Our Christmas tree is up! I'm so excited. This is an absolute first for me - a Christmas tree up BEFORE December 1st. Never before happened. I got all in the spirit, and Aunt Grace has never seen our tree, which I personally think is very beautiful, so I got busy. It makes the house so very happy! Grace left this morning at 5:30 am - eek! I must say, we really do enjoy having her with us. We wish she'd come for Christmas some time, but she won't leave Mommy with all the work. Sweet.
___________________________________
Last week (pre-Grace's arrival/Thanksgiving), I had the most horrible bad dream. It was one of those anxiety dreams, where you keep walking and walking and never get to where you need to get. In it, I had a hole in my right knee, and every time I bent my knee, the hole would open up, and I'd get a sharp pain. Jude was just a little guy, and I kept having to carry him, and I was limping along with the hole in my knee opening and shutting. And I was trying to get somewhere, though I don't remember where, walking through hallway after hallway, carrying Jude. People kept asking me if I was okay, and I kept saying "Oh, I'm fine." But I wasn't. And then, I suddenly looked down and realized that there was blood all over me, but it wasn't from my right knee, it was from my OTHER leg. On the thigh of my left leg, there was a giant piece of skin missing, as if someone had cut a giant square of skin off with a knife, and I was trying to hold the piece of skin on, but the blood kept gushing, and I kept walking on and on, carrying Jude, and finally I said " I think I need some help." And a kind man walked up to me and said "I'll help you. Let's get you to a doctor. And I'm going to buy you some flowers too." And I remember feeling so grateful. And then, the alarm went off. When I got out of bed, I actually limped for a good 5 minutes, the dream was so powerful. The worst part? It was so EASY to interpret! Clearly, I was feeling burdened and overwhelmed! Where's the kind man with my flowers?!
__________________________________
Okay, I am still coveting a Snuggie.
They are making a new Buffalo Plaid print, which I think is rather fetching. So far, nobody has bought me one. I know they are unattractive, and completely 2010, but I don't care. The other day, we saw this ad...
Oh my God! Could you imagine? Do they or do they not look like Teletubbies?
And the butt flap?! At least the Snuggie people aren't suggesting wearing it anywhere but the sofa. Crazy, man.
__________________________________
On Thanksgiving, Jude and I had a talk about gifts. He's thinking quite a bit about gifts lately, now that it's the countdown to Christmas. He said that Santa gives him his very favorite presents. And then his Uncle Tony and Aunt Niki always give him things he loves (little does he know that Aunt Niki makes me wishlist all of Jude's "wants" on Amazon!). "And you give me nice things too, Mom." Then he got this kind of guilty look on his face and whispered under his breath "And Dad...well...he just gives me socks. But I'm thankful for those too. Because they keep me warm." Which was deliciously sweet, but it made me realize that Jude thinks that all Jimmy gives him is socks! It never occurred to me to give him a nice gift just from us, as opposed to Santa. The poor kid must think Jimmy and I are so terribly cheap! But he's thankful anyway.
__________________________________
My friend Greg has written the sweetest Christmas book!
It's a sweet story that focuses on the true meaning of Christmas. And it's kind of cool that he's not only written a book (available here at Barnes and Noble), but also at Amazon for the Kindle...
AND, there's an interactive version available through iTunes for your iPad or iPhone! PLEASE check it out and support Greg!
___________________________________
The other night (back before Grace arrived), my best friend Sharon, who lives in Austin, and I talked on the phone. [NOTE OF BEST FRIEND EXPLANATION: I often refer to both my best friend Kaysie, and my best friend Sharon. They are both my best friends. I will not choose.] And I mean, we TALKED on the phone. For THREE hours. I swear, we haven't talked like that in YEARS. It was like high school. On and on we chatted and gossiped and reminisced. She told me long stories about her daughter Lauren's life, and I told her the latest about Jude, and then we got into this long talk about all the men we'd ever been with in our lives, and I started looking them up on Facebook. Hysterical. It was such a joy. It's sad that I just don't seem to do this anymore. MUST REMEMBER THIS!
___________________________________
Yesterday, when I was driving Jude to school, Journey's Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin' came on the radio and at the end part, after "Now it's your turn girl to cry...", I cranked it up REALLY loud and sang along at the top of my lungs. I told Jude that when Aunt Sharon and I were young, and we were cruising around in the car, like we always did, if this song came on the radio, we'd go crazy, turn it way up and sing and sing "NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA". Jude turned to me straight-faced and asked incredulously"Why?". Why?! Why?! I didn't even try to explain why. I figure he'll find out soon enough for himself.
So, in honor of Sharon and my 3 hour phone conversation, and remembering those two young girls who cranked it up and wailed along with Steve Perry...
Wasn't that fun?!
Run along to see Stacy now...
You know I just can't et on board with the Snuggie. I'd rather freeze. I also hate talking on the phone, I'd much rather email or maybe text, which for me, is borderline phone conversation.
Actually, I'd rather not talk to anyone.
For some reason I have this repeating dream where I'm in a hotel riding the elevator and walking around never able to find my room. No matter who I ask I can never actually reach the door.
If that's a metaphor for something I'd rather not know what it is.
Happy RTT!
Posted by: Andrea | 11/29/2011 at 04:33 AM
Those "Forever Lazy" things cracked me and Beloved up when we first saw them on TV - they even have a "trap door" so you don't have to unzip and lower them to go to the john. And you're right - they DO look like Teletubbies! It's probably a good thing Mr. Falwell's no longer with us; his head would explode (then again, that might be downright entertaining to watch).
Posted by: Jan | 11/29/2011 at 05:23 AM
That adult PJ/Snuggie thing is ridiculous. It makes me think we've really sunk as a society. For realz. Oh, and I talked about getting my tree up early too. I never do that!
Posted by: Claire | 11/29/2011 at 05:24 AM
I like the snuggie, I can't help it. I like being warm and if a snuggies near then I got it! I don't like the weird full snuggie suit though.
Posted by: Katie | 11/29/2011 at 05:48 AM
Oh my goodness, SO sweet about the socks. Precious.
found you through Stacy and am your newest follow, I would love a "follow back"!! Thanks in advance!
Posted by: Sarah | 11/29/2011 at 07:24 AM
Nick and I saw the commercial for the Forever Lazy thing. I could not believe that they were advocating wearing it out in public. I kept waiting for the real commercial to come on, expecting that it was a joke or something.
Turbo looks at me like I'm nuts when I really get to singing along with the radio. His day will come.
Posted by: VandyJ | 11/29/2011 at 07:25 AM
I mistakenly bought my kids the jr snuggies a few years ago, now I think they might've outgrown them...the real issue is that they are probably too small for me!
We have the opposite here in that Santa always brought one thing for each of the kids. I guess I was selfish with the glory!! Ha!
Posted by: andrea-maybe it's just me | 11/29/2011 at 09:11 AM
LOL.... Teletubbies. I have laughed and laughed at Forever Lazy, but now it is even funnier.
Posted by: Christina @RantRaveRoll | 11/29/2011 at 10:08 AM
I am holding out on the Forever Lazy until it has POCKETS or it is no good to me. At least Snuggies have pockets.
Singing along with the radio reminded me of a funny Marley story. One time when we were driving and I was listening to Iron Man (Black Sabbath) she remarked to me "Poor Iron Man! Nobody wanted him? Not even his mom?"
As for the tree before December 1st - overachiever, hence the dream about being overwhelmed. I have dreams which my mom has always told me are "Illusions of Grandeur" dreams. I am often some version of The Chosen One, where only I can diffuse the bomb, pull the sword from the stone, save the world, etc. I apparently have a Hero Complex...
Posted by: the RedC | 11/29/2011 at 11:53 AM
wear the "Forever Lazy" in public? In that case, I'm sure I'll see someone wearing it in Wal-Mart soon...
Posted by: Lynn | 11/29/2011 at 02:06 PM
Journey totally put me in my happy place today. I needed that. Thank you!!! xox
Posted by: Kristine | 11/29/2011 at 02:56 PM
LOVE Marleys Black Sabbath story. It reminds me of this story I put on my blog about 100 years ago - http://secondblooming.typepad.com/second-blooming/2009/09/rocket-men.html
I am so impressed by your Chosen One dreams.
Gretchen
www.secondblooming.typepad.com
Posted by: Gretchen | 11/29/2011 at 07:39 PM