Thoughts About The Holidays

I thought I would just write some thoughts about the holidays.

• Why do people try to hide a re-gifted present when it is painfully obvious it was re-gifted?  (Hey, I have re-gifted in my time and most times I tell the person if it is clear it has been re-gifted!)
• Why do people feel they must give a present even if all they can get is a Chia pet bought at the local pharmacy?
• Why do people come to the Post Office at lunch time and then get annoyed when the line is long and huff and puff every few minutes?  Especially when they are the person in line who 1) doesn't have their forms filled out correctly, 2) didn't bring any tape to seal their box, and 3) showed up on the same day they got the notice their box was delivered and didn't read the notice that they have to wait until the next day to pick up their box.
• Why do family members feel the holidays are a good time to discharge all the feelings they have been holding in all year?
• Why do people have to put their Christmas tree out days before the tree pickup occurs so everyone has walk around their trees on the sidewalk?
• Why do Christmas tree lights stop working AFTER they are put on the tree and the tree is fully decorated?
• Why can't folks get back to what this holiday is about: family, friends and spending time together and NOT about getting the cheapest flat screen TV?
• Why can't my dog Lucky learn that everything under the tree is not there for her to chew on?

I will leave you with a video of my dog Happi opening a present.  Happi LOVES to open presents.  Anyone's present.

The Power of the Tiara Works Again!

Today is a good day!  The tiara worked!  That is always a good day.  I got up early to be at the health center at 8:15 am.  I changed into the lovely top they give you and then sat down to wait for my turn.  Finally they called me (it was probably only 5 minutes but I was so anxious that it felt like forever) and in I went.  Yes, I had the tiara on my head and everyone was commenting on it.  It helped to alleviate the stress.  I got the mammogram done and went back to waiting.  Once again it seemed like forever but it was probably only 10 minutes.  Then the tech called my name and I followed her out into the hallway.  Before we get barely down the hallway she turns to me and says everything is fine and she will see me in one year.  YEAH!  The Power of the Tiara worked again!

This evening Brenda and I went out to eat to celebrate.  I think it is important to mark most occasions with fattening food!  Speaking of which I am about to have a piece of vegan chocolate cake leftover from Christmas.  It is the best chocolate cake you will ever have!  Yum!  You would never know it was vegan.

Today I went out and bought myself a new slow cooker/Crockpot.  I had one that I got about 23 years ago.  It is a small (about 3 qt) pot and it made cooking rather difficult.  I went and bought myself a new 6 qt. slow cooker.  It will make slow cooking much easier.  Can't wait to make something fantastic!

Update on my foot: I think it is feeling better.  I don't think it is my imagination.  I give it a hesitant yay!

Mammogram tomorrow

First thing tomorrow morning is my 6 month check up mammogram.  Ever since I had a mammogram where they "found something" almost two years ago, I have to get check ups every six months.  It turned out to be benign masses but for a few days it was a scare I would not wish on anyone.  I had some great friends who took me out and helped me through those days.  I also have my tiara to ward off the evil spirits.  What?  You don't know about the power of the tiara?

When they told me that they had "found something", I was devastated.  My mother has had breast cancer twice so I feel I am destined to have breast cancer.  I was tested and don't have the BRCA1 (breast cancer 1, early onset) gene.  So when they found something during my mammogram, I was convinced it was my time.  My friends took me out and got me a tiara because nothing bad happens to someone wearing a tiara, right?  The doctor's very quickly had me in for a biopsy and sent the tests to the lab.  I got the results very quickly.  I didn't have any cancer and now get tested every six months.  The power of the tiara worked!  Now I wear the tiara to all my tests.  When I had my MRI last spring, the tech kept calling Princess Adrienne.

Tomorrow will be another test to get through.  I will wear my tiara and  Brenda and I are planning to celebrate the good results by going to PF Chang's for dinner.

Do any of you have good luck charms?  Or things that help you through the bad times?

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!  It has been quite a day.  Phone calls with family, eating with friends and presents with Brenda and babies.  I am sitting here, well, more like laying here on the couch.  Like a stuffed pig... Writing this before we watch A Christmas Carol. Not the George C. Scott version but the Jim Carrey Disney version.  I have been wanting to watch it since it came out but have never gotten around to it.  It is on Netflix streaming.

My art project arrived in one piece and now I am ready to share it with you.  Last December and this November my niece and nephew were born.  On the day they were born I went to the magazine store and bought the newspaper and some magazines.  I bought Time, TV Guide, People, Wired, Sports Illustrated, Vogue, Entertainment Weekly, etc.  I bought these items so years from now my niece and nephew will be able to look back and see what was going on the week/day they were born.  I was given the Life magazine from the week I was born and I treasure it.  It is cool to look back and see the advertisements and articles from the week of my birth.

I made a treasure chest for my nephew, Greyson, and a suitcase for my niece, Reese.  I put the magazines in the cases.  


 Treasure Chest for Greyson

Treasure Chest for Greyson photo by adrienne

Inside Treasure Chest for Greyson photo by adrienne

Side Treasure Chest for Greyson photo by adrienne

Back treasure Chest for Greyson photo by adrienne

Side Treasure Chest for Greyson photo by adrienne

 Suit Case For Reese
 

Suit case for Reese photo by adrienne

Inside Suit case for Reese photo by adrienn

Suit case side for Reese photo by adrienne

Suit case back for Reese photo by adrienne

Suit case side for Reese photo by adrienne

I worked really hard on these projects.  They turned out great! 

I hope you all had a merry Christmas filled with joy and love.  I am off to watch A Christmas Carol.  Oh, we ended up playing Just Dance 3 for 1/2 hour.  Just what I needed to work off all the food I ate.  I feel less like a piggy...  You talk about a workout!  My goodness.  Once my foot heals that is my new workout.  They say dance is a great way to work off the pounds!  I will turn into a stick playing that Wii game.  Whew!

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Eve

I am not sure if my foot is feeling better or I am getting used to the pain.  I know I said this the other day but I am still not sure.  I have not been walking on it as much so that could also be why it is not hurting as much.  So how do I judge if it is getting better?  Once I start walking around again, will it start hurting again?  I guess we will have to wait and see.  Stay tuned for the continuing drama of The Pain In My Right Foot.

I was texted that the art project arrived and tomorrow it will be opened.  I will post photos as soon as the intended have viewed it.  I am so excited.  I hope it arrived in close to one piece!

Today is Christmas Eve and I have the best neighbor.  Every year on Christmas morning since we moved in there have been freshly baked breakfast goodies on our doorstep.  It is the nicest treat.  Even on the years when we were away, our house/dog sitter called to tell us that scones appeared on the stoop on Christmas morning.  This evening our neighbor brought them over early.  They are apricot scones!  Yum!  I am so excited.  I just think it is such a treat to get baked goods for the holidays.  We reciprocate with my semi-homemade cookies.  (I might add he said he loved them and gobbled them down in one afternoon!)

I gave Brenda our Christmas Eve present.  Our yearly Christmas ornament.  She loved it.  It is a sterling silver locket engraved with Merry Christmas 2011 and all of our names with our photos inside.  It will join the rest of the yearly ornaments on the tree.

Time for me to go to sleep so Santa and all the reindeer can come drop down our chimney for a visit.  I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

1 Day Until Christmas

Da-hoo Doray, Da-hoo Doray!

Just sitting here watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas.  The Jim Carrey version not the animated version.  I watched the animated version two nights ago.  "Maybe Christmas means a little bit more."  "Max, help me, I'm feeling!"  "The Grinch's small heart grew three sizes that day."  So many great lines.  Jim Carrey overacting.

Of course the movie is all about commercialism and how Christmas is about being together as a family or community and not about the ribbons and bows and presents.  In our small family, Christmas is about getting together with friends and welcoming those who can't be with their families.  We try to buy locally and with some thought though the year and not in a horrible rush in the last few weeks.

I saw an article that talked about some pressing Whoville issues: Are the Who's of Whoville rude?  What if a Who in Whoville was a vegetarian?  What would they eat? What if a Who can't sing in tune?

Are the Who's rude?  The Who's made a lot of noise and bothered the Grinch.  They were noisy neighbors.  But did that give him the right to steal all their toys, trees, decorations, etc.?  No, I don't think so.  He should have gone to the town council or something.  If it only happens one day a year, he should just put up with it.  Come on, one day a year.  Suck it up!

What if a Who is a vegetarian?  Since the Who's eat roast beast, I have never heard them say they were serving roast tofu so I think any vegetarian Whos are out of luck during the big feast.  They may need to bring their own tofu to the feast.

What if a Who can't sing in tune?  I can't say I would notice since the words aren't even real words: Dahoo Doray.

What does Dahoo Doray mean anyway? I think it means "Welcome Christmas" in the made up Dr. Seuss language. Or it could mean "the Tree is on Fire", what would we know?

Just like the Who's and the Grinch, I hope your Christmas will mean just a little bit more this year!

2 Days Until Christmas

When One String of Lights Won't Light

Today was an okay day.  I am not sure if I am imagining it or getting used to it, but my foot may be hurting less.  I didn't walk as much today so that may be why it hurts less.  Let's wait until tomorrow and see what happens.

I finished making the cookies.  I probably made 5-6 dozen cookies.  Okay, I fess up.  I use the pre-made sugar cookie dough and I roll it out, cut out the shapes and decorate them.  I call them my semi-homemade cookies.  So far I have never had one person say, these taste like they are pre-made cookies.  It is tiring decorating them myself.  Red, green, red, green, it got a bit monotonous.  I mean how many red Santas can you decorate?  How many green Christmas trees?  I realize that I need new and different cut out shapes.  I was going to use some of my other shapes, like my chicken.  But then folks would ask me why I have a Christmas chicken.  Or my hippopotamus.  What does a hippo have to do with Christmas? you may ask.  Instead I stayed traditional this year.  Tree, Santa, gingerbread person, angel, snowman, candy cane and heart.  And lots of red and green!

Then I had a small catastrophe.  One half of one string of lights burned out.  I thought it was just one light bulb that blew.  NO! That would be too easy!  Almost all of the lights on that half of the sting blew.  At the same time.  This can't be good.  I replaced all the lights that were obviously blown but still the half of the string doesn't work.  It was a string that I tested prior to hanging on the tree.  It worked just fine.  I bought one of those light testers a few years ago but I can't remember how to use it and of course I don't have the directions.  I think I have another one in the box of Christmas things in the garage and I will look for it tomorrow.  Plan B is to string another string of lights on top of the non-working one.  Oh, well, these things happen.  If only it was not the string in the exact middle of the tree that is already decorated! 

Isn't this a metaphor for life and how things can go wrong no matter how much you plan?  I thought I pretty much had my life laid out in front of me.  I had time to do all sorts of things that I wanted to do. Travel, hike, ski, etc.  Then almost 20 years ago, BAM! out of the blue, RA hits me right between the eyes.  Well, actually hits my hands and my feet and hits me with such fatigue I could barely function.  Suddenly every thing was changed.  Did I have all that time?  Would I be able to do all those things?  I had to think of a different plan.  I could travel but in a different way.  Maybe I couldn't hike but I could walk.  Okay, I can't ski like I want to but I can go to ski resorts and be with everyone and still have a good time.  I had to rethink how I see my life and what part I play in it.

The Christmas lights may not work but I can choose to cry over it or fix the lights or string a new set.  I got RA and I can choose to cry over it or change my life to figure out a way to work with RA. I have chosen to change my life and work with RA.  And I am damn well going to fix or string a new set of lights!  Those lights will not beat me!

3 Days Until Christmas

Doin' Some Cookin'

Today I finally sent my last package!  I had been waiting for something that I had ordered to arrive so I could send it on to my family.  Completed!  Now I can focus on other things.

I decided to bake some cookies.  Just some sugar cut out cookies.  Something I can do while sitting down.  I finished about 2 dozen and then I stopped.  Any other time I would have pushed myself and kept going.  Today I just knew I had to stop and I would have time tomorrow to finish up.

I have had this sweet pumpkin for a few weeks and I have been wondering what I could do with it.  I found a recipe at my doctor's office yesterday for pumpkin risotto.  I decided to try it tonight.  Instead of using canned pumpkin puree, I used fresh pumpkin puree.  This also allowed me to try (for the second time) my Cuisinart food processor.  I got the food processor about 9 months ago and used it once.  It was a disaster and I have not touched it again.  Today I used it to puree the pumpkin after I cooked it.  The risotto is delicious!  I pureed the rest of the pumpkin and froze it so I can make the risotto another time.

I bought the ingredients to make more roasted root vegetables.  I have potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, parsnips, and beets.  I can't wait to make them. This is my first time using parsnips.  I want to use celery root but they didn't have any at the store.  I don't put in garlic since I can't eat it and I use fresh rosemary.  Just remember to wear rubber gloves when pealing the beets!  This is yummy!

Any special fall/winter recipes you love?  Please share! 

Foot Update

I went to see the doctor today and she is concerned about my foot.  She wants me to put some topical cream on it to see if it helps with the inflammation since I can't take ibuprofen. 

I went online to look at shoes.  Didn't find any that I am in love with.  I will keep looking.  If you have any ideas, I would love to hear them.

Have you seen the Chia Pet commercials?  Spongebob, Obama and Chia Cat.  What will they think of next?

Busy As A Bee

This has been a very productive weekend.  Even though I still have a very painful foot and have to wear the ugly boot, I stuck it out and got some things completed.  You can see the beautiful boot to the right.  People keep asking what happened and I wish it was ski season so I could come up with some great story about coming down the slopes and wiping out.  It would be much more exciting than a Morton's Naroma.  People don't have to Google a ski accident!

This weekend I bought a Christmas tree.  I got a smaller tree than usual.  I decided that with this stupid foot thing, I needed to scale back on my decorating.  So, a smaller tree will make it easier.  My partner and I have gotten one ornament each year we have been together.  This year I decorated the tree with those ornaments and a few sparkly balls.  That is it.  I didn't drag out all those ornaments.  Then I took some silver garland and put it on the tree.  Put some lights and voila!

Then I worked on two art projects.  I finished The Project that I have been working on for weeks.  I will be mailing it tomorrow.  As soon as the person opens it I will post a photo.

The other art project I worked on is an ornament.  A few years ago I bought a sterling silver ornament that opens and holds photos.  I got the ornament engraved a few weeks ago.  Today I printed out the photos and put them in the ornament.  Santa will give it to my partner on Christmas Eve.

I am doing lots of things where I can sit down.  My foot is not feeling any better.  I thought by now I would be feeling better.  I really don't want surgery on my foot...

One good bit of news: the little dog, Lucky, is finally feeling better!  She is back on regular food.  Oh, yeah, we also had a little scare.  We were sitting watching TV and Happi began barking uncontrollably.  I went to see what she was barking at and Lucky was outside (not in the backyard!)  Lucky had sneaked out and was standing on the front stairs barking to be let in.  I was shocked because she has never been outside alone before and we always joked that if she ever got out she would take off and run away.  I guess she knows where she lives after all.  We were so happy that she didn't run away and we called Happi a hero for barking to get us to let her in.  Those dogs DO love each other!

7 Days Until Christmas