I’m getting a cold or something.  I’m not sure, but my sinuses are getting dry and my nose is running.  I suppose on the positive side of that, at least I’m not stuffy and I still have the power of scent.  No matter, I’ll have to tough it out.  I only call in sick when I’m healthy.

     Christmas is gone and over with again.  Oh, wait! Not yet, for us.  My mother-in-law and her husband are flying in sometime today.  They weren’t able to be here for the actual holiday.  When she first told me when they were coming, I suggest to Zach that we have a nice dinner, invite everyone over to replace the gathering she missed.  “Don’t worry about that,” he said.  When he came home with his 10 pound “sale” turkey around Thanksgiving, I brought it up to him again.  This time, I even compared my schedule to line up a day when I was off to do this.  That way, I won’t be walking into a social event immediately after work.  He thought it was a great idea.  We let her know and it was done, plans set.  Now, I find out that we are all also getting together on tonight, with everyone, again.  Wow, hoo-freaking-ray!  I wouldn’t be spending the only one day I have off in 9 days cooking and entertaining had anyone informed me of this at some point.  Grrr, I wanted to host something here.  But whatever, I’ll deal.

     I want you to understand, I don’t like Zach’s mom about 87 % of the time.  She is not mean to me and, for the most part, she does baby him or anything. Okay, in all honesty, not all of that is dislike.  She annoys me, too.  When you already kinda don’t like someone, irritations can build rapidly and I hate feeling that way.  She does many things that bother the hell out of me.  I say that sometimes she does it on purpose.  But I was brought up a lady and I choose my responses well.  She doesn’t get to see me get pissed at her very often.  I have slipped a few times, let go.  When I do, she backs down for the most part, but not until she’s sure you won’t.  Passive-aggressive is the term, right?  Anyhow, the woman has done a few things and said a few things that I don’t like.  I don’t always like the values she has taught my husband and continues to condone those same ideas when it benefits her.  My kids see this and that hurts.  My mom isn’t here to show them the morals she taught me.  I realize that I am a bit irrational about it at times, but she can be pretty underhanded and very manipulative. I could make a list of all the things she has pulled over the years.  But, again, I’ll deal.  She’s only here for a few days and then Ahhhhhh back home for her!