HOW I SPENT MY CHRISTMAS VACATION

(written January 2008)

Mr. C was kind enough to give us an update on how he spent his Christmas vacation at his world-famous blog, http://holyangelasarcadia.blogspot.com/, so I thought I would do the same.

My oldest, Jonathon, on Christmas break from college, graced us with his presence for about three weeks. Upon arrival, he managed to double the food bill and the laundry load while spending most of his time on his cell phone or in the car.

My second-oldest, Elle, got her driver's license TWO days before he arrived home (can you spell passive-agressive???)

16 years ago, conversations (if you can call them that) in our house went like this:

It's my turn!
No, it's not
You have to share! Mom says you have to share!
Mom says it's my turn.
No she didn't. She says it's my turn.
I'm calling dad. Mom always takes your side.
She does not! She told me she doesn't even like me!

Conversations in our house over Christmas vacation this year went like this:

It's my turn for the car! I just got my license and it's my turn!
No way. I've been gone for six months; you can drive it when I'm back at school.
That is SO not fair. You've had your license for TWO YEARS! I get the car now!
Not a chance.
It's FINALLY MY TURN!
You can drive it later when I don't need it.
When is that?
I don't know. Whenever.
Where are you going?
I don't know, but I'm going somewhere. And when I go somewhere, I need the car.
I'm telling mom.
Good luck finding her. She took off in her car two hours ago.
I'm calling dad. Mom always takes your side.
She does not! She told me she doesn't even like me!

There's more laundry, the food bill is bigger, God knows the gas bill is bigger, but things around here haven't changed all that much.