Goody-bye 2019

End of the year - a decade. Yikes. I haven't really processed the decade thing yet (maybe another post soon?), but this year has been a good one. I'm healthy. My loved ones are healthy. We're all still standing, and the outlook is bright. We spent tons of time with family. Can't complain.

Let's see how I ended with my resolutions.

1. Tackle a project once a month - I started out strong, and then I finished strong. Because I knew the end was near. I started back to the beginning of my blog and edited it and labeled my posts. I had 100 pages with 25 posts a page. I edited ten and a half pages for 10%. Wow. It felt like more as it took up tons of time. I scanned photos into my computer. I have a giant box of said scanned photos. It started out as a little box, and then there were two boxes, and now I have a large box. That's a win, right? I didn't do the baby books I said I would do. I did clean out some closets, and tons of crap went to our new storage unit my husband decided we needed. While I don't think I'll be able to say I completed this resolution this year, I did at least attempt it. Score - 5
2. Finish my book, begin editing it, and start writing book #2 - Done, done, and done. Book number one isn't done, and it needs an overhaul (especially after receiving feedback from a Harlequin editor), but I did finish it, and I began editing it, and I started book #2. This one is complete! Score: 10
3. Learn the next step in the writing career (i.e., writing a synopsis, querying an agent, etc.). - I'm counting this one because the next step was really the synopsis, and not only did I have to research this one, but I had to do it. I also learned several other steps through workshops with my writer's group. Done. Score: 10
4. Adopt a healthier lifestyle (including eating, exercising, sleeping, and vitamins) - I attempted. I lost. Started strong, waned, dropped off, and tried a comeback that fizzled. Score: 5
5. Use more Wyndham points this year than last year - This required math. I'm glad I took the time to do it. This one was completed on my end! Done!  Score: 10

Total: 40 out of 50 - Yes! Three out of five. I feel such satisfaction! Halfway through the remaining two. Not bad. Not bad. Go, me!

Here's hoping I complete it all next year! Here's hoping your year was a great one too and that next year is even better!

Thanks for hanging in with me and reading my nutty recap of our lives. Love you all.

Christmas 1 and Christmas 2

Sunday, we had Christmas with my husband's family, who all descended to Florida to spend the holiday with Grandma Mary Anne. We, along with my young cousins, hiked to Grammy's for food, fun, a game of Mafia, and our usual Yankee gift exchange.

Christmas morning was spent with my family. After a morning Starbucks run, we spent seven several hours taking turns opening stockings and our gifts.

I prepared the appetizer charcuterie board and a pitcher of sangria while Jay fixed our traditional beef dinner complete with mashed potatoes, Brussel sprouts, green beans, and gravy. We had three different pies for dessert, plenty of wine, and participated in the Mason annual play-music-on-the-crystal-wine-glasses that my father started years ago during a lull in the conversation - or more likely to interrupt the conversation.

Later in the evening, we played games and then took the family Christmas picture which of course contained lots of laughter.

Christmas 2019 in the bag!

Family holiday fun

When our family members started getting married, we agreed to split the holidays; one year together, the next year with our significant others' families. This was the year with my family, who couldn't wait to leave cold weather to fly to Florida.

My brother and his wife, minus their working children, arrived first. We had three days with them before the next group came, and we spent it with last-minute Christmas shopping, lots of food, walks on the beach, large amounts of coffee, pictures of palm trees, and plenty of laughter.

Sunday, we welcomed our Boston family, who rented a place on the beach not far from our house. The weather cooperated for both sides. We had some sixty-degree weather that the Floridians enjoyed and later in the week, seventy-degree weather for the northerners. 

We did a lot of eating, shopping, gaming, beaching, and laughing...so much laughter. A great holiday visit.

Merry Christmas 2019

Merry Christmas from our family to yours. May the holiday be filled with love and laughter.

Thanks for reading my blog!

Elliot versus the stairs

With the addition of our new waterbed, we gained an inch in height much to my dog's dismay. Elliot loves to hang out on our bed. There, he can see out two windows in our bedroom where he watches over our yard.

When we are gone, Elliot sits on our bed.

When I clean, he sits on our bed.

When Tom reads, he sleeps on our bed.

On the weekends, he sits between us on our bed and waits for someone to wake-up. When it is storming, he is on the bed.

Elliot is ten now. His hips ache. He can still jump, but the bed proved to be a challenge. Not that he didn't attempt it. He did. Unfortunately, his back end had trouble catching up to his front end. The first time he tumbled backward on to the floor. I worried that he worried he was getting older. I mean, what was going through his mind? One day the bed was jumpable, and the next day it wasn't.

So, I suggested we purchase some stairs. I had ordered a set for my friend Jim's dog, and they were sturdy, washable, and a reasonable price. Instead, Tom opted to order a different set of stairs from a company where he orders Elliot's treats and supplements.

When the stairs arrived, they were cloth, had no sides, and were way too short. There were only three steps that left a gap from the top to the bed, almost another step wide. 

Elliot couldn't jump the last bit because the stairs were too narrow and because his hind legs were down on the first step. We tried. Madison came home from work every day and worked to train him to climb the stairs, but eventually, we knew we needed another set of stairs.

Tom: "The stairs are fine. I measured them. He'll get it."

He didn't get it. He could go down the stairs, but he couldn't go up the stairs. Tom had to admit defeat, and he ordered another set of stairs. We took to putting Elliot on the bed whenever we were in the room.

When the new stairs arrived, Darcy and I set them up and then spent a good half an hour wondering if Tom was an idiot. The stairs were so narrow we worried Elliot would never conquer the climb. Turns out, we had them turned wrong. Tom declared us idiots, and Maddy went back to her training method. Elliot grew fat with all the treats and never climbed the stairs unless something tasty was involved.

We all had ideas. I said the dog needed security with something on both sides. Tom said he just had to get used to it. Darcy speculated on the stair's sturdiness. Eventually, we gave up, and I proceeded to trip over them every time I tried to round the corner of my bed.

Then, one day Maddy witnessed him walk up the stairs as if it was nothing. And then a day later, I watched him jump up on the bed as if it was nothing.

Either he'd been practicing when we were gone, or he'd stopped worrying about aging. Or, more likely, he was playing with us for treats.

Dog stairs/owners 0. Elliot 1.

NFL picks weeks 16 and 17

Not my year for football. Not my Steelers year for football. I'm pulling the plug on making my picks via the blog since the holidays are upon me, and the company will be descending. Here's to a better football season next year!

Thanks for hanging with me this year. I hope no one lost money on my picks.

Announcing another contest win

This contest was the first one I've entered that also was for published authors. I received great feedback and was able to edit as one of the three finalists. An editor for Harlequin chose me as the winner!

She also offered some advice that I will take in as part of my editing. That is going slowly as I'm now invested in book #2. This year I plan to set this more like a business where I will have working hours, etc. If I'm going to do this, better start doing it right.

Also, narrowing down the pen name. Thanks for the suggestions sent in by readers!

I've still got lots to learn, but I'm finally getting the stories out--the ones living in my head--and on to the computer. That's the first step. I'm not giving up. Here's to 2020 and more writing, writing, writing.

Monday morning recap week 15

Steelers: We've been slipping by with our defense, let's face it. We weren't going to set the playoffs on fire and anyone who believes that doesn't know football. We're on our third-string quarterback, who finally got a loss. The odds were more in favor of that than a win. Just sayin'... I'm okay, though. This team has done an excellent job with what they've been dealt with, and that says more than a playoff run and a total record.

• The defense did well, but honestly, we need them to score. At least once in a game. Bottom line.
• 64 yards of total offense in the first half. The Steelers first series after the half they scored after a 69-yard drive to get a touchdown on the board. 
• Devlin Hodges has lost his laid back go-out-and-have-fun mentality. Reality has set in and it shows. If you can't be who you are, you aren't going to play your best. Hodges threw four interceptions.
• The Bills were better prepared, and their higher-ranked defense forced five turnovers to the Bills two turnovers. 
• T.J. Watt played another excellent game, but I don't see him grabbing the Defensive Player of the Year, as Cris Collinsworth kept mentioning. Maybe. We shall see.
• Center Maurkice Pouncey screwed up again. He's been doing that all year. It might be time to look into that. Then there was Jordan Berry's flubbed punt that gave the Bills the ball on the 40-yard line. Alejandro Villanueva's penalty in the fourth. Ugh. Too many mistakes. When you're a mediocre team, you can't afford to make mistakes.
• An interesting note was the Edmunds brothers--three of them--two who play for Pittsburgh and the other who plays for the Bills. Their parents were decked out in Steelers gear, but mom also waved a Buffalo Bills flag.  

Other:

• Let's address the recent allegations on the Patriots' illegal videotaping of the Bengals last week. Because...why does the NFL allow this to continue? Why are we still claiming this team as a dynasty? Why are they again cheating? Because they're getting away with it. It leaves a sour taste in my mouth. 
• I believe Jameis Winston needs to throw an interception to get warmed up. He threw an interception and then went on to throw for 200 plus yards in the first quarter.
• How pretty was the snow in Kansas City? I love it in December.
• Miami's quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is the leading rusher this year for the Dolphins. Uh? I'd say this is an area Miami might want to concentrate on the offseason? They keep trading running backs left and right.
• The Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has now had four seasons with over 1,000 receptions. First tight end to have that record.
• Ten degrees in Wisconsin in Lambeau Field. Felt like seven. Like that makes a difference.
• Houston's Whitney Mercilus snagged a tipped ball and ran for 86 yards. After the excitement had died down, one announcer kept speculating on how Mercilus got the ball until finally, Jim Nantz remarked, "What that is, is an interception." Yeah, no kidding.
• Eli Manning back at quarterback for the Giants. I forgot that. He did well. After, he left the stadium with a standing ovation and was met by his family in the tunnel. 
• Oakland fans stormed the field and threw all sorts of glass after the Raiders blew a lead and lost their game against the Jaguars at the last game of at the Coliseum. First of all, the pictures of fans dressed in Raiders gear alone was frightening. How is any of that stuff football-related? Half of them were dressed like thugs. Scary thugs with skulls and crossbones. And to be that pissed at the loss of a football game? Fans are nuts.

NFL 2019-2020 picks

Last week 10-6

Overall 118-90

Baltimore over Jets - I picked the Ravens to score the most points this weekend too.

New England over Cincinnati - The Bengals have nothing to lose, but I'm not betting on them.

Tampa Bay over Detroit - Not everyone can have a back-up quarterback that can replace your main guy.

Green Bay over Chicago - People keep telling me how great the Bears are, but I don't see them beating the Packers at Lambeau.

Houston over Tennessee - I felt I had to pick an underdog.

Kansas City over Denver - The Broncos have had an excellent back-up, but he isn't significant enough for me to take him here.

Giants over Miami - Eli is back!

Philadelphia over Washington - Surely, the Eagles can pull this off.

Seattle over Carolina - I bet on Russell Wilson.

Oakland over Jacksonville - This is the last home game in Oakland's stadium. They'll want a win for sentimental purposes.

Cleveland over Arizona - Toss-up.

Minnesota over Chargers - Let's see how Phillip Rivers behaves this week.

Dallas over Rams - Yeah, I'm not sure what I was thinking here...

San Francisco over Atlanta - I just can't bet on the Falcons. They let me down too early in the season.

Pittsburgh over Buffalo - This game got changed to a later time. Both teams want in the playoffs. The Bills are the better team, in my opinion, but I'm counting on the Steelers defense.

New Orleans over Indianapolis - I need the Saints to come marching in.

Monday morning recap week 14

Steelers:

1. Finally! First punt return since 2015. Eighty-five yards by Diontae Johnson to ramp up the Steelers crowd in Arizona. I loved Samuels signaling to Johnson to go, go, go, while he knocked off Arizona defenders.
2. The Redzone Channel showed the crowd in Arizona with the terrible towels waving like crazy. "...and I know you're saying the same thing I am: Did you see how many terrible towels there are in Glendale, Arizona? Looks like a Pittsburgh home game," said Scott Hanson. Pfft. Scotty, we are EVERYWHERE. He couldn't get over it, though. Every time the Redzone channel showed the crowd, Scott made reference to it in his I-can't-believe-this-voice. 
3. What? Ben Roethlisberger can't shave with his arm in a sling? Can his wife? Ugh. His beard looks like Andy Luck's used to look; terrible.
4. Sack, sack, sack, interception, interception, interception
5. I don't understand what TJ Watt was thinking by not running after he grabbed that interception. He got the interception and sat down. Sat down. Why would you not attempt to run? I know he can. He runs after quarterbacks all the time. Run, T.J., run.
6. The defense moves us forward, the special teams moved us back seven points. What the hell was that fake punt? Jordan Berry looked like he didn't know he was supposed to run? Did he have a brain fart and forget he's our punter? What was that? Ugh. We literally gift-wrapped Arizona some points.
7. It's interesting to me how the "Duck" craze has taken off. I get that we are winning, but it's our defense, people, our defense. You look silly with a duck on your head. 
8. The defense sealed the deal with the interception by Joe Haden--his second today and third in the last two games. 
9. I'm hoping Hodges is going to be allowed to throw the ball next week against Buffalo. We've got to do more than work this run. Another good win. I'll take it.

Other:

1. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson started today just 40 yards rushing from taking the lead over Michael Vick's 2006 record of single-season rushing yards by a quarterback. 
2. The Bengals linebacker Mick Vigil "intercepted" tight end David Njoku by literally tackling Njoku and stripping him of the ball as they tumbled about on the field. Njoku caught the ball but didn't have control as he fell down, and Vigil was able to strip him of the ball for what the refs referred to as an interception. O.K.A.Y.
3. It didn't matter, though, because the Browns intercepted right back two plays later and ran into the end zone for the touchdown.
4. Pretty much the same thing happened in the Dolphins/Jets game when Jets Demaryius Thomas caught the ball and tumbled around in the end zone with a Dolphins defender who also had his hands on the ball. Gimme! Gimmee! The ball came out and hit the turf during the melee. Ruled an incomplete pass, it was reversed to an uh, touchdown? O.K.A.Y. 
5. The best play came in the Houston/Denver game. The Texans fumbled. The Denver Broncos Jeremiah Attaochu recovered it, took off running, got caught by his ankle, turned to find his teammate Kareem Jackson right behind him. Hot potato, hot potato. Attaochu shoved into Jackson's stomach, and off he went. All the way down the field for the touchdown.
6. It was my first time hearing a female game analyst calling the Browns/Bengals game. Beth Mowins for C.B.S.? I couldn't find that information but yay!
7. After five days of beautiful fall weather, we had a sunny day with 77 degrees just in time for the Bucs to sweat at home against the indoor stadium Colts. I wonder if Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston can blame his interceptions on sweat in his eyes?
8. Whoa! Broncos quarterback Drew Locke was ON POINT today. Nothing like following up last weeks' last-minute win with a huge victory this week.
9. The funny of the day? The Baltimore Ravens play sheet with images blew out on to the field where Buffalo Bills Tre'Davious White picked it up and studied it before a referee snatched it out of his hands, crumbled into a ball, and stuffed it into his pocket. Tee Hee.
10. The weird play of the day? The Saints faking a punt to bomb one down the field by Taysom Hill to Tre'Quan Smith, who was clearly interfered with from the beginning by 49er's Tarvarious Moore. Moore had a hold of Smith's jersey before Hill even threw the ball. He kept a hold of it, and then it looked like it got personal with Moore shoving Smith out of bounds as the ball hits Moore in the back of his helmet. Clearly pass interference, yet it wasn't called, and Saints coach Sean Payton did not challenge it. What? "That one is weird. Weird, ladies and gentlemen," said Scott Hanson of the Redzone Channel. Apparently, Payton was told he couldn't throw the flag for defensive holding. Uh, yeah, okay, but what about pass interference? Odd stuff today from the refs.
11. The amount of time that the 49'ers Jimmy Garoppolo had was CRAZY. 90 percent of the time, he could've eaten a sandwich.
12. Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders kicked his ass off in the game against the Dolphins. Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. Seven successful kicks.
13. Game of the early games went to the New Orleans and San Francisco games. Back and forth and back and forth and crazy penalties in the end. 49ers' George Kittle getting the yards on fourth down was crazy, barreling down the field while he was being held by his face mask. That led to the F.G. with .02 seconds with veteran Robby Gould kicking for the 49ers. Right through the uprights. Money! Wow. Football at its best.
14. Kansas City's equipment went to New Jersey instead of New York, where it was supposed to be, so it had to be bused over to the stadium and arrived only an hour or two before the game. Anyone want to bet along with me that the Patriots (or fans) had something to do with that? Guarantee. (whisper: they are evil)
15. Philip Rivers and the Chargers were on fire, and Rivers talked a lot of trash on the field feeling so good. So easy when you're winning by a considerable margin and not throwing interceptions, Mr. 4-8 team. Remember, humbleness beats cockiness every time.
16. Tom Brady looks good on the ground, doesn't he? Tee Hee. 
17. Kansas and New England was a brutal, hard game. A lot of tempers flared. Always a good game when it comes down to the wire (and you don't have a horse in the race).