Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas Everybody. Faramir and Eowyn tried to capture Santa, but Precious sprung the trap when he drank the milk. And then, Santa walked in the door to tell Faramir he heard what he did to the Easter Bunny so he was lucky to get a present. (The ferrets set a trap for the Easter Bunny and while Faramir was negotiating for more chocolate eggs, Eowyn hid the Bunny's eggs in the closet) So now the cats and ferrets can rest in excitement because I won't let them open their Santa gifts until I wake up tomorrow morning. I got a call from a temp agency about a job possibility and the company will select the people they want next week. I hope I get picked. Crossing fingers. Well, Have a great Christmas. I will be celebrating with my Mom, Aunt, and sister's family.

Christmas Letter 2015

Merry Christmas to all my family and friends. Another year of college studies and hopefully be done next spring, my brain is exhausted. Slept in on New Year’s Day since my only job was my work study for an economics professor and no school for a couple more weeks. Went to the family Christmas at Mom’s retirement home banquet room. Did my civic jury duty for a civil lawsuit (yawn). Then back to work and taking 5 accounting classes, I want to graduate as quickly as possible. Then, took Mom to a lunch at a restaurant where my Dad’s cousins were getting together. Had a lovely chat with relatives I never see anymore, thank goodness for social websites. This year we celebrated ferrets Faramir’s and Eowyn’s 2nd birthdays and cats Precious’s and Frodo’s 9th birthdays with cake and canned tuna (ferrets love frosting, cats love tuna). Lost a lady fish Canace after a few months. Lost an old man fish Apollo after 5 years, my first baby fish. Lost another male fish Dionysis I had a year. Got another baby fish named Hades and an adult male fish named Pan. My girls Selene and Artemis love watching and flirting with the new boys. Little Hades is getting big now, but still smaller than the females. Had a March ice storm that covered the city is a sheet of ice. After skating my way to the car and watching my books fly down the sidewalk, I decided to email my professors and stayed home. Had to yell at the cats who wanted to nap on my bruised legs, poor babies. Winter ended watching the ferret-sized snow tunnels melt into water.

Spring came with hosting Easter dinner and egg hunt in my courtyard. Nephew actually won the most eggs for the first time to receive a movie. Niece #4 also got a movie, but Nephew chose his reward first. Got to speak at my professor’s Personal Finance class about life insurance. I won 2nd place in a college poetry contest, I never complain about winning $50. Began my internship at amusement park as Team Leader and learned more things to do. I actually got to tell people what to do. We celebrated my cousin’s daughter’s high school graduation. Took Mom and Sister #1 to the cemeteries to notice a flag at Dad’s tombstone for the first time. Someone must have noticed I put a flag on his stone every year to do that. My spring ended with the announcement that Niece #1 was pregnant. She is a busy woman planning a wedding for 2016, returning to school to get her Master’s degree, working her teacher job, and preparing for the baby. Had to tell the world I’m going to be a great-aunt. Spring ended with the end of the work study and beginning of my internship at amusement park.

Summer was blessed with a raise at the amusement park because of a labor shortage. Who would want to work for minimum wage when they can get more at the grocery or retail stores? I guess that means the Great Recession’s surplus of workers is over. Had 3 job interviews over the summer and received 3 rejection notices. Enjoyed a day at my amusement park with my Sister #2’s family and later took Niece #4 to the water park portion since Nephew refuses to get in the water anymore (had a scare the year before). Attended my cousin’s bridal shower with my Mom and later in the day enjoyed a Tesla/Def Leppard/Styx concert at the Iowa State Fair with Nephew and Brother-in-law. Summer ended with a new job as invoice verifier at healthcare company through a temp agency and beginning another semester of classes, 3 classes this time.

Autumn celebrated Nephew’s and Niece #4’s birthdays, 11th and 12th. They are getting so big I don’t know what to buy them anymore. I celebrated my 40th birthday at a local city park by a river with big bash on a very windy day. Cousin got married in Las Vegas and came home to celebrate a Halloween-themed reception complete with fireworks. Enjoyed the Science Center’s Star Wars family night with Sister #2's family by dressing up as an Episode 7 character and won a Star Wars poster. I won’t know if my character costume is a hero or villain until the movie comes out mid-December. My temporary job ended right before Thanksgiving. I keep sending out resumes. So far got 2 interviews and 2 rejections. Thanksgiving was at my brother’s and his fiancée’s new house. We got our first snowfall the week before and ferrets love jumping around in it. The autumn ended with Niece #1 giving birth to my great-niece.

Finishing up my final exams and decorating for Christmas. We will celebrate the Family Christmas at Mom’s retirement home banquet room again. Next year will be finishing my classes in hopes of a better paying job. Last semester, I promise.

So everyone have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.