Sunshine, Snow, A Hijacking, And Lovely News!

This first week of 2011 is proving to have its ups and its downs.

Yesterday -- Wednesday January 5th -- was the last, the 12th, day of Christmas.

It brought brilliant thin winter sunshine:

 and memories of my mother, as it was the 1st anniversary of her losing a battle with Alzheimer's.

No one wins that fight.

******************************************

So my post yesterday was about the New Year, and how sometimes Life is like a Fortune Cookie.

Most of the time with your takeout Chinese food, you get a Fortune Cookie like this:

But sometimes, when you order Chinese food, 

Life and chance throw you a curve and you get this instead:

An empty, sealed bag.  No fortune, no cookie, no nuthin'.

And I speculated on what 2011 would bring:

Fortune cookies, or just empty air where the crispy cookie should be?

It looked as if Wednesday was going to be an Empty Bag day.

I had my post ready to go, pictures and all, when my computer was hijacked

by a bogus anti-virus scan malware.  With my laptop still in Michigan, I was sunk.

Luckily Howard was able to get computer tech support to hack into our desktop remotely

and clear out the malicious nasty visitor, and restore everything back to normal. Late last night.

Saved.

******************************************

But now I have high hopes for this new year. 

2011 is shaping up nicely;

I'm looking forward to more Fortune cookies this year.

 Why?

Because my daughter Alida and her boyfriend Josh became engaged

last night, and Howard and I couldn't be more pleased.

  Now there is a happy memory to associate with January 5th,

along with the knowledge that my Mom would love this;

she was a true romantic and a marriage cheerleader.

********************************************

So, goodbye Christmas.  I'm ready to de-glitz.

Hello 2011; bring on those fortune cookies!

Mama -- I will always miss you, but after this very long year I'm okay, and I know you are, too.

Alida and Josh -- Mazel Tov!

Expanding is what our family does best.

 

*************************************************************

 Today begins Epiphany, with the visit of the Three Wise Men

(or, as they are known in some parts of New Jersey, the Three Wise Guys) to Bethlehem.

Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace
 according to Thy word,
For mine eyes have seen Thy Salvation
Which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people:
A light to lighten the Gentiles
And the glory of Thy people Israel.
                                                                     The Nunc Dimittis
                                                  Simeon, at the dedication of the infant Jesus at the Temple.

And with that, I am outta here till tomorrow. . .

when we are expecting 3 to 6 inches of lovely white snow.  

See?  I'm maintaining a positive, Fortune Cookie attitude!  -- Cass