Patrisha

December 24, 2004

Next: “‘Twas the Day After Christmas…”

Christmas Day

A very quiet Christmas Day here.

We opened our presents {mostly mine}. My older son sent two very nice mugs with Mississippi and a magnolia on them and some Mississippi honey which Fred will enjoy. {Honey is too sweet for me} The younger one sent three cds from my Amazon list.

And a DVD player which I haven’t opened yet.

I really should have done the setting up in the morning when I have more energy but I guess I will try later. I am hoping it will be one of those {many} things I procrastinate over that can be done in 15 minutes. However, tomorrow around 6:30 pm. Fred’s daughter , her husband and their teenage grandson are visiting. Along with testosterone, there is also a setting-up-DVD-players gene, right?

Speaking of company, when they called I had to tell daughter D. that we would love to see them but that this year, we could not cook for them. {I had actually forgotten we usually do this!} I told her I was sorry to be blunt but her father was quite ill and I could not take on the additional stress of cooking for three more people. She said they had some frozen meat pies her sister had made and sent and all they needed was an oven. We have that! Then she said that Justin {teenager} would prefer a pizza. Now, normally we have frozen pizzas especially when we know the kids are coming {they don’t eat “real” food} but I told her I was grocery-buying these days and we didn’t have any so, if Justin wanted a pizza, why didn’t they pick up a frozen one on the way over and hey, we DO have an oven! She seemed quite amenable to this.

When I put the phone down I told Fred I was sorry I had to be like that but that was the way it was. And he agreed. Also, I will clear off the table so they have somewhere to eat, and I will carry the gift boxes downstairs but I was not going to do any more cleaning than that. I think they are going to be surprised at the clutter. In addition to the normal clutter which I usually hide away when company comes, we are knee deep in oxygen tanks. {I am exaggerating only slightly here.} I will carry the little ones downstairs but I cannot do anything about the big ones nor the machine that makes oxygen. And I have to get this stuff done in the morning because in the afternoon I am off for a massage! And they arrive in the evening.

Well, what I can do, I will do — and no apologies for the rest.

I also had to promise Fred that I would not mention how remiss I think both his daughters have been in not calling him…

Until later…

Newsnut

December 25, 2004

merry christmas dear!

darlingnikki

wow…oxygen tanks everywhere! happy zmas to you, and fred, and all your loved ones!

greeneyes&sunflowers

*huggs* Enjoy the massage and if they do not like on how blunt you are, too bad. They should know you two have been through some major stuff recently and should not feel too put out.

Happy Holidays 😀

Flyte

It is perfectly understandable that you cant cook with Fred so ill. I am sure his daughter understands.

Cheesestiks&Students

Hugs and Merry Christmas. You are doing your best and his daughters should be thankful. If the teen’s parents don’t want to get a frozen pizza, have them spring to have one delivered or two delivered and then you all can have pizza. Fred is wrong. Those daughters need to know they are remiss. Tell them in your own way without going against your promise. We both know that can be done. Hugs again

LightButHearty

Hopefully they bring meat pies for you and Fred too! It will probably do him good to have a chat with his daughter and grandson. At least they are making a few accommodations for the situation. Enjoy that massage!

TheWoodsprite

Praise God for meat pies and frozen pizzas! I’m glad you’re having a pretty good day and don’t have to cook. AND GLAD YOU AREN’T APOLOGIZING FOR NOT COOKING OR CLEANING!!!! Good for you! hugs, Weesprite

roseyrays

You have the right attitude Don’t over do it tomorrow Best Wishes

You know, I think having them bring their own food is a great idea and nothing wrong with it. In fact, giving them an assignment of something they can do to make themselves useful (like bringing food and hooking up DVDs) probably helps them feel better about visiting you. In fact, if I were you, I’d have a list of things that you need help with ready and waiting when they get there.

I’m glad u told them u weren’t cooking.

ViatorX

Mezzo

I do SO love you! Are they coming to see Fred, or the house??????? Don’t worry about it. Love you! ~M

Fred knows they’re not calling as well…sometimes unspoken words are messages all in themselves. Take care of yourself and Fred…the others can live with their own decisions. Keep on keepin’ on, Patrisha. You’re doing such a fine job with keeping it together. As a woman I’m proud you’re of our species..LOL!

Saw your note at ChinaBaby’s recommending my services — LOL! Maybe between the two of us, we can her her hooked. How’s yours coming along, by the way?

ChinaBaby

Ditto to all that’s said about frozen pizza and meat pies. I would hope Fred’s family would offer some help, by way of moving a tank or two, or setting up a DVD, or simply just being there to pitch in.

Issued Puppet

Merry Christmas to you and Fred. Sounds like you are doing a bit better!

lehper

Most teenagers have the knack for hooking up electronic equipment. Most tv sets of fairly recent vintage have auxillary (AUX) input recepticles that are color coded and the cables that come with the DVD players have color coded plugs. In theory provided one is not color blind the hook-up should be easy. Hang in there. 🙂 – – – –

Telynor

Big hugs to both of you. Hang in there.

Shi

December 26, 2004

Hope you got that DVD set up. 🙂

It is easy to set a DVD player up. If I can do it, and I did, anyone can do it. I am not savvy enough to use an IPod, or a Palm Pilot, though. It’ll be good all the way ’round if the kids bring the food and help out a bit. They’ll feel better about themselves and you can use a bit of help.

Little Runner

December 28, 2004

Wow. I hope once they see him they realize how ill he was. Blessings.

~Slappy~

December 30, 2004

Nobody should expect you to cook.