Your strength is admirable. I am not sure you realise most mortals would collapse with less than half of what you go through on a daily basis. The fact you can find humour and joy in the darkest of times speaks volumes of your courage and resilience. I am so glad you managed to do something nice for Christmas in the end, both with your friends and then with your children, and that your family seem to be on the mend. Wishing you all the very best for 2026. Sending you lots of hugs and positive vibes.
Thank you so much Andy! If I didn’t have some of the support I do, I may have given up 😂 I’ve definitely said “I’m just done,” more than a few times over the past couple of months.
Hopefully, 2026 is kinder, gentler, and more peaceful for all of us (that pathetic person in the White House is already doing his best to prove otherwise, however).
Wow, what a year 2025 was for you! Congrats for making it through a hard year with toughness and grace. Your description of everything that has been going on reminded me of Ray Liotta’s voiceover near the end of the movie Goodfellas when he was having a terrible day before getting busted. It’s amazing how the Universe seemed to keep feeding you moments of joy to help you keep on going. I know you felt some guilt on your girls night out, but sometimes we just need to take time for self care like that. Wishing you an amazing 2026 Kristin!
Thank you for the restack! I can’t figure out how to post it under there lol
And one of my favorite non-Christmas movies -that has an element of Christmas, but not the focus - is The Long Kiss Goodnight with Geena Davis and Samuel L Jackson.
When the sewer line backed up into my basement last month and a whole bunch of other stuff came on the heels of it (and before it), it gave birth to many, many jokes about shitshows. It can be bittersweet, but it's a relief to be someone who finds light in the darkness -- but not at all bitter to find people out there like you who show us how!
That is rough!! We had the sewer back up a couple of times and sooooo not fun! And to have other things come up before and after- sounds like your life is similar to mine 😂 Wishing you a better 2026!!
Rough 2025 for you but i’m glad you have lots of retrospective good feelings about it! And your parrot is hilarious 😂 oh and if you want a Lavender Sound sticker for your collection i’d gladly send you one!
Holy crap, the whirlwind of crazy surrounding you and your fam reminds me of the Snoopy character Linus and the storm of flies that are always engulfing him... but like him, you seem to be able to not let it take you down or dampen the joys in life.
That 3rd paragraph was impressive! It was like one long sentence, with I think 20 parenthetical interjections! I could feel the relief from the word vomit/purging. I think I need to let out a similar sentence at some point today. (Mainly around my favorite music venue closing...but probably family stuff too).
Anyway, always good to get another view into your world, as chaotic as it might be. Hoping that 2026 brings more calm, music, and support.
Hahahaha Thank you Steve! I wrote, rewrote, scrapped, revised, and cut a ton out lmao - then gave up, and came back to it today. That 3rd paragraph pretty much stated the same throughout lmao
Your strength is admirable. I am not sure you realise most mortals would collapse with less than half of what you go through on a daily basis. The fact you can find humour and joy in the darkest of times speaks volumes of your courage and resilience. I am so glad you managed to do something nice for Christmas in the end, both with your friends and then with your children, and that your family seem to be on the mend. Wishing you all the very best for 2026. Sending you lots of hugs and positive vibes.
Thank you so much Andy! If I didn’t have some of the support I do, I may have given up 😂 I’ve definitely said “I’m just done,” more than a few times over the past couple of months.
I also think having a sense of humor helps! LOL
Hopefully, 2026 is kinder, gentler, and more peaceful for all of us (that pathetic person in the White House is already doing his best to prove otherwise, however).
Thank you Michael. Yeah, I’m consumed by worry over the next three years.
Wishing your 2026 is full of loud moments--music, laughter--but also wonderful, impossble delights.
Thank you!
Wow, what a year 2025 was for you! Congrats for making it through a hard year with toughness and grace. Your description of everything that has been going on reminded me of Ray Liotta’s voiceover near the end of the movie Goodfellas when he was having a terrible day before getting busted. It’s amazing how the Universe seemed to keep feeding you moments of joy to help you keep on going. I know you felt some guilt on your girls night out, but sometimes we just need to take time for self care like that. Wishing you an amazing 2026 Kristin!
Thank you so much Mark!
This year was...something... Here's to a way better 2026!
P.S. Elder care is not for the faint of heart! Why didn't anyone warn us?
Thank you Kevin! Yes, elder care is a lot! It’s something that I feel is really purposely hidden within society.
So very glad you loved the holiday bundle!!! I loved making it for you all 🥰
Thank you for the restack! I can’t figure out how to post it under there lol
And one of my favorite non-Christmas movies -that has an element of Christmas, but not the focus - is The Long Kiss Goodnight with Geena Davis and Samuel L Jackson.
When the sewer line backed up into my basement last month and a whole bunch of other stuff came on the heels of it (and before it), it gave birth to many, many jokes about shitshows. It can be bittersweet, but it's a relief to be someone who finds light in the darkness -- but not at all bitter to find people out there like you who show us how!
That is rough!! We had the sewer back up a couple of times and sooooo not fun! And to have other things come up before and after- sounds like your life is similar to mine 😂 Wishing you a better 2026!!
Rough 2025 for you but i’m glad you have lots of retrospective good feelings about it! And your parrot is hilarious 😂 oh and if you want a Lavender Sound sticker for your collection i’d gladly send you one!
Thank you!! And yes, my parrot is sooo funny! He laughs along with us whenever we are laughing lol
I would totally LOVE a sticker!! I will message you my address!
Yay happy to send you a sticker! I love that parrots often think they’re people too 😂
Glad you managed through it all and it ended on a high note. Fingers crossed 🤞 for 2026.
Thank you Taz!
Here's hoping 2026 is a bit more fun for you Kristin!
Thank you Dan!
Holy crap, the whirlwind of crazy surrounding you and your fam reminds me of the Snoopy character Linus and the storm of flies that are always engulfing him... but like him, you seem to be able to not let it take you down or dampen the joys in life.
That 3rd paragraph was impressive! It was like one long sentence, with I think 20 parenthetical interjections! I could feel the relief from the word vomit/purging. I think I need to let out a similar sentence at some point today. (Mainly around my favorite music venue closing...but probably family stuff too).
Anyway, always good to get another view into your world, as chaotic as it might be. Hoping that 2026 brings more calm, music, and support.
Hahahaha Thank you Steve! I wrote, rewrote, scrapped, revised, and cut a ton out lmao - then gave up, and came back to it today. That 3rd paragraph pretty much stated the same throughout lmao
Thank you Emmeline ❤️