Something new

Christmas Eve was spent with John's family, his niece left for a new job in Phoenix on Dec. 29th so it will be awhile before we see her again. Christmas Day had us driving to Carol's for the day---everyone was there except for John and Tracy and the boys(they spend that time at their cabin). New Year's was a busy night shift for me, John was working days and suffering from a bad cold so we weren't much fun! I'm trying to decide if I should make some resolutions, and if I did, could I stick to them? Maybe I should try. Best wishes for the New Year, hopefully everyone there will be back to work, houses repaired and New Orleans will be back on her feet again.

Quiet time for us at Christmas - Mom & Dad (Bye) joined us for mass on Christmas Eve, then for supper at our home in Maple Plain. We actually got to sleep-in on Christmas morning, as sleep is now a major factor for the girls! Pam & I spent New Year's Eve at a friends home playing cards until almost 4:00A.M.!! Too old for that anymore...Christina left for Rome for her Catholic Studies J-Term class on Weds 1/4/06, Maria is back to St. Thomas for a class for her J-Term, & Erica is suffering through withdrawl after her sisters are now gone - she's got this week off from school while many went back this week. Pam took Erica & her friend Amy to the ski slopes on Thursday, & they practically had the place to themselves until about 4:00 when several busloads of school kids showed up! Weather here has been very mild for a Minnesota winter; the biggest problem is the lack of sunshine, which gets people grumpy. Next week we may see a typical January deep-freeze weather pattern, according to the weatherman, & usually that means clear skies. Let's see if the sun-worshipers gripe about the cold more than the lack of sunshine! Mild temps have made it tough on the ice-fishing crowd, as the ice on most Minnesota lakes is marginal, making things more challenging when you can't just drive out on the lake. Perhaps Aunt Ginnie can explain ice fishing to those unfamiliar with the concept of staring through a hole in the ice, in hopes a fish will swim by & be hungry for your bait! About the only chance I get to hop on the blog is usually at work, & for obvious reasons, doesn't happen too often. I hope everyone is well, & that lives are beginning to return to normal for our loved ones in Louisianna, if there is such a thing as normal anymore. Our warmest wishes for a healthy, happy, peaceful, & properous New Year for our families & loved ones in LA, MN, GA, & anywhere they may be!