Surviving the Holidays- Closing in to Xmas Day

I have made it through the work weeks and now comes the toughest part- the time 100% alone. I have phone and skype capabilities, but that depends on others being available- which isn't often in the holidays. They're off spending time with each other and other family members. Oh, I have facebook too, but I try to steer clear of that- too much drama for my liking.

I have 4 days off, 3 days of working, then another 4 days off to get through before it's back to the hum-drum of "normal", non-holiday "family time", life. I suspect these first 4 days will determine how well I get through the next for days off. I decided to kick it off with a bad night's sleep (of course not by choice). Super tired, I am happy to have the day off so I don't have to think much. Lack of sleep = lack of desire to think- already a good plan. I won't focus on the fact I'm alone for the holidays, I'm too tired to care at this moment. 

However, I won't let a little thing like 5 hours of sleep stop me from being productive. I've done some of the normal house straightening (with more to go) so far, and I've begun a project I've been reading about online.

Sleeping Mats for the Homeless

San Diego is full of people, many of them homeless. I see the proof of this every time I'm at work- they are out in droves around my workplace. Someone once mentioned to me once that you can take plastic grocery bags and crochet them into sleeping mats for homeless. They're better than cloth mats because they are resistant to water and lighter to transport. As I watch them, I cannot help but think if there's an opportunity to help them, why am I not jumping at that chance? I like the mat idea, and it just so happens I have a TON of plastic bags. I keep meaning to take them to the store front to recycle, but that "keep meaning to" has turned into quite a collection at the bottom of my pantry.

If I'm going to spend most of my day like a lump on the couch watching TV (you can guess what show...), I might as well put my hands to work. The above link gave me a good starting point for creating the "yarn", if you will, to begin making the mat. Under 20 minutes and I've already made some pretty quick progress.

I've read stories of many military spouses leaching off the husband, taking every advantage of their lifestyle while they work their butts off. You won't see this military wife joining those ranks! Not only do I run online auctions (started a decade before I met my husband) to raise funds to get music programs back into school, I am now adding helping the homeless to my ranks of good deeds! That's on top of the pillow cases I sewed up for children's hospitals last month (though it was only 4, I'm told contribution is appreciated...) and knitting scarves for friends. The multiple projects are keen to my ADD nature. When I get bored with one, I pick up the other.

It's in giving that we receive. How can I call myself alone when there's so many people in my heart?