Seventy degree weather makes it a bit difficult for me to get into the holiday spirit. I mean, I’ve lived in South Carolina all my life and spent every Christmas at home, and while I’ve never seen a White Christmas, at least we usually have to wear a jacket on Christmas Day!

Plus I got really sick on Christmas Eve and still felt pretty miserable the next day, which ruined it a bit more. But at least Ben and I got to spend most of the day cuddled up on the couch watching movies. That’s why it’s only almost humbug.

Ben buys the best gifts, and of course he’s nearly impossible to buy for. The Sweater Fiasco of 2005 springs to mind here, where I bought him this gorgeous sweater he had openly admired in the store. It was our first Christmas together, and I was so proud of myself for finding at least one thing I knew he wanted. Then a week or so later, I was trying to find out what else he might like, and he said, “Just something I wouldn’t normally get. My family always gives me clothes, so as long as it’s not a sweater or something lame like that, I’ll love it…”

I cried for about 3 hours.

Normally I wouldn’t react quite that strongly, but the combination of first-year-of-marriage stress and mind-altering drugs (i.e. birth control pills) had me a bit emotional. Of course Ben felt horrid about it, and kept swearing his undying love for sweaters in general and this one in particular since I had picked it out for him. And I gave it to him anyway. And it sits proudly collecting dust and cat hair on the closet shelf. Because it itches him.

We watched part of the Kennedy Center Honors last night, and I especially liked the part for Dolly Parton. Alison Kraus’ rendition of “Jolene” gave me chills. But my favorite thing was in Reese Witherspoon’s tribute, when she said that Dolly once told her, “Honey, it takes a lot of money to look this cheap!” I think I’ll have that translated into Latin and incorporate it into our family crest.

I’ve been away a few days, so here’s an overview:

1) Admiral is 100% better.

2) Ben and I spent the weekend in Macon celebrating Christmas and his dad’s birthday with his family.

3) I finally found the blue valances I’ve wanted for our bedroom windows.

4) I’ve finished my Christmas card list. Making it, I mean. I still have to write the cards. And mail them. But I’m on my way!

And… that’s pretty much it.

Why is it that during my three years of working at a veterinary clinic, all of my animals stayed as healthy as could be, and now six months after quitting, I’ve got a cat with a cauliflower ear, a dog with stomach issues, and a lame horse?

It’s been quite a day so far. Admiral, my stallion, has a bad limp, and I’m worried that he’s got an abcess in his right front hoof. I’ve been working with him all morning, checking the hoof and getting him set up in a stall so I can watch him. Gypsy’s down there with her nose over the wall right now — guess she wants to keep an eye on her boyfriend too. And he’s down banging his feed pail against the wall because it’s empty. Apparently he’s not nearly as concerned as I am.

Anyway, I have to go pick up a tetanus shot, some antibiotics, and an anti-inflammatory for him. Hopefully it’s just a stone bruise or something else relatively minor. He’s my baby and I hate to see him hurting.