Doin' better

It was a quiet Christmas around here - well, except for the hacking and sneezing and blowing noses. We're starting to recover - Dorothy is well enough to get out and hang with her buddies (Alanna is back in town for the week, and I think they're trying to make up for lost time!) and the rest of us are back at work.

New Years will find us here at the house with Dorothy and her buds. A houseful of 17 and 18 year olds. I can't think of anything I'd rather do!

Sick as a dog

Well, what a way to end the year. Bob, Dorothy & I are all coughing up a storm, losing our voices, having ear-aches... this cold is a real doozy. I'm sure that Brighton is going to catch it - too many loose germs in this house for him NOT to. Poor Tyler and his girlfriend Annalisa caught it a couple of weeks ago, and right before finals. So they had to keep studying, which meant lots of late hours, and they both got REALLY sick. I invited them to come home for a couple of days of 'mothering' - I don't know if it helped, but it made me feel better. They stopped in a for a few minutes on their way North for the holiday a few days ago, and they seemed a little better. I just hope Tyler makes it back home for Christmas!

Dorothy also caught it before finals, and since she's already Miss Mini, didn't have much reserves to work with - she's still very sick, and has been spending much of her day time hours in bed with a new video game that a dear teacher-friend made possible via a gift card. Thank you! You know who you are... It's the only way we can get her to stay abed...

My cough seems to be improving somewhat this morning, but my head is now spinning, so apparently my balance centers are now involved. Isn't that fascinating? I feel bad for the opera company - I should be there - but can't drive, much less think.

I have to say, though, that there is one ray of sunshine in this otherwise cloudy holiday - the driver who caused Dorothy's accident was finallly sentenced, and the court agreed with what Dorothy wanted, within the strictures of the law. So at least that part of our lives is at last coming to a close.

I don't know if I'll have the energy to do another post before Christmas, so I will wish you all a wonderful and Merry Christmas and a happy New Year! My Christmas letter this year closed with these words, which I extend t0 you as well...

"There is a saying : 'May you live in interesting times.' Not something I would wish on others….
It’s really hard to believe this very interesting year is almost over, but here we are – so with this, we wish you a wonderful 2009. And may it be boring."

December already

We've been having fun putting up Christmas decorations and planning our holiday. First we were going to do a day in Disneyland with at least part of Bob's family, like we did last December. Then we weren't. Then we were. Then we weren't. All very confusing. The upshot is that Disneyland has become too expensive for us this year - once 'things' settle - and we are out of the huge debt we've accumulated as a result of D's accident - we can do splurges like that again. Something to look forward to.

Dorothy is busy planning her annual New Years Eve party - this year's theme is "A Potpourri Christmas" - Halloween costumes, a Thanksgiving dinner, and a Christmas gift exchange. Sounds like FUN! I would say "I wanna go!" except that I will be going. As a boring chaperone :-)

Both Dorothy and Tyler are in Finals over the next two weeks - boy, that is one part of their youth that I would NEVER envy.

The opera company continues to suck up every daytime moment. Love the job. Hate the stress. But hey, that's LIFE, right?? At least I love the job!!