Post Christmas update...

I'm enjoying 'unemployed' status! The employee holiday party was catered (by Andiamo's) and everything turned out great. I got a $50 gc to Bel Air, as well as one to Sunrise Mall, so the gift exchange part of the day was awesome too!

Greg got a 'Circle of Excellence' award from his company. Well, the company that they WERE, not the one that bought them out. One is nominated for this award by their peers, so it was great for him to get one of them. He's so modest, he just says, "all I do is go to work, and do my job." Let me also add that he's like a NASCAR Ninja changing a flat tire on the way to the company party! He now has new tires on his car!

We went to Scott and Deb's holiday party on 12/17; got all of the shopping and gifts dealt with on 12/18; spent Monday doing chores and readying the place for company (that means clearing the wrapping mess off the guest bed); Tuesday was a trip to the vet for check-ups for Daisy and Jackson, then more house chores - the IL's stopped here on their way home from fetching Jeff and Eve at the airport, arriving around 10:30

Wednesday was g-ma Doug's last 'memorial' that was graveside. That was tough, but what better weather than a wet and rainy day. The vet's office called that afternoon saying they were calling a chemo prescription in for Jackson to see if that could help him. Heavy day.

Then came Thursday.

Jackson wasn't acting himself. I woke up and he wasn't laying on the bed with me or on the dresser looking out the window. He didn't trip me up on my way to the garage to feed Daisy, and then I heard the wretching noise. I called the vet's office to see if I could take him in (my fav vet in the practice was 'on') cuz I had concerns about him being well enough to tolerate the prescribed treatment, and I damn sure didn't want to spend $17 on pills that were dangerous for me to handle if we were risking him dying soon. So, off we went. Dr. was in surgery, so we left Jackson and did our errands and had lunch. Went back to the vets office and after what seemed like forever, had Jackson put to sleep. Travis was with me, but he didn't want to be in the room, nor did he want to come in after Jackson was gone. It was a sad, sad day. I couldn't see bringing him home and risking him dying with Christmas and all the other surrounding events going on. Yeah, it was a matter of convenience for me, but it was also a matter of comfort for Jackson. Dying at home may have been awful for him. I bought Travis some black and white kitty things for Christmas, wrapped them, and put them to him from Jackson, not really thinking he'd have to loose his beloved kitty before Christmas. I got personalized note paper and return address labels, and this super soft stuffed kitty. I let him open those three things when we got home, before we headed to the IL's for dinner (he and I stopped at the grocery between the vet's and home to do holiday dinner shopping - we were so cute with our red, puffy eyes...bleah!). Anyhoo, he has named this stuffed kitty 'Jack'. Jack has gone everywhere with him until today, when we went to the IL's for breakfast and he took his recycle truck that Santa brought. He's anxious to get another cat, and thinks he wants an older cat vs a kitten. He's afraid a kitten might die. We'll see. I have a feeling that a trip to the pound is in my very near future!

Friday was Eve's b-day. We already planned to go to dinner, but before we did that, Jeff took her for a golf-cart ride. He took her to the Yellow Bridge, gave her a dog tag that he had engraved with her name and "will you marry me" spelled backwards. He got down on his knee and properly asked her to marry him! She said 'yes'! She is awesome, and I'm SO looking forward to having her in the family. She's an only child and would love to have a sister, so I told her that a sister-in-law will have to do! I'm already planning their wedding! LOL!

Saturday was a house full of 21 of our family and friends. We had ham, tri-tip, scalloped potatoes, fresh green beans, fruit, caesar salad, and rolls for dinner and pumpkin cheesecake for dessert. Yummm. I think I've gained 10lbs in the past week.

Tomorrow, my sister and I are doing dinner (or lunch) and a movie. We haven't had a 'sister date' in A.G.E.S.!!

For now, I think I'll go to bed...haven't been to bed this early in well, I can't remember how long. I. Am. Exhausted.