Post Christmas

Well, I managed to make it through another Christmas! I say it like that because it is always so difficult without my mother being here. She passed in April of 2001 due to complications from pneumonia. She was a life-long smoker as well, and had severe emphysema. I actually quit smoking myself around 1998 mostly due to seeing her rapid decline after the initial emphysema diagnosis. It truly is a slow death. Her lungs were so fragile by 2001 that all it took was a bout of pneumonia - one that she just couldn't recover from.

So, with that being said, the holidays are always difficult. It was last year that I purchased a beautiful fake tree at Lowe's and put it up in the living room, using decorations that are pretty much all made by my sister. Those decorations had not been used in six years. I just couldn't get into the spirit and it just isn't the same. Christmas was always such a wonderful holiday in our household growing up and even since my move to Atlanta. So many great memories.

But it's those memories that help ease the sadness I always feel. Unfortunately, I don't think it will ever go away.

But you know, life has a habit of going on no matter what you feel and what you think (which certainly beats the alternative). I look forward to the next holiday which is New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Nothing ever spectatular is planned or expected. It's just a time to enjoy some traditions I've set for myself - a delightful lobster on New Year's Eve and then those wonderful black eye peas on New Year's Day. I truly think every year gets better so that is always a welcome anticipation. Every year except 2001!

Best wishes for a wonderful 2008!

Prior Perspectives

Found another trio of writing by most of the same folks.

Part I - Matt G
Part II - Ambulance Driver
Part III - BabsRN

Good Stuff

As was posted on a friend's blog, check this out. Read in order provided.

Part I - LawDog
Part II - Ambulance Driver
Part III - BabsRN

Mondays

Another start to the work week and this one will be longer than most because I must work 50 hours to make up for being off next Monday and Tuesday for the holiday. Next week, I'll work 30 hours. So, that would make it 80 hours for the two weeks. Whew! Being an IT contractor is nice but the downside is NO HOLIDAYS and NO VACATION or SICK days! This time of year is the toughest, it seems.

And I made it through the birthday! It was pretty low key this year. Dinner at Kim and Guy's home was nice and relaxing. My navigational system got me lost on the way over. I know how to get there but thought I'd go "her way" this time. Big mistake! She had me going down two pig trails (in my SUV with three greyhounds in the back nonetheless). I thought she knew how to get me there but she didn't. I managed to find my way there without her help. Guy made his trademark barbeque ribs for dinner. Yum, yum. He'll make them again for Christmas day. I could eat ribs every day of the week, I think. We had corn on the cob, salad, and butter muffins. Dessert was praline cheesecake. I should have jogged home after all that but I didn't! :)

On Sunday Kim, Guy and I met at the kennel to cat test the 11 new greyhounds who came in on Saturday and also do their photo session. With Guy's help we finished in record time and were able to then enjoy our afternoons. I went home and built a huge fire in the fireplace, put in a movie and worked on the laptop in front of the fire all afternoon. The three girls were passed out on couches, dog beds, and the floor and the cat even took her afternoon siesta on one of the dog beds. She was a bit tired herself from the morning spent testing the newbies. It was nice to just hang out with them for the afternoon.

But on to getting through Monday! And on to the next holiday, I say!!

TGIF

Thank goodness it's Friday! What a week. A big news week for Atlanta with the Vick sentencing, resignation of the Falcon's head coach, and then the revelation of steroid use by some ex-Braves players - none of which is a surprise, really.

Personally, I finally made it to the Dr. to get my flu and pneumonia shot so have been pretty sore from those until today. The day after the shots were given, my left eye turned really red on the inside sclera. There is a bump on the sclera as well. I went to the ophthalmologist this morning and it's just an infection, probably caused by my contacts. So . . . it's a week in glasses and plenty of prescribed eye drops(a steroid and antibiotic combo). He is a bit concerned about the bump on the sclera - more so than the redness. All I know is that it hurts and keeping it closed is the only relief I get but we all know we can't sleep 24 x 7. So, I'll just have to muddle through life the next 7 days in these hideous glasses. Actually they aren't that bad as the frames are relatively current. I just don't see as well with them and feel as if I'm groping my way around. Imagine how the driving is! :)

I found a new drink recipe this week that I want to try. It's called an Old Cuban and is pretty much like a Mojito except that it's suppose to be so much better. I must get some bitters and champagne so I can mix up a batch. In my research for this drink, I found a fabulous club in New York called the Pegu Club. It sounds intriguing with it's emphasis on mixing the best cocktail with the freshest ingredients known to man. On my next visit to the big city, I definitely plan to check it out. It's in the Soho District I believe.

Tomorrow is another birthday for me. Whoo hoo! I have plans to have dinner with my BFF and her husband and a friend and then it's just some R&R for the weekend. It's suppose to finally turn cold so perhaps I'll just hang in the living room with a fire in the fireplace all weekend and watch a few movies. I'm buying Bad Santa today so that should be fun to watch.

Toodles.