Patrick and I got back Friday evening from a great trip back to Texas. We got to see lots of family and a few friends, though not as many friends as we would have liked.

We had an unexpected funeral to attend when Patrick’s great aunt died at 89. While it was awful that it happened, it was very nice that we were able to be there for the funeral. I think it made Patrick feel much better about things.

I got to see my parents, my sister, and two sets of aunts and uncles as well as several cousins. The funny thing is that it has made me a little more homesick.

My parents are storing some of our extra stuff and had it all set up in the bedroom we stayed in. I just kept going around the room and touching all my stuff. And we got to sit in our huge, wonderful recliner. They also let us drive my old car, which they had bought from us. It was so nice to have the freedom to drive again. Since I don’t drive here, I leave that to Patrick, it had been 6 months since I’d driven. And I love to drive.

We went and saw our house which was nicely decorated for Christmas and looks really well taken care of. They have built tons of shopping around the area. If we ever move back into that house, Old Navy will be way too close to me!

Our dogs stayed at the vets an extra day and after 11 days of only getting out of a pen 2 times a day, they were over joyed to see us again. We had to take them to play and wear off some of that extra energy. I think they thought we weren’t coming back for them.

We had a great time!

We got our first snow last night. It’s not much, just a dusting, but it’s supposed to snow more today too. We woke up to 11 degree weather but it actaully felt like -1. The high for the day will be 20. I felt like the marshmellow man walking to work today so bundled up that I couldn’t hold my arms down at my sides normally.

We had a busy weekend of running around trying to finish up Christmas shopping and buying things for the cold weather. I got some great winter boots with our finally arrived discount abilities! You really have to love shoe discounts. We went into the city on Friday night and again on Sunday and around Jersey on Saturday. We are finally ready!

We head home for 8 days on Thursday and are very excited. We hope to be able to make arrangements to see everyone but still have plenty of time to relax and visit.

A prime example of why people shouldn’t go to work sick! Patrick got sick at work from somebody who came to work sick and in turn got me sick. I’ve been sick for a week now with a monster cold.

I got sick on Wed and thought I was better on Friday. We went out to the movies and when we got out, I had no voice. Every time I spoke I’d come out sounding like Marge Simpson. Yesterday, I woke up and felt great. My voice sounded much better and I had a lot of energy. And then I went outside.

Something must have been floating in the air that set my allergies off. I came in from walking the dogs and could not stop coughing or stop my eyes from watering. There was this tiny dry spot on my throat that would not get hydrated no matter what I did. I drank a gallon of water followed by a glass of orange juice and took a fruit breezer, still couldn’t stop coughing.

I have a much better voice today, although I was just trying to talk to my sister and had to go because I started coughing again. I’m fine as long as the air doesn’t hit my throat!

So today Patrick is walking the dogs and let me sleep in. He’s promised to come home and walk the dogs and cook me dinner! I’m pretty excited about this given the fact that it’s 27 but feels like 17 according to my little weather watcher! Snow is predicted for Friday and for Monday. I think this time it may actually come.

Check out the pictures of the city at Christmas. We found the most massive crowd last weekend wherever we went, but the city loves Christmas.

Ok,so I’m obviously not that good at keeping a journal, but I’m not sure that anyone has noticed! We’ve gone to the Bronx zoo, to look at leaves and had visitors. Andy came to stay with Patrick one weekend and Kelli came to see me the next. We’ve seen a taping of Letterman, the top of the Empire State building and Patrick has gone to Philly while I went to Chicago and saw my parents and my sister and did some business. We’ve been a bit busy, so we will probably take it kind of slow this weekend…but you never know. Last night I was looking at the holiday schedule for NY and am now all excited about the holiday season here! I want to see all the holiday window displays in the department stores,all the Christmas trees,but especially the one in Rockefeller Center, and go to the Nutcracker!

Who says you can’t see nature in the big city? This morning when I was walking the dogs in the park across the street we saw a very large mouse run into the bushes. The dogs really wanted to chase it but they were a little busy! Then,we saw some lizard like creature a little further into the park,but it also hid before I could get a good look at it. I haven’t updated yet, cause it’s been a week from Hell, but we took a 3 hour cruise last weekend and have some nice pictures of that. I’ll tackle that update this weekend.  Today, the phone hasn’t rung once, and even emails have been slow! You’ve gotta love Fridays!  I stay awfully busy for no full time job!