Hail, Atlantis!

Pompeii

We are off to view the eruption of Vesuvius today, jj, me and his nephews. There is an exhibit at the Birmingham Museum of Art (see here). I have wanted to see it. I hope it is good. I have always been fascinated by the story of Pompeii. I recall a short story we read in jr. high school where a boy was overtaken during a meal, as they had found petrified raisins in his mouth. I was enthralled. It inspiried me to do a paper on the Lost Continent of Atlantis. (That and Donovon singing about it, "Hail, Atlantis!")

Daughter number one is feeling better, but I am leaving her behind today at her dad's, as she isn't really interested, and it reminds me of another educational trip I once took to Salem Village, where she and her sister behaved like real brats, totally spoiling the visit for me. They even tittered at the coffee pot logo. grrrr.

I mentioned that next year I might take a trip at Christmas rather than they usual holiday fare. She acted as though she was included in those plans. hee hee. She isn't. No, I have finally learned that if they are not interested in what I am looking at, they will totally spoil it for me, so I just don't take them anymore. Daughter 2 is better than she used to be. I think I have gotten her some experience just meandering. She sort of half-heartedly allows herself to experience whatever, but not the first one. She and I have had some travels. None thrillingly fun, but pleasant neverless.

Well, there are only two more days after today of this holiday, then it is back to work. Part of me doesn't mind. I have managed to get some things done, have naps, stay away from stores, etc., I have seen movies and had a fairly nice time. Son-in-law left yesterday. Apparently they have given notice to their landlord and so will be moving to Atlanta in January. They are just going to move then find a house. Such verve!

Right now I am waiting for my hair to dry before getting the hairdryer out. It is not my favorite thing to do, but necessary for an acceptable appearance. I want to be comfortable today, and so will have to wear a cotton shirt. I have a linen one that looks good despite wrinkles.

I was reading some HP fan fiction last night. This story was pretty good, something about Snape and Harry having to cooperate and resolve the story's challenges. It is told from Snape's perpsective, and so there is lots of his personal asides concerning the "Potter brat" but at least it isn't totally fantastic and unbelieveable as most of them are. It sort of folds into the latest movie, with mentions of Hogwarts under the rule of Delores Umbridge etc.,

the after xmas doldrums

I have been going back and forth trying to decide what to write. I had a nice Christmas and all, but my eldest daughter is visiting and I find myself, as usual when she visits, quite irritated at having to wait on her to feel like actually having a visit. She seems to sleep all the time, or wants to, and I am getting rather exasperated by it. If she is sick, I want her to go to the doctor. If she needs sleep, then she can sleep the night, and even have a nap the next day, but sleeping all day after going to bed at 9 pm just isn't condusive to a fun visit. She has essentially abandonded her hubby who is trapped at her dad's with no way to escape, and nothing much to do. It isn't that I care if she sleeps, its just that she makes a plan and then we all spend the day waiting for her to get ready. Or wake up, or whatever it is.

I was going to spend today with them, but she got up at 5 pm and now only has time for doing presents over at her dad's. I would take her hubby to the movies, but then her dad would take insult, even though he is not spending time with the son in law particularly. Tomorrow I am to cook dinner, and also go spend my cafeteria plan money on glasses and custom orthotics. But jj wants to go to see the exhibit on Pompeii in the morning, and I really don't know what to do. My daughter didn't seem too interested in seeing it, but I do want to. Her husband might like to as well. But its all about her, so it seems, and no one can do anything without her, yet she never gets around to going and doing anything.

I don't know whats wrong with her. I am afraid she has neglected her health and has anemia or worse, plus she likely isn't buying or taking her anti-depressants or thyroid medicine. You can't tell her anything, she is so stubborn. I have really waited all afternoon for her to wake up and call me. Now I will have to spend another day waiting, when perhaps I might just go do something I want to do. sigh*

I am beginning to feel about Christmas the same way I feel about Thanksgiving. blah, humbug!!

The evensong and Christmas eve singing was nice. I also sang at my old church, but really didn't feel comfortable doing it, and so I will not again. I think I have finally made the emotional break finally, and I felt loved and wanted by my wonderful choir friends at my new church. They all chipped in and gave me a Book of Common Prayer/Hymnal red leather, embossed with my name. I was totally surprised at such a gift and from all of them. My plans were to write lovely thank you notes, but I have also put that on hold in my blue funk.

I had a nice Christmas with my youngest child. She liked her stuff and I liked mine. This equals sucess, I suppose. I still need to get the washer and dryer over to her house and the dryer is still broken. But I am tapped out on funds. I am so tired of being broke. I haven't saved any for the trip to SF next month, and I have yet to pay my car payment and insurance for December. And I still owe jj money and for the plane ticket. I am not sure how much he let me work off the day I helped him with his workplace party. I am thinking a hundred of it. I worked like a slave that day.
He also wants me to help him make a quilt for his nephews, I guess I really must do it with a smile. He is good to me. But I am so tired of being broke. I am making a resolution to make a budget and live within my means, no matter how meager they may be.

Well, I have vented some, and now feel like doing something downstairs, so for now, happy holidays and all that.

Christmas is coming and I am getting fat,

Won't you please to put a penny in the old man's hat!

Yes, a week to go, and things are going nicely. My ex got a Wii for my daughter, her last big toy before she is all grown up. I am impressed at his generosity. I give him brownie points.

I got her a washer and dryer. I know his is more fun, but mine is good too. So I am not going to feel inadequate, I am going to feel like I did good as Santa. Now for the other daughter, I did not do as well, but she is currently in Australia and won't tell us what she wants. So she will probably get money. It is crass, yes, but well received I think.

It has been so long since I last blogged. Nothing happened that was earth shattering, but I will say that our Lessons and Carols turned out well. I also got a nice bonus, so I was able to get the shopping done. This week is light, and I am out then until Wednesday Jan 2. YAY! A much needed rest.

I am going to see Sweeny Todd with my girls, so that is something I look forward to. I also intend to go to Birmingham and see the exhibit on Pompeii. I also have lots of Dr appointments planned for next week, which reminds me that I should print the calendar out so I don't forget any.

Now for a picture. Here is one of Krampus.

the pre-christmas miseries set in

I wonder sometimes if I don't conjur up all my holiday woes. Subliminally, I mean. It is every year, right before Christmas, I have some kind of money drain that spoils my Christmas plans. This year is no different, but I might say it was worse than the last few years. Anyway, I am determined to figure out a way to keep the holidays fun and magical. So far, I have nothing.

The concert was okay. I wasn't real up for it, having caught a last minute cold or somesuch. Billy was distracted with the youth orchestra and I think we needed some of his focus and encouragement. I hope he isn't too bummed. But people said it sounded good etc., so who am I to judge, I didn't listen, I was singing.

Afterwards we went to Ruby Tuesday, a lack lustre location for a half-hearted celebration. D did not want me to invite a particular guest, he had his reasons. But it soured things for me because I had to slight someone and I was sad about it. I don't think the person noticed particularly, plus I wasn't feeling well, it made sense that I wouldn't go. But I did go, and I caved in to what I thought was a childish and selfish request on D's part. So the last concert of the season sort of sucked all around for me.

Sunday we made our annual pilgrimage to the mountain for Sewanee's Lessons and Carols. It wasn't cold, but it started raining a downpour as we lined up to get in. So we were all soaked and I was wretched with my cold. The program wasn't as good as last year, I don't think, and last years wasn't as good as the year previous. But it is tradition, and we went. My friend S made the box lunches and it was good, people seemed to like them. That made her happy. Next year though, I think I might take a trip to hear my old choirmaster's new church do L&C. My heart aches for him sometimes. I just miss his ways and his musical choices. But he sent me some pictures of his service and it looked like there was a full house and a huge combined choir for it, so I am happy for him.

I stayed home yesterday to regroup from the weekend, and battled some more with the bank. I am so disgusted with them for seemingly tinkering with my deposits and such to make the situation about 20 times as bad as it needs to be. I did have the help of a banker who was able to refund me several hundred dollars worth of their fees. I hope he doesn't get into trouble with it, but it was even evident to him that they were milking the situration and I appreciate his help.

On the other hand I am also disgusted with myself, as I seem to do something like this every once in a while, and always at Christmas. I got complacent and didn't bother to keep track, and so I got what I deserved, but it still sucks. I was trying to do Christmas and also set some aside for a trip to San Francisco in january. I can not go and lose plane fare, or go and have to come up with all the money. sigh*

I do get tired of struggling for small things. I was going to treat myself to a new kitchen floor this xmas, in addition to the trip. Now both look sketchy. I found my daughter a washer and dryer too, but now, well, I am going to try to get them, but it will not be easy to do it on this paycheck. I am thinking maybe to get her dad to buy them. We could split the cost, or I could pay him back, or he could just give them to her. sigh* It doesn't matter. I just wish I was better at economics.

This week is slow in terms of activities, which I welcome. Next week we do our own lessons and carols and of course prepare for Christmas eve. Everyone likes to go to both evening services, but I don't want to. One is enough for me.

I suppose now I will go try to relax a bit. I don't get many evenings with nothing to do. Well, its not really that I have nothing to do, it is that I am not doing the things I need to do. But I am often not home, so it is nice to be here.