The Obligatory New Year Post

So, it's 2008. Big Whoop. OK, I'm not quite that cynical, but New Year's really doesn't do much for me. However, my Christmas vacation was pretty interesting this year.

It started out with the flight to Wisconsin. In extreme winds and turbulence. And oh yes, I forgot to bring a coat. I mean really, it was in the 60's when I left my house at about 4:45 am. Why would I want a coat? Temperature in Milwaukee was in the high 20's I believe with a wind chill well below 0. Oh, THAT'S why I wanted a coat! Luckily my brother has a collection of odd coats in his closet, and one of them fit me.

Christmas Eve brought a real houseload to my parents. All told we had my parents, 4 brothers and sisters, 2 spouses, 6 nieces and nephews, 1 great niece, 1 great nephew, and me. One spouse had to work and one nephew is in China. Add the fact that few of us know how to speak with inside voices and you get massive chaos. And I wouldn't have it any other way. Ok, maybe we could use the inside voices to keep my head from exploding, but you can't have everything! Here are a few of the nieces and nephews and one great niece

I presented my younger sister with the Mediterranean Lace shawl. No photo, too many people in the way. She has been a great support for me through the years and especially since Paul died. When I started knitting the shawl Paul challenged me to finish it in time for a big night out for our un-anniversary in January. After he died, I let it lay for quite a while then decided I had to finish it. But I really didn't want the reminder of what should have been laying around the house. This was the perfect solution. I got to thank her for all she's done with a beautiful piece of lace and exorcised the ghost at the same time. Now I just hope her husband takes her somewhere really special to show it off. That's a hint Dave!

To keep myself sane in a houseload of people, I knit. I managed to knit 1 entire Monkey and about 3/4's of it's mate. Here's a really bad photo. I keep forgetting to take pictures when it's still light. The yarn is Trekking Pro Natura 75% wool, 25% bamboo. So far they're holding up well, they've been on my feet quite a bit in the last 2 weeks. I think I'll definitely try it again.

The biggest fun was the 7+ inches of snow that fell the day we travelled home; or tried to travel home. I kept checking the airline website during the day. They were cancelling flights right and left, but mine was still on. So we started the 90 mile journey through the snow. I'm sure glad I wasn't driving. It's been way too many years since I've done real winter driving. We got there exactly on time, to see my flight had been cancelled. However, my sister and her family did get out and home right on time. I ended up in a hotel for the evening, and flew out the next morning.

I think next year I'll drive.