The holiday happened. I didn't yell at my Trumper relatives nor did I let them hold sway at the tables, even at expense of hearing stories I've heard 1,000 times before. Better to talk about the past than talk about the present in this case. Our cookies got baked this year, just the five basic kinds but this time we could spread the activity out over a weekend which was much more relaxed.

My uncle is okay in the assisted living place, although obviously it's not ideal, but he is adjusting and is still accepting that his son is an SOB who literally would have killed him if he'd stayed in their home. Thank god my uncle finally agreed to let this change happen.

The remainder is me.

Maybe it's because I broke up with my four year relationship the Monday before the holiday which was always in the back of my mind through out the time off. After four years I don't expect everything to disappear overnight, but it was best for both of us.

Still, it's something that hurts like hell. I'm exhausted but can't sleep and it sucks in so many different ways, but I'm off til the new year then it's rinse and repeat for another year. My aunt wants me to come in for New Years Day and I'm just not sure I can. Prepare for another year of disappointment and blame again.

Christmas cards are written and most gifts are obtained. I'm doing okay except for when I'm not and facing the last few doctor appointments of the year. I also had to go for my "Wellness Screening" which is a fancy way to say sign your rights away and allow the company to know your basic vitals (blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, weight, height) in return for the chance at $400 and up to $1,000 in our MRA (Medical Reimbursement Account).

In other words, they've screwed their healthcare plan so badly that it's expected you will pay far over $1,000 if, god forbid, you actually USE the healthcare plan. And then they have years of data on you to use as they wish.

Oh yeah. And they've outsourced it to some company called Provant Health so now your data is out there, or at least that's what I assume.

This should not be allowed, but until hell freezes over and we get universal healthcare in this country we are beholden to our employers. Even if they're the ones destroying your health with stress, sedentary work, understaffing, and money worries because they don't give raises but are okay with increasing healthcare costs every year.

I have to hope that it will get better, even if that won't happen for many years. This country needs a lot of change, and not in the direction of making things harder for the average person, but in terms of guaranteeing basic rights like healthcare without having this ridiculous trend of employers screwing the employees over time and again.

The major anger is over. Day to day continues.