Happy Ho Ho Ho!

This is a hectic week for everyone. What I’ve discovered is that it’s a crazy week even if you don’t do any Christmas shopping. I do bake, however. This year I will bake over 20 loaves of pumpkin bread. Last night I put three pans of batter in the oven and began washing the dishes. Suddenly my thumb felt strange. I noticed that my long, long thumbnail on my left hand was missing. Oh my gosh! No worries. :) It broke off as I was washing the beaters!
I’ll be flying to Las Vegas wearing my "ho" earrings on Christmas Eve to spend a week with my son. He has decided to move back to Knoxville at the end of February. He came to this wise decision on his own. Las Vegas didn’t turn out to be the beat all/end all of cities to live in. However, I am extremely proud of him. He drove out there, found a safe place to live, and obtained a great job working at a vet hospital. He has gained a lot of experience as he is paying his own way completely for the first time in his life. It’s time, however, to throw in the towel and he realized that he needs to get back in school before he’s a 30 year old undergraduate. :) He’ll "bunk" with me for a while and begin classes at UT next fall. With a great reference from his employer in Vegas, he hopes to work at UT’s Vet Hospital. I’m not thrilled about becoming a "mother worrier" again but I’m glad he’s coming home. Since he’ll have to sell his car (I don't think it'd make it 50 miles outside of Vegas), I suppose I won’t have to worry too much. He’s going to learn the art of riding the bus and that you really can get from Point A to Point B with just your God-given legs. :) So my son will leave behind his car, his TV, his stereo, and most of his disposable income (which he has graciously spread out to different casinos for the good of all Las Vegans) and fly home with his head high, knowing that he went after a dream and made it happen.
Last year on Christmas Day I flew to Beijing and spent 2 weeks in China. It was the trip of a lifetime. Since that trip I really haven’t traveled anywhere but for the drive west to Las Vegas with my son at the end of May. My son and I will have a little adventure the day after Christmas by renting a car and driving to San Diego to see the sights. We’ll drive down the Pacific Coast Highway and most likely take a little jaunt into Tijuana. I’d also like to see a couple of the new casinos that I didn’t get to last time. The Valley of Fire State Park and Mt. Charleston are also on our list of places to visit in and around Vegas. I really wanted to go see Barry Manilow but the tickets were all sold out. I really love his music. Seriously.
This may be my last entry until the first of January. Tune in then for photos from NV and CA.
To all my family and friends, and anyone who may be reading this, have a wonderful holiday season!
Lucy Blue