Another year has passed

Seems hard to believe that another year has passed. Tonight is New Year's Eve, tomorrow starts the new year, actually midnight tonight. Or is it midnight tomorrow, I don't know.

I was ill yesterday, another fibromyalgia flare-up -- bad one -- kept me abed all day and night. Today, I'm fine, or as fine as can be considering the pain I was in yesterday. At any rate, I'm out of bed.

Regarding Christmas decorations -- I am NOT putting them away yet. I got them up late, and so I'll keep them around for a couple more weeks. The weather pronosticators are saying we'll have ice and snow to night and all the drunks out there must be careful driving home after the parties of the night. Alan and I haven't been to a party for 10 years, and he was so sick with chemo reactions at that one, we just haven't been since. By the time the parties start, we're too tired to head out.

So, we stay home, eat a late dinner, say goodnight to each other around 10:30 and go to bed. How boring is that?

I remember parties, a few of them, but mostly I remember church gatherings on New Year's Eve. Each church is different. I don't know of any local churches that have a "Watch-night" service. I loved the service back home.

I guess Becky's church has a New Year's Eve service and gathering. I could go out there, NOT. I was supposed to go out yesterday, but didn't quite make it. I wonder if Mt. Calvary still has a festive NYE's service/eatery.

I loved the service -- it was exactly one hour and ended precisely at midnight at which time my father would walk down the center aisle of the church and go into the vestibule and grab the rope that rang the church bell and he would ring the bell for five minutes. Prayer started at around 11:45 p.m., and the bell-ringing signaled the end of the year, and prayer continued until the person praying at midnight was finished, then we went downstairs to the basement and ate.

It was a very late night for us children, and I'm sure we were up bright and early the next morning, but I recall mom giving us a plate of goodies then taking us home, and dad stayed at the church for a while after we left. I may have all this backwards, and I've been thinking about it for days. Did we eat before the service, or afterwards? I'm pretty sure it was afterwards, but it may have changed sometime because after midnight is just too late for old folks and the church people were getting older.

I do know, though, that we children, and my child-hood friends enjoyed the treats after the service.

I have more thoughts about "Watch-Night" services, but I'll save them for another day.

ttfn

Let there be light

If you are a regular ready of The Fat Lady Singeth then you know I have light issues. I'm so glad we're past December 21 and it is getting light earlier in the morning and staying light later at night. I feel like the cocoon is opening around me and I am breaking out of it.

I noticed that it was light later this evening and was so happy. While I enjoy winter weather, I really don't enjoy winter solstice and the darkness.

So, welcome the light that is widening around us day by day. And remember that Jesus is the LIGHT of the world. WIthout Him we would end up in eternal darkness. Thank you God for sending your Son, Jesus, to be the Light of the World.

ttfn

Family gathering

I did it! I had the whole family in my home for a party and I think it was a fun time for the children, which was the purpose. I know my oldest grandson was bored out of his gourd, but he's almost 16. He'll get over it. The youngest, 9 months old was crawing all over the place, keeping his brothers and sister hopping to make sure he didn't pick up something from the floor and put it in his mouth.

I spaced myself out the past two weeks, doing a little bit each day in order to prepare for the onslaught. The first to arrive, on Saturday, was my dauther Becky and her family. They spent the night (Saturday) and Becky was here to help me get the food set up. And there was a lot of food, believe me.

I got up on Sunday morning about 8 a.m., and Dan was waiting, quietly, for me to get up so he could have breakfast. He had to wait a little longer, because I have to get my meds before I do anything, and then I let them injest for about 1/2 hour before I get out of my chair.

Dan asked me several times if the half-hour was up yet, and I told him when I got up it would be time for me to make breakfast -- which was scrambled eggs with lots of cheese (the way Dan likes eggs), and tons of bacon, and toast for those who were of a mind to eat it, OJ, coffee.

After breakfast, I felt very sleepy, so I went back to bed and let Beck handle things until I got up around 1p.m. Then I went at it in earnest, NOT. Beck had everything under control, and I am go thankful she was here to do so much of the work for me. Grace helped by making the salami roll-ups. The men helped by stayin gout of the way!

The Hahns arrived first, then the Stampers. Then as orderly as possible I started the games for the children, then we exchanged gifts, all at once, not one at a time, as we usually do, because with so many small, antsy, children, we decided it was best to just get the gifts into the hands of each person and let them go at it. Gifts this year were sparse, and we decided to do an exchange of dollar-store OR food treats depending on what the giver wanted to get for the recipient who they had. Each person in the family had one person to buy for. Mom and dad didn't participate.

Next we ate, then when the sugar started to really connect (I think it's in the kids minds, though), I calmed them down real quick with "The Quiet Game." All the sugar rowdiness disappeared immediately. Amazing. And when the game was over, so was the supposed sugar high.

All the folks left around 8 p.m. and I was in bed by 9:30.

The best part of the day? WE HAD SNOW! Yes, it actually snowed, can you believe that. Not more than an inch, but what we did get left a nice coating of ice underneath.

The Christmas season is over for another year. I wonder what next year will bring.

ttfn.

Merry Christmas 2009

Well, it's almost over. Christmas 2009.

Alan and I went over to Phil's house for dinner and a few small gifts for the children. I'm glad we went, but I was not very nice, and I feel horrible for being so nasty.

I won't go into the details. Let's just say, I went into "mother mode" with my grandchildren, which isn't something I like to do, and try not to do. I want them to think of me as a nice, sweet, grandmother, not a mother who is on top of their behavior from the moment they see me.

Of course, I forgot my camera so I didn't even get pictures of how lovely the girls (Rachel and Rose) looked. David was in his own world with his new Star Wars lego kits. Matthew was Matthew, but a little subdued, I think because he was very tired. Dinner was wonderful. Amy made a ham dinner. I don't particularly like ham, but I have to admit that Amy does know how to cook a great ham. I made the green been casserole, and her children gobbled that up. Nice to see children that eat at least one veggie.

Now, it's me and Alan. Sitting in front of our respecitve computers, waiting to take our cold, winter's nap. Actually, it's not yet cold, but I could tell the difference from the time we left Phil's and Amy's and when we got home. The temperature seemed to have dropped about 10 degrees in that 1/2 hour it took us to get home.

To all, I pray you had a merry Christmas and you spent time recalling why we celebrate Christmas.

ttfn

Christmas Eve

It's Christmas Eve. It has been all this busy day. It started (for me) around 8:30 a.m. The usual stuff -- I took my meds and waited. Around 9 a.m. Alan got up and told me he wasgoing to take a shower, but he would wait until I finished taking mine. I already had. He was surprised because it was only 9 a.m. and I had already showered.

Well, I had a lot to do today. I had to bake pies, clean up the joint, and especially clean up the kitchen, a major job with all the baking I had been doing the past two days.

So, I made the four pies -- two cherry and two mince. Then I dipped pretzels in chocolate -- they're for the party on the 27th. Tomorrow morning I have to make green bean casserole for our dinner (at Phil's).

I also did two loads of laundry. I still haven't put the clothing away that I washed today.

So, it's now the evening of Christmas Eve. We went to church with friends of ours and I loved the service. It was just singing Christmas carols (not junk songs) and reading Scripture of Christ's birth. Then we had the Lord's Supper and the pastor just read from the Bible what the Lord said at his last supper. It was a very nice service. The church was beautifully decorated, not overly so, just subtley.

And now, Alan and I are home. He is watching a Focus on the Family video about Israel.

And I'm going to bed. It's time. Tomorrow is Christmas. I wish you all a merry one.

ttfn

What a weekend!

It all started on Friday afternoon. I picked up my granddaughter, Rose, at her home to take her to my home for the weekend.

After I picked her up we went to Dollar Tree and shopped til I dropped. She was buying presents for a few of her family members and her teachers. So cute. I also got her a couple of boxes of cards for her classmates.

Yeah, she's doing cards. I didn't get cards done this year. Oh, well.

Then we went to Bob Evans for dinner -- her choice.

We came home after dinner loaded down with our uneaten left overs and dessert, and unloaded the gifts and wrapping stuff that we purchased. She wrapped her gifts and put on tags -- at least I think she got the tags on. And while she was doing that, I was filling really neat containers I bought at the dollar store for the candy game I play with the children at our Christmas time together, which will be next Sunday.

I also got new containers for the money game (I collect loose change all year and then divvy it up for the grandchildren and then play a game while they chose their container of money. I used to collect it all in one jar then draw a name and that person got the whole kit and caboodle, but last year I decided it would be nice if all the children got a share of the loot. They seemed to like that idea better, so I'm doing it again this year.

And I revived the Christmas decoration draw for the grandchildren. So I had to bag them up as well.

After we got all our Christmas "wrapping" completed, we watched The Nativity and then I started to read The Secret Garden to Rose. She had said she tried the book, but couldn't get into it. I told her I understood that but if she had persevered she would have enjoyed the book. And, guess what? She was hooked after I got through the second chapter. I'll get to that later.

After I read a couple of chapters, we went to bed. She to sleep, me to doze. Then Saturday dawned and we had a puff of snow on the ground and car, but it was Rosie's day to have her hair done, and so we headed out to get that done. She looks so cute and grown-up with her new "do".

We came back to the home and she was playing with some of the toys and doll I have in the toy box. I think I dozed again. We baked peanut butter cookies later in the afternoon, had dinner, and then watched Ratatouille (did I spelled that right?), reading further into The Secret Garden during commercials. Since we were both tired, after the movie, I stopped reading, but left the book on the bed stand for her to pick up if she wanted. And we both went to bed.

We woke up on Sunday morning, and again, there was a puff of snow. I was up really early on Sunday, and was watching the weather channel when I first heard Rose moving around. After the weather, because she didn't come into the library, I called to her and she was in the living room, READING! Yes, she was hooked on the book, and was reading it before breakfast, which I had a difficult time getting her to eat, because she didn't want to put the book down.

We played a game (Scrabble slam, quite fun) for a while, and then it was time for her to leave. Bummer. I miss her. She's a fun little girl, and I love having her over.

After I took her home I came back and crashed. Slept a deep sleep. I know this because the phone rang twice and I didn't even hear it.

So, that's the weekend. It was wonderful. I will be glad to do it again and again. My Christmas weekend of Rose -- it's becoming a great tradition.

ttfn

Snow/melt; snow/melt; snow/melt

Snow/melt: That's been our weather pattern since that big storm went up the east coast. We only received a couple of inches from the back end of that storm. It melted by mid-day, Saturday. Then the next night (Saturday night), overnight, or in the dark of night, we had another inch or so of snow (meaning I had to clean off the car), but by mid-afternoon on Sunday, it was melted. Last night (Sunday night), same scenario. I woke up to another inch or so on the car. It's not melted yet, but I'm sure it will. It isn't sticking to the roads, sort of blowing off the roadbed onto the curb.

I realize the picture is really blurry, but you get the idea. Night-time snow. Daytime melt.

Just wanted you to know.

ttfn

Happy day -- Friday

I picked Rosie up after her school day was finished. We are having such a wonderful time together. We are laughing and talking and chatting.

We started by going to the Dollar store to get her "last minute" Christmas shopping finished. I bought paper and some other containers for the games I'm playing with the children at the Christmas party on the 27th. I found great containers for the candy game. Yeah! And great containers for the money game. Another, yeah!

Then we went to Bob Evans (her choice) for dinner. We ate like piggies, but enjoyed every single bite. We brought enough home for lunch. My refrigerator being stuffed to the gills because of all the things my shopper got for me yesterday, I had to store the left overs from Bob Evans out on the lanai. It's cold enough that they will be fine until we eat them tomorrow.

We came home and wrapped presents, put the candy in the special containers I found, and got the money (change I have collected all year long) into their respective containers for the money exchange game.

Then we watched The Nativity Story, and watched the weather during commercials.

My sister called me earlier today and it was already snowing in North Carolina where she lives. So far (it's almost midnight) we haven't had a flake, but it is sleeting, so if the temperature drops as the weather people are predicting, we'll get some snow, but nothing like what they're getting in Mt. Airy, NC, or Runnemede, NJ. We are just on the border of nothing and snow. If the wind would blow just about 10 miles more toward the west, and push the storm just that far, we'd get some snow. I guess I'm glad for my sister. She loves snow as much as I do, especially at this time of year.

After the movie was over, we went into the bedroom and I read the first two chapters of "The Secret Garden" to her. I'll read some more tomorrow.

Tomorrow -- we are supposed to get Rosie's hair cut, then we're going to Bath and Body. Then we're coming home to eat our left overs. Then we're baking cookies. Rosie is really excited about baking some cookies with me. I'm not-so-much, but that's because it physically hurts my body to bake (or cook), but I've got to get some cookies made for the party, so I'll do it with Rosie and that will make it more interesting and more fun.

So, ttfn. I'll be back.

Wednesday report

This is a very boring addition of my "diary." Read on at your own risk (of falling asleep).

Well, I'm up-to-date on my list of things to do before Christmas. Yeah! However, after all the walking I did earlier today (Wednesday, Dec. 16) I was so cramped up and in so much pain (I hate leg cramps) that I missed the Bible Study Christmas Party (as did Alan, who was having a very rough day). Oh, well. Next year?

Tomorrow (Thursday) we have a busy day -- cleaning from stem to stern (cleaning lady); food shopping (personal shopper); doctor's appointments (Alan and Judi). After the doc's appt. I'm sure we'll be spending an hour or so at Walgreen's. Alan is out of all his pain meds and with shingles, aspirin and/or Tylenol just isn't doing it for him. He was in so much pain he was actually sick to his stomach today.

I can relate to that, since the cramps in my legs, which my dear husband rubbed out for me, finally, made me ill as well.

You'd think we'd both be used to pain by now, wouldn't you? Well, we're not.

On a brighter note: I got a wider path made in my office. I got all the trash out and put away a lot of scrapbooking stuff. I don't figure I'll be doing any scrapbooking between now and New Year's Day.

The boxes of unaddressed Christmas cards are still staring me in the face, saying to me: Get this done, just write out the envelopes, put the cards into said envelopes, and go to the Post Office and get some 3-cent stamps. Yes, folks, I still have almost a full roll of 41-cent stamps! That tells you how often I actually use the old-fashioned way of sending mail.

But then, if it weren't for electronic mail and BLOGging, no one of my family or friends would know if I was still alive. I don't use the phone much either. I think that's because I worked for so many years and have a permanent tilt to my head from holding the phone between ear and shoulder for so many hours a day when I was working, and I just don't want to be on the phone if I can help it.

I do recall, though, when the telephone was my favorite way of communicating with friends and family. And now that phone rates (long distance) are so cheap, I don't even use the phone. I can recall when one phone call to my beloved when we were courting would cost $25, and now I get unlimited long-distance for $25 per month. Actually, that includes local, long-distance, voice messaging, call-waiting (which I refuse to use, I think it's rude to put someone on hold for an in-coming call), and whatever other perks I haven't figured out how to use yet. That's on our home phone, btw. My cell phone is a little more or less expensive, depending on the month. If we're traveling, it goes way up, if we're not traveling, it only costs $10 a month.

I used to pay $25 a month for 1,000 minutes, but I rarely use that many minutes on my cell phone, so we went down to the cheapest we could get -- a pay-as-you-use non-contract, plus $10 a month.

Now that we're all clear on my phones, I think I'll quit writing for a bit. I must clean the house before my cleaning lady gets here. I don't want her to think I'm a bad housekeeper. So, why? you ask do I have a cleaning lady. Well, there are just some things I can't do any more. She does those things for me. I still feel the need to clean the bathrooms every day, change the sheets at least once a week, do the laundry. I let her do the ironing, though.

What can I say? I've come to admit that I now have limitations, and while I don't like having to have someone do the things that I should be able to do, but I thank God that Alan and I are financially able to have someone help me (and him at times) out with the cleaning and shopping. How long that will last, only He knows.

I'm getting really excited about the party on the 27th here at the house. It's going to be crowded and noisy. I printed out some Christmas carol music so maybe I can get some of the grandchildren to sing for me.

And here's the final note for today: They are predicting snow for Saturday and Sunday. I hope it comes to fruition. Snow at Christmas is perfect!

ttfn

Some good news

Well, Phil, who has been out of work since July 1, 2009, passed a very important computer certification exam today. We are all hoping that with this new upgrade in his qualifications, he will be able to get a job quickly.

It was a difficult task for Phil. My son has always been able to read something and photographically remember it. In other words, he's really good at facts and languages. But as he told me several weeks ago, this has been the hardest thing he has every had to do. I don't understand all the ins and outs of the exam but I think the picture reproduction (graphics?) might have been what was so difficult for him to reproduce. He's definitely not artistic.

He took the test three times -- today being the third time -- and had such a difficult time passing it. (Or was it four times, I've lost count.) He studied avoracely for weeks before taking each test, certain he would pass. He had never failed a test in his life before this. I guess failure is something that build character.

Anyway, we're very happy that he passed the test.

I didn't get Tuesday's tasks accomplished. I was having trouble sleeping all night, last night. My heart was racing to beat the band. So, I decided it might not be a good idea for me to be driving around today and just rested. Since we are both going to the doctor on Thursday and I knew I couldn't get in sooner, I didn't go to any doctor. And I wasn't about to go to the ER because I'd (1) have to drive myself; or (2), call the lifesquad. I guess I could have called a neighbor? Didn't think of that until just now.

Anyway, I was able to finally sleep without any heart problems, and am well rested. I'm still sleepy, so I should be able to sleep tonight.

I really need to clean up my office -- the official house Christmas collection room -- which is just full of Christmas paraphernalia and unwrapped boxes and wrapping paper and ribbons, etc. It's a real mess. I have a small path from the door to my computer and that's it. I should add that to my chore list to get completed before the family descends on us.

Tomorrow I'll do both Tuesday and Wednesday's tasks (I hope).

ttfn

Monday

I find that almost a week has passed since my last comment. Not that nothing has gone on in my life, it most certainly has, and this week just beginning was supposed to be a light one, and then all of a sudden it has seem to implode.

I finally got all the family Christmas gifts put into enveloped, bagged, wrapped, etc. and put under the tree. And, after putting them under the tree sans (sorry Stacia for using that word) bows, because I couldn't find them, I DID find them today, so tomorrow, I'll get all the gifts from under the tree and put bows on them.

Also, I am definitely going out tomorrow. It will probably put me in bed for six days (just a random number, not a necessary truism), but I'm going to do it. I shall go to the bread store, Buskens, and Bath and Body Works. Then I'll head over to the bank and the post office. I'll get the stamps for cards I probably won't write out this year because time is just running out.

Wednesday is our Bible Study Christmas party, and I have to make something for the buffet, plus wrap a gift I purchased for my best friend, and hostess of the party. I hope to get some more cookies baked.

Thursday is going to be really busy. My shopper will shop for me, my cleaner will clean for me, and I will take me and Alan to the doctors to get our prescriptions renewed and get Alan checked out for shingles.

Friday I'm picking up Rosie after school, we're going Christmas shopping, then out to dinner, then we're going to wrap all the presents she buys. Then if there is time, we'll watch a Christmas movie.

Saturday, I'm taking Rosie to get her hair cut, then I'll crash, or bake some more.

Sunday, I'll rest. Nah!

Are you as tired as I am just thinking about all those things to do. I know most of my readers can do all that without even thinking twice about it, and probably complete all those tasks in a couple of hours, but I can't any more, so I have to pace myself.

I know there was something else I had to say, but it slipped my mind. If I think of it, I'll add it tomorrow, or not.

ttfn

A puff of snow

Yes, I said, "A puff of snow." That's what greeted me this morning as I woke up. It was beautiful and I thought, as I looked at the "puff" of whiteness billowing up and down and over and around the yard, "This has potential."

By the time I had taken a show, the "puff" was over and the potential died. Oh, well.

I did get to have lunch with Amy, my daughter (DIL, actually). She is so special and we had a really wonderful lunch at Red Lobster -- her favorite, and I have to admit, one of mine as well. We both ate too much, but hey, how often do we do that? I don't mean eat too much, I mean eat lunch together and eat too much! We had good conversation, putting aside the heaviness of our situations, and just enjoying the day.

I came home and crashed. I was feeling so wonderful when I left this morning to meet up with her, but by the time I had gone through Hallmark and then Walgreen's, I just wanted to cut off my legs, my hips, gouge out my back, and get rid of an elbow or two. Not much left after that, is there?

Rest has helped, but the life of always resting is not something that I enjoy.

So, I have two more items on my 71 item list finished. Only 69 more to go in 15 days. The law of averages is against me at the rate I'm going. Tomorrow I may do better, but I doubt it. I have at least four projects I MUST complete prior to 7 p.m. tomorrow night. That should up the averages a little bit, but still not enough.

As my other daughter, Becky, put it: You get done what you get done and be thankful for what God allows you to finish. Thank you, God for what I was able to accomplish today. Help me do more tomorrow.

ttfn

Update - Wednesday

After I quit early this a.m. I noticed that I felt really raunchy.  Seems I had a low fever which got larger as the wee hours of the morning progressed.  It's up to 101 right now and I hurt an awful lot.  No other symptoms -- no cough or sore throat, just the pain of fever and the fever.  I thought it was a fibromyalgia attack -- a really, really bad one.  Maybe it is, but I'm not having fun yet.

I had to reschedule Alan's doctor's appointment -- he wasn't disappointed.  Actually, it was his idea, I was all set to take him, but he put the kabash on it.  I don't think he wanted to hear what the doctor would tell him to do about his weakness problem (go to the hospital, let us poke and prod and try to find out what's wrong).  So I'm pumping him full of fluids today and see if that helps any.  I've noticed that he isn't drinking very much. 

He usually drinks four large plastic mugs of water a day, and the last few days he's barely drunk one. 

Regarding the word "drunk" used in the last sentence.  Ms. Magargee -- my high-school English teacher -- always said that "drunk" was something that happened when you "drank" too much alcohol, and was not, I repeat, not to be used as a verb at any time.  Well, too bad.  If I used the correct term people would think I was stupid or that I really made a mistake.  So the sentence used in the last paragraph remains with the word "drunk" used as a verb.

So, once again, I say, TTFN. 

Update - Tuesday

I know, I know, it's been a while since I've updated this BLOG.  Well, I've been hurting from fibromyalgia and the drug I take to keep the pain down hasn't been working for a few days. 

Yesterday, however, I was able to attend the community ladies' luncheon, and had a lovely time.  I hurt, but I scootered over there, took a chair by the door, and was waited on.  The wonderful Chain Gang ladies serve us this annual lunch and those of us who are mobility challenged, and that number gets bigger every year,  love it.  This year we only lost two of our ladies.  Only, you say?  Well, yes, but one of our ladies is probably not going to make it out of this year.  We are all getting older and more infirm.

Alan has a doctor's appointment with Dr. Cody tomorrow and I pray he (Dr. C) doesn't send him to the hospital.  Alan is in terrible shape.  Thus, I'm in terrible shape.  Also, we're trying to hold off his annual MRI until after his birthday, so that Medicare can take up the slack in what we normally have to pay which is around $5K. 

I have all but the front decorated for Christmas.  It was difficult, but I did it.  Still haven't unpacked from our trip, though.  The dirty clothes are all washed and put away, so that's a plus.  When we head home we always put all the dirties in one suitcase.  Makes doing laundry very easy. 

I have almost all the shopping finished and I will soon have everything wrapped (I hope).  If Alan has to be hospitalized, we are both going to fight it because the last visit was just a fact-finding mission which found no facts and cost us a bundle which is still unpaid, and that was two years ago.  In fact, I don't think our bills for Flagstaff are paid off yet, either. 

I don't want a public option or any other kind of government run health care, even though we have to pay quite a bit for our prescriptions.  We have paid into medicare and with our insurance coverage, medicare covers what the insurance doesn't. 

We are getting rain, rain, rain.  Cold rain.  Wind-driven, cold rain.  No snow.  We seem to be in a gully and while the area around us is getting snow, we aren't.  Oh, well.  God is in control of the weather and I shouldn't complain about it.  I would just love for it to snow, though.

Well, that's a ttfn since it's very late (or early depending on your point of view) and I need to get to sleep.

Thanksgiving -- this year

Now that the children have their own Thanksgivings, Alan and I have sought a new way to celebrate my favorite holiday.  Some years we have Thanksgiving with one of the children, usually my son and his wife, Amy, have been close and comfortable. 

But some years Alan and I travel on Thanksgiving week.  This year we went on a cruise.  And Thanksgiving just wasn't the same.

Oh, we had our "round the table" Thanksgiving discussion (what we're thankful for), and we ate turkey that was good, but it wasn't Aunt Annie's or mommie's turkey.  Bland, you know?  And missing was family.

The best part of growing up was Thanksgiving after church and the family either came to our home or we went to theirs and we sat may 10 to 12 people around the table to begin with and the crowd grew later in the day and by the night-time picking at the bird we were up to a hefty 30 people crowded in a very small home, but it was heaven on earth. 

The boat was filled with families this year celebrating the holiday, and they were enjoying a new custom for themselves.  Cruising, while I love it, will not be enjoyed by me at Thanksgiving ever again. 

It just wasn't home and it wasn't a celebration of Thanks.

ttfn