Stress, it's a-buildin'

First, I am dreading Thanksgiving. Which is sad, because T-day is one of my favorite holidays. No stressing about buying (and paying for) the perfect gift. Just lots and lots of delicious food. For the past several years I have hosted assorted in-laws who have come down here. I love cooking for Thanksgiving. But this year I don't get to, because of the cousin's wedding. The whole damn family will be in town and Uncle is hosting. (I would have happily done it and have a much larger house, but I wasn't really given the choice.) But I could deal with all of that. The part I'm dreading is seeing my mother. And being trapped in this small house with her for at least a few hours. I'm afraid she is going to ruin a perfectly good holiday, just like last Christmas when she literally cornered me and refused to let me leave the room until she said her piece. It wasn't pretty.

Next, tomorrow is DH's last day at his current job. He has been there for nine years--since right out of college. It was time for a change, but the timing isn't great (I think he first interviewed with the new place 2 months ago), and there is a lot that is still unknown. Like when he'll get his first check at new place and for what time period it will cover, and how much it will be with all the benefits taken out. And with the holidays and my continued unemployment these unknowns are a little stressful. Besides the uncertainty of leaving the stable and secure for the unknown. He was working for a place largely unaffected by whatever the economy might bring. Now he is going to work for a real-estate investment firm--is this really the best time for them?

And of course there is the ever-present stress of unemployment.

And the kids are out of school this week, and while I love the little critters, they are about to drive me crazy with the fighting. And the, "Can we please go do something fun?"requests. Because no, we cannot go do anything fun because mommy doesn't have a job and Santa's coming soon.