New Year's Eve 2011

Glad to be able to sleep in a bit without Casey's whining wake-up too early. I gotta feelin' tonight's gonna be a good good night! It is dark and dreary and a good day to burn candles all day, have the fireplace burning, keep the tree lights and all the decorations lit all day! I only have to leave the house for a nail appointment today and that is it. As usual, it has been a whirlwind week, year, life. Like everyone else, we pause and reflect on the year and how quickly it passes. There never seems to be enough time to do all we intended to do but we do accomplish a lot! I was lucky enough to take a trip to AZ in April and spend Easter with Amanda, her roommates, Cindy and her family and wonderful weather. In September I was delighted to spend a couple days in DC again with Brian and Andrew. JJ & Jackie's wedding in Madison in July was the destination wedding of the summer with our whole family together. When Katie Benages got married at our church it was a great party with friends! The shit hit the fan early October when my classroom closed and I was moved to a new building and new job teaching math full-time. I love math but kinda bad timing. Four days later was major foot surgery that still has me in PT. A fall on the sidewalk during a field trip with my class sent me to PT for my knee for a week or so. Other than normal college issues with teachers, apartments, assignments, and money, Amanda is now half-way through her Junior year. Matt & Dana are doing well in their lives in Chicago and Andrew & Brian are immersed in their busy lives. Andrew started Grad school at Johns Hopkins and Brian gained top security clearance to begin his new position with the Federal government soon. Otto does well at Producer's Choice and other than the drive and being TOO busy is happy at his job and activities, and like all of us needs more time! Casey lost her vision completely in October due to SARD (Sudden Acute Retinal Degeneration) and we are all adjusting to her disability. I have a handicap sticker in my car since my surgery and now I can use it for her also! She always was a special needs dog. Guess that about duplicates my Christmas letter, I actually thought I would have nothing to write about this year! I love journaling on my blog and wish I would do it more often again. There is my resolution..I will try and blog daily. Some things that we experience are better left unsaid but I often wish I had a secret blog that no one else would be able to read so I could vent about "things"....the way it really happens! But, it keeps me honest, safe, and censored knowing that I need not worry who reads this! It is what it is....Happy New Year 2011 here we come! Make it a great year...it is up to us!