I…
got the flu.
Four days ago I felt like a human. Saturday, Sunday, and Monday… not so much. Still, I made “the effort” yesterday, Christmas Eve, to get out, and ran a few errands with lecram. That’s when I got to see Stalker Claus…
And he really is Stalker Claus, because I turned around, and there he was again… down the street, skulking near this other house…
He thought changing his outfit would throw me off, but I’m wise to ‘im, I am.
After the food-run and whatnot, and being freaked out by that guy in the red suit that kept turning up everywhere… I opted to come home, take antihistamines and pass out. But not before being gifted with a flashy lighter. You can see what it looks like in lecram’s Christmas Vlog. I don’t smoke. Never will. But I do know several people who do, so, you know, I can help them get lung cancer with festive pizzazz, baby!
No, I like my lighter. It’s sparkly and flashy, it makes fire, AND… it has a wee flashlight on the other end. It’s a survival tool!
Or not.
Anyway, today has been… quiet. The podling was with her Dad and his family all morning, and since I’m still coughing and sniffling I couldn’t have any contact with MY family. (It’s not good to go be around a guy who just had a triple bypass if you’re carrying the creeping crud along with you.)
I slept throughout the morning. Watched a little of my man James Bond, then ended up waking up to something crappy and forgettable on TV. (Mercifully forgettable due to the drugs I’m still taking for the runny nose, cough, fever, etc…) Ate ramen noodle soup, because I’ve run out of the other kinds of soups.
Then the podling and her Dad stopped in. She opened what Santa had left for her here. She got a PS2 game, some games for her DS, a purple velvet purse, some leather gloves, the Daring Book for Girls, various foofy things. Between me, Santa and my parents, she had a fine haul here. Not to mention her new computer, and eventually the internet access she’ll have once I pick up a router and get her networked. (And the parental blocking and keystroke logging software I’m tempted to subject her to… What?! I’m a MOM, for crying out loud! And I KNOW what’s out there on that in-tar-web thang. Gotta keep her pure as long as I can. Not naive. Just pure.)
She brought me gifts. One was from her… a gorgeous pair of shoes that I had commented on a long while back. They’re saucy little black satin pumps with delicate rhinestone embellishments. Apparently, the young one remembered my shoe size and went back to get them. She’s a good girl. She’s a sweet girl. She’s a caring girl. She’s a thoughtful girl.
The other gift… well…
The photo is sideways. I’m too lazy to adjust it. And yes, I need to wipe down my stove top. I don’t do those things while sick.
Isn’t it magnificent? A frog covered teapot, six cups, all on a wire stand… thingy. It says they are not to be used in the dishwasher, the microwave, and do NOT use with boiling water.
um…
So what DO I use them with? They just denied me my three main cooking and cleaning methods!
Apparently this is a gift that the ex’s mother had had sitting around for me for years and kept forgetting to give to me. It had been picked up for me a long while back, because the family remembered that I have an affinity for frogdom. It was remembered this year, and given to me on behalf of the podling.
o
k
Now… it IS true I have long had a thing for frogs. It came from a childhood nickname, and suddenly people started giving me frog-related things. As I got older I weeded out the crap and kept some of my favorites. I have a few glass frog ornaments on my Christmas tree. I have a little carved frog with an opal in his back. I have a Baccarat crystal frog. I have an antique vase of three frogs with upturned mouths that belonged to my grandmother. (Whose birthday it would have been today. Happy Birthday, Grandma in heaven.) And if I see something truly cool and frog-like, I’ll acquire it. This is a rare occurrence.
I collect the unique, the unusual, the very fine…
Apparently my idea of a unique, unusual, fine frog is not the same as others’ ideas.
Does anyone know the polite waiting period before chucking a dust-catcher in the bin at the local Goodwill?
And so this is Christmas…
The cool thing about Christmas is you get to try it again next year.
Bah Ho Ho Merry Humbug.
I look forward to eating the duck takeout picked up for the occasion later.