Oh, man. This is bad, wisewoman. What can you immediately cut back on? Forget about what people want; focus on what they need.

We're strapped for cash here, too. My parents are...uhh... OLD and I'm incompetent. Some Christmas, huh. Well, I gotta grab myself by my bootstraps, as the expression goes and make some cash. If I have to hit the bottle every morning just to be functional; so be it. My liver won't be happy about that, though. Major changes coming for this family. It's hard, but it must be dealt with.

The kids will have to find something else to do this vacation time. If they ***** because of the lack of dough, they better remember who's been busting their *** to make it.

I hope everyone in your family is understanding of the PRESENT situation, wisewoman.

Things will improve, with everyone's help.

Take care, Wisewoman. Happy Holidays, to you and family (including the fuzzy ones)

-friedgreymatter