I was going to do my 2011 wrap-up post, which has lots of bad, some good and a very eventful past week, which I talked about in Natter, but I'll do that later, because as I was walking out of my apt. last night to go to my neighbor's NYE party, my secret santa package was sitting on my doorstep! So I brought it to the party and opened it there.

The whole package is wonderful, but I'll save the very best for last. First , there's a lovely reusable shopping bag from the Trio Animal Foundation, which has a beautiful logo with a dog on it. Next is a Christmas ornament that looks kind of like an abstract Earth (so pretty!). Next is a jar of rooftop honey (SO. AWESOME!)

But the kicker was the picture at the bottom of the package. I actually exclaimed, "OH MY GOD. OH MY GOD!" at the party when I opened it, and started crying a little bit. It's a custom watercolor/marker drawing of Lulu [link] (Links to Facebook, but I think everyone should be able to see that.)

Everyone at the party agreed that it was the best Christmas gift ever. At any time, but especially after this week, with all of my memories of Lulu flooding back when I was fostering the other poodle. I just don't know what to say other than thank you so, so much. Someone at the party did ask, "Who are these people you're doing secret santa with, that they would get you such a perfect gift?" So I explained the Buffistas a bit.

The package just said it was from "Santa," but it only took a little investigation to figure out that my secret santa is brenda. Brenda, I can't thank you enough. This really is one of the best gifts I've ever gotten.

This year I had a long struggle with entropy and self-doubt, which resulted in slacking off a bit at work (and getting called out for it) and gaining a lot of weight as well as sputtering to a stop on my newest play.

I think things are improving. One reason was starting artistic roller skating again on my 55th birthday on August and blogging about it. Doing something I enjoy and writing about it has been really good both for the entropy and for getting my writing gears working again! I am in better shape and although I have not lost the weight yet I feel that will come.

Through it all, I still dig the hell out of my DH and he seems to do the same with me--and if our standard poodle can just stop eating furniture, home life looks to be even better in 2012.

Aw, Amy, I'm so glad.

The bag and the ornament both were acquired at a holiday thank you party thrown by TAF for its volunteers. The ornament was handmade and donated by the artist. Trio was a pitt bull who was found as a puppy crawling down a hallway in Cabrini Green. She had been a bait dog in a fight and her hind leg was bitten off. (Hence the name.) Her owner started a foundation in her name that funds medical care for injured animals in shelters, without which their adoption chances are basically nil.(Trio's mom, Sue, spent this past weekend driving from NY to Chicago with a Pitt who'd been languishing in a shelter for weeks with a broken leg and other injuries after being hit by a car.) they are made of awesome.

At the same party I met a local artist who had some neat sketches on display. I called him up a couple of weeks ago (phone call! To a stranger!) and he agreed to o something for Lulu using a picture I tanked from your Facebook. I was so delighted with what he came back with and how it all came together. I'm really glad you liked!

Trio was a pitt bull who was found as a puppy crawling down a hallway in Cabrini Green. She had been a bait dog in a fight and her hind leg was bitten off.

Man, every time I read things like this, I run and hug Kato. He likes being hugged about as much as I do (we have photographic documentation of Tim hugging Kato and Kato leaning as far away from Tim as he can while still having Tim's arms around him), but he tolerates it. And then I scritch his belly and he's happy.

Seriously, whenever I hear about animal abuse, all I want to do is hug my dog. It kills me.

Hah! That's Darby's view on hugging too.

I didn't totally realize Kato leaned so far away from hugs until I took the picture, and then it just made me laugh and laugh.

OTOH, he will come over and sit with his back to us, which means "It ain't gonna pet itself," and if we don't pet him, he'll scootch closer and closer, incrementally, until he's sitting on our feet and leaning his full weight against our legs. "Pet me or you will never regain circulation in your feet, human!"

And occasionally he'll walk over to us, fart, and walk away. ISTG, that's what he does. How did he learn that???

And occasionally he'll walk over to us, fart, and walk away. ISTG, that's what he does. How did he learn that???

When you're out of the house, he's watching The World According to Jim marathons.

I've mentioned before how Spare Cat has a "hand over the cuddles and no one gets hurt" attitude, right? She will nip at you -- not too softly -- if you're not properly attentive.

Percy the Emo Cat will pat my arm or leg softly when he wants attention. If I don't respond, the pats become more insistent until finally the claws come out. He's got me trained.

I've got a cat that uses his head, he butts me with it constantly. If I don't give him sufficient scritches, it's more head-butts for me until he's satisfied.