Week Two ...

Well, only 1/2 pound this week.  I was pretty good all week, except for Friday supper (BLT) and Saturday lunch (BabyGurl brought me a cheeseburger from our local drugstore.  Made from fresh ingredients form our local grocery store!)

But after all was said and done, I still lost 1/2 pound.  I'll work a little harder this next week at getting a little exercise in as well.

BoyChild and his g/f are going with me next Saturday to Nashville, so I know I will splurge a little then, so hopefully I can be 'good' enough during the week to minimize Saturday's anticipated over indulgence.  (Though I will try to keep that indulgence to a minimum).

So, total loss for two weeks ..... 1 1/2 pounds.

Pajama Party!

The Gabster came over yesterday evening and spent the night.  When she got here she already had her bath and had her pj's on.  So we had a pajama party.  

First it was storytime.  

Captain Hook did what?!?!

Of course, we had to make sure Baby had supper too.

She LOVES shoes.

These are BoyChild's Army PT shoes.

She finally went to bed about 10pm.  Nearly two hours after her 'real' bedtime.  But she was being so good, so Aunt Paula cut her a little on the bedtime. ;-)

This is 'her' bed (which is really BoyChild's bed with a rail on it).  She sleeps crossways of the bed no matter which bed she is in, or how big or small the bed is. 

She slept pretty well until after midnight then she got restless because she couldn't breathe well (unfortunately she inherited her Aunt Paula's and PawPaw's allergy/sinus problems).  

She woke up several times between 10pm and 1am, so I finally put her in the bed with me so I didn't have to keep getting up and going to her room every time she woke up.  

In spite of a restless night, she woke up 'bright eyed and bushy tailed' this morning!

By the time her mom came for her about 10am, she had eaten a huge breakfast (eggs, grits, toast and milk) and had dressed and undressed and fed the baby several times, and was ready for a nap. 

Now at 6pm, Aunt Paula is ready for a nap too!  

Sleeping with the Gabster is an adventure!  (One I wouldn't trade for a million bucks!)

The Bear ...

A friend,  'K' shared this article on facebook today.  And it got me to thinking ... and remembering ...

If you are a football fan at all, even if you're not an Alabama fan (how dare you not be? LOL), you know who Coach Paul 'Bear' Bryant was.  

I'm not a huge football fan ... but during my middle and high school years I was.   My dad and I were (are) the Alabama fans.  My mom and my brother are for that 'other team'.  (Ok, you AU fans, I'm just messin' with ya, I'm really happy that AU won the championship this year.  After all, they are an 'Alabama' team!)

My dad says he was able to raise me right, but somehow my mom managed to brainwash BabyBrother (he is six and a half years younger than me). 

Dad and I would watch the game on Saturday, then on Sunday we'd watch the Bear Bryant show.  It was a great way to see the entire game without time outs and other delays.  (Almost like if you Tivo'd it nowadays and watched just the actual plays).   To this day I still drink Coke and eat Golden Flake potato chips.  

One of my fondest memories (perhaps not my brother's though) was in 1982, I was at my first job, and a co-worker had a couple of extra tickets to a game at Legion Field.  She asked if I would like them and I said sure.  Even though BabyBrother was an AU fan, I asked him along and he said yes.  

Our seats weren't with my co-worker's seats so it was just the two of us to converse.  We were probably on about the 40 yard line I think and more than halfway up the bleachers.  As the play moved down the field, Bear would move down the sideline and every time he passed in front of our seats I would elbow BabyBrother and say "Look, look, there's Bear".    A few minutes later as the teams went back up the field I would again elbow him and say "Look, look, there's Bear!"  

After several pokes from my elbow into his ribs, BabyBrother looked at me and said, "If you poke me one more time, you're going to get to meet Bear because I am gonna toss you down there on the field with him!"  

So I sat and watched - Bear, not the game - quietly so BabyBrother could enjoy the game in peace.   That was Bear's last season as coach.  I spent the better part of an afternoon sitting at Legion Field watching Bear Bryant walk up and down the sideline.  I have no idea who won the game.  I believe it was against Arkansas.  All I know is, I saw Bear Bryant. 

Soon after his death there were, of course, all kinds of tributes.  A local man by the name of Roger Hallmark recorded a song, "Bear, of Alabama" and it was played on our local radio station.  There were so many requests for it, that he sold 45's and the proceeds went to the March of Dimes.

I just went and pulled out my copy and played it and recorded it in the voice recorder of my iPhone and uploaded it to an old website I used to have.  I hope this plays for you.  It should play (or download) if you have a Mac, or use iTunes on your PC.  I have no idea if it will play in Windows or not. ('K', if 'J' has any tips on converting this to mp3 or making this link work better please let me know!)

Here's a clip from The Bear Bryant Show. 

Really??

No.  Not really.



.

Week One ...

I decided to do my weekly weigh-in on Sunday morning rather than Monday morning.  My Mom cooks Sunday lunch most weeks, and well, she's a good southern cook and I'm a good southern eater, so I dont think Monday mornings are the best times to weigh.  ;-)

So, this morning I weighed and I have lost ONE pound.  Now, I think that's pretty good considering I've only been at it since Tuesday.  So that is just five days.   A pound a week is an accomplishment I can live with.

Doggie Treats ...

I had to make a WalMart run today (which I hate) and as I left the 'Health & Beauty' aisles, I had to go past the pet aisles.  So I perused them a moment just in case there was something Natty might need that her Grandma did not know about.  

I found this:

It's in a squeeze bottle!

No, I did NOT buy it.

But as I turned off the highway onto our neighborhood road, I fell in behind BoyChild and he was coming to bring me a visitor!

Not to worry about not buying her the peanut butter spread; I still have plenty of cookies for her!  (She got two while she was visiting for a mere half hour).  

Riding ...

Wednesday BoyChild came by my office to visit.  He had Natty with him.  I went outside to pet her and her ears were freezing!  I scolded BoyChild for not putting Natty's hoodie on her.  She's not used to being out in the cold, especially riding in the back of the truck!

Today he text'd me this picture, to show me that he had put her hoodie on her.  I scolded him for not putting her hood up!  

In Other News .....

There is more going on that what I am (or am not) eating.  ;-)

I will share a little of that with you now.

*****************************************

BoyChild is getting settled in his house again.  

He had no living room furniture, at all, and suddenly 

someone gave him a sofa, loveseat, and tables! 

All that was left in that room when he came home from Iraq, (thanks to his former 'roommate') was the tv stand and tv (and that 'milk crate' over in the corner that he had his laptop sitting on).

Natty is getting settled too. 

********************************************

BabyGurl called me from work this afternoon to tell me that her timetable for school had been moved up.  She  was previously set to start this coming fall. Scholarships were lined up for the spring, but some admissions paperwork had fallen through the cracks so she was having to wait til fall to start.

The call today informed her that she could start in the spring (Feb actually) if she can get into the classes she needs at this late date.  She meets with an advisor / counselor on Tuesday to see what her options are.  

We will keep you posted!

Day Three ...

This has been a 'hungry' day.   Again I ate my 10am snack at 9am.  A Rice Krispie Bar.  Then I had  a few almonds at 10am.  (Cereal for breakfast as usual).   Lunch was a WW frozen dinner again (I stocked up on those at WalMart Monday.)  Afternoon snack was half an apple, a string cheese (mozerella low fat), and later a few almonds (I have to count out only a few and put them in a ziploc back each morning to take with me otherwise I would eat the whole bag, they are addictive!)

I just finished my dinner - a bowl of green salad with a little caesar dressing and a baked chicken breast.  Right now I feel somewhat full, but I know it wont last.  Maybe a yogurt and a few almonds in an hour or so.

I'm trying.  Sometimes I feel like I'm eating a bit too much food, but I feel much like Miss Scarlett about going hungry!  At least I'm not eating cake and cookies and candy all day long (like I usually do).  This afternoon co-workers were having cupcakes and I resisted, then went back to my desk and had my apple/cheese.

Day Two ...

No pictures today.  Yesterday was a one time thing. ;-)

And after this week there will only be weekly updates, not daily ones. 

Breakfast: Cereal

I ate my 10am snack at 915. :-o

A 'light' vanilla yogurt and five almonds. 

Lunch:  WW frozen dinner.

Afternoon snack:  Half an apple, and a string cheese stick.

Dinner:  Steak (Yes, I know red meat is bad but it was 

much smaller than the piece of chicken last night.)
Also, broccoli and a green salad.

Right now, enjoying a large cup of decaf.

Snack: (probably will be a granola bar in about a half hour).

Just about ready to stick my toes under the electric blanket and spend some quality 

time with the tall, dark, handsome, and irresistibly charming Stone Barrington.  

Day One ...

Well, I feel like I did ok today.  

I was conscious of everything I ate.  

Tried to eat 'good' foods.  

I think I succeeded.  

I started the day off with a bowl of: 

About 10am I had a: 

Then for lunch, I ate:

Afternoon snack about 3pm was:

When I got home, I put dinner in the oven and ate about 15 of these:

For dinner I had:

Yeah, I know it's a plateful, but at least the chicken is baked and skinless, 

and really you can never eat too much broccoli, right? 

I'm sure I'll be needing a snack later on.  Probably two of these:

Yeah - it's been a lot of food, now that I look at it.  But healthy food.

I'll gradually cut down on portions as time goes on. 

Day one.  Baby steps.

Here We Go ....

I said I was gonna make 'lifestyle changes' and get healthy.  Well, tomorrow I begin in earnest.  And to keep me accountable, I will post an updated ticker each Monday.  Maybe Monday is not the best day, since that immediately follows my Mom's Sunday lunches, but it will be consistent if I always weigh first thing on Monday morning.  I will try to post the updated ticker on Monday evenings (I'm pretty sure I'll be running late on Monday mornings and wont get it posted before I go to work).

He is my starting ticker.  I have avoided putting my actual weight on the ticker (it's a lot) but am just tracking my weight loss.  Suffice it to say I'm not going to be a skinny minnie when I get done, but I am hoping I'll be having less trouble with my knees, and with stooping and bending, and feel better overall.  Looking a little thinner will just be a bonus.

This is going to be a 'slow and steady' project, not a marathon.  I want to make changes I can live with and maintain long term.

If I dont make it, it wont be WalMart's fault!

The Power of a Song

This was shared with me this morning by a friend.  The song was written and is sung by a friend of hers.  I had to watch it twice.  The first time I was so mesmerized by the pictures I didnt hear the words to the song.  The second time, I closed my eyes and listened.  I encourage you to do the same.

Sunday's Sundries ....

Just odds and ends and tidbits today.  No cohesive thoughts.  A pic or two.  You know ... "stuff".

The BoyChild has stayed a night or two in his house.  However, due to the fact that we had to set off a few bug bombs in there while he was gone, everything needed a good cleaning.  I had brought home a few of his clothes prior to R&R and washed them up for him, but the majority of his stuff smelled like ... well, bug bombs!

In the parting of the ways, his previous roommate had left the washer, but took the dryer.  So yesterday he bought a dryer so he could wash his stuff without toting it back and forth from my house (we are not exactly next door neighbors).

Today after lunch at my moms, we went to the Dollar General (I love that store!) and he bought $99 worth of cleaning supplies (and a couple cases of soft drinks).  There's a mop and broom in there too (the handles are sticking out between the headrests).

Grandma bought a few things too.  

(Well, Natty didnt have any cookies at her Daddy's house!)

I also got her a new food and water bowl and a new toy to have at her Daddy's house.  He's been gone so long, I'm sure doesnt realize (yet) how spoiled she really is!

I washed all the dishes, scrubbed the cabinets, put down shelf paper, and then put the dishes back in the cabinets.  BabyGurl came by and mopped his bedroom and the living room floors with Pinesol.  BoyChild scrubbed the bathroom and washed a load of clothes and tried out his new dryer.  From the sounds of the washer, he may be going back to Lowe's sometime soon!  But it made it through one load at least.  

BoyChild and Nephew have swapped rides for a few days.  Nephew is 16 and has a jacked up truck that he totally does not need.  BoyChild is 25 and has a Mustang that he totally does not need.  However, swapping still does not give either of them the ride they need.  In this mother/aunt's opinion at least. 

Tonka Truck vs Matchbox Car

Next order of business ... have BoyChild remove a couple 

hundred pounds of Army gear from my living room! 

Not A Creature Was Stirring ....

A rare treat tonight.  Nobody home but me.  No BabyGurl, no BoyChild, no Natty.  Just me ... reading a book.  No tv turned on.  No radio.  An odd thing it is.  Kind of a weird feeling.  Not that any of the three of them are any trouble, or require much effort, or keep me from reading or whatever I want to do.  But to be here without anyone else .... it's been a LONG time.  Since last April at least.  That is when Natty came to live with me.  I would've never thought we'd have ended up with the relationship we have - she's just as spoiled as any two-legged grandchild will ever be.

Here she is when she left this afternoon with her Daddy.  This is the jacket she got last year for Christmas (from her Grandma!) As you can see, BoyChild still has a few bags to unpack and things to put away!

Afternoon Update

The windshield of the car at 1pm. (Just like it was when BabyGurl left at 8am). Though the temps are slightly above freezing in most places, we havent had a drop of sunshine today.  I'll have to deal with this tomorrow morning when I try to go to work!

How Natty has spent the day!

Ice. We Got Ice.

Well, all we got was ice.  Nearly a half inch on hard surfaces (ie: windsheild).

BabyGurl had to go to work this morning (pharmacy), and it took half an hour to get her car warmed enough that the ice began to melt from the windshield.  Even at that it did not actually melt, but she was able to pry it loose in chunks once it released it's grip a bit.

She did make it to work ok.  She said she slid a few times, but thankfully stayed in the road.  By the time she comes home things will be a little better, but will begin to freeze over again once the sun sets.

They are still saying we have to go to work at noon.  Hopefully by 10am they will change that, but I'm not holding my breath.  We have a lot of employees that will not be able to make it even if we are open.  They will have to use vacation time to make up the hours.

Sweet Natty wasnt too sure she wanted to venture out into the ice when I opened the door for her this morning.  It wasnt too deep on the grass, but it was ice just the same.

With the frost on the window it's hard to see, but there are icicles on the table, 

along with the layer of ice on top. 

This is what Natty saw as she stood trying to 

decide just how bad she really needed to potty!

UPDATE:

I dont have to go to work!  Yay!!

Here is a little fun about 40 miles from me.

Winter Storm

Well, this afternoon, we got a little bit of sleet.  It came down hard for a while, then stopped.  This was at 3pm this afternoon, on my front porch.

For a couple of hours afterward, there was no precipitation at all.  The past hour we've had a little rain, and a little more sleet.  They are still predicting more sleet / ice / snow overnight.  

As the storm has progressed, the meteorologists forecasts have gotten more and more uncertain, rather than more accurate.  The rain / sleet / snow line gets moved every hour or so.  The accumulation forecast totals go from 1/2 inch to more than six inches and back again.  

At least my employer has finally notified us that our offices will be closed at least until noon tomorrow.  An evaluation will be made in the morning whether or not to open at noon or remain closed. 

As long as I dont lose power, I'm good. ;-)

How Much, And When?

There's a four-letter word that we in the south dont care much for.  SNOW.  There's a three-letter word we like even less.  ICE.  We are going to get at least some of one or the other this weekend.

All day yesterday and last night they were predicting 4"-8" of snow in my neck of the woods.  The ice was predicted to stay about 50-75 miles south of here.  Now, the 'models' are all shifting, and the snow is likely to go more north giving us only an inch or two, but a hefty layer (up to half inch) of ice.

Snow means slick roads, no school, and kids having fun (while I stay inside drinking hot tea!)  However, ice means downed tree limbs and power lines, and in an all electric house that is not a good thing.  I dont mind having to stay in (I've already been to the grocery store) but I really do want to stay warm while I am house-bound.

If the power goes out, and stays out for very long, I'll be looking for a way to get across town to my Mom an Dad's.  They are all electric also, BUT they do have gas logs in the living room.  So we can all sit huddled around the fireplace and play monopoly and maybe she can stir up a pot of stew and put it on the grill to heat.

Here's hoping for snow.  It's still over 24 hours away, so really, anything could happen.  Or even nothing could happen.  Stay tuned for updates!

The Homecoming!!

Me, BabyGurl, and BabyBrother left about 7am yesterday headed to Demopolis.  We arrived early (of course) and after having talked to BoyChild along the way, we knew we had some extra time so we stopped for a bite of breakfast before heading to the High School.

Upon arriving at the High School, BabyGurl and I picked up and donned our pre-ordered 'Welcome Home' t-shirts.  Then we commenced to waiting. 

The busses arrived about 10:20am, and the bags were unloaded and the Soldiers filed into the gym.  After a moment or two, they were allowed to search out their families and visit until time for the ceremony. 

At 11:00am the ceremony began.  It was (thankfully) very brief.  There were about five speakers, but they all graciously kept their comments to a 'thank you' and a 'welcome home'.  At the end, Captain Kelvin Perkins spoke for a few minutes about the number of missions accomplished, the number of miles travelled, and a few other statistics.  The ceremony ended at 11:30am.

We stopped back by McDonald's to let BoyChild get some lunch (he said he had bypassed the breakfast offereings before leaving Camp Shelby).  We all enjoyed talking and laughing and singing along to the iPod in the car on the way home.  Just like 'old times'. 

 Before the ceremony:

During the ceremony:

Yes, a lot of the pictures do look the same, because all they did was stand there. ;-)

Sweet Natty was ecstatic to see her dad.  

(It was a mutual feeling!)

When he left an hour or so later to go visit with my Mom and Dad, she paced the floor from one end of the house to the other, crying.  After visiting with friends, he arrived home about midnight and she was let out of her kennel and into his bed.  She slept soundly and was still lying in his bed, waiting on him to return from the shower, this morning when I left for work. 

Last Minute Stuff ...

Running around doing the "flight of the bumblebee" last minute straightening and cleaning before I head out to get BoyChild in the morning.  I had planned to do much more while I was off last week, but then I made the trip to MS (which I wouldnt trade for anything), so now I am trying to play catchup, and make sure there is room for his things in the bathroom etc.  And getting some of mine and BabyGurl's "junk" out of his room so he can at least get to his bed, which he has to de-rail (because I had him put a toddler rail on it last year just before he left so The Gabster could have a safe place to sleep - other than in my bed!)

BabyGurl and I are leaving a little after 7am, going to pick up BabyBrother, (just a couple of miles away).  The ceremony is at 11am.  Dont know for sure what time the busses will actually arrive.  We will be there before 10am though.

BoyChild said today he had heard they were leaving Camp Shelby at 7am, and then he heard 6am.  They are supposed to have a briefing tonight about getting their gear out and on the busses tomorrow morning, so he is going to call me after that and update me.  I dont expect any changes in our travel plans though because no matter how early they get there, the ceremony will be at 11am.

One More Day And A Wake Up ...

That is BoyChild's facebook status this evening.  They have more briefings tomorrow.  He says it's boring but also says "it's all good, all I got is time."

We'll be home Thursday afternoon and he'll have about a million places to go and people to see.  It'll take a few days .... or a couple of weeks .... to get around to all of them.  A couple of his friends have planned parties so he can visit with lots of folks at one time.

As for me .... I made it through my first day back.  Didn't accomplish much, just re-acclimating myself to the work and organizing what has to be done first.  Helped a few customers.  I was kind of sluggish due to the lack of sleep thanks to the steroid shot.  I stared at the ceiling til 3am the got up and ate a bowl of cereal, then finally dozed off and on from 4am til 6am.  I should sleep pretty well tonight I hope.  In fact, I think I'll be moseying off to bed any minute now.

First Monday of The New Year

Thank goodness I have today off.  I'd have never made it to work.  I was sick all weekend, and finally went to the Dr this morning.  Sinus infection (well, duh! I already knew that!)  Got some antibiotics and some decongestants, so maybe it will clear up soon.  And of course the dreaded cortisone shot.  That will keep me awake tonight, always does.  But if it will make me feel better, I guess it's worth it.

Took the boys back to Camp Shelby a little before 3pm yesterday.  They didn't have to be back til 6pm, but we checked out of the hotel, got some lunch, walked around the mall for a bit and then decided to head on back to the post.  BoyChild wanted to repack some of his duffles and send home things he would not be needing for the next three days.  That will make his travel to Demopolis on Thursday morning a lot easier.  It's probably a good thing he did, because I might have had to rent a u-haul if he hadn't.  This is what he sent home with me yesterday.

That small black suitcase is what I took for him to have this weekend - some of his civvies.  The two - HUGE - HEAVY - duffles are what he sent home early.  I managed to get the duffle in the house, but I was only able to drag (yes, drag) the backpack to the back door.  When BabyGurl gets home in a couple of hours we will lift it in the back door and put it .... somewhere.  I'm currently washing up the civvies he wore this weekend, but the duffles will remain untouched until he gets home and sorts it himself.  (He's very good at doing his own laundry).  

I was just in his room trying to figure out how to organize his things to maximize the minimal space in that room (and teeny tiny closet) and I realized he has WAY too many clothes.  He is going to have to prioritize and make a trip to to Goodwill or somewhere to drop off the excess.  But that's his job, not mine.  

Back to the real world and the day job tomorrow.  After eleven days off, I'm loving the life of a bum.  I just need the $$ to support that life.  So, like I said, back to the day job. 

Winding Down ....

Today is our last day of 'vacation'.  I have to take the boys back to Camp Shelby this afternoon.  They will continue their out-processing, and then be bussed to their home armory in Demopolis early Thursday morning.  The ceremony is scheduled for 11am.

Yesterday was not a good day for the BoyChild.  Well, the first half of it anyway.  I kept calling down to their room and finally got him to answer about 11am.  He said he'd get up, get a shower and we'd go get some lunch.  About noon Rick called my room and said, "I need some help.  I cant get him out of the bed".  So I went down, got him awake, got him some ice and something to drink so he could get the cottonballs out of his mouth, and finally got him sitting up.  He didnt get sick, but he said he thought he'd feel better if he had.

Got him up and moving and headed toward the shower and came back to my room.  About 1pm we headed out to CiCi's Pizza.  They have a great buffet for $4.99.  I knew BoyChild wasnt gonna eat much so that was the cheapest thing for him 'not' to eat.  Rick and I more than got our money's worth though.

Then they wanted to go to the mall.  Both wanted a new pair of jeans.  So off we went.  Rick wanted shoes too, but the ones he wanted weren't in stock in his size.  They both finally found jeans at JC Penney's, and BoyChild got a hat at Hibbett's.  I dont have a pic of it yet.  It's a grey and black plaid Alabama hat.

I also got a new purse.  To match the last pair of boots I bought in Nashville this past October.

Later, we went to Longhorn again for dinner.  BoyChild was able to eat most of his.  Then, they wanted to go back to Roper's.  I said ok, but no way are we staying til 2am again!  We went there about 8pm and by 9pm they were ready to come back to the hotel.  Let's just say it wasnt nearly as lively last night as it was the previous night (and neither were the boys).  They had a couple of beers and we came back to the room.  I think we all turned in pretty early.  I turned the light out about 10pm, and slept pretty well considering I've had a cold or something all week and cant breathe and have coughing fits.  The coughing was at a minimum last night though.

This morning we went down to the 'continental' breakfast about 7am and now we are back our rooms, showering, packing and just generally 'chilling out'.  We have to check out at noon, and we'll go get some lunch, maybe walk around a different mall for a bit, then I'll probably take them back out to the post about 4pm.  They dont have to be back til 6pm, but getting them back early is never a bad idea, and I'd like to get on the road home before too late.

It's been a good weekend.  I know it was not what any of them wanted, three extra days of nothing-ness that could have been used for processing had it not been for the holiday (especially for those who's families couldnt come down this weekend) but I've enjoyed the one on one time with BoyChild and Rick.  Once he gets home Thursday I may not see him for a week because his friends will be clamoring for his time.  There are already a couple of welcome home parties scheduled for him.  He'll spend a couple of hours Thursday when we get home with my mom and dad, and then he'll be a busy little beaver for sure.

Last night at dinner I couldnt help but laugh at them sitting there playing with their new phones.  I guess it's not just a 'teen thing' or 'girl thing' any more.  ;-)

In fact, yesterday in the mall I went to the ladies room and as we (a lot of us) were going down the hallway and turning into the respective restrooms, one guy was on his phone just a jabbering and was headed into the ladies room when his (approximately 4 yr old)  son grabbed his shirttail and said "Dad, this way!"  

My new purse.

So, now  I have to finish packing so the boys can start loading up the car soon.  It's been a good weekend.  I am very blessed.  

Happy New Year!

So I got my nap.  Well, I didnt really sleep, but I did rest and that helped tremendously.  I got up about 8:30 and started getting ready.  BoyChild called about 8:45 and asked me when I'd be ready to go.  I said ten minutes.

We headed out to Ropers, to ring in the new year, have our free buffet, and free champagne toast (all for a not so free $15 cover).

We got there just after 9:00.  Well, it seems the buffet was only until 9:00 (we had heard that it was til 10:00).  So, no supper.

They did have hats and party favors and streamers everywhere.  BoyChild put on one of the hats and I made his picture.  This is as he was having his first beer.

He and his buddy Rick had several beers, and another buddy and his dad arrived and joined us.  (They had wisely gone for dinner before coming to Ropers.)  The boys talked, and had another beer (or two or ten, I lost count).  Finally, it was midnight.  They brought around our 'champagne' for the toast.

Not exactly what I was expecting.  I took the tiniest sip possible to toast to the boys being home, and that was some really (really) nasty tasting stuff.

But never-the-less we did ring in the new year, and I have the pictures to prove it. 

Finally about 1:00am I started encouraging them to head back to the hotel.  They wanted to stay til the bitter end.  And it was indeed almost a bitter end, but trouble was diverted and we were able to leave without incident. 

When we went outside to leave there were three or four police cars in the parking lot, but just as we were getting in our car they must've gotten word of something big going down because they all tore out of the parking lot with lights and sirens a'blazing.  

We made it back to the hotel, and I still hadnt had any dinner ..... so .... thanks to the vending machines .... 

I got to sleep about 2:30, and my dadgum internal clock had me awake at 6:30.  I finally gave in and got out of bed about 7:30 and headed down to the 'continental breakfast' and had some toast with grape jelly and a glazed donut (the donut was very fresh though, actually quite good).  

It is now almost 9:00am and not a peep from my boys yet.  They'll probably wake up and want to go out just about the time I am ready for a nap!  I'll take a shower in a bit and be ready for them to take me out for a very nice lunch to make up for my lack of dinner last night!

HAPPY NEW YEAR, to all my friends, old and new, and yet to be!