Grandma Awesomeness...

I'm really starting to enjoy my grandma status/tendencies. I need very little entertainment from other people - in that we can just sit and visit...no need for elaborate plans or activities.

I pulled the Grandma Card (AARP) on Tuesday evening. Some friends from camp had gotten married in New Zealand and were finally having a wedding party to celebrate. So it was a great camp friend reunion. There was pretty nice hosted bar and the catered food was SO GOOD! Lebanese Lamb Tartlet? YES, PLEASE! Everyone else was enjoying the bar - Grandma enjoyed the buffet. And after the party was winding down, the camp crowd headed to a bar - Grandma came home and played a few rounds of Mahjongg before going to bed. There was a time when I would have been depressed by these choices.

But yesterday I met with 3 of the drunk camp friends for lunch. They had, of course, had a sleep over - all trying to share a full sized bed. When we all met up one of my friends actually said "Oh, you look so fresh...we haven't even brushed our teeth!" The Grandma inside me was so happy and proud. For REAL.

Getting caught up...

Christmas came and went...and pretty much just like usual. Despite all of our recent antics and ailments this Christmas was just like most all the others. Words do no justice to how relieved I am. I am still quite tired but can slowly get the house cleaned and start on the mountain of laundry that has been forming in the laundry room.

I've spent a lot of the past two days on the phone - getting caught up with friends and family. I am so grateful for all of my dear friends who make me laugh. And make me a better person.

Almost there...just a little further...

The Taylor House of Super Maladies is very festive and has almost reached the finish line. If we can hang in and make a few miracles happen by 10am Sunday morning...I don't know what I'll do - but it'll be big.

I'm on the mend - and the Queen of DeNile is almost coming to grips with how she's actually doing.

I hope Christmas Spirit is filling everyone's hearts and homes. No, seriously. I do.

It's raining, it's pouring...

And I have an ear infection. I was joining my mom on her follow up doctor appointment - and thank heaven for FAMILY PRACTICE. After giving her the okay (WHEW) he checked me to find an infection. But the good news was that he had a coupon for a free dose of antibiotics. So free visit, free meds.



I'm working at home, thanks to my laptop and awesome boss. I'm also napping in the super quiet house. I like that best of all.

Much thanks to all those who sent concern and well wishes for my mom. She is still easily fatigued...but other than that is doing super great. But for me it's like having a new baby - each noise is an alarm...so I guess I'll go back to bed.

Where's my paddle?

Friends, I'm exhausted. The past 48 have worn me out. Wednesday evening my mom came home with a severe dizzy episode. She's had these before, and if she sleeps for 12-18 hours, she's usually back on her feet the next day. Thursday morning she came in to my room before she was going to leave for work. She wanted me to look at her face, as the left side was puffy and kind of droopy. My mother had had a mild stroke at some point between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.



At first she really fought me wanting to take her to the doctor, but I can be very...persuasive...and we went, and then were sent to the emergency room and then she was admitted to the hospital. Much transpired between then and now, and details are available upon request. But she is now home, has eaten a full dinner and is resting on the couch. She is still pretty slow and wobbly on her feet but can walk on her own. Her face has no signs of paralysis.. No slurred speech. Given the opportunity I think all us Taylors would sleep for 3 days straight.

What a party...

Yet another success for the holiday home evening. The Taylor famiily transformed the relief society room into a very home-y performance space...and we were blown away by the talent tonight! We kicked it off as the Chipmunks performing Christmas Don't Be Late...but then we had the Temptations and Ertha Kitt and even Elvis tonight. I haven't laughed this hard in a few days. It really was fun and was all got to sit and visit and have a great time.



Oh, and yes, Geoff is warming his buns by the fire on the TV that we took over to the church. He found a DVD of a fire burning and hatched the scheme to take the TV over and have a fire in the church. And did we ever! The fire was the biggest hit of the evening - and that's really saying something.

Uh...are you kidding...?

This morning...I'm watching the Today show as I get ready...as I am wont to do...and creepy Fiona Apple is singing this creepy song about being a machine from her new CD...and I can honestly say that I'm not a Fiona Apple fan. Creepy.

6.60, or even 8.80

I'm getting more into the season...tonight I'm writing Christmas cards. Tomorrow night is our family's holiday party. We've invited several families to join us - each needs to perform a lip sync to their favorite holiday song. Below is the Taylor family from last year's party.



A special holiday treat goes to anyone (not in The Oregon Taylor family) who can place the quote that is the title for this blog post.

Not a grinch...more Switzerland

So I guess I'm having a hard time feeling Christmasy. I have decorated the house...but I don't feel any more in the Spirit of things. I'm listening to the music and stuff. I've watched White Christmas, which I love. But I'm still very neutral about the whole thing.

Little else is in the news lately which is why the blogs are so sparse. I can't even think of a single thought worth sharing. But finals are now over. My acting final had me playing a trampy waitress who brings a guy home, sleeps with him and then gets stabbed to death. But we had to cut the stabbing, as the scene was too long. Sad. But the teacher liked my work, so there you go. Today I took the final in Development of Dramatic Art. Almost none of the students brought paper to write on as we thought the professor would write the test with room for the answers. Boy, were we wrong! So I stepped down the hall to the sociology department office and stole a ream of paper. I saved the day. And wrote a pretty good essay...BY HAND! Dude, I type everything now, so when I was done writing today - my hand was shaking and very sore.

I'm working in the CampFire office now, part time...but they still gave me a desk and a box and a key to the building and all kinds of stuff. Right now I'm just coordinating the applicants for the new positions and updating all the paperwork. Nerdy thinks that I enjoy doing. Plus they pay me...so I enjoy that, too.

My health has almost fully recovered - I can laugh without going into a coughing fit and when I wake up my throat doesn't feel as on fire or closed. I am very grateful for the blessing I received and the recovery...being sick is so awful. But having car trouble is worse, so I'm glad I got sick and am not dealing with car issues.

But yeah. My heart seems to say..."Holiday, Schmoliday."