Wednesday 12 December 2007

Bah Humbug

I got tagged by Queeny, oh about a million years ago. Sorry it's taken me so long to pass this along, Queeny.

Here it is:

When you get tagged, you have to add your name next to the person who tagged you and by doing so you are letting the list grow.

Limadang.com
RamblingMoo.com
blogginginmypyjamas
StylewithPassion
Chinneeq
Dora-zooropazoo
Babyshern
HiPnCooLMoMMa
Rachel’s Soulful Thoughts
When Silence Speaks
Dancing in Midlife Tune
Underneath it All
I am Dzoi
Hobbies and Such
moms.....check nyo
Queeny
wakeupandsmellthecoffee


Now, I'm going to pass this on to some more of you: annie, kaycie, laurie, the rotten correspondent. It's easy enough, and requires absolutely no soul-searching whatsoever.

Onto other matters, here's another list:

Number of Christmas cards I've written: 0

Number of presents I've bought for family in the UK: 2

Number of presents I've bought for family in the UK that I have to take back: 1

Number of times I've heard "Merry Christmas Everybody" by Slade this year: 2002

Number of mince pies I've eaten: 2

Number of mince pies I've wanted to eat: 0

Number of times I've felt in the "Christmas spirit": 0

Number of times I've felt like throttling someone in the past week: 10

Number of people I've felt like throttling: 10

I'm sorry. I'm just not in the Christmas spirit and people like Martyr, who came round to my house the other night to discuss the narrative for the 12 Days of Christmas for our church's crib service, just incense me.

According to Martyr, she has singlehandedly produced our crib service for about the last 9 years. For at least 4 years I know I've played a significant role in helping her. But she fails to acknowledge this, and goes on and on and on about how no one ever helps her, blahdeblahdeblah. She also keeps saying how her children would much rather attend another church in our village, which has trained youth workers. I'm thinking, why don't you go there too then.

Anyway, this year the older kids and I came up with our own version of what the 12 Days of Christmas represent. I went through it with Martyr and the other woman who is "producing" the crib service. Martyr sighed and kept saying, "Why did you say that?" "What does that mean?" "I think it should be this." Finally, in frustration, I said, "I don't know why I've bothered doing anything for this if you've already made up your mind as to what it should be." With that, she backed down completely. She even backed off having her son, who attends the other church now, be a narrator.

I feel guilty for being pissed off about this. It's a crib service. We're supposed to be celebrating Jesus' birth. We're doing it for the people of our community. But people like Martyr just suck all the joy out of me. She also had a great big moan about the school my son and two of her sons attend. It's an awful school, according to her. Well, we've had a different experience. In fact, I'd say this school has been the best thing to happen to my son.

Recently, there was a meningitis scare at the school. Two Sixth Formers (17, 18-year-olds) got it. A third went to the hospital with similar symptoms, but because the lumbar puncture failed, they couldn't say it was meningitis. They gave the girl antibiotics and by the time they could do a lumbar, there were no meningitis markers. The school never came out and said this was a third case, nor did they say it was a suspected third case. Martyr thinks the school was irresponsible. I don't. I think they were trying to avoid a mass panic. Also, the decision-making was actually out of their hands. It was up the the Health Authority to decide what to do at this point. Needless to say, Martyr and I disagree.

I've known Martyr for 11 years. We've been almost-friends for that time. Now I can see clearly why we will never be friends. She just bugs the shit out of me. Nuff said.

Number of pain killers I've taken for my shoulder pain: lots

Number of pain killers that have worked: zero

Number of times I've felt panicked about Christmas this year: 20

Oh, I'll just go take a Valium and maybe it will all go away.

Just kidding!

14 comments:

softinthehead said...

First of all I'm jealous about Cranford, it'll be ages till we get it here in Canada and I love that stuff! I know exactly what you mean about Christmas spirit, somehow the commercialism over the years has taken all the joy out of it. I try just to look forward to the actual day, but all the stress of presents, food etc etc gets in the way. Although I must say my list would look a little healthier than yours. Hope the pain gets easier soon. Loving your blog.

Kim said...

I know exactly what you mean. I am so not in the holiday mood.

I want a valium, too, please.

wakeupandsmellthecoffee said...

Hey softinthehead, welcome to my blog. See if you can buy the book Cranford. I tried to get it for my stepmother from Amazon but they only had second-hand copies for $30! I MUST go write these cards.

kaycie: I have a stash I use only in dire emergencies, like when I've done my back in and can't walk. I took one the other night though when my shoulder was killing me and it helped not at all.

laurie said...

i took a muscle relaxant last night because my left shoulder and my neck were freezing up and i was developing a terrible crushing headache. from stress, i think.

the problem is it takes a long time for drugs like that to leave my body.

when i got to work this morning i was woozy until noon.

what's the purpose of this tag? just to get people's names out there?

Flowerpot said...

I would have killed martyr by now - think you're amazing not to have. and no I'm not in the Christmassy mood either. What's happening about your shuolder? Can you get some physio or something?

debio said...

Get thee to an osteopath.....they work wonders. Painkillers never seem to work for this type of pain.

No solution to the pain of Christmas and, Lord knows, we none of us need any mortal martyrs at this time of the year!

Anonymous said...

Oh you poor thing. I am so in the Christmas spirit and wish I could come to your and wave my fairy magic over your house!! Sounds like your friend has sapped the spirit out of you at the moment but you're a great person so just tell her to Bugger Off.

Take care of yourself.
Crystal xx

Keeping It Real said...

Number of times I've nodded in agreement while reading this post? Too many.

I'm also not feeling very Xmassy. Despite my best efforts, I'm feeling rushed, and I still have a party to organize -- it's two days away and I've done nearly squat to prepare. Arrrrgggghhhh!

You can bet I'll be in the Xmas spirit(s) on party night. Best to you.

Fire Byrd said...

the world seems to be divided, those that are not into the Christmas thing yet and those that are... And I'm just all over the place with excitment about everything even Slade.
So maybe I need the valium to calm me down!!
pxx

the rotten correspondent said...

Can't we all just have Crystal come to our place and get us in the spirit? She's on a roll and the rest of us just...aren't.

DJ Kirkby said...

I've tagged you hon. xoxo

Teresa said...

I AM in the Christmas spirit. In fact, today I'm heading into my kitchen to bake Christmas cookies. Wish you smell the warm gingerbread wafting from the oven and see all the frosting and glittery decor adorning my counter; maybe that would help. But can I ever relate to having a 'so called' friend like martyr. I've been working with one of those for 14 years! If I was paid a dime for the times she has said, "You should..." I would be able to retire today.

lady macleod said...

Oh poor dear. Instead of you-know-what holiday, I'm thinking you need to celebrate Kali. She is a kick-ass goddess from Northern India who wears a necklace of skulls - enough said? Chin up lass, there's always All Hallows Eve....

wakeupandsmellthecoffee said...

laurie: I'm always wary of muscle relaxants for that reason. I hope you feel better now. I think the tag is just to see how many names we can add to the list.

flowerpot: I think I might kill Martyr tomorrow if she even looks at me cross-eyed.

debio: I've always gone the physio route for my ailments, but I've heard good things about osteos so might give it a try. The pain has eased off a bit.

CJ: Thank you. I will tell her.

Pixie: You've got a great New Year to look forward to so no wonder you're so happy. I just have the same old, same old, but I'll snap out of it. I hope.

Queeny: I hope your party went all right. I'm sure it did.

RC: I know. We need Crystal to spread some fairy dust on us.

teresa: Welcome to my blog. Ummmmm, gingerbread. I can smell it now.

Lady M: I think it's all the expectations of Christmas -- my own as well as others -- that gets me down.