I spent yesterday cleaning the hard drive on my laptop. I installed a new program that automatically cleans all the junk and temporary files off your computer. You can set it to clean out what you want, and leave what you like. I also, finally got my anti virus program working again. I have no idea what was going on with it. So anyways, it's running much better and faster. It was getting seriously sluggish! I also re-set my popup blocker so it's doing a much better job of blocking those as well!

I don't know what it is about this time of year, but I always like to get things in order. The house, finances, etc. My house is in pretty good order due to hosting that party, and Christmas Eve. I need to get myself in order as well. I'd like to lose some weight, eat healthier, get some exercise for starters. I also am long overdue for a check up at the doctors, and a hair cut and color, a manicure, pedicure, brow waxing, etc. Fortunately our finances are in better order than I am! The only thing I might look into is how much life insurance I have on me. I know we both have mortgage life insurance, but I'm not sure if I have more than a pittance on myself through work.

Our holiday celebrations this year have consisted of a dinner party at a local Greek restaurant with my staff. I didn't care for the food much at all, so that meal wasn't too harmful for me. Then I hosted a big 50th birthday party for my hubby a couple weeks later. I had tons of food, but didn't really eat an abnormal amount, and then I took a lot of the leftovers to work to get rid of them! Hubby's Christmas party was at a dinner theater. The food was just so-so, so again, I didn't really over do. Last night I cooked our annual steak and lobster dinner for Christmas Eve. I ate far too much! Now we're just kind of recuperating before we go into the MIL's for a big turkey feast! I'll be investigating diet pills after Christmas I think!!

My hubby's uncle just passed away from lung cancer at the age of 62. I believe he smoked years ago, but he hadn't smoked for at least the last 20-30 years! He didn't have jobs over the years that would likely be the culprit for an environmental cause. I can't imagine the horror, and rage if you found out you were terminally ill due to something you were exposed to over a long period of time! I often think about that, working in the old school building that I do. We even had the building tested several years ago, because so many of us suffer from eye problems, constant nasal issues, dry throats etc. Hopefully they can figure it out before a staff member is undergoing mesothelioma treatment from asbestos exposure!

We're hearing about how the bottom has dropped right out of the housing market in Arizona. In fact, my uncle walked away from his home, because it is currently worth less than the mortgage he held on it. Sad to lose it after all that time. It's making hubby and I think about keeping our eyes on the housing prices down there, and perhaps buying Condo Hotels to spend all or part of the winter in Arizona! We both think that eventually that might be something we're going to look into. We'd downsize here first of course!

Car Angel (www.carangel.com) is a non-profit company that uses car and other donations to make videos for kids and teens. They have given away over 2.4 million videos. Money raised is used to make the videos! Some examples of the videos can be seen here! You can choose the charity organization you want to benefit from your Donation of Cars . They help single mothers, orphans, homeless, teen and adult rehab, as well as prison reform.

The advantages to you, are:

* Receive your IRS tax deduction.
* They do free vehicle pick-up, running or not! (restrictions apply).
* Avoid the headaches of selling your Used Car -- no expensive want ads, taking phone calls, showing the car, or price haggling.
* They have the nations fastest online response form and up to the minute tax advice.

So if you've got an old car, and want to do something worthwhile with it, check out car donations.

I just finished watching an episode of Wedding SOS. I first got hooked on this show when we were busy planning Sarah's wedding. The episode I watched, was a couple, who of course have almost nothing done, and the wedding is just a week away. The groom was quite a dork to say the least, and he wasted one of the 3 wishes on training his dog! Jane was livid. He wanted to have his dog be the ring bearer and carry the wedding rings down the aisle! Well when the day came, it took 3 tries, but then he made it. Dorks!

As I've often mentioned, we waffle back and forth a lot about where we want to eventually retire. Sometimes we think we'll stay right where we are for good. Sometimes we talk about buying a property somewhere warmer to spend parts of the winter months. We've also discussed moving just a bit further down south so that we'll be closer to both Sarah and Ben once they all move in May. My thoughts now, are to stay where we are until I retire at least, because I'm not going to start a new job somewhere at this stage of my life. Maybe we should just be rebels and look into Wilmington NC real estate!

I've been pretty lazy today. Mostly just putzing at some laundry and watching sappy movies. I watched Disturbia, and much to my surprise, I really enjoyed it! I wasn't sure what to expect. It kept me thoroughly entertained throughout the whole film! Then I stuck in another movie, and futzed up the DVD player, because somehow I got the dvd subtitle going, and it took me half the movie, to get rid of them!

My Mom turned 75 last month. She's still in relative good health, but has to go about things slowly, as she has a pacemaker, and arthritis, particularly in her back. She still lives in her own home and does all her own yard work! She has looked into various senior living complexes, but they're almost as costly, as her house, so she is hesitant to make the move.

Naturally we had to buy hubby a new suit for Sarah's wedding. Then we had 2 other weddings afterwards. One 4 weeks later, with most of the same guests, and then another in early October. So he went and bought a new sport coat, tie and cufflinks to wear for those weddings. He looked pretty dapper for an old boy.

What on earth do you suppose they mean by outhouse bathroom decor??!! The only outhouses I've seen in the last few years, are nasty, old dilapidated! Old, wooden broken down structures! Other than that, all you ever see are portapotties! How on earth would you decorate any of those? Who knew you'd WANT to!?