Morning and happy 2011, all. I fell asleep two minutes before midnight, then got woken up repeatedly by fireworks that sounded too close for comfort. It may have been the elderly people next door (who covered the front of their house with "YAY CHRISTMAS!!!" type decorations a week ago. They seem like their holidays).

Today I am taking clothes to the cleaner's, then looking for an open cafe in which to read journal articles. It's an exciting life.

We had a bit of fireworks out here but nothing like the war zone of July 4th.

It is currently 0 degrees Farenheit (-18 C) outside, here. that may be why I didn't hear any fireworks out there last night. That, or I was so exhausted last night that I was practically weeping along with the whining I was doing before I went to bed.

Yesterday while I was trying for what looks to people who don't know my schedule as a lazy afternoon nap (but is actually me trying to finish the night's sleep), some guy used the parking spaces in front of our house for teaching someone how to parallel park. Which meant that he was shouting instructions loudly for me to hear them (and not be able to sleep). We graciously loaned him a trash can, showing our consent to his use of it, by having left it out on the curb last night because it was frickin' sleeting when I drove home from work. The trash can was pretending to be another parked car, for the student driver to possibly bump into, but not to maim or crush. The instructor showed his gratitude for the loan of the trash can by leaving it sitting in the street, a good meter from the curb.

Good morning, dear ones.

May 1/1/11 dawn comfortably for you and lead to great things in this new year.

I'm getting ready to set off for a doggy lama appointment. Nice to start off the new year working. May it set a lovely precedent.

I wish I'd slept better, but my year end ritual cleaning got a bit out of control and I was wicked sore. But today? The house is perfect. Of course, there is always more to do, but lordy, things are organized around here. Should I get hit by a bus, the folks tasked with cleaning out my house will have it easy. Closets, cupboards, files...all tidy.

One especially gratifying thing this year is that I mentioned my year-end burning ritual here and there and loads of people did it for themselves. And reported back about it!

It's funny how people are quick to discount, or downright laugh at my spirituality, and yet they want to do the rituals anyway!

Well humans love symbolism, metaphors and rituals. If the tradition involved does not object I'm perfectly willing to adapt a cool ritual I don't believe in.

I adopt other people's rituals from time to time (and would never laugh at anyone spiritual practices). I see it as learning from wiser souls. My father is a Buddhist and I have pagan friends, and I've also learnt a lot from Roman Catholicism. Veneration of Mary is widely frowned upon in my Christian tradition, but I have icon corners dedicated to her and say the rosary. I'm occasionally denounced as a religious tourist, and I don't care! What's the year-end burning about, bonny?

ETA: WindSparrow, that's horribly irritating re the trash can. Did you get the numberplate of the driving instructor, to report them to their company, if they're from one?

Woohoo! I am finally back typing on a real computer as opposed to the iphone. Home! With food (I had to go to the drugstore adn had no food in the house, so scrambled eggs, english muffins, OJ, and new big big mugs for my Gypsy Cold Care tea!).

Apologies and -ma for all I missed while being swoop in and out and me me me. :)

Now to download all my pics, catch up on Yuletide, and be annoyed by this cold. I no longer have the "OMG I was in an airplane and my ear hasn't popped" feeling, but there's still pressure and when I move my head around I feel like there's water in there. WTF? Anyone help?

Happy 010111! Or is that Happy 23?

meara, it sounds like at least part of your sinuses have an enclosed pocket of well...

How annoying. I recommend humidity.

Malfunctioning blackberry:

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