A year in review

Well, today is New Year's Eve. We will probably be in bed by 10 as usual but that's okay with us. Seems like most days with us are celebratory days so there's no need to stay up until midnight. We have a great life.

I was just looking back through my blogs over the last year. My 2 primary New Year's resolutions were to lose 40 pounds and to not be a bitch. Well, I lost 48#! and I tried very hard to be nice everyday. So, I must say, I think I really accomplished some things! Its time to think about new year's resolutions again. Once again, losing weight will be one of them but I'm hoping to come up with some more meaningful ones as well.

In reading over my old blogs, the pervasive theme was my weight. Its embarrassing to see how much I focused on my weight. I'm going to try not to do that this year. At least, if I am focused on it, I'm not going to go on about it in my blogs. It is always in the back of my mind, I've struggled my whole life, but it doesn't have to always be in the front of my mind.

Another pervasive theme in my old blogs was my love for Rick, my friends and my girls. Do you know how lucky I am?!! I hope that this year, in 2008 I am able to continue to grow in my relationships with them. I am truly, abundantly blessed.

I am going to visit my parents and my nephews next weekend. I'm excited to go. I love making that long car trip alone. It gives me time to think and to refocus. I'll miss Rick and the girls, but it will be nice to have "me time". My dad likes to take care of me while I'm there and I like to let him. Rick and I talked a while back about my parents. I really feel like I need to see them more often. They won't always be around, so I want to see them as much as I can. Rick understands this because he lost both of his parents a few years ago. I know he misses them very much. So, off I go for a long weekend.

Sienna is having a tough time again. Bless her heart, life just hasn't been easy for her since she moved out on her own. Her roommate has decided she is moving back to Georgia to be near her mom. I say, good riddance to her, because she has really been annoying since she moved in, but that means that Sienna will have to search for a new roommate or figure out how she can pay rent on her own. I know its a struggle, but surely, eventually, things will get easier for her. I can't do it for her, she will have to figure things out on her own. At least, that's what everybody keeps telling me.

Have a Happy New Year!

Well, here we are...

The day after Christmas. We had a wonderful day. The girls were here and they seemed genuinely happy with their haul. It was nice having them here. Sienna got the camera she was wanting and I think she took about 12 pictures, 10 of them were of herself. I asked her if she wanted me to take some pictures of her but she just said "No, I can do it." LOL. Chanel got a beautiful red sweater and all we heard about was what she could wear with it when she went to meet Steve next weekend. She is a little excited, I think. We played games and watched movies and ate. It was a great day. I was finally able to give Chanel the album I had worked so hard on from CKU. She really seemed to like it.

We were successful in getting Rick just what he wanted without him finding out that we bought the stuff. He was surprised and very happy. I have learned what every tool on his new swiss army knife does at least 3 times. Usually, he would rather we just get him an Amazon gift certificate so he can pick out what he wants. But that is no fun for me so I took a chance and SCORE! It was great. He also got a new camera and Sienna was sure to point out that he wasn't even using it. He usually uses his cameras for other things and lets me take care of the family gatherings. I, on the other hand, used my new camera. I was in everybody's face. So much so that they got pretty tired of it but I had a great time!
I got everything I wanted but for me the most precious gift of all was that my girls and Rick were here with me.

Missing Steve Irwin

We were on our way back from our trip and it was getting cold and rainy and I was a little sad to be coming home, actually. Well, we had to stop to use the rest room (as we do at least once an hour. :) ) We parked in front of this sign posted at the rest area. I mean, Seriously?! Who wants to get out of the car with a sign like this posted? Mother nature took over, of course, and I power walked to the bathroom but I was definately on the lookout for water moccasins or rattlesnakes or whatever other kinds of creepy creatures that might live in South Georgia! I was hyper-alert and wishing for Steve Irwin. I even was sure to look into the commode first just in case one got into the plumbing. I definately DID NOT sit on the seat. The whole experience made me smile...once I was safely back in the car.

We are off to our office Christmas party. Hope you guys have a great night!

Our Cruise

We had a fabulous time on our cruise and with the exception of Tropical Storm Olga the weather was beautiful. We had to divert to San Juan on Tuesday instead of going to St Thomas because of the storm. Then,since I was not feeling good from the day before, I didn't feel like going into town. We have been on many cruises and this is the first one on which I was seasick. The seas were very rough for two days. After that though, it was all good.

We played bingo, which I love, at least once a day. Sometimes twice and one day, three times! Rick is so tolerant of my whims. He really is incredible. He sat right there beside me every single game. We scheduled our sun time and our nap time around bingo time. Its crazy, I know. I'm a bit quirky sometimes. I was getting a little discouraged there after losing every game but finally on the last day, I was able to call BINGO!! So then....it was all worth it.

We ate way too much, as we always do. I had chocolate every single day. They had this chocolate melting cake that was by far the best thing I have ever put in my mouth and we scheduled our dinners in the dining room around when they were having that on the menu. Yum. LOL.

We met some very interesting people from all over the world. Australia, Canada, Germany, New York, Charleston, several from Florida and even some from Tennessee. Very cool.


I'm sad that our vacation is over. We had such a good time. On our drive home, it rained almost the entire way and it just kept getting colder. That has been the hardest part. Today was sunny at least so the cold isn't so hard to take. I think the only way I will make it through the dreary days of winter is to just begin planning our next adventure! Hmmmmm....where should we go next?

Ahhhh

We just got home from our cruise this morning and I will tell you all more about that tomorrow but just for tonight, let me just say as I crawl into my wonderful, beautiful, luxurious, comfortable bed....aaaahhhhh feels so good!!

Sweet dreams. Oh and BTW it was 80 degrees and sunny when I woke up yesterday morning. :-) Here's a pic from St Maarten.