Happy Holidays to Everyone

[preraph]

Happy Holidays to everyone. Let us know how it all went with the family and friends and overly entitled siblings. hah. My sister is already trying to tell me what route to take to the restaurant today. WTF? She's so controlling and obnoxious, even worse since the hospital stay.

My Christmas is low-key. Having it today with my sister (who has been ill most of the year). Dragging her out for a steak rather than sitting around the house. We're both drained financially after her being in the hospital all year (and just the cost of living), so it's Christmas-lite, and I forbade her to buy anything at all. She can't even afford her meds.

I got a nice box from one of my good friends to look forward to opening later. I have this one friend who we buy quite a bit for each other, a variety of stuff, you know, chocolates, clothes, etc. I couldn't do all that this year, but I embroidered her some kitchen towels with her favorite things on them, and she will like that, and I'm sure she made me something in addition to whatever else she could afford. She always sends pet treats, which is very much appreciated all around. So that will be fun later. Then I have two friends to get together with that probably won't happen until after the holiday and I hope will involve a leisurely lunch.

I was very frank with the one with kids this year when she asked if I wanted to exchange gifts at her house and I just said, "Oh, I don't like to do that when I'm not bringing anything for the kids, and I just really am not into buying kids gifts." She suggested I make some more cookies, which I have done in the past, so maybe I will if I get around to it. I just wanted it out in the open. I can't afford that, and one of her kids, the eldest, is SO particular. I have seen him have a tantrum when someone spent a lot of money on him but it wasn't the exact thing he wanted. So I'm not wanting to get started with that. I'm not going to be forced to spend $50 and have to go hunt down a certain toy, you know. The little girl, I could probably make happy with the smallest thing, but you can't do one without the other, so....cookies, if that. I probably will make some, only because I want some for myself, so I'll make enough for all.

Hope you all have a stress-free joyous holiday season, whether it's Christmas or Hanukkah, or it's just another day to you. The important thing is you get time off from work, and never forget it!

[cnu5000]

Me and my coworkers will joke that when it comes to getting time off from work embrace all religions. At work it has been very stressful and busy-no holiday slow down. Must be very stressful for people that have a lot of holiday preparation.

We got our cat baby, Suzie from the shelter and she is a doll of a cat. I will write more about her later. Both my mother-in-law(she loves cats and she has grandchildren) and my mother feel like they have gotten a grand-cat. I will write more about it later.

My mother was comparing her getting a grand-cat to her friends getting a great-grand child. I was joking with her that she will not have to worry about Suzie's (my cat's new name) college bills.

Suzie is well on her way to dotted on pet of people without children.

The shelter I got her from his a great cat shelter. I will write more about it later when I have more time. Here is a link to the shelter description of my cat-she is such good cat-I think the shelter was very good-more run like a zoo-it is known for being an organization that takes cats seriously.

www.petfinder.com/petdetail/19448881

[preraph]

Oh, what a cutie. I was imagining you getting a yellow cat, too! Can't wait to hear more. Congrats!

[happy2bchildfree]

Christmas Day was OK. We had a very nice dinner with my SIL, and dh met his young-adult grandchildren for the first time. They seem like nice kids, and I hope they will come to accept me as an older friend.

Otherwise the holidays were rather dismal. I still haven't gotten my inheritance, and we are in a terrible bind financially. We can't move from here until I have the money. The soonest I will see any money is the beginning of next month. I am no longer on speaking terms with my former family and never will be again. I am hoping for a better 2012 because the last two years have been horrible beyond belief.

[preraph]

It can only get better, right? Here's hoping you and everyone have a placid and dare I say joyful 2012.

[cnu5000]

Happy-sorry about the probles you are having.

[happy2bchildfree]

Update: I signed the escrow papers for sale of my father's house. My brother is buying it; the property was in the 3 siblings names and it's a matter of him buying out mine and the other brother's interests in the property. There is no reason at all that the house part of the inheritance couldn't have been settled right after my father's passing. My brother is a POS and he has dragged this out for a long as possible because in his sick little mind he has some sort of vendetta against me. I have no idea why and it really doesn't matter--the relationship I had with him is a done deal regardless. I can't wait to be able to cut all ties with him.

[preraph]

I hope this is the beginning of the end of it for you. I don't believe in keeping people around who try to make your life harder instead of easier, no matter who they are.

[happy2bchildfree]

Jan 17, 2012 20:16:14 GMT -5 preraph said:

I hope this is the beginning of the end of it for you. I don't believe in keeping people around who try to make your life harder instead of easier, no matter who they are.

I agree with you. I get so annoyed at people who think that because a person is "family", that it somehow obligates us to put up with their BS.

People who negatively affect my serenity have no place in my life, regardless of who they are.