Post Holiday Blues

Today I took down the few Christmas decorations I’d put up (it was a warm day and the boxes are in the attic where it's cold), so now I guess the holiday is officially over, plus our houseguest left. Sigh.

I always kind of hit a wall around Christmas Eve, from the busy-ness of planning what to have for dinner, shopping, cooking, dishes, expectations, etc. I felt stressed out and left out on Christmas when everyone wanted to watch a movie in the afternoon and I wanted to prep things for dinner so we would eat on time. Hubby seldom helps with dishes plus I had gotten mad at him earlier that day for dropping something out of the dishwasher (an inexpensive dish but it was from my Mom) so he steered clear of the kitchen at that point anyway. My visiting stepdaughter had a cold so I didn't want to ask her to do anything. And then neither my brother or sister called me. I had called them on Thanksgiving so I decided I was going to see if they would call on Christmas, they didn't. Needless to say I was kind of grouchy on Christmas. I think I expect too much on Christmas, or sort of get my hopes up too high. Some of my cynicism melted away when I saw the pictures my stepdaughter had taken on Christmas, and it actually looked like we had a good time. Some of the little things I had blown out of proportion were not that big a deal after all. I really get stressed out when I feel like I’m alone or stuck with doing everything. I’m not good at asking for help either. And sometimes I feel resentful when I feel that I shouldn’t have to ask for help, people should volunteer.

We make wish-lists and the gift-givers went overboard and gave me everything on it. Usually they'll split up the list and get some things for Christmas and then others later for my birthday. I had wanted a thermal French Press coffee pot (Peets tastes so much better that way, I like my coffee like jet fuel), a Brian Culbertson CD (he opened for Barry), and two cookbooks (Bon Appetit Fast Easy Fresh, and How to Cook Everything Vegetarian). I really like the vegetarian cookbook since it was written by a meat eater (Mark Bittman). His premise is that it's written for meat-eaters who want options for healthier meals, and vegetarians who aren't all that strict. (I’m probably more the former.) Both cookbooks have tips that are inspirational in a "New Years Resolutions" sort of way.

I made Cinnamon-Nut Buns from Everyday Food, for Christmas breakfast. It’s the same dough as for dinner rolls, so I was able to do two things at once. I think I like sticky buns better.