A special anniversary approaches!

Dorothy is preparing to celebrate a year of life with a "coma party" - yup, that's my girl. She has plans... which I'm not to share, I think. But it sounds like a lot of fun. And I certainly am feeling a lot of joy.

Dorothy is doing GREAT in school. Her grades this term were AMAZING.

I think one of the things she regrets most is that it's taken so long to grow her hair back. She wants it long NOW.

Life is good.

Happy New Year!

Hi Friends! We lived through Dorothy's party with equanimity - her friends are such great kids that we are able to really enjoy them without worry. They seemed to have a great time, and many of them opted to spend much of yesterday together as well as the evening before.

I think perhaps my high point of yesterday was when Dorothy came out in the morning (well, actually, noonish) and gave me a big hug and a beautiful smile. Not that those are unusual, but after staying up as late as she did, I was surprised that she was so happy - when I asked her what was up, she just said "I'm just glad that the worst year of my life is over."

I get that. Me too!

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!!

Morikami Gardens & Museum

Another really fun day was the day that my cousin Rebecca and I went to the Morikami Museum & Gardens for the day. It was a long drive, but so very worth it!

The gardens were so beautiful - many different styles of gardens, running throughout Japanese history.

They also have some of the best Japanese food I've ever had!

The drive to Delray Beach from Palm Beach was in itself very fun, as Rebecca and I chatted our way there.

Thrift-storing in Florida -

(I'll bet you didn't know that was a verb, did you?)

One of my favorite parts in visiting Florida is in the great and numerous thrift stores in the greater Palm Beach area. There's this one store where I always have excellent luck finding work clothes, including the formal gowns I need for the opera. And every time I go to Florida, I can't remember which one it is! I remember that it's very close to the airport - but there are MANY in that category, so we end up visiting a lot of stores.

The good news is that this year was no exception - we finally found it - it's a Salvation Army, and I got their business card this time! - and I got two formals, 6 pairs of nice slacks, 4 shirts, a pant suit for work, and more - Ann Taylor, J.Jill, Sag Harbor, Liz Claiborne, and more, for $65. Yup. Easily over $1,000 worth of clothes. Score!