Holiday countdown
December 19, 2005

I am counting down to the holiday with an uncharacteristic calm. I know the boys expect us to have Xboxes under the tree, and their imminent despair is not at all disconcerting. I have ventured to the malls, and found the good will to be correspondent with the price points. My streamlined shopping suits me.

Steve has taken up residence for his two-week vacation (that never seems like vacation because he is plopped here.) Despite the twinkling world of Janet, it is cold and he is task oriented. We have cleaned the basement, organized cupboards, configured the pop in the refrigerator drawers, and stacked DVDs for our own film festival. To date: Bewitched, 40 Year Old Virgin, Mr. and Mrs. Smith. All average. My popcorn: the best in America, bar none. We watched the Big Lebowski, which was stellar. We have Cinderella Man, a Trailer Park Boys Marathon, and a zillion of Mike’s netflix selections to plow through. Steve seems content with the NFL today, but the week looms with possibilities. My old decommissioned pressure cooler awaits the canola oil and Orville kernels.

There is a full dumpster in the garage. When it is emptied on Tuesday, we will proceed to dispose of more of our accumulated garboonery. We have saved the boxes from every electronic purchase- why? We boldly pitched them today.

I am creating a computer database of my addresses on FileMaker. If you get a card from me and it has a label- do not be offended. I am not taking a shortcut. I have invested two days hunting and pecking on a spreadsheet. I have not mastered the next step, but if I do- there may be a mailing of Christmas cheer. These are my classic detours from responsibility.

Matt has adjourned to his college lair. He got straight A’s, which pleases me to the maximum. I delude myself that it was my gentle nagging and encouragement, but I know he always had it in him. He just didn’t want to let his wisdom transfer to the mundane tasks of college testing. The “Get Out of Jail with a 3.0” worked like a charm. Sadly, the Dude seems to be spending the holidays with the grandpigparents. I found a guinea pig in a Santa suit and copied him to hang on his hutch, but he first nibbled him off the wall, and then used him as litter. I think that is G-pig for humbug. Here is my G-pig cartoon, a generalized “Merry Christmas” - I love a guinea pig in a studded collar. And they can sing and dance!

If it sounds like a non-festive holiday, it is because Steve is home, wanting to accomplish stuff. I hate that in December. But at the end of these weeks, my home will be more manageable. That gives me peace. That is a good gift, right?