Christmas! I am never going to make it.....

[fishisabonus]

Is anyone else feeling the pressure?

Yesterday, I FINALLY completed a bathroom overhaul. The kids tub had a huge crack in it and leaked. I asked for help, since I noticed the problem just a few weeks after Hannah had the brain tumor surgury. Got lots of promises, but no one came thru. 18 months later, it was getting bad. So on Nov 17, I began tearing up the underlayment, which was mush all around the tub. Patched the tub, laid new tile backer, did tile for the first time... then painting the tub/shower took over a week. Finally... yesterday, after many late nights working on it. I finished.

Okay.. so here I am December 20.. trying to put up a tree, clean up the construction mess, put up Christmas Decorations, go thru the mail.. generally trying to get my house back to somewhat normal.

I haven't bought any Christmas Presents and I need to copy some pictures for gifts for my family. I am so tired I know I am not thinking straight!

I am never going to make it! NEVER! What do I do? Just give all my family a package of smoked fish and a picture of my new bathroom? How lame is that? The fish was going to be part of the gift, but I don't see how I am going to make it. I have yet to buy my kids a thing. Not to mention the bathroom really took the monthly budget down to the negative side. I have to work Monday and Tuesday. When do I shop?

I just want to cry! I will never make it!

Any suggestions?

BTW, this is the first time I have been on ifish, since the Toy drive. I have barely had a chance to check my email daily. Miss all of ya....

Oh, the bathroom turned out great!

[STGRule]

Set the tree up in the bathroom, hang IOU's with peoples names, invite everbody over to admire your work, hand them the IOU as they gush over the great job you have done and then go shopping after the first. Everybody happy, right?

[Tilla]

Get that kid of yours off the river an get him to pitch in. Nope, no free ride for that lazy goon!

[love2fish]

fishisabonus,
Although I haven't been as busy as you have, I can't seem to get into the Christmas Spirit this year. Christmas is usually my favorite time of the year, I love to shop. Not this year though, I just started shopping tonight. I'm glad some of the stores are open late. If you have any books on your shopping list, try Powell's, their open until 11 pm. I just got back and the crowds weren't to bad, and neither was the parking. I'm going to try to get started early tomorrow, hopefully I'll get in the spirit overnight .
Good luck, wish I could help somehow.

love2fish

[1pump]

I gave up feeling the pressure a long time ago. Xmas is all about stress anymore, and I have enough of that the rest of the year. If it weren't for my kids I would boycott Xmas altogether. I hate having such a bad attitude about it, but every December seems like more of a rat race than the one before. And it doesn't help having a birthday in the middle of all of it. [img]graemlins/eek13.gif[/img] I skipped the company party last night, and my boss is going to chap my arse about it. So I have that to look forward to next week.

Lynda, I think Ruth has a good idea. If anybody whines about it, tell 'em they can't use the bathroom. :smile:
Good job getting it done, and don't feel guilty about putting practical matters ahead of the frivolous ones. Face it, keeping your floor from caving in and protecting your investment in the house is more important than celebrating a holiday, although it ain't as much fun. Whatever you decide to do, it might be a good time to call a Family Meeting and explain the situation so nobody has high expectations for Dec 25th. You might even get some sympathy.....yeah, right.
If nobody in your house wants to gush over your remodel, post a pic here. We'll gush.