I got my normal farmware. My favorite was a pair of deerskin work gloves. I looked around and said, "There wouldn't be another pair around here somewhere, would there?" I also got a hideous looking flannel shirt. Doesn't matter, it'll end up in his closet like all the others. He doesn't remember that they are mine.

My son gave me "Man From Snowy River" and "Return to Snowy River" DVD's and also "Tom Jones" That one was a surprise since I asked for "Sylvester"

My fantastic in-laws gave me some money that I was thinking of putting toward one of those little vaccuum cleaner robots that clean on their own. Would take care of that little hay that I bring in after every animals feedings. They also had dinner for us, which is always nice.

By the way, Glenn's Aunt had Christmas eve dinner by her. (Italian fish stuff, yuck) She is allergic to animals so I wrapped a box with holes in it and gave it to her. She kept saying she can't have animals and hoped it wasn't a puppy because it would break her heart. Well, when she opened the box, she sees all this stuff in it, confused until I take out the bag with the fish in it. I gave her a betta with the vase, plant, marbles, food...whole set up. She was so happy. That made my holiday.

Gary got some more swords that he wanted. Kid is just waiting for Dawn of the Dead or something. Glenn didn't like anything, as usual. Actually, we got him an addition to his stereo but it didn't work so it made him all upset. I got it on line and never got a receipt for it. All the problems of returning things.

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2004

Answers

I received the bestest Christmas gifts ever!! My son spent this Christmas waaayyy across country in Edmunds, Washington with his girlfriend's parents. Just got a phone call from him (at 4p.m. EST) and he said he was standing on a Pacific Ocean beach looking at the surf and was sooooo happy...even tho' he was thousands of miles away! This was the first long distance plane trip he'd ever taken that he has really wanted to go on...three others were to disney world in Fla. at the insistence (threatening!) of his ex-wife. I truly doubt that Mike will EVER want to go to Florida again :-)!!!

The second "bestest" gift we got was Morgan telling me and Harry that she wasn't TOO sad about Mom and Dad getting divorced...it just meant more Christmas's for her!! Talk about the optimism of youth :-)!!!

I'm really, really looking forward to 2005 and I hope everyone here had a fantastic holiday!!!!!!!!

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2004

Edmonds is right by me! Look up Edmonds on a map, and look to the east and north a bit, and you'll see Snohomish (town of, also county of, which Edmonds is in). Great place! I had a lovely Christmas, and will write back when I have time.

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2004

I got the hell out of town for a few days :>)

-- Anonymous, January 04, 2005

I am sitting on my bed, balancing my laptop.

supposed to be doing an exercise for my therapy session next week....

about approaching my mother with all the crap that permeates my soul..............HA..........

but I find myself here, distracting myself from my assignment...even though this place, which I once held so dear, seems, to be perfectly honest, nearly dead.

I am considering starting an online journal,ala sherri, (geez,sherri,yours is so very beautiful) although it may likely be livejournal.com, since I know so many folks there. I will let you know.

I'm thinking right this minute that since few are really interested here anymore, and I guess I sort of have finally accepted that this place may very well die, an online journal, with the ability for folks to respond, is maybe a good thing. That way, I could expound however honestly I wanted, without waiting impatiently for responses from those I hold dear. And maybe making responses even more wonderful.

I could hold forth on things that matter to me,without feeling so silly when no one responds.

A journal. Any comments?

-- Anonymous, January 05, 2005

BTW, my AOL instant messaging name is "rustytrailer" , in case anyone should be interested in IMing me. byebye

-- Anonymous, January 05, 2005

Yea, I've been feeling lost myself, wondering where everyone is.

-- Anonymous, January 06, 2005

Well, I just got my car back from the car accident...that has been a long, long process. We also decided to purchase an existing house in E. WA, instead of building right now. We found a verrrry cute 1941- vintage 3 bdrm (actually 1 bedroom is the remodeled garage) 1 bath home with hardwood floors and a masonry fireplace. We are going to replace the cabinets in the kitchen and add a powder room and a few other things (heat pump, more insulation), and we'll get this for way less than building a new one. It's a house in town, but fenced for a doggie so we may have to get one! I have been hassling for so long trying to get the cost down on building the new one, that I just thought...what the hell, and we made and offer and it was accepted...close early Feb. Having inspection done now.

Now get this, NOW we find a builder to build our house over there for less! So, now what do we do?!! We could rent the little one we want to buy or rent our newlu built house for a seasonal rental, or get my mom to buy our little house, or just wait (I sure am leaning toward the latter, but with interest rates and more importantly building material prices going up all the time, I dunno). Think I'll pour myself a big glass of wine and relax now that I got my car out of the shop and home and no snow here yet...!!!

Anyway, with the holidays, work, traveling, cars, insurance, doctor visits, dentist visits, orthodontist visits, real estate agents, houses, etc. (and now a ton of snow headed our way!), I'm a bit whooped...not much time to post (and btw, the server is busy about 1/2 the time I try to get on here).

So Happy New Year! I guess in answer to your question, I got TIRED!!!

-- Anonymous, January 06, 2005

My computer was down for a while, so my online time was limited. I don't know what we can do to give this place a jump-start - new blood? And if so, how do we decide who? I have been a blah participant on most of my forums this recently; just can't handle the conflicts. Gardenweb, soil compost and mulch forum is probably my favorite, lately.

For the holidays, I received a gold "Mom" necklace, gift certs to book stores and half.com; a tea kettle, sweater and sweatshirt, and a card table and chairs. We had a much quieter holiday this year than in years past.

I am doing the simple living thing (simpleliving.net); well, sort of, anyway. I'm working on tracking our finances (gah!) and reducing our spending. Well, sort of, anyway. I'm getting kind of burned out on the job ("no, really?!" they say) and thinking of changing to a different one, still in nursing, but with much less stress. But that will mean a decrease in income, so it will require relearning some old frugal habits in order to maintain the life I like.

I'm still trying to get enthusiastic about the garden this year. I'm not having much luck. That kinda scares me! I thought about an online journal, EM. It seems so out there; not strange, but putting yourself out where all these people can see you. Like my other forums aren't; I know! I'm just not comfortable with the idea. Yet.

-- Anonymous, January 07, 2005