One of the many joys around Christmas is regifting those questionable gifts received last year.  My worst gift last year is this little fella here.  I'm not saying that I did not appreciate the gift because I know it is the thought that counts.  However, this year, I'm looking forward to spreading the joy this gave me.  The main feeling I had was laughter, which did warm my heart... ;-) 

I've got a special person this is going to... Barb, who has spared no thoughts to give me dusty/dirty/broken and glued gifts over the past 13 years.  The last two years, my friend Sheri and I stopped spending our hard-earned money on gifts that Barb doesn't seem to appreciate and started giving her regifted items that she loves!  Go figure... I guess we should have figured this out a long time ago. 

I'm not being petty... really.  It's so funny to see Barb's eyes light up when she gets these silly gifts.  Sheri cannot wait to see this, as I've been saving it all year long. 

Christmas is really coming.  It's hard to believe, isn't it?!  Twenty-two days and counting.  

Over the weekend, I decorated for Christmas and my living room are all cheery now.  While I was going through my boxes of decorations, I found a box full of ornaments that I used to hang in my cubicle at work.  With last week's pickle post, I found something that goes right along with that... a pickle ornament!!  

I found this pickle ornament a few years ago in a store... yes, I was a perv back then too ... and I had to buy it.  It was such a surprise to find it.  I was playing with different settings to place this prize pickle ornament for the photo.  I got a winner when I set it on top of Mr. Snowman's piano.

Hmmm... do you think Mr. Snowman is jealous since he only has a carrot nose?  

Yeah... I had to ask.    

There is a legend behind said pickle ornament in Germany - an old one, but still, a tradition.  See HERE and read about the game of hiding the pickle... sounds like a fun game to me...

Wait... I've been playing it all my life... but haven't found it yet... but perhaps... soon.  *snicker*

Saturday night I had a weird dream about an ex-boyfriend (going back to May 2003), let's call him J.  I was in a long-distance relationship with him; but I use the term relationship loosely because I did most the work.  After 2.5 years, I finally met him on a long, planned layover (great play on words there) on my way to Boston on a business trip and to see my dear friends Colin & the Lovely D

It was great meeting him and there was a lot of chemistry, etc., but we decided it was too hard to do the long distance thing anymore, really it was him that decided he didn't want to put the extra work into it. I told him good-bye that weekend, which shocked him, but I wasn't going to keep putting all the work into even a friendship.

The following month, June of 2003 is when I had my DVT (blood clot in my leg) then in August, is when I decided I was taking control of my life and going back to school. He wrote me in September of that year and apologized for "treating me like shit" and added, "you treated me better than anyone ever has and I blew it." Yes, he blew it, but I told him that if it were meant to be, then it would have happened. I wasn't angry any more, my views of life changed. We kept in contact about once a month for a couple of years but then we stopped; mostly due to my schedule, I wasn't online much.

So - back to the dream. I don't remember many details now, but my overall feeling was that I needed to contact him to see if he was OK. Sunday night, I IM'd him via Yahoo and explained why I was contacting him. I asked him to email me to my phone and yesterday morning around 7am, he sent me a message. He was happy to hear from me and said that he sent me an IM a few days ago (I never got it). He said he wanted to talk again and to see what's going on with me.

We chatted a bit and it was really nice. He said he missed talking to me and that made me feel good. We always had a lot to talk about and made each other laugh a lot. He told me he was proud of me for getting my degree. He wants to but isn't quite ready and is worried about finances, which is understandable. He was also impressed that I am into photography and writing poetry and have the K&M website.

I know there won't be any romance develop but talking to him again feels good. He asked if I was "married off" and I had to laugh at that and I told him, "I don't have time for that serious of a relationship." I also don't know what will happen when I get my degree, I will have to go to where the jobs are if my company doesn't have anything for me locally. A lot is up in the air but I'm looking forward to what is in store for me.

I ran out of time to talk to him but look forward to hearing about his boys and more of what he's been up to.

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I spoke with Vickie last night and she said her mom is settled in the nursing home and is doing well there. She appreciates all your thoughts and prayers and asked me to thank you all since she won't be able to herself at this time. She's exhausted but sounded a lot better than she has been.

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I got another fun gift from Annie yesterday; a set of DVDs of the English show, "Waiting for God" which I love; it's so funny. There was also a sweet book on friendship that made me cry (good tears). Thank you, Sweetie! You're the best! Also, if you don't mind, drop by Annie's site and give her some hugs, she's having a hard time right now.

My new flash for my camera arrived too. (click to embiggen) I wish I had time to play with it but I needed sleep since I have to work today. Sometimes it sucks being a grown-up.

Today is my monthly Remicade treatment and I'm looking forward to watching a movie napping while I'm getting the treatment while sitting in a big, comfy recliner. The only thing missing is my PJ's.

Have a great day!