Oh, I forgot to mention.

I finally saw the bad family Christmas card that my in-laws sent out. I wouldn’t say that I’m scowling, but I definitely look vexed. And I probably was, considering that Tim’s aunt went on some kind of freak-rant about how the wine Tim and I brought was dessert wine, which it wasn’t, but since she’s got shitloads of money* it apparently means that she knows EVERYTHING ABOUT WINE.

I’m not sure if the picture is the worst thing about the card, though. I’m not particularly happy having my name associated with a religious holiday card of the “camels visiting the Baby Jesus and have a blessed holiday season” variety. They don’t get that I’m not religious, nor is Tim. I keep getting religious geegaws from them: nativity sets, angel protection charms for my car, that kind of stuff. I have no idea what I’m going to do with it. Anyone want a primitive-style wooden nativity set? Come on! You know you do! The Baby Jesus looks like a peanut!

I am also not happy that the card is (electronically) signed “from the In-Laws Family: Nanette, Tim, [insert in-laws names here].”

Seriously, if I had wanted to send out holiday cards, I would have sent out my own damn holiday cards. I did not ask my in-laws to send holiday greetings on my behalf.

My 81-year-old grandmother was right, though: they do look like a bunch of dorks in the photo, what with the grinning and the festive holiday-wear. I swear I will never, ever let those people near me with a camera ever again.

—

*She also has a house that looks like a Miami drug lord’s hangout, circa 1983. The wallpaper in their downstairs bathroom kills me. It’s teal and magenta paintbrush swishes. I feel like people should be snorting coke off the top of her toilet tank. Someday I shall brave her and her stockbrokerbankerdude husband who refuses to acknowledge my presence and take a picture for posterity.

Obsessions.

I have been obsessively listening to Boys and Girls in America by the Hold Steady. As in, the CD ends, and I press play again for the tenth time today. I have not been this obsessive about a CD since about a year ago, when My Morning Jacket’s Z didn’t leave the CD player for a month or two.

***

I have joined the local community concert band. I am last chair in the flute section. In case you were wondering, flute players are still the bitchiest people in the whole band, and trombone players are still weird. I sit right in front of the trombone section. I live in fear of valve oil and weirdness being applied to my person.

***

I am very irritated with my in-laws for sending out a holiday photo card featuring a “family” photo containing me, scowling. I did not want my picture taken. I REALLY did not want the picture that I did not want taken sent out far and wide. Holiday photo cards are great if you have kids and you want to distribute photos of your kids. I got several of those and they are hanging on my fridge. But who the shit wants to see pictures of adults? Nobody does, unless they are very attractive and naked, and this card (obviously, and quite thankfully) fit neither of these criteria. Not that I have seen it. My parents have seen it, though, since my in-laws were kind enough to send them a copy. It was postmarked December 26, which makes me question their reasons behind sending my parents a copy. Were they sincerely sending holiday greetings to my parents, or were they hoping that my mommy would scold me for sullying their precious family moment with my scowly-face? Well, she didn’t. She just laughed at me and called it “the dorkiest thing she’s seen in a long time.”

Rule #1 of holiday photo cards: Nobody wants to see a holiday picture of you with your ADULT CHILDREN who DO NOT EVEN LIVE AT HOME. Your opportunity for this kind of crap passed you by in, say, 1987.

I swear those people bring out the sullen teen in me. And I am NEVER posing for a “family photo” with them again.

***

I am likely the only person who is amused by my biennial posting schedule–right before ALA, twice a year. It’s not like I have nothing entertaining going on. I just forget about this thing.

Off to ALA.

Tim and I leave tomorrow morning for New Orleans to attend ALA. I have my busiest schedule yet this year, due to my involvement with various committees and roundtables. I suspect it's only going to get busier and crazier over the next few years, as I've been elected Vice President-President Elect of NMRT. With that position comes a whole slew of new committments, including the mysterious Roundtable Coordinating Assembly. 

 Then, two days after we return from NOLA, we're closing on our brand new house. And then we're moving.

 Hectic? Definitely.