The Fibro Friends Discuss the Holiday Blues

Top 22. Dec 20, 2003 2:49 PM

» Carol Wallace - Re: Good Morning :)

In response to message posted by Rocksy:
Marian, I have to smile because you sound so much like me. I was one of those adult students who returned to school after spending much time in the real world. I was a B- student when I first went to school, with teachers always saying I wasn't working to my potential. But I felt like I was working as hard as I could. But strangely, when I went back to school I started getting As. I think wanting to be there and having some life exerience must be a huge help! And it sure does feel good! Especially since you are studying something that you really feel passionate about.

I do believe that most of my Christmas shopping is "wrapped up - if not literally. Two of Roger's gifts are heaver than I'm allowed to lift, so if they get any wrapping at all it will be a paint and stencil job. ;-) Some gifts won't get here untyil after the holidays, but those are the ones getting shipped to the Midwest, and they are used to things not arriving on time. My favorite example of that is my sister, who ordered a gift for my October birthday. It dodn't arrive. My Dad died that May so I flew back to Detroit, and was actually at her apartment when the UPS truck pulled up to deliver my gift! If I hadn't been there to claim it, it might have not arrived until my next birthday. We are all very bad at getting around to snail mail.

Anyway, all that remains are gifts for Roger's brother-in-law and niece and I will let Roger go to the stores to find those. I managed to do almost all our shopping - including his - without being able to leave the house, so leaving him with those two isn't asking too much.

I've always been in awe of people who can take a paring knife and just do what needs doing. I need a peeler for some things, and a big serrated knife and chopping board for others. I am not to be trusted with a knife unless I am very cautious!

-- posted by Carol Wallace

Top 23. Dec 20, 2003 7:09 PM

» Rocksy - Re: Re: Good Morning :)

In response to message posted by CarolWallace:

Yes it IS strange isn't it...In school I really sucked, but yet I am not satisfied with anything less than an A now.....age and wisdom??? I sure like to think so........lol...age must have something good about it.

I went from veggie peelers...to paring knives...and am back to peelers again. I bought a really good peeler, and it makes all the difference in the world.....I've always wanted to cook eggplant too...and directions from anyone would be greatly appreciated.

Christmas shopping...hmmm...went out today...and came home with everything for myself!!!...I feel awful.......(not)

We had a wonderful day. The weather here is way above normal so we parked the Van and walked everywhere. I can't remember the last Christmas that you could do that...usually we leave the vehicles running so that we don't freeze to death leaving the malls.

I also have little use for snail mail...it just doesn't work anymore. My Mom had to send some things on to Ontario as you can't fly with certain things anymore...fruit cake...home-made wine...home made ceramics...little ol' 78 year old Nana might be a terrorist ya know...so she forwarded it all by bus and it got there in 2 days. Moral of the story is...bus beats snailmail.

Note: I am NOT downplaying the security, in fact as I reinforced to my Mom...it's a darned good thing that the airlines are being as thorough as they are. I had to go through her luggage at the airport and take her nail clippers out of her carry-on as well. Just can't get it through to this Senior what "sharp" objects are. lolol

Love and (((Hugs))) to all
Marian

-- posted by Rocksy

Top 24. Dec 20, 2003 7:36 PM

» Carol Wallace - Re: Re: Re: Good Morning :)

In response to message posted by Rocksy:
I'm not sure I'd call a nail clipper a sharp object - unless it was that type that has an attached nail file. But you never know what the airlines will sieze on. They opened my carron bag once because they thought the X-ray showed a gun. It was a hairbrush. ;-)

The only hint I can give you for eggplant is to buy small ones. I notonly had problems peeling the large one (although as I say, a peeler might have been easier since that's what I'm accustomed to) but also found it difficult to slice.

I can remember Decembers so mild that all I wore was a heavy sweater and scarf. Or one Christmas in Indiana when Roger and I went to see the downtown holiday decorations and I borrowed his sister's wool blazer as the only coat I'd need. It seems MUCH colder this winter!

Looks like my holiday plans have all changed. Roger's ex called tonight to report that their son has gone off the deep end and she thinks they need to have him committed. So now Roger has to fly out to California to see what can be done. I've spent Christmas alone before, so that part doesn't bother me - we'll celebrate when he gets back. However, I am a bit worried about managing alone when I'm not allowed to drive anywhere. I guess I'd better start making a list of everything I might possibly need.

Don't feel bad about coming home with everything for yourself. You deserve holiday pampering too! Anyway, among all the stuff I ordered as gifts, I also tucked in a few things for me. I so rarely shop - even online, unless I need something - that it was hard to resist all the great stuff I was finding.

-- posted by Carol Wallace

Top 25. Dec 22, 2003 6:27 PM

» energynow - holiday disc.

In response to message posted by CarolWallace:

Hi, Carol:

Just wanted to let you know I was thinking of you. Sorry to hear re: your having to be alone on Christmas. You sound like such a strong person. I think there are so many expectations re: holidays sometimes. But I don't expect as much now that I'm past 50. I usually have some of my worse physical days toward end of ea. month so that includes T.giving & Christmas.I wish I could get that "bubbly" feeling back that I vaguely remember having.

Christmas is supposed to be the celebration of the birth of Christ. But the real meaning seems to get obliterated along the way.

I haven't done much shopping.
Shopped on overstock.com (which I found out about from you as I recall) for few items. Overstock really has some nice jewelry.Bought some clothes for my husband and new blouse for me on sale few days ago at nearby chain.

Had made it to several practices for chuch cantata, but when Sunday arrived to do it, I wasn't feeling well.Kinda disappointed, but relieved also.

I'll say a prayer for you, Carol, about managing alone. I feel alone so much of the time, but then I try to remember that God is with me.

Take care.

Your fibro friend,

Jean

-- posted by energynow

Top 26. Dec 22, 2003 6:32 PM

» energynow - Trampled by shopping cart

In response to message posted by Rocksy:

Hope you survived the shopping and didn't get trampled by anybody with shopping cart! LOL!

I try to stay away from the mall this time of year. But then I work from home and am not time-pressured like many are this time of year. I don't shop much, then just shop early. My mom, mil, niece, nephew and employees are my main considerations.

Congrats on A in class.

Happy Holidays anyway!

Jean

-- posted by energynow

Top 27. Dec 23, 2003 3:13 PM

» Carol Wallace - Re: holiday disc.

In response to message posted by energynow:
Overstock.com is a great place to find bargains. another good one, very similar, is smartbargains.com . What I like best about both is the fixed shipping rate. I bought my computer from overstock.com - normally an item that costs a fortune to ship - and at the time shipping was $3.95!

I bought most of my gifts on eBay. My favorite was for my husband's cousin who makes jewelry. I found a "treasure chest" of assorted precious and semi-precious gemstones - 10 of them were faceted, including what looks like a gigantic amethyst - and the rest were polished and can be used as is, or cut. Roger and I scattered them on the floor last night and had the best time looking through them all. I found a moss agate, which is something I've alwqays wanted, and an amber with inclusions, and I'm almost positive there was a ruby. All for $24.95!

I've spent Christmas alone before. The year I was diagnosed with fibro I had to cancel out of the annual trek to the midwest at the last minute - I was just too drained. But it was too late for Roger to cancel. And this time I'm sure Roger has it far worse than I do. Imagine spending Christmas trying to get your son committed to an institution! He doesn't want to go and can't really imagine what he can do when he gets there, but his ex insists, says he is absolutely needed.

I'll make him take me along to the grocery store tonight so I can stock up on everything I might conceivably need.

I vaguely remember that bubbly feeling as well. It was best when my sister was still young enough to get a big kick out of spending time shaking the packages under the tree and trying to guess what was in them. I was 13 years older (still am, come to think of it ;-) and got the biggest kick out of her excitement. I haven't had that in a long time. I think as we get older we just let go of certain expectations, and maybe let ourselves get overwhelmed by all the things we "should do" - although why we should dothem is beyond me.

Just because the Christmas season was also such a busy time at school, I long ago learned to only do those things I had time for and really enjoyed. And the world didn't stop because I didn't bake cookies. ;-)

-- posted by Carol Wallace

Top 28. Dec 23, 2003 9:40 PM

» zhann - Re: Re: holiday disc.

In response to message posted by CarolWallace:
Carol, I am so sorry about Roger's son. Hope you manage ok on your own. Do you have anyone to call in an emergency?
We will be thinking about Roger during this time.
Keep in touch during this time.

Jean, merry Christmas. Joyce

-- posted by zhann

Top 29. Dec 23, 2003 11:34 PM

» maudlee - Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Holiday blahs

In response to message posted by CarolWallace:

Carol - please pass the bread and butter pudding which I hope you have on hand for your solitary Christmas eve - what life throws our way and I am sorry for Roger and his son and for you and Roger to be parted at this time. But you sound much more upbeat of late and I can only hope you are repairing well. I too am alone but there is the phone and my grandchildren are on the other end - small blessings. Glad to see you using the ;-) again. ;-) Maud

-- posted by maudlee

Top 30. Dec 24, 2003 5:11 PM

» Carol Wallace - Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Holiday blahs

In response to message posted by maudlee:
I never bake for myself, Maud - I really don't have much of a sweet tooth. I made a giant pot of stew, which we'll have for Christmas eve dinner and that should last me most of the week - because I also don't enjoy cooking for just me.

But I just watched the news and now I REALLY have the holiday blues - and fear. I saw that air France canceled three flights into the LA airport because of fear of terrorist attacks - and in the US the majority of the security concerns are centered on that same airport - the very one Roger is flying into.

-- posted by Carol Wallace