So...

Blogging has been on my list of "meh" things lately.

Dad died on Friday, October 28, 2011, after two weeks of miracles and a massive stroke that seeped into his brain stem and left him unable to communicate.

His viewing was on November 1 with the funeral and burial on November 2, 2011. Mark Leifson participated in the army services. It was very stirring, as usual.

Thanksgiving stunk. The food was gross and we were happy when everyone left so there was nothing but quiet. And even then Mom and I hardly talked to each other. There wasn't much to say and we felt a gaping hole in the house. Not pleasant.

Christmas was okay. Except for certain people not being able to get along with certain other people. It's a problem we have around these here parts. It gets old - really fast.

New Year's came and went. Mom and I partied with the Leifsons and Colleen. It would have been better if Shauna had been able to find a flight from Virginia for less than her firstborn and all her limbs. Lame. It's awful that the airlines can keep people from being with loved ones for the holidays because they "need" to make a profit. It's right up there with my feelings about the gas companies. Gr.

My 35th birthday was this year. I wasn't too happy about it. Mom, Alex, and Aunt Nadine all tried to make a special evening of it the night before. On the day of, Mom and I both had a mini breakdown over Dad. So, pretty much, the birthday sucked. It's just not the same when your dad doesn't sing happy birthday to you early in the morning and then say it's too bad you're a year older, but not wiser, too.

Valentine's Day was, well, it IS stupid. This is the lamest holiday of the year, and not just because I'm single. It aggravates me that we only focus one day on telling people we love them in special ways. If we knew what was good for us, we'd do it every day. Just sayin'.

Dad's birthday was February 20th. He would have been 71 years young. Mom's friends (the Holbrooks) came up from Texas and we spent the day with them celebrating Dad's birthday with balloons at the cemetery, lunch at Tucano's (his favorite restaurant), and chocolate chocolate cake from Costco (also one of Dad's favorites). Amazingly, they put his headstone in that very day. We were lucky to witness that with only 40 minutes notice. And I was lucky enough to have the day off at the insistence of Holbrooks so I could hang with them and celebrate Dad. It was a good day.

And now, well, life goes on, dangit. :) Actually, it's not much different than usual. School still fills up my time, I'm still over the Beehives in Young Women's and loving it (although I think I stress way too much about it), Bear is still sleeping 16 of 24 hours in the day, and Mom is going gung-ho on genealogy. I've started indexing again and can't figure out why I ever quit. I love doing it! If I didn't have a job, that's probably what I'd do all day long. And I would enjoy every minute of it. If you have time, do it. You won't regret it.

So ... that's life in a nutshell from the last few months. Not much to brag about, and probably not worth blogging about, but Mom mentioned last night that she continues to check for updates (because she can't get enough with us living together) and I have to appease the masses, so there you have it.