With the new year comes reflections. I have been thinking a lot about my last year and the people in my life. Friends, family, and loved ones who have come, stayed, and/or gone. With all relationships I am thankful for what time and connections that I have made. And I also morn those that are no longer active in my life. I gave myself some time tonight to finally morn these in hopes that I can myself move on.

But with a new year, I try to look ahead with fond memories of the past. With a positive attitude, I will try to create new relationships (everything from friendships to intimate). And I will cherish those that continue in my life and make them stronger.

My pet project, shoveling snow from our walks and deck. I love it. Weird, I know, but I do. Last night I did a last shoveling of snow from our almost foot we got yesterday. At 12:30am this morning the deck was still clear and no snow to be seen. At 6:30am when I woke, almost another whole foot of snow. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL! I got a white Christmas! I left C. in bed to sleep, let the kids open their stockings from Santa, and I bundled up and shoveled snow. As I shoveled the local population of birds came to watch, laugh at me, keep me company, and await their Christmas morning breakfast of bird seed I told them I would give them. Later I shoveled the walks again for it kept snowing until around noon. I even shoveled a walk through the snow to out wood area (which I think C. appreciated). Now I sit here and am watching the sun melt the thin areas of snow on the deck and the birds eating their Christmas seed. Its the little things in life like this that I find joy and am reminded that every day these joys are there to be found. May everyone out there find their joys and enjoy this day and every day to its fullest.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Merry, and everything in between!

This weekend was nothing ike I had planned - which was why it was good!

The plan - have a long term friend over (NL) to catch up with hubby (CD) while I had the kids and go to yet another family wedding (this time on me mom's side). With Sunday having another mutual friend come over to play games for a bit bringing his daughter to entertain the kids.

The reality - NL came over as planned on Friday and stayed until tonight. By the time he got here I actually had the house back to a reasonable after the washing matching exploding. I mean it was actually clean without things being stiffed into corners. On top of this other mutual friends came over (AD & DL). It was wonderful sitting, chatting, drinking tea, and eating wonderful food that hubby made. I even had some one-on-one time with AD to share some personal things going on in my life which was just what I needed.

Than on Saturday, the wedding I was going to go to wasn't early in the day like I had thought but at 6:30pm in the evening. I was able to hang with NL and hubby all day and play games and talk. Even the wedding that evening was better than expected. I caught up with an aunt and uncle that I haven't seen in almost 20 years. And my uncle instantly had report with my son which my son just loved. Got home to hubby doing work (he was on call this weekend) so I was able to spend some time playing with NL between hubby doing work.

Sunday, I woke early and cleared the deck of blackberry vines which was much needed. Well, I was awake and since NL and hubby were still asleep from the late night, I figured I could be useful and not wake them. Hubby, being on-call still, had times during the day when he was called away. Because of this I was also able to spend some much needed quality time with NL as well. It was nice to catch up and make some plans for the holidays when he may be up again. And although the mutual friend who was to come over today wasn't able to, that was okay. We broke out board games that we haven't played and even did a couple songs on Rock Band before he had to leave.

I am finding that in these moments when life takes over and all my planning goes out the window - its best if I just let life be in charge because I end up having great weekends like this.

What a GREAT weekend! I am all smiles and just feel floaty. I hope VL comes again soon.  ; )

I find it most interesting that I am seeing all sorts of people on-line, IM-ing them, and getting no response. Hmmm, I must stink or something - think I will go shower. Then maybe people will want to respond. ; )

( I think it's a little contradictory in places, but then again.....) LOL

You are relaxed, chill, and very likely to go with the flow.
You are light hearted and accepting. You don't get worked up easily.
Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is.
(um, okay)

You are usually the best at everything (HA)... you strive for perfection.
You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive.
You have the classic "Type A" personality. (My psych teacher would be rolling in the isle to hear this)

You are a very lucky person. Things just always seem to go your way.(OMFG)
And because you're so lucky, you don't really have a lot of worries.(Now I'm rolling in the isle)
You just hope for the best in life.
You're sometimes a little guilty of being greedy.
Spread your luck around a little to people who need it.
(If I had it I would spread it)

You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something.
You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense.
You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun.
(Um, .... well, what can I say to that?)

You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing.
You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long.(?)
You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time.(agree - I'm a mom)
Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start.(leave my bedroom out of this)

You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone.
You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together.
At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together.

Well, I think I am more confused about myself then ever! LOL

Your primary love language is probably
Quality Time
with a secondary love language being
Acts of Service.

Complete set of results

Quality Time:		8
Acts of Service:		7
Physical Touch:		6
Receiving Gifts:		5
Words of Affirmation:		4

So, my hubby, his SO, and my daughter are doing the nanowrimo. I thought that I might give this a try. But I thought why not put a twist to it. If a picture is worth a thousand words, why not draw 50 pictures? (50X1000=50,000). So I have started. So far it looks like it will be a book of short stories with all the pictures thus far being unrelated. I will have to see what I can do to connect them all in the end. Hmmm, will have to work on this.

So, during this Halloween season we had a party for our kids and am supposed to be having a party tomorrow for us adults. As a tag line on both request we asked that there be " no smoking on the premisses due to medical concerns". Medical concerns being my immune disorder and the doctor giving me an ultimatum of "avoid all second-hand smoke or just go have a hysterectomy now to try and prevent cancer". Well, since I don't smoke and the thought of dying of cancer not appealing, I figured it would be a simple request that any and all friends wouldn't be offended by.

Boy, was I wrong.

I received the following:

I wanted to let you know that we won't be able to make it on Saturday. We
appreciate the invite but are also a bit uncomfortable with the last two
invitations we received very pointedly making comments about no smoking on
the premises. The main source of our discomfort lies in our perception that
you
have not attempted to discuss this with us personally in our last couple of
visits. We were completely unaware that there was any boundary that had
been crossed or that S's conscientious attempts to be very polite in
staying
away from the house and out of sight of the children were not enough. Since
the trip up is fairly long staying for a short time is not feasible. Since
your property is very large going off premises is also not
truly feasible.

While we enjoy your friendship, it seems that at this time we'll have to
accept that our opportunities to spend time together will be limited to
times when you all are able to visit us or when we meet at public events. I
am sorry that this issue has to come between us. If you are interested in
discussing this with us face to face we'd be happy to or if you have any
other suggestions of how we can reach a compromise we're always ready to
work with you.

I do hope that you all have a wonderful time and we are very sad to miss it.

Since I have sat and talked at length about this with them, I don't understand how this could be a surprise. Or how they couldn't understand the seriousness of this since she had a hysterectomy a few years ago (which I was there for her and stayed with her for four days after and then again the following week). I guess they weren't listening when I talked about the doctors orders and the restrictions that I have put on my life as not to be a burden on others. And how can an invite that went out to over 40 people be a pointed made comment to them? I sent that same comment to the children's party guests. Or maybe my friendship doesn't warrant someone going for a few hours without a smoke. I guess I just can't compete with rat poison. Or maybe my health just really doesn't matter to them. Maybe I am just not important enough.

After this, I have to really wonder. What am I to my friends like this? Am I just a means for something else they want? Was making a simple request about my home and what happens here out of line? I wonder who else I may have offended without knowing.

A thought occurred to me: If I was seriously injured or hospitalized for any reason, who would visit me in the hospital? Hmmm, well, I don't think they would because it would be too much of an inconvenience due to the fact that hospitals don't allow smoking in them.

Sorry to vent, but it really amazes me how a simple request on my part to be healthy and cancer-free can go so bad.

Okay, a phrase that can bring fear to a grown man. But wait.....I think I have found the ultimate thing to do with left over holiday turkey......

Turkey Curry!

Its light, healthy, and tasty.

YES! I am a hot babe in leather. Can life get any better! : )

You scored as Lara Croft. A thrill-seeking, slightly unscrupulous, tough-as-nails archaeologist, Lara Croft travels the world in search of ancient relics perhaps better left hidden. She packs two Colt .45s and has no fear of jumping off buildings, exploring creepy tombs, or taking on evil meglomaniacs bent on world domination. </td> Lara Croft 100% Indiana Jones 96% Neo, the "One" 92% The Amazing Spider-Man 88% Captain Jack Sparrow 88% Batman, the Dark Knight 83% William Wallace 83% El Zorro 79% Maximus 79% James Bond, Agent 007 71% The Terminator 67% Which Action Hero Would You Be? v. 2.0 created with QuizFarm.com

Okay, first I have to point out that I had to talke a tie breaker because I scored exactly the same for both. Talk about split personality. Interesting how just a person can score even for both and light. Hmmmmm, something to ponder.

You scored as Light. You are light. You are a happy, peppy person. You hate sadness and war. You were probabaly a weathy person in your past life, or mabey something else as long as it is happy, if you lived one also. You love life and the world. </td> Darkness 100% Light 100% Are you Dark or Light??? (only girl anime pics) created with QuizFarm.com

You Belong in 1970

If you scored... 1950 - 1959: You're fun loving, romantic, and more than a little innocent. See you at the drive in! 1960 - 1969: You are a free spirit with a huge heart. Love, peace, and happiness rule - oh, and drugs too. 1970 - 1979: Bold and brash, you take life by the horns. Whether you're partying or protesting, you give it your all! 1980 - 1989: Wild, over the top, and just a little bit cheesy. You're colorful at night - and successful during the day. 1990 - 1999: With you anything goes! You're grunge one day, ghetto fabulous the next. It's all good!

Good thing I was born in 1972.

Your Pirate Name Is...

Lord Fanny La Bouche

Well, they got the fanny part right. : )