Thanks, Grandma and Grandpa. You Make Me Blush.

This is me:

"Rosacea has been referred to as the "curse of the Celts" due to its prevalence among those of Irish and English ancestry. In general, it affects mainly those with fair skin who tend to blush easily. People with Scandinavian backgrounds also report higher rates of rosacea than other ethnic groups."

Christmas is Officially Over this Year on 1.11.15. It's a Record. For Slowness.

I'm like most of you, I think. The decorations come down pretty quickly. But not this year. With the fire and the illnesses, it had to wait.

I thought the stale reminders would drive me crazy, but I was wrong. Today as I tucked away little mementos of this year, I was sad. And here's where I demonstrate the glass half-empty outlook I carry with me at all times.

My sweetheart was 23 months at Christmas. She was excited about everything, if not completely cognizant why. She loved "Jingle Bells" and would take off galloping around the family room and generally dance and walk on her toes whenever it would come on. And it wasn't enough to spring to animation by herself--whoever was near got pulled into the action like Courteney Cox in that Springsteen video. I've never galloped so much since 1967, kindergarten gym time.

I baked cookies with her mom and her. Here she is putting on sprinkles. Tilting your head helps you pick up those tiny candies with hands that are not used to the demands of fine motor skills.









She loved opening presents and had so many from me that I had to parcel them out during December so that she wasn't buried in them Christmas Eve. I don't want to set a precedent for this type of consumerism. I'm not sure what happened to me emotionally this year. I ended up putting several away for her upcoming birthday. I never knew the tension of restraint until I had a granddaughter and entered Toys R Us at Christmastime. Good grief, Charlie Brown.




And here is my mom, who turned 89 in December. She was so ill at our house on Christmas Eve that I could not get a picture of her where she doesn't look like she's channeling Mrs. Gummidge in David Copperfield. I'm happy to say she's feeling better now, but the reality is, she is declining, month by month, week by week. Her quality of life is not good right now. The one bright spot in her life is Josie, and I'm not exaggerating when I say that. So I'm not sure about next Christmas with Mom. It breaks my heart.

Wow, I certainly didn't mean to be so melancholy, but this is pretty much how it is right now, in my head and heart. At the beginning of December, I was super excited about life--challenging goals, fulfilling days spent caring for granddaughter and mom, good time with husband and kids, etc. It just came to a screeching halt around Christmas and New Year's Eve, of course (fire). It will get better. It has to.

After all, Celebrity Apprentice is back on, right?

Currently ... A Writing Prompt

1. Thinking: It doesn't bode well for my goal of writing more in 2015 if I have to use a prompt.

2. Enjoying: This will overlap with listening, but currently enjoying Styx "Come Sail Away." Good to hear on a Saturday with temps at 0* while you're cleaning house.

3. Feeling: Just a little blue, which is typical for me when I'm trapped on the frozen tundra. How many days until spring?

4. Wearing: Not a Pinterest creation, for sure. Gray yoga pants and black sweatshirt. Perhaps if I wore some color today, it might affect me for the positive? Nah.

5. Needing: Nothing. I need nothing, really, which is quite remarkable and humbling.

6. Wanting: Ah, now that's a different story. I want my eyes to clear up. I think I'm having a reaction to my sinus infection. I've posted about it here before. I want to get all of my Christmas decorations put away today. I've been ill and haven't tackled it.

What?? The Heck??

7. Listening: "Boogie Oogie Oogie," Taste of Honey, from a time in my life when all I had to worry about was homework, hair, and boys.

8. Making: I'm working on a gargantuan afghan I started last year. This is a dis-as-ter. My rows are off; I just can't seem to learn how to count. The colors slightly match my bedroom. I chose ocean colors because I was missing the ocean, and I thought when I wrapped up in it in winter, I'd be reminded of the beach. I think I was losing it. But now what do you do? Scrap the whole thing? This thing is huge. It covers my queen sized bed.

9. Eating: Nothing yet today. I did take my vitamins.

10: Drinking: So proud to say I've got my water bottle right here with me. Drinking more water is another goal for this year. Even if I drink one bottle per day, that's more than 0 ounces per day. I literally forget to drink. I don't even think of it during a meal or while eating food that screams for it. George will say, "How can you stand not to drink something with (whatever food)?" I don't know the answer to that. Even when I was little, my mother had to force me to take breaks from playing to go to the bathroom and to drink. It's an unfortunate gift that I have.

What are you currently up to?

Here's My Card!

Is this a new thing?

My family went out to eat in a big chain restaurant similar to Olive Garden or Applebees. The server was friendly, courteous and eager to offer suggestions about the menu. She was an uber-server.

At the end of the meal, the server asked, "Do you eat here often?" Only one said yes. The server then said, "Here's my card. Please ask for me when you return," and she handed this card to my daughter:

If you know my family, you will understand that once she was out of earshot, this was wildly funny to everyone at the table. 

Do you think management knows she's doing this? Is this a new thing? Is it OK? Why does my own reaction to this make me feel like the Dowager Countess of Grantham?

Sugar Cravings

I will try to string some sentences together.

I'm on day 5 of not eating sugar. I'm mainly avoiding obvious sources, but I've cut out sugary yogurt, too. No Starbucks (I indulge only during the Christmas season), no Peanut M&Ms (my main weakness), no nothing.

Ohmygoodness. Cravings. MAJOR cravings. In the middle of a head cold, too.

It hits me especially in the afternoons and lasts until bedtime.

I get the urge; I re-direct my thinking.

I change what I'm doing.

I eat something healthy, like an apple or grapes. NOT THE SAME.

This is the 5th day, and I actually feel grumpy mean tonight. I feel restless, edgy.

So I Googled, "When do sugar cravings stop?" knowing I'd land on articles and discussions by super humans who have actually succeeded at this. Don't you know, most articles had a great big picture of some kind of sweets on the header. GIANT cookies! WHAT?! I scrolled down like I was avoiding porn.

The consensus is: the first week is horrible. By two to two and half weeks, the cravings should subside a great deal.

I honestly don't know if I can last that long if the cravings don't subside a bit. I've given up coffee for Lent before. That's what that pic above is about. I don't remember it being this AnNoYiNg.

Has anyone out there tried this? Did you live to tell about it? If so, please throw me a lifeline. But not a candy LifeSaver.