Journal of an angel

Oh dear... I really have not been good about updating. Holiday madness has officially begun.

Wednesday: Got to airport way earlier than I needed to. Got my mom without trouble, got her home, made baking date for Friday.

Thursday was the funeral (thankfully noone I knew) so we got up bright and early, grabbed bagel goodness, and down to Modesto we went. I stayed home with Mum while FIL & Nate went back up for the funeral. Mostly keeping track of the medication for her and there in case anything should happen... it was a quiet day, and I finished up Cassie's bath basket stuff (bag & sachet) before she got home - oh wonderfulness. Also finished up the book I was reading. After Nate & Karl got back, we went home where we met up with Trudi briefly for gift exchange and pack mule duty assignations.

Friday: Baking goodness. Mom called at 10, I showered & got ready, went by Laurel Grove's pharmacy to pick up the industrial mixer for *gasp*horror* divinity attempts. Went over to mom's, we made up a big long list of all the cookies and candies we wanted to make, and list of what we needed, and went to store. Got everything we needed except a candy thermometer. Not peachy, but we got started. We have brownies, we have fudge, we have peanut butter cookies, we have peanut butter cookies with hersheys kisses, we have sugar cookies, we have thumbprint cookies with jam, we have german chocolate cake (okay, we bought that), we have macaroons.... we may have other stuff I'm forgetting. We do not have divinity, we do not have choc chip cookies, we do not have truffles. Ah well - maybe next year.

Saturday: went to last-minute-notification Christmas party at my Aunt Peggy's. It was good. Less gossip about who was in prison/running from the law/divorcing/knocked up and less variety of food (lots of sweet, no pickles/olives/such) but otherwise just like the Christmasses of my childhood. It was really nice. The semi-present father in my life has once again seemed to think that money will make up for the fact that some Christmasses I don't even hear from him. I suppose in some ways it does - just not how he thinks. Anyway, it was nice to see them and everyone else - I felt welcome there in a way I have not felt welcome in his life in a long time. And we are *supposed* to see each other more - we will see. And they missed my mom - which was nice.

In between all this, Nate has done alot of work on the hearth - it is all finished except for the contact paper, which will happen once the paint is dry. Hope to have pictures soon! But it's been a busy but happy weekend so far, and it was brought to my attention that I haven't updated so..... that's why. Love you all, have merry Christmasses, take care and such. Amy is sleepy and headed to bed.

So we are back... got in late last night and didn't get to sleep very soon because my body is still on island-time. So I am just a wee bit sleepy this morning, and since I was just catching up on everyone in livejournalland, my mind is busy sorting everything for later subconsciousness and does not wish to provide lovely evocative descriptions of the last week or so. We'll just sum up and say we had a fabulous time. Got a little journal to record thoughts/memories of the vacation in and completely failed to use it even once... must try to do that if possible so I don't lose the details as I am prone to doing. Bought lots of little things for ourselves and the family, sorted through the accumulation on mail a bit, and was thrown into hysterical laughter once again by my mother's "help" with our grocery list. Honestly, truly, noone in this world can make me laugh like my mother can - I just can't explain it, but her sense of humor and mine just synch right up. I still have an email somewhere where she screwed with my xmas list - everytime I read it, I am laughing out loud. Just thinking of it has me smiling. To me, that is magical. My poor beloved one is sunburned, but other than getting a bit scratched up by snorkeling, I fared well... got a few misquito bites but avoided any symptoms of Dengai (sp?) fever and my hair has not yet fallen out in protest of the abuse lavished upon it, and I just feel much better and less stressed (though I could not quit thinking of work last night) and more contented. Life is good. Even when it's bad, it's still pretty good (oh dear, I think I'm stealing pizza quotes). Must develop film so I can force vacation pictures on hapless people. Trudi is talking me into scrapbooking with her down in San Jose and between recent trip and her and other girls in the gothy section talking about it, I'm thinking I should. I haven't reallly done anything since I got my sewing fixation. Alas, I don't know if I have time for all these projects. It's Oct 10th and I don't have Halloween stuff even unpacked much less up... I'm wondering if I should just leave it in the boxes this year. Then of course there is ThanksgivingChristmasNewYears to get through, and I also want to do more with my cooking and I * * * must * * * get a recipe for bananas Foster and learn to make it... it is on the menu for Nate's birthday next year instead of cake. It is yum. Welcome to my stream of thought... please keep hands inside the boat and remember that fishing is allowed but baiting is something that should only be done by those that know me well. Eah. Playtime is about over so I suppose I must bring this to a close - more during afternoon recess if I have a chance.