34 Christmases

For 33 straight Christmases, I woke up in my mother's house. We'd wake up, have our picture taken on the stairs and run into the living room to see what Santa brought us. Even as a grown adult, Santa came every year. This year, SnowpocalypseDC and the resulting 2 feet of snow got in the way of Christmas #34.

It didn't seem like 'Mas at first. We got a tree and some decorations a few days before 'Mas, and I started to get in the mood. I took the entire week of 'Mas off from work, and the time off was much needed. During that week, my sister and I figured out how to use Google's video chat. 'Mas morning we slept in. We made a big breakfast with mimosas -- a 'Mas morning tradition in our house growing up. Then, we got the computer hooked up and I got to see my family and talk to them. It wasn't the same, but it was nice.

Later in the day, as my sister and the rest of the family made their way through the relatives, the laptop went too, and I got to talk to my grandparents and other family. In between, I took a nap -- a Christmas miracle that's never happened before!

Hubby and I hung out with the BoyBoy, opened gifts and relaxed. It was possibly the nicest Christmas I've ever spent. I've been told though, by my mother, it better not happen again, we'd better be home next Christmas!

Lessons from a movie: Take 1

"You've always had the power ..."
- Glinda the Good Witch of the North
The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Rarely can anyone tell you this because as Glinda also says, you have to "learn it for yourself."

Don't worry. I won't say I told you so.

Mind over cancer

My FIL started chemo week before last. He gets 3 days out of every 2 weeks. His regiment is called "Fox 5," which sounds more like a news station than a cancer treatment. Anyway, before his second treatment that started this week, his doc did blood work to measure his CEA levels (basically measures how much cancer is there). In one chemo treatment, FIL's levels fell from 130+ to just above 90! I big reduction that clearly shows the chemo is working.

The doc said he was proud of my FIL and that his attitude has a lot to do with these results. I've said more than once that I feel sure FIL in more stubborn than cancer. Mind over matter, in this case cancer!

Exclusive scene from Avatar

Found this scene from the crazy-cool new movie Avatar. Can't wait to see it!