Mashup: Christmas Edition

If I were to create a mashup that fully describes my life at this exact moment, it would be “There’s No Place Like Home (For the Holidays)” and “All By Myself.”

“Oh, there’s no place like home all by myyyyyselllllllf.”

Today, I took N to meet B and his dad at the movies to see Assassin’s Creed.  I figured it would be terrible, which is partially why I didn’t want to go.  Also, I was specifically asked not to attend, so there’s that.  When N got home, I didn’t even get a chance to ask before he blurted, “Video games should never become movies, Mom.  EVER.”

Then we packed his bag (and Xbox One), and his stepmom came to pick him up.  He’ll be back on Monday or Tuesday, which coincides with when B returns, too.  What does this mean?  It means that, for the second year in a row, I’m all by myself for Christmas.  Last year, I gave up my holiday so it could be spent with other family members, and I was happy to do it.  This year, it’s simply not my year.  It’s one of the great joys of custody arrangements.  When they were younger, it really bothered me.  Don’t get me wrong…it still bothers me, but I know we’ll celebrate when they’re back. 

Plus, downtime is probably good for the soul.  Or so I hear.  So, once N left, I sat on the couch and thought about what I would do.  I wrapped the presents that arrived today.  I painted my fingernails.  I deleted some stuff off the DVR.  I browsed through Netflix looking for something intriguing.  And then I ultimately decided that I would go get Starbucks and look at Christmas lights.  So, I did, and I listened to 98 Degrees this Christmas and then Straight No Chaser Christmas Cheers while I looped through Coppell, hitting all of the houses I usually go to with my adopted family who still likes to look at Christmas lights. 

I’m not sure when my boys grew up to where they no longer cared about anything Christmas-related (except presents, of course), but it happened.  It feels very Grinchy around here these days…but not right now because I have a fire crackling in the fireplace, the Christmas lights in my living room are glowing, and I can hear the rain falling outside.  Now that the semester is over, the most difficult question I face is, “Should I binge-watch something on Netflix, or read a book?”

Choices, y’all.  Neither of which is captivating my full attention.  My little mind hamster is running for his life on his cute little wheel.  It’s even thinking about what New Year’s Resolutions I’ll make and not keep.

So you have to know…I’m desperate.

Aubs