December 2021

December was busy like always.  Since Hanukkah starts so early we week was filled with fun and I continued to be spoiled.  I could not believe how many gifts I received and how thoughtful CJ was trying to find gifts that she know I would like.  

Friday they had the sisterhood Hanukkah dinner at the temple.  It was so nice to go nice they did not have it last year.  they sat us with some new people to the temple and we had a very nice talk.  I missed having Ms. Margy with us.  I think this is only the third Hanukkah that we have had in the South without having Ms. Margy around.

The next morning CJ and I got up and went and toured Lander University.  It was not one I was thinking about for her to go to but they had a speaker come to her Health science class and talk about Lander.  Lander was to have the 2nd best nursing school in the state.  It is a small school and pretty close to us only 50 minutes away. CJ loved it.  She loved that it was small, less expensive than U of SC, and the people were so nice and friendly.  She said that this was her top pick school so far.

Sunday we got up and started cooking for our Hanukkah dinner with friends.  This year the Lister family, Beard family, and Mitchell family came to dinner.  I did not think the food was a good a normal but having everyone there and laughing was so great.  CJ loved being able to share her holiday with Milly for the first time.

The next weekend was the Military Ball.  I tried to surprise CJ with getting her hair done but Hagen texted CJ's phone to confirm the appointment.  We had fun at the salon getting her hair done and then getting ready to go.  It was raining out so we could not take as many pictures as we wanted to outside.  But Elinor and I took lots of pictures of the girls before they went to a fancy dinner at Sullivan's and then off to the Ball.  CJ stayed the night at Milly's because they got home so late from the Ball.  While they were out Elinor, Sean, Jay, and I went to dinner and got caught up. It was a since date night dinner for us.

For the next 2 weeks of school, it was lots of activities and food.  I think that I gained 10 pounds in just two weeks.  We had parties for the kids and dressed up each day.  It was very busy. 

CJ tried out for the school Musical.  She really wanted to get the role of the Narrator which was the lead.  She was so worried about it and practiced, but in the end, she did not get it.  She was upset but at the same time ok with it because she does not really like this play.  She received a small role as one of the brothers so she does not have any speaking parts or a solo.  She thinks that she may be able to keep her job while still doing the play because she did not get a major role.  We told her you to win some and lose some.  CJ is such a good girl she was ok with the whole thing and happy for those that got the leads.  She said it was all seniors that got the leads and next year she will be a senior and it may be a better play.

The first 2 days of winter break CJ and I spent the whole time going to different doctor's appointments and getting ready for our trip to the beach.   So I have been very depressed lastly because they are finding so many medical things wrong with me.  I am so afraid of not feeling well that I just do not get to live life.  I have high blood pressure, thyroid issue, hip issues, and to top it all off I got a cold just as the break started.  I had to go for a COVID test because everyone is scared it is COVID and not just a plain old fashion cold. I hate getting older and hurting so much.  I think that my depression is also coming from that my sister is not talking to me much, I do not have any friends at work and I have to be the one to call and set things up with people if I want to go anywhere.  No one ever calls me and asks if I want to go to dinner or out somewhere.  I feel like people tolerate me but do really like me and now that CJ is looking at going off to college I do not know what I am going to do with myself.  She is my best friend and my everything.  Jay got me a plan book for Hanukkah that is supposed to help you deal with life each day and come up with goals to get through the day and deal with chronic pain.  I have not started it but I will at the first of the year. I hope that it does help me feel better because I really do not have anyone to talk to about how I am feeling.

On Wednesday, CJ and I got up early and headed to the beach.  We decided to go early so that we could check out Coastal Carolina University.  CJ was not to interested in this university because it did not have much of a nursing school.  It was not high on her list of schools.  We got there and drove around the campus some.  It was a nice campus but she was still not sure.  We took the tour and after she stated that she really liked the school that it was back on the list of the schools that she would apply to.  Because the nursing program was so new it was not that competitive but the school had a lot of good qualities.  After the tour, we went shopping at the outlet mall and to dinner at Dairy Queen.  It was just a fun girl's day.

The next day we had the day all to ourselves so we shopped until we dropped all day. We started the day at Coastal Mall where CJ found a music store and had fun playing guitar, shopping for shoes, and just looking around.  Then we went to Broadway at the beach where we walked around and got saltwater taffy.  We were going to ride rides but decide that we want to check out Barefoot landing and they had a Carousel that we wanted to ride. We then wanted to go see the Celebration of Lights in Conway.  

We first went over the the campground to get checked in.  When we got their our big chairs that I always take pictures of CJ in where gone.  I went into the gift shop and told them that my big Chairs where gone.  The lady behind the counter said that she did not even notice and went outside to look.  When she want in to tell the ranger the Chairs where missing.  The ranger told us that they had been taken out because they where getting old and had become a safety hazered. I was so sad that the chairs where gone.

We got to Barefoot Landing and went into their shops and it was very pretty with the sun setting.  The Carousel that we wanted to ride was closed. So we just continued to shop and then went to Celebration of Lights.  We got to downtown Conway and saw the park with a train ride so we parked and got out we went on the train ride and then left to go get dinner.  On the way out we released that was not the Celebration of lights and got stuck in the traffick for the Celebration, so we decided to wait in the line of cars to get into the Celebration.  After about 15 minutes of waiting and not even moving CJ and I decided that we were hungry and tired.  So we skipped the Lights and went and got something to eat went back to the hotel and slept.

The next morning we got up and got ready.  Jay was already almost at the Campground. We took our time having breakfast and getting going.  By the time we got gas, Krispy Kreme, and Duck Donuts. Jay was already at the camp ground.  So we helped him set up the camper and then went grocery shopping.  Jay was not in a good mood when we where shopping just like the last time we where here.  I wonder if it is because he does not like all the driving and then having to go out shopping right when we get here.  I am going to have to figure this out so he is out so grumpy when we got here.

After we got settled and put groceries away we sent to the beach to walk around and CJ rode her bike around.

We had fish tacos for dinner and I was not able to sleep very well because I think my cold was getting worse and gave me a migraine.  I ended up in the middle of the night getting up feeling so hot and sick.  I took meds but needed to cool off.  It was cooler outside then in the camper but not supper cold out so I went and slept in my car for a bit until I felt better.  In the morning, I had to giggle because Jay said to me you slept so good last night you did not even snore.  I almost did not tell him silly that was because I was not sleeping in the bed with you.

The next day was Christmas.  Jay could not believe how many gifts he was getting as well because CJ bought him stuff and I bought him stuff.  It was like me with Hannukkah. He thought it was so weird because since we have been together we really do not get much for each other and most years because of financis we do not get anything for each other.  CJ and Jay loved all of their gifts. CJ got a not of nursing supplies likeher own blood pressure cuff and stethiscope. We had a nice breakfast.  The weather was so nice it was warm.  CJ rode her bike I think most of the day and Jay and I walked the beach, the coseway, and I rode bikes with CJ for a bit.  I could not believe how hard it was to ride a bike.  When I got back from riding with CJ my hip hurt and I was totally out of breath. Nap was in order. That night Jay made CJ's favorite Christmas camping dish.  Dutch oven Chicken with onions, potatoes, and carrets.   

Sunday we got up and the wind had died down by the end of the day it would get up to 77 degrees.  Jay went fishing and did not caught anything, CJ went riding her bike.  CJ wanted to get out of the camp ground and was short with everyone.  Jay asked me what was her problem I told him she just wanted to get out and shop.  So we decided to go to lunch at Friendly's and take Jay to the outlet mall so he could look for more shirts.  The outlet mall was very over priced and no one found things that they wanted.  There was one store that had things at a good price but Jay still did not what to get a new shirt. We come back to the Campground and CJ was happy again just because she got out.  She also did not buy anything she was just happy to have gone shopping.  Jay went to the beach fishing and CJ want back to riding her bike.  I went and sat with Jay on the beach and listened to a book.  Jay evened up caughting a pufffer fish.  I had never see a puffer fish up closed before.  It was really neat.  There was this little girl and her dad standing and watching Jay real in the fish.  When he got the fish in the dad took it off Jays line and gave it to his daughter.  Jay did not even get to hold the fish for a picture and the little girl was so excited about the puffer fish that she took off with it to show her mom.  I did get a picture of the little girl wtih the fish.  I told Jay he had his fish stolen.  He said it was better to have a little girl steal his fish then a bird.

Monday we packed up and had to leave to get home because Jay and CJ had to work on Tuesday. CJ worked all week.  She came home every day crying.  She said that the kids were unruly and they just would not listen to anyone.  She was so miserable.  I told her just to get through the week and she did not have to do summer camp with these students this summer.  By Friday she was ok because she knew that she was going to Milly's to spend the night for the New Year.  Milly and she went to dinner and then watched movies.  They did sparklers with Andy and Maggy.  Jay and I went to dinner and grocery shopping.  We then just came home and had a peaceful night.