Where am I?: 'Twas the week before Christmas

My computer is sick. It's in the shop. It was treated for many "infections" and some "viruses" (really, what's the difference when you're talking about computers?). The irony? I had just renewed my Norton anti-virus subscription 33 days prior. Apparently, Norton stinks, in the professional opinion of the technician working on my computer.

Also, my external hard drive crashed, taking all pictures, music, recipes, craft instructions, tax records, home construction documents, electronic adoption documentation and other miscellaneous documents (including my Christmas card address list) from 2006 to September 2008 with it! Also, the flash drive backup containing all 2006 and 2007 pictures contains corrupted files. Crying does not help a data recovery effort; it just makes the repair guy uncomfortable. The other repair guy said that it's really a one in a million incident, what happened with my data. So, sweet friend, Suzanne, while you were in Hawaii, I was mourning the loss of 90% of my jpg baby memories. If any friends have pictures of my children, the baby shower, birthdays, holidays, pool outings, playground, beach trips, random cuteness, or my brother's wedding, please send them to me!!

(PNY flash drive and SimpleTech hard drive - I will never buy their products again!!! Nor you, Norton, my pal, with your false sense of anti-virus security!)

My broken camera has been replaced (yes, I no longer will be using a camera held together with electrical tape); however, the instruction book tells me that I can't get the pictures out of it until I install the software on my currently-in-the-shop laptop. In fact, there are dire warnings about connecting the camera to a computer without the software being installed first.

In the interest of full disclosure here, I will also share that my Christmas tree has two strings of lights around the bottom and 5 ornaments at the top. It would have a 6th, but Ethan ripped it apart at preschool right after he made the ornament. Mrs. Edie approached the carpool line with a downcast expression as she gingerly held the parts of his ornament. The reattachment surgery has yet to be scheduled.

There is no wreath on my door, garland on my rail, mistletoe hanging from my foyer light. There are no stockings on my mantel or candles in my windows. With every Christmas card we receive, I smile and enjoy it, then kick myself for not sending out Christmas cards this year. I have baked zero cookies or Christmas treats, in fact, I have only cooked a minimal amount all month. I'm glad the children finally like to eat soup. I put my Harvest sign, gourd, Autumn Blessings door hanging, and Mr. Pumpkin away last week. I couldn't wait to run out and buy the Southern Living Christmas Decorating issue, but I haven't read it yet. There is joy in my heart, though, as I see the children play together, dance, gallop, sing songs, say more complex sentences, have mini conversations and learn about Christmas, the celebration of Jesus' birth. There is joy in my heart, too, as I wait expectantly for another Christmas miracle - potty training for one or both children!!

I'm hopeful that my painful confession will offer encouragement to someone else out there in the blogosphere who feels like Christmas has passed them by this year. Maybe when I get my camera/computer situation set up properly, I can share my version of a "Holiday Open House." Or not.