Happy New Year!

I always enjoy that period of time between Christmas and New Years where I close down the office.  No worries.

But.  It's back to work for me.

I have proclaimed 2018 as a year for slowing down.  Not retiring,  can't afford to do that just yet.  But slowing down for sure...  I do not plan on working as hard.  Enter my new hire/daughter Lindsey.  Yep, I now have a part time employee.  Excuse me  now while I go take a nap...

HaHa!

In other news, remember the book I had published several years back, Gracie's Diary a Memoir?  Well, a very talented narrator has offered to make it into an Audiobook.  How cool is that?!  She is doing a beautiful job!  I just finished corrections for a better part of the book and am waiting for her to send me the rest.  And the great thing about it is that she has agreed to get paid for all of her work by royalty alone, once the audiobook goes on sale.

Gracie was supposed to be groomed yesterday but a water break at her place of grooming has canceled her appointment until further notice.  She is a shaggy, wonderful mess and she is loving being outside in the single digit temps - of course she is - with that thick warm coat of hers!!

No New Years resolutions here.  Just hoping to hang tight till spring, and then summer and fall...  and God willing we'll do this all over again next year.

Happy New Year All!

Stay Warm!

Throwback Thursday. New Years 2001

New Years Eve.  2001. 

After meeting online in March of 2001 Gary and I began a long distance relationship.   I remember fondly our first New Years Eve together.  He had to work that week and so I did the 8 1/2 hour drive to his place.  He worked second shift so I was left alone to my own devices and so I conjured up a mini celebration dinner for the two of us to celebrate and to bring in the new year 2002.  There was a small market just blocks from his Chesterton, Indiana home and so I went there and gathered up some  jumbo shrimp, baked beans, potatoes and eggs, and a bottle of champagne.  I breaded those shrimp and fried them up real nice and made homemade potato salad and baked beans  and then I lit a candle just minutes before he walked in the door.  It was romantic and special.   I am thankful for pictures...  that remind me of those special moments from the past.

Dear Diary,

I remember...  twelve Christmas's ago...  when I was a Christmas present beneath a tree.  Oh the memories of those times!  Outrunning those who would run after me...  as they would try to punish me for doing something naughty...   Those days are over though.  It is doubtful that I could run that fast now.  Although dad could not catch me yesterday when I was running at the tennis courts.  I was moving!!  Trouble is, Yesterday I was moving... but today I can't even jump up on to the chair.  Guess the minds willing but the body...  oh... the body.. I move, I pay.   Gotta go.  Gotta rest.  Just as soon as mom lifts me onto the chair.  Gracie.