It’s the last Friday of 2018, how weird is that? Instead of a Friday Five, I’m just going to ramble a bit

We had a really nice Christmas, and it’s not over for us yet. We’re having another celebration this weekend at Middle Son and his wife’s house. It’ll be relaxed and fun, and I’m really looking forward to it.

Oh yeah, here’s Maggies face when I told her that she wasn’t getting any Christmas presents: 

Just kidding–I bought her some treats and put them in a bag with kittens all over it. She was very happy with her present. And she also stole wrapping paper and ran through the house with it, totally proud of herself. Maggie’s a really well behaved dog, but it’s also nice to see a mischievous streak now and again.

I’m still healing, it’s been 8 weeks since my surgery and I’m trying not to lose my mind from being housebound I walk all the time, and this week, I’m walking Maggie too so that gets me out. But I want my independence back! So yesterday Wizard was going to the track to practice racing, and I told him I was going to run an errand while he was gone. As in I was going to drive myself to the store.

Wizard started firing questions, “Are you sure you can drive? You have to wear your brace. Which store are you going to? When are you going?”

I told him the store I was going to, and added, “It’s very close, I’ll be careful, but I can do this. I’ll go after you leave.”

Being an overprotective Alpha Male, he said, “What do you need to buy at that store? I’ll take you right now before I go, or I can pick it up on my way home.”

I just stared at him in frustration.

“Okay,” he relented because, HELLO I wasn’t asking permission, I was informing him as a courtesy. Before he left, he said, “Please, just be careful.”

I went to the store, found what I needed and got home fine.  And I told Wizard exactly that when he got home from racing. He seemed to accept that I can start doing some things like drive to the store.

Then last night, Wirard said, “Wake me at six in the morning.”

“Why?” I’m always awake, so him asking me to wake him isn’t unusual, but I knew where this was going with this.

He said, “I’m taking you to get your haircut in the morning. I need to got to Walmart anyway.”

Yeah…apparently I only won a small skirmish in the battle for freedom, LOL! I gave in somewhat gracefully because he’s not wrong–I’m not ready for a lot of driving yet. And I’m very grateful to have a partner who is trying so hard to help me out. He’s been my rock through all this, and he never complains.

In the new year, I have to tackle a health insurance change, but I’ll be with all my same doctors. That’s going to take some time, and the second week in January I’m on call for Jury Duty. But around that–I’m going back to writing. I’m tossing out what I don’t like in the book, taking a fresh approach to get Savaged Devotion done. I’ll have to limit my computer time but I know I can do this!

So that’s my catch up. Now it’s your turn!

As I kid, I grew up believing in Santa Claus. Now as an adult, I still believe in the magic of the holidays, and for each of you a big dose of magic sprinkled over your holiday!

I’m taking Wednesday off  the blog and will be back on Friday. Hope to see you all then. In the meantime, enjoy your loved ones and please stay safe!

I blame Holiday Brain. I got busy yesterday, and while I knew I needed to post a blog, somehow I just never got to it. Anyway, here’s my Friday 5:

1. 99.9 % of my holiday shopping and wrapping is done. But I still haven’t gotten Maggie a gift. That’s not a big deal, I can throw one of her treat bones in a Christmas gift bag and she’d think she won the doggy-lottery. I’m going to look for blankets for her in after Christmas sales because Maggie appreciates a good sale :-).
2. My daughter in law, (Middle Son’s wife) makes Magic Bars that have coconut in them. I don’t like coconut but I like her Magic Bars.
3. I had pictures of Baby Slayer printed yesterday. I’m so excited! I finally was able to hang a frame that CPA Boy and Special K gave me way back in May. That’s right, 7 months ago **Hangs head in shame** 
4. We have a pretty wicked coyote problem here. They are hungry from the fires and floods. The elementary school one street over even sent out warnings to the parents. Wizard has changed his route for walking Maggie, and I’m going to be much more careful when I start walking her too.
5. My goal for 2019 is to recapture my passion and motivation, and establish work hours that leaves me free time to do other things I enjoy.

I’ll post Monday just to wish you all a Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays!

How can Christmas be in six days? I swear it was Thanksgiving ten minutes ago! Ah well, time for a break from the holiday stress to view our hunk–a holiday hunk who’s been around for a few years now.

 

So what do you think, does he stand up to the test of time?

It was another weekend without any major disasters, we are on a roll here! So here’s a summation:

Wizard’s family party was Saturday, and we had a great time. My sister-in-law does this party every year, and she really goes all out. Her house is beautiful, the food is wonderful and it’s just nice to go and relax. I really appreciate all the work she puts into it! So a couple notable things happened at the party.

Baby Slayer couldn’t be there. He was slightly under the weather, and he totally exhausted his parents. All of them were improving on Sunday. They were missed but that’s how it is with kids.

Wizard is sooo busted! I took a few pictures of the party, and in every single one, Wizard is looking at his phone! That’s right, the man who claimed for years that people are rude with their smartphones has suddenly morphed into ONE OF THEM now that he has his own smartphone. (Okay, Truth Time: He was showing his family pics of Baby Slayer, and I maybe purposely took pictures of him like that to torment him, but he’s still busted because teasing Wizard is fun!) (Oh wait, maybe it’s not smart to tease the man who drives me everywhere I want to go???)

During the White Elephant gift game, I got a blanket to keep Maggie warm through the winter. Then my niece STOLE Maggie’s blanket for her dog, Brody. Maggie is totally heartbroken. This is Maggie’s face when I broke the news to her: 

I told her not to cry, maybe Santa will find a way to get her a new blanket

Then on Sunday, Youngest Son (BLB) came over in the afternoon, and Maggie did the wiggle dance of joy for fifteen minutes, totally forgetting about the blanket. Maggie loves company, kids and dogs. She’s timid and excited at the same time.  The dog is weird, but what other kind of dog would I get???

Wow Christmas is almost here! I’m not quite done shopping, but we’ve scaled back some so that helps. And Wizard really is doing all he can which I so appreciate.

How was your weekend? And are you guys ready for the holiday?

TGIF! Time to list 5 random things about our week:

1. Yesterday was six weeks since my surgery. I’m doing better. Irritated as heck by my limitations, the brace and normal soreness. I’m supposed to wear this brace for 3 months, then we’ll do another x-ray and see if I’m showing any signs of bone growth (called fusing). However, I can start taking breaks from the brace when I’m not doing physical things as long as I don’t bend my neck more than 25%, so that helps. Sleep isn’t always easy in the soft brace, but better than having to sleep in the hard brace! It’s going to take time though, and I’ll do all I can to heal and get back to life in full swing! And writing!
2. Wizard and I made four batches of bread yesterday, with a 50% success rate due to my screw up. The 2 batches of zucchini bread appears to have come out fine, but the pumpkin came out like wet bricks. I realized just as we finished mixing up the 2nd batch that I’d put in DOUBLE THE PUMPKIN. I was measuring all the ingredients obsessively because I’m prone to mistakes right now and yet, I did the stupidest mistake of all. It was a total lightbulb moment as I put in the pumpkin realized I was holding a 30 oz can not a 15 oz can. Holy Bumbling Moron at your service! I knew exactly the amount I needed, so why I bought the bigger can and never realized the error is an irritating mystery that I can’t blame on anyone but myself. But then again, no one was hurt, and in the big scheme of life, who really cares? Somehow the sun will rise tomorrow despite my making a mistake and tossing out the pumpkin bread.
3. We got a Christmas card from very sweet couple who did the premarital counseling required by the church we got married in.  Way back then, they taught us the key to marriage is “The Three C’s; communicate, communicate, communicate.” At the time, both Wizard and I thought they were very nice, but we didn’t appreciate their wisdom. We were young and knew it all, LOL! Decades later, we get it and appreciate their advice so much more. Every year, we look forward to their Christmas card, letting us know they are still well and practicing The Three C’s
4. Oldest son called, and in the conversation said, “Mom can you help me cheat?” I replied, “Of course, after all I raised you to be a cheater.” He wants me to help him cheat in a cookie contest, and I’m thinking about it–even getting Wizard in on the scheme. I might just do it! In case you’re wondering, no one at his office will believe he made the cookies, and I’m pretty sure my other son who works there will rat him out in a hot second. Oldest is awesome at his job, but not in the kitchen. That’s why it’s funny. If Wizard helps, we’d have a great time and then he’d ferry the cookies to Oldest for him to try to pull this off caper. (If anyone seriously thinks I raised my kids to be cheaters, please look up sarcasm. Yes I’d make the cookies, but only because this is fun cheating, not hurting someone cheating.)
5. We have a Christmas party for Wizard’s side of the family on Saturday. I’m so looking forward to getting out and seeing  his family!

Now it’s your turn to list your five things! I hope everyone has a great weekend!

I was looking for a Holiday Hunk, but then I found this guy:

To making this more seasonal, what if he’s the hero in a Home for the Holidays Christmas Novella? Obviously he gave the shirt off his back to someone who needed it

So what do you think?