When the Going gets Rough...

I have a dangerous vice: It's a combination of emotional eater and emotional shopper.  Throw a bad day together, and it's almost guaranteed that I am plopped on my couch, Internet shopping with a pizza on it's way, and a Dairy Queen in my hands.  Oh wait.. that just happened yesterday.  Kevin has probably lost count the number of times that I have shot out a desperate 5pm email that reads, "Pick up pizza, and you better get me chocolate if you want to survive the night."  Love notes, I like to get them, and I like to give them. 

Yes, I'm surprised that at this point, with four children that I'm not filing for bankruptcy in my fat pants.  But somehow I guess there have been more good days than bad, and a treadmill in the basement that gives me guilty looks if it is not used every couple of days.  So even though I am currently licking my lips from finishing off my Pecan Cluster Turtle blizzard, with added chocolate chips because it just wasn't chocolaty enough for me (rough day at Meijer with kids, people).. I'm trying to remind myself that life is good, and the bad days (or moments) will probably be followed by some great ones.  At least I hope.  For now I'm just going to stay away from the grocery store for a few days, and try to hide the chocolate chips.  That should allow me to fit into the new jeans that I just bought.

"It's The Economy, Stupid"

To quote James Carville, "It's the economy, stupid."  I'm ready to accept the idea that the economy (or lack there-of) may be the reason behind my currently blank fridge doors this year.  But I'm not willing to go down without a fight.  Usually by this time, in early December, our fridge is starting to fill up with Christmas cards from friends and family telling me to "Have a Merry Christmas," with their perfectly placed children and coordinating outfits. 

However, this year, my own card accounts for 1/4th of the participants. (I like to keep a copy for memories sake).   So I ask... What's the deal?  Did we fall off the cool train and land somewhere between, "No one remembers us"... or "Mitchell who?"  I'm hoping not.  But I think everyone can admit that just like we detect how liked we are by how many facebook comments we get per post..(you know you do), so too do we associate the level of year end friendships by the number of cards on our fridge.  And so far, by the ratio of forty cards sent out compared to the three we have received.. I'm beginning to wonder if there is a message that we just haven't "gotten" yet. 

So if you have some extras this year, send one to us.  It will make my fridge happy, and it will definitely put a little bit more Merry in my step.  Nothing says "We have friends" like staring at you all while I reach for my yogurt.  Merry Christmas!