Kevin's Watch

I hate working in between Christmas and new year.

Let's see...I hated:

My girlfriend who wouldn't let me have any peace during the holidays and fought with me all the time.

Cold weather

Snow

Being broke and still having more people to buy gifts for.

Ungrateful people that complained about their gifts.

The tragedies and deaths around the world.

New reports trying to make a name by focusing on people's pain.

I refuse to be unhappy at xmas anymore. My mom was (still is) a major downer. I can't remember one year since I was about 6 or 7 hearing that we may not be having xmas presents that year. Dad made plenty of money, but she hated buying us anything. Well, now that she has Alzhiemers Dad takes over everything and he is very loving and generous... now. He had a near death experience 7 years ago and he is very different now then when I was growing up. *I* used to put up the xmas tree every year since I was 11 because no one else would do it. I was very bitter and depressed about the holidays starting very young. I refuse to let anyone else get to me now and make the holidays wonderful for me and my kids. I admit as an adult there is a lot of planning and preparing that is tiring, but in the end very gratifying. I created traditions for my children starting when my oldest was a year old. I recall in the 9th grade having a school assignment to write about family traditions. I could not think of any and I asked my mom and she said we didn't have any because she hated tradtions and refused to start any. Well, sorry, not my philosophy.

So this year I would not afford to buy much... like usual, but my kids we still very happy. I got my Return of the King Extended 4 disc DVD set from my dad, I bought myself Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories for gameboy and with money from my ex's grandmother I got a puppy. Her name is Gwenivere and she is a sweetheart... she is a border collie. My kids got much of what they asked for (they don't ask for much). The pricey things my dad got them. Thier dad sent them each a nice gift as well.

For New Year's we had another xmas celebration at my brother and sis-in-law's house. It was fabulous! Her family has lots of tradtions so it was always fun having a celebration over there. I am all too thrilled to assist in the planning, preperations, etc. Even if it is a lot of work it makes memories not only for the kids, but ones for me too. I am tired of having bad memories.

Wow, Soulquest. I am glad you are making happy memories for your children.

Kudos to you Soulquest!