I'm Back!

As you probably have noticed; I have been "off the air" for a long time! I began having an increasingly difficult time logging on and then I couldn't get on the site to blog. I began hearing from you, my loyal friends, fans, and family, who were having the same problem. When an appliance breaks down in my home or my car has troubles, I know who to call, but when it is a breakdown in cyberspace, I had no idea who to call. I called those I thought could fix it, to no avail. And then my dear roommate and BFF, Herminia came to the rescue. She uses a process of deductive reasoning to figure out such problems and then fixes it! Not to mention, she is smart as a whip. Thank you Hermie!
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. Mine was low-key but wonderful all the same. My warmest memory of Christmas was the kids (Raise, the white one) and Mr. Re (the black one) opening their gifts. They preferred playing with the wrapping and bows rather than the gift itself ... until they discovered bubble wrap! Hilarious - pop, pop, pop, and them looking up with every pop to see where the popping was coming from!
Christmas eve dinner was spent with many poker friends. Linda Johnson opened her home to us and she cooked a great meal. We all had a good time. We laughed, we talked, we joked, we ate, and we drank. Jan Fisher and Hermie were on opposite sides of the large den. They carried on a conversation, via text!

I played HORSE at the Venetian one Wed. afternoon of the holidays. My friend, Doralee, aka Lady Pink was there in her Christmas top hat. It was so cute and festive with Christmas ribbon and lights! We have come to expect no less from Lady Pink. At one point in the game, she announced to me that she had just gotten a penalty (for the first time in her life,) for exposing herself - her cards that is, prematurely. Not long after than, the floor man gave her a warning for flashing (she had turned her top hat on!) Neither of us won dime but it was a fun tournament anyway. Everyone seemed to be in a festive mood and the few who weren't had to smile when they saw Doralee's flashing top hat!

On a break, Doralee was excited and telling me about a wonderful 3-week Chirstmas vacation her hubby was going to take her on: to Paris, Germany, etc. I, in turn, told her about the wonderful Christmas trip my friend Hermie was going to take me on: 3-days in Southern CA to visit our friends Tammy, Margaret, and Vera.

Prior to the holidays, I took the kids in for grooming. They came home with holiday bows attached to their collars by rubber bands. Mr. Re could not help himself, he had to get to Raise's bow. He would grab it and then back up. Of course when he released it, it popped her on the neck. I don't believe he was whacking her on purpose. He wanted that bow! She figured out what was happening and tried to keep her neck close to his mouth so he wouldn't pop her again. By the time I got the camera, he had gotten a good grip and took off, which led to the rubber band breaking and popping him in the mouth ... but I figure that he figured that he won the game since he ended up with her Christmas bow!

New Years eve was probably my quietest ever. The Spinetti's usual party and poker tournament was not on the calendar this year, so I enjoyed a wonderful seafood feast dinner and watched all the crowds and fireworks from the warmth and comfort of my own home. It was very enjoyable and no shortage of champagne! I hope each of you get exactly want you want out of the new year and for some of you, I hope you get exactly what you deserve. Happy 2012!