I’m back on line for a bit. I missed you guys…yeah I did. It’s amazing how attached I’ve gotten to some of you!
Thanks to all of you who stopped by to say hello while I was away. You know who you are and I really appreciate that!
So the big day has come and gone uh?! I was reading Brad’s blog and saw that a lot of you were very lucky in the gift department – yep, some great gifts were received.
My family and I had a wonderful time. I have some pictures that I have not developed yet. Yeah, the old camera, non-digital; but I’ve not used up the film yet. As soon as we do I’ll have the output on a CD instead of hard copies. (or I might just do both!) so that I can share the day with you.
I was a bit nostalgic because (as most of you are aware), my parents who have died within the last five years; Christmas Eve would have been my dad’s 70th birthday, and of course this is my second Christmas without mom.
I was even more nostalgic because my siblings were all together without me in my birth country honoring my mom. It’s a tradition that’s part of our culture to have a headstone made and it is both a spiritual ceremony as well as a time for partying. To top it off it was also supposed to be a reunion of sorts with other members of her immediate family. I felt bad because I missed it but I know my siblings understood that I just couldn’t make the trip this time around. Now if I had won the lotto and all that would have been a different story! LOL! I just really didn’t want to be away from my kids and hubby this Christmas because we couldn’t afford for all of us to travel. So it was all or none of us and I know my mom would have done the same thing.
We spent a lot of time at our new storefront. Business was disappointing. Not too many people were into home items if it wasn’t furniture or electrical. We’re debating on whether to continue at that location because the clientele really aren’t coming in to shop. Yes, I’ve advertised and done all that is required to let it be known where we are. I also know that it takes time for a new business to have a strong foot hold in the consumer market. I know all the pitfalls and downfalls. There’s a lot more to be said but I’ll leave that for another time. However, despite all this I’m not giving up, no way! What is fantastic though is that we actually pulled it off. We talked about it for months, and then decided to go with it and we did it! We started a business and that much I’m proud of. We have other ideas that we will put out there and see which one is the winning formula.
So between the store and home I was extremely busy and man I’m beginning to realize how much because of the bags under my eyes! And eating too much….There goes my beauty out the window…har har... I did manage to spend time with my kids who are out of school for their winter break which was great too.
The weather in Florida is definitely on the cold side this time of year! Not as cold as up North but cold enough for Floridians to bundle up! Brrrrrrrr~ ~
I took the opportunity to take my boots out of storage, you know, those boots that are made for walking…..I love that song! I have some stylish boots, one is a red snake skin tall boots with a two and a half inch heel, another is all black leather with a 1and a half inch heel, and a patent leather burgundy with a three inch heel, and two short ones that are really sleek! Hahaha…now how did I get on the subject of boots? But seriously, it was cold enough to not wear my open toed footwear!
Christmas dinner was fantastic! We had a feast, not as much food as at Thanksgiving but more than usual at one sitting. We still have left-over too and I’ve become quite a piglet….I’m now looking at food and making the hex sign with my fingers to ward it off! I mean I just have to look at the darn item and feel the poundage attack the fat that’s already there! What am I thinking?! I’m not, I repeat not going to continue to eat like a pig…scouts honor (stands with two fingers up and one hand behind back with fingers crossed!) Wheeeeeeeeeee!
Oh to heck with it, I say eat whatever you want and then make those promises you do every year and hopefully stick with the plan this year….(runs off whistling…)
OK, I’m back, my sanity has returned. Now how can you not eat at this time of year? It’s next to impossible isn’t it? What with all the goodies and temptation that comes before you or that you smell from afar. I resolutely decided (since Halloween) to eat what I want within reason and not go overboard. Because henceforth from that day that all good intentions go out the window. Am I right or am I right?!
I am looking forward to the New Year though, as I’m sure most of you are too. That promise of a New Year brings new hope, a brighter tomorrow that we can all look forward to. Perhaps a time to start over or to make amends or to do whatever the heck you want! Yeah? You bet!
I’ll be around for today and tomorrow. I won’t be able to stop by and read too many of you, at a glance you guys have been busy! But I’ll be sure to catch up next week when I’m back in full mode.
If I don’t get to say this before I go….again another of those greetings but I really mean it sincerely…
A HAPPY, HAPPY NEW YEAR DEAREAST JOEUSERS……it’s nice to be here!