Closing Out 2005

It's that time again -- time for looking back and reflecting on the year that was . . .

WHAT WAS GOOD:

1. My best friend took a stand and said "No more!"
2. Brandan, perhaps the sweetest baby ever, was born.
3. Maya made Nate a big brother.
4. Business picked up for Dr. J. He's making it happen.
5. I am in the best physical shape of my life.
6. Having a wonderful time in New York with Joey and Arlene.
7. Bonus checks! (And finding out about them when I'm in the shower!)
8. Fat-free Reddi-Whip. Who knew?!
9. "So Jewtastic" - thank you VH1 for the funniest hour of television!
10. No longer using credit cards to pay for ANYTHING -- yeah for us!!!
11. Rediscovering how much I love Dr. J ;o)


WHAT WAS BAD:

1. The search for new car insurance. Oi Vey.
2. Learning that Bill & Sue still owned a carousel horse.
3. Chase credit card services -- run by inept people, from top to bottom.
4. Light sensitivity - what a doozy it was to figure out the source!
5. Being stood-up by my father-in-law. Again.
6. Watching too many people get fatter than they already were.
7. Finally confessing to my husband . . . that I don't like his pancakes.
8. Feeling helpless when people who live far away are hurting.
9. Illegal aliens and the border issue remain major problems.
10. Still having to do way too much parenting of my parents.
11. Dave Chappelle's "spiritual journey" to Africa. What a disappointment.

WHAT I LEARNED:

1. Not everything is meant to last.
2. How well a smooth-bodied shiraz pairs with a digital camera.
3. Letting things fade away can be preferable to a confrontation.
4. Grown-ups purchase life insurance. Wow.
5. I am a whiz at organizing my best friend's pantry.
6. Some people are just pathetic.
7. I am blessed to have 2 co-workers that are among my closest friends.
8. In an emergency, I can sew my husband's pants. Not pretty, but can be done.
9. Stuffing things down will guarantee a clog or a mess. Or both.
10. I am really good at financial planning.
11. Dr. J and I are on track for our "Best Year Ever," hee-hee!

It's Not Christmas Eve Until Somebody Gets Hurt

What would a major Christian holiday be without a trip to the emergency room? Perhaps my Mom should have kept to her original plan of attending a 10:00 p.m. Christmas Eve mass at her own church, instead of asking if she could come to midnight mass at ours. Dr. J and I were only a few blocks away from church when we got a frantic call from my Mom -- in the process of getting out of the car, parked just across the street from our church, she slipped on some ice and fell, and feared that she had broken her left ankle! We hustled to her side, where Dr. J examined her in the backseat of the SUV, and sent her on to the emergency room.

So what did my Mom get for Christmas? A new set of crutches for her broken ankle, and a prescription for painkillers!

I guess we should be glad that she didn't "shoot her eye out" with a Red Ryder BB gun!

Things I Just Won't Do

The other day Dr. J and I began wondering aloud about things that other folks are proud to oh-so-casually drop into a conversation, yet mean little or nothing to him or I. Which got us to thinking, what are the things we DON'T want to be able to say -- because we don't value it, or think it's stupid or worthless, or silly? It doesn't mean that it's not a worthy accomplishment or interesting pursuit for somebody else, but simply that it's of no interest to us.

Thus, here are a few things that you will never hear coming out of my mouth:

* I ran the Boston Marathon.
* I voted for Nader.
* I was in the Peace Corps.
* I backpacked around Europe.
* I am an atheist.
* I have season tickets to the opera.
* I eat tofu.
* I enjoy camping.
* I have a cat.
* I'm a big NASCAR fan.
* I do the New York Times crossword puzzle each week.
* I like to square-dance.
* I love watching hockey games.
* I re-tiled the bathroom.
* I love when people drop by unannounced.

And What Do You Want For Christmas, Little Girl?

Wasn't it easier to answer this question when you were a kid? You always put "a pony" down on your list first, since there was no chance you'd get it, thus increasing the liklihood of getting the second thing you listed, which is what you really wanted anyway.

But it seems like every year it becomes harder for me to even list one single thing. Correction, one reasonable thing. Sure, there are plenty of things I'd be thrilled to receive as Christmas gifts, but they are either unrealistic or seem unnecessary. I'd love a historic, century-old, 5-bedroom home in my town, but that seems a bit much to wish for this year. Same thing with a 2-week trip to a spa in the Arizona desert -- nice to think about, but just don't think it's likely I'll find it under the tree.

After so many years of self-imposed frugality, I think I may have gotten to the point that I don't even know what to ask for!

Two Christmas Television Classics! (Or "Good Grief!" and "Hey Now!")

Everyone knows that I am a first-rate television addict. I love, love, love television! Thus I am thrilled that two of my favorite Christmas-time television shows will be on television tonight -- and thankfully, at separate times.

The first, is the classic "A Charlie Brown Christmas," which will run on CBS at 8:00 p.m. USA Today did a nice article on the special.

The second big program I will be tuning into this evening is the "Victoria's Secret Fashion Show" which is also on CBS at 10:00 p.m. (thus giving parents plenty of time to get the kiddies to sleep!) Since I buy all of my little somethings at Victoria's Secret, I am really looking forward to seeing their couture pieces, as well as watching the women strut with sass! Of course, it is sad that this will be the last time Tyra Banks will be hitting the runway, since she is hanging up her panties and stilettos to pursue her two television shows and other projects.

Merry Christmas!