Spazzmanda

I’m going to see the Florida Krolls tomorrow! The excitement of actually going on a trip with my father is starting to be replaced with a feeling of unease. Imagine a dark house (the security shutters are down 24-7) an overabundance of delicious food (my grandmother isn’t happy unless you have to unbutton something after eating) and the bickering. Fun loving, married  million years, two people talking to you at the same time chatter. I’m so glad their relationship is still spicy. The parentals are going to stay in a hotel room due to an alleged “cat allergy” and I alone will be marooned. Marooned with Ernie and Marion.

Actually, I can’t think of any place I’d rather be. Sounds like… family. This is what the holidays are all about. Suck it up baby, time for togetherness, food and love.

Good news:

1.  I get to be all smooth and secret-agenty as I t take Florence on the airplane, or at least I’m going to try. I’m adhering to all TSA guidelines (as well as a few SNB ladies suggestions) but you never know when someone at security is going to have a crap day and view your knitting needles as deadly weapons. Oh, did you know that yesterday was national “Have a bad Day” Day? Who’s idea was that to tell people that in the morning? Idgits.

2.  I might actually, once and for all learn how to make my grandmother’s (and great grandmother’s) tamales. A family tradition and secret. Now that I have the capacity to understand the nuances in  their preparation, this may be my golden familial culinary education opportunity.

3. I get to see lots of family, dad, stepmother, grandparents and my aunt and uncle might be coming in the last day we are there.

4. The ocean. Flagler Beach is very near to where they live, I’ll take my running shoes and hijack someone’s car for an hour or so and go for a run on the beach, absorb some of the ocean air through my skin and lungs. Aaaaaaaaaaah.

Have a happy holiday! Oh and pray that Florence arrives in Daytona tomorrow around 11AM unscathed and unmolested!

Christmas was a whirlwind of activity this year. Almost, I daresay, too much of one. On the Friday before Christmas I went to see family in Atlanta, and after a leisurely Saturday of holiday cheer with loved ones, all hell broke loose through Tuesday. Preparing the house for brunch, actually preparing the brunch, hosting brunch, Christmas Eve at my aunt’s (preceded by an ill-fated trip for some last-minute shopping with a hum-dinger of an argument with my man that was predominantly stress-influenced but sucky and exhausting at the worst possible time to have an argument even though I’m totally over it now, really I am) with Christmas morning at my Mom’s and then dinner at my Dad’s, followed by WORK on Wednesday, and excuse me, but what the frick is up with that?

I would rather gouge my eyes out than to try this again EVER. I have to move this year so I have an excuse to make people come to me or I need to pound it into my man’s head that seeing every single person on THE day or THE Eve is not only unnecessary but not such a good idea since we both have divorced families which raises our number of obligatory humans exponentially, and I’m SURE we can plan it better next time, please, please, oh please, dear God.

But it is the holidays and everyone is in misery, right? Along with the eye-gouging, hair-pulling, family togetherness- there are benefits to be reaped. You guys, I got YARN. Silk yarn. TWO kids of silk yarn (Art Yarns Silk Rhapsody and Handmaiden Seasilk, but I don’t want to brag.) And a tutu. A HOT PINK tutu. I also got a KitchenAid Artisan Mixer (from my honey)that I totally don’t deserve (I was planning on getting married solely for the purpose of registering for the likes of this mixer and now sadly, that won’t be necessary- unless the attachments are anywhere near as expensive as the unit itself…) Oops and Elvis. But I think I need to devote an entire post to my Elvis gift I received from Dad and Linda this year, I just can’t explain it with any acceptable amount of brevity.

Other lovely things came from lovely people and I did actually really enjoy myself once I physically got to all of the destinations. Also, I never properly blogged about the Falala Bash- the third annual Falala Bash was held again this year at the wonderful Chez Whidden (everyone, give some love to the Whiddens for opening their house to us once again for festivities!) Photos from the par-tay are HERE. (We expanded the ugly sweater contest this year to include all things Christmas, Jeff was Jack Frost from the Santa Clause and I was Ralphie in the pink bunny pajamas from a Christmas Story.) Y’all, we collected around 60 gifts for Toys for Tots this year instead of having a gift swap, so there was drunken debauchery to be had by all- balls of meat, meat in blankets, and Fala-lattes- a concoction of rum, eggnog, coffee and rum, with a side of altruism. A well-balanced party.

Okay, on to today. I skipped some stuff, well, possibly lots of stuff, like finished knitting content from the holidays that I really should address sometime, but it is my blog and I’m drinking wine and well, whatever, and if you don’t like it you can either read someone else or bite me, whichever you prefer.

I went knitting at Susan’s lovely home today. She has dogs. Lots and lots of dogs. Three lap dogs (two with sweaters) and the biggest farking great dane I’ve ever seen. Not to mention, y’all, she has donkeys. FOUR adorable donkeys. I just so happen to LOVE donkeys. I don’t know why. They’re sweet and they are little and they are donkeys, how can you not love this?

Well, the rest of this holiday season, will, alas, be a blur. Jeff built me a new book case to house my craft/knit/cook books so after it dries we get to reorganize the apartment (wheee!) So, Happy New Year. Squeeze the one you love and much peace, happiness and bounty to you and yours in the new year. Oh, and yarn. And wine. Let me rephrase, MUCH peace, love, happiness and bountiful yarn and wine to you and yours this NEW year!