Fresh snow and white Christmas

I got up this morning to fresh snow, still falling. It's so white and fluffy - looks gorgeous on the trees and fence. The air (even in town) smelled fresh. My yard looked like a Christmas card, exactly what a white Christmas should look like.

I was very saddened this week by news of the beating death of Dan Frederick, a local businessman. I've met Dan numerous times, didn't know him really well, but enough to know he was a gentle man who loved animals and wouldn't hurt a soul. He was always very pleasant when I talked with him. It's a terrible thing, and has taken some of the goodwill feeling away from this season.

I've spent much of the day getting the final things done for tomorrow. Some friends are stopping by and my daughter and family will be in as well for a late light breakfast or early lunch. I am not cooking a huge dinner this year (yea!)

I made some ham salad and have rolls for sandwiches and will also have deviled eggs. I will wait until morning to make those. The Bailey's is all set for the coffee, and my daughter is to bring some sticky buns. As everyone else is having a big dinner, that's all we're doing here.

I cleaned the living room and swept the floor. Buddy is not a fan of the vacuum. He was on the attack until he was between the recliner and the machine. He leaped onto the recliner and tried to jump to the easy chair right next to it. He missed the 18-or-so-inch jump and slid between the two chairs, but was immediately off the floor and on a chair. I had to stop the work to laugh - he was so brave until it cornered him at the recliner. When I stopped, he stayed on the chair barking out little "huffs" until the vacuum was out of sight. He's happy again.

I am looking forward to spending some time tomorrow with my daughter and her family. My 4-year-0ld granddaughter is such fun now. She delights me with her observations and her little-girl affection. She is full of enthusiasm (except for picking up toys) and is excited about the smallest things. I smile the entire time she's around.

I do wish I could be with other family members as well. I miss them all year, but especially at Thanksgiving and Christmas. My parents, sisters, brothers and assorted nieces and nephews will gather at my sister's house on Sunday and I'll call them. If I can't be there in person, I can call and feel a little closer.

I become very introspective this time of year, and often long for the "good old days." At age 8 or 10, we could walk safely from one end of our small town to the other, with no fears of kidnapping or other terrible fate. We left doors unlocked on houses and cars. We stopped to say hello to people on their porches or in their yards. There was a feeling of being safe that I believe our kids today don't have. I'm sad to see those days are gone, and sadder still that my daughter and grandchildren will never know them.

May you all have a wonderful holiday no matter what you celebrate and a happy, safe and healthy 2009. My prayer this year (as in past years) is for peace to begin spreading throughout the country and the world. I would love to see some of our military folks coming back and the deployments decrease. I would love to not have to read of more deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan. Perhaps it's naive, but we've prayed for world peace since I was a child. Maybe if we continue that prayer, one day it will come to us.

Holidays;

Once again, I've let more than a month go by without a post. I really need to just sit down and write every now and then.

Thanksgiving was a nice family affair here, and a lot of fun with granddaughters and the dog, as well as other friends. The only downside was bronchitis. I saw the doctor the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and started the meds that day. The antibiotic was a good one and was coupled with Prednisone, which I hate. The side effects include an insatiable appetite and insomnia, as well as bloating - my head looked like a balloon! I took off Wednesday-Sunday, then went back to work. I functioned (a little) on 2-4 hours of sleep a night, all of it broken into 45-minute blocks for nearly 2 weeks, until the Prednisone wore off. I am now fully recovered, but it really knocked me down. I'd go to work, come home and fall asleep at 5 or 5:30 p.m., then sleep in those little blocks of time that the meds would allow.

I went in to the office Monday this week and took a look at my calendar to schedule some leave time over the Christmas holiday. I realized that I have so much use-or-lose leave I had to leave 30 minutes early Monday and remain on leave until Jan. 4 or I would lose some of the time I've worked hard to earn. So - I'm now off for three weeks. I'm not sleeping in. Both yesterday and today I've awakened before 2:30 a.m. (My internal clock usually has me up by 3 a.m. every day.)

Yesterday I did a little shopping and saw the doctor for a routine check-up. All is good. I plan to stay home today and wrap gifts, do cards, etc. Tomorrow I'll finish the shopping and hit the Post Office (not my favorite thing at normal times, and certainly not my favorite thing at the holidays).

The little dog seems happy to have me around. He's discovered another toy that was sent to Paco as a gift, but one that Paco never played with. I'm glad Buddy is enjoying it, though it's sometimes annoying when he starts biting it to make it squeak (loudly). He usually does that when I'm on the phone.

I will go to the office Monday for a short while to certify time cards and take care of a few other items that need my attention, but will not be there long.

We've been pretty lucky here so far with temperatures. It's been relatively warm with just a couple of days in the -20 range. On one of those days in November, my furnace's fan motor decided to quit working. I had to call someone out to repair it - to the tune of almost $600. That blew Christmas shopping that week :( However, it was so nice to feel warm air once again circulating. The temperature in the house got down to about 50 degrees - which I would welcome in April or July, but in November it just felt downright cold. I rarely use my down comforter, but I pulled it out and sat on the bed wrapped in it while the repairman was downstairs. Buddy curled up next to me and had just his little nose sticking out, so I'm sure he was comfortable.

I bought a few sundresses for the January trip to Hawaii. I'm now really beginning to look forward to it. My reservations (plane and hotel) are made and I've got arrangements for Buddy settled. All I need to do now is arrange for someone to take me to the airport. I bought a book on Oahu to read through. I'll have one free day before the conference starts, and I plan to play tourist for that day.

Since I'm not sure when I'll update again, I'll wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a safe, healthy and prosperous 2009.