So are we making a toast to ourselves, Richard? Are we finally, at age 53, starting to get who we are and be okay with it?

karen, consider this. if for no other reason, get yourself jacked up for Christmas on the fact that the people that you are talking to on this blog have finally started to knock themselves out to have the lives that they want to have. too many of us could not be the man or woman that our beloved wanted and still be the man or woman that we are. sometimes our beloved gets that and sometimes not, but it is plenty to celebrate in this season of light. lots of love, richard

Pat, glad that everything turned out okay! Was it determined that anyone was in the house??? with the door closing? Smart to get out of the house and call 911! It is a scary thought being home alone so much...I think of that when Neil is on the road....but we do what we have to do.

We are suppose to fly this weekend..now I hear of a Northeastern coming in on Sunday....to go or not to go...to loose airline $$...that is kind of why I don't like to travel in winter!! I don't really want to get stuck in the airport in DC... keep your fingers crossed ..maybe the track will go different!!!

I took a picture of my tree...not sure if I can get it here...very simple decorating this year.

I think you're really brave, Patti. I don't think I could have slept there by myself after all that fear and commotion. That's good that you found the culprit!

Good morning everyone. I want to tell you what happen to me last here last night. A terrifying experience. I had only been home for about 45 minutes and was on the phone with Dave. I heard distinctly the sound of a door closing. Really just like the sound the door makes that opens into the house from the garage. Since everything had been locked up all day, I was completely startled of course and for some reason started hello-ing like that was a good idea. Dave kept saying whats happening who's there and I told him what I'd head and he kept telling me to get out of the house but I was standing at that point in the living room and frozen in place. to get to the door would have meant going through the area where the sound had come from. I finally did run out the front door having hung up on Dave so I could dial 911. What I didn't know then was that he was parked in a grocery parking lot on his cell phone couldn't call 911 from his cell so he'd driven home to use the phone 3 directly to the PI police who told them police were already on their way here. So I'm standing out in the snow in my stocking feet, no coat hysterically talking to the 91 operator. I suddenly realized that the police wouldn't be able to get into the house because all the doors were locked so I started sobbing again. I didn't go over to any of my immediate neighbors house because I felt like such an idiot. I called my friend Elaine who lives nearby and she couldn't understand my babbbling but she came right over and made me get out of her car. Unbelievably I had unlocked the front door and I gone out of it and the office was inside; I could see his flashlight moving around. I heard him say if anyone is here you better come forward right now or I'll shoot when I find you. That scared me even further. this is all before Elaine had arrived. the officer came out finally and told me that he was sure there was no one there but he took me inside (elaine came too) and we went everywhere. He'd gone through all the closets and the shower stalls. It was creepy. Finally he left saying i did the right thing to leave the house and call them. I felt like a fool though. Elaine tried to get me to stay at her home or stay over with me but I felt like I had to tough it out. Tough it was too. But I did it. This morning I found a picture that had fallen off the wall and had to have hit the heating thing along the all when it fell. The sound would have been exactly from the right place. I'm so relieved but still really shaken up.

Luckily these holidays are only once a year!
No snowday....which is actually a good thing!
Neil and I are flying to NC on Friday for the weekend. My son-in-law is graduating from Nursing school...and this way I get to surprise my babies! The two little ones will come to the airport to get us and we'll be there by the time Caleb gets off the bus....can't wait to see their faces! The are driving up for Christmas and staying almost 2 weeks!
Remember to smile................Happy Thoughts.......................

Thanks, Kathi. We've been lighting the candles and trying not to eat TOO many "soofganiot" (like jelly donuts)--500 calories each!

Sitting on ones butt sounds like an excellent way to energize oneself. Sometimes thats what you have to do.
I spent the afternoon wrapping gifts..Neil said he would help as long as football was on...so I let him watch the game...such choices we have to make. Made dinner and then sat and vegetated....
Lori, glad that you had a wonderful trip. Happy Hanukkah to you and yours.
Hoping for a snowday tomorrow! Happy Thoughts to all.....

mule's ass finds ground- doesn't move. that should be the headline for my last few days. if traveling was all about being on the go, i can tell you that everyday since getting home has been about doin' nuthin. i did do laundry and ran the dishwasher. i burned up a $100 gift certificate i got at the company holiday party last year. it was to a great restaurant, but i do not think it is the venison ravioli, calamari, salmon that looked like a volcano, or the two jack daniels manhattans that have brought this boy's bottom to a halt. don't know when i am likely to move again. don't care, much. i hope you are all taking this sitting down, cuz i think it has benefits. i do not wish to fly like an eagle for a while.