2012's been very good to me

Like so many others, I can hardly believe that this year is done!  It has flown by.  I always tell myself (and anyone else who will listen) that time goes much faster as we grow older and Thank God that it does!  Can you imagine if every year dragged as it did when we were children - waiting for our birthday - waiting for Christmas - waiting for school to be out for the summer.  Now, life is the opposite: It's as if we're on an out-of-control train flying downhill headed toward the next event - one for which we ARE NOT PREPARED!

"OMG, is Christmas in two weeks?  How did that happen?"  "OMG! is it almost your birthday?"  "How can it be our anniversary already?"   You know what I mean?

Despite my all-too-frequent moments depicted above, I had a great year.
In no particular order of occurrence, here are my highlights:

Son #1 Graduated from Law School.  We got to attend the graduation ceremony and his swearing in.  AND he got a job!!  In a law firm!!  We are so proud of him.  He's also been learning to brew hard apple cider.  His first batch was finished for Christmas.  It was delicious, tasted a lot like champagne, and has a much higher alcohol content than beer.  Apparently, I get just a little louder after drinking only one tall glass.  Oh My!

Son #2 Finished his year-long contract in Haiti.  He did a splendid job. He made us very proud.  We got to visit him and bring him back to the US.  YAY!!  He is currently NOT looking for a job.  But neither is he lounging on our couch.  We put him to work painting the building that houses our offices and he is making plans for two trips.  That boy has the travel bug and he has it BAD!!  He also applied to graduate school for the fall so he is just getting as many trips in before some real work begins.

The Husband actually sold his old car.  Really!  That is such a momentous event.  I am so proud of him,  LOL.


Most of my trips this year were quilt related.  I attended Road to California, a retreat in Tahoe, and another in Temecula.  I'm lucky to have a spouse who understands my addiction and doesn't mind being abandoned for days on end.

Izzy made it through the whole year without breaking anyone's nose or damaging any property.  Amazing!

There was so much more that went on but these are the things that make me smile.

I hope your year was as wonderful and that your next will be even better.

Chris

PS.  If anyone can tell me how to get rid of the spaces at the top of this post PLEASE tell me.  On the editing page there are NO SPACES.  I'm out of ideas.  SIGH.

Yup! It's me.

The Husband checked my blog last night and yelped, "You haven't posted since October!!"

OK, I'll ease back into it.  Life has been hectic at our house lately.  In a somewhat chronological order, here's what I've been doing since my last post:

1. Got an IPL laser facial.  OMG!  it HURT.  I love the results but if you get one, take a pain pill first and spring for the numbing cream.


2. Spent a day off hanging around for the glass guy to show up because the lawnmower spit out a rock and broke our garage door (the people-sized one) into a million pieces.

3. Went to my 40th (gasp!) class reunion.  It was a lot of fun.  The amazing thing is that we were charged $25.00 each.  That fee included: open bar with actual alcohol and not just beer and wine, a taco truck with delicious tacos, an awesome DJ, and a beautiful venue.  The next day, Becky the coordinator, announced that she still had money left over!  I need me some of her party-planning skills.




4. Spent a few weeks packing up everything in 6 rooms so we could get our floors refinished while on vacation (see #5 below).  One of those rooms was my sewing studio.  I have TOO MUCH STUFF!!


5. Went to Haiti to see what son #2 has been doing with the last year of his life.  Pretty impressive project that he was directing call Haiti Timber ReIntroduction Project.  A really worthwhile program to help some of the outlying communities by teaching them to fish instead of giving them one.  If you feel the need to donate, please feel free: http://reforesthaitinow.org/treesandhealth.html


6.  After 4 days in Haiti (plenty, believe me) we hopped over to Guadeloupe Island and spent some quality resort time drinking beer and swimming in the lovely ocean with electricity and air conditioning and full-time water.  Oh, and traffic signals and paved roads.

7. Arrived home on a Saturday night.  Spent ALL DAY Sunday returning boxes of STUFF and furniture to our gorgeous refinished floors.


8.  Spent days thinking about organizing and unpacking boxes.



9.  Spent more days thinking about it.

10.  Sigh, got most of the sewing studio back in working order.

11.  Learned that son #1 PASSED THE BAR!!!

12.  Another week went by, got the dining room in order.


13.  Went to my brother's home for a lovely Thanksgiving Dinner.
 
14.  Cooked another Thanksgiving dinner at my house so my Father-in-law could enjoy a home-cooked feast. 

15.  Let my newly-returned son worry about his bedroom.

16.  Spent part of Saturday unpacking half of the living room.



17.  Went to watch son get sworn in to the State Bar of California!  SIGH.

Amongst all of that I have continued to go to my exercise classes and eat lots of Thanksgiving leftovers - two competing endeavors.

What have you been up to while I was MIA?

PS.  Can anyone tell me how to get rid of the LARGE SPACE at the top of my post??

I've been busy

We had friends in from out of town over the weekend.  One of the fun  things we did was to kayak in the ocean around La Jolla.   The photo above is what I pictured when we cooked up this plan.  Imagine, instead, overcast skies, freezing water, soaking wet bodies.  Further imagine being flipped over on the way in so you arrive on the beach soaked to the bone.  Then imagine not being able to find the friend you left behind who is holding all the cell phones and the keys to the car.  Yup.  Good times!!

Actually, right up until the flipping over part, the adventure was pretty amazing.  At one point we were surrounded by a pod of jumping dolphins!  We saw birds and sea lions and wonderful breaking waves.  I recommend it but perhaps later in the season.......