Happy 2014!

I woke up this morning with a bit of a head cold, so I have been sitting on the couch all day, watching old movies on TCM.  Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending upon your perspective), we didn't have any plans for tonight so I can hang out here all evening without feeling like I should be somewhere else...we didn't get invited to any grand parties.  Oh well, New Year's falling on Tuesday/Wednesday kind of takes the party atmosphere out of the holiday.  It's the crappiest day of the week for a holiday! 

I'm looking forward to 2014!  When I reflect on 2013, this is what stands out for me:

• With all the surgeries Hub has had over the last two years, 2012 and 2013 weren't really that great.  He was in so much pain so much of the time...finally he had his last hip surgery in August, so the last few months of 2013 were much better.  I expect 2014 will be a lot more enjoyable for him, hence for me too. He's talking about getting back into golf, going to Palm Springs in February, and even going on another cruise (although probably not on Norwegian). 

• My plantar fasciitis is finally getting better.  I think this will mean a healthier 2014…I'll be able to get back into exercising, doing the type of exercise I really enjoy but haven't been able to do for 9 months.

• Work really is good, now that I self-demoted to a much less stressful position.  I love my new "boss" (he used to work for me but now I work for him)...we get along great and now I am really enjoying my job. He's very appreciative of everything I do, and I feel as if I'm doing a better job since I'm not having to do a million different things.  I won't mind working a few more years before I retire.

• I feel much more mentally healthy than I did even last year at this time. I find myself being more honest with my family and friends, less fearful of what people think, less OCD about my appearance and weight, and in general just more accepting and less critical of myself…and it only took 5 years of therapy to get to this point!

I know many people love Best and Worst Lists from the past year.  A few years ago, my friend Judith shared a link to a site called "Awful Library Books."  I revisit it occasionally and it is amusing to see what books have been available in our public libraries.  As this year comes to a close, I'd like to share my favorite worst Library Book from 2013: Mealtime Marvels with Margarine

Clogging Arteries Since 1950!

I hope everyone is having an enjoyable New Year's Eve and looking forward to a margarine-free 2014! 

Premature self-congratulations

We got home very late last night.  On the way home from the airport, Hub and I were congratulating ourselves on being so very organized and that the whole trip had been without any major hitches.

I was jet-lagged and exhausted.  The 3 hour time change from Miami to Seattle meant that we got home at 2:30 a.m. Miami time.  So I was already mentally depleted.

As we unpacked, I suddenly realized that somewhere along the line (which could have been anywhere in the last 5 days of hotel changes and cab rides), I apparently misplaced, lost, or whatever you want to call it, a bag that contained all the gifts we had purchased along the way for our friends.  Gifts from Mexico, Costa Rica, and Colombia.  I've called the hotels where we stayed with no success.  And if I left it in a cab, then of course it will never be found.

When I realized we didn't have the bag, I pretty much lost it.  I cried...wept actually.  We're not talking a lot of money, but it still hurts and I went to bed pretty despondent.

So that has put a damper on my happiness at being home.

I'm on my way now to get my dog and I hope that will lift my spirits.

Update:  I just went and got Buster, who was SOOO glad to see me.  He stayed on my lap the whole time I was visiting with his Auntie P before we went home.  Every time Olive would come over, B would lick my hand as if to say..."You're MY Mom, don't pay attention to HER."

On the way home I was listening to a program on the radio...I think God was speaking directly to me.  The program was about "Mentally Strong People - Thirteen Things They Avoid."  The 4th one was They Don't Waste Energy on Things They Can’t Control.  I'm paraphrasing, but it went something like this:  "Mentally strong people don’t waste a lot of time being upset about traffic jams, lost luggage, etc.  They recognize these are things are generally beyond their control. In a bad situation, they recognize that the one thing they CAN control is their own response or attitude." 

Wow, how much more timely can a message be?  Yes, I lost the bag, but it's not the end of the world.  So, I'm already feeling better...and as Hub told me last night (but I wasn't in a listening mood at the time)...It's JUST STUFF!

It feels great to be home!  

Well, that was frustrating...

I just spent 2 hours on a blog post and then Blogger went psycho and dumped 3/4 of it and turned the rest to gibberish. We are on the road again tomorrow so I guess I will have to wait a few days to try again. So much energy expended with nothing to show for it. 

Back in the good old USA!

Our cruise ship just arrived in Miami, and we are waiting to disembark.  I am writing a blog post to use up my remaining internet minutes. 

It has been a good trip, very interesting, but I'm not sure I want to go on another cruise.  There are some pros and cons to cruising, and I'll let you know my thoughts as well as share some pictures from the places we stopped. 

Since internet was not free, and minutes were pretty expensive, I mostly used my minutes to check email and the news.  I've not been able to keep up with what's happening with all of you...but I will catch up over the next few days, 

Hope all is well out there in Blogland!