The drama that is family

Before I go anywhere, let me just say, I love my sisters, both of them. But by golly they can be Drama Queens! (And not the purple, sequin wearing variety with big hair and bad mascara)

Christmas, ho ho ho and all that family frivolity you would expect from the festive season. Sis1 rocks into town with husband and her first child in tow. They crash Mum and Dad's place which is to be expected, I can't accomodate them and all their glory in my little shoebox of a house so that's cool. However since Sis1 has had Baby1, she's running the joint. Any joint. So started a few days of tantrums, the folks being told what they can do in their own house and that they constantly have to keep the noise down since Baby1 cannot sleep. Crap. She could sleep through a hurricane, she slept through my brothers car stereo which was parked outside the window of the room she was sleeping in and he keeps those tunes loud.
Then there is telling everyone they are fat since Sis1 is now anorexic size. Talk about paranoia from having a child. Dude, she weighs less than me even though she is shorter than me. And for the record, I'm not fat. 6 foot 1, I'd say suitably curvy (Token back me up on this one), but in no way fat.
Christmas Day, aside from insiting on making all these little treats (think rum balls, mars bar slice, rocky road etc), Sis1 would complain how long it took to make everything and that she hopes everyone appreciates everything she has done, blah blah blah. Dude, I didn't ask her to make any of the guilt food, crikey. Sure took the yummyness out of that mars bar slice I can tell you. Then she told me off for making a cheeseball for Sis2's boyfriend who loves them. Seems Sis1 has cornered the market in catering, even criticised Mum for the food she made. Nerve of her. Right after telling Mum that her kitchen was a pigsty and she needed to keep her house cleaner. Yeah, I can hear you all gasping in disbelief and horror too.
Then the presents. Apparently Sis1 wanted everyone to open the pressies from her and the Wild Man (her husband) before lunch, Mum had said pressies after lunch. I declined the offer of opening her present before lunch, queue trembling bottom lip and tantrum again.
Ok, if you haven't guessed by now there are some serious attention issues with this girl, ie, she wants it all. But there is a smaller, younger version she has to compete with, Sis2.
Sis2 while being a lovely chick, has the best smile in the world, is fiercely loyal to a cause and can be a true bolster of strength when the chips are really down. Plus she lives around the corner from me and is really handy to come feed my dogs if I decide not to come home that evening. She is also loud, can be quite obnoxious, swears worse than most guys I know, drinks more than most guys I know and on a good night, if the conversation isn't all about her, she will take her bat and ball, abuse everyone and go home early. My little brother (BD) takes great delight in pushing this one, cheeky little sod. So Christmas Day was an attention match if ever I saw it.
In the right corner (back patio) we had Sis2, glass in hand, loud voice working away bad-mouthing everyone about anything possible to big note herself. She had been drinking since 9am so that is to be understandable. She was commanding proceedings happening in the courtyard area. In the left corner (upstairs in the kitchen and loungeroom), we have Sis1, giving Mum directions on how lunch will happen today, when Baby1 needs to be fed, how to change her, feed her, put her to sleep etc. Mum raised 4 of her own children, countless other children through her work and has taught my sister how to raise her own child since she had no clue. Strikes me as a lady who couldn't deal with a baby, not. Sis1 proceeds outside to where Sis2 is still being loud, tells her off for being loud in front of Baby1. Sis2 tells her where she can still this idea and proceeds to slang match each other. Noice. Sis2 storms off muttering obsenities under breath at Sis1 who waltzes back upstairs with child and whinges to Mum. Rom, BD, the boy, Sis2's boyfriend, and The Big Fella all sit outside watching the exchange and getting extra drinks. Always fireworks in my house when the family get together. This set the tone for the afternoon and evening really. Can you guess why I love Chrissie Family get togethers? Oh hang on, it happens any time of the year when you get them together. The Big Fella reckons he's bailing for his 60th this year. Going to pack his ute and go west, think I might just join him. Can't stand that much ego all in one room.