Christmas Day

I can say without reservation that today was the nicest Christmas Day I have ever had as an adult.

Typically my Christmas Day would revolve around visiting various family and friends (all lovely and a wonderful time) but never really staying put in one place for any length of time. Since yesterday (C.E.) around 4 o'clock, I've been in Indy (Carmel, specifically) hanging out at Sister and Boy Wonder's house.

Some highlights from today:

Sister got Boy Wonder an ESPN Sports Center ornament that he absolutely loves. It plays the theme music and she didn't know it played music at all. This was played over and over as we opened gifts and became a source of great amusement.

Boy Wonder's Brother opened a gift today with the announcement: "I love it, what is it?" We have laughed over this repeatedly all day.

Sister received beautiful jewelry from Boy Wonder for Christmas.

Boy Wonder received Superman PJs which were promptly modeled for all.

Mom loved her computer. She hugged it about ten times at least.

I received a gift that is priceless beyond measure. Mom passed along to me her mom's cookbook, filled with her notes on various receipes and whatnot. I cried as I opened it, as the gift was marked from "Grandma Lemons" which has been 18 years since I received a gift from her (She passed 17 years ago, October). I still tear up thinking of it.

It was a wonderful day.

Tomorrow is more family and a trip to Target with CCM. Cannot wait to see her!

And So It Was Christmas.

Am back in Indy and thankful to be so. It isn't that I don't love my family (I do) but there are times, TIMES I say, that I think I have been dropped in from another planet or just plain adopted.

My Mom isn't the issue. She rarely ever is. I would say never, but we've had our moments over the years. Sometimes she's right, sometimes I am, and sometimes it is a draw.

I did receive some awesome gifts from my Sister and Mom. Then on the 26th, I braved the ice and snow to meet my friend Chuck for breakfast and stopped at a GameStop in Valpo in the hopes that I would find a Wii.

I found a Wii.

I bought a Wii.

I love my Wii.

Then it was GAME ON to find a Wii Fit, as I really wanted that too. So another trip to Michigan City and another stop at a GameStop and waa-laa, a Wii Fit!

So I'm in love with my Wii and Wii Fit. I can see myself in a help group at some point.

"Hello" (hello) "My name is Athena and I bought a Wii and Wii Fit. I am now an addict and powerless to stop."

In other news, the cats are glad I am home and have made themselves into velcro since I returned. I have not been over 6 feet away from either one of them since my return to Indy and right now, I have Cleo with her head lying on the laptop and Caesar on the couch right above my left shoulder with one paw on my left shoulder.

And finally, today I was busily getting ready for a meeting tonight when I heard a fire truck and ambulance. This isn't unusual given where I live, however, it *seemed* close. Then another, then another, then another .... all close, all with sirens ending soon after entering my neighborhood. Uh-oh.

Turns out that the condos across the street and one building down to my left had a fire. A rather decent fire too, as there were 11 fire trucks, two ambulances, one battalion chief-mobile and all three news crews here in moments. Fishers, Castleton and Lawrence Township Fire Departments all responded. After the fire was out, I wandered around with some cold Diet Coke and offered it up to the fire fighters. My driveway was blocked by fire trucks and assorted equipment and as such, I figured it couldn't hurt to offer up some goodies.

I could only think of my friend Jay of the Clay Township Fire Department in South Bend and sent hopes that those he serves think of him and his bretheren when there is a fire in their neighborhood.