Other Thoughts | BulgingButtons

December 24, 2013
by BulgingButtons 4 Comments

Santa Makes Me Feel Like a Slacker

Next to me, my fiance’s computer set up so that we can keep tabs on Santa as he makes his journey around the world. A short while ago he was in Zimbabwe, now he’s in Serbia headed for Hungary. Santa has a job to do and he gets it done. In spades. Maybe his list is what helps him.

I have a list too. It’s about a mile long and filled with things I ought to be doing. I have company coming tomorrow. I have a trip planned (more about that in the future). There is cleaning and cooking and wrapping and packing to be done. Yet for some reason I can’t quite make myself do it. I’m overwhelmed. I want to shut down. I want to sit on the couch with a steamy mug of cocoa and watch White Christmas. Under a blanket. With my dog. And my sweetheart. Doesn’t that sound lovely?

The ought to do list is too much. I have to simplify. I need to be kind to myself. My family will be fine if I do, or they won’t. The happy people won’t care, and the grumpy people will find fault regardless, so I might as well calm down about it.

Here are the must do’s:

1. Pack

2. Set up the guest room

3. Clear off the kitchen table

4. Wrap gifts

5. Finish cleaning the main bathroom (i.e. son’s bathroom- ew)

Here are the should do’s:

1. Bake

2. Wash the floor

3. Fold and put away laundry

4. Set the table from tomorrow

5. Work on schoolwork (always schoolwork)

You already know the want to do’s, but there are more:

1. Nap

2. Play Candy Crush Saga

3. Read

4. Sip cocoa

5. Watch Christmas movies, on the couch, under a blanket, with my dog, and my sweetheart

Maybe I can find some balance? Do a must do, followed by a want to do, followed by another must do, then an ought to do? Mind boggling. Here goes, I have to do something, those lists aren’t going to take care of themselves, and I don’t have an army of elves to help. Ho ho ho, away, I go.

December 23, 2013
by BulgingButtons 16 Comments

Spoiled Rotten

My fiance calls it “cruise director” mode. This is when he researches entertainment options and organizes activities for us to enjoy. He’s excellent at it, but frankly he is something of a home body and would be very happy staying in most of the time.

I’m pretty much a home body too. That’s why it’s especially nice that he is so great at switching into cruise director mode. I fear we wouldn’t ever go out if he didn’t. Home is nice. Home is comfortable. But there is so much to experience just by getting out there!

This holiday season he has outdone himself. On Thursday we enjoyed a fantastic Christmas jazz concert as a family. Then on Friday the two of us toured the Chihuly exhibit at our Botanical Garden as part of La Noche de las Luminarias. There were musicians throughout the venue sharing several types of music, from Native American flute to traditional Christmas Carols to Irish folk music. It was a fantastic evening. Then last night we attended a small theater production of A Christmas Carol. It was in a great little venue I had never visited before, and the performance was wonderful. The front row seats were nice, too.

I loved all the activities and I feel special and incredibly spoiled. Now I’m ready to hang out at home for a few days and watch Christmas movies and bake cookies. Yes, I know. I shouldn’t. But I am. Merry Christmas to me, and Merry Christmas to you too.

December 22, 2013
by BulgingButtons 5 Comments

Late Again – Christmas Cards

So I was all upset about not receiving Christmas cards a while back. Boo hoo, poor me, I blogged. I love cards. I want cards. I will send cards out, I promised. I even went and bought the cards. I did give a few out at school, but have I sent any out? No. I have not.

I just finished writing them and they have stamps and addresses on them and everything, but they are not in the mail. The soonest I can mail them is tomorrow, the 23rd of December. There is no mail on the 25th. My cards will be late.

I am sorry, but I’m also glad that I’ve done them and that some of my friends will receive them. Some of my friends really don’t do cards, so in order for them to avoid any guilt feelings I’ve refrained from sending them cards this year. Maybe next year they’ll get one too, but then again, it’s way too soon to start planning for next year.