Good morning, Everyone!

Debbie - I hope you had a great time at dinner last night. You definitely deserved a night out like that. I haven't been in downtown Chicago in years!!! The last time I remember going was during Christmas time. My parents took us to see Santa. I don't remember where he was, but not the Sears building as I don't think it was completed yet. Anyhow, we had to take the elevator and as you know I am terribly claustrophobic. The elevator started getting packed and I freaked and headed out the elevator door. My mom grabbed me by the coat and others helped her pull me back in to the elevator. I think I was in 3rd grade at the time. I would have rather given up my visit with Santa than go in that crowded elevator. I've gotten better about elevators over the years but lorazepam is the way to go for my MRIs. And speaking of MRIs, I also continue to pray that all goes well with your leg.

Sally - Glad you got your seat in your van! I hope it works well for you.

B2Y - It's sad but I end up throwing them away too. I got 3 plates of cookies this year and there's no way we'll be able to eat them all. I thought of freezing them this year and pulling them out when I know I'm having company. I just hate to waste them.

Barb - Too much family time does that to me as well. I get excited to see everyone and then can't wait to leave to get some peace and quiet. I hope you have a great time on the rest of your vacation and an uneventful trip home.

Kelly - Is that a cryptic message? I mean, what was it? Don't leave us hanging here. Tell.

My big plan for today is to get some laundry done. That will be the highlight of today. Other than that, I'm just going to putz around. One of my sisters is coming tomorrow for the weekend and so I want to rest up for when she gets here.

Have a good day!

Hi everyone...cloudy and rainy here...

T, I decided I don't want to be part of the 1%...the restaurant was very elegant, service was absolutely fabulous, the food, well honestly it was just okay. The wine was the best we've ever had...and the prices for everything...

I have to say that our dinner at Mama's Fishouse on Maui was about the same price range and the food was out of this world...oh well...check Spaiggiaa off my bucket list and let me get back to my old regular restaurants...

We went back to DS & DIL's place afterwards, and looked over their vacation photo book from their trip to Italy...wow, this girl has quite a photographer's eye...beautiful. I'm putting Italy on my list of places to visit if we ever go to Europe.

Well, DH is over at his parents'...they're stressing him out quite a bit again...his mom is being a bear again. We wonder if she has another UTI already...she's only been off the meds about 2 weeks...it's either that or her Alz is really taking over her moods...poor FIL...I can't see how he can stand to wake up to his wife changing like this...

Well, hope all of you have a great Friday...where's the snow, anyhow?

Beautiful, sunny day here today. But we're in for some much colder weather according to the weatherman. We've had an unusually mild December which has been nice but I'm afraid we're going to pay for it during January and February.

I cooked a bunch of things last week and I've been eating leftovers all week. "Bout to get tired of them now, though. Turnip greens, hoppin' John, green beans, haluski......it's all good but I'm ready for something different now.

DS24 called last night and said he was coming over tomorrow. Not sure if his GF will be coming, too, as he wasn't sure what her work schedule was. I'll probably get a trip to the grocery store in while he's here.

I met a new neighbor last night. There was a strange dog in my backyard and I went out onto the patio to see if he'd come to me. He had a collar and tags so I knew he belonged to someone. Turns out he'd gotten out and his owner was walking around calling him. He walked into my backyard and put the dog on a leash and then stayed to talk for a while. Really nice man....tuns out he rescued "Buddy" the dog from an abusive owner and is trying to get him to trust him. Poor dog is still skiddish and afraid of noises and especially newspapers. Someone must have been mean to him using a newspaper. I'm just glad he was found and didn't get lost....or worse. He was a sweet dog.

Hope everyone has a Happy New Year's Eve. Be careful if you venture out. I'm staying put right here at home.

Awwwwww, that is so sweet, Kelly. Thanks, it made my day!!

I'm kinda lonesome, now that noone is dropping in. All of my PT, OT, and Nursing is over and the guy doing my minivan chair is finished for now....And my whole Family is in Jamaica...

I called my best friend last night and she is down with a bad back. This getting old carp is for the birds..

And.........HaPpY nEw YeAr!!!!

Happy new year dear friends! I have today off so me and DH and maybe DS are going out to the local steak house. We haven't been there in a couple of years so I'm really looking forward to it.

http://www.iclarified.com/entry/index.php?enid=19061

The above link is really cute, a cat playing fruit ninjas on an iPad. A work friend shared it with me on Facebook. It looks like Rocky when he was a kitten.

I can't remember the last time I "celebrated" New Year's! Probably a few years ago when I was still going places in the evening and we had Watch Night services at church. Wow.

I tried to think of something "special" we could have for a snack tonight, but we've been having so many Christmas goodies that nothing really strikes a chord.

I did manage to get in a snooze this afternoon. Nice to take the edge off.

Sally, I used to spend summers in Jamaica! (Jamaica, Vermont)

Hi all...Happy New Year!

Sal, sorry you're alone...and it bites that fam is in Jamaica...

DH took the outside lights/decorations down today before the 20s hit tomorrow...now it's only all of the inside decorations to be taken down. We have a ton of tinsel on the tree again...which we save... so it'll take awhile to get that off the tree and get everything put away...

We were invited to a friend's later this evening, but we're unsure if we're going...might be better to just go to bed early...we'll see...

Be safe everyone and have a wonderful New Year's day!!

Happy New Year everyone! Took mom over to the casino across the river in West Virginia today. We had lunch and lost some money. Leaving for IL in the morning. Hoping the weather is not too bad. forecast is possible snow flurries wind. I will probably stop in Indiana for the night.

Happy New Year everyone!

We did a little shopping this morning and then spent the afternoon watching the last two Harry Potter movies. Hubby went to bed early and I'm listening to the fireworks down the street.

Well, Bonne Annee and Happy New Year everybody! (False cheeriness, but hoping my words will convince my brain). Still feels like the same old year to me, but I'm trying to be optimistic.

I started the year off by being jerked out of my sleep by acid reflux...remind me NEVER to eat a cookie at bedtime! One stupid cookie...argh!!!

Foggy and grim this morning, but supposed to be 40 and sunny later. Suits us, but stinks for the winter economy hear. People should be skiing, snowboarding, putting their shanties out on the lakes. Riding snow machines. There is snow on the mountains, so they're open for business, but our local cross-country ski trails were hoping for Christmas vacation activity.

My husband's looking forward to several consecutive episodes of "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives" this afternoon. I've been wanting to watch "Driving Miss Daisy" again, so maybe will take it in the other room and see if that little tv/vcr combo is working. Or if I'm smart enough to MAKE it work!!