You'll shoot your what?????

I had to laugh as I opened up different blogger friend's pages & saw that alot of my friends were doing exactly what I was this year. Watching that oldie, but a goodie, "The Christmas Story". It's funny how many times that thing is on every year, & I still laugh at it!!!

There are so many funny parts. I think the great award ( the leg lamp)that his dad wins is absolutely hilarious, along with the pink bunny suit. I would glance at it sporatically during the day & never once (in all of its 200 presentations) got to watch it all the way through. I told my sister-in-law Falina that," I sure hope that kid finally gets his gun this year!!" She cracked up laughing.

Well, let's talk about Christmas. I had a fabulous one. My husband really spoils me rotten. This year the "big" gift was a projection TV!!!! Heaven, I'm in Heaven...!!! lol lol lol

The most special thing that happened was after he set it up. I put in the "Nativity Story", & the three of us, Schatzie, Jimmy & I watched it together. It was very emotional for me. That right there is the true meaning of Christmas. Baby Jesus.

We all have alot to be thankful for. My heart was breaking as Joseph frantically pounded on doors just to find a place for Mary to deliver. When the King of all Kings was born, it was too much for me to handle. This precious baby, a gift to the world from God, was born in the most humbling of places. That's the way that God intended. He was making a statement. Jesus was going to be a different kind of King. He was looking for true believers. Believers who weren't interested in things of this world, like fancy things, because Jesus wasn't interested in these material objects. He was interested in saving souls.

I kept thinking. Here I am in this perfect house, with the perfect family, & that poor baby had to be born in a stable. Oh how I'm going to remind myself of that everytime life gets me down. I'm going to remind myself how fortunate I am to have a meal on my table, shoes on my feet & a nice warm home to come to after a long day of work.

It was also very nice to be able to visit with family & friends. I was glad to see the ones that I don't normally get to see. My how the little ones have grown. I was flashing pics the whole time telling everyone to "Say Cheesy!!!" It was a little annoying, but they sure smiled & I got alot of great shots!!!

Christmas ended with a bang as well. We had our Christmas with my parents at the end of the day this year. It was a great change & we all enjoyed it. I GOT MY DIGITAL PICTURE FRAME!!!!! Oh, how I wanted one!!! My sister made sure it was the last present I opened. I kept singing ( like Alvin & the Chipmunks) " I just want my picture frame" all day long. She finally let me have it!!!

Jimmy was very happy as well this year. He finally got his ring. He was so happy that I just had to share this pic with you. He knew what it was before he even opened it.

My family had a great day. I hope that yours did too. Merry Christmas to all!!!!!

Things on My Mind

This blog isn't going to be the usual cheerful uplifting " positive Ang" entry. I think I'm going to write about things that bother me. We'll see where it goes from there.

1. MY TRUE FEAR OF OPINIONS. I'm so tired of trying not to have an opinion because there are two sides to every story. Unless I know all of the facts about a story, I get afraid of hurting someone's feelings by conveying my true thoughts. Now, those of you who know me know that I am never at a loss for words & are having a hard time believeing me right now, but it's true. I also think that I don't express myself very well because I'm afraid of being wrong. But you know what? Why should I be afraid of being wrong? If it's truly what I think & feel, then what does it matter if I come off ignorant or stupid about something? ( yes there is a difference. Ignorance is being uneducated. Stupid is well, just plain dumb). Sometimes there aren't two sides to every story, but I choose not to say what I think because of the fear of upsetting someone close to me. Now that's just dumb too, because if they are really close to you then you should be able to communicate every thought to them & while they don't always agree, they should respect it. But how can you expect them to accept it when you know that if they have a differing view, it would be hard for you to accept it. I'm just rambling on now huh?? lol
I just want you to know that there is not a specific reason that I'm bolstered to write about this. Nothing out of the ordinary in my life has happened, it's just something I'm thinking about this evening.
2. CHANGING FOR THE WORST. How can people that you have been around your whole life change so drastically?? Not for the better, but for the worst. You want to have an opinion about them, yet you are compelled to "keep the peace" so you say nothing. Then when you finally confide to someone else close to you about it, it feels like you can breathe again. Your chest becomes lighter because you have unloaded your true feelings to someone who understands & feels the same way you do, but is afraid to also admit it.
I so want to give a few examples of this, but can I?? Sure I can this is my blog. I can write whatever I feel. Do I choose to?? I know I want to, BUT.....
3. USERS. I hate & abominate users. There is someone in my life who is a user right now, actually there are a few I could name, that were not brought up that way, or have taught others not to be that way, but they are. It absolutely revolts me. There are favors that you can do for someone, & then there's being used for someone's selfish gain. It's truly pathetic.
4. CLOSETS. Everyone has them. It's that action or thought that creates skeletons in these closets that really pisses me off. My whole life has revolved around a closet. If people were honest with themselves & others then, regardless of the outcome, they would just be honest & let it out in the open. You are not perfect. You are going to make mistakes. Probably really good ones. But if you lie about it, or are not completely open, how can you truly feel free within yourself or the world?? I hate finding out something that was in a closet & being mislead to believe that it never really was that way from the get go. One of the first things that I say when people ask me a question about myself is, " Go ahead. My life is an open book." Then they ask something personal about me & when I tell them, they are disappointed. I can't help but feel good about it because I never lied!! Yes I really made a few good mistakes!!! Oh Boy have I really screwed up sometimes, but rather than lie about it, I just say it in hopes that it will help them from making a big mistake in their life.

OK, ENOUGH ALREADY!! I'm so over this now. The next blog will try to be uplifting again.

Oh Christmas Tea!!! Oh Christmas Tea!!!

It's that time of year again. Although we have changed companies this year at work,it never stops, ( we are now Shentel Cable), I find myself embracing the Christmas holiday with a special vigor. I already have all the shopping done, stockings stuffed, & presents wrapped. ( I know you're saying Bah Humbug to that!! I can't help that I'm not a procrastinator!!!) By completing all of these tasks early, it helps to enjoy the holidays more. I can actually set back with a warm cup of tea in the evening, turn down the lights, turn on the gas fireplace, set on the couch & enjoy my Christmas tree. Oh how I love to look at that tree. It makes me all toasty inside. I turn on my Christmas music on the TV & I can set there for hours!!! It's truly relaxing & invigorating.

HOWEVER, With the Christmas tree decorated inside, my husband was not happy with the outside!! He decided to reinvent himself into his alter ego, Clark W Griswold II!!!!! We went to dinner & then went to super Walmart in Buckhannon to look at lights. He went hog wild!!! We bought 8 boxes of lights to go around the house. After we started hanging them, we found out we were a little bit short, so Clark sent me back to Buckhannon to get 5 more boxes. I didn't know whether to be excited or exhausted. While I was driving there, he calls to tell me that our flood lights to illuminate the sign had went out & could I please get some bulbs to replace them.

I told him I would get the lights & asked him if he wasn't busy to please put a pot of tea on for me so I could drink it after being out in the cold to get warmed up. He said he was very busy. I asked him what he was doing & he said he was in the house.

What could he possibly be doing?? I did the shopping, I was running to Walmart once again in the cold wintry weather, I was working on the laundry, the house was already picked up before I left. I just couldn't put my finger on what it was that had him so preoccupied. (Maybe, I began to think, he was busy wrapping presents for me!! ( big smile) )

"I'm watching Pitt play Connecticut!!!

HONESTLY!!!!! Here I am out breaking my neck for this fine family Christmas & he can't even put on a pot of tea!!! lol lol lol

I informed him that if I didn't see steam rising out of my kitchen when I got home that he was going to have to check under the tree for missing presents for him because I was going to remove some!!!!!! lol lol lol

Needless to say, I had tea!!

We decided to go to a Christmas Memorial service at the Forest Lawn Memorial Garden this evening. I was a little hesitant to go, but felt that it was important to participate. This is the first Christmas without J's stepmom & his dad really needs our support to make it through the holiday. It's always very hard for me to go there because my mom, cousin, aunt, grandparents & ex-mother in law are buried there. I can feel the tears begin to swell & my face getting hot everytime we turn up in the driveway. There are so many wonderful memories that we have shared & I can see them appear in my mind like a slideshow. Each grave had a luminary & we had to keep lighting them because the wind & snow kept putting them out. I cried as I lit my mom's & Dinah's candle. I sang "Away in the Manger" for my grandma, as it was the last song I sang to her before she passed. The experience was very emotional, memorable & the self gratification was amazing. I wasn't even cold!! It warmed my heart to think that I was able to celebrate their lives. You know they aren't even worried about the holidays, because they are in a place where they celebrate everyday. I would like to think that they at least got to look down & see me. I miss them so much!!!!!

All in all, It was a great day. I hope that everyone reading this blog enjoys their holidays & I wish you all much peace & joy!!!!!!!

Capt., I'm getting excited to see you soon!!!!!!