2007 Did Not Suck So Much!

It's New Years Eve already. 2007 has come and almost gone. I wish I could say the year has flown by, but in many ways it has been agonizingly long and drawn out. It started with uncertainty and fear, quickly gave me a harsh dose of reality, and left me dazed, battered and beaten. Then it did something strange. As I was laying there down for the count, 2007 picked me up off the mat, taught me that I am stronger than I thought, and left me feeling more confident and assured than I possibly ever have.

A lot of strength and confidence came from having the courage to say enough is enough with the past. At the end of 2006 and the beginning of 2007, I was a wreck. The daily barrage of lies and deception and mistrusts that I was dealing with had worn me down. I was consumed with doubt and worries that I later found out I had no control over. A lot of that newfound strength that came to me in '07 came from you, my friends and family. You listened to me when I had to get things off my chest. You gave me ideas of things to do with my kids to help them enjoy life. You let me know that I have a lot of people I can rely on to help me. You helped me grow in my faith and realize that there is a plan, and although I am being tested more than I ever thought, I am a stronger person for it.

As I entered '07, I remember telling a cooworker how I just wanted to fast forward through 2007, because it was going to suck so bad. Now I can't imagine not going through this. It did suck in many ways. There are so many things that happened this year, that even now when I think about them, leaves me feeling empty and alone, but I know it's behind me.

As I look forward to '08, I am hopeful at all the new experiences I will have, that I would have otherwise missed.

Thank You!

Christmas Threeve

So the kids and I got thinking that tomorrow is Christmas Eve Eve, which makes today Christmas Eve Eve Eve.
That's a mouthful to say, so we decided to shorten and it is to become henceforth known in the Conlon Household as CHRISTMAS THREEVE!

We spent Christmas Threeve by shopping for our Christmas Eve Dinner, and then skating with our dear friends, the Hubbards, who moved here from our neighborhood in California this year. The skating was great because unbeknowst to us, the skating rink was having a free skate with Santa day, with free hot cocoa and donuts. Plus, Caleb actually made it one time around the rink before quitting.

But now we are left wondering, with today being now known as Christmas Threeve, should we come up with something for Christmas Eve Eve, or is that cool enough on it's own?

Happiness is…

seeing joy in your children's eyes. Even if they both have four eyes.

Cereal Bowl Warnings!

So I was at the grocery store yesterday and saw these cheap Kellogg's cereal bowls for 25 cents each. I knew they were cheap but didn't think they were THIS cheap.They came with the following warning:
Appropriate for Ages 8+
WARNING!
Always use this product with adult supervision. Before each use, inspect the product. Throw away at the first sign of damage or weakness. This product may break if dropped.
WASH THOROUGHLY BEFORE USE.

Wow. What could possibly be wrong with these bowls to warrant this kind of legal-ese? My coworkers and I have a hunch that while underneath their plastic laminate exterior is a brightly-colored image filled with lead paint and/or acid.

What do you think? Should I expose my children to these hazardous cereal bowls?

Caleb

So last night while the kids and I were folding laundry and watching Deal or no Deal (not my choice) Caleb fell asleep on my bed. He looked so cute that I just left him there. BIG MISTAKE. That boy is a sleep kicker, and goes straight for the jewels. I woke up at least a half dozen times in pain. I was too tired, however, to get out of bed and move him into his bed. Then this morning at breakfast he has the nerve to tell me he couldn't sleep because my cold-induced snoring kept him up all night. Silly little boy.

Going Solo

My work Christmas party is tonight and it's the first time I'm going without a person to round out the "Bob Conlon and Guest" invite. At first, I was really concerned about this. Many ideas ran through my head. Should I fly my mom in and bring her like Jeremy Piven at an awards show? Should I ask that girl out from the ward before I really should? Should I bring my friend who is so uncomfortable in his heterosexuality that when we go to the movies he leaves a chair space between us.

Nah.

I'm just going to go and enjoy myself. It's so much more fun to just go and socialize and talk and not have to worry about someone else. Heck, last year I was the outcast of the party BECAUSE of who I brought, and when that 'who' would go out to smoke and make phone calls, is when I really had fun.