Resolution and Oven Cleaning

Cleaning the oven.  That's the big milestone we've set for the year.  No other resolutions.

Actually, I'm kidding ... Bruce cleaned the oven on New Year's morning.  And when I say cleaned, I mean he actually had to read instructions from the wee "how to do things" booklet we got with the stove when we bought it, then walk over to the stove and push some buttons.  And before I mock too hard, I should note that it is also he who knows how to reset the stove when we have a power fluctuation.  I tell you, that stove jolts out of its normally placid state and becomes self-aware .. buzzing and flashing letters and numbers at us at the speed of an Amtrac train.   The first time it happened, there was general panic in the room and lots of running around throwing our hands in the air.  Ha.  More like running the hands through our hair as we tried to read the manual while trying to momentarily ignore the strange manifestations of our usually well behaved kitchen appliance.  But you get the picture.  And it is he who calmly solves the puzzle of the self-aware stove when it happens.

And who resets most of the clocks in the house for Daylight savings.  Except the one in the bathroom controlling the house de-humidifier that runs nightly.  Because that is technology that totally mystifies him.

But I digress.  New Year's morning found me lounging abed while Bruce had Activity.  The Christmas Day scalloped potatoes mess had to be cleaned so we could have turkey on New Year's Day, so he took care of the dirty deed.  Isn't he a good man?  And look at me, I mocked him.  I should be ashamed.   Or .. I should continue.  I'll probably do the latter, because that's more fun.

Anyway, he talked to quite a few people before the light of noon woke me.  We had a day full of phone calls and chatting with people .. was lots of fun.

One of those people was Debbie, who demanded that I get my act together and keep on writing my blog.  I think she started the conversation with "where the hell is my blog update?"  To tell the truth, December just plain steamrolled me.  It's time to get back on top of my game. 

I read something in the paper on Friday ... that social media is a way for us to be the stars of our own lives; that we find it hard to become disconnected from the media and data feeds, feeling like we're missing things, or more importantly, like life is going on .. and not missing us while we disconnect.  I had been feeling like I was perhaps doing too much navel-gazing and somehow, that article brought back my perspective.  I am the star of my own show, yes.  And its time once again to act like I am.  This particular blog is not so much about me, however, as it is about you, and the people to whom I wish to remain connected.  It's a way of keeping in contact and having a bit more (okay, a lot more) immediacy than letters while still giving me a communication outlet that allows me a bit of creativity through the combination of words and graphic design.

The thing that made me realize the communicative power of this tool is sitting there on my dining room table right now in the form of two Christmas cards from nieces, neither of whom know me really well (yet).  Both have felt included in my life through this blog and have acknowledged that through personal messages at Christmas. 

Hopefully, this year, I'll round up a few more nieces and nephews ... (I have a gaggle of them) ... and get them to actually respond here.  Samantha .. I saved a new wedding gown idea for you already.  Stay tuned. *grin*  Oh, and Ralph .. the new celebrity 'in' thing happens to be elephants at weddings.  By the time Sam gets married, though, it will be sooooo 'last year.'   Don't worry .. we'll come up with something!

I'm putting up a birthday list .. if I forgot yours (or someone I should have on the list) let me know and I'll put it up there.

I'll sign off today here .. I actually still have to redesign for January, so I'd better get at that!