Happy Holidays!

Virgo:: Happy Holy Daze, Virgo! I've been meditating on the perfect holiday gifts for you. What symbolic offerings might inspire you to be in closest alignment with the cosmic currents in 2006? I've decided on a pair of binoculars, a microscope, and sunglasses with mirrors in the corner of each lens that allow you to gaze on the reflections of things behind you. These, I hope, would give you the message that you should try hard to see further, deeper, and more clearly; you should become more greedily eager to notice details you've been blind to in the past.

I love my friends so much.

This is not an overstatement.
There is one thing that the past year has tought me, and now I am crystal clear on the concept: when life sucks, when I wasn't sure that I wanted to make it to next week, when the people I love let me down, when circumstance seemed to be pushing my head underwater, I have had one thing that has been my failsafe, my saving grace. That's you guys. You've kept me from drowning.

I am so grateful for the cards, the emails, the phone calls, the ferrying to-and-from the grocery store. We might misunderstand one another, we might move far away, we might kerfluffle, we might get too busy to breathe, but when it comes down to it, we're there for one another. Thank you.

Anna picked me up for work last night and we did girl-things. We went to the pet shop so I could get food, bedding, and a little wooden house for Jaques. While I was there, I picked up a new betta. I hadn't planned on getting a new fish so soon, but as soon as I saw Sake, I couldn't resist. He's a crowntail, with spiky fins like the bettas here. He's about half the size of Sashimi, who's a relatively large veiltail. Anyway, Sake is blue with red accents. He's gorgeous, and I was delighted to find him, because to get a real crowntail can cost up to $50.00.

Anyway, as we came home so I could set Sake up in a bowl, I found a flower delivery and a package, both from dagger_garnet. First of all, I have a complete weakness for stargazer lilies. You can always tell when it's spring in my household, because the scent of stargazer lilies is omnipresent in the air. Stargazers are out of season right now, and yet, I opened up the box to find a bouquet of stargazers, carnations, and blood red tulips. They are proudly being displayed in my window. The other package was a poem written for me, in a beautiful frame. Tina, it's perfect. I don't have it with me at the moment, as I am at work, but the line about shattering glass? It's lovely. Perfect. So touching. It will go right next to my desk once my room is set up.

While I was setting Sake up and opening the flowers, Anna was setting my room up so the moving debris is at least at right angles and I have a smidgen more floor space. Her gifts were all housewarm-y and lovely, as well. Comforting things, Anna-hug things. Things that will be reminders that it will be okay. There was a set of beautiful, Russian-style mugs, and candles. The most gorgeous thermos I've ever seen. It's not something that I would have thought to buy for myself, but now that I have it, I can't imagine living without one. It's tall, thin, shiny stainless steel. The covering is hand-sewn leather in a bright red with a wildflower pattern pressed into it. It's to die for. I filled it with chai this morning, and it kept me warm on the bus stop.

We had sushi and went grocery shopping. Lots of protein, since I'd forgotten what it was like to shop for groceries. It's been six months since I've had to grab more than an item here, and item there. The result is tons of comfort food: veggie sausage, bagels and cream cheese, pizza margherita, and of course, mint-filled chocolate. Still, as I was remarking to Dixie, there's something about filling the cupbords with your own food that makes a house feel more yours. Suddenly, I wasn't just staying there. It was my house.

All in all, I'm much less despondent than I was three nights ago. I can handle this, even if it will take a few weeks before I have a set-up room and working internet and all of the amenities. Still, it will happen, and it will be okay, and I have people who will prop me back up if I fall on my face.

I have coffee now, and things to wrap my presents in, and I'm wearing festive red. I have Snow White and Fee on my wrists, which is like wearing liquid sunshine. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and I'm helping Dixie throw a brunch for lots of people that I like. Things will be okay.