It has been a very long time since my last post and for that I am sorry. I will not bore you (or depress you) with the reasons why but let me just say that 2009 is a year I am looking forward to forgetting! I feel as though the past year has been like a soap opera because you see, it had so many of the same elements: trouble with the law, attorneys, death, near death and on it goes. I have often stepped outside of myself to try to get a different perspective and honestly if it were not all true and happening to me, I would have enjoyed watching it.

It is without enthusiasm that I look towards Christmas but forge ahead I must! The outside is looking very festive but the inside is lacking (and by "lacking" I mean I have not put out one blessed Christmas decoration, much less the tree!) The plan is to have all of that finished by week's end. I must also add that I have not even begun my Christmas shopping. Not thing one!! Since I have done such a horrible job of preparing for a holiday that I have known very well was coming my penance will be that any and everything that I will need to buy in order to be ready will have to be bought...AT THE MALL!! I hate the mall any other time of the year and so it would go without saying that I hate the mall at Christmas. I will have to go this week and hope to knock it all out in a day or two. Christmas list (check), money in bank account to pay for gifts off of list (check), one entire day set aside to shop and only shop (check) and finally, Valium in order to make it through said day without physically harming another human being (ummm, I'll get back to you on that one.)

I will write more often and try to make you smile now that the worst (Good God I can only hope) is being me. Come on 2010!!!!!

The Car (Again!), Sports and Grocery Shopping...

Still have the check engine light on and now today I was unpleasantly surprised to have a "brake" light blink on and have a terrible beep sound to go with it. Thankfully it quickly went off but still I am very concerned. I will have Jim look into it but I live in fear of being stranded on the side of the road with no one to help me except for a homicidal maniac (those of you who know me are used to these reoccurring thoughts of my murder) I will keep you posted but again the price to have my German car repaired is much more than the paycheck I received today, which will, of course, all go toward the purchase of milk!

When I find my winning lottery ticket the first thing I will do is hire someone to do all of my grocery shopping for me as it is my least favorite thing to do in the whole world. I would rather scrub toilets and floors on my hands and knees than go to the grocery store. The kids and I sometimes do something we call "Supermarket Sweep" (like the old game show) where we split up with part of the list and see how fast we can get in and out. Fun but expensive because if you will recall the object of that game show was to spend the most money in the least amount of time and my object is to, of course, spend as little money as possible.

You will notice I have added a link to a new blog. It is written by a friend of mine and while I support all of her endeavors I cannot support her love of the Baltimore Ravens as I am a Pittsburgh Steelers fan. She is an awesome writer and if sports is your thing you will learn alot. We have a very important game coming up this Sunday and it will be very interesting as the battle lines have been drawn. Even if you are not a sports fan I would suggest you tune into the game. These teams have quite a history and no matter who wins I think we will all be in for a great game. Go Steelers!!

Cars, Kids and a New Year

Disaster, mes amies, disaster! My "check engine" light came on in my car about a month ago and ignoring it does not seem to make it go away. It has come on briefly in the past and then, just as quick and mysterious as it appeared, it went off. This seemed to occur after I had gotten halfway up the road so I never gave it much thought. I am sad to report that this time this has not happened. I will have to get it in the shop but since I seem to have misplaced my winning lottery ticket and I drive German car, this will have to wait. In the meanwhile I have been trying a few things. My favorite is to drive really fast and hope to "outrun" said light. Thus far, that hasn't worked. I have also toyed with the idea of putting a piece of black duct tape over the light so I can pretend it's not lit. So until I have it fixed I will just keep my cell phone charged and forge ahead. Ironic side note is that "check engine light" is not mentioned in my drivers manual..Go figure!

The kids are looking forward to the end of the semester and the start of new classes and new teachers. I am looking forward to the day when they go out on their own and I am no longer saddled with a grocery bill the size of the National Debt or having to go on daily "milk runs." I am honest when I tell you that we go through at least 1 gallon of milk a day, sometimes 1 1/2 gallons. "Got Milk?" is not just a slogan for the American Dairy Assoc, it is a question that gets asked daily around here.

I am excited about the upcoming year and what it has in store for me. I have many notes for the book and will be putting them in some kind of order very shortly and then I shall begin my process. I am thinking that I will be in need of some new pajamas (I have already found some that I must have) as I will be writing while wearing them and think I will do a much better job if I have nice, new things on. I will also be making an appointment to get my hair done in the next few weeks as I feel, that too, is a necessity.

We will be having a Bull Roast for our high school alumni and I am looking forward to seeing many friends that I have not seen in many years (that too will require a new outfit) I will let you know how it goes but I'm sure a great time will be had by all.

I hope you are making your way through the January blah as it seems we are already being assaulted by Valentine's Day bacchanalia!

Welcome to January...

Christmas is over and I hope it was a joyous time for you and yours. I imagine that by now you have returned everything you needed to and have already spent gift cards and any cash you were lucky enough to get. I, for one, am glad it's over but the downside is that now we all have to get through January. The bleakest of months, that's what January is. Could it be that it starts with such fan fare that there's no where to go but down? I'm not sure, I just know it is a blah month. It doesn't seem to snow around here like it did when I was young and perhaps that has something to do with it. As I write this it is raining. The thing is, if it's going to be wet in the winter I would prefer snow.

We lost me father on Christmas Eve and while he will be missed, he is finally at peace. For those of you that knew him, you know this and I hope you share in my outlook.

I have decided to start my book in the next couple weeks. While I have copious notes I have yet to sit at the computer and start putting them together.

Happy New Year to everyone and I hope 2009 is the best one yet!