Ho Hum Holidays

*This is a very negative post that I have a need to write.  You can stop reading it at any time if you choose. 

I usually enjoy the holiday season immensely.  I love to bake and make things for my friends and loved ones, find the perfect presents, and just flat out enjoy myself decorating.

This year I'm finding it really hard to get into the spirit.  We haven't decorated or even got a tree yet.  While I embrace the "reason for the season", I just can't find it in myself to be jolly and happy.  A large part of my heart is missing and I'm not sure if it'll ever heal.

Losing Mom, while expected, has been devastating to me.  She always tried to make the holidays special for all of us and enjoyed them a lot.  It is getting tougher for me as everyone is getting giddier (is that a word?) while I'm feeling more melancholy as the days go on.  Many days I'd like to just stay in bed and pull the covers over my head. 

I'm trying to not pull everyone else down in my funk with me, but I miss her and I won't apologize for that.  It seems like people only want to give you a set amount of time to grieve and then you're supposed to "get on with and over it".  She was my Mom and closest friend, you heartless *******.   (Sorry, but I'm hoping that some of the individuals with this attitude will read this and get the message and let me feel what I need to feel.)

To add to this pain, about a month ago we also lost a much beloved lady who was like another mother to Mr. MoonCat and me.  She was our brother-in-law Chris's mom and a really neat woman.  Nea was wonderful to us and her unexpected death was another sucker punch to all of us.  She and Mom have left major holes in my and Chris's lives, among others.

While at Nea's memorial, our truck decided to break down - 2 hours from home.  Ford is refusing to honor the warranty and the service they performed on it - which didn't fix the problem.  We have already had to shell out $1100 for the first failed attempt at repair with another $1400 (which we don't have) now being demanded before we can get it out of the shop.  We've had to shell out almost $700 in rental car fees because we were stuck and had to get home as well as having no vehicle for our trip.  I'm feeling a major hate for Ford Motor Company right now.  (I already wrote in a previous post about the wreck that occurred while in the tiny little rental car - yet another BAD THING.)

Topping all of this off, we've lost 5 of our dear little chickens in the last two weeks.  As far as we can determine, they contracted chicken pox.  Yes, they get their own disease and the remaining flock has been vaccinated.  So I'm missing my little friends as well as dealing with all of the other blows we've been smashed with lately. 

This has been an excessively rough year around here and it doesn't seem to be letting up. I'm thankful for what and who I do have, but dang it universe - let up on me!  I sure hope 2011 will be a better year for all of us.

Thank you for letting me rant and share, the good and the bad.  I do wish you all very Happy Holidays and I promise to come back soon with some happier animal updates and some pix from our trip to Southern California and Nevada.  We took a lot of photos and I'm slowly getting them sorted out.

Merry Christmas

Nothing really exciting to share today, I just wanted to get in my Christmas tidings to all of my beloved readers before we get swamped tomorrow. I hope you all have lovely memory-making with your families and dear ones. Cherish the time together.

We have a really busy schedule ahead of us as Hubby & I are going to my other Mom & Pop's house (my best friend's parents) for an early Christmas lunch/dinner on Christmas Eve. That is after I meet Dad for breakfast and help him do his shopping. He cracks me up because he always Bah-Humbugs until the night before and then suddenly wants to get gifts. I should be more prepared for his un-Scrooging by now, but oh well... Then on actual Christmas Eve, Dad is going with us to hang out with Mom at the hospital for a bit. She's feeling a bit better, but still can't come home. Please keep her in your prayers. We all appreciate the warm thoughts.

Christmas Day is still up in the air. We're invited with Dad to our friend's house for what will be a fun and yummy dinner. I just don't like the idea of Mom sitting there by herself at the hospital too long on this particular holiday so I may just send Dad and the Hubby and go hang with Mom. We can watch A Christmas Story over and over again. (Love that movie!) Fortunately, the food at the hospital is pretty tasty so we won't be deprived anyway. I will probably have to sneak her one of my cookies in anyway, but we won't mention that to Nursey-poo...

Well, I'd love to leave you with photos of our lovely decorated home, but #1 - it's not really decorated, and #2 - I have no clue where my camera is! I did decorate Mom's hospital room though, so I hope that counts?

Merry Christmas my lovelies and I will be back in a few days, fatter & probably not much wiser!

Favorite Guest

We've decided to not let our current house guest go home. We are kidnapping her.

We are enjoying the heck out of her visit. She is fun and entertaining. We don't have to cook for her, she eats what we put in front of her happily. She doesn't complain, doesn't care what the house looks like or what time we roll out of bed in the morning. She doesn't pass judgement on anything we say or do and just enjoys being with us. I've decided to keep her, she is the perfect company!

Meet Abby:

Abby (aka Lady of the Abbey) is my sister's newest addition. Sis calls my dogs her "dogphews", but I'm not quite sure how to combine niece and dog.

Miss Abby is visiting her Auntie and Unk while Sis and the family are at Disneyland this week. Mr. MoonCat and I were supposed to go on the trip with them, but with Mom's health so poor (she is back in the hospital again as the fluid has built back up in her lungs very quickly), we couldn't be that far away from her. We insisted Sis continue with the trip as it is #1 nephew's first time with Mickey Mouse. #1 niece hadn't been in 10 years so she was due also. We're very bummed to have missed it, but there will be other chances to go play with them, hopefully soon.

Little pooch felt right at home the first day she arrived. Pretty much took over the house and all of the inhabitants. Unfortunately, Porkchop hates her. His little nose is out of joint because Abby likes to sit on my lap just as much as he does. He can bully the other cats & dogs, but not Abby Sue. It's been a nightly battle to see who gets there first and can claim the space for the evening. So far they're 2-2.

Porkchop hunkering down and vying for position on my lap

So, we're moving. No forwarding address. Sorry Sis, Abby decided to go with us. You can't have her back! (Porkchop is sending you directions now...)