Haven't been much in the holiday spirit. Still haven't bought presents for anyone (Yes, I know Christmas is 2 days away) and have been pretty restless with Erik being away in Minnesota.

Will probably get a few things that I've had in mind tonight or Tuesday night. Been trying to get the apartment reorganized before Erik gets back, and was away for a couple of days visiting my brother and his family, so it hasn't left much room for gift shopping.

Other peoples gifts are going to have to wait because even if I bought them today, they wouldn't ship before Christmas anyways.

I never did manage to finish any of the handmade cards I meant to have done and out by Christmas. Will continue working on those and maybe they'll be New Years cards instead. People get too many Christmas cards anyway.

Erik's been having a really hard time dealing with family in Minnesota. His grandmother is very sick, and they are afraid that she will die very soon. It has been difficult for his mom and his grandfather the most. His grandfather has known her all her life, and it would be 60 years of marriage this coming August, and he is very much falling apart over this. Erik is afraid that his grandfather isn't going to live much past her once she's gone. It's been a trying time, and he has already lost so much independance over the past few years already.

I've been regretting not going up there with Erik, but I didn't want to give anyone the flu, especially someone so elderly and ill. There's also so many changes and stuff with work right now. We've been pretty much bought, for the most part, but it doesn' actually include my department so still more limbo in the work thing. If Erik has to go back soon, I'll be there for him, work issues or not.

I'm glad that Erik's play went really well, and that it will be going up for another weekend in January. Woo!

Went to see Danny and his family for a couple of days. They will be on a very needed vacation for a week or so. Danny has been having a really hard time with his business, which has now been dissolved and has left him planning to declare bankruptsy really soon for how much of the company's debt he's being held liable for. The whole family has been stressed but regardless of that, they have been doing rather well.

My 4 year old nephew was telling me about "bling bling" and was marching around the house playing "on strike" holding a sign made out of a scribbled piece of paper taped to a stick. My 9 year old niece is as smart as ever and is going to be a knock out when she gets older. They both really love their "Bed Bed Bed" book that I got them, with accompanying CD, all written by They Might Be Giants.

Watched a little bit of The Goonies on Saturday afternoon with the niece and nephew. I totally forgot that Sean Astin played little Mikey Walsh in that flick (the main kid, always using the inhaler) and all I could think of was "He's got to be brave, he's Sam dammit!"

I worked out a deal with my sister. I get her car the first week of March. I pay her for the car the end of the summer to pay for her trip back to Austrailia and possible help with wedding that she is hoping for. I think she's going to come back from her March trip engaged. I think it's pretty cool. And I am yet again trying to get some practice in and get my licence thing squared away. I've also been researching her particular make of car and a few things about maintenance for it. It's in fairly good shape and I want to make sure it stays that way.

Finally got all of the reviews done and turned in. We're supposed to be getting some sort of raises come January first. They're working with a weird combination of a base percentage plus a merit amount. Not sure how much total or for how long it will be around, but good news nonetheless.

Sigh. So much to do.

And people wonder why I didn't run a LARP game this month.