Christmas 2012

Merry Christmas!

Do you ever get the after-Christmas blues?  I usually do.  That blue feeling sets in Christmas afternoon.  I feel let down.  Not because I didn't enjoy Christmas, but probably because it's over.  BUT... this year... NO BLUES!  I feel great!

I had to work through Friday the 21st, which for teachers, is pretty late.  That meant I only had 3 days to prepare for Christmas after getting out of school.  I didn't have all my shopping done, either, which is rare.  I still had one gift and a couple of gift cards to buy, so it wasn't bad.  But I definitely avoided the mall!  I don't like the mall, in case I've never mentioned it before, particularly when it's crowded.

On Christmas Eve, we went to my brother-in-law's for dinner.  It was nice.  Christmas morning, I got up early - not to put presents and stockings out, which I had actually done about 1:30 AM - but to feed the goat!  The goat lives at the district barn which is about a 12 miles round trip.  Not bad.  But it was early.  Merry Christmas, son!  That is your best gift, right?

Can you spot the special "present" under the tree?  When I got home, I woke everyone up.  We opened our presents then got ready to go to my mother-and-father-in-law's house for the annual Christmas breakfast.  We stayed there a couple of hours, then I came home and cooked.  We didn't have the traditional Christmas dinner this year, either.  Neither my mom or my husband particularly like ham or turkey, so we had a Mexican feast including homemade beef and cheese enchiladas, my special recipe charro beans, refried beans, Mexican rice, queso blanco (hot and mild), and guacamole.  Plus tons of desserts!  I'll have to tell you about the oreo balls later!

My sister and her family and my mom came over.  We had a delicious lunch then opened presents and visited for a while.  Then we took my mom to the barn to meet the goat.  Have you met Kuzco?  By the time I got home, it was dinner time,  but I just needed to sit and chill for a while.  Finally, when I got hungry, I had some of the best chicken and dumplings made especially for me from scratch by my mom.  I took a long, hot bath with my new bath stuff from Bath Junkie and read my book for a long time.

The blues didn't have time to set in!  And I couldn't be happier about that.  What a great holiday!

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Aloha Friday

Kailani seems to be taking a break from personal posts right now, but I have a burning question for you.  It's a simple question, right in line with the nature of the Aloha Friday theme.  Please answer in comments, and maybe post a question on your blog.

My favorite Christmas song is the instrumental version of Sleigh Ride.  It never fails to put me in a cheerful mood!

What is your favorite Christmas (or holiday) song?

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Taking care of the goat...

I love it when people ask me what I've been doing lately, and among the normal responses like shopping, working, etc., I get to say, "Taking care of the goat."  They usually do a double-take!  Last week, my boss's response was, "Wait, did you just say 'goat'?"  I had to giggle!

Yes, I help my son take care of a goat, which he named Kuzco.  The goat is an FFA project, and it's a lot of work!  We are city people.  I did live in a smallish town growing up, which has grown considerably since, but we never had livestock.  We had a dog.  At one time we had two cats.  And my sister had a pet rabbit... for a while.  But livestock?  I know nothing about livestock!  But I'm learning.

I'm finding that it's actually quite interesting.  It's both fun and hard work.  Our poor Kuzco got sick and lost ten pounds.  He would hardly eat anything for several weeks.  While the other goats were gaining, he just kept losing.  He finally got treated for an upper respiratory infection (yes, even goats get them), and we've had to give him everything from ensure, to electrolytes,to  pro-biotics, and vitamin B.  He's FINALLY got his appetite back and starting to gain a little weight now.  He's got some catching up to do!  Can you imagine a goat not wanting to eat?  They eat everything!  If a goat isn't eating, something's wrong.

Anyway, so while we are working to get him to gain weight and fill out, we also have to train him.  He has to run to develop strong muscles in his back legs.  The goats always eat with their front feet propped on the fence so their back legs get stronger, but he needs more.  He also walks.  He gets dewormed twice a month, and he's taking supplements along with his food (developed for livestock, not human supplements).  He gets a bath about twice a month.  And my son had to train him to walk correctly in the ring and how to set him up for the judge, and how to present himself to the judge - the showmanship aspect of it.  Who knew so much went into this?  I guess I always thought you just feed them and they're ready to go.  Not so.

Our livestock show is at the end of January, so we don't have much time now.  I hope we can get Kuzco caught up enough to look good next to the other goats instead of scrawny like he was when he was sick.  If he doesn't do well at the show, my heart will break, but it's going to break anyway when we have to see him go.  I kinda like that goat!

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Congratulations!

I am so proud of my nephew.  He is graduating from Texas A&M University a whole semester early!  And... better yet, he has a job!  He graduates tomorow with a Bachelor of Science in Physchology.  So proud of him!  Whoop!

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Silly Love Songs

Aloha!  It's Friday, time to take it easy.  Here's what's been on my mind lately...

Funny how a certain song evokes a special or significant memory.

For instance, when I hear "Silly Love Songs" by Paul McCartney, I think of summer camp the year I finally got a top bunk in the cabin.  I remember that my parents never let me listen to it because they didn't like it.  And I remember that year at summer camp, there was a really mean girl in my cabin.

The song "Crazy on You" by Heart reminds me of the Texas Renaissance Festival the October weekend I went with my older sister and her friend.  Actually, a lot of Heart songs remind me of that time.  I think my sister liked to listen to that entire album.

"Lido Shuffle" by Boz Skaggs reminds me of visiting my grandparents in Canyon Lake, specifically swimming in their neighborhood pool.  I can't explain it, but it does.

And "The Boys are Back in Town" by Thin Lizzy reminds me of visiting San Antonio as a young child.

What song or songs remind you

of something you remember fondly?

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