Well, Zen threw herself on the interesting times grenade, so we should all be safer.

Thanks, Zen. Good taking one for the team.

Dear 2011,

You were horrible. There were some interesting bright spots, but those weren't enough to bring any light into this awful, wretched year. I have never wanted to get through the holiday season and to start the new year as much as I do now.

Dear 2012,

Please be better. Please.

I'm grudgingly coming around to believing it's the middle of December. The trees *still* have red and yellow leaves! and very little rain. Dark at 5:30 is a pain, so I'm glad we have only two more weeks heading to the solstice and then start getting our light back again.

2010 was pretty good. It's so great to not have to commute 25 miles across a bridge to That Place and deal with a frequently-crazy boss, and still get a paycheck from early retirement. I love it.

Activities this past summer were fabulous. I got a ton of work done on the house before leaving on a 2-week, 93 mile backpacking trip, followed by 3 weeks of car camping, and fit in a week-long trip to Monterey and a two-day river rafting trip down the So. Fork of the American River. On the down side, I've been really lazy since getting back, oh, five months ago, and that will be a very hard habit to get out of. School is going well. I'm taking community college science classes for fun because I love them.

My mother is having a really tough time with ADL - activities of daily living, and it's just going to get more difficult. My hat's off to her for being 96 years old and still walking up and down the stairs on the campus where she lives for two of her three meals. I hope the new year is kind to her.

And to all of you, too. Best regards!

Today I sent out my part of the TJ's exchange with non-TJ's goodies.

Which rocks! It will take extreme effort on my part to resist living on cookies all weekend. I can't wait to try the Cider Fixins. And the ornament is all beautiful and delicate looking. Thank you, Suzi!

We need a "like" button.

Nope, you're not getting one. I can't be bought off.

Feel free to try (chocolate and bacon).

But it won't work.

I dread the day I first hear someone in meatspace say "like" the way some people will say "LOL". I fear it is inevitable.

ita !, how about a chocolate, bacon donut? I think I know where I can get one. Of course, it's in Iowa...

Let's see.

Early 2011 was dominated by Marie's illness, then the merry-go-round of eye infections among the cats and me, then Victor's FIP and death.

Then I got a cat scratch got infected (IV antibiotics) and bone spurs in my neck (surgery). Just as the physical therapy ended, Hubs landed in the hospital and is working on disability retirement.

Vacation was nice, but I'm over 3,000 posts behind in Natter and over 1,000 behind in Bitches. Which is why I've been so quiet the last few weeks.

Overall, though, I'm more than ready for 2012. Even if I do turn the Big 5-0.

Just jump right back in, Fred. We've missed you. I hope Hubs is doing better.