purple room vents: GETTING OLD AND SCATTERED

I don't mind the getting older part, after all its inevitable. I don't want to be like my dear mom who was so unhappy with any sign of aging. But I hate the being scattered part. I tried so freaking hard to make sure I brought everything back from Vancouver and I did...except for Kathy's red boots she had forgotten and asked me to bring home and my charge cord for my new lappy!!!! I can't believe I left it at Aryn's!

So I fired up old Betsy and she is working great, but has screen issues. That tiny pinprick hole she got a year ago has developed into four inches of complete black on the left side of the screen, big disconcerting black lines and blotches covering about three inches on the bottom and a big black blotch on the top right of the screen. When I took it in they calmly told me that you can't get lid replacements for a laptop older than five years. Mine is six. And seriously? When you have spent five thousand bucks on a machine...I expect it to last longer than five years.

Anywhooo, since last post two major things have happened. Kevin and the kids came for a visit...a rarity that I love. And Kathy and Kerry threw an epic cowboy new years party.

The grandchildren are now too big for both to share my red chair. (shovel list). Elise fits but Fenton has grown soooo much. He is almost as tall as me now. He is 11. We had dinner as soon as they got here on Saturday. Then we opened presents. Fenton gave me a lovely little chinese tea pot and Elise gave me a mason jar full of homemade lavender bath bombs. And she gave me a beautiful handmade ceramic tree ornament. I shall put a pic at the bottom. Kevin and Tandy gave me a lovely sampler box of David's tea...a super treat! I can't wait til I have the kids by myself in the summer for a week or two!

We went to the party early and I sat in a chair and watched the young uns' put up awesome cowboy decorations. I will put some of those pics up too.

Boy was the party ever fun!!! I did spend a lot of time in a chair watching line dancing etc...but that is what I enjoy most. I did play one awesome crazy crazy game of Rage Cage...a really fun beer pong! And participated in log cabin building (super large jenga). And the food was super good. Gary brought one of the best pulled porks I have tasted with the most delicious buns. They were soo good...I want to know where he got them!

Cousin Jeni and Jeremy brought a monstrous smoker with them from Alberta. We were treated to ribs, pork belly, tofu and portobellos!!! Insanely tasty and super appreciated!

I have a four cup water bottle. Myles gave me a bottle of Bailey's for Xmas. Well, my water bottle held the whole bottle of Bailey's! I drank the whole thing all through the evening....so good! Well I had to drink a little beer at beer pong.

We got home about one oclock. I did have one moment. At midnight, champagne was handed around. I took my glass a tad reluctantly as I really don't like champagne and it seemed a waste as someone else could have enjoyed it. But I took a sip and I am pretty sure it was Asti Spumanti...my all time fave wine. Bill used to buy it for all of our special occasions. When that wonderful stuff hit my tongue it flooded me with a super case of missing that old man. You just never know when or why its going to hit. Then it doesn't go away for a long time. Just think...a taste of a wine can do that. I would put shovel list but that seems wrong.

Well my sissy is about to arrive for tea. We shall test out one of the amazing David's teas! I shall put some pics here now and I still can't access my gratitude list. (now thats a shovel list) TTYL

as usual they are completely out of order