ARGGGGHHH!!!!! HELP!!! All Crossed Up!

I am ALL crossed up. I do not want to lose my religion over this. I am trying to add "blogrolling" so I can add all my "reads" to my blog. ARGGGHH! I can't do it. It's supposed to be easy. I went to blogrolling but can't figure out where to put in my "cookie cutter template" offered by Blogger. Any white knight or knightresses out there? Also, if I EVER get it working, is etiquette that I ASK people before adding them to my list? Your advice and help is greatly appreciated.

2006 in Review

2006 in Review

January – Resolved not to be superstitious. Washed on New Year’s Day. Wrote my 100th post. High points: Planned my trip to Spain and ate twinkies for the first time. Low point: My laptop died and blogger quit on me. Lowest point: My mother told me she never wanted a daughter like me.

February – Made a presentation to a big dog at work. Caught a cold. Worshipped Coca-Cola. Highest point: Made a waitress at IHOP happy on her birthday.

March – Too busy to take trip to Spain. Hurt my foot and went to the ER. Took great painkillers. Ate Girl Scout cookies. Began my bi monthly manicure/pedicures. Highest point: Saved from a crazy driver.

April – Had a car accident. Began belly dancing. Lowest point: Watching my little friend Belle’s heartbreak. Highest point: Mistaken for the Eastern Bunny.

May – Cried all month. Lowest point of the year: My beloved Balto died. High point of the month: Got a kitten.

June – Traveled. Had a hot date. Low point: My cousin killed himself. Scary point: Found a lump in my breast. Then another one. High point: Made a great peach pie and lumps disappeared.

July – Had several windfall moments. Low point: CPA made a mistake on my taxes. High point: My mom had a dinner party. She invited me.

August – Went on vacation. Bought a new bed. Low point: Left vacation to be with my mom who had emergency surgery for cancer. High point: Began to read The Bible again.

September – Low points: Steve Irwin and Polly died. My bad headaches returned. High point: Rediscovered coffee and went to Europe unplanned.

October – Barely posted at all. Low point: Depression jumped on me. Bad.

November – Depression continued. I sought help.

December – High points: Got back on track mentally, celebrated my birthday, enjoyed Christmas shopping. Low point: Realized how many deaths and illnesses I witnessed this year.

And how was YOUR 2006?

Looking toward 2007

It's time for me to look toward 2007. Many people don't believe in New Year's resolutions, but I like the idea of a "fresh start." Over the years, I've accomplished so much using the "resolution method." In fact, the windfall actually occurred as a result of a such a goal setting session. Some day I'll talk more about that. I'm not going to look back much over 2006. Instead, I decided this morning that I am going to set a goal for this year. I've spent over an hour searching for a certain waffle recipe. Being a cookbook collector, I'm going to get them organized. To that end, I will cook at least ONE recipe from each one in 2007. I have to COUNT how many I have. LOL. What do you think of resolutions, and if you have one, will you share it? I won't tell.....I promise.

Day after Christmas, Lounging, Mystery Neighbors and a Motorcycle

How was YOUR Christmas? Mine was FUN and very MERRY. A different assortment of folks, and YES, I had DRAMA. One of my guests brought his poodle! And my little sweet dog went wild. Man, you do not want to deal with dog drama/relationships while you are cooking a huge meal. I mean, I could barely get myself calm -- even with my sure fire calming tea. LOL. Barney was over and cracking jokes. He likes to complain (sometimes I think to get a reaction) but honestly, he is a stitch. I am lounging reading a not too trashy novel and watching a Law and Order Criminal Intent I taped three days ago. I have four DVRs in my house (I know, I know....not good) so that I can taped things anywhere I might be watching TV. That way, I'm never late for anything because I waited around to watch something! Speaking of mysteries (we weren't talking about them though, were we?), I just heard a motorcycle outside. Thinking I might see Cornbread, Steel Cowboy or Grey Biker out there, I catapulted myself up and over to the window. It was my "mystery neighbors" with a truck and a trailer with a guy riding on the motorcycle driving down their driveway. No, I didn't get to see what kind it was. I've never met them. They come and go at crazy hours. The house goes up and down for sale. They have lots of visitors too. They also have landscapers over alot. Does one of Tony Soprano's cousins live across the street from me? Not to be a bore, but I'm hanging in there at 25peeps if you don't mind still clicking me.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE!!!!!!!!!

I have put on my Christmas dress for y'all. Am I looking fine or what? Not only that......I have my famous white bean chili cooking and all the dinner's trimmings bought. Still wrapping presents! Dinner is going to be wild! My daddy's here. I have three visitors with nowhere else to go coming which my friend Barney simply can't understand! He's like YOU BARELY KNOW THESE PEOPLE. I'm like......this is the spirit of Christmas! Even though one of them is Jewish. He's still coming. Who wants to be alone this time of year? I have to go now. My ferocious cat is insisting I finish wrapping HIS gifts. I'm STILL on 25peeps.com! Thank you for your past votes, and if you feel in the spirit, keep voting! Love you guys! Merry Christmas EVE!!!!!!!!

Clicking and Parties

Three days 'til Christmas! Thank you for your votes at 25peeps.com. I'm hanging in there. Go back and click more if you are so inclined.

I had date last night; we went to my girls' club party. These types of functions can't be fun for guys. One of the girls insisted that couples "split" and go to different tables. He looked a bit uneasy, and I really didn't want him to go anywhere else. I beckoned him over, and he seemed relieved. During the course of the conversation, several times he shook his head at me as though to say "don't say that." I do so hate being monitored. These are my friends; they love me for me. I'm not perfect. Maybe he thinks he's perfect? I sure could use some expert "man advice" here. Are all men like this?

WOW! I made it!

WOW! I made it to 25peeps.com. Please come click on me! I could use your.......click. Thanks alot in advance.

The Season of Miracles

Tis the season for miracles. Yesterday, a friend of mine called me quite shaken. He had witnessed a teenager crossing a busy road to school and being hit by a car going quickly. He watched her body fly in the air and crash. The police crossing guard told all to pray for her as they waited for a life flight helicopter. As my friend talked, I searched his city's television news website. Behold, the accident was listed; but the teenage girl did not have life threatening injuries. She had a broken leg! Surely God's hand was at work.

When I was a teenager, I was driving with my mother and grandmother in the car along a narrow two lane road. A man was mowing a thin patch of land as we approaching in our car. Suddenly, the lawnmower slipped from his hands and careened directly in my path. There was no time to react. I braced myself for the crash, and miraculously, there was none. I looked in the rear view mirror and the lawnmower was on the other side of the street. It literally would have had to pass through my car. The man was staring at the back of my car. What happened? I believe it was a miracle -- the hand of angel?

I believe. Truly I do. Do you?

What do you do?

There are days that I wonder why I brought my life to this blog. Of course, it is rendered YOU and I Time Magazine's person of the year. Do I care? No. Have I even seen the fake mirror on the front? No. When you bring your life here and you write about it, you open your life and yourself up. Do I pass muster? I don't know. Will God think I passed muster? Or will someone say just not good enough?

The Third Gift

First, I owe you an apology for not keeping my promise. I was supposed to post this Thursday!

The third gift came from my daddy. I always get a beautiful card. This time, there was a check but it was facedown. Flipping it over, I expected no large sum but I was amazed! It was $250! I actually sat down.

Now, I don't know about you, but when I receive monetary gifts they aren't that large. Of course what's interesting is that my daddy knows about the windfall. Why did he send me this money? I began to think of all the possibilities for $250......a chair or curiosity from my favorite antique shop? Splurging on a pair of my favorite top end pair of shoes with money left over? More pots for my kitchen? A food processor (no, I don't have one)? A piece of jewelry? So many possibilities......Now, you know I could buy any of these things myself. But this present would come from my dad. Throughout the day, I thought of birthday checks and all the things I've gotten with them in the past. My paternal grandmother always sent checks. With my birthday so close to Christmas, many times I was cash strapped and bought my Christmas tree with it. I have my "budget" ornaments from the grocery store with paperclips fashioned as hangers. I keep those to remind myself of my days before the windfall. I think it's important to remember that. So, I haven't spent my check yet. What would you buy with $250?

Birthdays

You are tricky readers! Yes, Monday was my birthday. It was great, and thank you to those you remembered and wrote me. I got some roses, some pictures, assorted scented soaps, etc. I had three favorite presents. First, I got a pair of snowflake candlesticks from Walt. It seems he remembered that I had talked about my grandmother having some. What a kid! And Belle? She gave me a bracelet that looked just like a David Yurman! I had to go to the doctor yesterday and a lady there thought it was the real thing! It means more to me than if it was worth thousands! It's priceless because it came from her. Walt and Belle.....two wonderful kids! I'm lucky they're in my life. P.S. I'll tell you about my third gift tommorrow.

Santa Baby.....I'm Looking

Dear Santa,

Thank you for any part you had in bringing me my windfall. I have sure enjoyed it and tried to be a good girl. I've shared with many others. I haven't been extravagant - I promise. There's one thing I'm missing if you can shove one in my stocking. Do you have an extra good man up there on the North Pole? I need one who isn't too attached to his family. I need one who doesn't like to argue. Can he be a good guy too? I don't care so much for looks although being clean and neat is a must. He shouldn't want me for my money either. He can't be an alcoholic or drug addict either. It would be really nice if he liked to go to church too. It would be great if he could just love me for myself. Thanks for listening Santa. I left you an American Express gift certificate by the cookies and milk.

Sincerely,

WFW

Memories (not Streisand either)

I've been on a quiet campaign at my house of cleaning. You can hire wonderful people to "hit the high spots," but getting someone to stand on top of a chair and clean the tippy top of your oven near the ceiling? I don't think so. I was daydreaming in my kitchen as I put away clean dishes and looked up at my soup toureen I display. It was dusty, so I hauled it down to wash it.

You probably know someone who has a piece or two of this pattern - Franciscan Desert Rose. It was my grandmother's. My grandmother, my namesake, had just about every piece imaginable. That is, she had every piece except the soup toureen. We happened to be talking about her "missing piece" one year, and I resolved to complete her collection. I went to Macy's and got the last one. Because it was so expensive, I got gift wrapping for free. I was so excited on Christmas morning to see her open it. She could always guess EVERY present. Everyone wanted her to guess this time, but she couldn't. When she saw it, her mouth opened so wide and she smiled with her whole face. I love that memory. Don't you wish every gift you gave brought so much happiness? I'd love to hear about your successes!

Happy and Partying

Hi y'all! I feel so happy (finally)! This is my favorite time of year. I helped with a parade on Saturday and went to the ballet. So beautiful! On Monday night, I was dressed up for a Christmas Tree Festival and Tuesday night I was at a band concert. All put me in the holiday spirit even more. I have deliberately waited to do all my Christmas shopping so I can surprise everyone! Besides, call me sick but I like getting out and rubbing elbows with everyone. I can't tell what I'm buying EVERYONE but suffice it to say that you can find me mainly in the electronics, music and video departments this year! I had someone ask me what I want for my birthday. I have NO idea except that (shhhh.....) I would love a tiny diamond necklace that I've seen on other people. But I don't want to buy it for myself! I'll take any cookbook I don't have. More than anything, I want to see the people I love have a great Christmas. What do YOU want????? Tell me.....I won't tell. I promise!

Sunday and Decorations and Coming to Terms

Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest. I'm taking my rest today. It's gray and overcast here and cold in the mornings. I had a busy day yesterday with my volunteer work. Today I'm going to get my Christmas tree. Last year I paid a designer friend to come and decorate my house. This year I'm paying a couple of teenagers to help me. I missed not doing it myself. I didn't decorate for Halloween this year like I did last year or give out extravagant trick or treat items. I was too "not myself." I won't let myself slide back into that "not myself" place again. I could barely even talk about it but here's what happened. Over the course of about six weeks, five teenagers I knew died, ruined their lives or had their lives ruined for them. How do you make sense of such tragedy? You just don't. You work your way through the morass of grief. You hold on to those precious people in your lives. You move on. I've missed you all. Thank you for your cards, words of encouragement and advice. Now, let's get on with the business and joy of living.

Happy Christmas!

Happy Christmas! I'm back. I can't believe I've been gone so long. I even missed my anniversary in September. You know I haven't been myself, but I'm better now. Family and health problems got me off track. This crazy windfall has really messed with my head. Plenty of you are probably out there thinking, "I'd like to have THAT problem." Believe me, it's not ALL bad. BUT...it does require some major life adjustment. I've always believed in the goodness of other people. Now, I cast a fishy eye at many. Are they being nice to me because of the money? Do they want to date me for my money? If I didn't have it, would they treat me the same? It can really make you paranoid. And, the sad part is that so many organizations don't even ASK me for money. They EXPECT it. I wonder if there is a Millionaires Anonymous. Because if there isn't, maybe I should start it. My birthday is coming up in 9 days. I'm excited. I don't know why. I love birthdays, and I love Christmas. What do YOU love?