Goodbye 2016

I thought about doing a month by month recap of 2016 like I did last year ---but then I thought, "why?"  

2016 can be summed up in one word - terrible!   

I don't believe one month went by this year that did not provide me with some kind of challenge and, truthfully, most months presented 2, 3, or even 4 challenges that I was forced to face.  I hardly even blog anymore because most of what happens in my life lately is so frustrating and depressing that it would just turn people off.

And I suppose it's just fitting that 2016 could not end without providing yet one more challenge!  This one came in the mail today...a $160.00 ticket for "failure to comply with a steady red signal."  

Now...I don't think myself above the law and if I do something that deserves a ticket --- I accept that.  But, believe me when I say that I DID NOTHING WRONG HERE!!!!  

Since they are kind enough to provide a website with the pictures that were produced from the wonderful, lovely traffic camera, I have photo proof of what I am saying...

I know this intersection well because it is just a few hundred feet from where I work.  

Here I am STOPPED at the intersection WAITING to make a right turn.

Pay close attention to two things...1). I am BEHIND the solid right line as I am stopped, and 2).  where the white van is as I am stopped.  

Now, here I am proceeding with my right turn

Again, notice where that white van is as I start to make my turn?   I had been stopped for plenty of time.  Also, note that there is no oncoming traffic so clearly I am not cutting anyone off or making a rolling stop to beat oncoming traffic.  

I have sent these to a friend who is a police officer and he feels I would be successful if I fought the ticket - and I will fight it - but it just adds one more thing to my list of frustrations.   

So farewell 2016. 

 I am glad to see you go.     

Our Christmas

"For unto you a child is born. A Savior which is Christ the Lord."  

This year, more than any other, we all tried to focus on the gift of being together.  We were all under financial constraints this year and made an agreement to forego gifts for each other.  I did make a trash bag wreath for my mom and sister...

And, of course, my parents ignored the agreement and gave us a few things anyway!  My boys, who I love so much and am so proud of, did not even bat an eye over the fact that there were no presents from me this year.  Naturally, I would give them the world if I could.  

Our Christmas in pictures...missing is the annual football game due to illnesses/rain.  

And the doll "cousins"

This is How it Rolls For Me

I was sick last week.

Yep...that's right...sick.

I never get sick - but when I do it's gotta be the busiest week in the year!  

If you were to ask any teacher what is the worst week to be sick, my guess is most of them would say the week before Christmas Break.  There are just soooo many things going on that week!  

So, I found myself trying to juggle all the necessary balls on Monday and Tuesday (feeling just awful) before waving the white flag of defeat Wednesday afternoon and Thursday.  

The necessary balls being juggled were the Christmas concert for school, making sure the kid's parent presents were finished, organizing a class holiday party, Secret Santa shopping for the employee party, preparing for company, and C.J's graduation.  

FYI - not all those things got accomplished.

Anyway, Wednesday afternoon I came home, climbed in bed, and took a nap.  C.J. came over that night to watch some Breaking Bad and I was lying on the couch feverish and coughing and complaining about the timing. I mean, why could this not happen in the middle of January when the prospect of lounging around on the couch for days at a time is much more appealing?

By Friday, the fever was gone and I was able to make it to C.J.'s graduation (like I would have missed that - NOT) but the cough and running nose (like blowing it every 10 minutes) continues to this day - 11 days and counting!   

Unfortunately, I managed to contaminate C.J., who right now just has a cold, and my dad who went to the doctor and was given antibiotics for a sinus and respiratory infection.  

Hopefully we will all recover by Christmas Day.  

Loves the Attention

Ollie enjoyed having grandma and grandpa visit overnight

Graduation Celebration

When C.J. was little (10 and younger), he talked constantly. He loved the spotlight and did everything he could to be the center of attention wherever he went.  He spent his time singing songs and making up dances so he could be prepared should company ever stop over!  Our home movies from that time period are a combination of C.J. singing, dancing, talking, ect, and C.J. attempting to gain the attention of the person behind the camera who was, at the time, filming somebody/something else.

Since that time, he has gotten progressively quieter and more introverted.  He is now at the point where any kind of attention directed toward him is unwelcome and, most definitely, unwanted.  

So you can imagine how shocked I was when he told me that he was switching his major study to education...a career where you are in front of a crowd daily talking and being an introvert is not an option.  But he has surprised me and has loved his time spent teaching in the classroom.  

Yesterday, we celebrated the culmination of all his hard work as he graduated from the University of Central Florida.  

The graduates starting entering at 8:38 and finally ended at 9:10!   I thought we were in for a long morning.  But, actually, it was very nicely done...the speakers kept it short and to the point and they read through the lists of names pretty quickly so the whole thing only took a couple hours.  

Of course...C.J.'s name went something like this... Christopher Lee (long pause) Ko(long o sound) eck.  

After the ceremony Chris treated everyone to lunch at Seasons 52 in Altamonte Springs for lunch.  

Now C.J embarks on his career teaching 6th grade history at a school in Orlando.  Best wishes, son.  

Parade Pictures

It was a fantastic day - start to finish. 

Even though it started waaayyy earlier than this girl likes (6:00 am), the opportunity to see my son walk across the stage and receive his college diploma was worth it a million times over!  

Since it's late, it's been a long day, and I can barely string together a coherent thought, I'm going to save the graduation post until tomorrow. 

For now...the Macy's Parade at Universal, which is where we went after the graduation festivities were over.

It's Open