in a Christmas-box

Merry Christmas Eve

Have a biscuit?

Springerle,  

Chocolate Mint, 

Orange Crinkles,

Chocolate Chip,

Banana Bread,

Peppermint Fudge,

and

then I helped Mom with the cookies she decided to make.

The freezer is full, and we finally actually moved on to the 

ancient cookie jar.

I can't believe this thing survived our childhood
without chipping or breaking!

Drink Me

Tis the season

for 

Tom and Jerrys

Mom has her's without the extra shot.

I have no such compunction

No better way to make Christmas Cookies.

PS
1st   the bottle was almost empty
2nd  it was EXTREMELY well aged,
(I think it was bought 31 years ago for
Mom and Dad's 25th Ann.).
smmmmoooooooothhh

just upset

Wednesday night was sooo nice.

My young man was happy to see me.

Okay, 

he fell asleep shortly after I took over,

but,

he smiled every time he woke up and peeked at me.

We both had a really great night.  

I should be working tonight.

He's back in the Hospital.

They are all so tired, frustrated, and depressed.

After 2 and a half months in the Hospital they got to come home to "normalcy" for 3 days, and now they are back in.

Christmas and his birthday are coming, they want him home, and more then that . . . they just want him better. 

Prayers people, prayers.

PS
after work Thurs. morning, I drove up for the
meeting on how to take care of him . . .
the U of M person had to cancel.  sigh.

minutes ago

It was almost a year ago that I had my unfortunate incident with an unadorned manhole. 


My left hip and right knee regularly remind me that they did not appreciate the whole episode and do not wish it repeated.  They have only grudgingly allowed me to resume some of my bike riding.
I have gone back to occasionally walking the long block across the street rather then just the short walk around the drive.  


After the recent snow, I mentioned a stroll through the woods with the dogs.

Mother turned to me abruptly

and

spat out a sharp

NO!

Hmmm, guess not.

opposite direction

Time and peace have gone.
My only racing about this Holiday season has been to obtain, fill out and return all obligatory paperwork for my new/old job.  (At this writing it truly is my old Job as it is now 40 hours on Nights.  Hooray!  Except that my finances are so depleted, it was tempting to stay at 32 hours.)  No jockeying for position in stores to buy gifts.  No pay check in 2 and a half months, No money for much of anything.

I was called last week and told, my young man would be home, and I needed to come to the office for a class by U of M on how to take care of him, on Thursday the 13th.  (Since I work the first four nights of the week, then I am set until the 18th, right?)  Today I was called and asked if I could work Wednesday night the 12th. 
Well, what about the class on Thursday morning?
You still need to come in for that so you can learn his new care.
So who is taking over for me at 7am?
Nobody, all his nurses need to be at the class to learn how to take care of him.  Oh, and you will be training a nurse on his care that night too.
uh-huh . . .


So I am taking care of my young man, AND training someone else on how to care for him on Wednesday night to Thursday morning.  I will then leave him to his Family, (with no nurse to replace me), and travel further north to the office to attend a meeting on how to care for him.  

Ass-backwards 

just does NOT seem to cover it!

Continuing on my now hectic schedule, I babysit my niece that afternoon and evening.  

Friday is quiet . . . so far.  

Saturday 11am rehearsal for the Cantata, 2pm Christmas Carol Service at the nursing home, 7pm Christmas Concert to attend.  

Sunday I am the Reader and sing in the Christmas Cantata, and then back to work . . . 

now that I know how to take care of Him!

I love him and his family dearly, but my "string pullers" . . . 

it's a paycheck . . . it's a paycheck.

dressed in crimson

Boar's Head Festival

Friday night we attended the BH Fest.  I am so glad, that if I had to be here for two years, that it was during a Boar's Head year.  

They only do BH every four years, since it is such a massive undertaking.  My Sister-in-Law, Brother, and Niece all had parts in the production, so it was particularly exciting to see.

Angel, "star", Holy Family and Kings

Angel Choir

Shepherds

Actually I strongly suspect, (knowing all the stress my SIL went through as one of the Theatrical Directors), it is every 4 years, so that they get new suckers volunteers who have just moved to the area!  Well that, or maybe it's like childbirth . . . you forget . . . in the beauty that has been wrought.

to beg,

I feed the local birds

with cayenne laced suet 

and 

a feeder full of thistle seed.

Nothing a squirrel would ever touch 

aside from the fact I have two terriers

The condo assoc. is adamant about not feeding the local wildlife and attracting vermin, (ie: rats, feral cats, and R.O.U.S.es).

The neighbors, (most of them), leave out unshelled peanuts, and the local squirrel population, regularly make the rounds.  

By now,

the squirrels should know 

I don't feed them!

I opened the sliding door to take the pictures . . .

I slammed the door shut 

when he came across the deck,

and to within a foot of the doorway

with NO intention of stopping.

PS
at home, close to the house I feed birds only,
further out the yard I feed the squirrels, turkeys,
and whatever else wanders by.

music of his song

Last minute, I was called to attend a concert at a local Church.
My Brother apparently had no idea what kind of concert, but I was game.

Now, that I have Heard . . .

I can think of many people who would have been interested had they known.  
(Okay, maybe Mom would not have been drawn from her college football games.)

The Good Pennyworths

Vocal Quartet & Lute

Timothy Joyce-Erika Buchhotz-Kirsten Kane-Garald Farnham

Really quite marvelous

 and a wonderful break

 from the chaos of life.

Thank you for that.

right house

Enough icing 

and colorful candies . . .

and it's all good!

of course, 

my snowman looks like he has just committed a murder

an extraordinary thing

My 

Christmas Cards 

are

Done  and  Mailed.

Sorry

On the other hand, 

Gingerbread Houses are NOT my forte.

Why does the icing stick to what it's not supposed to and run off what it is supposed to stick to.  It turns to concrete before you can spread it and oozes from the seams you are trying to "glue."

Granted it was a Kit, but come on.

both have structural issues, no matter how often I fixed them

bleeding red and white!

in this case the red "hardened" so fast I had to push the sprinkles in

sorry, just NOT going there . . .

at this point I set it aside, and might try again later.

So now you have completely forgotten that I have already mailed ALL my Christmas Cards!

Feel better?

Now one can breathe

Joy!

for my Faith has endured

and my efforts have been Blessed.

My Director of Nursing from my former JOB in New England called this morning, I have been offered and have accepted a 32 hour Night position starting the first week of January.  Glory!

I will miss a Family vacation, my Brother is trying to arrange, but the timing was not much in my favor anyway.  (I would have arrived home New Year's Eve after a 12-14 hour drive, unpacked, repacked, pawned off my dogs to someone, and gotten on a plane to who knows where on New Year's Day?)  I am happy to be spending a last set of Holidays with my whole family.  As a nurse it is just so hard to get enough time coverage to travel so far.  I was very fortunate to have such marvelous co-workers, who covered for me so I could spend a last Christmas week with my older Brother in 2007. 

The hope is that we can expidite orientation as quickly as possible.

Danny Kaye in the Court Jester Knighting Ceramony

Returning Home was a great unknown and I was making every effort NOT to fall into fear. 

Relief and Joy

are mine.



PS
My young man, (for soon he will be 17), is doing well on antibiotics, but next he has to be able to tolerate "feedings."  Hoping he will be back to us and Home soon.  No paycheck for me, but I have plenty to do here still.

Alice's health

Health Coverage

1.  Cobra is costing me approx. $700/month

So, short term health insurance sounded like a good idea!  Approx. $100/month in case of emergency.  Even better get it for Dec. and Jan. and that way I will be covered in case I have to wait for a job at home.

2.  Oh, but we couldn't cover you in New England! 

           But what if I was just "visiting?"

    Well yes, then it would.

Then I had to ask a STUPID question.  What your definition of "resident?"

(as in resident of Michigan!)

A drivers license.

3.  But I don't have a Michigan drivers license!

          (I never knew how long I was going to be here,

          I was all set to finally get one in May,

          then everything went downhill).

          Then we CAN'T cover you.

I'm covered when I WORK and with COBRA because they are "group" coverage . . . individual is quite different.

Ok, well maybe I can get short term from my Home state.

My Home state does NOT do short term insurance.

I do however, qualify for subsidised (regular) health insurance, in New England, because I am apparently at poverty level, (I've been out of work so much this year).  I would normally have to wait until June, but because of precipitating events, I can apply now.

4.  $305/month, but I would be IN until June, no matter what! 

I guess another $700 for December with COBRA, and pray I have a job and insurance in January.

cuz I probably won't have any savings left either . . . moving, gas, car insurance, new car title, license plate, groceries, etc. 

Sorry, I don't think I mentioned, Mom is giving me her 10 year old car, (since I gave my 10 year old junker to my neighbor to sell for all his goodness and troubles), and she will keep Dad's 5 year old car.

live in memory

                     Thank you                      

Rocking-horse-fly

Shipshewana, Indiana

Oct. 1st Mom and I travelled here by bus, with a church group.  Known for many things, it is best known as Northern Indiana's Amish Country.

We were fortunate to arrive in time for the Annual Fall Arts and Crafts Fair.

This Lady was quite informative.  She WAS rather surprised and delighted when I asked permission to take her picture.  Of course she then proceeded to regale me with a tale of a photographer from the day before who very nearly fell into the loom, she was so intrusive.

Must have Farm animals at a fair!

and

Farm Implements

I'm not sure this is a farm implement

but I do like the cow bell under the seat.

I found the perfect gift for my kind neighbor who cares for my home.  I spotted the one I wanted from the multitude they had on display . . . using every kind . . . new, old, stainless steel, enameled, copper, and silver plate "pots", (tea, steam, coffee, etc.). 

I told the "Crafters," as I bought it from them, that the "pot" was going home. 

I explained that it was returning HOME.

they cut a hole in the bottom, punched holes in the kettle and the tray, then zip tied it all.  The bird seed goes in the top by taking off the lid.  Yes, it holds a LOT.

I guess I'm a New Englander now,

I recognise RevereWare in a glance.

I never lived anywhere long enough to be a part of anyplace 'til now.

French and music

My Mother's favorite radio station, (based in Toledo, Ohio), is playing Christmas Music already!
Just Shoot Me . . .

Now . . .

Please!

I like Christmas too,

but

REALLY??!

My heart

Happy Birthday

Big Brother

I miss you

and

I will see you again

one day.