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I am way overdue for a proper update around here.
First off, some showing off. Here's pics of the jewelry I donated to be door prizes at Antioch Invitational last weekend:
( the other 3 pieces )
So yesterday I made a fairly significant decision. I'm not going home for Christmas. I had expected flak from my mother over this, but I talked to her yesterday and surprisingly, she was fine with it. Last year, my parents freaked out when we found the bedbugs, and insisted we not come over that weekend just in case we brought them with us. They were dealt with and long gone by then, but we didn't go, to make my mom happy. And then we went for a visit in January, and we actually enjoyed it way more. Sure, we didn't get to see the Christmas tree, but oh well.
The idea of going home was just stressing me out like crazy. It would have cost me about $150 to travel there and back. The ferries are packed with people, including tons of screaming children. I spend 3 days cooped up in a house with my whole family, because my parents never get out and do anything, breathing in the second hand smoke of TWO 2-pack-a-day smokers, so I come home feeling like total crap. I spend time and/or money coming up with gifts that I think are thoughtful and nice, and my mom generally loves hers but my siblings are ungrateful brats. My mom doesn't even bake anymore, and now that my parents are hardcore South Beachers, Christmas dinner won't even be what it used to be. The only reason to go anymore is to SEE my family, and I can do that any old weekend.
So instead, I am going to stay home and enjoy my 4 1/2 days off from work, and spend my long weekend snuggling with my kitties, crafting and gaming. And maybe I can even fit in a visit with some friends in there, if there are any who aren't crazy busy with their own festivities. Certain of my friends feel far more like family to me than my bio family does, anyways.
This decision has lifted a huge weight off my shoulders and I am so relieved to have made it.
First off, some showing off. Here's pics of the jewelry I donated to be door prizes at Antioch Invitational last weekend:
( the other 3 pieces )
So yesterday I made a fairly significant decision. I'm not going home for Christmas. I had expected flak from my mother over this, but I talked to her yesterday and surprisingly, she was fine with it. Last year, my parents freaked out when we found the bedbugs, and insisted we not come over that weekend just in case we brought them with us. They were dealt with and long gone by then, but we didn't go, to make my mom happy. And then we went for a visit in January, and we actually enjoyed it way more. Sure, we didn't get to see the Christmas tree, but oh well.
The idea of going home was just stressing me out like crazy. It would have cost me about $150 to travel there and back. The ferries are packed with people, including tons of screaming children. I spend 3 days cooped up in a house with my whole family, because my parents never get out and do anything, breathing in the second hand smoke of TWO 2-pack-a-day smokers, so I come home feeling like total crap. I spend time and/or money coming up with gifts that I think are thoughtful and nice, and my mom generally loves hers but my siblings are ungrateful brats. My mom doesn't even bake anymore, and now that my parents are hardcore South Beachers, Christmas dinner won't even be what it used to be. The only reason to go anymore is to SEE my family, and I can do that any old weekend.
So instead, I am going to stay home and enjoy my 4 1/2 days off from work, and spend my long weekend snuggling with my kitties, crafting and gaming. And maybe I can even fit in a visit with some friends in there, if there are any who aren't crazy busy with their own festivities. Certain of my friends feel far more like family to me than my bio family does, anyways.
This decision has lifted a huge weight off my shoulders and I am so relieved to have made it.