the angel, leon: there is a xmas crafty fridge magnet in our kitchen that was manufactured backwards, and so the angel is holding a prayer book/hymnal with the name "LEON" instead of "NOEL" splashed across the front. every time, i go through the kitchen i see "LEON" in my peripheral vision, and it's sort of lead to this holiday sing-songy joy thingy in my head. when i'm out shopping and i see the rushed and joyless masses, i think, if only, they knew of the angel "LEON" and the true meaning of christmas, then all would be right with the planet.

we are planning on downsizing and designating new homes for the bulk of our christmas decorations this year. i've hauled them all out, but this year when i pack them up, it will be in four categories ... kid one, kid two, kid three, stuff that we'll keep.

i think we are all going to be fighting over the angel "LEON!" he'll probably have to have custody papers drawn up.

how do you spell "flu?!??" there really is only one way to spell it. it's spelled, "w-h-y i-n t-h-e n-a-m-e o-f L-E-O-N!!! d-i-d-n-'t y-o-u g-e-t y-o-u-r f-l-u shot?

i made sure p. got his shot early this fall when they were given out at the local department store for 20 bucks an upper arm muscle. this is the equivalant of throwing myself in front of a bus to save his life, because he hates being sick. at the time, however, i had plavix in my system... which in case the lay person does not know, this thins your platelets out ... and i was very prone to bruising. i knew if the lady grabbed a chunk of my upper arm and jammed the needle in that i'd have a big mess on my arm for a couple of weeks, so i saved off. plus, i knew i could run up to the local hospital on the day my old coworkers were getting their shots for free and net one just as easily. by the time that came around i figured i'd be off the plavix ... which i was, but then i totally spaced off getting the shot.

consequently, i've been full-blown flu for over a week now. unfortunately, the world does not stop rotating when one gets the flu, which for me transforms very quickly to a bronchopneumonia-type illness. i've coughed so hard at points that i think i've cracked ribs and i've pretty much dislocated my frontal lobe in the process. somehow, i manage to be all and do all, getting the house decorated, prepping my youngest for her trip away for the holidays and worked mega hours since this is the busiest season i've seen so far in the current medical facility i am doing transcription for.

many of my co-workers, spread across the 50-states, also forgot to get their shots. (so ridiculous, because we are all in the biz! and should know better. we should have left our desks for the ten seconds it would have taken to get our own shots!) anyways, the med center we are working on right now had record-breaking census this last weekend and the doctors dictated 150 more documents over their usual between friday and sunday. there was much trauma and renal failure. we somehow managed to stay in email contact and we cleaned the system off and kept things running smoothly. everyone and their uncle had the medical records hot off the presses! it was such a joy to be part of the team effort this week.

of course, i had the angel "LEON" on my side ... and p. who is not sick, so there were plenty of fun respite activities and xmas shopping off to the side when i could take breaks.

christmas is as you make it: and ours is falling on january one since our nest is empty at the moment, save p and i. we are finishing up the crafting and gifting and planning the menu for the feasting and fun on the first of the new year. the house will be mega full that day.

anyways ... the angel "LEON" and i would like to wish all you denners a happy holiday in whatever manner or manifestation you see fit. :) -anne

p.s. .. a little bit of duct tape and some coins: thank you, scott d. zachary for your generous prize gift for the riddle-solving, and for your mystery/thriller, scorn THIS. i like getting books in the mail ten times more than i do money, but know that the $$$ has made for a few more xmas surprises and stocking stuffers. happy holidays to you & yours.