(Belated) Merry Christmas!
The whole university is on winter recess and we’re not expected back to work until Jan 5th. Sweeeeet!!!
We originally planned on going back to MI for the Christmas holidays but it fell through. My car started acting up so we didn’t want to take any chances taking it on a long-haul road trip. We had been setting aside money for the trip but ended up having to use it to pay the mortgage on our MI house. The dad (of our tenants) was laid off from his job and is now on unemployment so they, too, are financially struggling. They still manage to pay the rent, just not on time. I can only imagine how taxing it is emotionally, mentally and physically worring about not just rent but utilities as well. It’s bitterly cold and heating a house is not cheap. Things are not going well in MI and it is really sad. We still look forward to going back but with the way things are it might not be for a very long time.
We had to break the news to MIL who had been preparing for our visit for months. She was sad but took it well after we explained the situation. To make up for it, we’re having her over for a couple of weeks over the winter’s tailend.
Since our plans changed almost during the last minute, we scrambled to find a (fake) Christmas tree and ornaments. T only had two gifts under the tree (which he didn’t seem to mind) — a CSI kit and a book about bridges — while the rest are on their way. Two books that I had ordered got delayed so we’re not seeing those ’til next week. His Lola got him a Highlights magazine subscription that just started, a book that is coming out in January, and something else that I think she’s bringing when she comes over. The gift-giving season just needed a little bit of extension.
To be honest though, we didn’t exert as much effort as we should have this being our first “independent” Christmas. Since we got married, we always celebrated Christmas with my in-laws. For years Christmas meant wintery weather, snowfall, crackling fire and lots of people and food. This time — except for the freak snowfall a few weeks ago that had everyone scrambling for their cameras — we were “alone” and in shorts and t-shirts. It was quite un-Christmas-ly, if there is such a word.
Hubby and I didn’t get each other a gift. Instead, we bought what each wanted/needed. The house didn’t come with a refrigerator, washer and dryer so we had to order those. My older digital camera is in fishpondland so I bought a replacement. Hubby added another 18v DeWalt cordless drill to his tool collection.
This has also been a working vacation for us. We’ve been working on some house projects. I’ve been tearing down old pull-down shades and wooden blinds left by the previous owners and have been painting. It’s time-consuming and messy work and there are still a lot left to do. But for the last three days our concentration has been on the front of the house. The patio used to be screened in and there were bushes around the front that had grown unruly. Hubby cut them all down and also dismantled the screens. The patio’s vinyl siding were also removed and the great thing was there was wood siding underneath. Hubby says it’s all around the house but that’s another project for another long vacation spell. Anyways, he put up wood railings and we’re now in the process of painting the patio for starters. The floor and the front steps are cement and in great condition so we discussed painting it like tilework. We have yet to agree on a color but we’re in agreement that it’ll be two-tone. He promised to build me a porch swing (which I have always wanted!) someday soon. We hope to finish the porch tomorrow then I can post before and after photos.
As for T, when I asked him what he wanted to do the other day he replied, “Can we drive through the bridge on Chef Menteur highway?” I thought that was a small thing to ask considering how we’ve left him to amuse himself while we got caught up in projects. So of course we obliged and even drove through a little portion of I-10 West which made him very happy. Doesn’t take much to make him so. We are so fortunate and absolutely thankful.
