It's time for my annual post discussing how I need to work broccoli and brussel sprouts back into my diet. Ugh. I don't think I've had a green vegetable since December 20. That is when Jack and I officially kicked off our holiday season. I wouldn't really care about the veggies but even my Adidas pants are getting tight. It's never a good sign when your elastic-waisted pants hurt you!!
It was a wonderful holiday season. I know it's not technically over, but since Jack and I are working tomorrow, it feels like a Sunday afternoon. But tomorrow's Friday! A gentle re-entry to work.
Thinking back over it, everything went so fast. Christmas was a week ago and it feels like it was 2-3 weeks ago. I worked half the day on Christmas Eve (I gave my management team the day off but the hospital was crazy busy and I felt like I had to make a cameo). I achieved a milestone on Christmas Eve - a milestone made of miracles and dreams for me. I got caught up.
Like, done.
Like, was hanging out with employees and my assistant because I was bored with nothing else to do. My email box was at 4. My infamous to-do list had 3 items on it (down from nearly 100 in late summer). My 12 inches' worth of filing was done. I could have been wiped off the earth and wouldn't have left my successor any homework.
It was the best gift I could have ever given myself. I felt accomplished, competent. I had complete control of my massive service line. But on the other side of that coin, knowing I CAN get to a feeling of caught-upedness, I will expect myself to retain that success. Yeah, riiiiight. I'm trying to let go of that mirage before I drive myself back into therapy.
Kidding. Sort of.
So I came home from work that day and we kicked off Family Christmas 2014. Our family traveled to Indy because I was the on-call administrator for several days and couldn't leave. We baked and frosted cookies, attended Christmas mass, helped Jack create an Italian feast (you're supposed to prepare 7 kinds of fish on Christmas Eve), and enjoyed a gift exchange that we think went on for 5 hours. Christmas Day, we schlumped around watching classic family movies like "The Christmas Story" and "Elf." It's just not Christmas if we don't watch both movies at least five times. Oh, and "Home Alone."
My family members can all recite the lines to the Home Alone movie "Angels with Filthy Souls" verbatim. "Who is it?" "It's me, Snakes. I got the stuff."
Don't you wish you were cool like we are? Ha!
The traditional Polish trappings ensnared us on Christmas Day. Turkey and sausage, cheesy potatoes, GBC, etc. You know, the fat-free, heart-healthy stuff.
The day after Christmas, we hit the annual Hobby Lobby after-Christmas sales. For $50, I am completely stocked for next Christmas. Wrap, bags, tissue, tags, and even 100 Christmas cards. My neuroses kick into a frenzy if I don't have everything for next Christmas by the previous New Year's. It's my OCD. Obsessive Christmas Disorder. Add in a quick trip to Margaritaville and we were ready for another round of movies and naps.
How much can a person possibly nap? I left a "Dorrie-shaped" imprint on our couch as I barely budged between Saturday night and Monday afternoon. Every year, I seem to need two full days of sleep to recover from Christmas. It's not just the heavy food and booze but I put a lot of pressure on myself to achieve Christmas perfection. Perfect gifts, wrap, decor, and even linens. When we are hosting holidays, add the pressure of perfect food. No one really remembers the "perfect" holiday food but everyone remembers that one year you made the crappy ham that made Dad sick!
I lovingly refer to this 48 hour hibernation as my "holiday hangover." But I was off work and thoroughly relished my sloth-like behavior.
On Tuesday afternoon, we headed up I-65 to Chicago to ring in the New Year with our dear friends. Any time the four of us are together, it's a party. Even if we're sitting around in sweatpants drinking Bailey's-spiked coffee.
It's always a party. We're actually going to Italy with them in October (on pilgrimage). While I can't wait, I'm not sure how the Italian atmosphere will affect our friendship. I mean, we already share massive amounts of antipasto, salami, cheese, and wine.
It was another great New Year's Eve. New Year's is so emotional for me and usually difficult. The gauntlet of emotions between sadness that another year is over and blessings that another year, a clean slate, is about to begin. I think I'm somewhat autistic on New Year's; I'm acutely aware of the passage of time.
But we just returned home from Chicago and are settled back in our house. I packed away most of the Christmas clutter and left our tree and lighted mantle garland intact I just can't part with the white Christmas lights yet. I even logged into work email on the drive home and I only had 100 emails from Christmas Eve. While it's not 4, when I take a week off during other parts of the year, I have 1000. I'm not a huge fan of "staycations" where I take time off without at least visiting a beach - but it was an ideal, restful time.
I'm ready to go back to work tomorrrow. I'm ready for normalcy. I'm ready for broccoli!
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