First holiday party of the season...

The law firm that throws this Christmas party knows how to do it !!  A bus is chartered and you are driven to your destination with ice chests full of beer and boxes filled with wine and plenty of snacks to get you going on the way there.  This year was a destination at an old Basque restaurant in Gardnerville, Nevada.  It literally felt like you were in your grandmothers kitchen.  I was impressed because I went there with an opinion already in tact. Once you get there they have arranged for a "one man band" to be set up and playing music once you get there.  The drinking then starts and does not stop until you yell "uncle".  After drinking, eating, having a raffle, dancing and then drinking some more it is time to go back.

Once back at the firm my BBF and I have our annual after the Christmas party party.  We try to pick a place where we can just eat, drink (yes still drinking) and visit and gossip.  We decided to walk to numerous places this year, meeting up with friends and proceeding to get totally shitfaced.  It was a goal to make it to 9:00 pm, but I actually I made it to 11:00 pm before driving home.  Another fun year.  I so look forward to getting out with no time limits.

Tonight...another celebration.  My friend graduated this morning with her Master's degree in Marriage and Family Counseling.  We will be going to Incline Village in North Lake Tahoe to eat at "Bites" then off to a free concert at the Crystal Bay Club. 

The gift of Trisomy18 !

I have been so blessed to be able to be a part of my new niece's life.  5 weeks ago we were invited to witness the birth of this little miracle not knowing as we waited breathless if she was going to survive the birth.  As we waited to see if we were going to be saying hello or good-bye she made it out after a very long day of labor.  After a minute she finally started to cry.  It was a relief, but however it was still moment by moment.  Now 5 weeks in and she is still here and we are so grateful to be blessed with the gift she has given us.  Gifts we have received: Love, being able to physically show love, bonding, bringing together family and friends in a very magical way, unconditional acceptance ... I could go on and on !!

www.trisomy18.org

I have learned so much about this syndrome and the stories that have been shared through this website really sheds a light and a tear on this syndrome.  These babies are true angles and I feel so lucky to have met one !

Wine Stomp 2011..

Figuring out how to drink it all !

Finally a weekend away to go to my Uncle's winery in Healdsburg California to help him with his fund raiser "Only Women Touch The Grapes" for breast cancer.  He raises money for a fund to help women without insurance get a mammogram and initial screening.  I was so blessed to have my mom, daughter, daughter's best friend and one of my best friends along for the trip.  

View from the winery

My uncle started this fund raiser from the inspiration of my 2 Aunt's that have passed from breast cancer.  The two oldest of nine. 

The inspiration for the fund raiser

Getting our feet wet !!

People filtering in to stomp

Tasting room

We had a wonderful dinner the night before at my uncles house and I can assure you I drank enough wine for ALL !!

Downtown Healdsburg, California

Our trip home in the rear view !!

CAN'T WAIT FOR 2012 !!

A second chance for grandma !!

You know...I knew there was a job out there for my mom.  At last she is being hired to work for the State with absolutely NO experience.  They were willing to hire a 68 year old woman who has worked for casino's the past 30 years and train her all because of her personality !!  I am so grateful for the stability and relief this will give my mom and step dad who is now disabled due to a brain bleed back in March.  He is doing real good but cannot work, possibly ever again.  I just hope and pray that she will fit in and the people that work in the office will love her and want to keep her !!

I have been grounded from playing on the computer and having any wine on Friday and Saturday...due to my DD having had her wisdom teeth out and being really grumpy and totally demanding all of my attention.  Well I put my foot down and made it clear that I WILL HAVE MY PLAY TIME AND WINE TIME !! Damn it....so get over yourself !!  Spoiled brat...

It felt my life ended for just a small moment...

I opened her door just before leaving the house to work to wake her up for her "breakfast date".  He was picking her up at about 8:30 a.m..  I then headed out the door to work with only work on my mind.

At work a co-worker answered the phone, took the call then hung up to promptly say that there was a shooting at the Carson City IHOP.  I rationally thought to myself .... oh there was probably a shooting in the parking lot and maybe it was gang related.  My co-worker answered the phone again a few minutes later (or so it seemed) and then promptly hung up to say that at least 8 people had been shot.  At that moment I shockingly remembered my daughter was going on a breakfast date and realized that they would have gone to IHOP, cause that is where they always go, morning and night, its cheap and open really late.  I felt like the oxygen was being sucked out of my body and my stomach felt like I had swallowed a piece of concrete.  I calmly tried to call her cell phone with no answer, then tried to text her with no answer.  I tried to call again and text over and over......with no response.  I started to panic.  As I'm trying to contact her the reports are getting worse and worse. 1 person dead, then 2 people dead, then 3 people dead.....aaagghh OMG I am freaking out so bad at this point trying to rationalize not running out of the building and driving like a fucking maniac to Carson City to see if they were there.

After what seemed like forever (which was about 30 minutes) I decided to call my neighbor who I never talk to and only have her number in case of an emergency to ask her if my daughter's car was in front of the house.  She said it was.  Ok, ok...so the boy probably drove. I instructed my neighbor to ring the door bell incessantly until she answered.  So she did, she rang it like the crazy woman she is !!  FINALLY my daughter came to the door....they had just gotten back from breakfast !   **exhaling**

My daughter immediately called me at work and when I answered the phone to hear her voice it was the most beautiful sound I have ever heard in my life !!  She said that they changed their mind at the last minute to go to breakfast at Katie's, a local restaurant, so they would not have to make two round trips when they both had to go to work that afternoon.

I know god works in mysterious ways.  I swear I saw my life flash before my eyes.

And the tears started.  I couldn't help it !!

Its that time of year again !!! Girls get your feet in those grapes !!

Only Women Touch the Grapes !!  Proceeds go to helping women get a Mammogram and initial screening.
And on top of it .... it will be some of the best wine you have ever tasted.

http://www.amphorawines.com/events.html

Pictures are from 2010 stomp

Ya...OK hoping to be back on track...

Since the middle of June at work it has snowballed to complete hell...meaning being overwhelmed and getting fiercely behind which has caused severe stress, anxiety, no sleep, over eating, over drinking, blah blah blah!!  3 weeks ago I fell and broke my elbow.  I really feel that this has given me a chance to get caught up, as sick as that sounds.  My boss has covered my court and as of today I am completely caught up.  I cannot tell you how good this feels.  So I will start fresh tomorrow and I will STAY ON TOP OF THINGS !!  Right ? Uuum Yeah !

My poor mother is being threatened with her job.  Because she is not able to work certain hours and certain shifts so she could take care of my step-dad so they told her "you do what you have to do" and "we'll do what we have to do".  She is hysterical !!!  I don't know what to do or say to console her.  They can hardly afford to live where they live let alone anything else and with my step dad's brain injury he is unable to console her the way he normally would have and I know she terribly misses that !!  My fear is that I am going to be pushed to get a place with them...which is my worst fear !!

DD is still not talking with her grandmother and that is adding to all the turmoil....work has now become my refuge ... pretty sad !!