What Struck Me

We’re going to a NYE party tonight. Typically we stay in on NYE, a tradition that dates back to our days as cheap dates. Then as poor newlyweds, and as babysitter-challenged parents. We’ve spent one or two NYE elsewhere with the kids, and had a couple of parties here over the years- including kids.

But this is the first time we’ve left the boys home for NYE, and I admit to having mixed emotions about it. Although they seem cool with it. Tim gets to stay up a little later than usual (not to midnight) and he’s happy with that. Andy & Nick are planning to just hang out and watch TV till the new year comes- I’m sure something completely inappropriate but I think I have all the porn channels blocked… and you think I should lock up the liquor, or will that just make it more inviting? Because normally we just leave it out on the counter.

The party is a small gathering of friends, close to home. And there will even be kids there- just not mine. The older two weren’t interested in coming, and I wasn’t interested in bringing Tim, when there are two perfectly able big brothers here at home to watch him. It’s the kind of party I enjoy, just hanging out. I’m sure there will be plenty of laughter and good food and drink, and despite the little bit of mom guilt (which the kids assure me is completely unjustified) I’ll have a great time.

Happy New Year to all!

House lights set to Illuminations.

Things are a little crazy around here right now. Just before Christmas Pat got some interesting news at work, something we initially took as Very Good News. But in the week since then a lot has happened and now we just don’t know what kind of news it really is.

Best case scenario at the moment is that the Powers That Be really are just flying by their pants seats and all will fall into place with little major disruption in the end. Worst case - I’m not going there.

Reality- again, the fact that we haven’t yet begun to go into massive debt to build onto the house is working in our favor. It’s becoming very tempting to try to downscale the plan. I’m already picturing a smaller new bedroom, a cozier sunroom- or maybe just a nice porch and a new deck- and fix up the basement a bit. Can we rethink it all and still be happy with the results? I know I can- I’m not so sure about Pat.

Pat was supposed to have today as a vacation day (one he can’t carry over to next year) but real life dictates that he’s going in for a few hours afterall. I think maybe we need a date night tonight. A few drinks might be in order!

Meanwhile, Andy’s re-thunk his college situation and come back to where he was before- I guess he needed to remind himself why he chose the schools he did. He’s got two apps to complete this weekend, then we submit the FAFSA and go back to explore the campuses. He’s pretty much ruled out Rider- I don’t know why, but it boils down to the fact that he liked Stockton better. Personally if I were a betting woman I’d say he’s going to end up at Stockton- with Ramapo a close second. My choice for him would be Ramapo, for many reasons. But I admit to bias, since I went there, so I keep my mouth shut.

Christmas was relaxing this year. We had the usual fish-stravaganza with my inlaws, this time at SIL’s house so it was pretty easy for me. Christmas day we stayed home and did nothing, perfect! Pat even made dinner, a pork roast.

Having Pat & the kids home the last few day really made it easy to sit around and do nothing. I can sit here on the computer and work and play for hours straight when I’m here alone, but when there’s activity around me I lose all concentration so I barely even log on. Plus I hate to do any kind of housework when they’re around, not doing any. The laundry, for example, is really piled up.

I did do a little bit of straightening yesterday. Got the bathroom out of health-code violation territory and cleared out the playroom to make room for this year’s haul. Pat helped me out with that- but I didn’t let the kids help, especially Tim. If he’d been there he would have freaked to see the toys I pulled out of there- the ones he won’t even miss now that they’re gone!

I’d show you some Christmas photos but they’re pretty bad quality. Definitely time to upgrade the camera, but I should be able to clean them up enough to make them viewable. Maybe later, after I get some of that laundry done!

And the flickr badge is back. No new pics, I’m afraid. Anyway, say hi if yer so inclined.

Gawd this blog is boring lately. Anyways…

I upped my flickr account to PRO. Mostly so I can have that cool pro thingie next to my name. Well worth the $25. Plus one of my goals (not doing resolutions, only “goals”) for next year is to take LOTS more photos and stick them up on the internet. Aren’t you excited?

Yeah, I know. Comments don’t work. But I really really don’t want to get rid of my Christmas theme till after Christmas!

So email me!