Thursday, January 1, 2015

Happy New Year!!!

2015. It sounds a little weird doesn’t it? I’ve been writing and typing it for a while now at work, but it still just doesn’t sound quite right. In a few weeks, though, 2014 will sound a little weird. Time flies.

I hope everyone had a fun and safe New Year’s Eve celebration. We had a quiet, relaxing evening at home, which is our favorite way to welcome the new year. We’re both still recovering from the flu, so quiet and low-key is about all we’re interested in right now. We grilled burgers and hot dogs, and spent the evening on the couch watching Frasier on Netflix, going to bed well before midnight. 

The end of 2014 got away from me, even more than the end of the year usually does. I had lots of ideas and plans for posts during and about the holidays, but time got away from me. We did our usual Christmas baking for neighbors, vets, co-workers, etc. It’s something we enjoy doing, and people seem to enjoy the goodies.

Nick had to work on Thanksgiving, and we left the day after to go visit my sister, so for the first time in years I didn’t cook at all on Thanksgiving. I did, finally, manage to do something I’ve been talking about for years, though. I volunteered on Thanksgiving. Nick has had to work on almost every holiday since we’ve been together, and I’ve always said that I’d like to spend one of those days volunteering somewhere.

Well, I finally did it! The no-kill shelter sent out a plea on Facebook for help with the laundry. The shelter was at maximum capacity, and we had a cold snap right around the week of Thanksgiving, so they had laundry piling up faster than anyone could keep up with it. I went and spent a few hours helping out with the laundry on Thanksgiving.

It was an incredible experience! I actually kind of like doing laundry, and the commercial washers and dryers there sort of intrigued me. There were actually quite a few people there doing various chores and working with the dogs, so I also met a lot of really nice people. It was a really feel-good kind of day.

On a side note; if you ever find yourself faced with spending a holiday alone, or you just don’t like the plans available to you, I highly recommend going and volunteering somewhere, even just for an hour or two, to help with something you really care about. You’ll feel amazing!

Nick is a Christmas Eve baby, so we also have a birthday celebration for him as close to Christmas Eve as scheduling will allow. Last year (it still sounds weird to say that) we had it on Saturday, December 20th. The usual chili dinner - that’s a tradition that I’m a little afraid to mess with - people expect to eat chili at his birthday! It was a fun time. We had a good turn out, and people got to see people they hadn’t seen in a while.

Unfortunately, that was pretty much the end of the festivities for us. We both came down with the flu shortly afterward. So much for getting flu shots! Christmas feels like it flew by in a blur, and also like it didn’t really happen. Nick had to work on Christmas Day, and I spent the day in a cough-syrup fog.

The Christmas tree and decorations are still up, which I’m glad about. Nick likes to leave them up until after January 6th; it’s part of what he grew up with. Not having grown up with any Christmas traditions of my own, I’m very happy to go along with that one.

Overall, 2014 was an okay year, even if it was the year of the appliances. We officially adopted Duke, I had three interviews on my blog (here, here, and here ), which was a new blogging experience for me, and we did a little more gardening than the year before. There was probably more, but that’s what comes to mind when I mentally review 2014.

On the health front, the last MRI showed that the liver tumors are stable. They’re all below five centimeters, and nothing has really changed in the past year. I now only have to go once a year for an MRI to have them checked. That makes me really happy! It may sound strange, but I feel less fragile somehow; every six months seems to indicate cause for concern, once a year feels more normal somehow, that’s just like a check-up. It probably doesn’t make any sense, but it’s really good for my mental health, which has to count for something, right?

I hope 2014 was good for all of you, and I hope 2015 is a great year for everyone. Happy New Year!

6 comments:

  1. Great news about your health, except for now getting over the flu. looked like you had a nice holiday season. So true about volunteering, it is so rewarding. Happy new year.

    Betty

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  2. 2014 has passed by so quickly! I do agree that volunteering is a good way to use your time wisely and it does bring much happiness! Have a Happy New Year and may God bless you !

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  3. Yes, we are amazed at how quickly 2014 seemed to go, too. You had quite a year! And we are so happy that the MRIs revealed some encouraging stuff. We hope the flu bug is gone from your house soon.

    Hugs, and happy new year!

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  4. That's awesome news about the MRI. And totally makes sense. I have eye issues. I'm prone to tears and holes in my retina and for years after surgery had to go every 3 months for extensive checks. When I finally got the year notice I was freaking excited. It was a huge weight off the shoulders so definitely feel ya on that :D

    That's great about helping at the shelter too! I'm one of those all by myself on most holidays since my family is all a good ways away and I usually can't make it there. I have friends/neighbors here but I always feel a little weird going even when invited. So I started volunteering extra shifts at the USO here since they have a hard time over the holidays finding volunteers and the center is open 24/7. It was a great time and awesome people there volunteering as well as coming in to stay with us. Great advice on that :)

    Hope you're 2015 is a good one!

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  5. The flu shots only work against a few strains worst luck. That's excellent news about your health! I think your advice about volunteering is spot on. It's well documented how good for the soul and spirit it is :)
    Happy new year Danielle x

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