First Mindless Chatter of 2010

I was in bed by 10. I did get a Happy New Year midnight kiss from Rupert at 12:04. My clock is a bit fast so I'm guessing he was right on time. LOL

DH was coughing ALL night. *sigh* I finally got up at 5 and went to the couch so I could actually get some sleep. Luckily Willa decided to sleep until 8 so that was nice.

My sister and her family are on their way for a visit (from MN.) I'd love to have them stay here but we just don't have the room. They're staying at my mom's. Once Willa wakes up from her nap we're heading over there. We're doing an early dinner, exchanging gifts (well, kiddos only this year because we're all broke), then more family is coming over to see the kids. Tomorrow is the funeral for my friend. DH doesn't want to go, so he'll stay home with Willa. My mom gets to watch my sister's three kids, ages 3.5, almost 2, and 3.5 months! Yikes. After that we're all going over to my dad's for a Christmas visit.

I brought in the New Year vegging out in front of the TV watching endless reruns of "House Hunters" on HGTV.  At midnight I did switch to one of the network channels to watch the ball drop, which I guess was also a rerun since it was only 9:00 p.m. here when it actually dropped. It's still cold and damp and still looks like it will pour any minute ... I'll believe it when I see it.  I've got a roast in the slow cooker with a bottle of Caribbean Jerk marinade dumped on it and it's starting to smell really good but it still has about 5-1/2 hrs. to go. I guess I should go write out my checks and see what it feels like to put *2010* on them. Hope everyone has a great start to the new year.

Joyce

*handing Jackie some honey & lemon w/slippery elm*

*handing Amanda and Lovemyswissy some White Flower Oil for those sore necks - it rocks!"

*handing Kim some homeopathic Cantharis -- great for the UTI & symptoms*

Me?  It's 3:10 and I'm JUST up.  David and I went to Universal City Walk last night -- first time we've 'done' anything on New Year's in years.  But we went to see the Classic Albums Live folks do "Woodstock" -and it was A BLAST.  Both of us had about 2 oz champagne and that was all.  Just enjoyed the music and each other. 

http://www.classicalbumslive.com -- they go to a lot of cities and man, everything they do is great.  From Beatles to the Who, Led Zep, Pink Floyd, to Janis Joplin & on -- each show is awesome and NOT expensive.  We paid $25 each to go to this last night.  How's THAT for cheap New Years??

But I didn't go to bed til 3:30 -- and I was tired from the whole week, so David dealt with the dogs and let me sleep. 

For those with a pain in the neck, I highly recommend those ThermaCare neck wraps. They're really snug and give off heat for a good 8 hrs. Definitely helped my sore neck last week.

We had a nice workout at the gym, came home and had a big breakfast and I'm truly ready to veg out for the rest of the day.

Johnny, I quit drinking cokes, & eating fast food almost 4 years ago. I almost always drink caffeine free coffee, & tea as well, & I am much happier, & about 40 pounds lighter, because of it. The first few days of no caffeine are horrible, but if you make it through those few days, then you're home free.

Dawn, what recipe were you using to "cook" with when you hurt your neck?

Courtney, I've got my fingers crossed that you don't have a sh!tty 2010. No matter how it started out!

Barbara, what's the point in a NYE party if it's going to be civilized? I LOVE lawnmower races! Nothing says redneck like lawnmower races!

Jan, enjoy visiting with your sister!

Callie, I love white flower oil. I use it on myself & the dogs.

I have the hangover from hell, & I only had two drinks the entire night. Next time, I'm going to try to see what the hangover is like with 20 drinks in me. It can't be much worse than this...

We went to First Night Austin, & had a blast. We decided to come home before the fireworks show because we can watch it from the deck at home. We also wanted to "celebrate" in a little less crowded conditions. I'll just say that fireworks were seen by all, & it was a very good beginning to the new year!

Cita

Paige, still sending good thoughts to your friend.

Paige, I'm so sorry.  We're sending good thoughts to his family.

 Oh Paige I am so sorry. {{hugs}}

Callie DH has become addicted to the Woodlock oil  - mind you he doesn't get the concept of when it says 3-4 drops blah blah.  The other night I could swear he bathed in it.

I must say that this day has just wafted away.............. another quiet 'holiday' here.  Bugsy is chomping away at a nice knuckle bone and I just finished preparing the collards

Here in the south one has to have ham, collards and blackeyed peas (hoppin' john) on New Year's Day so that is what we will have!

Joyce I watched a bunch of the international house hunters before we went out - I told DH we should buy a place in Prague.  We would love to have a place on the continent - as they say in the UK - so we could vacation there and be closer to the stepkids and grandkids.  I was amazed that the prices in Prague seem to have stayed low.  We went there a couple of times - just an awesome city

BEVOLASVEGAS

what's the point in a NYE party if it's going to be civilized? I LOVE lawnmower races! Nothing says redneck like lawnmower races!

Oh yeah!  And, mooning.   And, throwing gasoline on the bonfire.    And, running around in the pasture like fools!  Good times. 

kpwlee

Joyce I watched a bunch of the international house hunters before we went out - I told DH we should buy a place in Prague.

I think I saw the one with the guy looking for a  house in Prague.  Wasn't that the one where out of the three houses he saw, one had no kitchen or bathroom (although there was space for him to put those in) and one had no running water inside?  But yeah, the prices were surprisingly low compared to here.

Paige, I'm really sorry about your friend.  I'll light a candle for his family.

Max was just over by his favorite *look out* window and he was going totally nuts, jumping up and down, hackles raised.  I looked out the window to see what had him all worked up and at first all I could see was a cat across the street.  He ususlly doesn't get all that worked up over a cat. Then I craned my neck a bit and saw that there was a flock of stooopid turkeys wandering around on the front lawn. It finally started raining so hopefully it will wash away any turkey poop left behind.

Joyce

fuzzy_dogs_mom

I think I saw the one with the guy looking for a  house in Prague.  Wasn't that the one where out of the three houses he saw, one had no kitchen or bathroom (although there was space for him to put those in) and one had no running water inside?  But yeah, the prices were surprisingly low compared to here.

But the apartments were like $130k for two bedroom in downtown, one even had an attic that was huge and could be converted.

Stupidly, this is the first time I looked at his blogs.  His blogs are full of humor and spitfire as he fought the cancer.  His wife's blogs are full of wrenching observations and guarded hope.  Reading what he went through on Christmas Day, and on through yesterday and today...

I will prefer to hold onto this one from him, though.  His last blog was Dec 19th, but this was the one prior... his reason for fighting http://garyzullo.com/?p=1653

He'd rather be laughing than crying, so I'm going to laugh at the lawnmower races, because I know how fun and rednecky they are! lol

Paige -- my sympathies.   It seems there have been so many sad stories.  a friend of ours has a son she is SO proud of.  He's about 40, great job (anesthesiologist I think) at a huge hospital here - the day before thanksgiving a co-worker mentioned Greg "really didn't look good" and they were walking over to have him seen and Greg collapsed.

What they thot was appendicitis - they got inside and discovered he was riddled with tumors (malignant) -- after the surgery he went into a coma for 3 weeks.  He's awake *some* now but has a 2 year old daughter and they're just unsure now of any prognosis at all.  His mom is travelling all the way into the City every night after she gets off work to stay in his room b/c the wife has so much with small children and trying to stay employed herself. 

I look at my own life and feel absolutely unwilling to complain at all, I guess.  Lately there's just been so many people in so much pain.

Paige, I'm so sorry about your friend losing his fight.  What spirit.

 Joyce,  also watched house hunters marathon! I love that show. Went outside last night to smoke and a few of my neighbors were out (I live in an apt.) and I had a couple shots of Crown Royal and a beer.