The Road Ahead.

I am looking forward to saying goodbye to this year. Good Riddance. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

I know this blog has been 'Blogger Lite' for the past couple of months, but I feel like I can't say what I want to say, and what I do want to say is depressing and negative anyway, and who really wants to read that.

Instead, I will tell you a little bit more about our trip. We (or I guess I should say I) decided that we couldn't deal with Christmas at home. We have always gotten a big tree, decorated, shopped, baked etc. I couldn't see that happening. Steven has been very sad about his mom. Seeing him like this makes me feel awful. We left all the ornaments we have collected over the years in their storage boxes, and made plans to descend on our best friends.

It was a good idea.


My parents were going to be in Santa Fe too. They are building a house there. Marc designed it.


This is the road to the house...


This is what happens when you try to drive down said road...

Several hours of forced bonding for Steven and my dad as they waited for a tow. Three different towing companies said it was too difficult, so they dug out themselves. It took HOURS. Luckily Steven was quickly warmed...


I threw a party for Steven's Birthday on Saturday...


It was supposed to be a surprise, but I blew it in the first week of planning. It was still nice. I think he enjoyed it. He has friends in Santa Fe that he has known for twenty years.

We managed to get out for a drive one day. We ended up here...


Here is why you want to avoid the wild dogs of Northern New Mexico...

Can you see what he was gnawing on? Yep, cow skull. Yikes.

Speaking of wild dogs...


Our goddaughter loves Ted. She hugs and kisses him constantly and calls him 'Teddy Bear.' Unfortunately the Ted outstayed his welcome when he lifted his leg, and let out a full stream of piss directly into one of her play tea cups. It was as if the Vet had asked him for a specimen. Lovely.

It was good to get away. I thought about our adoption a lot, but really only in regards to how much our friends' lives have moved forward. Their children are growing up quickly. They will be talking about colleges while we will be dealing with things they learned years ago. The 'arc of life' as Steven calls it. Ours seems out of whack. Your parents are supposed to know and enjoy their grandchildren, not be dead and gone before they get here. Ms. morose!

Don't think for one minute that I took for granted how lucky I am to have my parents alive, healthy, and with me. I didn't.


Today is Steven's actual birthday. This morning he woke up at 4:30 am. He had a nightmare so horrific that it woke him up. I am hopeful that it was just because we watched 'Solent Green' last night.


My sweet husband. My wish for the new year is that his grief is lifted, and that he remembers all the wonderful times he had with his mom.

Oh yeah, and that proposal thing wouldn't hurt either.

Happy New Year.

Would you place children with this person...

Today is my husband's 40th Birthday.

Best. New Year's Baby. Ever.

The Top Reasons Why it is Preferable to Spend the Holidays With Finns...

Riisipirakka. Delicious, especially with cheese on top.



Lanttulaatikko.


Scrumptious Carb-y goodness, worth the wait.



Finnish Mustard. Don't let the paint tube container deter you from sampling this yummy delicacy.



Festive Shirts...

A Finn won't hesitate to provide you with a more festive shirt to change into to celebrate your festivities in a more festive way.


And although, up until now I have been happy to report that we are not those people who dress their animals in human clothing, Moses was quite cold and needed a festive garment of his own...


Prepare Ye for the next mouth-watering delicacy....

Finnish Chocolate. I have had some chocolate in my day, and I have to say...THIS IS THE BEST CHOCOLATE THAT I HAVE EVER HAD...



SAUNA.

I have spent many hours here. Finns are big on Saunas (pronounced SAWWNAAA). Sweaty, purifying goodness, sometimes followed by a dip in the freezing cold sea, or a roll in the icy snow, or in my case, a nap...



Finns are excellent photographers...


and enjoy giving the gift of wonder...


Wives of Finns enjoy spending time with their 90210 Dylan dolls...

Finns are dog friendly, and don't mind if you want to invite your parents to their festivities.


Finn Festivity and Finery... Fantastic.

Merry Christmas...From Canyon Road.

I am actually singing.

My Mom.


Me and Mr. Glen Livet.

Merry Christmas... from Santa Fe.

Would you place children with this person...

Born Outta That...

Remember this post I wrote on December 22nd of last year? Scroll down it to read about the Christmas card.

Unfortunately, that day has come, and I said I would do it, so here you go...



It is a Bukowski kind of Christmas.

Winter...

A Winter Song for all of you...

HERE

Happy Holidays.

We are hitting the road.

New song mix for you too, on the sidebar.

Teen Dream...

Last night, for the first time, I dreamt that we received our proposal (referral). It was for two girls. One was two years old, the other one was ten years old. When we actually saw the picture, the girl was actually thirteen or so. There has been a lot of age drama in our household. I won't go into all the boring details, but originally we requested two kids under three years old. So many of the kids we have met here have been a lot older than their referral stated. We thought that by saying 'three' we would, at most, miss the first six or seven years of our kids' lives. We have since changed our homestudy to two under six, which is why I think I am dreaming about teenagers.

Also, Steven and I had the following conversation a couple of weeks ago...

Him: I don't know anything about girls.
Me: What are you talking about? You are great with girls. You can teach them math, and about plants. You know all about girls.
Him: I know all about one girl.
Me: (Smile)
Him: But I don't know about girls.

He also said something about the age increase. Something like, "Hi, welcome to the family, we've made an appointment for you to get fitted with an IUD."

I find this adorable. He is all paternal, and uncomfortable, and protective, and do people even use the IUD anymore? Isn't that something from the fifties? How old are we? I am definitely the wrong person to ask about birth control.

So, there you have it. My first dream. Two girls. One of them dangerously close to driving age.

Could someone tell me about High School Musical? I have a sinking feeling I am going to have to know. Oh, and I am going to need to know how to text message. You people and your newfangled technology and birth control.

YIKES.

Friday Friend or Family Feature...

I don't have a feature today. All the friends I want to write about are gay, and I don't mean happy. I am afraid to write about them, and jeopardize my adoption. Great huh? What a hypocrite I am. But signs point to laying-low in the blogosphere. I can't really talk about anything.

I can show you a picture of my friend who is coming over for the weekend. That's him above. He is not staying. He could stay, but then a certain husband would leave. There have been several pups who have come into our lives this way (by way of some jackass abandoning them on the streets of LA) but, still, this one is only staying the weekend.

I mean it.

Would you place children with this person...

Listening to...

I am a little bit obsessed with this song today. You have to wait until it gets to 59 seconds for it to start. Worth the wait, in my opinion. Enjoy.

Fordlandia - Johann Johannsson

Doctor it hurts when I do this...

I have discovered that I have the following ailments...

1.Pre-Proposal Paralysis.

Symptoms include; not leaving the house, an inability to accomplish tasks, an inability to wear proper clothing, an aversion to hair dryers, make-up, bras, the gym, and toothpaste, an affinity for all things carbohydrate. May include mass consumption of chocolate and pop-tarts.

2.Adoption induced Agoraphobia.

Symptoms include; not leaving the house, and an irrational fear of stepping outside to retrieve the newspaper. Benefits may include a substantial savings on gasoline expenditures.

Any cures for what ails me?

Oh, and I chose the cartoon because someone found my blog by Google-ing...

'anthropomorphizing dogs to substitute for intimacy'

All I have to say about that is..." I remsemble that remark!"