*phew*

I survived drinks with my mother predominantly unscathed. We talked, she showed me the wedding photos, I told her all the major stuff she's missed since I broke off contact a year and a half ago, that kind of thing. We also exchanged Christmas presents. Do not open 'til Christmas, obviously.

The fact that one is now unwrapped is entirely my mother's fault.

I come to this conclusion for two reasons: a) she was the one who suggested putting it in my rucksack so I'd have fewer bags to carry, and b) she cannot giftwrap to save her life. Therefore, the fact that the wrapping paper caught on my rucksack zipper, tore and revealed the present within is entirely her fault. Once it was open, there didn't seem much point in just letting it sit there in the plastic. Besides, I already knew what it was by size, shape and weight, so it's not exactly spoiling the surprise.

Complete Buffy DVD box set! *squee*

Anyway, I'm supposed to ring on Christmas day, which I suppose I can do, and we'll probably meet up again, which I think I can handle, particularly if it went as well as it did today. I wore the DoomBoots, and all she said was, "They look ... very ... sturdy" -- a positive sign if you know that she generally makes it well known how much she hates it that I wear big clompy shoes and boots. Only other comment she made on my appearance was the burn-hole in the arm of my blue cricket jumper. Either she's learning or this is only a temporary reprieve, and I won't know which unless I take the risk of renewing contact. I think I can handle that, though I'm just grateful that they can't do the "Come to dinner and bring dodgyhoodoo" thing for awhile because my stepdad's redoing the kitchen so they won't have one for months. That also frees me of the worry about being invited over for Christmas dinner this year. Yay!

So it was all right, all things considered. Now I consider dinner and decide which season of Buffy I want to start on while waiting for dodgyhoodoo to come home.