The Holiday, Friends, and Family

“The reason most people never reach their goals is that they don’t define them, learn about them, or ever seriously consider them as believable or achievable. Winners can tell you where they are going, what they plan to do along the way, and who will be sharing the adventure with them.” ~Denis Waitley
 
 
The holiday was great and just what I needed to get over the Manny situation. I arrived home and spent a great amount of time with my family and extended family. I have yet to finish putting up my treasures from Christmas, but it will be accomplished before this weekend is over.
 
My parents have something like TIVO on their television, so I asked my father to save the episodes of one of my favorite television shows, Crossing Jordan. I came home to about seven episodes. It was great and my parents and I watched most of them together on the mornings that we all woke up early. I never have time to watch television at Uni, so I watch television when I go home to my parents house.
 
My aunt and uncle that live out of state came and visited for Christmas, and my grandmother. My grandmother is hard to handle and the truth of the matter, she stresses me out. I never realized it until my aunt pointed out to me and it is true. My grandmother was mentally and emotionally abusive to my mother and aunts. She says things that are a compliment in one way and a complete jab at the same time. I hear all of them, but my aunts and mother are so used to them that they only pick up on every third one. My father won’t even be in the same room as my grandmother and I can’t say I blame him. My grandmother spent the first five years of my parent’s marriage trying to break it up. Then she says mean things to him or about him and it is just too much. However, sometimes she isn’t bad to be around and those are the times that I feel bad that I get nervous around her. Oh well, but now I am beginning to understand why holidays are so stressful for adults. It’s easy as a kid because you are just dragged to different places, but there is always something to do, other than interact with people.
 
I do have to say that it was wonderful to see my extended family and spend time with my parents, Darry, and Dulce. We went to Red Lobster for lunch on Christmas Eve Day, which is tradition in our house. It was fun and my aunt and uncle that came into town joined us. We had a great time. Then when we arrived back home that afternoon, Santa had come. It was a wonderful Christmas and I am really enjoying the MP3 player that my parents purchased for me. I love it, it is so small and can hold so much music. I am so happy. I also received two board games, a manicure sent, the new version of The Outsiders (one of my favorite movies), glasses and wine glasses to make my set complete, clothes, and many other things. I am spoiled rotten. Darry and Dulce left that night because they had to drive to her parent’s house so they could have Christmas with her family and brother.
 
Christmas day my two aunts, my grandmother and I went and saw Memoirs of a Geisha. It was good, but I thought the book was better. I really liked the scenery, it was absolutely breathtaking in some scenes. Then Big C, OG, and some other friends from the days of the restaurant got together and went to a bar. I didn’t stay out too late because I woke up early and was just exhausted.
 
The next day Big C and I planned to go out for coffee and one of the old coffee shops in town. It was closed, as were all the other coffee shops. I was surprised that the coffee shops were closed the day after Christmas, so we ended up going to an Irish pub in town. It was nice and we got to catch up on each other’s lives. I informed him how I am learning to run. He knows that I don’t run, but I am going to learn. I talked to my aunt and she informed me of a website and I have a plan.
 
The website teaches how to prepare for 5K’s and marathons from all different fitness levels. I am doing the novice level. I started this week and ran/walked my first mile in 13 minutes and 22 seconds. I hope to improve that time, but for now, I’m just hoping to get better at the running part. I have the paper work for a 5K in April, so that will give me plenty of time to train and I have scheduled time in my day to get my running/walking in. So I will keep everyone updated on this.
 
I came back up to Uni yesterday and we have no hot water. They say that it probably won’t come back on until Friday, if then. So we shall see what happens with that. But it is another motivator to get to the gym. Anyways, there are some things that I need to do before I go to work tonight at midnight. I hope all is well with everyone.