Ch Ch Cha Changes

Hosta III by Laura Trevey

As most of you know by now, my husband and I put our house on the market 10/25/09, sold it 10/26/09, closed on it 12/04/09 and were already moved in to my MIL's farm house.  After a hasty preparation for Christmas, our older son's visit home and our younger son's return from Europe, we are now preparing for the new decade with a whole lotta unknowns ahead.

If last night is any indication of what to expect, it will be a happy one.  We celebrated the coming of the new year with close friends at an elegant wine bistro, a four course meal paired with wines, a fireworks display at the park across the street and snowflakes the size of small ornaments, fluffy and falling all around us.  There was a glow in the village from the blue moon hiding behind the clouds, the lamp lights decorated with red velvet beribboned wreaths and the streets were full of happy visitors and locals wearing 2010 tiaras and hats, blowing little horns and laughing.  Everyone seemed to be in good moods.  The sense of anticipation was palpable.  Many are thrilled to see the old decade depart.

My husband and I both felt it was the best New Year's eve of our adult lives.  He described it as "magical".  We were with friends, we had wonderful food, beautiful weather, gaiety and love.  We closed the night out in our favorite bar owned by friends, drinking champagne and chatting about skiing, family and just plain stuff.

We are blessed and we know it.  So many are not.  But I choose to be selfish today and share my happiness.  Tomorrow I will think again of those less fortunate and my contributions to changing the world.

A Decade of Hopefulness

Inauguration Day 2009  from politico.com

I read today's post on The Gold Puppy and felt the need to comment in agreement on the hopefulness we have as we enter a new decade.    My comment turned into a post so here 'tis:

Really good points you make. I also believe we are seriously re-evaluating the way we live. The recession will be a learning tool if we curtail impulse spending, put the banks on notice about credit cards, i.e cut them up and close our accts if they refuse to give us reasonable APRs and reduce the insane fees they now charge. Vegetable gardens are flourishing. Our local Green Team began one last Spring and now have triple the amount of space requested for the coming Spring. We consider it a great accomplishment. The variety of hybrid cars and smart cars gives me hope. As for the O Admin, well, I, too, have been frustrated by the Afghanistan commitment and his seeming lack of standing up to the Republicans on the health care issue. But, the 12/28 issue of Newsweek is filled with interviews of his cabinet as well as past members of of the Executive branch and it puts things in a more balanced perspective than I have. His admin is young and he's accomplished alot, despite the naysayers. So, I welcome the new decade and hope it brings happiness, renewed faith, hard work and a greater sense of responsibility to all concerned...even the Right Wing.  LOL.

Beach Scene Anna Maria Island 2009