Day 28: Bring on the boxes!

Alternate title: why you shouldn't shop when hopped up on meds.

In all the apartments and houses that I've lived in since graduating college (6, in case you were wondering), my mailman has hated me.

At one point in my life, I subscribed to 12 – TWELVE – magazines. Twelve heavy publications that had to be stuffed into a mail slot each month, trudged across the Boston Common, delivered during rain and snow storms.

Then, this little thing called the internet was invented, and really took off. And with it, came online shopping!

When you have boxes being delivered by large UPS and FedEx trucks, and you live on one of the most narrow streets in Southie (one that's barely on the map, and traffic isn't supposed to drive down it), you hear all sorts of colorful language, tinged with a thick Boston accent.

And then one day, Amazon was born. And following that, Amazon Prime.

If the mail/postal/delivery people didn't like me before, they certainly don't like me now.

Last year when we were renovating our family room, our contractor said to my husband, "Your wife sure gets a lot of packages delivered." Um, thanks buddy. Way to out me.

It's just so simple. Shop. Add it to your cart. Hit "purchase" (and your credit card info is saved! so easy!). And then two days later...POOF. Packages.

You've heard the phrase "Don't drink and Prime?" Well, I'd like to suggest: "Don't Prime on Meds" as a close second to that.

Today, I'm home sick. And it's Cyber Monday. And I'm armed with prescriptions. 

In between naps, I MAY have done some damage Christmas shopping.

So my point is, I blame the person who invented the internet, and then Amazon Prime, for any troubles the UPS delivery man has two days from now.

(And for the record: I'm down to only 5 magazine subscriptions right now. Not bad.)

I'm fickle that way. (Day 28)

Before we begin this blog post, I wanted to share one of my favorite ways to enjoy leftovers: for breakfast.

I call it: Leftovers Benedict.

You could make it with any leftovers you have, but here's what I use:

Leftover mashed potatoes (shape them into little potato cakes)
Dressing/stuffing (I use my mother-in-law's dressing, which is mainly seasoned ground beef).
I pan-fry the mashed potato cakes until golden brown, top them with the warm dressing, and the top that with an over-easy egg.

Anyway...

As far as holidays go, I'd give Thanksgiving a solid B.

We host, and I enjoy preparing and cooking all day Wednesday, setting the table and making people happy with food.

But once everyone leaves at night, and we've loaded the last of the dishes into the dishwasher, and the leftover turkey is barely cold in the fridge, it's like a switch is flipped and Thanksgiving is dead to me.

I have mentally already moved onto the BEST holiday of the year: Christmas.

I LOVE Christmas.

To quote Andy Williams, it's the most wonderful time of the year.

(Last year I was home with Max on maternity leave, so it really WAS the most wonderful time of the year.)

Once Black Friday is upon us, I'm all Christmas music and holiday shopping. Pumpkins get traded for pine cones, and cornucopias for cookies. I'm all like, "Thanksgiving who?" as I pack away leaves and pull out the stockings.

Because I LOVE Christmas.

I love the hustle and bustle and shopping.

I love that the air smells like snow and the house smells like pine.

I love wrapping presents, and watching people's faces when they open them.

I love the magic and the merriment.

And this year is no different.

Sure, we're under crazy construction, and the new room (that was supposed to be ready for Thanksgiving) won't be ready for Christmas. And we have nowhere to put our tree. And I have nowhere to hide gifts. And nowhere to decorate.

But I still LOVE Christmas.

I can't wait to see Max's face on Christmas morning, as he finally starts to understand unwrapping presents. I anxiously awaiting to see what happens when he sees Santa...will there be smiles or tears?

And I can't wait to surprise everyone again this year, by picking out my tree in under 5 minutes. It takes me longer to pick out my outfit to go and get the tree, than to pick the tree itself. 

But that's next weekend.

In the meantime, it's time to make room for Santa. See ya later, gourds!

'tis the season of giving (day 23)

Last year at this time I was home on maternity leave, a time I like to refer to as "The Most Awesomest Four Months Ever".

While home, I was able to faithfully watch ellen every day. And, being the holiday season, I watched with envy as she gave away a gazillion dollars of cool stuff during her 12 Days of Giveaways.

Ellen and her 12 Days of Giveaways hold a very special place in my heart.

In 2004, I was also home watching ellen, in what was probably the first year she did her 12 Days of Giveaways. I had just undergone surgery for my cancer, and I was home recuperating. 
(I celebrated 10 years cancer-free last year, you can read about it here). 

My mother had come up and was spending my first week home from the hospital with me and Mr. KK. 

It was a rare moment in my adult life, that I spent a full week with my mother, when we weren't on a vacation. Instead, she was taking care of me.

Watching ellen with her giveaways was part of our daily routine.

We'd snack on crackers with peanut butter and tea as we watched ellen reveal gift after gift; Me, lying on the couch that had become my home, and my mother sitting in the other other chair we had in our small living room in our little row house in South Boston. 

She and I watched in awe as ellen gave away prizes every day, like washers and dryers and Dyson vacuum cleaners (these were the early days, before the gifts were digital or gift cards). There was a secondary chance to win the prizes online, and I entered us both every day. (We never won).

For a few years after that, I would enter our names online to win the gifts Ellen was giving away. But when you work full-time you tend to miss daytime talk shows and I never remembered to keep up with it.

And then last year, I found myself home again, watching Ellen and her amazing giveaways. And, on at least one of the days, my mother was there watching with me, holding Max while he slept. And once again, I entered us online for a chance to win everyone. (We never won).

And today starts this year's 12 Days Of Giveaways on ellen!

I'll be watching Ellen do her giveaways every day on her Facebook page, remembering that time 11 years ago, when my mother and I were watching for the first time...together.

And Ellen – if you're reading this – we'd LOVE to be part of your 12 Days shows. Just sayin' :)