THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

This chronicle actually actually begins on the afternoon of Christmas Eve when I, in cleaning up the debris from last minute gift wrapping, hooked my foot around a chair leg and went down on all fours. The number of thoughts that race through one's mind while headed toward the floor is incredible. First: "I don't have time for this; I have too much to do." Second: "I need to put my hands out to break the fall, then roll as I land." Well, I did the latter, and initially, my knees hurt from carpet burn, and I had a sharp pain in my right wrist. After a few seconds I got up and told myself to "soldier on", and I did.

Later I prepared to go to the Christmas Eve service and did. It was a misty, windy, cold evening here. During the sermon I began to fan myself. After a little bit I looked around and noted I was the only person apparently too warm. When we stood up I thought I might pass out; then I began to sweat---all over and had waves of nausea. That was when I decided it was time to get out of there, and at the first convenient point in the service, and when I felt I could navigate my way down the side aisle, I left. Walking out into the cold, blowing, drizzle was the most refreshing thing you can imagine. Once I finally got the key turned in the ignition (couldn't grasp or turn with my right hand by this time) driving the two miles home was a snap. However, about the time I pulled into the carport I began to sweat again. The remainder of that night was not pleasant, so I won't depress you with the details. The only good part was my call from Goo as she opened her gifts.

First Day of Christmas: I called Chill about 11:00 a.m. (thought they would have finished gifts by then) and asked him to drive me to the emergency room. Conclusion there was that there were no broken bones, just contusions. We had to drive to the other side of town to find a pharmacy to fill the Rx for pain. The doctor told me to keep using my hand and sort of shrugged when he said he could put a splint on it; so I didn't press for it. (Stupid me.) I did manage to get a few things done that evening.

Second Day of Christmas: As I was anticipating the arrival of Plug and family from Illinois via Texas later in the day and had much to do before they came in I called on Jaz and Oyster to help me with the housework and food preparation. There is considerable chopping and grating involved in gumbo and cole slaw, and thanks to Jaz that was done. I was able to make the cornbread before they came, and they gave me three hours of hard labor. The Ill. contingent arrived about 7:30 p.m. but didn't seem inclined to want to eat immediately, so it was about nine before we gathered round the table. They had had a blast looking at two boxes of old pictures from Plug's childhood and teen yrs. which I had pulled out for her to take home. Oh, have I mentioned that #1 Granddaughter is now a semi-vegetarian and #2 Granddaughter eats only meat, potatoes, pasta, and peanut butter?

Third Day of Christmas: Everyone slept in except #2 Grandson and me. (#1 Grandson didn't make it here.) He went for a run, and I cleaned out the cat litter box, shampooed my hair, and made breakfast for the two of us. I cooked again when the others woke up. Plug wanted to see a casino, and I wanted to show off the recreation area downtown. So that's what we did during the afternoon. Then we came home to have dinner with Chillax, Jaz, and Oyster and to open gifts.

Everyone seemed pleased with what he/she received, but the one I enjoyed most was #2 Grandson's hugging the pillow I gave him throughout the evening. Here it is.



Fourth Day of Christmas: Things seemed to be going along swimmingly during the morning until my son-in-law suddenly left, and I asked where he was going. Plug said, "You do know what's going on with the toilet, don't you?" It had been fine when I was in the bathroom earlier, so I didn't know, but my heart sank. It had backed up. He had run out to get some product to put down there to unstop it, but I knew it wasn't going to work. To cut this down let me just say that I went to my eye doctor's appointment in the early afternoon, and they went to the interactive science center with Oyster and her family ticket. That was a big hit with all three teenagers and gave them a way to work off some energy. When I came home from the eye doctor's I found my son-in-law doing laundry, but when the washer drained it produced a cataclysm from the toilet again. More towels on the floor, most of them from the shelf (i.e., clean; well, not anymore), but when the flood comes, you do what you can. The plumber arrived at 5:45; since I do not have a clean-out in the yard, this means that the plumber has to go on the roof and send his roto-rooter gizmo down the clean-out pipe(s) on the roof. I knew this from previous experience. Since he was alone and it was almost dark he was reluctant to go up there. He left us with the reassurance that we could flush the toilet but not to do anymore laundry, and that he would return at 8:00 a.m. the next day with another plumber.

Fifth Day of Christmas: Here's the view outside at 8:00 a.m.




Here's the view inside at 8:00 a.m.









It might have been safer to go on the roof in the dark than to try to go through the LR that morning, and he had to go through there at least three times. Cause of the obstruction in the plumbing: "feminine products and tree roots." Anyway, shortly before noon the Illinois family packed themselves into the rental car and headed to Dallas to visit with grandfather and the Dagromms. I headed to the washing machine to begin the first of five loads of laundry: table and bed linens, and some clothes.


Note that there are still more gifts to be given.

Sixth Day of Christmas: (Are you still hanging in there with me?) I had promised to pick Oyster up at the store and bring her here to help me. (Wed. is Chill's busiest day at the store.) We stopped at Walgreen's where I purchased the cheapest wrist brace they had. Had I known how much it was going to help manage the pain when i use my thumb, hand, etc. I think I would have opted for the one that cost twice as much and perhaps doubled my pleasure. But I digress. Oyster helped me make the guest bed and helped me with folding sheets, towels, napkins, etc. After lunch we went to one of the art museums where her mom met us after work, and I went home alone. However, when we were in the little room which displays Wedgwood Jasparware she suddenly said, "Ru, that looks just like your Christmas ornament." Of course, I then had to explain that Goo had made the ornament when she visited Wedgwood five yrs. ago, and that, in fact, they came from the same place. I was very impressed that she noticed and made the connection; pretty good for an eight-year-old.

Seventh Day of Christmas: The Dagromms arrived around 9:00 p.m. having driven after work. Guess what! They didn't bring the dogs this time. Their dogs are charming, but it really gets crowded in this small house with eight people and four dog. Dagromm brought a bottle of champagne, a gift from his boss, which we chilled. We had the big 20 sec. countdown and toasts on the front porch at midnight then walked out to see whatever fireworks were exploding. This was another drizzly night, but everyone seemed to have been able to keep their powder dry.

Eighth Day of Christmas: You probably thought of it as New Year's Day, but we had round 2 of family dinner and gifts to enjoy. Editorial Note: The Dagromms can out sleep the Illinois contingent just in case you're wondering. The gifts took a different turn on this night. For example, Dagromm received this photo from Chill & Jaz.




But he got his revenge when Jaz received this.



I received a beautiful sweater from the Dagromms.




While some played Carcassonne, a game from Goo to Dagromm,Jr.



I called Goo to wish her a Happy New Year. Of course, Oyster and Taz wanted to talk to her as well.



After the locals went home the Dagromms laughed loudly as they played Words of Wiz Dumb, the gift from the Illinois relatives.



Another late night.

Ninth Day of Christmas: After a hearty breakfast around noon the Dagromms helped clear out the trash then loaded their car for the drive home. I started culling out pictures from the more than 50 I'd taken during the visits. Sorry, you don't get to see my handsome grandsons and gorgeous granddaughters in this effort, but we vowed never to show faces or use real names in the blogs.

Tenth Day of Christmas: I awoke with tummy rumblings that made the pets look at me with suspicion. After a couple of hours I went back to bed for an hour. By noon when there was nothing left to rumble, and I decided to try a little Sprite. So far, so good. Maybe I'll have a piece of toast and a hard boiled egg. I'm just staying in my "payamas" all day.

Eleventh and Twelfth Days of Christmas: Who knows? Take a guess!