Well, quite a bit to catch up on.  A crisis was averted at Casa Vasa.  Hubby found a Tofurkey just in time for Thanksgiving.   We would have been up a creek if we had none.  I spent nearly all Thanksgiving chasing my nephew around my parents' house.  I am still sore four days later.  I caught up on the lack of kiddie time by seeing them three days in a row this weekend.  I made sure all projects were graded and posted before the holiday weekend.  (I am a firm believer in taking time off for the holidays.  I work enough the rest of the time.)

So I was going to try to help with a vacant store display in my town on Wednesday.  My friend was going to help too.  But...  snow came.  Some schools called the day.  We did not.  Smart move.  It would have been a waste of a snow day.  Getting home was a cinch.  Everyone - surprisingly - drove carefully on my way home.  That never happens.  Ever....  I have the commute from hell.  We were also supposed to go out that night but the weather nixed that.  Very bummed about it.  But Friday was still on, so that was good.  I might also be a bit sore from that too.

I will say, it never ceases to amaze me how much some people can just let go and drink themselves into oblivion.  I have never understood the mindset behind drinking to get drunk.  I like to remember the good times, not black out.  I know for some people, alcoholism is a sickness, and I am not thinking of that.  I am thinking of the sloppy, raucous, high school/college mentality.  The money they waste.  The horrible behavior we sober people have to put up with.  And most of what they drink tastes like garbage.  Of course, this is coming from a person who grew up learning that a drink was to be savored and appreciated.  (Mother is Italian)  One glass of wine, and that is it.  But jeez...  Some people.  I have stopped going out with certain people because I just do not want to be around that behavior anymore.  I socialized with them for the sake of being nice, but it just is not working.  My true friends do not belittle me for not getting drunk, do not get loud and obnoxious in public, do not do cringe inducing dances to bad music, are not judgmental because I like to behave a certain way.  I have whittled down my social group considerably and I feel so much better.

I am constantly telling my students how I live my life with regards to drinking.  Not to lecture, but to let them know that it is possible to have fun and be sober.  I usually start with "I think I am a pretty cool person who is fun to hang out with...." and I get a smirk most of the time.  Some kids nod in agreement about staying sober...  Most kiss my butt by lying to me.  I might start using the money angle...  "If beer costs this much, and you spend that every week for parties, multiply it by 52.  That's what you have wasted each year."  I do that with the kids who smoke.  I let them know that with the amount of money they puff away, I buy a round trip ticket to Europe each year.  Ha!

Now... on to Christmas.  I do not partake in the Black Friday propaganda bs.  I support small, mom and pop businesses if I buy gifts.  I shop as I see things instead of lining up like a lemming outside some big box store.  I have always wanted to make things for people, but never had the time.  So I am going to try to make something for the niece and nephew this year.  My grandmother used to knit and crochet.  When she died, she left behind a lot of supplies.  I used to crochet when I was little.  I am going to try to make the kiddies scarves this year.  I got the needles out and practiced some different stitches earlier today.  I was surprised with how well I did and that I was even able to understand the directions.  They have always seemed like gibberish to me.  But I did okay.  It might also help my hands.  My doctor told me I have arthritis in my wrists and right pointer finger.  (Yeah, it looks like a man's finger) It seems to be creeping into other fingers on both hands.  The stiffness is increasing and I have been getting really sharp pains in my right hand.  I remember that my grandma was supposed to start crocheting and knitting again to help her arthritis, so I am giving it a go.  I also like using her needles, yarn, and books.  Knitting is a whole other beast and I am left handed, so it will be crocheting for the time being.