The Infamous Christmas Newsletter of 2004

There was about a three year period when my mother went through her "Yearly Christmas Newsletter" phase. I had thought I had blocked that little piece of history from my mind until today, when I was cleaning and came across an old box full of memories....and what is now known as "The Infamous Christmas Newsletter of 2004".

Sigh.

Little bit of background. I promise, just a little, just enough to keep you up to speed and the nightmares at bay.

I come from a blended family (much better this way). So the "characters" in this little story of mine (which also happens to be my life) are as follows.....although I suppose I should change names to protect the innocent.

Julia~ The Mother
Garret~ The Step Dad
John~ The Stepbrother (who later became my husband, and then my ex husband)
Amy~ The Stepsister
Karen~ My youngest sister
Carol~ The middle sister, and also the perfect one who can do no wrong.

Up to speed?

Soooooo, after reading FIVE pages of The Infamous Christmas Newsletter of 2004" about my mother and step dad (cruises, trips to NY, some kind of hunting fiasco they have going on in the south, and church functions)it was time to get to the "children" (which at this time, we were all safely in our 20's)

Jennifer (that's me)is living in WA State. Rumour has it there is a second grandchild, I have yet to seen pictures.

John is living in VA

Amy is also living somewhere in WA State, she does not talk to us, so we have no idea exactly where in WA State she is.

Karen is living with John in VA.

Carol continues to do an amazing job of raising my grand daughter. I am so proud of her,there is nothing I would not do for her. She has become an exceptional wife and mother, just as I always knew she would.

and there ya have it folks!

I decided on my next therapy session, I am just going to bring The Infamous Christmas Newsletter of 2004" and my therapist will

1. prescribe me some stronger meds

2. gently explain to me that I am a much harder case than originally anticipated and refer me to someone else

3. give me a refund, as, there is no hope for me.

Day 18 ~ 30 Day Photo Challenge

Day 18 - A picture of you when you were little.

Day 17 ~ 30 Day Photo Challenge

Day 17 - A picture of your biggest insecurity.


Enough said on this one too.

Day 16 ~ 30 Day Photo Challenge

Day 16 - A picture of the person you do the silliest things with

For those that do not know, this is my sister Carolyn. Even though we have not seen eachother in 5 years, and she has not met Sofia, and I have not met her youngest, we talk many times during the days/week. Even on the phone are antics are that reminiscent of something Lucy and Ethel would pull...or Lavene and Shirley....when you least expect it, we are always up to something!

Day 15 ~ 30 Day Photo Challenge

Day 15 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently.

Of course I had to use the cats for this one. This has been quite the journey, both cats not in the best of health,taking them to and from the vet, not knowing how much time Sam is going to last, seeing the family come together to do what needs to be done for the cats.

Day 14 ~ 30 Day Photo Challenge

Day 14 - A picture of someone who inspires you.

My friend Lisa and I are doing the 30 day picture challenge together, and I knew both of us would have the same picture for today. For those that do not know, this is my niece Alyssa. She was 6 yrs old when a car accident left her in a wheelchair. 13 operations, punk kids bullying her at ...school, moves across country more times than she cares to admit, she still keeps going, and going, and going. She is an inspiration not only to me, but everyone who has the pleassure of getting to know her. That's not to say that she does not have her moment.....after all, she is a 17 yr old teenager now, and well....you know how that goes!

Day 13 ~ 30 Day Photo Challenge

Day 13 - A picture of something you want to do before you die.

Write (publish) a book.

Day 12 ~ 30 Day Photo Challenge

Day 12 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without.

My siblings (and just so I do not get in trouble, one sister is missing from this pic) I was pregnant w/ Sofia, so lets see....this was in Dec 2006, five years since we have all been in the same room together....this must change people!!

Day 11 ~ 30 Day Photo Challenge

Day 11 - A picture of your favorite band or artist.

Impossible to narrow it down to just one band or artist, so I am going w/ an oldie but goodie. Skid Row, I was bound and determined to marry Sebastian, and names my favorite stuffed animals after the guys.

Day 10 ~ 30 Day Photo Challenge

Day 10 - A picture of something you love.

Bubble baths! Nothing is better after a long day of running around and dealing with the kids. Now...someone just needs to tell members in this house to leave me alone when I am in the bath!

Day 9 ~ 30 Day Photo Challenge

Day 9 - A picture of something you hate.


Enough said!!

Day 8 ~ 30 Day Photo Challenge

Day 8 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most.

I know I am cheating on this one too, but it is impossible for to pick one picture of someone who has gotten me through the most......so I posted a picture of vodka (and my blog title). Even though I met vodka later in life, we have been very close friends, he is always there w/ me while I vent,cry, laugh, to my friends and family. Here's to you vodka! Cheers!

Day 7 ~ 30 Day Photo Challenge

Day 7 - A picture that makes you laugh.

As you all should know by now Goodfellas is my all time favorite movie, so when my brother worked his magic and photo-shopped me into this picture, I thought it was the greatest thing ever. This picture makes me laugh,but in a good way.

Day 6 ~ 30 Day Photo Challenge

Day 6 - A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day

Even though there is not a person in this picture, there is a point...kind of. For a day, I would love to trade places w/ a theatre actress. Nothing fancy, I am even content w/ local theatre, but just for the day, I would love to be able to act on the stage.

Day 5 ~ 30 Day Photo Challenge

Day 5 - A picture of your favorite memory.

Doing things a little different w/ this one. It is IMPOSSIBLE for me to pick one picture of one memory. This picture I found randomly online a few years ago and represents a few of my favorite memories in one picture. First, the picture was taken in NY, I have many wonderful memories of Christ...mas in NY. Second, the snow, I love the snow and have many wonderful memories of snowman, cookies, hot chocolate and everything else that comes with it. The most chilling part of the picture, the man w/ the fedora and glasses next to the kid in the sled, is the spitting image of one of my grandfathers....spitting image. I have memory wonderful memories of both sets of my grandparents...so there ya go, I know I kinda cheated on this one, like I said before, it was just too hard to narrow it down to one memory.

Day 4 ~ 30 Day Photo Challenge

Day 4 - A picture of something you wish you could forget.

Chocolate and I have a love/hate relationship. Sometimes it would just be best if I could forget chocolate even existed.

Day 3 ~ 30 Day PhotoChallenge

A picture of the cast from your favorite show.

Day 2~ 30 Day Photo Challenge

Day 2 - A picture of you and a person you used to be close with.




This is Orca, Orca the evil scale. At one point, Orca the evil scale and I used to be very close, too close. I would see her three to four times a day. It was awful, yet at the time, I thought I needed her. Now, I am perfectly content visiting Orca just once a week. We work better that way....less is more and all that.

30 Day Photo Challenge

I am back from MIA. Was I missed or did anyone notice I was gone?

For the past month,as what happens to many of us bloggers, life took over and this blog was put on the back burner.

Also in the past month,I have a small side project that I am trying to get up and going.

I am not quite there yet and need a little more time. Because I do not want to forget about Vodka Calling, I decided to take the next 30 days and try out the 30 Day Photo Challenge that we have been seeing on Facebook.

I am going to post the steps if anyone is interested in doing them too. It looks like it could be fun.

Sooooooooo, here we go!

30 Day Photo Challenge

Day 1 - A picture of yourself with fifteen facts.
Day 2 - A picture of you and a person you used to be close with.
Day 3 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show.
Day 4 - A picture of something you wish you could forget.
Day 5 - A picture of your favorite memory.
Day 6 - A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day.
Day 7 - A picture that makes you laugh.
Day 8 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most.
Day 9 - A picture of something you hate.
Day 10 - A picture of something you love.
Day 11 - A picture of your favorite band or artist.
Day 12 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without.
Day 13 - A picture of something you want to do before you die.
Day 14 - A picture of someone who inspires you.
Day 15 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently.
Day 16 - A picture of the person you do the silliest things with
Day 17 - A picture of your biggest insecurity.
Day 18 - A picture of you when you were little.
Day 19- A picture of your most treasured item.
Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel.
Day 21 - A picture of your favorite night .
Day 22 - A picture of something you wish you were better at.
Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book.
Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change.
Day 25 - A picture of your favorite day.
Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you.
Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member.
Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of.
Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile.
Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss.

and now for my Day One

Post a picture of yourself with 15 facts.


1. Today, I am tired, and moody, and annoyed, and I feel fat.
2. I am hoping this 30 day photo challenge will help me with writers block.
3. Goodfellas is my number one favorite movie ever!
...4. I will stop whatever it is I am doing to watch I Love Lucy or Laverne & Shirley
5. coffee and vodka are my drinks of chocie, not together though, although w/ me, you never know.
6. If I could own a tiger, I would, here, in the apartment.
7. Sleep is very important to me, if I do not get enough of it, then everyone will feel the wrath of Jen.
8. Anyone remember that show The Brady Bunch? Well...I am Jan Brady.
9. Ralph Macchio was my first pretend boyfriend
10. burgers and fries are the best food ever.
11. I can read a book in a day, not get anything else done, but I can do it
12. I can also polish of a large pizza in one setting
13. I am constantly on a diet (see above)
14. September through December is my favorite time of year.
15. I am the crazy lady who still has my fall decorations up (see above)