Christmas, novels, movies, and HAPPY 2009!!

So yes, Karissa, I do have a lot of things to post about. I've just been busy, or too lazy to do it!! And I'm pretty sure I'm not as lame as Doug!! ;) So here you are......

Christmas was pretty good. Christmas eve we had supper with Derek's family and then opened presents. After we were done there, we went to Wendy's and opened gifts with my family. My mom and Heather came from Cando. The only one missing was Brian, of course...and it was kinda tough without him. I'm sure it will be weird for quite some time. As for gifts, I think everyone really liked what we got them. The highlights of mine were a digital picture frame from the Hubby, a cute gingerbread plate and dots wine glasses from my Mama Sue, and an i Pod Touch from Derek, his mom, and his grandma. I had just asked for a regular iPod, a green one of course, but Derek convinced them to get me the Touch. And it's awesome. You can do anything on that thing, it's crazy! I'm also very addicted to the Sookie Stackhouse novel set that Derek's grandma got me. The HBO series True Blood is based off these books. I just finished the second one last night! I only have five left to go!

We have continued our movie kick, thanks in part to Derek's mom and Wendy and Ryan for getting us movie theater certificates for Christmas! They're awesome!! We saw Marley & Me on Christmas day and it was absolutely heart wrenching!! OMG!! I don't know why I didn't see it coming, I totally spaced out the obvious plot, even after seeing so many of the previews! Obviously something happens with the puppy (a natural "something" after living for so long) and I didn't see it coming! It was like I was slapped in the face! I cried for the last 30 minutes of the show and kept crying for another 30-40 minutes! I couldn't stop. It just kept coming, and I couldn't shut it off!! It was ridiculous!! We also went to see Bedtime Stories which was kinda good. It was better that I had thought it would be. With actual laugh out loud moments even!!

Doug and Karissa were here the weekend after Christmas. Brandt was in town too and we got to see him on Sat. afternoon. On Sat. night we went to the 11th Frame, as usual, and had a pretty good time. Wendy and Ryan came out. And Amy K was in town too. Brandt couldn't make it to the bar cuz he had to leave for Fargo. We tried Jess too, but she was sick in bed. :-( April & Kevin couldn't be there either so I had a shot in their honor too! I think that's what put me over the top...it's all their fault!! ;-) Or maybe it was the TEN DOUBLES that I had!! Not sure which?!?! I felt fine the next morning though!! I do have pictures that I will post maybe later today, but probably tomorrow.

And Happy New Year!! I can't believe it's already 2009! Time is just moving too quickly these days. We didn't do anything exciting. We went to the casino with Wendy and had the buffet. We played a little slots and I won over $50 on a nickle machine. I ended up about $25 ahead from what I started with. And that paid for our supper!! Yeah for me!

Now I'm just busy at work, not really busy, but busy. We are doing our year end reviews and tax paperwork, which is always fun and mentally stressful. We are also getting things rolling to start serving lunch in our bar/restaurant, so I'm busy making new menus and putting in orders for new supplies. Exciting, I know!!

On Monday we will be starting over with our "lifestyle change" since we kinda fell off the beaten path...okay, more like fell off the dilapidated rope bridge crossing a deep ravine with a raging river below!! I've gained way too much back and I'm gonna start from scratch. I was kinda falling behind early this fall and the holidays and unforeseen events of winter have just pushed me down. But I will NOT be so easy to detour this time. I will have will power the size of mountains, the size of continents...or the size of Derek's!! He's doing it with me again, more for support than for needing to do it. But regardless, the wrath begins on Monday morning with PHASE I!!!!!!!