Youth is when you're allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve. Middle age is when you're forced to.-Bill Vaughan

Happy New Year Everyone!

This has been the busiest Holiday season ever…Last night Alan and I went to go see Blues Traveler in concert at the Bear’s Tooth Theatre and Pub. It was a sold out show and the crowd’s energy was awesome! John Popper has an incredible vocal range and his harmonica playing was inspired. Rant warning {I was kinda surprised by the band smoking (not sure what they were smoking) on stage; smoking in public places is illegal in Anchorage, not to mention that professional singers usually abhor smoke. At least I did not have to smell it.}

I have been thinking about my favorite contemporary Rock Gods that are still active and here are the top 5,
1. Bono- U2 (duh)
2. Dave Mathews of DMB (Ants Marching anyone?)
3. Sting (with or without police)
4. Paul Simon
5. Don Henley (with or without the Eagles)

Okay, I know the New Year is a time we traditionally make resolutions, and I have come up with the requisite list. So here it goes:

Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions…

1. I honor and express all facets of my being, regardless of state and local laws.

2. I have the power to channel my imagination into ever-soaring levels of suspicion and paranoia.

3. I assume full responsibility for my actions, except the ones that are someone else's fault.

4. I need not suffer in silence while I can still moan, whimper, and complain.

5. When someone hurts me, I know that forgiveness is cheaper than a lawsuit, but not nearly as rewarding.

6. I am at one with my duality.

7. A scapegoat is almost as good as a solution.

8. Just for today, I will not sit in my living room all day in my underwear. Instead, I will move my computer into the bedroom.

9. I will gladly share my experience and advice, for there are no sweeter words than "I told you so!"

10. I will no longer waste my time reliving the past; I will spend it worrying about the future.

Why does Santa panic if he gets stuck in a chimney?

CLAUStrophobia!
‘Tis the season to be busy. My life has been filled with concerts, CD recording sessions with the chorus and celebrating with friends. I need a vacation! Review of concert here http://community.adn.com/adn/node/114738/
Just to keep myself on the edge (of a sharp razor blade), over the next couple of days I am going to challenge myself: how many varieties of cookies and fudge can I make, I know…not necessarily the smartest thing for a family of diabetics, but it’s tradition and sometimes that is more important. I still have shopping too! I wish time would slow down so I could enjoy the here and now!

Some fun news, Alan won the grand prize of my chorus’s raffle; 2 round trip tickets on Alaska Airlines. This is great news, it means we can visit my sis-in-law Sariah for spring break.

The most important news, my brother-in-law Joe is going to be back from Iraq soon (Hi Joe!) and Alan and his brother David are flying to Colorado February 25th to help Joe and family drive up to Alaska. They have their tickets and are very excited…I can already smell the testosterone.

Does an apple a day keep the doctor away?

...If you aim it well enough!

December has arrived and I am sick. Someone gifted me their cold…which is not good considering I have a concert coming up and the chorus is recording a CD soon, so much for rest. This last weekend we did manage to get our Christmas Village and Christmas tree done. I love telling the kids about where the old antique ornaments come from; the oldest is a hand-blown glass bird with a fiberglass tail from Germany. Poor old bird is missing wings and its hanger, but for being over 100 years old, I think it’s doing pretty good.

Do you have your Christmas shopping done? I have about half of mine done, and am starting to feel the pinch! 3 weeks to go.

Bombeck’s Rule of Medicine: Never go to a doctor whose office plants have died.

What do snowmen eat for breakfast?

SNOWFLAKES!

Okay, time to write again. First let me start by saying Thanksgiving was awesome! My Mother-in-law had it at her house, there was a windstorm going on but fortunately the power did not go off until just after the turkey had been carved. Whew…disaster averted. No fights broke out, no one was sick, and we got to eat by candlelight. I call that very successful.

During the family get together, it was determined that instead of buying presents for ourselves, we will adopt a needy family. This sounds better than stressing about what to get a relative that already has everything. Christmas dinner is at my house, which means we will probably play a game too ;)

If you haven’t, you really should check out the movie just below the blog. Thanks to Karen for the idea…she has a funny can-can of her family on her blog here http://www.kbmcqueen.blogspot.com/

Why did the police arrest the turkey?

They suspected it of fowl play...

Let me start this blog by saying that I have no agenda. I do not think the world is out to get me; I believe we are dealt a hand in life and it is up to us to make the best of it. Hopefully along the way we can make this mud ball a nicer place to live. So, in the spirit of the holiday I am going to post my list of things I am thankful for.

1. Family- special shout out to my first husband Alan, and our boys.
2. My dog Max.
3. Goofy smiles brought on by silly objects like rubber chickens and devil ducks.
4. Choir...I am so grateful I did not have to audition! Whew.
5. My reliable recycled car.
6. Joe, my brother in law who is an MP in Iraq...
7. Higher education and the feeling of accomplishment that comes with being on the chancellor's list
8. The Internet.
9. A Capella music.
10. Chocolate and Imitrex.

List of things I take for granted but am just as thankful for:

God, Food, Shelter, extended Family, Friends, the color Green, and my Health.