Home alone this week except for the dog, who is lounging on her new doggie bed. She's worn out from napping all day! And I'm searching for a new look for my web page. I'm looking for just the right template so don't hold your breath. I've also been bitten by my muse who really wants me to write a story. I'm holding off until I get this site redone. The Christmas theme is getting a little stale :-)

And I would really like to know who keeps calling me on my cell phone and not leaving any messages!?!?! If I said it once I've said it a million times...I do not answer the phone if I don't recognize the phone number or there's no name. PLEASE leave a message. Just tell me who you are and I'll return your calls!

You try spending an entire day alone doing nothing when you're not used to it! It is NOT easy :-) I shopped, came home and organized CD's, listened to music all day and even sang to the dog!!!

I've had a wonderful Christmas! My mom, Elizabeth and I spent Christmas eve with her Grandpa Del and Grandma BJ. We had a great time at their house chatting, watching Elizabeth open her gifts and having dinner together. It couldn't have been better! Christmas day my brother and sis-in-law arrived and we did the family Christmas thing - opened gifts and stuffed ourselves with yummy food. Then we watched some movies and relaxed. Excellent day! My only regret is that I didn't have time this year to visit my good friend, Dan. I hope to make another trip this way soon and spend some time visiting him. Happy Holidays to all my visitors :-)

Fa la la la la...I can't think of anything to blog.

Happy Holidays! About seven years ago I wrote a Christmas story. It's called The Christmas Village. I hope you find a moment to read and enjoy it.

This year is coming to a close and I find myself remembering all sorts of things that happened during the year. I remember early in the year my heat tape died and my pipes froze. I went without water for three days before I realized I was the only one without water! I had a temp roommate for about six weeks, which was an adventure. I had a small deck built to replace the wobbly steps that came with the house. We went to Florida early in the summer which was a lot of fun. Elizabeth has continued to do extremely well in school, as usual. She's even kept her grades up while battling some bizarre malady that her doctor insisted was depression, even after a psychiatrist concluded that depression is not an issue for her. I'm finding her a different doctor. I finally have a kitchen table and was able to get a sofa and recliner recently due to a going out of businness sale at a furniture store. I'm still working at the same place, providing care coordination services to HIV positive people. I love my job and enjoy working with my clients. I'm slowly winning a long battle against depression and have enjoyed the holiday season more than I ever have since the divorce.

Two people came to my office at the same time to talk to me today! I felt so special :-)

Every day my dog greets me as though I've been gone for years and this is the happiest moment of her life. It feels good to be greeted so nicely. I make an effort to greet each of my clients with the same enthusiasm and genuine happiness that my dog bestows upon me every day. To think I learned this from a creature that walks around with a "what was I going to do?" look on her face 90% of the time.

We have the Christmas decorations up and tomorrow our new sofa and chair will be delivered. And thanks to my mom being here, I won't have to rush home from work to let the delivery people in the house. Thanks MOM!

CDC-Influenza

My obsession today has been researching influenza history, current flu reports, prevention and treatment. I've also been bidding on Italian charms on eBay.

Influenza Virus illustration, picture by Russell Kightley Media: "Influenza is Italian for 'influence', Latin: influentia. It used to be thought that the disease was caused by a bad influence from the heavens."

Wash your hands, cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze, get your flu shot...stay healthy!

We got a new parakeet a few days ago. Completetly disinfected the old cage. This one is very pale yellow-almost white. Wish us luck with this one!

I'm all decorated for the holidays-online and off. And I'm seriously considering designing my own blogger template that will be easier for me to make changes to instead of using pre-designed templates.

We're getting a new sofa and chair and sold the futon. The people who bought the futon picked it up today and the new one isn't delivered until Wednesday. The living room looks so bare!

Today's random thoughts...
I prefer to have all my Christmas gifts purchased before I wrap anything
I didn't leave the house at all today
I wish tomorrow wasn't Monday
Why does it take longer for the clothes to dry than to wash?
K-PAX was a good movie but a really BAD BAD name for a movie (or a planet)
If I had time to do the things I'd really like to do, would I do them?
Does anyone ever visit this web site?

Our little green parakeet died this evening. He was sick and although we tried to do what we could to help him get better he didn't make it. Good bye Mojo Jojo.