Post-Christmas hangover ...

[Getupngo]

... no, not the alcohol-related kind. Sorta the letdown after the buildup. I had projects going in three different directions and finished the last one at 3 p.m. Christmas Eve.

Spent Christmas Eve with my son and his family. Sweetest memory: an unexpected, run-across-the-room embrace from six-year-old Ben when I gave him his first "chapter book." He's a first-grader caught up in the magic of reading.

The most wonderful gift was watching what a great daddy my son has become to his three stepsons. When he and DIL married, DS immediately became primary caregiver to the boys for two years, while his new wife worked full time and went to nursing school full time. During that time he forged his own special relationship with each of the boys that he never would have had (I think) if mom had been there to "manage" the transition.

Now that the holidays are done, tomorrow or Monday the snotty little dog and I are packing up and heading back south to St. George, UT until the end of February. Finances will not allow me to join in with the AZ GTG festivities, though.

Cheers everyone!

[VickieP]

A late Merry Christmas to everybody! The last few days have been pretty hectic around here, decorating, cleaning & cooking. Now it's all over except for the leftovers! The last of the family left around 7pm and my Post-Christmas hangover was taken care of with a nice 4 hour nap in my recliner, got stiff and hardly could get up after that.

[Liz]

Hope everyone had a nice, if hectic, day yesterday, and can relax and unwind a bit today. I spent the day at my DD's near Tampa....let them do the cooking, and took no tempting leftovers home with me. My other DD & family left in the afternoon to try to make it back to GA (Augusta area) before the ice & snow storm hit there.

This morning is church and later today DD will bring the 2 grandsons for a two-day stay at Grandma's. It's supposed to turn very cold here, so will have to figure out how to keep them busy. Planned outside chores & hike might not happen if it's too cold.

Wednesday - Sunday I have a planned camping trip to the Ocala National Forest....supposed to warm up....hope so.

Be careful driving on those snowy icy roads.

[dayspring39]

Good Morning everyone... a cool start here and will not be a pretty day at all... windy.. we had a lot of rain last evening but it will be all taken away with the wind today...
It was a nice day yesterday with friends at a dinner and then we watched Miracle on 34 th Street... I cannot believe I had never seen that one... it was fun... the men went out side and chatted... it was very a nice 62 degrees...
It sounds like everyone had memories made that is great... they last a lifetime...
I will get ready for church then come home and veg out...
If you are driving please take it easy better slow than the alternative...
Kathleen

[Nasoosie]

GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY!

I know that letdown feeling, Janice. I always felt it as I was groiwng up---almost to the point that I wished I could re-wrap the gifts and be surprised all over again! But this year, Christmas was just another day for me, although in a different environment where I could go bike-riding and SWIMMING!

If the kids and I had nto planned a camping trip this weekend, Liz, I would be very tempted to come up north to Ocala and find a spot near you. Maybe, after I get a route figured out, I will head up that way before the January GTG.

It sounds as if you had a wonderful Christmas Day, Kath! I am so happy you now have a great circle of friends to do things with and share your winter! Orlando didn't get that much-needed rain last night, or, if it did, I sure didn't hear it. I must say my street looks a bit wet this morning, however, so maybe we did get a sprinkling. But it was the winds that woke me up at dawn this morning----they are wild here today! Sky is grey and very heavy-looking.

I went swimming in our club pool yesterday afternoon! I must say it felt colder than any swim I have taken in the Atlantic off the coast of MA in any season! I think it's the calmness of a pool, no surf to batter you around, that might make it seem colder! It did make me numb, just like the ocean used to, and turned my skin bright red! But I gritted my teeth and slipped my shoulders under (why are the shoulders the worst to get into the coldness?) and swam like a demon across the width of the pool and back! That hot spa water felt so good after that little escapade! I suspect the water temperature was in the low 40s in the pool-----the only thing missing from a polar bear swim back home was the ice on top! I shared the hot spa with a grandpa and his 2.5 year old granddaughter. He has been a psychology teacher for 35 years, so we had a lengthy conversation about our education system in this country----very interesting time.

After that, I went for a lengthy bike ride on these endless flat back roads, and took Molly for a walk around the pond. The only problem with the pond walks are those nasty stick-tights (tiny little bur-like seed pods) that cling to her all over, and to my pant legs and socks. I spend a long time picking them off when I get back here. The ones that get stuck to her muzzle really drive her crazy!

I got lots of calls from friends and family yesterday, even though I was alone for the holiday. It was fun talking to everyone. My daughter and her guy spent the night with her grandmother, and she will stay there for another day or two, which is nice for Mema.

My son and Melissa will return to their place in St. Cloud from Tampa today, and I guess I should go over there to spend the next few nights in the trailer to run the furnace and hot water heater---or drain the water system, which I have been putting off. I need to see if we will have water hookups and electricity where we are going to camp this New Year's weekend. I am waiting for my retirement check which will be deposited into my bank account on the last day of this month. Until then, I am penniless, pretty much, but for the small amount I saved to buy the croquet set, which I will look for today on my way past the shopping malls. I am hoping Sports Authority will have a set.

I hope that everyone will have a day of rest after the big holiday flurry of activities. Coffee tastes good, and I am going to make a batch of sugar cookies today to try out my grandma's old fashioned recipe, so stop in and try some later!

2010 is nearly over----where on earth did it go????

[avalen]

Good morning ladies, thought I'd be the first one up today, so to my surprise the coffee is
already on.
So, its all done for another year, and surprisingly it was much busier at the airport than
I expected. A few went out and a few came back, it was a good night in tips. One of the
other girls had her very first day scheduled and she really didn't do very well, shes got
lost 3 times making that loop around the terminals and kept taking the wrong roads
and ending up in other places. I tried to help her a few times to get back on track over
the radio and then had to help her get fueled as well, hoping she does better tonight
with a little more practice. I was happy to help her. One other seasoned driver was on
duty and he was schedule to work until 11:00 (a full timer) and asked if I would stay and take
over his shift. NEGATIVE, I was happy to be scheduled to go home at 8:30, if I wanted
full time hours I would have put in for full time hours. The cashier/dispatcher knew him
from the other company many of them worked at and told me he did that ALOT and to
watch out or he would take advantage of me. I assured him I was smarter than that to
happen and would only stay if the passenger loads required it, not cause someone else
wanted to go home early. As it was, I worked until 9:30 and as I tallied up my time card
for the week....32 total hours! It will be much of the same for the coming week until I
go back to school and my hours drop down to a more normal part time schedule.

Christmas breakfast was great, son was there and he's doing well, grandsons and the
two step grandsons were there as well. I had cash cards for all of them as those little
boys really enjoy that money! Although the two step grandsons are not mine, it still
feels like it cause they think of me as another grandma and I've known them since
birth. They are actually my grandsons half brothers after mom divorced my son and
married some other guy. It gets to be a really weird situation over at those family
dinners and gatherings because all the "X"'s and such are there too and everybody gets
along just fine. (I'm one of the "X''s)

Today will be a bubble bath day as I get out one of my new gifts and lounge around all
morning until time to get ready for work. This workaholic thing is not so bad
In 5 years, when I retire, I'll have myself a nice little mh, and plenty of money to
hit the road.
Enjoy your day today, relax, make time for yourself for a change.

[Echo]

GOOD MORNING SISTAHS!!!

Have no idea what so ever why the heck I'm waking up so early? Went to bed at 1am and here I am, woke up at 5:30am. Blech!!! Might go back to bed for a little bit like I did yesterday for 2hrs? Will have to wait and see.

It's very quiet here, took Shade outside and didn't hear a thing except a few 'woofs' from a couple of dogs in the area. Yesterday morning at the little Wendy's/gas station/truck stop there were 3 big trucks parked and idling. Drivers were sleeping and I had to wonder why they were sitting there on Christmas morning? Only just a few reasons for anyone to be spending the night in a truck stop. Felt really bad for them. Never spent Christmas in a truck stop but have been out there on more holidays than i care to remember!!! It's a rough life.

Don't know what the weather is bringing for us today? Haven't checked yet but I will as soon as I post this. I do know that the wind is gone and that the thermometer reads warmer right now than it did last night before bed. Of course without the wind of course it would be warmer, but there are clouds up there that I am not happy to see. Jodie came pounding on the door last night at about 11pm or later to say that she had heard a rock slide over in the golf course subdivision. Simply can't understand people who would build houses that sit almost right up to the base of the cliffs. Don't know if they are stupider than I am or just braver??? No way would I want to live where those house sit. I would be terrified that the rocks would come down and hit the house!!! It will be interesting to see where the slide was when it gets lighter out. I know that we sure don't need any more rain. For right now I would gladly choose the snow!

Ok, gonna go do a little reading of other posts to see if and what ya'll have been up to. Have a blessed day and please be careful.

Love to all

ps. Soos!!! Gads you gave me the shivers. You are out of your mind swimming in water of that temp! ohhhhhhhhh!

[flick4411]

Good Morning Ladies from the great North...er, um...Central VA which looks like the great North. We have about 3 inches of snow (which doesn't sound like much to some of you, but for us, it's a lot). And it's still snowing. It was so funny looking back to the week's worth of weather forecasts. They said it's coming, it's not coming, it's coming...well, you get the gist. They simply couldn't figure out what was going to happen.

Between the oncoming snow and the fact that I had been up to 0530 reading yesterday, I had to give up on the wonderful dinner I was invited to by friends in Richmond. However, I had a wonderful ham, big bottle of good wine, and the chocolates I had to deliver. Since the snow was due around 1-2 p.m., I decided to head out at noon, get to my friends and deliver the food. Turned around and came home as the first flakes started to fall. Don't mind driving in snow, but don't like it in the dark. So my Christmas was spent alone with the fur babies. The snow did start about 3 p.m. and just didn't stop and it's coming down like crazy now. Supposed to go on all day. I'm going to get dressed after cuppa coffee #2 and go scrape the driveway before it gets too deep. They are forecasting another 3 inches--this just might turn out to be snow-ma-gadden again.

I'm sitting here watching "This Week with Christiane Amanpour" and it's all about the awful statistics about our returning troops who are homeless. I think, when I retire, and get settled in WA, I am going to figure out how to help this situation. I will have the time to give to our troops who are injured, homeless, and in need of help. I so clearly remember how the returning Viet Nam troops were treated. We, as a nation, have certainly treated this generation of soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines better...but no one who has served our country should be homeless!!!!! Gotta learn more about this sitution and figure out what I/we can do to help! (ok, I'm stepping off my soap box now...)

Wherever you are, I hope the post-Christmas let down passes quickly and that you are looking forward to the new year! I'm gonna go scrape and salt now!

Have a wonderful day, Ladies!

[BirdbyBird]

As my daughter has said this morning.....this is real snow for Charlotte so glad that we changed plans and decided not to head north today....but of course now we get to watch the weather and make a decision about tomorrow. Daughter also mentioned that Charlotte doesn't own much in the way of snow removal equipment. Heading out to brunch in a little bit. Remi is not completely scared here though he spent a good amount of time in his crate during the festivities yesterday....he said TOO MANY PEOPLE.....and overall has not frightened daughter's cat too much. Stay warm and fed.....holiday left overs are the best if you can find them

[Acadianmom]

I woke up with a headache this morning. Probably from all the junk I ate yesterday. No alcohol, unless you count rum cake.

It was suppose to be in the 20's last night but the lowest I saw was 39. Glad they missed that prediction. They are still saying 27 for tonight. I think the cold weather is sliding East of us.

My son is flying back from New Jersey this morning, assuming he made his plane. It just landed in Dallas a few minutes ago. Computers are something, you can track a plane across the country. It's a good thing he booked a flight through Dallas and not Atlanta.

If I can get moving I might go see what's left at the after Christmas sales. My sister wanted a robe so maybe I can find one. It got so crazy before Christmas I wasn't going back.

Martha

[Redetotry]

I for one am always so glad when Christmas is over, not sure why but it has always been a time of the year I really dread. Happy to be going to church this morning as the weekend has seemed long even though we went out for awhile yesterday. I made a small turkey breast when we got home for dinner and guess I should have followed a recipe, it was really dry and sort of chewy. Oh well maybe it will make good soup!
One of my presents from DH was a funny little ball that looks sort of like spongie golf ball, it is a speaker called Yuen'to and I can listen to my iPhone music or books on it! The sound is incredible. Here is a link http://www.idea-in.com/yuento/product/m ... ex_en.html
Soos you were brave swimming in that cold water, I bet the hot tub did feel delightful after that!

[Bethers]

I'm so jealous (a terrible emotion) of those of you who got the Nook. That's my present to myself, eventually. Of course, now I want the color one - and will, possibly, get magazines again. I miss all the magazines I used to read - and hmmm - now that the Nook has a color version - maybe I could get Nat'l Geographic monthly. Ah, dreaming again ...

Meanwhile, it's snowing here again. Today, while there will not be as much accumulation, the lower temps overnight put ice on the roads under the snow. So, while I didn't mind driving yesterday, don't know about going anywhere today. High is only supposed to be 30 or 31, not enough to get rid of the ice. We'll see what happens.

It sure is beautiful. I didn't take my camera for my morning walk with Peaches, and there were 2 cardinals sitting in a tree. Against the white snow on the branches, how beautiful they looked! I have the picture in my memory bank - unfortunately not to share, though.

Who'd have thought my first white Christmas since I went on the road would have been in Huntsville, AL? I think that's a hoot. And knowing themps will rise in a few days, I can accept it. I actually prefer this snow to cold and too much rain. I know I'm nuts. Would rather have warm and sunny over it all, though.

Happy day after - hope you're all enjoying yourselves.

[bluepinecones]

Good Morning
For those of you who are missing your winter snow, here are a couple of shots of our oh so rare measurable snowfall. For many here it is their first time ever to see this much snow. Most of the valley got 3 to 5 inches; Monte Sano and the campground on the mountain recorded 6.5 inches. Another heavy snow shower moving thru now - so pretty to watch from warmth and security of home.
Views from front porch


and from the back porch, note small trees bent over with weight of snow



Have a great day

[BarbaraRose]

Good morning all!
Yesterday, I drove down to the ocean, the long way, thru Orange County! Got my first taste of LA freeway gridlock! The highway over the mountains I wanted to take was closed due to flooding. By the time I made it to the beach 3 hours later (after getting lost a time or two), it was cold and cloudy but I still enjoyed it. San Clemente is a really cute town! Want to go back there and explore it some more. Drove down to Carlsbad (another town I liked) and after getting lost again, finally made it back up over the mountains (via another route) and back home just before it started raining. Will post pics tonight.

Today, I start my new job at noon! Yay! Will let you all know how it goes tonight.

Those of you in the snow and ice, be very careful! It's nothing to mess with especially in areas that don't have the chemicals and equipment to deal with it (or the driving skills!).

[dayspring39]

Lovely pictures Sarah... glad you are tucked away and warm...
Beth how do you keep your MH warm now... have you gotten the furnace fixed? that is a worry...
I am home from church it was a very meaningful service... I am so thankful for Christmas and what it means to me...
Kathleen