Crazy Aunt Karen. Everyone has one, right? That one odd-ball relative that every family member has collectively decided is a bit, you know… off. Her hair looks like she stuck a fork into an electrical socket. Her clothes are fresh out of the 90’s. And, even though you’re well into your twenties, her Christmas gifts consist of Winnie the Pooh t-shirts and watermelon Lipsmackers. She means well, though, and damn… she is entertaining to talk to. Bless her heart. I’d rather hang out with my crazy aunt over my judgmental one any day. Don’t those ones blow? They always make the holidays cringe-worthy. (I’m sure y’all have those relatives, too. Family members can be too critical sometimes.)
For someone who is a Christmas fanatic, I’m happy for it to be over. I’ve been drowning in a pool of family members, fattening food, and forced social gatherings for too many days straight. My mind is over stimulated and I’d be lying if I said Christmas being over was anything but a relief. A sweet one. Bring on the fleece pants, hoodies, and fuzzy slippers… I’m overdue and ready to hide out in my house for a few days with no one but Alex and the cats.
How did your Christmas go? Did you get anything exciting? Anything you’ve been patiently (or impatiently) waiting for? My favorite gift on Christmas was running shoes. I know, boring and practical. They are expensive, though, and I never would have paid for them on my own. It’s tough being a cheapskate, guys.
We’ve also decided on a name for our kitten. Thanks to everyone for your suggestions. Alex and I religiously combed over them, and got excited over every new name that was brought up. We really appreciate y’all for taking the time to leave us ideas. We have gone with the name Tora. Which is Japanese for ‘tiger.’ Under her dark patches, she has orange and cream colored stripes, so we thought it was fitting. The name was suggested by ‘New Bloggy Cat.’ Thanks, NBC! I owe you a forced awkward hug or something.
The Shameful Sheep 
I never thought I’d say this, but I need to not see chocolate for at least 5 days! I like the name Tora for the cat.
Agreed. The thought of anything sweet makes me slightly depressed. No moreeee
Stuffed to the gills! Cool kitty moniker
Overly stuffed! I’m going on a water cleanse. Okay, just kidding. I love food too much.
Yeah. I’m looking at a fridge full of goodies and wondering how we’ll get through them all. Ho hum
‘Accidentally’ forget about them until they spoil? That’s what I did on Thanksgiving. It was pretty wasteful, though.
Nah, we’re munching our way through weird leftover concoctions. It’s spontaneous and…er… interesting
Tora, Tora, Tora! Because too young you are (Yoda voice) – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tora!_Tora!_Tora! So either Tiger or lightning attack. Excellent choice. There are advantages to being only children and most of your dearest being dead or far away. We are just fed up with each other… 😉
I saw that! Pretty interesting lol. We have been known to change our pet’s names over time after we come up with a nickname that sticks. That’s where “Pix” came from 🙂 ( the name of our other cat)
We reformat the names. Toffee is Toffee Tiddles and Zhenny is usually Zen or Zed. Somehow they still know their names…
Smart kitties lol
I sigh a huge relief not to hear: holiday tunes on the radio starting in October, in the malls and in stores (especially Alvin & the Chipmunks – 12 Days of Christmas ~ instant migraine trigger in a clothing store) also starting in October, TV commercials, movie repeats every day, everyone asking “are you all ready for Christmas, especially clerks in stores that are expected to and don’t really want to”. I sound cranky don’t I? I’ve calmed down now. Christmas is for kids!
I’m not always this way! but you have to admit…..:)
I got the Star Trek: Next Generation Pez set so I am a happy camper.
That’s pretty awesome. I love Pez
I collect them and I’m a Trekkie so it was a double score. 🙂
Crazy relatives are awesome! They make life so much more…interesting. 😀
So true! I try to stay near them at family gatherings. It’s more fun that way lol
Ha! I am the crazy relative! You know the one that donates a goat to a third world family and gives a photo of the family as a gift? 😂 This is what happens when you don’t have kids of your own!
Hahah agreed. I’m the crazy aunt, too. Now, I’ve never donated a goat. But that sounds like something I would do haha
Then you start wearing mumus and little round tinted glasses…
That sounds pretty fun, really.
All my crazy relatives are liberal…. “When I was kind a kid the Prince Albert was all the rage….uh yah, thanks.
Crazies
I think I may be the crazy aunt… Still, life is funnerier on the nutty side.
Totally agree!
Ah! Tora is such a great name! And I know the kind of cool aunt you mean. That will be me, one day.
Also, yes please. Bring on the relaxation and avoiding people for a while. Hope it’s a good week!
The relaxation will definitely result in a good week. Hope your week is good too 🙂
Thanks! 🙂
The crazy aunt thing made me laugh, haven’t thought about lip smackers in years! I got a set of dishes I’ve been drooling over for months, the “they look antique-y, but they’re new” type. Love the name you picked and that you took suggestions for it. Pretty darn cool. 🙂
Thank you 🙂 I actually use a strawberry lemonade lipsmackers on occasion. Gotta throw it back sometimes. 🙂 those plates sound pretty. I love getting new kitchen things
Strawberry Lemonade sounds yum! I’ll have to look for those. The dishes are by the Pioneer Woman. They are really nice. You can get a set of one color, or just mix and match. I got red and white dinner plates with a mix of aqua designs on salad plates and some with painted flowers. Love them! 🙂
I know exactly what you are talking about. I love her new kitchen line. Jealous! I love the country feel her stuff has. 🙂
I watched my kids play with wrapping paper and empty boxes.
That sounds like a pretty fun filled time haha
I like the name Tora! How cute! And I’m glad you got awesome shoes (sometimes it’s so nice when someone gets you something you wouldn’t normally buy yourself).
I had an amazing Christmas – no crazy aunts or anything 😉 My husband’s family came to stay with us for a few days, and it really was the best few days. Just food, and wine, and talking, and fun.
Thank you! I like the name, too. I’m happy it was suggested! I’m glad your Christmas was a happy one. It sounds nice 🙂
Tora is such a beautiful name!
Thank you 😉
I actually said to my son (as we poured the cheesecake batter into it’s baking pan), “it is too stressful to have a fault-finding hyper-critical person with OCD come for Christmas dinner!” What can you do when it’s family? I always go through a grief and resignation process as I accept that this is my family and I will have a good Christmas anyway. My best gift? A little space heater! I am over the moon with how well it works.
A tortoise shell kitten named for a tiger! I love it!
Ohh a space heater. I love those. I rely heavily on one when it gets cold 🙂 great Christmas gift!
I got a new bed pillow– an eddie bauer and yes I asked for it– it is WONDERFUL. a pillow is a great gift for anyone cuz we all gotta sleep, right?
My birthday was a few weeks ago, and my request? A great pillow. So, I have to say your gift is pretty awesome! A good pillow makes a world of difference. Hope it helps you drift into wonderland. Lol 🙂
you say the things in your blog I would like to say but am afraid to–
I don’t say most of this stuff in person, either. Usually only around my husband lol.
LOVE crazy relatives. My Grandma was as mad as a box of frogs and kept my brother and I entertained for hours just “doing her thing!”
I’m with you on comfy clothes. We have been working on the dreaded house yet still I find things to do when I return home so not much slowing has been achieved. I think soon I shall give myself a good two day shut off and wear my joggers as I indulge in a TV marathon…..
I also love the name Tora, as you know I am not much of a cat fan but I like that and I did like the look of the kitty in question.
You need to relax! TV marathons are always a good time. Which one would you watch? I need a new show lol.
Yes they are. I tend to download a great deal of stuff from your country such as Hand of God and Marvels things BUT if it’s UK stuff I suppose London Spy would be good or any of the Sherlocks with Benedict Cumberbatch in it. There are also the old shows like Porridge (simply incredible) or Only Fools and Horses, Jeeves and Wooster, Parahandy. These are just a few of the British greats (well as far as I am concerned!) Doctor Who is an obvious choice and there are many more. See what you find and I will give you my honest opinion of them!
I’ll see what I can find. I usually enjoy British shows.
Do. You won’t be disappointed with my selection because obviously they are ALL amazing….!
I can enjoy the holidays when they’re over and stuff is more reasonable at work…I can’t wait for all the children to be back in school.
Ditto. It’s a great feeling when everything calms down again
Wash your mouth out! I’m working hard at being a crazy Aunty. Aunties have very High Status here in New Zealand. The moment parents start mouthing off at their kids (of any age), all an Aunty has to do is yell, “Don’t you speak to my Niece/Nephew like that,” and said parents shut up. That’s the way it is. Especially during the time of peace and goodwill when families are most likely to start fighting.
I love my crazy aunt! She is just…. Crazy 🙂 I think I’m a crazy aunt, too. It’s more fun like that. I don’t know if aunts have that much say here in the US. That would be cool lol
When my American nephew was here in NZ , I told him that if an Auntie tells you to do something, you better-bloody-do-it. If you know what your life is worth. And that NZ aunts were a whole lot different from US aunts. He said, Yes, I’ve noticed that.
Never knew that 🙂 wish I had that much authority lol
Tora is a good name – it’s strong sounding, yet classy. Not enough humans put enough thought into their cat’s name, take it from me.
Thanks! It takes us forever to pick names lol.
It’s true my HuMa had to pick out a real name and a pseudonym for me.
I’ve always hoped I’d be my family’s very own Crazy Aunt Karen. Or her male counterpart, the No So Slighly Eccentric Uncle Chester.
Which running shoes did you get?
They are the Nike Zoom Pegasus shoes. I’m a newer runner, and they are my first proper pair. I’m sure there are better ones out there, but they are pretty comfy 🙂
I really want to share this meme here, but it won’t let me paste from my pictures. Oh wait, let’s try this: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/350647520967170137/
I know you said crazy aunt, but this cracks me up every time I see it! I hope you had a Merry Christmas!
Hahah that’s awesome. I hope your Christmas went well, too!
It did! I ate my fill (and by fill I mean enough for a small country), had just enough family time, and I got everything I wanted from Santa 😉
Oh Santa…. What a good guy lol.
😹
Is she a Jewish cat that can’t spell? Just sayin’ 🙂
I didn’t think of that! Haha. Oops
Greetings from a crazy Aunt Karen. Your description is once again eerily accurate except that my clothes are fresh out of the 80s, not the 90s.
The 80s are even better haha
I’m planning on being that crazy aunt when I grow up;-) Much more fun to surprise people than to criticise !!
It’s fun being a bit crazy! Lol
It really is….who wants to be sane?
You are too funny! My goal in life at this point is to be the crazy aunt, Aunt Julie. Generous, and doesn’t give a f^%* about your earthly success. That’s what I learned from watching an uptight, worry-wart of a mom frazzle her life away.
Keep on writing; I like your humor. And this is the first time I have ever left a message–well maybe the fourth–on a blog in my life.
Thank you. That makes me feel special lol. Being crazy is a lot better than being high strung and judgmental. I had a lot of family members that were too critical, and don’t give a crap about them being in my life now. Everybody loves their crazy aunt!
Tora is perfect & I can see the world is never going to run out of crazy aunts – there must be a few musty weird old uncles out there too 😉 It’s good to relax & recover from the family onslaught!
Musty uncles haha. Hilarious. I’m sure there are a lot of those, too