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Saturday, December 27
Dec. 27th, 2003 01:08 pmWe got rather a late start Saturday, leaving the house around 9:30 to surprise Pam and Maalac with a visit. I say surprise...that's not really correct, as they knew we were in town, but we hadn't made specific plans with them. It was wonderful to spend time with them, and we talked as if we had never been gone...largely about games and funny stories from work. We did lament not being able to play a round of Mechwarrior with him. They seemed to enjoy their gifts: Habanero jelly, a disc of mods for Morrowind, a dolphin sculpture, and some chocolates from Braum's. They gave us a lovely throw with a snowman on it.
Neither one could believe how different I look now. Maalac said I am really beautiful now, because 'the outside matches the inside'. He noted my (years long) struggle with finding myself and was especially pleased with that progress. ^_^
They said how much they miss us, and Pam mentioned how few and far between real friends are for them, because of odd interests. Of course, Maalac is just insane, so for him to find someone who'll accept him for who he is is a huge deal. I can completely empathize with that. They really wish we'd move back to the area, I think more even than Mom, Dad, and the boys.
We were unfortunately forced to leave, because Maalac had to get ready for work, and time simply didn't stop for us. It was a quick goodbye, but we were sad to go, since we'd be leaving the next day and didn't know when we'd get to see them again. I have to admit to crying a bit over it. They've always been our best friends, and I really don't want to leave. Even +Kyle said, "As much as I hate Alabama, I really miss them." I wonder if he misses everyone badly enough to come back. It all depends on work, when it comes down to it, though.
Mom and Dad both keep saying, "when you come back" like it's a sure thing that we'll be back in May. I can't help but feel annoyed about that, even though I *would* like to be closer to everyone. It's just too hard to have to wait a year between seeing people, and then for only a couple of days. But even so, we've said from the beginning that we don't know what's coming next for us. We don't know where we're going to end up. It would be nice to be closer to everyone, but what if that doesn't happen? Maybe I'm just annoyed because it's too much like everyone getting their hopes up for something that may or may not be. Maybe I'm afraid to get my own hopes up.
So anyway, after we left P&M's house, Ian, +Kyle & I went to Decatur. +Kyle was going to have an interview at JC's Guns and Tackle, but something came up...
When +Kyle called Mr. Vaughn, he said that it wouldn't be a good time to come by, because of the post-holiday rush. They were really backed up at the store, but he still wanted to talk to +Kyle and see his work so far. Could he come by on Tuesday? +Kyle said he thought that could be arranged, as we had already talked about what was going on. Before we ever left, I told +Kyle that if, for some reason he couldn't get in touch with whoever he needed to talk to during my alloted time off, we would stay until he could. Family emergency. Well, it happened, and I stand by that decision. I have no qualms about it whatsoever. +Kyle is a little nervous now, but for the first time in a long time, I have made a decision and it's solid. I know that I know that I know that it's the right thing to do. Whether I'll have a job to come back to next week, I don't know, and frankly don't care. It's only four and a half months till +Kyle graduates. I'll work at McDonald's if I have to.
We hassled Maalac at work, and told him what was going on, inviting him to that round of Mechwarrior. We'll play Monday morning. Yatta!
We then went to Decatur Mall - Ian and I were going to DDR as we've planned to for months, but their bloody machine was out of commission! We didn't have time to play in Huntsville on Friday night, and now this. Bah. We bummed around, and Ian spent money he doesn't have. LOL! I found a copy of Gothic II for only $20, and since +Kyle was responsible and said we really couldn't do it right now, Ian picked it up. :P My brother is just wrong, but I guess it's a kind of therapy for him. He really hates his job right now, too.
Ian also had to pick up something for Dirty Santa for our family Christmas party. Well, he didn't really *have* to, but he was insistent. He got a rubber spider and a "Mystery Date" game keychain from the Mart of Wal. What a combination. LOL! We giggled immensely over the concept.
The family Christmas party was starting between 5:00 and 5:30. We got there at 6:00, because I had to wrap our stuff, and we really needed to let Washu out, and get her ready to take with us so Leslie and Kim (our cousins) could meet her as well. Oh well, we were late, but Zack (another cousin) was later. LOL! It was great to see everyone. I have a new nickname, "Teeny". Hey, I really *am* Justine now! :) Zack is really looking good. He's been clean for awhile now, and we're all really proud of him.
Dinner was oiishi... Frank is the king of fried turkey. ^_^ Yum!
Dirty Santa was a blast - much better this year, as there was no Gas-X in the mix of 'lame' presents. There were some really good ones, too. Somehow, I wound up being the one from whom everyone wanted to steal. I had my eye on a backpack, but Leslie got it. There was a cooler thing for sodas or whatever, and Zack got that. I took a DVD from Uncle Mark just to be a butt, and he coerced daughter Jenna to get it back for him. LOL! I wound up with a hilarious fake cellphone. The box is too much fun. I'll scan it and share the joy at some point. I may try to eBay it, but probably not...it really is a great gag. +Kyle got Crows, which are licorice Dots. No one tried to steal from him, which was just fine, because he loves licorice. Blech! No kiss for you, +Kyle! ;)
After that, Peggy was ready to go back to her hotel, since she'd be leaving around 5:30 Sunday morning. She enjoyed being around everyone, and I think I managed to convince her that our family is her family, too. She really doesn't have anyone up in Virginia. We took her and her car to the hotel, since she doesn't drive after dark.
Neither one could believe how different I look now. Maalac said I am really beautiful now, because 'the outside matches the inside'. He noted my (years long) struggle with finding myself and was especially pleased with that progress. ^_^
They said how much they miss us, and Pam mentioned how few and far between real friends are for them, because of odd interests. Of course, Maalac is just insane, so for him to find someone who'll accept him for who he is is a huge deal. I can completely empathize with that. They really wish we'd move back to the area, I think more even than Mom, Dad, and the boys.
We were unfortunately forced to leave, because Maalac had to get ready for work, and time simply didn't stop for us. It was a quick goodbye, but we were sad to go, since we'd be leaving the next day and didn't know when we'd get to see them again. I have to admit to crying a bit over it. They've always been our best friends, and I really don't want to leave. Even +Kyle said, "As much as I hate Alabama, I really miss them." I wonder if he misses everyone badly enough to come back. It all depends on work, when it comes down to it, though.
Mom and Dad both keep saying, "when you come back" like it's a sure thing that we'll be back in May. I can't help but feel annoyed about that, even though I *would* like to be closer to everyone. It's just too hard to have to wait a year between seeing people, and then for only a couple of days. But even so, we've said from the beginning that we don't know what's coming next for us. We don't know where we're going to end up. It would be nice to be closer to everyone, but what if that doesn't happen? Maybe I'm just annoyed because it's too much like everyone getting their hopes up for something that may or may not be. Maybe I'm afraid to get my own hopes up.
So anyway, after we left P&M's house, Ian, +Kyle & I went to Decatur. +Kyle was going to have an interview at JC's Guns and Tackle, but something came up...
When +Kyle called Mr. Vaughn, he said that it wouldn't be a good time to come by, because of the post-holiday rush. They were really backed up at the store, but he still wanted to talk to +Kyle and see his work so far. Could he come by on Tuesday? +Kyle said he thought that could be arranged, as we had already talked about what was going on. Before we ever left, I told +Kyle that if, for some reason he couldn't get in touch with whoever he needed to talk to during my alloted time off, we would stay until he could. Family emergency. Well, it happened, and I stand by that decision. I have no qualms about it whatsoever. +Kyle is a little nervous now, but for the first time in a long time, I have made a decision and it's solid. I know that I know that I know that it's the right thing to do. Whether I'll have a job to come back to next week, I don't know, and frankly don't care. It's only four and a half months till +Kyle graduates. I'll work at McDonald's if I have to.
We hassled Maalac at work, and told him what was going on, inviting him to that round of Mechwarrior. We'll play Monday morning. Yatta!
We then went to Decatur Mall - Ian and I were going to DDR as we've planned to for months, but their bloody machine was out of commission! We didn't have time to play in Huntsville on Friday night, and now this. Bah. We bummed around, and Ian spent money he doesn't have. LOL! I found a copy of Gothic II for only $20, and since +Kyle was responsible and said we really couldn't do it right now, Ian picked it up. :P My brother is just wrong, but I guess it's a kind of therapy for him. He really hates his job right now, too.
Ian also had to pick up something for Dirty Santa for our family Christmas party. Well, he didn't really *have* to, but he was insistent. He got a rubber spider and a "Mystery Date" game keychain from the Mart of Wal. What a combination. LOL! We giggled immensely over the concept.
The family Christmas party was starting between 5:00 and 5:30. We got there at 6:00, because I had to wrap our stuff, and we really needed to let Washu out, and get her ready to take with us so Leslie and Kim (our cousins) could meet her as well. Oh well, we were late, but Zack (another cousin) was later. LOL! It was great to see everyone. I have a new nickname, "Teeny". Hey, I really *am* Justine now! :) Zack is really looking good. He's been clean for awhile now, and we're all really proud of him.
Dinner was oiishi... Frank is the king of fried turkey. ^_^ Yum!
Dirty Santa was a blast - much better this year, as there was no Gas-X in the mix of 'lame' presents. There were some really good ones, too. Somehow, I wound up being the one from whom everyone wanted to steal. I had my eye on a backpack, but Leslie got it. There was a cooler thing for sodas or whatever, and Zack got that. I took a DVD from Uncle Mark just to be a butt, and he coerced daughter Jenna to get it back for him. LOL! I wound up with a hilarious fake cellphone. The box is too much fun. I'll scan it and share the joy at some point. I may try to eBay it, but probably not...it really is a great gag. +Kyle got Crows, which are licorice Dots. No one tried to steal from him, which was just fine, because he loves licorice. Blech! No kiss for you, +Kyle! ;)
After that, Peggy was ready to go back to her hotel, since she'd be leaving around 5:30 Sunday morning. She enjoyed being around everyone, and I think I managed to convince her that our family is her family, too. She really doesn't have anyone up in Virginia. We took her and her car to the hotel, since she doesn't drive after dark.
