and I almost slipped into a bit of melancholy today - I had hoped to take vacation time for two weeks to spend mostly at home enjoying my kids, our home, my Christmas tree, the whole nine yards....well I have to work some next week and maybe the following week which sort of chops up my time so that’s yuck.  Last night I went to a work event in DC and valet parked my car - got it back with a major smash on the right front fender and axle or suspension damage or both or maybe they‘re the same thing - whatever - it wasn’t drive-able.  Despite the economy being a downer I’m spending money I don’t have (yes using the credit cards) to pay for Christmas like I always do and work my buns off to pay it off and hope for a little bonus money here and there to keep it from getting out of hand....spent a nice chunk of change at the wine shop on my way to the work event - and had huge buyer’s remorse once the car thing happened because I’ll be shelling out more dough for a rental car while mine is in the shop - hopefully I will be successful at getting the establishment who hired the valets who couldn’t drive to pay for anything not covered by insurance - but still - I handed over the old credit card yet again when I picked up the rental.  Apparently it’s not all that uncommon for valet parking dudes to smash up cars...dummy me - now I know why guys hate to valet park their vehicles.....But thank God I am safe, I got home safely maybe an hour later than I would have...yes only an hour - how I pulled that off is another story but it didn’t involve anything illicit just my guardian angel looking out for me!  Although I haven’t had any work to do at work I think that changed as of today but it was ok for me to take today off to get the car repair squared away and pick up the rental.....so then I got an invite for a work meeting on Monday morning - the 22nd - and I had been hoping against hope that I really truly would not have to go to the office on the 22nd and 23rd.  Apparently I have to go at least on Monday.  So I’m fighting the urge to throw a pity party for myself and moving on with holiday preparations - this afternoon I finished off the prep work for a craft project for my son’s first day class - to do at their holiday party on Friday afternoon - then put candy into goody bags for the class - as my contribution to their party.  Last year I was able to be at nearly every class party but not this year.  I’m ok with that but still want to contribute.  My kids are not at the age where they can appreciate all that goes in to making a nice holiday for them - can’t fault them for that - part of the innocence I guess and I really don’t want to take that away just wish they wouldn’t act really UNappreciative at all the worst moments.  But they are my blessings, the greatest blessings in my life.  My son was born Dec 13 2001 and was the greatest Christmas gift ever and this year for his birthday I told him so.  So the 5 or 6 varieties of cookies I used to bake won’t get done this year - I bought some holiday cookies and we had them for dessert tonight - and I’m hoping to make the homemade pierogi but if it doesn’t get done, oh well (I really want to make them this year though as I promised a few people that if I made them I’d share).  Writing this all down re-inforces for me that it’s the right thing to do to just take things one day at a time, live in the now (have you read Tolle’s “The Power of Now“? - you should it’s fabulous) and be thankful for the blessings I have - my family and our happy home....messy as it can get - we love our home!  Good night!