nd out of work for over three months, you would have thought their calendar would be mighty clear. So far, they have several things lined up. Plus Lamaze classes and doctor’s appointments. No free time there.

One colleague said they already had four parties set for the week between Christmas and New Year’s. Plus they had their two children’s school prog

Holiday time is usually a true medley of events. Depending on your lifestyle, families (both immediate and extended) and budgets, sometimes one’s personal calendar can be something to either anticipate with a huge amount of joy or a great amount of stress.

Taking a poll of my surroundings has given me a bit of a case of exhaustion. A family member of mine has always lived inside a “3-ring circus”. It was if a day of rest was something to mourn. Even when this wonderfully giving person couldn’t move from pain, she was still willing to throw a party! Not me, I’m older and I’d like to think wiser, I’ve learned to “just say no”. That line isn’t only a good one to keep your kids off drugs.

When I took a peek at her refrigerator calendar, I was taken aback. First off, there wasn’t one calendar-there were four! One for each member of the household. Except the dog and 3 cats. How they got out of having parties and dates with the neighborhood furry patrol, I don’t know.

Our son, god bless him, works full-time and goes to school full-time, plus he’s part of the ever popular fraternity lifestyle. He’s always going somewhere, with someone and doing something! How he gets by on six hours of sleep a night is a complete mystery. I can tell you, during those brief moments I see him, and he seems to always be asking when he cold is finally going to go away.

Our daughter and son-in-law have had quite the year-pregnant and out of work for over three months, you would have thought their calendar would be mighty clear. So far, they have several things lined up. Plus Lamaze classes and doctor’s appointments. No free time there.

One colleague said they already had four parties set for the week between Christmas and New Year’s. Plus they had their two children’s school progr

has always lived inside a “3-ring circus”. It was if a day of rest was something to mourn. Even when this wonderfully giving person couldn’t move from pain, she was still willing to throw a party! Not me, I’m older and I’d like to think wiser, I’ve learned to “just say no”. That line isn’t only a good one to keep your kids off drugs.

When I took a peek at her refrigerator calendar, I was taken aback. First off, there wasn’t one calendar-there were four! One for each member of the household. Except the dog and 3 cats. How they got out of having parties and dates with the neighborhood furry patrol, I don’t know.

Our son, god bless him, works full-time and goes to school full-time, plus he’s part of the ever popular fraternity lifestyle. He’s always going somewhere, with someone and doing something! How he gets by on six hours of sleep a night is a complete mystery. I can tell you, during those brief moments I see him, and he seems to always be asking when he cold is finally going to go away.

Our daughter and son-in-law have had quite the year-pregnant and out of work for over three months, you would have thought their calendar would be mighty clear. So far, they have several things lined up. Plus Lamaze classes and doctor’s appointments. No free time there.

One colleague said they already had four parties set for the week between Christmas and New Year’s. Plus they had their two children’s school prog

at her refrigerator calendar, I was taken aback. First off, there wasn’t one calendar-there were four! One for each member of the household. Except the dog and 3 cats. How they got out of having parties and dates with the neighborhood furry patrol, I don’t know.

Our son, god bless him, works full-time and goes to school full-time, plus he’s part of the ever popular fraternity lifestyle. He’s always going somewhere, with someone and doing something! How he gets by on six hours of sleep a night is a complete mystery. I can tell you, during those brief moments I see him, and he seems to always be asking when he cold is finally going to go away.

Our daughter and son-in-law have had quite the year-pregnant and out of work for over three months, you would have thought their calendar would be mighty clear. So far, they have several things lined up. Plus Lamaze classes and doctor’s appointments. No free time there.

One colleague said they already had four parties set for the week between Christmas and New Year’s. Plus they had their two children’s school prog

ever popular fraternity lifestyle. He’s always going somewhere, with someone and doing something! How he gets by on six hours of sleep a night is a complete mystery. I can tell you, during those brief moments I see him, and he seems to always be asking when he cold is finally going to go away.

Our daughter and son-in-law have had quite the year-pregnant and out of work for over three months, you would have thought their calendar would be mighty clear. So far, they have several things lined up. Plus Lamaze classes and doctor’s appointments. No free time there.

One colleague said they already had four parties set for the week between Christmas and New Year’s. Plus they had their two children’s school prog

nd out of work for over three months, you would have thought their calendar would be mighty clear. So far, they have several things lined up. Plus Lamaze classes and doctor’s appointments. No free time there.

One colleague said they already had four parties set for the week between Christmas and New Year’s. Plus they had their two children’s school programs and class parties to do their share for.

My husband and I do not have friends. Really. We did a lot of socially during the years our son was in club soccer. But once the “kids” graduated, so did the acquaintances. We have found ourselves with but a very few actual living breathing people of which we try to physically see. Last month is a clear example-after almost 26 years; we finally got together with one of our bridesmaids. You have to understand, she lives 70 miles away. Talk about deja vu! Took us that long to work it out.

We’ve been working on getting together with a couple (the woman and I are childhood friends) for 3 years now-couldn’t even make their wedding reception. Probably have guessed, they live 50 miles away.

Another girlfriend just found out she has breast cancer. I would love to say I’ve filled several days to be with her. However, since I also have had several health issues and at present am not allowed to drive, my support (until further notice) is with e-cards, e-mails, phone calls and whatever else I can do from home base. I’m sure her holiday schedule is filled with numerous doctors’ appointments.

My husband is about to turn the big half-century mark. He hates parties, avoids them as if anthrax were attached to them. So it was of no surprise that when I asked him if he wanted to celebrate this momentous occasion with an actual party, this met with a resounding NO! Okay by me-