One real change this year to our Christmas, or how I experience Christmas, is all the norms and expectations are put aside. We aren't going anywhere, don't have to follow any patterns or schedules. I'm hoping my often times Scrooge husband will decide he really misses our normal Christmas, and stops being so curmudgeonly and passive aggressive towards things. Sure, he likes the festivities when we went places, or the day at his moms, or BS'ing with brother-in-laws at my sisters, but he just doesn't like to be bothered with any of it himself. The girls and I do all the decorating, though he'll passive aggressively redo the perfectly fine lights on the tree. He crabs about the mess of treat making and if he does shop, it's a chore that he leaves for the last minute.
He was always a bit like this, but the last decade has been more so. I just about lost it the other day when his response to the Christmas cards was, they're OK and shrugged. I asked what the shrug was for and his response was he just didn't see the point of cards. Half our cards go to his bloody relatives and was sort of a test of me being accepted into his family our first few Christmases! He also is the first one to say, "funny, we didn't get a card from so and so...". I wonder if once he became an adult and learned how much work preparing for Holidays can be, it was like the curtain being pulled back on Christmas, ruining the magic? I will share though, he does like Hallmark Christmas movies-see it is just him not liking the doing himself!
So W for Whining about my Scrooge husband aside, a few quick W's:
Where I'm going
It's daughters wisdom teeth removal day. We'll head a few towns over in the county with a library stop first for her 12:30 appointment. Then, I'll just be a doting mom again taking care of her for the weekend. I have to get back to work once I get her settled by me on the couch.
What I'm cooking
Or should I say, what did I cook. I made Sloppy Joes, and last night was curry for DD2. I know I am dealing with too many things at work as I let the water cook out on the veg and burnt them, saving enough, but when adding what I thought was curry powder, turned out to be Allspice, I knew I had to stop trying to work and make dinner! I fished out the odd spice, of course not all. So the curry had a unique flavor, but my daughter said it was still really good. Her last meal she called it.
What I'll be watching
DD2's concert starts it's streaming availability today. We also registered for another college Christmas link that will be tomorrow night. I've seen snippets on YouTube of behind the scenes prep of the concert and am looking forward to it.
What I'm playing
We're playing BINGO for our full staff meeting today. Our Exec Team felt bad about not hosting the annual open house where they provide appetizers, treats, and beverages so organized this virtual game and sent us all cards and instructions. It will be fun to see how hundreds of people will play and who the big winners will be.
Who's different
Do you even recognize pup! He has been groomed and is not too happy about it! He's wearing a sweatshirt now for his walks. It had to be done. long hair dogs no matter how hard you try and brush, get mats and attract burrs and it gets tough to keep them clean. We do our best in between but twice a year he has a sedated grooming as he would not tolerate an external groomer awake.
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| No, we didn't get a Chihuahua-it's the formerly fluffy Pup. |
What I need to get done this weekend
Hope your girl gets along ok with her teeth. Hope work calms down so you are able to enjoy Christmas stress free.
ReplyDeleteMy dh has complained more about decorating this year, but hopefully it is just a result of this crazy year and not the new normal. We will do some baking this weekend and watch a Muppet Christmas Carol.
I need a bit of Muppets this weekend as well! Work will not slow down-ever I feel, because while the Co vid Crisis is on, we have too many changes, and then there will be post Covid, and then, trying to catch=u for what we really should have been focse don for th elast year. Again though so lucky to have a job.
DeleteI feel like husbands are just like that. Mine helped decorate little and came with us in our zoo lights walk but otherwise isn’t into Christmas. He laughs at the cards we get and especially the one from dd’s boyfriend’s family. Funny story about what I am listening to-I put on I heart radio to listen to Christmas music while I wrapped the other day, just randomly picking a station and I heard a commercial about getting a DUI while snowmobiling. I did a double take and saw it was a Minnesota radio station. Is that like, a thing? Lol. Definitely not something I’d hear locally. Hope your daughter has a speedy recovery! JoAnn
ReplyDeleteI suppose many men are like that, but I am not a fan of his "tude!Yes, DUI for snowmobiles is a real thing and saldy, a lot of accidents happen each year. IN our community, we are surrounded by a lot of little hamlet like towns that have bar and grills. The thing people do is ride from our town of 20,000 out the 5-8 miles, depending which direction they go, and bar hop on snowmobiles. They have to cross or drive alongside a few busy highways and roads, so yeah, it is a thing. There's aot of clubs or SnoMo's around.
DeleteI lost all my wisdom teeth before I was 20. Hope, it will be simple and painless for your daughter. The pup looks like he is not liking this new do. I wish I could get a really short hair cut.
ReplyDeleteSo far she is doing really well. Pup should be happier that he can see and smell more, but he's still mad.
DeleteHope work settles down & the surgery is as easy as possible! Yesterday was my last day of work, and I'm so very happy for the break. It's much needed. This past week was way more work & stress than I was expecting, due to some last minute executive asks.
ReplyDeleteMy world is a series of last minute executive asks so I can relate. Have a good and safe trip!
DeleteI hope your daughter does ok with the wisdom teeth removal. My husband is like yours, and the older he gets the more grouchy he gets lol. My dog is the same as yours too. He got kicked out of two different groomers, next time it's going to have to be sedated. Have fun with the bingo today and I hope Tuesday is the only time you'll have to log in. Enjoy your vacation!
ReplyDeleteYeah-not sure why he gets so grumpy-both hubs and the dog! My daughter is doing well.
DeleteI don't think many men have any idea of just how much work goes into a smooth-flowing Christmas. But if you don't do it well .... I hope it goes well for your daughter. It's miserable getting your wisdom teeth out but I guess it has to be done. And you're right - your pup looks downright embarrassed!
ReplyDeleteHe is very aware of the work, but also wouldn't want me to just cater it all out-which I am tempted to at some point in the future!
DeleteHope your daughter's extractions go smoothly and painlessly.
ReplyDeleteYour little doggie looks unrecognisable with his hair cut, he's very cute! xxx
She did well! In about 4-6 weeks he'll start getting the top fluff and then he is at his absolute cutest-looks like a new puppy again.
DeleteHeh. Holidays and marriage are a fine mix, aren't they? When I first met DH, he didn't really seem to enjoy Christmas, and I realize it was the work/expectations he disliked. I made an edict early in our marriage that the holidays were to be spent at home, and that helped his attitude. Nonetheless, one year early in our marriage, when I was both working on another degree and pregnant, I allowed him to run me running ragged, doing the shopping/mailing for his family, card writing, etc., and other things at Christmas that he seemed to think *needed* to be done. It was never all at once, just as the season progressed, there was another responsibility "while you're out" he put on me--all for HIS benefit, while still taking care of the home celebrations. It was so much work, it exhausted me, and I felt sullied the holiday. *I* had the attitude that year. The following year I made the edict that *I* was only going to do the things that *I* enjoyed, and beyond that, it was up to him. So, for instance, when he said "What are we getting my mother?" the answer was "Whatever pick out, go to the store to purchase, wrap and mail off." It gave him the permission to let go of the things he took as a chore, and, since then, he has really seemed to enjoy Christmas. I never really got an attitude from him about the things I do--I don't think I'd put up with it.
ReplyDeleteSine this year, the only demands I have are what I choose, things are good. I can relate though-the timelines by his family drive me nuts. There's no relaxing and if you try to get a few minutes of quiet, you get pounced on. Really hard for a family of Extroverted Introverts. We like being around people and enjoying activities, but need space when we need space.
DeleteI wanted to add, the year following my declaration of not taking on his perceived Christmas obligations, we received a call Christmas Eve Day from his brother, asking if there should be a package under the tree for his mother. When DH ended the call he turned to me and said, "We forgot to send my mother a gift." My response was, "No, YOU forgot to send your mother a gift." When he asked what he should do, me being me, rather than shrugging and saying I didn't care (I didn't, by the way) because it was Christmas, I suggested he call a local florist and have a really pretty centerpiece delivered, which he did. It was a hit, and continued to do for the next several years. BUT, that situation really drove home to him just how much work/thought went in to his idea of what Christmas should look like. Whew...triggering memories!!!
ReplyDeleteGood save by you, for him!
DeleteDid we marry brothers? Men in general are not into Holiday spirit. Love the dog picture, he looks very unhappy.
ReplyDeleteWe can't tell if he is unhappy, or secretly likes his haircut. I think DH will miss not having the same Christmas, but we'll see if this will mean we can scale back his family's expectations in years to come.
DeleteI find blogging to be challenging right now too due to the sameness of everyday. Hopefully that will soon change. I like your choice of the word curmudgeonly for your dh. I hope he comes around. And, I hope your daughter's surgery goes well too!
ReplyDeleteHe just would like a finger to snap, and Christmas comes and goes, and he doesn't need to think about anything except being with friends and family.
DeleteThe molar I had extracted was over and inch long, larger than any wisdom tooth I had out. It was a piece of cake. I hope hers goes well, too.
ReplyDeleteTommy has never been excited about Christmas and sometimes not even tolerant. However, after I put ornaments on the little tree, he was over there doing something. I asked him what he was doing. He was putting ornaments in different places because some place on the tree had none and some areas were crowded!!! ??? Whatever. Next year, I will let him put all the ornaments on because he does it so much better than I do...lol.
Sometimes my husband gets very sexist-and then thinks things like putting the lights on are a man's job, and so he must putter with them, even though they are just fine.
DeleteI laughed about the last minute shopping your husband does. For many years a store was located in the last shopping strip before you wound through the streets into the neighborhood. Every year he would be late getting home Christmas Eve and every Christmas morning I would unwrap presents he had gotten there the night before.
ReplyDeleteOOh-last store before home! What did you get? One year for my birthday I got a bunch of movies from the Walmart cheap movie bin. Apollo 13, Air Force One, one of the Mission Impossible-basically his type of movies and not at all mine. If he had picke dup a old classic, or a holiday movie, he at least would have put an ounce of thought into it.
DeleteI am telling folks if your christmas this year is dull, disappointing, and a bit lackluster - that means you are doing it right.
ReplyDeleteThat is a good sentiment to have. It is supposed to be about the joy in one's heart anyway, isn't it?
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