New Year's Eve and all is well

New Year's Eve. . . that one day of the year that so many look forward to, make vast plans for, think about for. . .

minutes, if not hours ahead of time.

Okay, so I'm not a fan. The night has no meaning to me, at least not in terms of partying and frolicking about.

And yeah, okay, if I lived somewhere where I had friends to hang with, I might do a little of that, or at least go out for a nice meal somewhere. (I do have some friends here, but they're either out-of-town or have plans with other circles of friends.)

But as it stands and as it has stood for the last several years, I've simply spent it alone. Those who are perpetual lovers of this oh-so-sacred night should gasp now. My truth is out.

I like to spend the night alone. I like to make myself a nice meal, read part of a good book, watch something interesting on TV. I even typically do a Tarot reading on this night or New Year's Day. <<double gasp>> This is a time for me to think about the last year: appreciate the good, ponder the not-so-good, appreciate life's gifts that have been bestowed on me in all their shapes and sizes. And then I think about the next, wonder what it will bring and hope for wisdom and grace as I go through it.

It's an hour-and-a-half until the new year. I've been reading eclipse, the third in Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series. I made a mean and spicy shrimp fra'diavolo. The Montepulciano (Italian red wine, a new addition to my New Year's routine) is delish. Denny Crane and crew on Boston Legal are keeping me amused.

There's still time for the Tarot reading, but I may save it for morning. As soon as I finish this, I'll read some more. I might make it to midnight. I might not. In the scheme of things, does it really matter?

Coupons. . . get your coupons!

Someone just told me about Coupon Cabin, a Web site that has coupons for many major retailers. Pessimist that I am, I didn't believe it could be that good.

I was shopping on Drugstore.com, as I often do since I can't get certain brands of things over here in the PX, at least not with any regularity.

Just before I finished the transaction -- at the place where I was asked if I had a coupon number -- I remembered Coupon Cabin and went to it. I just typed in "drugstore.com," and the next screen showed options including $10 off for a purchase of more than $70 or thereabouts. I clicked on that option.

Next thing I knew, I was back on the Drugstore.com site and $10 had been taken off of my invoice. That's what I call an easy-to-use coupon!

a war not worth. . . covering?

Interesting reading today in the New York Times.

This saddens me. Not that I, like much of the American public, wanted to see negative story after negative story, but the war is still a major story. And good news is happening over there that now definitely will not be told.

Update

Word that was waiting for me this morning when I checked my email was that Vic has been taken off of the ventilator but as of the writing of the email, had not yet passed.

Bookin' it

Currently reading. . .

Friend Sharon raved about the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer and then sent the books to me for Christmas! If you're in the US, you probably know that the movie based on the first book was released in November.

According to Sharon, she along with many of her adult women friends, female college students and even 12-year-old niece are addicted to the series. I started reading Twilight last night and am already halfway through its 498 pages. It's an easy and most enjoyable read.

Just finished. . .

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows made its way to my bookshelf thanks to my 88-year-old retired-English-teacher and hearty reader aunt who claimed that it was absolutely delightful. Apparently all of her friends fell in love with it, too.

I have to say that I agree with the reviewer who said it was a rather uneven story but that it had its charm. It did reveal some of what happened on the island of Guernsey during WWII, and I admit that the best thing it did for me was to make me curious about seeing Guernsey first-hand.

Perhaps I'll check out Guernsey this summer. A friend's daughter is going to Oxford for a summer school program, and the friend, her husband and other daughter may go over while she's there. I could do Oxford and Guernsey. . .

The Other Side

I'm sitting at Gymmy's randomly looking for singer-songwriters I know on YouTube. I came across Don Conoscenti appearing on the John Edward Show. Seems incredibly appropos, given what's going on with Vic (who knew Don).

Merry holidays. . . mostly

I'm at friend Gymmy's in Stuttgart. His mother made big feast again this year for Christmas Eve (she's German, and that's the German way).

This year we had a smaller gathering -- just seven of us. After dinner, we watched Kung Fu Panda (see photo of some of us on the bed), then we all played Scattergories. I came in third out of five. . .

This morning I've had my good German breakfast, put together by Gymmy's mother. Bread, cheese, meats, and good coffee. Mmmmmmmm. Not a bad way to start the day.

Tonight we're going to see Australia. Tomorrow, by German tradition, is the second German Christmas. It's also a holiday here. Many German families go out to a restaurant for a good meal. I don' think we have any plans. LATER: We didn't go to see Australia after all.

Okay, so all of that is the "merry holidays." Now for the "mostly" part.

I received word yesterday that dear friend Vic Heyman is dying -- as in he will likely be taken off of his respirator any time now. (See my summer 2007 blog entry) Vic and wife Reba have been nicknamed the godparents of modern folk music. They've been an integral part of the folk music community for years, and I've known them for about the last 13 of them. Vic and Reba are both very dear to me, and I haven't really been able to process this yet.