Duck Uprising

Thanksgiving this year came with a emotional rollar coaster and a stretching machine wrapped up together. I don’t remember a time when my plans have been changed so much in such a short amount of time. I’m one to have my ducks in a row well in advance – not just in a row mind you. I want them all quacking the same tune, waddling the same fashion, and even better, headed in the same direction. After all, they can be in a row but if you have one turned around it won’t work.

My ducks were well on their way to doing everything this dictator wanted them to do. I had my grocery list started, the menu planned out, sleeping arrangements made, and even my cleaning schedule down. Strike one. Tia and David wouldn’t be coming. My ducks wabbled a bit but I managed to do pretty good. Strike two. Mom and Dad came a week early and wouldn’t come for Thanksgiving. Even more, Gigi wouldn’t be coming. With that one, I had a few ducks fell out of line. Not just fell out, oh they decided to create their line. Strike three, four, five, six, seven, and eight. Thanksgiving plans would now be with just Joel and myself then to his mom’s then back to our house and so on. 9:30 at night on Wednesday night, we went to the store to buy a fresh turkey. By now, my ability to cry, laugh, or exhibit any emotion was gone. My ducks were in complete mayhem. To make it even more interesting, the next morning brought yet another strike. Joel’s mom called to inform us that Rachel’s husband Dwayne (Joel’s cousin’s husband) had just fallen out of a tree and was being taken to the ER. Not knowing what was going to happen, Belle Zora went next door to help them with their dinner for all the kids. So I tried to suck it up and keep going – we put the tree up. About an hour later we received a phone call saying that they were on their way and that Dwayne was fine.

Dinner consisted of the bird that I cooked, gravy, dumplins ????, and green beans with brownies for dessert. Tradition went out the window this year. I still can’t get my head around the dumplins idea. Belle Zora said that it was a southern thing and that for every special occassion they had dumplins. Interesting to say the least. Following the meal, Joanna and I decorated the tree while Joel and Belle Zora spent time working on the computer. The day closed out on a good note but I was exhausted. I’m definetly looking forward to resuming my traditions and having my ducks doing what I want them to do rather than having a duck uprising.

Friday, Joel and I went shopping. Of all the years that I have gone out, this year was the worst I have ever seen it. Old Navy’s line was completely to back of the store with 6 registers open. They did hand out some really good cereal bars from Cereality.com. They were probably the best ones that I have ever had. Cranberry, almond, and white chocolate chip. Turns out this is a California cereal bar restaurant where you add your own mix ins. It was fabulous. We bought a bunch of stuff primarily for us as we don’t know what is happening yet for Christmas. I did manage to find two gifts for friends though on a really great deal. We made my husband happy with a new DVD R writer for his computer and then took care of necessities with new tennies for both of us. By noon, I wanted to go home. After a few hours sluffing around the house, we decided to take in the new Harry Potter movie.

Saturday we went down to his mom’s house for the day. We put up her tree and saw family that was in town for the weekend. I was absolutely exhausted by that evening and I splet hard to prove it. I think the chaos of the weekend took so much out of me that my body decided it was time to shut down for some really good R&R. Sunday brought church and Monday brought work.

This weekend I will leave for Mobile to have our annual meeting for work. It will be my first one so it is bound to be interesting. Once again, I’m not in control of driving, where we will eat, etc. It does tend to keep my nerves on edge not knowing how it will all play out but it is sure to be long days with little sleep. Joel is bound to use the couple days that I am gone to catch up on his play time of which I can’t really blame him.

As of December 1st I will start to organize my ducks once again. Shopping, parties, baking, cards, etc. I hope to have these ducks be more well behaved. What do you think about making my ducks drop and give me twenty? It worked in band camp. really, I’m learning a dictatorship doesn’t always work thought it is hard to break old habits and traits. Maybe Christmas will be more of what everyone is hoping for.