It's the new year, a new day. A time to stomp out bad habits and pick up new ones. A rebirth into the womb we call mother earth floating around in ambiguous chaos. Shit howdy, it should feel like ecstasy yet it creeps with uncertainty.My old favorite phrase, 'economic downturn' is striking close and I can feel the heat. Today, the man, or the company let a few more on the floor go and it just drags all of us on the farm down in the gutter. I seem to be keeping my head above water but the stress, questions, and tip-toeing around is making my head spin.
Other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play?
Switching gears. Outside of the J-word, the finality of the 8 and emergence of the 9 has been blissful, alluring, as contagious as a first kiss with the one you love. I've spent most of the holidays with my family that I don't get nearly enough time with. The cousins are all grown up with marriage and teenagers running the show so it's nice to see all of them and get the young cuz's pickled on Crown and 7 poppers for Christmas dinner.
Aunt Jo Ann cooked up a full spread with a roast, potatoes, carrots, salad, bread, apps and a plethora of Brassfield vino... combine that with a table full of Brassfield's and let the jokes begin. It was great to see all of them, but I really enjoyed catching up with my cousin Darin. He and I get each other and I can see what I'm going to look like in 10 years.
Auntie's house is sort of like a museum, most of the shit in there you can't touch and the hallways are so narrow from all the angels, flowers and decor everywhere, but it's her style and we're all used to it.
It's a quick ride in the elevator down to the den where a full bar awaits those looking for a little libation. With a full handle of Crown, sixer of 7up and some young, unknowing cousins, the night got kickin' and the stories started rollin'. It was good to hear what Darin was doin' in AZ... about Chad's racing, Jared's cooking and Julie's coffee. Danny enlightened us on his never-ending bender in Europe, but most of all I enjoyed the company that I was in. Our family used to roll heavy wherever we went and it's tough to get them all back in one spot. So it was the best holiday gift to get bombed with the cuz's and have Mel drive home.
Somewhere in here, we made it to a Shark's game for Berwald's birthday. 60 of us made it. And party bus was the form of transport to the match. We rolled in hot on the buses and hit the game hard. I don't know that our section was very impressed with the way we were acting, but I sure had fun. Evidence in the blog decor. We kicked the living daylights out of the other team - I believe they were Canadian. And then back to the bus for some more good timing and back to the bar to forget the evening.
New Year's was another smashing family outing. Not that I didn't want to see my holmies, but everyone went headed out, so Mel and I had the run of the town. We went to CB's and low and behold, more Brassfields. Shann and Bonnie were looking good and Devon and Billie were a joy. We cut a rug on the dance floor. Aunt JoAnn was doing her thing, showing her bling, and sitting on a $60,000 black mink that had been turned into her seat cushion. Shots were flowing and I think we toasted to the 'Quig' a few times, but at the stroke of midnight I was with my girl which was my only job that night and I came through for her. Ahhhh, thank god its the little things.
Somewhere in here, we made it to a Shark's game for Berwald's birthday. 60 of us made it. And party bus was the form of transport to the match. We rolled in hot on the buses and hit the game hard. I don't know that our section was very impressed with the way we were acting, but I sure had fun. Evidence in the blog decor. We kicked the living daylights out of the other team - I believe they were Canadian. And then back to the bus for some more good timing and back to the bar to forget the evening.
New Year's was another smashing family outing. Not that I didn't want to see my holmies, but everyone went headed out, so Mel and I had the run of the town. We went to CB's and low and behold, more Brassfields. Shann and Bonnie were looking good and Devon and Billie were a joy. We cut a rug on the dance floor. Aunt JoAnn was doing her thing, showing her bling, and sitting on a $60,000 black mink that had been turned into her seat cushion. Shots were flowing and I think we toasted to the 'Quig' a few times, but at the stroke of midnight I was with my girl which was my only job that night and I came through for her. Ahhhh, thank god its the little things.Mom and Dad went down to visit Jason and Tansy and the kids, but I couldn't squeeze it in with 'the man' squeezing us at the office. I think George Jones sang it... "Take this job and shove it..." Well I don't completely feel that way but with friends and colleagues droppin' like flies and no good-byes, it's kind of tough to have any faith in the corporate pursuit of the American Dream. But I'll hustle and I'll bring it everyday - that's my reward.
It's the 7th day of the two thousand and ninth year of our lord and the holiday parties and the good timin' seems like a year ago. But take what you can and hold nothing back. It's time to grind and get creative with it. Act like a champion.
