Christmas & Such

Sorry, sorry, sorry!  I haven't posted in about a week!  But I guess you all know that.  Problem #1 - I moved the computer up to my dressing room and because it isn't right there, staring at me reminding me to keep friends and family in the loop, I didn't.  Problem #2 - I was busy, busy, busy with entertaining.  You know getting ready for x-mas eve at the Hanke household and entertaining Mom and Richard.  So really, it isn't my fault!  Blame my family!

So, what have I been up to?  How were my holidays?  Good.  A bit of a whirlwind.  A bit hectic.  Lets see.  First, Christmas Eve was good but there were a few snafus.  Although (I think) my lasagnas were good, they were jam packed and so dripped in the oven while cooking.  This led to smokey, choking air in the kitchen (which spread to the rest of the downstairs) all in the midst of present opening.  Sorry kids!  I was a bit crazed.  But things worked out...I just switched to my bottom oven for the last 10 minutes of cooking and all was fine.  Then, after dinner, Maggie tried to set my house on fire.  I guess she wanted to test the flammability of my lovely, red velvet dinner napkins so she set one on top of an open flame.  Go figure, the damn thing went up like a roman candle!  Thank God for Becky who had the sense to grab said napkin, throw it in the kitchen sink and douse it with water.  Ugh!  No biggie though.  Sort of hilarious.

After everyone left, Jim drove Mom, Richard and me around the neighborhood to see the lights and all the luminaries that our neighborhood puts out.  It was really pretty and fun.  I was in my p.j.'s and had a nice glass of wine...highly illegal but whatever.  We actually went to parts of my neighborhood that I'd never been...got lost for about 10 minutes too.  I saw houses that I couldn't believe were just down the road from me...HUGE!  Crazy!

Christmas was good.  Nice that I wasn't the one doing the cooking.  And bonus!  Jim did the cleaning up...while I played Ping Pong with J.J.!  Thank you J.Bird for seeking me out to play with you!  I think that's the first time in about 20 years that I wasn't slaving away in the kitchen after a huge holiday get together.

Mom and Richard left yesterday morning and Jim and I immediately went to work taking down the Christmas tree.  I had had it with my indoor holiday decorations.  I always get sick of it all by the day after...although I still enjoy the outdoor lights and those will stay up until the new year.

Anyway - Jim then took my car in for an oil change and to have the dealer check out why my "check engine" light was on.  No biggie and covered by warranty.  Jim also talked to the dealer and asked about a trade in.  Apparently dealerships are "hot" for cars in good shape under 60,000 miles (mine is about 400 miles from that mark).  I still owe on the car but the guy told Jim that turning it in, they would give us about $2000 over what I still owe.  If they could give us a trade in, pay off what I currently owe, get me a new car without having to put anything down and keep my payments the same or slightly lower?  Hells yes I'm going to jump on that!  We'll go down tomorrow to talk to the guy and see what he can do for us.

Last night Jim and I went to his cousin's house who was having a family get together.  It was good to see his side of the family and hang out.  Good chili and good company.  They are nice people.

And that's about all that's been going on with me.  I'm ready for a day with NO PLANS!!!  I'm ready for a night home with just my hubby and my pups!  It's rainy and nasty and we're supposed to get about an inch of snow later tonight...nothing that should accumulate much but Bubba is hoping there will be enough of the white stuff for him to lay on the deck and cool his belly!  YAY!

K - I'm out...later!