Happy New Year, It's 2010 somewhere

Photo courtesy of World Time Zones.

It always gives me a chuckle,that around 9 p.m. my time I can call my family 3 hours ahead of me, and wish them a Happy New Year - I'm finishing 2009, they are just starting 2010. Happy New Years to New Zealand, Australia, China, parts of Russia, New Guinea, Guam, the Phillipines, Taiwan, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Fiji. I'm at the tail end - Alaska will roll over in another 16 hours and 5 minutes, with Hawaii and a few Alaskan Aleutian Islands an hour later.

So Happy New Year World! May your 2010 be blessed!

Good Riddance Day

Good Riddance 2009,

Welcome 2010

What would you like to say "Good Riddance" to?

Here's my list of things I could do without in 2010.

1. Increasing utilities bills, when we're using less, not more.

2. Broken copper pipes.

3. Drunks.

4. Weight gain and inactivity.

5. Unemployment (not mine personally, but in general.)

6. Clutter - I want to declutter so bad, but I need hubby's cooperation.

7. Debt, one paycheck at a time.

8. Procrastination.

9. Lack of creativity... I need time to create things.

10. Poverty and War - but the world is full of sinful humans.

2009 in review

It's been a challenging year.

At work, this time last year, we were told our company had been sold to a larger national company. That left us all with fear for our jobs. As the year progressed, we found out what shape our new office would take - who would stay and who would not. There is a certain feeling of joy/guilt, when you know you will have a job, but your friend will not. Now this year is drawing to a close, we are hiring for a few more reps - and I am blessed to have a job that still challenges me.

At home, DF and I tied the knot and he is now the DH. DH and I struggle as a "young" couple to blend our lives. I have to laugh because we've been together for 4 years, but the "I do" seems to have opened up our lives to a world full of change, at least it feels that way to me. I have to say that while I may seem to be generous in nature, I really like my space and I like it the way I want it. So, we've butted heads a few times as I learn what I am willing to give up and what I'm not.

Mom and Dad - They live in Anchorage. They celebrated 43 years of marriage, Dad just turned 63, Mom will meet him at 63 in February. They are looking forward to retirement, they are not sure just where they will retire, but I hear them talking about it. Mom has been not smoking for almost 5 years - it will be 5 years on her birthday. Mom and Dad have both been working hard on losing weight and living healthy. As always, they volunteer at church, their neighbors and for me. And of course, they garden - Dad is already planning his garden for next year, and we won't see green until end of May.

Siblings - Paula, Steve, James - Paula's youngest moved out and in and out again this year. He is on his own. James has always pretty savvy with money so I'm sure he'll be okay. The first time he moved out, it was with friends - he's discovered he really likes having his own space, so now he's on his own. Paula and Steve are doing well too - Paula always has a house full - usually teens - she has a personality and heart that reaches out to teens in need. Her dream would be to start a restaurant run by teens to teach them job and life skills.

David has been opening his heart to heartache. For those of you who know him - you'll understand. He's a generous soul and very open with family. This has been a year for break ups for him. A year for growth and change.

Kirk's daughter turned 1 in December and Erik turned 2, Weston is 11. Kirk has struggled financially this year - work has been hard to come by. Kirk and Corrina are doing the best they can to provide shelter and food for their family. But short of that, his house full of kids keep him busy. I know Mom and Dad would love to visit - they have yet to see their granddaughter in person.

Stephen & Stasia (Paula's oldest) - Stephen and Stasia are still like newlyweds. Both are working and they recently moved into a nicer apartment. Stephen is still composing music, I wonder where life will take them.

Extended family - We've been hit on both sides with deaths of cousins, uncles, aunts. Some are still hanging on. My Aunt Ginny is ready to go, Mom's oldest sister. But "Uncle" Jim took his life so his wife could stop taking care of him and start her treatment for breast cancer. Alana and Amanda passed from this world much too young. It's been a year of praying - praying for comfort and peace in our family.

Fourplex - This year has been a year of hanging on. Next year will be challenging - I want to get a new boiler and I'm trying to get reimbursement from an energy program by the state to help cover the cost. Couple that with car payments and increasing utilities - the budget grows tighter. But I'm up for a challenge. The harder you push me - the harder I push back!

Idaho - DH and I took a wonderful trip to Idaho this summer so I could meet his family. It was fantastic - DH would like to live there in the future - so part of this trip was to introduce me to Idaho. While I was not overly impressed, I was not unimpressed either - I could live there - but for me, it's not the land you live on, but the family around you. I'm lucky my parents are here in Alaska otherwise I'm not sure I'd still be here. The Internet provides me a link to family, but I'd love to live within driving distance of my family.

2009 has been a year of great change some of which will still settle out in 2010. I wish you prayers that your 2010 be blessed.

You Are a Family Photograph Card

The holidays are very special to you. This time of year is all about your friends and family. You love to make contact with those you may have lost touch with. You are likely to include a long letter with your Christmas card. You get truly sentimental and emotional during the holidays. You believe this is the time to bury differences and make amends. Your family is the most important thing in the world to you. You will do anything to make sure they are happy.

What Kind of Christmas Card Are You?

Blogthings: Quizzes and Tests and Memes, Oh My!

My First Christmas

This would be me about a month old with my Aunt Dee, she was pregnant with her youngest, my cousin Linda at the time. I love digging into my Mom's photos, it brings back great memories. Mom comes from a family of 13 and Dad from a family of 10. So as you might imagine, the holidays were full of family fun. Christmas and Thanksgiving gatherings were great! Course - I don't remember much from this one... but I appear to be content.

Edit - Dad's from a family of 9, not 10, my bad - too many family members to keep track of...

My First Christmas

Sunday Stealing

Today we ripped this meme off a blogger named Stacy at the blog All Stacy, All the Time.

1. What is your favorite holiday show/animated show? That's a hard one. I really like the old Christmas TV movies, like A Charlie Brown Christmas, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Frosty the Snowman, Dickens A Christmas Carol. Basically anything in claymation.

2. What holiday character do you think you're most like? Well, it depends on the day, sometimes I'm Mrs. Clause, behind the scenes but keeping it all going smoothly, and sometimes I'm the Grinch, all grumpy.

3. What holiday character does your spouse think you're most like? LOL. I'd have to guess here - maybe Frosty the Snowman?

4. Favorite Christmas/holiday song? Any and all for the most part, but I guess I like the traditional, "churchy" holiday hymns and songs I can sing along with.

5. Most hated Christmas/holiday song? I don't think I hate any songs, but I guess I'm not real fond of songs like "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer."

6. If you have an all holiday music radio station when do you start listening to it? As soon as they start playing Christmas music all the time. We have one in the car and one cable station in the house that we listen too during the holidays.

7. If you have an all holiday music radio station do you love it or hate it? I love it, hubby not so much.

8. Have you ever wrapped yourself as a Christmas present? Nope, but that sounds fun.

9. Who is Rudolf The Red Nosed Reindeer's father? Well I didn't know the answer to this, but I found 2 answers on the internet. From the movie, Donner is identified as Rudolph's father. But from the book, Rudolph was born in an ordinary reindeer village and his father is never named.

10. Do you drive your neighborhood or one near you at night to look at other people's holiday decorations? We look online at our local newspaper, they post a map of sorts, then we plan which houses we want to see, and once a year we look at all the beautiful holiday homes. One even goes so far as to set their display to music you can tune in to on your car radio.

11. When you see a heavily decorated house do you think, 'oh that's lovely'? Or do you think, 'oh criminy, that looks like Christmas threw up all over their lawn'? I laugh and soak up the holiday spirit.

12. Are you counting the days to Christmas with excited anticipation or dread? Usually I'm baking, wrapping, cleaning, so I have no time to count anything but presents or chocolate chips.

13. When was the last time you had your photo taken with Santa? Did you sit on his lap? I don't remember. But I did try to talk my Mom into getting our photo taken with Santa this year, does that count?

14. Do you make a Christmas list for your spouse or significant other or do you rely on them to pick your gift(s) without a clue from you? Well - when hubby or my parents ask what do you want - I tell them things I could use. Hubby picks up on my wants during the year - he's real perceptive, this year my birthday and Christmas present were all in one - my laptop. And I love it.

15. When do you put up your tree? I didn't this year, but I asked Mom and Dad to put up theirs on Thanksgiving.

16. Real or fake? Fake, although I just found out where we can get real trees free - so next year, we're planning to have a real tree.

17. When do you take your tree down? Before February.

18. Do you shop the day after Christmas sales? What do you shop for? I haven't really, but I'll have to check it out. I'm guessing Christmas decorations, cards, wrapping paper, etc.

19. Is your work/office having a holiday party this year? Will you attend? We're just having a potluck, and yes, I'll be there.

20. Do you have your New Year's Eve Plans set yet? To sip egg nog with hubby and get all snuggly.

(And as a side note, it took me this long (106 posts) to figure out how to change the font and color of my individual posts - LOL)

The Grinch

Okay, today I admit I feel like the Grinch. There is absolutely nothing my husband could do that I did not find something wrong with - I know why, he's out of work at the moment and it's stressing me out. He's looking for work. Our bills are paid. But money's tight. I won't be able to give him what I would like to for Christmas. I hate that I bought this fourplex and we still are not as far ahead as I'd like. But if I stop to count my blessings...

A husband who loves me
Parents who are wonderful
Family, though far away, who are also dear to me
Food in the fridge and cupboard
Heat, electricity, and running water
A roof over my head
Locks on my doors
Neighbors who watch out for each other
A car that's reliable
A retirement plan and things like health and life insurance
A job that seems to be fairly stable
Four kitties
A laptop and other technology
A budget we can trim, so we do have a few extras
A husband who took my "Grinching" all in stride

I guess I don't really have much to grumble about... time to stop grinching and instead enjoying the joy of this holiday season.

Saturday Nine: White Christmas

Saturday Nine


1. If you live where you get winter weather, do you prefer your Christmas to be white? If you never see snow, do you wish for it?

Yes, I live in Alaska, so it's dark this time of year. The snow really helps to brighten things up.

2. How many holiday cards did you receive from people you hadn't sent cards to, after the "mailing deadline?" Did you send a card anyway?

I haven't received any cards yet from someone to whom I have not sent a card. But it never fails that there are a few - I like those - they are like reunions. And it makes me wonder why they weren't on my list to begin with...

3. When the clock strikes Midnight on New Year's, will you be at home, at a party, or somewhere else?

At home, maybe even cozy in bed.

4. Have you ever taken the keys and driven home a friend that you felt was too drunk to drive? If not, do you think you would attempt to if that situation ever arose?

I've not been in that situation yet, but, yes, I most certainly would take the keys and drive or call a cab if needed. I would even go so far as to call the police and if a friend were driving drunk. It is just to dangerous - to themselves and the everyone on the road.

5. Tell us about a gift that you either bought or made for someone else that you wanted for yourself!

Hmmm, I guess the coffee pot that I bought for Mom and Dad, it's one of those single serving coffee pots, Keurig - I think is the brand.

6. What chores do you have left for the holidays?

Well, just chores in general... but I have the week between Christmas and New Years... paperwork and landlord chores.

7. If you could buy one gift for yourself where money was not an obstacle, what would it be?

I'd renovate my building.

8. What is one of your family’s favorite holiday traditions?

Christmas dinner, phone calls to family far away, games like Pinochle, just spending time together.

9. If you could give a fellow blogger a holiday gift, which would it be and what would you give them?

Hmmm, that's tough. I think I'd give my cousins presents - I'd give The Adventures of Grunty and Chubs airline tickets and two weeks off to see family or friends. And to Harmony in Motion I'd give a new house of her choice. Now, that's assuming money is no object here...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone, May 2010 be filled with goodness and joy.

12th Day of Christmas

Hmmm... I was not sure what else I wanted... I really have all I want already. But Dad just got his birthday/Christmas present for himself - he got a new pair of shoes - those walk fit shoes that shift the weight off your heels. He's on his feet all day and he says it really helps and straightens out his spine.

So I did some digging and found these - a pair of Shape Up Boots - perfect for our climate, 9 mos of winter. I like the chocolate brown color - perfect with the boot cut jeans or corduroys I wear to work.

11th Day of Christmas

I'd like a gift certificate from Glacier Vally Farms. They deliver boxes of seasonal organic local veggies and organic shipped fruits. Yum! I love cabbage, can't go wrong with veggies!

Irony

So the midwest and eastcoast is being slammed with snow. Anchorage, where I live, is in the teens but relatively mild, for this time of year. My job is customer phone service for the health insurance industry - we were bought by a company based in New York. Our phones route through the internet all the way to New York.. Well, yesterday, they lost their phone lines, so we lost OUR phones and got to go home early. Every heard of the butterfly effect? Well who would have thought that a snowstorm in New York would affect me in Anchorage? Bizarre!

10th Day of Christmas

I'd like to try my hand at growing fungus. This would make a nifty gift! We love mushrooms - wonder if we could do the same with button mushrooms? Only one problem, this company doesn't ship to Alaska or Hawaii :( I'll have to keep looking.

Growing fresh, delicious portobello mushrooms at home is fun, fascinating and easy with this complete kit. The mushrooms grow indoors, right in their shipping container—just open the box, mist daily and watch them thrive. The first crop will be ready to harvest in just three to four weeks, after which another two or three smaller crops may sprout. A wonderful gift for the avid cook or gardener, and a big hit with kids, too. Includes easy instructions and recipes.

9th Day of Christmas

Well, it's not exciting, but definitely needed. I need some socks, just your average everyday white crew socks. I seem to finding holes in mine more and more lately. Hmmm...

8th Day of Christmas

Well I searched far and wide, high and low, and thunk real hard... I don't really want anything, but what would I want if I could have anything? Hmmm....

How about this? I've always been curious about a French coffee press. I like coffee and tea - it'd be nice to make individual pots at whatever strength I prefer. I found this nifty travel coffee/tea press - how cool is this? I can get it ready before heading out to work, and sip hot coffee in the car on my way to work and hot soothing tea on my way home from work. Mmmmmm...

Maybe a his and hers press? So hubby can have "OMG put hair on your chest" coffee and I can have my vanilla and cream coffee?

7th Day of Christmas

I'd have to say any items from Bath and Bodyworks. We don't have this story in Alaska, so anytime I travel outside, I always spend $50-$60 at a Bath and Bodyworks and bring it home with me. I did this last summer in Idaho - I like their foaming antibacterial soaps that smell so yummy - I want to wash my hands 'cause it smells so nice.

Not to mention all their other yummy smelling items - like body washes, lotions, shampoos, and conditioners.

6th Day of Christmas

Well this is definitely not a stocking stuffer. I'd like a push mower, to save gas and get more exercise. This one is from Lowe's but these mowers are making a come back - I found them at lot's of local retail stores.

I'd like the one with the bagger as I have a medium sized yard and I'd like to compost those clippings. We have gnarly worms in the back yard and they'd love the feast.

5th Day of Christmas

I'm running out of ideas and it's only day 5...

I think I'd like a webcam with a microphone so I could chat live with family. Wouldn't that be cool?

4th Day of Christmas

Well, this is a little spendy, but it is a wish list right? So, believe it or not, I'd like a nice pair of snow shoes, like these, maybe not orange though.

Whadda ya think? Ready for a winter hike? I'll bring the cocoa!

3rd Day of Christmas

I found a nifty website called Modern Cat. Under the DIY furniture section, I found this nifty set up made by Jake and Karen. How cool is that? I wonder if Dad's busy? Dad? Wanna start another project?

2nd Day of Christmas

Well, I'm kinda on a roll with the laptop... I really love my new laptop and their are a few accessories I'd like. This is one that would be great. As a landlord, all the repairs, utilities, etc. to the fourplex are tax deductible. At the end of each year I spend a few hours getting together receipts and making a spreadsheet for my tax preparer. This nifty gadget would eliminate some of that process.

Back to work... (The First Day of Christmas)

And I'm loving it. Never realized how much I enjoy working... (have to remember this the next time I get frustrated with work... LOL)

Well I thought I'd try to do 12 days of Christmas. I got the idea from Where the Road Takes Us and Harmony in Motion.







I guess I'm a day behind but oh well... I should be able to do all 12 before Christmas. Let's see... I'd like a LapDawg. It's a desk with movable legs that allows it to take many positions. Check out Lap Dawg and see all the photos of all the different positions.