The Post Christmas Wind Down

Merry Christmas everyone!

I am about a week behind in life, but it is all good!  We had a wonderful hot holiday and returned to 2 days of frenzy before Christmas.

I go back to work tomorrow.  Not something I'm looking forward too.
My doctor wants me to find another job.  One that will take me to age 55 and then early retirement.
I'm looking and looking....

The parental units stopped at our house for 63 minutes on the 24th. (That brings the 2017 year visit total to 63 minutes hahaha!  In May they said on the evening before my birthday they would be over to see me in the morning for coffee.  They never showed up.).

Of course they were in a huge rush to get to see the Golden sibling and the grandkids that matter so "We have to get going". My fathers phone was constantly dinging with texts from the princess.  My little guy saw them from where he was sitting.  "When are you getting here?  Where are you?"  Etc. Etc.
It was fine that they left.  They asked 2 questions about our trip and then proceeded to go on the stupidest political and racist rants for an hour.  So hard to listen to and you can't have a conversation as all they want is a platform to blather their nonsense.

When you are uneducated and closed minded and obnoxious about your opinions I don't want to be around you and I don't want my youngest around that.
I want no part of the shit show.

After they left my youngest said "Mom, they don't know anything about us". No, they don't and they don't want to either.

Not everyone gets a great family, or a family that cares.  I try really hard to do better with my kids all of the time.

Like I said before, I've been cutting the garbage out of my life.  All but 63 minutes of 2017.

Many friends and family members have distanced themselves or ended their relationship with my parents since my grandma died.  At least the constant bragging about how they are millionaires has all but ceased.  Who knows, its probably all spent, or used to pay off some of the hundreds of thousands of debt that the princess has.

Not my circus.  Not my monkeys.  This is my mantra.

We did have a fantastic vacation though and I know that my heart is at peace when I sit by the ocean. I will be socking away all extra pennies to go every chance I can.
We also went to see some of my family that I haven't seen since I was small.  They are lovely people. It was nice to feel cared about and have conversations about things we shared interest in and learn about them and their lives.  So much laughter and fun.

We were all invited back again and would love to go.

Travel is where my savings will go.

Now to plan my west coast trip!!!

The good things...
My children
My improving relationship with the dh
My very extended family
Having no debt

Happy New year! And here's hoping for better things ahead for all of us!!!

December and ending 2017. Thank God.

Today isn't a momentous day, just another day.  I do miss blogging sometimes.  I'm a different person now.  Same face in the mirror, just changed inside.

I've been through some hell on earth.  I'm still here.  Weary and scarred and broken.

Change has become constant.  New people, places and things in our life.  I've cut out the garbage people.  People that don't value me or my family.  Health changes, surgeries.  I don't have the strength for the negative anymore.
I've had a lot of counselling in the last year.  Guess what?  I can't do it all!  I can't be all things to all people!  I take responsibility for only myself and hold others accountable for their own actions.
Holding others accountable for themselves has pissed off a few people.  Stop playing a victim/martyr.  Poor choices and poor decisions do not equal a huge pity party.
Behaviour/actions show your priorities and intent, not words.
It's sad but we've all become very wary of people now.  We have boundaries in place and enforce them.
There will also be a hell storm of epic proportions if you hurt one of my kids.
I am not in any way comparable to either of my parents.  (Which is one of my greatest accomplishments!!) this should go in my list of positives...and in my resume and euology.

There are some positives:
Our little family is tight.  The 5 of us have clung together through some rough times.
Our finances are not a worry.
We've been able to travel a bit more this year and have found great enjoyment in new experiences.
We are heading south to get out of the cold for a couple of weeks.
If our health permits;  a ski trip in the rockies again Feb or March
Next summer we have a west coast visit ( in the planning stages).
Next winter tbd but it will be somewhere warm again.
2019 will be my Scotland trip for my 50th.


Financials:
Working part time.
Investing in TFSA's to max out this year.
RRSP's maxed out
Paying with credit card for all purchases and paying off in full every month to get points.
Keeping my non-trackable cash to $80 per month.  (Always seems to buy a little hockey player post game smoothies!)

Take care everyone.