Nothing but what matters. (Merry Christmas.)

I've had to eliminate the very concept of stress from my life this year.  I've had no other choice.

We're not big spenders in this family to start with.  Maybe it's a Mennonite thing, maybe it's from decades of not really having enough cash to cover everything, but we just seem to be pretty content with what we get.  It's a good feeling, actually.

This year more than ever I let it go, figuring it'd be more meaningful if everybody has a little surprise to unwrap while knowing there wasn't a whole pile of anxiety around it.

Besides, at 16 and 14, my younguns know they won't be getting what they truly want.  Annyong wants a big honking digital single lens reflex camera.  Bucky wants, well, apparently he wants night vision goggles and like, adamantium and unobtanium and other stuff he'd probably get arrested for having, but really he wants a car.  So they're realistic.  They won't be getting that stuff for Christmas.  They're okay with that.

I spent a couple hours on the 17th picking up a few things.  That was it.  Then on Monday, I got sick.  Yep, while hosting my fun little imaginary birthday party for my 40th, I was under six blankets, drinking honey and lemon tea, rubbing my burning forehead, trying desperately to get comfortable despite that full body ache.

Any plans I made in terms of shopping, cleaning, visiting, teaching lessons, anything, all evaporated.  I have spent the last few days shivering and aching under my blankets, surrounded by kleenex and hand sanitizer,  not giving a crap about too much of anything.

Except.  My kids were also sick.  So I cared very much about that.

Also, my horse was bleeding.  He got cut up pretty bad (hind leg, just above the fetlock, luckily not on a tendon) and I'm quite upset about that.  Well it just wouldn't be Christmas without an emergency vet visit, am I right?  Geez.  It's very hard to deal with an injured horse while suffering with prickly skin and a headache and a sore throat.  But Phoenix is such a gentleman.  He allowed all the needles and sedation and stitches.  He stands still while I clumsily change his bandages.  I cherish him.

We got medicine too and are on the mend.  The germs didn't infect the whole household.  I'm cautiously optimistic.  Jethro spent the week in the city, so he's clear.  Right now he and the kids are off on a shopping adventure.  If I know him, our Christmas stockings will be stuffed with little 1L bottles of 10W30 motor oil and ice scrapers, and other things dudes pick up at the gas station on the 24th of December.

I'm cool with that.  Can always use more windshield washer fluid.

So, honestly, yes I'm still stressed, it's just that I'm refusing to worry or fret over anything non-essential.  I really don't have the energy to fret.  Right now, the house smells like Mom's awesome cooking, the tree lights are lit, and the horses are having their mid-afternoon barn wall meditation time.  And I'll drag my butt to church tonight for Christmas Eve service.

And tomorrow, I'll be another year older.  And it's all okay because we all made it this far.  We're together.  We have good food to eat.  We're allowed to worship as we choose.  We may not be totally healthy but we're alive.

Peace, people.

Enjoy it.

Thank ya All!

And I'm back in my Jammies.

I turn 40 in five days! WE PARTY NOW!!!!

Yep, I am about to hit the big 4-0

It matters not how I feel about this milestone... 

...I'm turning 40!  

And I'm throwing a big imaginary birthday party for meeeeeee!

So git in here!  I painted my front door bright blue and hung up a nice festive wreath what with my birthday coinciding with Christmas and all!

Oh yeah, I did some intense decorating.  I even got rid of all the cobwebs in the ceiling corners.  

Now that you're in the door, let me put a glass of Blog Nog in your hand!

I've got Regular and Extra!

Even those who don't like egg nog in real life are crazy about my Blog Nog.  It has no calories!  It has no nothing, just fun!

Just in case you're fake-hungry, I am prepared.

Little chippy dippy things... yeah I don't know what they are.  We'll just pretend they're tasty.

We've got twisty bread kind of things.

Some kind of cheese thing.  

I've always busted out the Tiny Cheeseburgers, and while I still believe they are very cute and likely tasty as well, it has come to my attention that they are now being called "Sliders."  I find this very unappetizing.  It makes me think of gulping them down whole.  What are we, pugs?  (And wasn't there a TV show from the past starring Jerry McConnell called Sliders?  Help me out here.  Biddie?  Anybody? Discuss!)

So none of those. Instead, Tiny Sammiches!

Tell me if they're good, okay?  

And also, because even in Blog World I like to be healthy, some veggies and dip!

What?  You don't like veggies?

Oh come on!  Work with me here.  (We're imagining, geddit?)

Okay, fine, have some pigs-in-a-blanket.

Wash it down with this!

Or this, if you insist on being all phosisticated.

Or the other kind.

Some people just can't go along cheerfully?

No problem.  I got the good stuff too!

Best of all, being purtend, everybody can make it home safely!

HEY HANG ON, WHOA THERE.

I'M TURNING 40?

40?

SERIOUSLY?  

DOES THIS MEAN I HAVE TO BE A GROWN UP NOW?

I think I sorted this out at 30, actually.  

I'm okay.  

(I cheated anyways... that picture above was taken when I was 37ish.)

I feel more like this now.

hahaha!

Question - does life really begin at 40?  Discuss.

 LIGHT ME UP THOSE CANDLES!

Somebody here must know how to play piano, am I right?  Bust out some songs, people.  

Yeah, now we're talkin'!  Boom box baby!  

Of course, the party always ends up in the kitchen.

You might find me in my new attic library though.  

Maybe later we can go play in the snow!

I asked for a pygmy goat for my birthday last year.  One of Jethro's clients thought that was the craziest thing he'd ever heard.  But why wouldn't I want a little goat?  

Look how cute she is!!!

She can't sleep on my bed though.  The Pug and the cat are already there, and Jethro takes up a bit of room too.  sigh.  I guess I can ask for a cute little goat for my 41st birthday, right?

Hey.  Check it out.  I made it to 40.  

Any more Christmas babies out there?

How about The Gorgeous And Talented Amazing Annie Lennox?

And of course, even though he probably wasn't born on Christmas day at all... and most likely did not look European and saintly...

I just like him so I'll include him.

Name some more?  

Pretend to eat drink and be merry?  Sing me happy birthday?  Give me an imaginary critter to add to my collection?  Party like a rock star?

Meet in the comments section!

I'm throwing myself a big 40th birthday party on my blog and you are invited! Monday, the 20th. Be here!

Come back here on Monday for my blog party!

Aw c'mon!  It'll be fun.  I'm turning 40, dude.  Forty.  I will be Forty years old.  I will have been on this planet for 40 years.

We must celebrate.  

Besides, I plan to serve Tiny Cheeseburgers and you know you don't want to miss that.

Confused?  Let me splain it. 

In real life, I am not such a gracious hostess.  I'm just awkward that way.  But here in Blog World, I FRIGGIN ROCK WITH THE IMAGINARY PARTIES!  

You just never know who'll show up, or what could happen!

My blog parties are truly awesome.  You can eat all the imaginary food you want, pretend to drink anything you like, and there's no dress code!

I understand how socially uncomfortable it is to show up dressed inappropriately.

(What was she thinking????)

Of course, if you really want to look all spanky and formal, well, I won't send you away.

Just know that you can be totally casual at my blog parties.  

You don't have to shave.

You don't even have to get dressed if you don't want to.

I mean really, who's gonna know, right?

The best part is, because this is imaginary, you can wear whatever you want!  Surprise me!!

Now some of you may be wondering what to bring.  Bring yourself.  Bring your own beer if you like.  And for sure bring your own piglet.

 May you bring your own Puglet?

YES.

What if you are a wallaby who would like to bring an unusual pet?

Please do bring your pet.  Pets are fun.

Did I mention bring your own beer?  

OOh ooh, can you bring me a unicorn?  That would be amazing!  

IT'S GONNA BE THE MOST CRAZY FUN TIME YOU'VE EVER NOT HAD FOR REAL!

WE'RE GONNA FUN IT UP REAL HARD!  CRAZY FUN!  INTENSE FUN ONLY HAD IN OUR COLLECTIVE MINDS!  HARDCORE!

YOU CAN EVEN JUMP ON MY IMAGINARY COUCH!

Feel free to bring your musical instruments.  I'd love to have a pretend jam session.  

 Oh man, we'll rock legendarily!

This will be me, okay?

(I've got the hair for it.)

I'm gonna spend all weekend getting ready for this party.  Ah'm sooo excited!

And you know what else I'm gonna bust out at my party?  The traditional classic drink of the Christmas party season... since my birthday is so close to is on Christmas day...

...oh yeah....

...two words for you...

BLOG NOG!!!!

See you on Monday!