Happy New Year!
A lovely, sunny warm day today. I opened up all of the blinds on the bedroom windows and just lay in bed for a while today, soaking in the sunshine. :) Last night was pretty rough, but I made it through the afternoon shift, and the children let me sleep about ten hours, so I am feeling much better now, and ready to tackle another midnight.
Will be calling Dan at work soon, we are hoping to meet someplace for a late lunch on his way home from work, and my way into work.
Lovely, lovely day!

Tired...worked last two nights as midnights...going in for afternoons today...then two more midnights to round out my week...
Tomorrow since I go in to work at 6PM, we will meet for a late lunch/early dinner because it is New Years Eve...maybe go to a bookstore, as Dan suggested, knowing that would make me happy...
In the last 15 or so years I can only remember a couple of times being with Dan and the kids rather than work on New Years Eve...I am used to ringing things in with my coworkers...and working midnights won't be bad...sometimes driving home at midnight when I get off my normal afternoon shift can be a bit frightening due to the drunks...hopefully there will be no one on the road at 4AM except for me and police cars... :)

Sleepy...but the kids let me sleep in late this morning, knowing I worked a midnight last night. I am blessed in my children. My sons are the greatest joy of my life. :)

Yesterday our anniversary lunch was quite entertaining. We went to a Mexican restaurant which carries hundreds of bottled hot sauces for sale and which lets you sample them. When the people who work there heard my croaking voice, they offered me a chance to clear out my sinuses, and I decided to take them up on it. We tried ten or so brands, none of them horribly hot, until Dan slathered one of his chips with something called Instant Death...good thing I had a milkshake and was willing to share. ;)

Today my sinuses are draining some nasty stuff again, so I am just spending the day quietly resting until it is time to go in and work a midnight tonight...
My personal rules for surviving weeks when I have to go back and forth between midnights and other shifts (like I will this week):

1. rest as much as you can...

2. eat whenever you remember to...its the lack of real meals that can screw you up more than the lack of sleep...

Today is sunny and balmy, above freezing. Since it is our 18th wedding anniversary and I want so much to go on a walk, we will be walking around the yard soon, as it is warm enough (we hope) to not get my asthma going...
The park would be better, along the river, but I will accept the yard as long as I can get some fresh air. ;)
We will be going out to lunch or perhaps dinner with the children, letting Bill choose when he is done with wrestling practice this afternoon.
We will go see Return of the King this afternoon as a family. :)
A quiet day, but shouldn't be too taxing on my healing lungs...

What we are reading these days:
me: HMS Surprise by Patrick O'Brian
Dan: a history of the Apollo space progam
Bill: a Tolkien reference book
Steven: a different Tolkien reference book

A lovely, sunny day -- our Christmas snow won't be with us too much longer...the kids are busy today watching the extended editions of the two Lord of the Rings movies in preparation for seeing the third tomorrow afternoon. Dan is busy working, I am here at home busy recovering (and maybe even starting to work on the holiday cards in a few minutes ;)) -- the kids have wrestling practice tonight -- it will be the first time Bill has been able to practice since his concussion last week and he is EAGER.
One more week and he will get to wrestle in one of the biggest tournaments in the state, the Monroe County Sherriff's Tournament. His goal this year was to take a medal, but missing a week of practice with influenza and then another with a concussion will change that...
Dan had a long talk with my sister last night-- she was atthe hospital in Arkansas. My dad is putting up a grand fight against his medical problems, and he might be willing to come spend part of the summer with us here in Michigan! YAY!!:-):-):-)

We got a lovely surprise this morning; an unexpected snow, to give us a beautiful Christmas morning. I only wish I felt a little bit better, so i could take the dog for a long walk...but I am feeling a little better every day, so hopefully soon... :)
We had a quiet morning, opening up our gifts, listening to music, eating a big breakfast, taking naps...no elaborate gifts this year, just small and simple things -- the kids have been quietly playing with their board games all day ...
We are listening to quiet instrumental Chrsitmas music, and are happy -- but would be happier if we knew my father were feeling better -- he has been in the hospital for over a week down in Arkansas and I haven't been able to go see him because I am too sick myself, and don't want to expose him to my infection...but we will call him in a few minutes...Love you Dad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Merry Christmas! Always one of the best days of the year, to see those happy faces of my sons next to that tree!:-)
I am particularly looking forward to seeing Steven play with his talking Gollum action figure, and see Bill play a game with his Lord of the Rings chess set.:-)
I am finally starting to feel a bit better after being sick for over a week with a bad sinus infection and asthma...was able to go into work tonight, which pleases me. I am blessed in the people I work with -- and actually like my job.:-)
I am happy, I am listening to some wonderful Christmas music, Ottmar Liebart's Chrsitmas * Santa Fe, soft Spanish guitar music from New Mexico:-)