So this is the new year...

"The New Year" by Death Cab for Cutie

I can't believe it's already half way through January of 2007. My year ended and began with much drama and comedy.

I had a great holiday in Texas that was extended due to Colorado blizzards and torrential ran and tornadoes in Dallas. Attempted to pass through airport security with a 6-inch serrated camping knife in my backpack. That was interesting. Had the same conversation with my 89-year old mother every day for 2 weeks (it's hell to get old). Hung out with my awesome niece and nephew and my sister and her husband. Drank many MANY Coke and Bourbons. Ate an impressive amount of snickerdoodles. Enjoyed some quality book and iPod time out by the pool under the shade of palm trees while my friends in Colorado were hunkered down for the third blizzard in 2 months. Saw my second family for an entire day and was reminded how much I miss them when I leave. I also saw Louisiana family I hadn't seen in 8 years. Very nice.

When I attempted to return to Colorado I spent 7 hours in Houstin Hobby airport, watching my flight get cancelled over and over due to bad weather in Dallas and when my plane finally pulled away from the gate after hours of waiting, I wasn't on it. Sigh. Yeah, I missed it. DOH!

Caught the next plane, sat on it for an hour and a half. Too bad we were on the ground the whole time. It was finally also cancelled. I thought my luggage had disappered into the wild blue yonder on my missed flight but it was actually stuck on the runway, unable to depart due to DFW Airport grounding all flights. At 5:45 p.m., after 7 hours in the airport, I got my luggage off the plane and called my family to come get me. So, I delayed the flight until after the first of the year.

This allowed me to spend New Year's Eve amongst family for the first tme in 7 years. Ate more snickerdoodles. Drank some more. We toasted the new year out by the pool at midnight while the neighbors rushed out into their back yard with noisemakers and we all yelled together as the countdown reached midnight. Good fun.

When I finally left, I had a great visit with my pal in Dallas, where we imbibed some Cosmopolitans before heading to my favorite restaurant on the planet, Uncle Julios. Two margaritas, some nachos and a platter of fajitas later, we realized in our slightly tipsy state, that my flight left in one hour and we were about 20 minutes from the airport. However, at the last minute we decided to drive 10 minutes out of the way to get Swensen's Swiss Orange Chip ice cream, which I haven't had in forever. We drove to Parker and Park, where we thought it was, and it wasn't there. Then we remembered it was Coit and Park. Ten more minutes away. My friend assured me I would get to the airport in time. I was getting a little panicked as she weaved through traffic and accelerated through yellow lights.

We got to the intersection and it had turned into a Sushi place. Dejected, we zoomed across the intersection to head to the airport when I spotted Swensens on the other side of the intersection. The alcohol had apparently affected my ability to talk coherently, so I just rapped my knuckles on the window, gesticulated wildy and yelled "hey hey HEY!" She made a u-turn and we raced into Swensen's explaining I had a plane to catch in what was now 30 minutes. We proclaimed our orders and the lady reached into the bucket that holds the creamy cold goodness that is Swiss Orange Chip only to discover it empty.

So much to risk, so little payoff.

With little time to throw a fit or complain about how unfair life is, we jumped back in the car and raced across town to the airport. I was now 20 minutes away from takeoff and I knew I was going to miss my second plane of the trip when my friend's cell phone, on alert for American Airlines Status Alert phone calls, rang. It was American Airlines calling to say my flight had been delayed. So, we obeyed most traffic laws the rest of the way and even had time to sit in the airport for more visiting. My plane was delayed 2 hours and once I arrived home I had to wait 50 minutes for my luggage.

My friend picked me up with Scooter in the car and I was covered in frenzied doggie kisses for about 45 seconds and then he layed (laid? lay? I never learned that) down on the backseat and was soon snoring.

Now I’m getting back into the swing of things…I have mucho work to do and plenty of time in which to do it, as I’m not out and about much these days since it’s 3 freakin’ degrees outside with 8 inches of snow and ice. I haven’t retrieved my mail in 3 days because I fear for my life going down my steep driveway. Gotta love Colorado.

Sorry I have not been posting much…I was appropriately chastised by multiple parties and I made a promise that I would make a more concentrated effort to contribute to the world of blogging.

I will attempt to think of some topics that will be blog material. I’ll post soon. I promise.

No, I mean that.

PS. Happy Birthday Madge! I miss you.