Wow! A month later.....

It seems that I've let time get away without writing. Well, the holidays are fun for everyone, aren't they!

The good news is that we survived them all pretty much without injury.

Let's see: Xmas eve was the traditional (for us) enchilladas for my wife's aunt & uncle, our daughter and her friend. At the last minute the daughter decided to go home rather than stay the night, it's only about 25 miles to her place so it was no big deal. I think she had forgotten how dull a bunch of full, sleepy, middle-aged people can be. Unfortunately, as it turns out, her friend didn't want to go do anything exciting either so she was stuck with her cat. Now that's life in the fast lane!

Xmas was fine. The kid was back at 08:30 so she wouldn't miss any presents. We opened stuff to and from the people who were here (aunt, uncle, daughter, wife & me). Then she and I went & got my MIL from the nursing home. They got in an argument during the 15 minute ride home but that isn't news. The daughter doesn't like seeing her Grandmother old and infirm. It makes her act badly; as though she were a kid rather than a 35 year old woman. Anyway, we finally got here, opened presents to and from the MIL. She buys these stupid, tv-ad type presents & everyone has to say 'oh, gee, just what I always wanted'. And, of course, she hates everything that anyone buys for her: too heavy; too light; too big; useless. She is quite the piece of work! Dinner was prime rib, potatoes, vegie, salad. The meat was good; should be at that price but you always worry. I even ate all mine and I'm not much of a fan. Then we took the MIL back to the home & everyone else left. The wife let the tension out by getting completely drunk between the time I left and the time I got back; 40 minutes at most. It was pretty impressive actually. It's one thing to drink for hours and hours but to go from 2 glasses of wine with dinner to drunk in 40 minutes; it takes talent! But what the hell, it's Xmas.

New Year's Eve is a time that my wife and I reserve for just us. We talked a lot about what the future may bring. We'll be selling the duplex we bought as a residence for the MIL. We may leave Florida but since we don't have any place that we really prefer we may not. Decisive, huh? Filet & salad and cab for dinner.

New Year's Day we did ham, mac & cheese, vegie, etc for ourselves and the MIL. Daughter was invited but thought she would rather have a quiet day alone. We didn't push it because we didn't really want to have just the two of them as guests. It worked out well. Extra attention for the MIL always works for her! We always make Hoppin John for New Years. Having it on New Year's Day is supposed to bring you luck for the entire year. It is a Southern tradition that we strangers have adopted. It is rice & blackeyed peas cooked with ham hock, ham, red pepper flakes, etc. Very nice comfort food whether it brings luck or not.

So that's our holiday report. No big changes but some gradual movements.

1. The daughter is going to try to get away from her 'friend' since they don't really get along that well. Theirs has been a friendship of convenience since they lived next door to one another for almost five years. Now she has moved and, hopefully, can find other people to have fun with.

2. The MIL seems to be settling into the nursing home though she steadfastly refuses to have anything to do with the social side of the place and simply stays in her bed all day. She is probably declining but it is imperceptable to me.

3. We are going to clean up and sell the duplex. No hurry but it will be great to be free of it. Not to mention the cash will be a welcome addition to the old bank account!

I'll try to do this again before the month is out! Not a resolution but... a hope.