After Christmas exhaustion

I'm so tired. Christmas wore me out. I've been reading a few books, spending time with family and catching up on rest. I know I have neglected this blog...what can I say. My son was here, I've been loading a bunch of stuff on my new laptop and just generally trying to get recharged.
My father is coming from Hawaii on the 8th. I'm ready.

My Christmas was TODAY

Stayed up till 2 am putting together a train for a toddler. Needless to say my eyes have been begging to close all day. The look on my grandson's face was priceless. His eyes were HUGE and his mouth dropped open as he said, "Oh choo choo" He didn't even want to open most of the rest of the presents. He played with the train set until the train started to slow down. Then he got out his adorable blow up punching gloves and proceeded to go around "bopping everyone" as they started drifting off in their chairs.

My son loved his sweaters and PSP handheld game with case and games. My daughter got hand made jewelry, scrapbooks of the babies, and clothes for job interviews. I got a new laptop from Dell. (woooooooooo hoooooooooooooo), a fabulous sweater and jeans which are 2 sizes smaller than last year due to my dieting.

I also got some great software and graphics manipulation software and a new thesaurus. Dana got porcelain clay, a new laptop, a world radio and tee shirts.

I cannot believe I didn't get a clock radio (even though I begged for one) I didn't get the new Holly Lisle book and the writing program I wanted. Oh well. No such thing as a perfect holiday.

I took a tumble.

Yep, I'm a klutz. I fell down and couldn't get up. It wasn't funny. I'll be out of commission for a while. (picture me right now with an ankle the size of a cantaloupe) I'm sitting in my recliner with my foot propped on two pillows, in complete agony. Pain pills are NOT HELPING!!!

The only bright side to the picture is that my son is home for Christmas so I am one very happy camper. He flew in last night. Apparently Unlce Sam can only spare him for one measly week so he has to go back before Christmas day but I'll take what I can get. In the meantime, we are laughing at old jokes and he loves the babies. (I'm not sure he likes the noise level)
Jaden just adores him. He bounced up onto his lap and shouted ---Unlce Maffyoooooooo.
I've been showing him the pictures of Matthew on the walls for a couple of months now getting him prepared for the visit.

Matthew came home with gifts for everyone. He even had a fuzzy bone for the dog. The crazy thing... it didn't have a squeaky in it. Instead, it barked when you squeezed it. Boo Boo has been carrying it around the house all afternoon.
That's my son for ya! He even got a present for the dog. (smile)

Trying to get back on track with writing

I know I've been a little "off topic" lately. It has been a rough few months. Well, I need to get BACK ON TRACK WITH WRITING. I've let my health issues get me down, and I've procrastinated, goofed off and been blog surfing too much. This all has to stop interfering with my writing time.
I finished all my medical tests. Yep, I survived the colonoscopy (for those who aren't sure what that is....)yesterday and an abdominal sonogram today so I'm FINISHED with medical crap for the next few months other than an appointment to talk about all the results. If someone else wants to do an IV on me I think I'll scream.
From now on all the medical junk will only be in my stories.

Oh, I made the cutest Handprint Christmas Wreath and fingerprint Holly Wreaths this morning. You can find the patterns to make lots of fun Crafts here.

Technorati Tags:colonoscopy, Christmas crafts, toddlers, handprint wreath

Cookies, Cookies Cookies

I have a recipe for diabetics who like cookies.

Low-Sugar-Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies

(Recipe courtesy of Hershey's ~ 3 dozen)

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened
1/4 cup sugar granulated sugar substitute
to equal 1/2 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons Hershey's Cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons skim milk
1/3 cup Hershey's Semi-Sweet Chocolate chips

1. Heat oven to 375°. In medium bowl, beat butter, and sugar substitute until well blended. Add egg and vanilla; beat well. Stir together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; add alternately with milk to butter mixture, beating until well blended. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 7 to 9 minutes or just until set. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely.

Per 1 cookie: 50 calories, 1 g protein, 3 g fat, 5 g carbohydrate, 5 mg cholesterol, 50 mg sodium
Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 1/2 fat

These taste GREAT and do not have a diet taste. They are also great for diabetics like ME.
Remember, not all people can eat holiday goodies.


Hey, check this out. Kinda funny.

Reading, Writing and Snow.

Where Things Stand :

1. I put the novel on the back burner and have been doing some ghostwriting.
2. If anyone ever asks me to write 20 keyword articles on one subject again...
   remind me to SAY No. (or just shoot myself and put myself out of misery fast)
3. I've been reading more aricles, ebooks and resources on "how to" write, flesh out characters, plot and get writing accomplished.... Funny thing. I'm not writing much.
   
4. I need to snap out of this Depression. (the pills aren't working)
5. Ick, I have a colonoscopy on Thursday. More information than you wanted eh?

Anyone else feel like a snowball fight?
I wanna go Christmas shopping. Kinda hard to do when you have less than $63 to your name.
Humbug.

Technorati Tags:update, depression, snowball fight, flat broke

Every Kiss Begins With Kay

Argggh. Are you tired of the commercials yet too? I know I've seen enough Christmas commercials already. Couples kissing. People shopping. Blech! What happened to Thanksgiving? It seems to have disappeared in the minds of the big companies and the corporate world. My next door neighbor put his tree up last week. Yep. He has a tree in his window with blinking Christmas lights. I want to scream. What the heck happened to waiting until after thanksgiving to start with all the lights and ornament stuff?
Every other word is about some "special deal" or how you can "wrap up the wow". Well what about people who live on a limited income? What about people who have to pay their personal property taxes in December? What about people who can barely afford to feed their families? This is a stressful time of year for them.
yes, I am in one of those groups.... or should I say all of those groups)
Good News though..... My son is coming home for Christmas. Yes, the US NAVY has a heart. He has one week leave. He told them how sick I've been and he gets to come home for a visit. I'm so happy. I haven't seen him since last Christmas. Happy Dance.

Technorati Tags:christmas, commercials

5 reasons I'm not ready for Christmas!

1. Quite frankly the stores seem to skip Thanksgiving and that really ticks me off.
2. Personal property taxes are due at this time of year in Kansas. (Humbug)
3. Who wants to shop right now? The malls are a zoo.
4. The reason for the season has been completely forgotten.
5. I'm too poor.


I think I'm cancelling Christmas this year.
Yep. That's my idea. I'm going to ignore Christmas. No presents. No cards. I'll save a bundle. I won't get stressed out and I won't have to cook a huge meal. Sounds like a plan.

Technorati Tags:Christmas, humbug