2009

New Year’s Toast

Here’s to the new year...

May it bring more joy and success

And less grief and regret.
To our dreams...

May we never stop believing in them

And taking the actions that will make them a reality.
To our friends, loved ones, associates (or colleagues)...

May we take the time to let them know

How much it means to us

To have them in our lives.
Let us encourage more and criticize less,

Give more and need less.

And whenever we can,

Let us create harmony and peace.
To new beginnings...

Let us start fresh, right now,

To make this the very best year ever.
A very Happy New Year to all of us!

By Joanna Fuchs

Serious question

(President-elect Barack Hussein Obama romping on the beach thinking he's hot)

Am I the only person who doesn't find this body hot or sexy or in great shape? Please tell me I'm not.

Merry Christmas ya'll!

Merry Christmas

A few days ago it was 71 degrees here, but today, we're officially winterized with temperatures in the 30's. I hate the cold but I have to admit that breaking into a sweat while puttering around the house was a bit annoying in late December. I've spent the past two weeks painting the inside of my house and it looks fabulous. I'm good at meticulous jobs that involve lots of patience. I found it oddly peaceful to take each room and make it like new again. It kind of reminded me of cutting grass (when I used to do that when I was a teenager--not so much now since my husband loves his lawn work). You can see the progress as you move along so it feels like you are getting positive feedback from the get-go.

Everyone is home for the holidays and it feels so good to have everyone close again. My son just missed a major snowstorm which probably would have stranded him up North for a while so we're so thankful for that. My parents lost their power for EIGHT days during that terrible ice storm a week and a half ago. The power finally came back on and then they were then hit with this recent snowstorm. They have a generator which they used in various parts of their house to keep things going and have a wood stove where they cooked and whatnot. I honestly don't know how they do it. I'd be sitting on the beach in FL if I were them, and to hell with winter. Why deal with that if you don't have to? I'll never understand New Englanders. I guess having the Red Sox, the Patriots and the Bruins to watch makes all the miserable weather worth enduring because I can't figure out what else it might be.

I'm almost done with my Christmas shopping but I'm sure I'll still find myself out on Christmas Eve picking up a few things here and there. It wouldn't be Christmas if I didn't have some last minute shopping to do!

What makes me happiest during this season is having the hearts of everyone in my family all beating under this one roof for however long we're blessed to be here together. It's sappy and cliche, but there is no greater gift than family. If you have a good one, you have everything.

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you get what you wish for.

I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the thought that Christmas is just 10 days away. Where oh where has the time gone?

So many things I am not doing this year, simply because time has gotten away from me in a huge way. I arrived home on Friday and will be here for a couple weeks. The longest stretch in 5 months. Best case scenario would be for me to be home until after New Year's but that's too far ahead for me to call at this time. I literally take one day at a time anymore and I cherish (sometimes as hard as it is) each day.

Normally my Christmas cards go out by the first week of December. Sorry to say they won't be making it out at all unless I bust my ass to do them like tomorrow. No sweat, those who know me know what's going on and would be extremely forgiving it they didn't get a card in the mail.

Life for us changed on August 1st. It is the day my mom was diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer. Wow. It hasn't even been three years since dad passed away from colon cancer. Sort of sucks the joy of the holiday season right out of ya. But as always we will plug on.

Many thanks to my dear husband who literally has taken over maintaining THE WHOLE HOUSEHOLD. He does it all and I couldn't be more thankful. Many thanks to my dear friends who have been beside me hearing me out on all my frustrations (and there are MANY) and tears. I love you girls!

We'll have nice Christmas, just the four of us. It may be a scramble mamble to get it all done, but it will all get done. Minus the cards most likely, that is~