And so it was Christmas

We had a good holiday. It has been freezing (-40ish for weeks) but we have snuggled in and watched movies. The city has drop-in soccer programs to keep Son occupied and apparently there is always Cell Phone Truth or Dare. (Those teenaged girls...)

Christmas means breakfast at our place, so we had some good friends over in the morning and then had supper with them and their unbalanced relatives later that evening. (Other people's families...)

I had intended to paint during my work-enforced holiday, but for some reason I haven't been able to choose colours.  Son is bored by the entire project, and the roommate has informed me that he is "not that kind of gay". As he is the kind of gay who bakes chocolate goodies, this is an acceptable trade-off. I managed to hang pictures, which is a start. 

Son will be 13 tomorrow. It is hard to believe. 

I don't know why I haven't been inspired to blog. Life is going well, plugging along much the same as ever. Son is comfortable with the idea of the Caffeinated Wonk in my life, and jokes about his dad's stated desire for "lots of boyfriends". Which seems odd to me, but probably only because I prefer things to be simple and stable. In any case, Son has not shown any of the concern I hear kids have when their parents start to see other people. I don't know if this is because he's hiding his concerns or really just doesn't care.

Once a year

Everyone in my family likes Christmas a lot

But you know, I'm a grinch, and I surely do NOT
It's true! I hate Christmas! The whole Christmas season!
And go ahead – ask why! 'Cause I'll tell you the reason.

It's not about the snow and its blankets of white
It's not even that all the songs are so trite
So I'll tell you the truth, and don't be too appalled
I just hate the pressures I get in the mall.

You see, whatever your budget, I'll give you some news
It won't be enough to buy what my friends choose
And it's not just my friends! It's my family, this year!
And next week is Christmas! It's practically here!

I grab the Sears catalog, start nervously thumbing -
I MUST find a way to stop Christmas from coming!
But I've got an idea – an awful idea!
And I've got a wonderful, awful idea!

I'll call all the family, put it down to a vote
Let's buy our OWN presents, even Nan, the old goat!
I like this idea, now I'm one smart chick
I could do it online with just one mouse click.

I just need to convince them – no matter the frown
Don't buy gifts for me, go the other way round!
Does that interest the family? NO! They've simply said
"If you can't find a gift, give us money instead!"

Shall I name some of the gifts I've received since I wed?
The giant knick-knack, for one, that'll make you stop dead!
If my son gets more presents, or even more slacks
Something else has to go – there's no room on the racks!

I can't buy more gifts for uncles and aunts
Like books they don't read, or yet some more plants
It's time to stop draining our bank accounts down
To zero, just 'cause there are Santas around!

I'd like to see Christmas as old-fashioned cheer
Instead of a gift-buying frenzy this year
I don't need more stockings, or hairpins, or pets
I just want to have Christmas without any debts.

I made Ex cookies last night.

Fittingly, they are also Ex cookies. Well, and that's his dad and the drunk chick, who can't really be left out since these are gluten-free cookies and like Ex, she is celiac and won't get many Christmas treats.

I made these in an attempt to cut my rage. 

We "share" the car, and the arrangement is not working. The details are stupid and I will not go over them because I am embarrassed enough that I allow myself to be upset about it. I will only say that I need to get myself to a point where I do not feel that I have a car. 

So I was angry, and I decided to do something nice for him, presumably because I am very easily controlled. We will not delve too deeply into this right now. 

I'm not much of an artist, but I am pretty good at gluten-free baking considering how hard it is, and I do enjoy decorating little people. I made one for my roommate (holding a calculator bleeding red -- he's a finance analyst) and a set for Son's BFF's family since his mom is also on a gluten-free diet. And heck, it is just fun to make Supreme Court Justice and hockey goalie cookies. 

I figured out how to put gray streaks in Ex's hair by mixing milk and white chocolate together. FIL's plaid shirts are hard to put on cookies, but I think I made his beard and moustache bushy enough. 

So my little men are making me smile, and that's a good thing. 

And an angel for the top.