Christmas week

So, ever the dedicated teacher, I headed for the Neil and Charissa's house one last time before the Christmas break to tie up loose ends. On my way to their house, I encountered a few people walking in the direction I was headed from our neighborhood.  One declined a ride and the other accepted.  So, as she piled in she told me that she was going to get her car and it had been snowed in for three days at Albertsons.  Off we go and I ask her where she needs to go.  She told me that she was going in to work at the Estee Lauder counter at Macy's.  I thought really...they had declared a winter storm warning, everything is shut down...who do you think is going to be shopping at Macy's today.  For those of you not from around here, you need to understand that when Portland gets snow they shut everything down, especially 18"!  Anyway I figured at least she was dedicated.  She tells me that she called Less Schwab to see about getting her chains put on, but they were too busy.  I told her that I would be happy to help her with her chains.  She looked at me incredulously and asked "YOU put the chains on your car!?!" "Yes!" equally incredulously.  She says "Oh no, that's okay I am sure the guys from Albertson's will help me." in this sleazy suggestive tone.  I thought, sure lady, you are as old as me and I am sure the "guys" are just jumping at the chance to come out in this bitter cold and help you put on your chains.  Personally, I would prefer to know how to do things myself, so I don't need to depend on the kindness of others, while I am happy to accept it, I would prefer not to be dependent. Furthermore, unless you know what you are doing, you have to trust that the pimple faced teenage boys helping you out knows what he is doing.  I thin k safety when I think tire chains, not potential date/cradle robbing  That's just me.  I was thinking, what if you decided you needed chains in the middle of nowhere and there were no stores full of guys awaiting the opportunity to be chivalrous.  Creepy.  Anyway I pulled up beside her car, offered to help her clean it off so that she could get to her trunk where the chains resided.  "No thank you, I am sure the guys will happily come out and clean it off for me."  I want to know what color the sky is in her world!

Upon finally arriving with chains, I opted to park in their garage as Neil had the big car as Charissa wasn't going anywhere.  As I arrived I saw Neil trying to back out.  He pulled right back in the garage saying with a sheepish grin..."I was trying to avoid putting the chains on the car."  I helped him put his chains and then stole his parking place.  It was nice not to have to clean off the car before heading home!

Tuesday morning, I received a call from my Dad knew exactly the reason for the call. He asked if I got the No Time 4 Colds sent off.  I said "Yes, I went out in a snow storm to get to to you." Of course it did not get there in time before his next cold!  In all likelihood it stayed at the Postal Annex, never getting collected because of the storm.  I felt horrible and said that I should have shipped it overnight.  Who knew.  I felt horrible!  Turns out, it wouldn't have helped in all likelihood all the same as he was diagnosed with pneumonia.  I suggested he go to the doctor Tuesday and get something like a Z-Pack BEFORE Christmas but he wasn't hearing any of.  He was too sick to feel like going to the doctor.  I really hoped, that while he did not want my advice, he would take it and at least get in to an emergency clinic for those antibiotics as it sounded like more than a cold.  He went Friday and was diagnosed.  

Shortly thereafter Charissa dropped off both boys. They were going to get their carpets cleaned but they cancelled as it was too icy.  Still I had planned on  having the boys and dogs so that it would go smoothly.  I still minded the boys, but not the dogs as they had things to finish up before Christmas and were going to clean their carpets themselves etc.  The snow storms the week before Christmas really put a lot of people behind.  Fortunately Jeff and I are early shoppers. Brandon and I were watching Robin Hood as a finale to reading the book.  So she dropped the boys at the house around 11:00.  We fed them lunch, then I took them out sledding, and put Diz down for his nap and watched the movie for the final day of school.  All in all it was a pleasant day.  I put Diz down for bed at nearly 9:00 as he'd slept a bit later than normal for his nap.  Assuming he'd be exhausted I told him Bean would be in shortly.  Much to my amazement and displeasure I found him sitting ON the bed rather than in bed playing a piano book I had gotten for Bean years ago that had this tinny horrible sound, but kids love it.  I told him to go to sleep and assumed that would be the last I saw of him until morning.  I went to bed early knowing that Diz is an early riser.  Jeff saw the light on in the living room about 11:45 that night.  Again we found Dizzy playing that piano book.  He probably went in the living room so as not to awaken Bean who is dead to the world once he is asleep. Then throughout the night about every hour and a half to two hours he was in our room.  In between putting him back to bed I would wake up on the odd hours with night sweats.  It was a pleasant night!  Wednesday morning I finally came in a laid down with him at 6:30  I HAD to sleep.  Jeff of course was undisturbed, which was good as he was working from home.  I usually LOVE having my grandkids spend the night but OMG I was fed up by breakfast!  Still we went out and built a snowman until about 12:45.  We came in ate lunch and had baths as they were cold and dirty and the evening promised no time for baths, and again put Diz down for his nap which he took without issue, only a shortened version.  Dinner was to be at 5:00 so they could get the kids home on time for bed and finish up their last minute things.  They ended up not being able to get here until 6:00 because FedEx forgot something in their truck.  The guy hand delivered it to their home as he'd forgotten it.  Once they were here, they ate dinner, and then had to rush out to Toys R Us for a last, last minute item!  SO that left Charissa and I here with two tired, but excited boys to decorate the gingerbread sleigh and reindeer.  Upon tier return we opened one gift and sent them home.  Of course their coats were in the dryer, or hanging on the curtain rods to dry etc.  Jeff apparently called up from the stair wanting Diz's coat which I had and apparently told him I had, then after calling for it the second time I apparently shouted "I have it!"  Neil asked Jeff if he'd like his head back.  Jeff replied "I'll get my head back when Taffy gets hormones."  This was NOT a favorite thing.  I felt so bad that night that I went out for a run...on Christmas eve, just to get rid of pent up energy and found that I couldn't even do that for all the ice.  I went to bed sad because I let Charissa see my upset and she is so sensitive.  I didn't want to ruin Christmas.  She assured me that my mood would not ruin Christmas.