Just in time for the new year!  Sorry I was such a fat liar about going home for Christmas.  I was worried about burglars knowing we were gone, but now we’re back home and everything’s fine.  Our pals Shawn and John took care of the kitties while we were gone, and my beautiful blue guitar was hidden under my bed, right where I left it.  :-)

It was a pretty crazy trip what with all the family stuff going on, but we had a good time, and saw all the essential family members.  I didn’t even get to hook up with any of my friends, but did get to hang out with my dad, my brother and sisters, and my grandparents, and spent lots of time with my mom.  Ate Mexican food every single meal except when we were eating steaks or barbecue.  Came home with ten big Mexican pralines, that oughta last me awhile!  Made the rounds to 33 Degrees and Waterloo, bought a few CDs.

It was so great to see Daddy.  He’s home from the hospital (again), blatantly disobeying doctor’s orders by driving himself absolutely everywhere.  He got pretty cranky at me for telling him he shouldn’t be doing that, but we got over it and moved on and had some nice visits anyway.  Sure, we could try stealing his keys but I’m sure he’d just get on the phone and order another car and have it delivered to his house!  Stubborn ol’ mule, but that’s my dad.  He wouldn’t even be here right now if it weren’t for that mile-long ornery streak.

I finally got to meet my baby nephew Clark, the one who was born on the same day as John’s niece Mary Jane.  He’s teething and poor little thing was having a hard time with that, but what a cutie pie!!  His brothers Marshall and Thomas are getting so big, it’s crazy how time flies.

I really miss everybody already, but it’s sooooo good to be home again. Our flights went great; we flew out there on Xmas Day and zipped right through, and zipped right home today, no problems at all.  We had a couple of different Christmas dinners with various family members, none of them on Christmas day, but it was just as holiday-ish as it could be anyway.  All the ladies in my family got the same present from me… different color wallets from Queen Bee out in Portland.  Buy all their stuff and tell ‘em I sent you!!

John just came home with champagne from the corner store.  I wonder if I’ll even make it to midnight?  I’m soooo exhausted, but another two hours won’t kill me.  :-) HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!!!