(from a song playing in my head)

Oh the shit flying around here.

I feel like too much is hitting me at once: work, home, friends, family.

Drama at work - I'm taking next week off to get a good break from it

Constantly have to be on the kids to keep them doing what they are supposed to do (I'm telling them, you have 5 minutes to finish breakfast, and they stand in front of the open fridge, stretching and wasting time...)

Friend having major husband problems (told me he is a drunk, their daughter is a product of spousal rape - things are "on hold" for the moment for her last surgery - breast cancer - and xmas)

Husband had a skin spot removed - it's cancer, but very unlikely it has spread

My own husband's constant stupid stuff (told his mommy about the skin cancer before he told me. Shows where I am in his priorities).

My dad is doing chemo for his re-occurrence of cancer (he's beat it once...)

My brother is splitting with his live-in girlfriend, she sent me a message saying he is a drunk and is suicidal - my mom said it's because she is sick and depressing and is making him depressed

Good stuff:

I've been running right after work, in town (lots of snow and ice and stupid drivers who drive right into cross walks without looking - yes, I'm very careful) Oops, that was only half good...

I'm ready for xmas.

We get to skip one in-law xmas thing

I've planned to go to an xmas light show and ice skate on the 23rd (by donation), and go to the town's firefighters and santa and hot chocolate on the lake and ice skate on the night of the 24th (free).

We went to a community xmas party and had a great time ice skating in the arena, bouncers (kids only!), then riding 3 different horse drawn sleds under the stars in the dark, DD exclaiming she LOVES this, warming up at a bonfire. Cost a total of $9, $5 for raffle tickets and $4 for bouncers.

I have a job. And it pays more than minimum wage.

I get to take off the week between xmas & new years (paid for the 25th, the rest unpaid, library is closed, but could work if I wanted to)

I sewed elf skirts/aprons for work and everyone loved them (and I got paid for my time & materials).

I got to go to a lunch with 4 other present & past library employees, and it was wonderful. If nothing else goes right, that lunch *made* xmas for me. I'm very grateful to be included and to know them.