Post Post

A post-Thanksgiving post....

Quiet day on the homestead. Other than the steady hum of the always (seemingly) running dishwasher today, it's been peaceful.

B. had friends over last night and he apparently slept on the couch most of the night. No idea why. I got up just after 7 and started working on the kitchen around 8. In spite of running the dishwasher four times yesterday, there were still three loads to go. The roasting pan and rack take up pretty much one load - and then we used our fine china for dinner so that's another load. I didn't hold back and puttered and cleaned away - and he slept through it all. He's off until Sunday and he's enjoying his 'leisure' time.

I worked on work stuff and got stuff done. The weekend is almost over and the massive pile of stuff I need to get done is not decreasing all that much. But I resisted the urge to think 'there's always tomorrow' and buckled down and got some stuff done - love working remotely whenever possible. More tomorrow - and more tonight, too. Steady work over the next two days will make my week go more smoothly. Still much to do - and so many meetings. Only three weeks left before Christmas break! Sort of a 'yeah' and a 'holy crap!' blended together.

No shopping today. I've crossed another couple gifts off my list via Internet shopping. Might (MIGHT) go to Target tomorrow or Sunday just for a treat -

We will decorate next weekend, hopefully.

I have no idea what we're going to give the kids for Christmas. Here's the thing - and I could use advice/thoughts so please add a comment. Or email me. The boys owe us a fortune (each). H. owes us close to $700 for tickets. B. owes us hundreds for car insurance - he never seems to have the $ at the first of the month. So our usual 'scavenger hunt' seems like a waste of $ - giving them money when they owe us money.

So we are considering proceeding as usual - they will have clues and envelopes with their names - and after they return to the family room to count their loot, we are considering presenting them each with a detailed 'statement' of what they owe. And then either a) take the money back towards their debt or b) let them decide how much of their obligation they want to pay back.

I know it's the 'right' thing to do - but it feels horrible. Still, I don't know what else to do. We are shelling out $500 a month for car insurance - and $300 of that is supposed to be covered by the boys - but it's rarely covered. And H.'s tickets have to be paid - and he has no money. So we have to pay them for him.

I always want Christmas to be magical. And it seems so Scrooge like to take all their 'gift' money back towards their debts. But then it seems so stupid to be giving them MORE money.

I don't know what to do. And there's nothing they need or want that can go under the tree as a 'substitute'. Oh - Hunter wants cable TV (with a new TV, of course) in his bedroom - but I am refusing to do that. No way. We're not adding additional monthly outgo for that. No way.

I feel guilty even writing this 'cuz we are so, so blessed....but it's really bothering me.

Maybe the answer is: they both have non-liquid savings (stock) that they can cash in. It's for college - but it's theirs. They could use some of that to pay off their debts and add a little to their savings accounts. Then their gift money can really be gift money?

Their only request is a trip to San Fran which we will definitely do sometime during our two week break.

Back to work. It's nice to just move from the study to the dining room and get stuff done.