Holiday Letter, a little bit late

Just realized how long it has been since I posted anything. I think I didn't think anything worth writing about was happening, but looking back all sorts of stuff has happened since I last wrote. Therefore, in Christmas card, form letter fashion, here is the run down:

Family - B had a really awful 1st semester. Second semester is off to a better start, although he has quit playing the saxophone, messed up his chances for off-season football, and could definitely have better grades. On the plus side, he is actually going to school instead of cutting, his attitude is much improved, and he seems excited about all of the getting ready for high school business. He is taking his course selection very seriously and is looking forward to some more challenging electives. We are still tracking him via his phone, which is sad and funny and unfortunately necessary.

The twins are the same as ever - hilarious and smart and adorable. D is signed up for baseball and can't wait to be old enough to play something besides t-ball. L has settled for soccer again because the dance class she took before is no longer available. Their grades are awesome and they growing too fast.

L is still driving a truck. I could write a whole post on how I feel about him only being here some of the time, and then not always fully present, but I will save it for later.

My parents came in October. We did Christmas Day here because it has been awhile since we did that. Then we went to OK for a couple of days and came back to K's house for an immediate family thing.

Her kids are both walking disasters. My nephew is in and out of jail and quite possibly has an HIV-related illness. My niece is on the upswing right now, which probably means her next fall will be any day now. They are both past anything we can offer them in the way of help. I pray a lot that my kids never become addicts.

Work - the new job is different, to say the least. One of my coworkers is resistant to any change, which means my assignment to come in and do just that is going very slowly. The other one just started and I don't really know her. But I am only there part time, the pay is decent, and I get to do whatever I want, so OK that my only complaint is that I can't always do it right this minute.

I also have one contract with ACH to plan an event for them, and a proposal pending to do another with a related group. I am excited about these not because the are very lucrative, but because they keep me in touch with many people I used to work with, and help me add to my resume for freelance work.

House - we are waiting for a bid on the relocating the furnace, and then we are ready to get a new roof put on the house. This is long, long overdue. If we don't blow our whole savings on these two projects, I have one other biggie, and then it will be warm weather and time to get serious about a lot of the things I can do by myself. Very excited, but trying to stay real, because my experience has been that every time things get going too well, we are promptly brought back to reality in a big way.

All that to say that while things are going really well in general, I am cynical enough to be looking around the corner for the next bit o' pain or drama. Really can't complain though.

Speaking of woe, I saw this quote the other day. I laughed, but immediately quit, because while funny, it was also sad and completely unnecessary.

"My sex life is like a Ferrari. I don't have a Ferrari."

Yeah, I didn't get one of those for Christmas either. But really, I'm not complaining. At least I didn't blow the Super Bowl.