2006 is nearly upon us. I have twenty minutes before I have to take the dog out and wake up the husband, maybe in that order, maybe not. A series of lists for you:

Gifts we gave for the holidays:
This year was the year for Harry & David for my side of the family. I ordered all of their items on the Monday before Christmas, and they all arrived by Thursday. Grandma and Mom got a box of pears (Mom: “The pears are so big Grandma and I shared one for breakfast!”); Jennifer & Adam (fiance) got a box of Cheesecake Petit Fours; JoJo and Auntie got the Twelve Days of Christmas Sampler, and JoJo and Aunt Tara got a holiday basket. We also got gift cards for the iTunes Music Store for Justin and Emily, and a gift card for the Nature’s Art store in Oakton, CT for Mom, who’s already been in a bead shopping frenzy there.

On Josh’s side, we gave his mom a pair of sushi socks, books, and a t-shirt for his dad that says “Ye Ye” - in Chinese that means Grandfather, which he dug! Jera got sushi socks and a book; Josh’s grandmother got a subscription to Cooking Light and a book (Josh got all of the books); Clio & Lara got Japanese ornaments and … books (sense a theme?). Charla and Stan got a Japanese tea set and … books.

I also made lots of cookie tins for folks, and those were well received.

Crap That Pisses Me Off:
- Someone in this damned building who shares a bathroom vent with us is smoking in the bathroom and I can smell it strongly in our apartment, with the bathroom door shut. Gah.
- I think that’s all I’ve got. Not too shabby!

Menu for New Year’s Weekend:
Josh and I are going to eat our way through the Lord of the Ring movies, extended versions:
- Roasted garlic heads on toasted baguettes
- Lox and cream cheese on everything bagels
- Thai Peanut Shrimp
- Pork Satay Skewers
- Garlic bread
- Salsa Cream Cheese and tortilla chips
- Vegetable Tempura

Good News, Bad News
Bad news, but not really bad news first: Mom called when we were out in California and said not to bother coming home for Chinese New Year - they were planning on going out to a restaurant and that seemed like a lot of bother for a quick one night in and out. That was fine, and it made total sense.

Good news: Jennifer and Adam WON a wedding at Foxwoods! The plus side - Foxwoods will cover the whole shebang from the gown to the honeymoon. The down side - it’s in less than a month! But the good news is that we’ll still be able to get to Connecticut for the wedding, and the other mini-downside is that I have to find a dress or a set to wear because I don’t think I’ll even be able to fit into my fat clothes by January 22.

Bad news: I have gained an ungodly amount of weight since getting pregnant. Yoinks.

Good news: We heard a heartbeat via Doppler in the office and things are going really well. The fatigue and morning/all day sickness can take a hike anytime soon.

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OK. I’ve got 4 minutes to put pants on and take the girl out for her daily constitutional. Next entry up should be one on new year’s resolutions. My only one for 2005 was “The Year of the Casey,” where I promised I would move my ass purposefully for 30 minutes a day. I did mostly that and along the way, lost 42 pounds and learned how to run. I am calling it a success.