Deep Thoughts

Okay, really, I don't have any. Nothing to ponder or to make you think. Maybe just a quick recap of the last month:

*my folks and my brother (along with his girlfriend and their 4 kids) were here for Christmas. It was the first time in 13 years that we'd all been together. A long gap that was mostly inspired by his ex-wife, who, in addition to being an absolute pig at home, would trash my house every time she came. She was a human tornado without the benefit of the rainbow at the end. At any rate, she is gone, and I enjoyed having everyone here (mostly LOL). I am ME, after all.

*Evan's big Christmas gift this year was plane tickets for him and me to go to Indianapolis to see the fabulous Teresa and her son Mike. She is truly an incredible and generous host. We went because Evan (inspired by Teresa and Mike) has become quite a Colts football fan, and Teresa has season tickets. January 2 saw the 4 of us at Lucas Oil Stadium, wearing Colts jerseys (even me!) and cheering Peyton Manning and the guys to victory. The stadium is awesome and we had a lot of fun.

*In a week (a WEEK!) my baby will turn 9. How did that happen?

*In just over a month I will celebrate my 15th wedding anniversary with my amazing husband. He has frequent flier miles and I am itching to get away with him for a couple of days, I just need to find someone who can take my kids. Cross your fingers!

*My job is going well. I love the flexibility and the fact that I can log in from home whenever I want. I got the laptop a few weeks ago and it is so convenient. I often log in for an hour or so at night to get through email, and I am doing a fair amount of reading about Time Banking in general and learning a lot.

*Minnesota has a Democrat in the Governor's office for the first time in 20 years. Mark Dayton was my candidate all along, and I am very pleased he was elected.

*The great bedroom remodel of 2010 is almost complete. We got the room painted Wednesday the 22 and furniture moved in the 23rd. We still need to get new carpet, add trim and closet doors, and put the closet organizer in, but it is a room, it is warm, and it is functional. Garrett is pretty chuffed.

*I am still reading Anna Karenina. It isn't boring, but it requires some concentration. And a cheat sheet delineating names and relationships. I need to finish it, though, because I just added several books to my library request list: Room, An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination, My Reading Life and Port Mortuary.

How delicious -- to start off the new year with books by 2 of my most favorite authors, Pat Conroy and Patricia Cornwell. I will let you know what I think.