an unconventional way, I can’t see what life would be without him.