Ah, we are approaching the year 2009!

I hope all of you had a deLIGHTful Christmas and that all your secret wishes were fulfilled with the enchantment of Christmas which was all yours to treasure. For some of us, it was a painful Christmas and just waited for the day to come and go quickly.

Next week, we will begin to start writing 2009 on all of our correspondence and writing 2009 on our checks. I recall as a child, it seemed to frighten me every year when the digits changed on the calendar. Strange for a young girl to be frightened of that. As an adult, it frightens me even more but I know why now at an older age.

I read somewhere that many people call New Years Day...."Good Riddance Day"....in which they celebrate in mashing a year’s worth of bad hairstyles, loathed music, fashion disasters and regretted romances into an unrecognizable pulp of bad karma and negative vibes. Well, I guess that is when people decided to make their New Year's resolutions and to start off the new year with a positive attitude to get rid of all the negative vibes from the year just past.

Every year, millions and millions of eyes from all over the world are focused on the sparkling Waterford Crystal Times Square New Year's Eve Ball. Is it really made of Waterford Crystal???? Don't you think that in today's devastating economy.....we should not use Waterford Crystal for the New Year's Ball this year?

We all anxiously wait for the clock to start at 11:59 p.m. when the Ball begins its descent, as millions of voices start to count down the final seconds of the year, and celebrate the beginning of a new year full of hopes, challenges, changes and dreams........mostly dreams!

I prefer to be at home watching the ball come down. I recall when I was young, I used to love to find that perfect cocktail dress and attend the best parties celebrating the New Year. As I got older, I realized that I would rather be home then be on the roads with the amateur drunks that abuse the beautiful celebrations of welcoming in a New Year.

I don't believe in New Year's resolutions. I believe that you should be ridding yourself of bad habits and you shouldn't have to wait for New Years to start doing it. New Year's Eve has always been a time for looking back to the past, and more importantly, forward to the coming year. It's a time to reflect on the changes we want and/or more importantly need to make and resolve to follow through on those changes.

The resolutions for many are usually the same every year, diet, stop smoking, exercising, etc. All of which do not require a New Year to begin to start living a healthy lifestyle.

So, do you make New Year's Resolutions? Are they usually the same ones year after year? I know Jimmy Sullivan will be out in Area 51 celebrating....so how are the rest of you celebrating in the new year?

My graphics are back! Yippee~

As promised, Photobucket reinstated my graphics on the 27th. Of course, that made my day!

I attented my girlfriend, Laurie's Birthday Bash last night and oh what a party it was! I don't remember going home so late in a long time. It was a catered affair with class!

I'll post an entry later when I get rid of my hangover!

Upset with Photobucket!

I'm really upset with Photobucket making my blogs a mess with their icons covering my animated graphics. Yikes! They claim it will reset itself on the 27th which is the anniversary of when I started using Photobucket to post my animations. My non animated graphics were untouched because I put them in manually from my hard drive. I can't do that for the animated ones...you need that HTML code thingy! Futta, futta, futta. I think I even made up swears! LOL And, I have to be good....Santa is on his way! LOL

I have two blogs and one is for my classmates of 1962....I'm trying to give that a face lift first and curious if my graphics will return in this site on the 27th! If not..........more work. They claim every time some looks in your Photobucket account or any account you place your animations....for the amount of graphics you have let's say 5, it counts as 5 "hits" and you are only allowed so much broadwidth per month .....whatever that means! I need a glass of wine!

Who knew this would be so exhausting! First AOL now this!

Is your tree up yet?

Hello Everyone!

I get the biggest kick out of the bouncing Snowman but the Reindeer crackes me up....click on the cookie the shape of a Christmas Tree and he stops to eat it. If it doesn't work the first time, click on the cookie again! It's a hoot!

So, have all of you put your Christmas tree up yet? Did you check all your lights first? You all know how annoying that can be once you arrange all the lights on the tree and one set doesn't work!.....Ugh!

I have been a catalog Christmas shopper for years starting with Spiegel when I was in my 20's. Then after the computer age....I prefer to shop online only with stores that I'm familiar with.....I avoid the madness in the stores, the long lines and searching for a parking space. I usually find mostly everything I need with the touch of the mouse! And, since I live in Florida.....no more lines at the post office....just click "Ship To" and my gifts are delivered. Cool Beans!

Have any of you seen that new marketing ploy directed at women? The "Right-Hand Ring". I couldn't believe this particular Christmas jewelry ad aimed at "power women" with gorgeous and dazzling diamond settings designed (supposedly) for right-hand wear only. Treat yourself---you've earned it! Women work and can buy for themselves! scream the ads in large print, placed in women magazines such as Vogue, etc.

While I love a diamond as much as the next gal, I have to wonder if this isn't all a clever marketing trick designed specifically to prey on our culture's current obsession with working, powerful women and mothers. But do we really need another Hallmark Holiday aimed directly at a flock of female consumers. And, especially during today's economy! Well, of course, we will always have the "rich and famous" with money to burn!

I ended the week with a miserable night at a Christian's Single's Dance, ironically the idea was from a Jewish member of the Widow's Group! hehehehe....I've been to these Single's Dances before and oh, how I hate when they instruct you to form a circle around the dance floor and when the music stops every 5 minutes you change partners....oh my....I had enough of that! It would have been nice if there were a decent ballroom dancer in the crowd at least. There were the same faces from my first experience at these dances about 3 years ago. Waste of a $10 admission fee.

Hey, I know at my age group....there would be no George Clooney look alikes around but give me a break...Che Faccia di bow wows! If these guys have to be that uncaring about their appearance...can't they at least learn how to dance and use deodorant and a sports jacket would be nice too? And, these stingy old men don't even offer to buy you a drink! I did, however, enjoy the talented musicians. Great music, lousy dancers.....a recipe for a miserable night! It's not easy being widowed and single again when you are in your 60s! I'm used to a different era when a man offered you a seat at the bar......you would never see a woman standing.....they sent drinks over to you from across the room just to be polite. And, all the men were always well groomed. The Glitter is Gone!

We women no longer have our svelte figures and flawless, young complexions but at least we make an effort in our appearance to look good when we go out at night. Oh and all the primping...... manicure, pedicure, hair, makeup.....hours and hours of preparation to look good only to meet a bunch of men wearing jeans and looking like they belong at the beach! That's why most weekends, I'm home with a good book lounging in my "Boston" TShirt and eating a tuna fish sandwich! LOL

Traditional vs. Tropical Christmas

Who says Christmas in subtropical South Florida can't compete with the traditional northern one? Just look at all the parallels!

TRADITIONAL/TROPICAL

Snowfall /Sunshine

Hot Chocolate/ Pina Colada

Douglas Fir/Coconut Palm

Long Johns /Thong Bikinis

Potted Poinsettia (Wilting)/ Planted Poinsettia (Healthy)

Sleigh Ride/ Surfing

Chestnuts on an open fire/ Shrimps on the barbie

Ice Skating /In Line Skating

Holly Wreath /Seashell Wreath

Frostbite /Sunburn

Plastic Reindeer/ Pink Flamingo

Snowman/ Sand Castle

Partridge in a pear tree /Parrot in an orange tree

Marching Christmas Bands/ Christmas Boat Parades