Another Year Gone...More Resolutions Not Met...Trying Again in 2009

Well, I had to do some digging through my archives to find my 2008 resolutions to provide an update...unfortunately most of them were not met. I will be posting my 2009 resolutions and hopefully will do much better this year.

First a recap on my 2008 Resolutions:
1. Spend more time with D. And this year we have a plan...date night every other week. (Started out good, didn't end that way...I took on too much this last semester.)

2. Meet deadlines better...I spent most of break working in an online class that I start teaching next week. (Did a little better with this, but the overload of work did not help make this easier or too successful.)

3. Spend more time with family and friends. (Once again, started out good but didn't end this way.)

4. Take better care of me, whether it's eating better, working out, or just having some 'down' time. (No down time...gained weight...not good at all.)

And now, for my 2009 Resolutions:

1. Study hard and pass Comprehensive Exams in May.
2. Get back in shape...I am currently at my highest weight ever! This last semester was stressful and I stress eat.
3. Spend more time with D and Soxy...at least pay them more attention when we are together.
4. Work harder at making my students learn how to learn instead of just sharing information.
5. Spend more time with family and friends--especially those not in my program.
6. Get to Virginia to meet the newest member of my family...she was born in June and I still haven't met her.

OK, I've showed you mine, leave a comment and show me yours. ;-)

Relief is on the way...Hopefully

My doctor came back into town earlier than I was told. Unfortunately, he still can't see me until Monday but has given me some hope in terms of different meds to try to make the migraine a bit more bearable until then. Of course, this means ringing in 2009 with sparkling grape juice as nerve blockers, muscle relaxants, and alcohol do not mix. Guess we know who our designated driver will be on New Year's Eve!

As I blog-surf it sounds like everyone had a fabulous Christmas and I am thrilled for that. Here's to a great beginning to 2009 for all!

Christmas Week Recap

Christmas had its ups and downs this year...luckily, the ups outweighed the downs.

Before we started our Christmas Eve festivities, D and I headed to mass. It seems our service was being broadcast on KDKA for the nation to hear. It was neat to be a part of that, as well as celebrate the True meaning of Christmas together.

Christmas Eve we spend with my Dad's side of the family. It was really fun and I got to spend quite a bit of time with my Godson...even though he was sick. I love Christmas Eve, it has been a family tradition since before I was born. We buy presents for the kids who haven't graduated from high school. They take turns opening presents and then the kids put on their own pageant...which is fun to watch. We chat and eat and get to spend time catching up with the entire family.

When we got home from my cousins' we exchanged our presents since Christmas Day is a lot of running around. Soxy loved her presents. I loved the beautiful bracelet D bought me and I believe that D was happy with his presents from me, also.

Christmas morning we packed the presents and Soxy in the car and headed to my parents first. After a nice breakfast of ham, eggs, and crepes we exchanged presents with my family. It was fun because Mom said all she wanted was money so D and I found a stocking and filled it with nickels. Mom loves to play the slot machines, especially the nickel machines. She couldn't imagine why her stocking was so heavy until she opened it.

After a great morning with my family, we loaded Soxy back into the car and headed down to D's parents. There I had to put together the green bean casserole and make the raisin sauce for the ham since neither could be made ahead of time.

Our neice and nephew had a great time opening presents. After all, they are 9 and 5 respectively. Barbies and trains filled the house. Around 9:00 that night we headed home with a sick doggie. Seems she ate way too much and we had to pull over so she could get sick. Bummer.

The next day D's family showed up at our place so that the girls could go see "Annie" at Heinz Hall. It was an incredible show. Afterwards we met the boys for dinner and then they headed home.

Like I said, it was a wonderful Christmas, for the most part. I wouldn't change most things...in fact, the only thing I would change would be that I have had a migraine since about 9:00 on Tuesday evening. My meds are barely taking the edge off and my doctor is out of town until Jan. 2nd.

Needless to say, as wonderful as Christmas was, there was a lot of noise and commotion everywhere we went. The migraine still has not gone away and I'm hoping that there is something that can be done quickly once my doctor is back in town.

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday week!

Merry Christmas to You and Yours!

Merry Christmas to all of my readers and your families! Take a moment to remember the real meaning of the season!

Ready for the Holidays...

I think we are finally ready for the holidays! We had some folks over on Saturday and played games all evening...

I can't wait to see the family for Christmas. I am trying to get myself in the Christmas mood, but just can't seem to get there. Any thoughts of how to get myself into the holiday spirit?

Semester is Officially Over!

Thank goodness my semester is over and I have time to breathe and wrap up some Christmas preparations.

Somewhat literally...my cards are finally written, my decorating is done, but I still need to wrap all of my presents. They have been purchased since Black Friday, but I haven't had a chance to wrap them.

How are your holiday preparations coming?

Amazing Man (Rude Cactus) Doing Amazing Thing...Help Out Please

A fellow blogger, and friend, Chris at Rude Cactus, is providing an amazing gift to people who need help today. For every comment he receives 24 hours from when he posted his message, he will donate money to Fisher House. Please swing by his stie and leave a comment! He is an amazing man, husband, and father and...obviously cares about people. Please help him out, it will cost you nothing but a comment and you might discover a fabulous new blog.

No Longer Anonymous...

I've been found by a couple of my students. I don't know how they did it, but they have found my blog...

*waves* Hi guys!

Although I keep my work completely separate from my blog, I may have to figure out how to password protect certain posts in the future.

I am darn impressed that they have managed to find my site, as I have tried and couldn't do it...many times...oh well, the younger ones are so much better at this technology stuff than us old folks (even though I was a Web designer for years).

Dinner One Table Away from the Steelers

It was so cool...tonight D and I went to dinner and as our food was served the wait staff was pulling tables together for a bigger party that was coming in. We were at a little Mexican restaurant in Wexford, PA and next thing we know 6 Steelers come in and sit down. It seems they were out celebrating a birthday. We decided to be cool and not bother them...but I had to share with the Blogosphere...at the table next to us were: Willie Colon, Trai Essex (it was his birthday), Justin Hartwig, Byron Leftwich, Ben Roethlisberger, & Kendall Simmons. It was Big Ben that I first recognized, but D recognized a couple of the others. It was a pretty cool brush with Pittsburgh fame!