~*~*~December Pagan Family Thread~*~*~ - Page 4

[Kaydove]

Vons aka Safeway grocery store.

[~Adorkable~]

Originally Posted by Kaydove 

Adorkable is a dear real life friend of mine who is moving to San Fran in about a year(?), so if we end up there as well we'll both spazzing out with happy! I'm sure we could get into all sorts of crazy fun antics together with our kiddos!

You know you're a mom when you're happy to go to a crazy packed grocery store on Christmas eve if and only if you get to leave kiddo at home with dad. I usually hate grocery stores but I was happily bumbling along with my latte having me some "alone time".
Oh yeah! Someone sent us two $25 starbucks gift cards! No from but addressed to both of us! So awesome! AND the couple next to us at a diner bought our dinner the other night!

I found some Hello Kitty temporary tattoos for DD! She's only 10 months but has always been so curious about our tattoos so she gets to be just like dad and mom.

yep, spaz spaz ,spaz! and make that about <small freak out> 6-9 months! </small freak out>

oh and the store thing, i and come to loathe shopping for food, but tonight, yep just me and the folks with christmas dinner crazies at Whole Paycheck, wish i had ben smart enough to go and grab a coffee in their cafe, :dork were eating out tomorrow, heck with that (and for kaydove, its a Purple type place that cures their own meat and cheese!) it the same place we found the first christmas we were in town 2 years ago and looking for something open, ended up a memorable diner, me going into labor and all...  this one wont be as calm, fruits of my labor being present, buts it been our little atheistic tradition now

[Kaydove]

That place sounds amazing and yay for traditions and memories! We got invited to Christmas dinner at a friends house here in SD but we need to be there at noon tomorrow. Kinda confused, dinner or lunch?
6-9 months? That's soon! What town are you going to be ending up in? If this works for us, we're looking at Daly City or Pacifica.

So I found out that the Starbucks gift cards were from my dad. Still very sweet.

I'm kinda surprised how accepting I am of not doing presents this year. I'm going to make Dh a lemon sugar foot scrub! I adopted lemons as my Yule symbol. Lemons are yellow, the sun is yellow. Making the scrub makes me feel more Yuley.

[DaughterOfKali]

Maia- I'm sorry to hear about M.  How is he doing now?

[amlikam]

Loving the catching up on all the different points, just wanted to say hi and let people know I poked my head in. :-) Catching up frantically at work (year end paperwork and such.) 

[crazyms]

Maia I'm sorry to hear about M. I hope you can get some answers and maybe he'll be better when he gets home. They night with your cousin must have been great though.

Those hello kitty tattoos sound cool. Mine got temp tats in their stockings too.

As for me in the kitchen i do enjoy it. It'd be nice if i could start getting quality items to use but i really enjoy cooking and baking. Something about turning out a good meal for my family makes me feel like a real mother lol.

I made sweet potato casserole and banana pudding for the big dinner. Fudge, sugar cookies and rice krispie treats for gift tins. Corn chowder, casserole, egg custard pie and ms mud pie for Christmas eve dinner.

The inn laws enjoyed it and seem happier and the kids loved it so that's good. The big dinner was a small crowd and sad since it is our last but i feel a little better now. Just glad it's over. Looking forward to our new year and holidays now.

[Maiasaura]

Originally Posted by DaughterOfKali Maia- I'm sorry to hear about M.  How is he doing now?

Thank you, DOK. Thanks for asking

It's hard to tell. I can call the patient line and talk to him anytime I want, but it's hard because they only get 10m per call, and most of the time it's either busy or nobody answers. And then, he's so garbly and mumbly I can't understand a word he says. At all. I know it's him (Meds? Dunno...) because I can clearly understand those who answer the phone.
I have to find a doc on duty and see if I can get some answers. I have no idea how long he's in there for, or how he's doing, medically. When he's less garbled, he says things like "I have to get out of here" or "I think I'm going home tomorrow", but once I think he said "I think I'll be in here till at least next week".

Originally Posted by crazyms Maia I'm sorry to hear about M. I hope you can get some answers and maybe he'll be better when he gets home. They night with your cousin must have been great though.
Those hello kitty tattoos sound cool. Mine got temp tats in their stockings too.
As for me in the kitchen i do enjoy it. It'd be nice if i could start getting quality items to use but i really enjoy cooking and baking. Something about turning out a good meal for my family makes me feel like a real mother lol.
I made sweet potato casserole and banana pudding for the big dinner. Fudge, sugar cookies and rice krispie treats for gift tins. Corn chowder, casserole, egg custard pie and ms mud pie for Christmas eve dinner.
The inn laws enjoyed it and seem happier and the kids loved it so that's good. The big dinner was a small crowd and sad since it is our last but i feel a little better now. Just glad it's over. Looking forward to our new year and holidays now.

Thanks, crazyms. I hope so, too. And yeah, it was fun to be with my cuz!

You had lots and lots of sunny, yellowy things for your Solstice! Kewl idea.

What did I miss? Why is it your last?

Pampered Chef-- *excellent* cooking materials. My mom has their stuff. I can't afford any of it. Sometimes she gets things for me for gifts. I love love love my industrial oven mitts. I've gotten burnt in kitchens so those are nice-- make me not afraid to get things out of the oven. I think DOK (upthread) sells, or used to.

[DaughterOfKali]

Yes, I sell Pampered Chef. The best way to get our products is to either host a show (can be a catalog show instead of in home) or become a Consultant.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Maia- Once you move to MA, I can help you get some free items.

[crazyms]

Thanks maia. this was the first time we did any solstice and imbolc will be our first real family Sabbat. The Christmas was our last family gathering as my grandmother has passed and great grandmother is close to it. We won't have or large family event with moms family anymore so sad. I am excited about the sabbats this year though.

The pampered chef does have some nice items. I actually have a few of them on my want list. DoK I'll have to get in touch with you when i go to get them! Thanks for the suggestion maia and keep us up to date with M.

What else is going on around here? Anything exciting I've missed?

[Maiasaura]

Originally Posted by DaughterOfKali 

Yes, I sell Pampered Chef. The best way to get our products is to either host a show (can be a catalog show instead of in home) or become a Consultant.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Maia- Once you move to MA, I can help you get some free items.

Thanks. Though I'm not into hosting parties or going to them, so I dunno how I'd get free things otherwise

Originally Posted by crazyms Thanks maia. this was the first time we did any solstice and imbolc will be our first real family Sabbat. The Christmas was our last family gathering as my grandmother has passed and great grandmother is close to it. We won't have or large family event with moms family anymore so sad. I am excited about the sabbats this year though.
The pampered chef does have some nice items. I actually have a few of them on my want list. DoK I'll have to get in touch with you when i go to get them! Thanks for the suggestion maia and keep us up to date with M.
What else is going on around here? Anything exciting I've missed?

If I'm not prying, how come you won't be doing holiday things with your mom's family anymore? Is it just that you don't want to celebrate Christmas? It's not all that hard to work that into your current beliefs. It's about being with family (for me) more than about who believes what, but I can understand the initial discomfort. It took me a long time after I became Pagan to be comfortable around other people's beliefs.

We're leaving my mom's tomorrow but dunno what time. I originally planned early in the morning-- it's an 8 hour drive-- but I'm being a slacker. We're not packed. I packed up the gifts in boxes and bags, But nothing's in the car. I guess we'll leave when we feel like it-- hopefully 10ish, but probably more like noon, and then we'll find a cheap motel and stay overnight and finish the trip on Saturday.
My contract with the realtor expires tomorrow, but I'm extending for a month because some guy in the neighborhood, who's renting, is very interested in my house but can't see it till Saturday. He'd have to get prequalified, but if he likes it, which I'm sure he will, and makes an offer....oh, cross fingers!

[amlikam]

Originally Posted by DaughterOfKali 

Yes, I sell Pampered Chef. The best way to get our products is to either host a show (can be a catalog show instead of in home) or become a Consultant.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Maia- Once you move to MA, I can help you get some free items.

DoK I am in Mass as well (western mass aka the Berkshires, which is often considered its own state by eastern Mass folks (I used to live in eastern Mass ) 

Pampered Chef catalogue is so much fun to look through and often I am soooo tempted. However I hardly ever splurge because my kitchen is the size of a shoebox, seriously.

[crazyms]

Maia- no prying ask me anything. I'll tell you nonya when i need to . this gathering was a big family event with moms family all up to my great grandmother with extended family ( aunts, cousins, etc) all together. My grandmother passed away, great grandmother is now in a nursing home and great aunt won't be continuing it so this was our last year. I'll still do Christmas with mom but there won't be any extended family especially not the same tradition we had ya know?

Amlikam - i know how you feel! We live in a camper so definitely a shoebox kitchen lol

[Maiasaura]

Originally Posted by amlikam 

DoK I am in Mass as well (western mass aka the Berkshires, which is often considered its own state by eastern Mass folks (I used to live in eastern Mass ) 

Pampered Chef catalogue is so much fun to look through and often I am soooo tempted. However I hardly ever splurge because my kitchen is the size of a shoebox, seriously.

Well, it looks like I will have lots of new IRL friends when I ever get up there!
My realtor called yesterday, I thought because our contract ends today, but it was to tell me someone wants to see the house tomorrow, but in order for that to happen, I would have to extend the contract. So I extended it for one month. These guys already live in my neighborhood, but they are renting. The one snag is they are not sure how to get down payment assistance, so they would have to prequal in order for me to accept an offer. But if they do, I will Cross fingers for tomorrow. It's supposed to be hella raining. It's gorgeous out today, but tomorrow is stormy everywhere, I think.

Originally Posted by crazyms Maia- no prying ask me anything. I'll tell you nonya when i need to . this gathering was a big family event with moms family all up to my great grandmother with extended family ( aunts, cousins, etc) all together. My grandmother passed away, great grandmother is now in a nursing home and great aunt won't be continuing it so this was our last year. I'll still do Christmas with mom but there won't be any extended family especially not the same tradition we had ya know?
Amlikam - i know how you feel! We live in a camper so definitely a shoebox kitchen lol

Nonya? That must be a family/cultural/heritage word? I haven't heard it before. But OK!
Yeah, now that makes more sense. I misunderstood you to mean you weren't celebrating any holidays with family anymore at all.

Getting ready to leave here in a sec. I think we'll stop and stay overnight somewhere...maybe. It's almost 11:30 and I do not want to get home at 8pm, just to jet out the door in the morning for a  (possible) showing. Play it by ear.

M is still in the hospital and does not know when he is getting out. I think he's still a bit confused because a couple of times he was not sure if I was me, his ex, or his dd. I was supposed to hear from a doctor by now, but I guess I will have to wait. I don't want to call now and I don't want to call on the road. Ugh.

[vydalea]

Mamas, we have so much snow here right now!  I am LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVING it!!   I love snow this time of year and with DH off for 12 days it's been a blast!  Today was by far the greatest  as Z and I were traipsing through our garden pointing out where this and that grows.  "remember, the broccoli was here, the big sunflowers were here...."  we lay right down in the garden and I did a grounding exercise which was super awesome and rejuvenating.  *sigh* it's nice to be able to commune with the Earth even in the midst of the snow.

I am thrilled that the holidays are over.  Bring on 2013.  I know some people were talking already about their word for the year.  I used "grace" this year and am thinking BOLD will be my word for this year.  I did a goddess card reading recently and freyja showed up which she hasn't in a long while for me... mostly it's been more chill goddesses but I have a feeling 2013 is going to be breakout for me.  Also, in using breakout I can tell I have been watching too much football this season.  hahaha.

So, I had quoted everyone and then it got deleted by a single key stroke so I am going to improvise here...

Kaydove and Adorkable - it is super cool that you guys know one another IRL.  What is Purple?  How do you know one another if you don't mind my asking?  

Maia: How were your travels home?  I don't know if you got the ornament I sent you but I kept some of the ribbon and put it on my altar trying to send you as much energy as I can for you to get your hiney up north to be able to be with M through these health dealings and have all your guys in one spot!  Hoping the showing today was the one.  

And perhaps I put a picture of the reindeer up last year?  That is totally possible.

Amlikam - how close are you to your due date? I am sure you have said but I cannot remember.  

Boy, I am exhausted all of a sudden.  Thinking its time for a nap while the Z snoozes!  Hugs to all in these last days of the calendar year!! 

[crazyms]

maia - any news yet on M? How'd the showing go or are you still waiting to find out? Oh and sorry about that noneya lol maybe it is a regional thing. I actually misspelled it to begin with but it's short for none of your business. Just saying i don't mind any questions. I don't get offended easily and not very private of a person and have no problem just saying I'd rather not answer if i ever felt the need to

Vydalea- snow for Christmas must be amazing! We don't get snow

[Maiasaura]

Originally Posted by vydalea I know some people were talking already about their word for the year.  I used "grace" this year and am thinking BOLD will be my word for this year.  I did a goddess card reading recently and freyja showed up which she hasn't in a long while for me... mostly it's been more chill goddesses but I have a feeling 2013 is going to be breakout for me.  Also, in using breakout I can tell I have been watching too much football this season.  hahaha.

Maia: How were your travels home?  I don't know if you got the ornament I sent you but I kept some of the ribbon and put it on my altar trying to send you as much energy as I can for you to get your hiney up north to be able to be with M through these health dealings and have all your guys in one spot!  Hoping the showing today was the one.  

Vydalea, I just have to say, you are so supersweet for all the care about M and me that you show through your posts

Word for the year-- I forgot what last year's was One time, Clay said she was going to make a fabric something-or-other with her word on it, and frame it for the wall as a reminder. I want to do that-- maybe I will make a collage of each letter or something.
My word for last year-- or maybe it was the year before that, or the year before that, lol-- was Understanding.
This year I am thinking heavily on it. I was going to choose "boundaries", but I want something absolutely positive. Boundaries I could use, and I want to better draw my line in the sand, but I am all too often pissed off or depressed, and while I often have blurry boundaries, I don't want a word that sounds like it could keep me angry-- no matter how good it is for me in the long run.
So, I am thinking about choosing "Blessings". I almost always smile when I think of blessings-- so maybe. Or "movement"-- on the house, with my body-- but I like blessings and maybe shall keep that.

Travels home: Got back about 2 hours ago. It is cold here, which is YAY! and very windy. No snow, though but it's a heckuva lot better than Virginia Beach. Yesterday was near 60* there. My mom can have it.
I did get the ornament! Thank you! And what a cool idea to keep the ribbon and send energy. Now we have the same ribbon

The showing today: the guy was VERY interested, but they're just starting to look, so it'd be awhile before he is able to make an offer, and besides, he has to take the First Time Homebuyer's class in January and then see how to get down payment assistance. So I am going to extend my contract with the realtor-- she wants till June, I will make it until March, and take it from there.

I know; I really need to be with M-- he is going to very likely be homeless in two months, in Massachusetts in winter. Not good. I am not just saying that, either. It's VERY likely. We have to figure something out. Find him a group home or a room or something, until disability comes through. And I have to work on getting him a disability lawyer. I have a couple hundred bucks but that won't last him very long. It would be SO COOL if someone would just.make.an.offer!
 

Originally Posted by crazyms Oh and sorry about that noneya lol maybe it is a regional thing. I actually misspelled it to begin with but it's short for none of your business. Just saying i don't mind any questions. I don't get offended easily and not very private of a person and have no problem just saying I'd rather not answer if i ever felt the need to

So it's said "none ya" as in the first part of that whole phrase? Where are you? They don't say that in MA or NY or NJ or NC, that I have ever heard. Nor any of my friends from other states say that. I kinda like it; it's fun sounding!

I don't get offended easily either. I'm all out in the open. I'm the token alkie on here (18+ years sober) and I have quit smokes and I have been on every diet and am currently Primal/Paleo of sorts. Going back on P2 of the hHCG in a couple of days. But I am wide open about all of that, so just ask away! Oh, and my Paganism, but that's moot on this forum

[crazyms]

lol yep! I'm in the south in ms. Maybe it's a southern thing lol. That's great they liked the house so hopefully something will come soon. That's really awful about M with the house though. Could you ask his doctor about it? I think they often help with contacts for disability and such.

[crazyms]

Maia here's a few sites i found with info that look pretty good. I'm sure you've probably tried them but here you go just in case...
www.massresources.org
www.homelessshelterdirectory.com
and i saw a mention of the salvation army having shelters for anyone. There should hopefully at least be one of those nearby if the list doesn't have anything else in his area. Wish i could be more help but maybe this will help you out

[Maiasaura]

Originally Posted by crazyms 

Maia here's a few sites i found with info that look pretty good. I'm sure you've probably tried them but here you go just in case...
www.massresources.org
www.homelessshelterdirectory.com
and i saw a mention of the salvation army having shelters for anyone. There should hopefully at least be one of those nearby if the list doesn't have anything else in his area. Wish i could be more help but maybe this will help you out

I've seen the mass website before. Thanks for that new one. OMG, there is a morass of overwhelming information to wade through! But I did find the resources page for his town, and I can start making some phone calls on Monday. I don't know how much I can do from NC, since I do not have durable power of attorney or POA at all or medical proxy, but that is about to change
I talked to M today and broached the subject of him giving me the POA. He said, "Sure!". I asked him if his dd had it now, and he wasn't sure. I thought maybe he gave her the proxy while he was going through chemo, but he doesn't remember. I bet he did. But if I am acting as his wife, even if in fact I am not yet legally so, then it is time for me to take over that role, and relegate his dd to a (grown) child's role once again, as a friend recently pointed out.

[Kaydove]

Originally Posted by vydalea 

Kaydove and Adorkable - it is super cool that you guys know one another IRL.  What is Purple?  How do you know one another if you don't mind my asking?  

Adorkable is a old friend of my DH. Her DH and my DH used to roommates too. I meet the lovely couple a few years ago when we both used to live near Seattle and we became good friends. Purple is delicious wine bar and restaurant that has amazing cheese plates! If you're ever in the area go to one! Adorkable was the one who introduced me to MDC.