Desert Magnolia

Actually, that countdown began with our actually buying plane tickets , I suppose, but you know what I mean. Things that must be done before we depart? At least a million, and about half of those are non-negotiably must do's. Patience I have with anyone who smilingly assumes I'll be able to handle yet another 'awesome big idea' before I go? None. Reasons why Cancun represents an opportunity to regroup, sans wireless? Duh. It's Mexico. In case you forgot how beautiful it will be there: Reasons why I can't wait to get the hell out of here? If you've been reading my blog, you already know. If not, know this - if it were possible for a few months to be any more insane, emotional, stressful or just plain ri.fucking.diculous, I'd be terribly surprised. And at this point, not much surprises me.

As I look back over the last couple of weeks, I realize how much we actually did . And yet, I feel relaxed and ready for the New Year, energized for work's demands and generally in a very centered and good place. I've had some thoughts about how to live this new year, which include but aren't limited to: Manage stress better. Spend more time outdoors. Really outdoors, like hiking. In the mountains. And cycling, with the road bike. And mountain biking, with the...you get my drift. Do more yoga. Mediate regularly. Be kinder to myself on all levels. Be even more present in every single moment. To say our holiday was great would be a gross understatement.   It was a celebration of family, an intensely enjoyable time to just be in moments doing all kinds of things including but not limited to: Making pierrogies. Annual event involving MIL, SIL, BIL, all my fam, nieces, and lots of eggs, cottage cheese, flour, boiling water and folding folding folding.......

Dear SmartBargains.com, Thank you for your most cordial notification this week that you'd employed quality control processes in your organization, processes that revealed a less than perfect product, and which resulted in your canceling an order. Mine. It would have been nice if you could have notified me when you actually canceled it, instead of a whole week later. I'm just sayin'... If it had been about me ordering yet another kitchen gadget or household item or even personal clothing and this had happened, I'd be ok with it. I'm flexible that way. In principle I am ok with what you did, but because you decided to do what you did, my son is not getting the one thing he actually asked for for Xmas this year on Christmas. Fortunately, my husband is a champion shopper and just happened to be out and about and found a most amazing replacement today. Which means our son may get it by New Years. May. [ crossed fingers] See, SmartBargains, the person we pu...

Not that I want/need a break from the office or anything... Clearly, I'm perceiving two days off as a way to regroup, gather my thoughts (ie get my ever lovin' act together with regard to sending Son a holiday package ASAP and sending Daughter a 'study for finals kit' and generally planning planning planning for the holiday to come sooner than I'm prepared for..) and get control of my life. Right. Two days is soooo not enough to accomplish a task of this magnitude. But I may be able to make some progress. Anyway, having now recovered from the disappointment of Grey's Anatomy being preempted by holiday programming (Frosty the Snowman. Really?? What about Meredith and Yang and Mc Steamy and Lexi and Bailey and the hottie?? What about them??) I'm now looking forward to an evening which will include Kathleen Madigan's In Other Words performance. She's hilarious, in a wry, smartassy way. Which is part of her appeal, of course. On the boards for ...

There was no darkness, just good food, giggles and warmth, and the togetherness we clearly all needed so very much. There was also dessert deliciousness. Daughter did an absolutely amazing job creating a pumpkin pie from Heaven. And she and I collaborated on a chocolate cheesecake, which also came out great! She believes her work with the Oreo crust is the reason, because we all know how important a great crust is on a cheesecake. Post Turkey snarf there was...relaxing by the fire, then shopping like maniacs on Friday, then more relaxing and eating and then putting up the Christmas tree..with a houseful of Daughter's friends to assist, which they did, and it was lovely. There was..Hubby's pork red chili, green chili turkey enchiladas, queso and chips..and toppings, of course..to fuel the tree trimming team. And now, now we resume life. Daughter is back at school, forging ahead through her first college final prep/finals. She'll be fine, this we know, but it has been...

Our Thanksgivings have been very traditional, and continue to be this year as well per a specific request from Daughter who really really wanted us to do the whole thing one more time. So we agreed. My friend KS and her fam were on the beach last year at a mini family reunion. They all rented a big place, then made a turkey dinner, then played on the beach. Bikinis and turkey? Not really designed to go together, but they made it work, and it turned out to be their best Thanksgiving ever. Hubby and I have been yearning for that type of experience, and will most likely work toward that next year. A house, on the beach, cooking a nice but simpler feast, then hanging out on the beach afterwards. We'll import both of our offspring and simply enjoy the gathering as a smaller unit, on our terms. But this year we're going traditional. What that looks like? Dinner at our house. We invite fam and any friends who'd like to join us. I get up very early to prepare the bird...

The saddle, being the office. Back, being from the East Coast. And now, it's about following up with the media. About putting details around the end of the year planning for work. About preparing to be in Ft. Lauderdale at the end of next week for a business tradeshow. JL and I are going to this, and if last year is any indicator, will have a great time and kick butt, which is so fun. Then, we get back, and the week after that I'm in DC for another conference, this time as an attendee. Never been to DC. Heard it's awesome. Great food. Movers and shakers. History. The capital. Stuff like that. Then, once we're back from DC, Daughter comes home for Thanksgiving. Yay! Lots on the near horizon, then blissful holidays beginning with a big old roasted bird, savory stuffing, yams, sauteed green beans, gravy, and the fixings.... Personally, I think I'm ready this year. For the togetherness piece. For the backgammon games in front of a crackling fire. For snuggli...