Happy New Year!

Yes, I am once again up at 5:30, even though I only went to bed about 5 hours ago. I wake up every few hours, drink some water, try to go back to sleep, and when it gets this "late", I just don't go back to sleep. Maybe if Molli weren't leaving today I would be more relaxed and sleepier. Maybe I'll take a nap later today.

I am so sad she is going. Yesterday I was pretty mopey because Amelia was gone. Today I am distraught. As I said to Molli, it would be worse if I couldn't wait to get rid of them. It is like living in a gray or two-dimensional world after living in color for a while. Not that anything is different, just they understand me and love me and have the same interests and values I do. Well, anyway, it was nice to have them and now they are leaving.

It was very cold in our house yesterday--gray and drizzly out and hard to get it warm, although it was by the end of the day. Molli and I ran some errands. One of the things she did this trip (and has done on other visits, perhaps less extensively) is shop for Adrian, as well as herself and others. Yesterday we visited Rugged Wearhouse and bought several pairs of pants. I picked up a couple shirts for my Dad and a pair of cheap sunglasses for me.

We also went to the post office and mailed a couple of packages with post-Christmas presents. Molli sent coffee to Seattle--it cost more to mail than to buy it. And I sent a package to Santa Fe (book rate). It has some piano music for my nephew and a nice surprise for the family. Book rate is so cheap, I should only buy books as presents. Then we went to Kroger to get eggs and orange juice and bananas...I treated Molli to a Cinnabon on our way home, something really decadent I would not normally buy. We had leftovers for lunch, plenty of good things to eat, especially ziti. Suddenly, Molli remembered we were supposed to pick up Vanessa's medicine at the drug store while we were out. They were closing early because of the holiday, at 2. It was 2:01. We called and Andy said he would wait for us. What a nice man! When we got there, he was helping someone else and another person came in, too. I am glad he can't say no...

We played some cards and Molli made a chocolate cake, with vanilla frosting and strawberries on it. Molli and Ray and I went to dinner at Deb and John's, with Janna and Ron. My parents were invited, but I sort of discouraged them from coming. I think it was a good call, but I feel a little bad. Deb was disappointed. After supper, we played Taboo and had a great time, the girls beating the boys pretty badly. We all know each other pretty well, so it is easier to get your ideas across, especially Molli and I. Ron thought we must be using telepathy. The boys kind of wait until they know the answer, whereas we were just guessing and brainstorming and would usually come up with it faster. It's hard not to use the forbidden words, though.

We got home much later than we thought, about 11, in time to open the Spanish champagne. I was so tired and sleepy, I was not much fun and could barely stay awake. Amelia called from Central Park. She was running a race with Kevin and his sister Kasey. It was snowing and cold and she wanted to get started. I guess I will hear how it went a little later.