Hello again, old friends!  I know it's been a while ... hell, an eternity for those checking back to see if I'll surface again (many thanks!) ... and life has been splendid.  I hope everyone had a fabulous holiday.  Mine passed in a blur of traveling between Theresa's folks' and mine and a foggy jaunt over the river and through the snowy woods to Johnstown to see her cousin. 

I got to see Leigh, my pal who's recovering from her bone marrow transplant last year, which was great.  She looks good and has more energy with each passing month.  HURRAH!  We had a nice visit over some stellar ales at John Harvard's Ale House. 

I've been off work on holiday since December 21st and am not looking forward to going back on Tuesday.  I finally managed to decompress from the stress of it all five days into my vacation.  I realized that I am ready to move on with my career.  I've been mulling over lots of crazy ideas and thinking through what I really would like to try next.  I've spent 17 years in health insurance and it's been a great ride but it's time.  I've lost that lovin' feelin' over the past few years.  I'm excited and apprehensive all in the same breath.

Theresa and I are heading over to my friend Schmoo's annual NYE party.  He always has a great spread of food and fine libations.  It's nice to bring in the new year with the same group of friends every year.  I've been going to his parties for seven or eight years now. 

I've been busy with work, the rental property, and spending time with T.  We passed the two year mark this past October.  Time has literally flown past.  We're a good match.  She's mad at me this morning because I wanted to smoke a cigarette earlier today and she hates the smell of smoke early in the day.  She doesn't light up until after five.  Sometimes, I just really want a cigarette with my morning coffee.  Oh yeah ... I'm still smoking.    It was harder than I thought to quit with T smoking.  Anyhow, I decided to head back to my place to smoke and write and watch the final Steeler's game of the season.  We seriously discussed quitting this year together.  We both know it's time.

Man, did they SUCK this year.  Pshawwww!  Coach Cowher stood by idly this year; not seeming to care who did what.  The rumor mill's flying about his impending departure to North Carolina where he built a huge home last year.  I can't really see him coaching college ball but ... money talks.

I have been updating my other blog, Chewing the Clef (check it out on the site list to the left), with new shows I've seen.  I haven't been all that religious about updating that one either but feel more compelled because a few fine folks have added me to their links. 

There is much to be thankful for this year. 

I jumped with glee following the elections.  I just hope the Dems can deliver.  This, from a registered Republican.  We gay Republicans are rare, indeed.  Bush is not your typical Republican and the most dissappointing person I've seen in office.  The ghosts of Katrina, Iraq, and Afghanistan are still floating around in my head like some acrid foul-smelling soup. 

Pennsylvania passed the Cover All Kids legislation which created funding for every uninsured child.  That was FANTASTIC news!  I've been hard at work pulling together our end of things to support it.  Rumor has it that Governor Rendell will announce a program to cover every uninsured adult next month.  Even better news!  That's a tough one to crack though when it comes to funding.  The costs to insure adults is astronomical.  It will take a full-on bi-partisan, everyone's-got-some-skin-in-the-game solution including providers, insurers, government, business, and tax-paying citizens to solve.

I received good marks on a pulmonary lung function test, an echocardiogram, and blood word.  I figured out that a lot of my health problems of late have been caused by gastric reflux disease (GERD).  At least, that's what I'm thinking after the battery of tests I went through the day I thought I was having a heart attack.  GERD can mimic heart attack symptoms.  Go figure.  I've been taking Prilosec for a few weeks now although I'm absolutely awful at taking the evening dose.  I forget.  My other bane is my weight -- but I've been holding steady all year.  It's hell getting older and out of shape.  What happened to the youthful energy I had 10 years ago?   I think stress plays a HUGE part in health as well.

I'm thankful for Theresa in my life.  I think that goes without saying.  Sometimes, though, I have to say it anyhow.  She's been such a light at the end of a very long single period in my life.  I have learned so much from her over the years about what it really means to be caring and thoughtful.  She is a doll!

I'm also thankful for:  Zoe, my fearless and beautiful German Shepherd; Fred, my crotchety 16-year-old cat; my family (whom I see less and less of as my folks age); my friends (never a dull moment or eventless weekend); my neighbors (who love to share a laugh over a pint or two at the Pub); my job (for the moment); my tenants (fabulous people); candles to light and scent my home; freshly squeezed orange juice (my newest fav); red wine (rarely drunk in moderation); Starbuck's coffee (do you think there's heroin in that stuff or something?); warm winter days (although this greenhouse thing is really starting to scare me); my Jeep Wrangler (she's still running great after 10 years); my house (which needs some TLC this year); cold beer (best shared with some good friends); the Sunday NYT Crossword (still have yet to finish one in its entirety); thick-cut bacon on a Sunday morning with brown organic scrambled eggs (oh, to die for!); Busy Beaver opening up a mile away (that place has saved me many a night); music (is there life without it?); Obama making a bid for the presidency (if only he can side-step all of the lurking landmines of political destruction); and so many more.

Have a fabulous New Year's Eve, everyone!  If you are spending it alone, be thankful for the time you have to grow and find yourself.  Soon enough, you will meet someone special and have very little time for anything that doesn't involve a "we", a "we're", or an "our."   Peace be with you and spread to all you encounter.  Gratitude for life's blessings as they unfold. 

CHEERS!