Since there's no chance of sending Christmas cards out now - the only real casualty of getting sick *right at Christmas* - if I'd had the hours, I'd have gotten them out. Getting sick at the last sealed the deal. Well, at least I didn't need to hit the day after Christmas sales for cards; I have plenty for next year. And there's always next year.

( And so, for posterity - my Christmas letter. That would have gone out with the cards. )

I was thinking last night driving home about sending Chinese New Year's cards. I just might.

Jim's got the bug now. Sore throat, fever and just all-around unpleasantness.

I'm about 75-80%. Going back to work tomorrow.

This is the sound of me cancelling all New Year's plans. Except for the ones I can do by myself.

Bah. Bah, I say.

*sigh*

Poor Jim.

Jim's got the bug now. Sore throat, fever and just all-around unpleasantness.

I'm about 75-80%. Going back to work tomorrow.

This is the sound of me cancelling all New Year's plans. Except for the ones I can do by myself.

Bah. Bah, I say.

*sigh*

Poor Jim.

Boy, I'm glad this isn't a voice entry. You'd not hear a thing.

Sick, and very glad tomorrow is a day off. I plan to use it sleeping.

Yesterday, we had a housefull all the way through to eleven o'clock - even though I felt like the original couch potato and couldn't interact much. One of the nicest mixtures of old blending with new - and I have to give props to caitlin in particular for hanging in there the entire day, and bringing me tea and just being too helpful for words.

I'd have cancelled the entire thing if it wasn't for Jim.

Today? I have new cookie sheets, (OMG, I have new cookware) and two of the best cookbooks - and plenty of new DVDs to watch, propped up on the couch tomorrow. When I'm not sleeping.

The only consolation is that I know everyone else at work is as sick as I am; we took a headcount Friday and we were all coming down with it.

I'm looking forward to eating holiday treats again. There's plenty leftover.

Came home early yesterday with a fever and sore throat. This morning, congested and the throat, she is full.

No fever anymore, though. But no, I'm not doing the cooking today. Dinner, we're ordering out for.

Yay Christmas.

(Everyone at work came down with this at the same time - I blame the potluck.)

Came home early yesterday with a fever and sore throat. This morning, congested and the throat, she is full.

No fever anymore, though. But no, I'm not doing the cooking today. Dinner, we're ordering out for.

Yay Christmas.

(Everyone at work came down with this at the same time - I blame the potluck.)

Narendra at work, that oh-so-very-proper Hindu Jain that educates me daily on his faith, never bats an eye at my missteps and even forgives me at Thanksgiving for the turkey on my holiday table? (His temple holds services on that day for all the turkeys that were killed for thanksgiving dinners - yes, they do. I thank him for it every year. We both know that's not what the purpose of it is for, but my turkey was delicious and I appreciate the effort he goes through on its behalf.)

Narendra gave me a "Merry Christmas" Christmas card this week. Not a Happy Holidays card.

He knows.

And if it's okay with him? I can make a meal for him that meets his diet plan once a year. (No meat of any kind, no onions or garlic, nothing that grows below ground. Go.)

And listen. I tell you, the holidays they do are something else - wonderful and plentiful!

You're all reading theferrett, right? No? Shame.

Did you know he has an equally bright, talented wife, zoethe? Her word count is just as fabulous - today's entry case in point:

The guy who moans to you that he doesn't understand why he can't get a date doesn't really want to hear that he needs a personality makeover and a lot more attention to hygiene; he just wants you to hook him up with someone who will accept him as he is. The woman who can't believe her mother/daughter/sister/father is so stupid about [fill-in-the-blank] and is ruining the holidays by being so obstinate does not want you to point out the ways in which she may be contributing to the problem, or suggest that the olive branch is hers to extend; she wants you to take her side, and if you have any clout with the other party to pressure that person into seeing things her way.

I can't count how many times I've been dropped like a hot rock when I truly said what I saw was at the root of some of the problems brought to me. And I had the gall to insist that people shut up and get on with it; I'd heard all the whining I could handle and remain sane. And they were miserable. Come on. This isn't working. Do something.

It's really, really tough to confront some very basic human failings and nobody likes does it. (She makes a case towards the tobacco and fast food industries. Dead in the black.) Think many people would easily admit they have them?

( I'm reminded of a time when I had to come to terms with a situation where I could keep trying to 'solution' my way through a friendship, instead of trying to deal with some answers. )

We all do it at times. There are times when you just want to vent about a situation that you know you got into for all the wrong reasons. And when people offer answers instead of solutions, it's hard to look at the work involved without despairing. But it is necessary to live a sane, rational life.

When you can't come to the table to discuss answers because you're afraid of the fallout - and you suspect you're the only one with the issue? It's on you to deal with it. Sniping and snarking about what bugs you about the other person? Please. You either address it with them (hope you can) or walk away. With your mouth shut.

And no - never, not ever do you decide personal issues by committee. Trust me on this one - it's ugly. And I've never know it to improve a single thing.

I am a 24K gold, through and through, steamroller. I know it; I take full responsibility when I screw up because of it. Velvet cushions and all. Be careful when you attribute motivations to it, that's all I ask. I don't work very hard out of anger or disgust. I can't work under those conditions at all, case in point.

*sigh*

It's been a year since my older brother communicated with me - he was deeply disturbed at how I had discussed his children's shortcomings to him and had fired off some very unhappy email when he got home after Mom's surgery last year. I responded as kindly as I could manage, and asked him to come talk to me about what bothered him.

..

Nothing.

I'm tempted to send him an olive branch and a note. "Dude, it's been a year. You going to come tell me what's bugging you or what?"

Am I going to praise his kids to the high heavens if he does? That's no answer. I'm hoping I'd have enough moxie to convince him my beef is with them; total strangers that they are, not with him. Would I lie to him and make him happy? I can't. Someday, I'd trip up and the truth will out. Solutions, not answers.

Doomed, I tell you.

I spend not so much time with Sis for much the same reason. I don't trust her not to take a chunk out of me at odd moments. Or - after being my very best buddy, dropping me like a hot rock and refusing to say anything to me for months. Not taking calls. Not returning calls. And when getting her on the phone, it's "what do YOU want now?" *meep* Nothing. Going away now. Sheesh. So not my friend. Don't go over to the house unless invited - specificallly. Don't call unless you have no other option (and consider calling BIL instead) - and really, really rethink it a few times.

Dealing with people with solutions, unable to deal with the answer. Why? Because when it's family, you have to. And hope things improve. That's the suck part - when you want things to work, you hang in there hoping forever.

Well. Here's hoping. Have some Spackle. On the house. Christmas is this weekend. *winks*

You're all reading theferrett, right? No? Shame.

Did you know he has an equally bright, talented wife, zoethe? Her word count is just as fabulous - today's entry case in point:

The guy who moans to you that he doesn't understand why he can't get a date doesn't really want to hear that he needs a personality makeover and a lot more attention to hygiene; he just wants you to hook him up with someone who will accept him as he is. The woman who can't believe her mother/daughter/sister/father is so stupid about [fill-in-the-blank] and is ruining the holidays by being so obstinate does not want you to point out the ways in which she may be contributing to the problem, or suggest that the olive branch is hers to extend; she wants you to take her side, and if you have any clout with the other party to pressure that person into seeing things her way.

I can't count how many times I've been dropped like a hot rock when I truly said what I saw was at the root of some of the problems brought to me. And I had the gall to insist that people shut up and get on with it; I'd heard all the whining I could handle and remain sane. And they were miserable. Come on. This isn't working. Do something.

It's really, really tough to confront some very basic human failings and nobody likes does it. (She makes a case towards the tobacco and fast food industries. Dead in the black.) Think many people would easily admit they have them?

( I'm reminded of a time when I had to come to terms with a situation where I could keep trying to 'solution' my way through a friendship, instead of trying to deal with some answers. )

We all do it at times. There are times when you just want to vent about a situation that you know you got into for all the wrong reasons. And when people offer answers instead of solutions, it's hard to look at the work involved without despairing. But it is necessary to live a sane, rational life.

When you can't come to the table to discuss answers because you're afraid of the fallout - and you suspect you're the only one with the issue? It's on you to deal with it. Sniping and snarking about what bugs you about the other person? Please. You either address it with them (hope you can) or walk away. With your mouth shut.

And no - never, not ever do you decide personal issues by committee. Trust me on this one - it's ugly. And I've never know it to improve a single thing.

I am a 24K gold, through and through, steamroller. I know it; I take full responsibility when I screw up because of it. Velvet cushions and all. Be careful when you attribute motivations to it, that's all I ask. I don't work very hard out of anger or disgust. I can't work under those conditions at all, case in point.

*sigh*

It's been a year since my older brother communicated with me - he was deeply disturbed at how I had discussed his children's shortcomings to him and had fired off some very unhappy email when he got home after Mom's surgery last year. I responded as kindly as I could manage, and asked him to come talk to me about what bothered him.

..

Nothing.

I'm tempted to send him an olive branch and a note. "Dude, it's been a year. You going to come tell me what's bugging you or what?"

Am I going to praise his kids to the high heavens if he does? That's no answer. I'm hoping I'd have enough moxie to convince him my beef is with them; total strangers that they are, not with him. Would I lie to him and make him happy? I can't. Someday, I'd trip up and the truth will out. Solutions, not answers.

Doomed, I tell you.

I spend not so much time with Sis for much the same reason. I don't trust her not to take a chunk out of me at odd moments. Or - after being my very best buddy, dropping me like a hot rock and refusing to say anything to me for months. Not taking calls. Not returning calls. And when getting her on the phone, it's "what do YOU want now?" *meep* Nothing. Going away now. Sheesh. So not my friend. Don't go over to the house unless invited - specificallly. Don't call unless you have no other option (and consider calling BIL instead) - and really, really rethink it a few times.

Dealing with people with solutions, unable to deal with the answer. Why? Because when it's family, you have to. And hope things improve. That's the suck part - when you want things to work, you hang in there hoping forever.

Well. Here's hoping. Have some Spackle. On the house. Christmas is this weekend. *winks*

It's a good time for a good Christmas carol:

Na Leo - 'Here Comes Santa Claus'

Working on it, guys. Working on it.