Contentment

My mom loves buying toys for our dogs (seeing as how I've neglected to ever produce any HUMAN grandchildren for her... oops!). She found the brilliant solution of buying toys from the Goodwill -- they're WAYYY cheaper than buying them at the pet store, she's supporting a good cause, and in the end my dogs just destroy them anyway, so who cares if it's a smiley bunny or sparkly unicorn or strawberry shortcake or what?

The other night I stopped at mom's and she sent home this really creepy looking bunny thing. I wish I'd taken a picture of it "before." But while we gleefully relaxed watching TV, our manic yellow lab went to town. She apparently found great satisfaction in disemboweling the poor bunny-monster.

Ah, to be so happy after a kill.

My Christmas Miracle

Our 14th annual Holiday Hullabaloo was different and, in many ways, better this year.

Absent were several long-time good friends who never miss the party.
Present was a forecast for a killer snowstorm.
These two things were NOT what made the party better.

However, what these two things managed to produce was about a 30% reduction in attendance. Even more unexpected was the happy result from this reduction - the party was MUCH more fun.

I hadn't realized how large the party had grown, until last Saturday night. Gone was my constant running like a headless chicken, refilling punch bowls and snack trays, answering the door and greeting the constant flood of guests, taking coats, giving hugs, explaining endlessly where to find everything... And, there was much more elbow room for people to mingle. I actually got to spend time talking with guests!

The gift exchange was more spirited as well. We could eliminate the "three steal limit" since there just weren't as many gifts. This year's finale was our dear Deborah using the LAST draw of the night to steal... drum roll... THE GIFT THAT SHE BROUGHT TO THE PARTY! The hooting and hollering didn't die down for a good five minutes after this faux pas was revealed!

The best revelation from this year's party was that we've decided to pare down the gathering for next year. I'm really looking hard at only inviting people that invite US to do things throughout the year. Some of these party attendees have been coming to our party for years and HAVE NEVER invited us to do ANYTHING with them. EVER. Take, for example, people from my work. Why in the HELL do I keep inviting them?? I'm not going to any longer, and what that means is I WILL NO LONGER FEEL OBLIGATED TO INVITE DALE AND DORLENE.

I am giddy with excitement, and those of you who don't know Dale and Dorlene will just have envision the fact that the once-ominous SHROUD that enveloped the party during their presence will now be forever lifted.

So let it be written, so let it be done.

I'm already looking forward to next year!

Gone in a Minute

WTF!!! Where did the last 12 months go??

I just glanced at my blog from last January, full of hope and promise about increasing my exercise in the new year, eating better and losing some weight. Shit, I think I am fatter than ever. Nice going.

This morning is cold, bleak and rainy (it's an ice storm, even better. Right.). I'm in a pissy mood because of the weather, so this day is already off to a wonderful start, and then I read the blog from 11 months ago and realized what a loser I am.

This past year flew by, and I have no idea what happened to it. I didn't see friends as often as I would have liked. I didn't get my basement cleaned-out. I didn't remodel my bathroom. I didn't take steps to get my fat ass in better shape. What the hell was I doing for the past 12 months???

People say time goes fast as you get older. Great. I am SOOO looking forward to not accomplishing a bunch of other goals in 2008.