Another Christmas and I am still glad I gave up all that commercial hype.

     I do get it that a lot of people enjoy the season, and that merchants and their suppliers depend on this huge spending frenzy to help keep in the black.  But it is ok if some of us choose to not play, that does not mean we do not believe in God, or that we do not have faith, but, really, a long list of pagan rituals dressed up for church reasons and commercial reasons do not have to center my life.

     I don't have depression problems, or anger issues, I just don't want to play the game, just do not need that gift giving, that money spending or that guilt tripping.

    Instead, here the meal is in the slow cooker, some progress on the drywall work in my attic area will get done and I will very gladly work for overtime tomorrow and not complain about 2 paid days off, and overtime on a Saturday.

     My old truck has major transmission problems, which will cost a very big bucket of money to fix, but the fix is a better choice than a vehicle change at this time.  It is parked at the shop, a key and note in the box for my awesome mechanic, and I will stop in after work Monday to see what the costs will be and the time frame.  In the meantime, son Jake has lent me his jeep so I have transportation and will be fine.

     We have had a mild winter so far, and hopefully son Ben and I will make good progress on the attic work today as I know we are expecting colder temps and winds, so having that area drywalled will really help.  It will be several weeks before I have my sewing corner set back up, but it will get done, and a friend gifted me with 10 feet of good countertop so I will be building in a great sewing table with some storage beneath and able to set up and use several machines without a battle.

     I think I can still go ahead with the plans to have a small building built for my wood working tools, winter storage for the scooter and Rebel but no space for anyone else to rent or otherwise get me to store any of their things here.  I have too much stuff belonging to my sons as it is now.  I am not the free storage place and I will not become that.

     The ownership change at the plant is starting to show in small ways, we better ship up and do what jobs we are paid for or be walking out the door.  I am glad. I never had bad work habits, and at my advanced age, I sure will not be gaining them.  And taking the job bid to boxing stomaches was a good choice for me, and if offered the set up before we start, I will take that overtime.  

     The truck having major and very costly transmission problems has changed my position on any overtime offered, I will take it and be very glad for it, this will change my plans some, will put me back in debt more than I had hoped, and I will not be making the progress with debt pay down I had expected or planned to be making.

     But my sewing space work will be on the budget and we will keep working at the labor part until it is done and my sewing space set back up, cleaner, better organized and more energy efficient than it has been.

     I know how to roll with most of the ups and downs life has, and how to find another working game plan, what to push, pull or just set aside.  So I will be ok, will manage and will be putting more of my tax refund into debt pay down than I had planned but it will work out.  

     And I have loads of fabrics and yarns to play with so have plenty of entertainment here at home, plenty of dolls to sew for and will be fine.