The last Sentence of the year

This year ends with a smile as I'm a whole lot smarter, organised and healthier than I was last year. 

Bring on 2016!

 

 

 

The end of the year... reflections and plans

As the calendar year draws to a close, people are reflecting on the year that was and making big plans for the year ahead.  What did 2015 bring you?  What do you want to do in 2016?

Facebook started the Year in Review App in early December.  It automatically selects 10 photos from your newsfeed over the year.  Then, you post it as a status update.  If you want to you can choose different photos to have on your Review instead.  My sister said that 10 photos was simply not enough.  She would post at least 10 photos each week - sometimes more.  When there are 8 growing children in the house there is always a lot happening.  There are sporting events and birthdays and holidays and learning.  Then there is the extended family too. 

Some bloggers like to do a year in review as well.  The re-post the most popular articles from the year.  I think my "Best Of" is doing that well enough. 

My year has seen some interesting things.  Boyfriends.  Girlfriends.  Family Illness.  Parties.  Milestones.  Accidents.  Holidays.  Funerals.  Celebrations.  Gifts.  Mistakes.  People moving away, forward, onward.  Heartbreak.  Confusion.  Learning.  Great Revelations.  Achievements.  Loss.  Discoveries.  Hurts.  Joys.  Healing.  Rest.  Hard Work.  Surprises.  It has been quite a ride. 

For the first time in quite a few years, I feel like I am ending the year, a different person than I was when I began.  I feel like I'm a better person.  I have lost friendships, loves, possessions.  I have gained closer relationships, love, my independence.  I have let go of many things that were holding me back.  I'm ready to let go of more things.  I'm ready to be that very real and much better person that I have been hiding. 

I didn't think I had plans for 2016.  I like to think I'm not going to make grand plans and not follow through with any of them.  Truth told, I will make plans - for my home, for my classroom, for my time, for this blog.  Some of those plans will prove to be pipe dreams.  Some of those plans will happen.  That is how life goes.  Sometimes, life happens and the plans have to wait. 

My plan for the coming year is a simple one... Be Real - Put my Family First.

It sounds simple anyway!

The Best of AGT: On Christmas Eve

NOTE: This short story first appeared here at AGT on Christmas Eve 2010.  Our family had a pet bird at the time and my sister had a pet dog at her house.  When I wrote this I was thinking about her pet dog.  This particular "Best Of" isn't based on number of page views, but on the fact that I really enjoyed writing it and I think it is one of my best stories.  AGT had a super small following in 2010 so maybe it will get to more people this year.  :D

A short story through the eyes of a family pet


There is an awful lot of excitement around here today.  Everyone is very busy!  No one wants to play ball with me and I'm done sleeping.  I have to say it's really noisy.  There are these really silly songs playing, they are about bells and sleigh rides and snow (whatever that is).  Mum is in the kitchen whipping cream and cutting up fruit.  Dad is playing computer games with the boys.  The girls are hiding in their room with shining stuff and scissors and they are really giggly.  


I don't know why I'm surprised though, this happens every year!  Mum (I don't think she's my real mum, we look nothing alike) has been preparing for months.  She keeps circling things in catalogues and shopping on the Internet.  Then, a few weeks ago there was a terrible raucous.  The big box came out of the cupboard and the kids went nuts.  There were big long snakes of shiny stuff everywhere, and little balls with cotton on them.  It was very confusing, no one let me play with them... they kept hanging them on the plastic tree and laughing at me!  


Last week the craziness continued.  Mum and Dad came home during the day with gigantic boxes and coloured paper.  There was ribbon and toys everywhere.  I have never seen so many batteries.  I couldn't understand what they were doing, it is usually the kids that play with toys.  Perhaps Mum and Dad wanted to have a turn before the kids got hold of them, they do have a tendency to break things. Not me of course, I can't be broken, I'm a tough guy.  It doesn't matter how often they scratch my ears or pull my tail.  I love them just the same.  There is nothing better than a nap on the couch with a kid curled up next to you.  Oh wait, yes there is.  Fetch!  It's the best game ever! Oh dear, here it comes...

 Uh-oh, reindeer ears.  The stupid girls are putting them on my head and taking photos.  My head feels crooked.  "AAAWWWW" they are saying.  Apparently I'm soo cute.  In actual fact, I soo have a headache.


They are putting out biscuits and milk, not for me, but for some guy they call "Santa."  I don't get it though,  I have never seen this Santa dude.  This time of year all the humans just go silly.  I worry about them.  But then after a few weeks the plastic tree gets put away and the shiny stuff goes back in the box.  Eventually everyone settles down, the kids go back to school and we all go back to normal.

Finally!  They are all going to bed.  I have to admit, bed time is a lot easier tonight.  Mum is saying that Santa won't come if they don't go to bed by 8.  I wonder how Santa comes in the house without me seeing or hearing him? I'm an excellent guard dog, you know!  Last year I got a present from Santa too. So maybe he waits until I'm asleep and tip toes through the house.  Ah well, he doesn't take anything... he just leaves gifts.  He must be a pretty cool guy!

Aaaahhhh, the lights are out and everyone is in bed, I'm just going to curl up on my bed and relax.  Apparently tomorrow is a big day.

Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night!

 

On Lonliness

 

Being alone is hard.  Being alone at Christmas time is even harder!

I have always had family around me.  I have not always had a significant other.  Even when surrounded by family, it is possible to feel very alone at this time of year.  You look around and it seems like everyone else is having more fun than you. Cousins are bringing their new partners to Christmas lunch, There are young children in shopping centres, at the dinner table, at the pool and in your spare room.  Lots of women seem pregnant. 

You wrap gifts for everyone you know and some people you don't know.  You know that you will not receive nearly as many gifts as you are going to give... even though it isn't about that.  The gifts you get are impersonal, unsuccessful attempts to show kindness to the single, childless aunty/uncle, sister/brother, friend.  These gifts usually come in the form of chocolates that you don't like, shortbread biscuits that you don't like, low fat  recipe books, speed dating vouchers, bath items or crazy cat lady coffee mugs (even though you don't drink coffee or have a cat). 

Christmas can be a difficult time.

It isn't that you don't appreciate the effort people have made.  It isn't that you aren't happy to see the family.  It isn't like you don't love playing hide and seek and sitting at the kids table because the adult table is full of couples.  It isn't like you are would rather be at home in your P.J's drinking wine and eating ice cream from the tub.  It isn't any of those things.  It isn't that you don't want to be loved.  You do want to be loved and appreciated and included. 

The thing is, sometimes it's easier to stay home, than it is to spend the game on the bench!  (Look at me using an appropriate sports metaphore!)

I say a lot about choices and consideration around here.  I believe that happiness is a choice.  I know that we all get along better when we simply take the time to consider the feelings of other people around us.  Maybe you can't see things from the perspective of some people.  Maybe their view of the world is so messed up that there is no way you could anticipate their reaction to the fifteenth fruitcake they have received this Christmas.  That's okay.  You can't be perfect.  Maybe we should consider the idea that no one can be perfect.  No one has a perfect Christmas.  No one! 

The mum surrounded by husband and kids at Christmas time - the one you watch with a bit of envy and disappointment in yourself - sometimes looks at you that way.  You see smiling children in cute Christmas outfits and a husband with an arm around her waist.  She sees a mess of wrapping paper, more toys to tidy up, extra loads of washing, streaky silver to clean, children on a sugar high and all she really wants for Christmas is a nap! Sometimes the grass looks greener but is actually synthetic. 

What is my point? 

Your Christmas experience might be a bit depressing, but rest assured you are not the only one.  Your efforts are appreciated.  Don't buy bath products or chocolate for the single childless aunty who is dieting and don't send her on a singles cruise!  Focus on the positive and if all else fails;  Write a blog post about it and accept that you will probably be misunderstood. 




 

Wrappin' around the Christmas Tree!

Well, you have had another look at the wrapping I did a few years ago.  Today, you can see the wrapping that I did this year.  Some of my best yet.  :D

I pulled out the entire ribbon stash that we had and used up everything I had.  I used a little bit of curling ribbon and lots of fabric ribbon but my favourite was the stiff wire edged ribbon.

This idea was from somewhere... I used A5 coloured paper,
the green one was cut in half long ways.

This one is two lengths of different coloured ribbon.
Wrap around 4 fingers (or a jar lid of the size you want)
Tie a piece of ribbon around the middle.
Separate the loops from each side to make the puffy look you want.
 

I conquered the loopy bow!

Another puffy bow with two different colours and types of ribbon. 
I am really happy with this one.

I saw instructions for how to wrap cylindrical gifts on television.
So, I found that so much easier this year!

So, the basic rules with wrapping... my basic rules for wrapping are:
1.  Use what you have in the house... or buy something specific... do what is easiest for you and within your budget.
2.  Consider who will open the gift wrap.  A beautifully wrapped gift that is taped into perfection, is appreciated by an adult, but won't be appreciated by a child who just wants to get to the gift.  On the other hand, a gift in a brown paper bag will not be attractive to a kid either.  Make it bright and fun, but don't spend too much time making it 'perfect'. 
3.  Have fun with wrapping and if you don't find it fun, then spend more time doing what you love. 

That's that then.

Only 3 more sleeps!  Appreciate it!