Endings and beginnings

We had a lovely gathering around our table for Christmas Eve.

This year's ham was VERY salty, and set up like jerky.  It was just like the ones that we had when I was a kid, which came directly from my dad's relative who cured them in Virginia.

I will make my usual black eye peas on Tuesday using the bones and some of the left over meat.

I texted with Eric prior to Christmas, but never heard a word again. He never even texted us a Merry Christmas, much less did he come over to see us.

Not surprisingly. 

And that's actually just fine.

Tomorrow is New Year's Eve.  I have to work, but Dave is off, and he has a few projects planned for himself around the house, since the weather will be mild.

I anticipate that our new company president will announce that we can leave early. 

He does that on a regular basis.  It's one of the refreshing changes that have taken place at work over the past year.

I just hope that I am able to complete my tasks in time.  I have to run collections reports on the last day of the month, and those take time.

It's one of the many things that I do for the director because she doesn't want to do them.

We decided that our black artificial tree needed to be replaced after taking it down this year.  Half of the lights on it were burned out, and the bottom branches were broken (thanks to Pete the Cat), so that they would just flop toward the floor.

We put it out at the curb, marked FREE, but no one took it, and then it got rain soaked.  I hate to put something like that in a land fill, but it's in the trash now.

We went out in search of a replacement, and were surprised that places either didn't have after Christmas sales (Target had trees, but they were full price), or had already put away all of their holiday-related stock, and it was only a couple of days after Christmas.

Finally, at our fourth stop, we found discounted trees, and got a SILVER ONE!! 

I can't wait to see it set up next year!  The best part was that it was half price!

Maybe we'll eventually get a color wheel, too!

As 2018 draws to a close, and I see friends posting stuff on Facebook about what a horrible year they've had, I can totally relate.

For us, though, 2018 has been much better than the past several years.  For that, I am extremely grateful.

Every day, I post three things for which I am grateful on my Facebook page.  I have done this since 2011, when my psycho first tenant in the condo baled on her lease.

This has helped me to change my own perspective, and I have seen the practice spread throughout my circle of friends. 

Having a daily gratitude practice has been very useful for me, especially during difficult times.

I am hoping to see more friends take up the practice in the coming year.

2019 will be my 5th year post-diagnosis.  5 years is the critical point at which survival and non-survival is measured.

I am approaching this milestone with a lot of hope, but also with a healthy dose of trepidation.

There is no way to predict my outcomes from here, but I plan to still hold on to my hope of being one of the small percentage of stage IV patients who lives beyond 5 years after diagnosis.

I will intentionally work to improve my chances in every way possible, as I have all along, by trying to remain focused on wellness at every level: physical, mental, and spiritual.

Neither Dave nor I make "new year" resolutions, but we both are determined to get back on track after the holidays.

We've enjoyed the excesses of the holidays most heartily, and have both also slacked off in our exercise routines. 

We've had sweets, biscuits, chips, more liquor than usual, potatoes, cookies, cake, and other grain based carbs....tomorrow will involve a feast of baked appetizers, also with grains, and a bottle of champagne dosed up with pomegranate sherbet!!

We agree that this will end in the coming week, and we will return to our dedication to healthier habits.

We've both noticed, most acutely, how MUCH our bodies are impacted by high carbohydrate foods, now that we are accustomed to a moderate to low carb life style.

Friday night, we treated ourselves to a "date night," the first one in weeks.  We had bangers and mash, and a Guinness, at the Irish pub.

Dave looked pregnant afterward, he was so bloated.  It was remarkable.  His belly was stretching his shirt.

Then, yesterday morning, the bloating was gone...like he had given birth, HAHA!

My foot issues have improved, and, while I need new walking shoes, there is no longer any reason for me to NOT get back into a workout routine.  This isn't really walking season, anyway, so I can take my time looking for a good deal on my favorite brand of athletic shoe.

I will also start back to dance class on the 7th.

ANYWAY, I do know that there are ways to keep the holidays festive without going FULL ON carbohydrate-loading.  I have a year to consider changes to my usual holiday food plan.

Some things HAVE to be involved, like the biscuits and ham on Christmas morning, but other things can certainly be changed!!

We got our errands done Friday night, and then, yesterday, Dave went early in the day to see to his dad.  It's been a nice, relaxed weekend so far, unlike last weekend.

The house is even still clean!

Today will be an easy day. 

I am planning chicken enchilada casserole as my cooking project, and I also want to deep condition my hair.

I got some reading materials for Christmas, and some bath bombs.  If we don't get in the hot tub, I may enjoy a hot bath and some reading.

Whatever you do to ring in the new year, if anything, I wish you all the best.