December 30, 2016 - Friday - Closing out the year with some good Greek food and a good friend. The last several days of this year I have spent and get to spend with really good friends. I didn't get to see all of them but it's been a great way to wrap up this year.

December 29, 2016 - Thursday - I was out getting my hair cut finally and running some errands. I pulled into the parking lot at Target and heard a loud hissing sound. I found the sound coming from my back passenger tire. Changing a flat and getting it fixed was not how I planned on spending my afternoon. At least my evening was much better.

December 28, 2016 - Wednesday - In honor of her passing, I decided to watch the original series this evening. I got through Star Wars and half of The Empire Strikes Back. Maybe tomorrow I'll watch the rest. After seeing Rogue One the other day I kind of want to see it again and this one back to back.

December 27, 2016 - Tuesday - Didn't do much today except go see a couple of friends and get a chance to say goodbye to their little furbaby. It was nice to see all the other pups there. I couldn't take these two because they're still not the nicest around other dogs, but it did make me come home and really give them big hugs.

December 26, 2016 - Monday - Went to meet a couple of high school friends for a movie, lunch and a few beers. It's been a great few days spending time with family and friends that are like family. Need to have more days like this next year.

December 25, 2016 - Sunday - Being single and a parent of only one kid. I've grown used to spending Christmas alone and usually doing  "A Christmas Story" meal from Bobo China. This year a friend invited me to spend part of the day with her and her family. This is her mom's dog, Abby. She has beautiful eyes but is very camera shy.

December 24, 2016 - Saturday - The non-stop discomfort of the last couple of weeks has done a job sucking the fun out of my holiday spirit, but getting over to spend time with my family turned it all around. In spite of my physical issues, I could not be more blessed with the large, wonderful group of people I get to call family.

December 23, 2016 - Friday - I woke up this morning able to walk a bit better. I got an early start and picked up some foods that are easy to keep handy. I also did the last little bit of my Christmas shopping. Then spent the rest of the day on the couch recovering. This flare up won't go away fast enough.

December 22, 2016 - Thursday  - Today was our last day of work for the year. Our clients were being cooperative too and we got out of the office early. I decided to use the early start to go pick up some Bobo China. Not being too mobile I stocked up on entrées and these crab rangoons. They're delicious.

December 21, 2016 - Wednesday - My ankle and back have been getting better but there have been setbacks too. It's been frustrating having this flare up last this long. Usually a day or two and it's gone. It's been over a week now. Sometimes the only thing you can do to feel better is shots straight from the bottle.

December 20, 2016 - Tuesday - I felt quite a bit better today. Yesterday a friend went to the store for me and picked me up a heating pad and some muscle cream for my back. At the end of the day at work the sunset looked so beautiful I decided to drive up to the top of the parking garage and find a nice photo.

December 19, 2016 - Monday - I can't believe this thing is still running, let alone on the highway!!! This is the Plymouth version of my first car, a Dodge Omni from the mid 80's. It was the worst car I've ever owned. I think it was in the shop more than I ever drove it. Fortunately traffic was pretty heavy and slow moving and I was able to get this glorious automobile photographed.

December 18, 2016 - Sunday - Woke up feeling so much better. Not 100% but not at all like the last few days. I had plans to meet a friend and her family for lunch and was so glad I was able to make it. It was a bright spot in a what was otherwise a pretty crappy week. My heated seats really made my back feel so much better.

December 17, 2016 - Saturday - I think I overdid it yesterday. I was feeling better and I was not going to not go see my Godmother. Today I woke up and my foot was a bit better, but my back was killing me. I was stuck on the couch all day. This week has kinda sucked.

December 16, 2016 - Friday - Went to see my Godmother. I have a very specific, snippet of a memory of having my left hand over my head holding her hand and walking up the street to her house. I must have been four or five I guess. Woke up this morning to some not so good news. Thankfully my arthritis improved a bit to make this possible. It was so good to see her smile.

December 15, 2016 - Thursday - I had been putting off going to see my new rheumatologist because its a really long walk from the parking garage to her office. My foot was really swollen but even more so after walking in. They did give me a ride back to my car when I left so that wasn't so bad.

December 14, 2016 - Wednesday - Today wasn't much better. I did make in to work though. A friend I haven't seen in months called to meet for dinner. I decided to go regardless of how I felt or how slow I was moving. She brought me my own special bottle of essential oils to help with my arthritis. It really helped with my hands and smells good.

December 13, 2016 - Tuesday - Yesterday my ankle was beginning to swell. By this morning it was insisting that I not go to work. I was hoping it would get better by the end of the day but that didn't happen. Spent most of the day on the couch. Riley came over later in the evening to take the dogs for a walk for me. I wonder if she found any money.

December 12, 2016 - Monday - Over the last few months I've found some quarters and a nickel while taking the dogs for a walk. These dogs are almost paying for themselves.

December 11, 2016 - Sunday - My aunt makes menudo every year for her granddaughter and her brother, my dad, for their birthdays. I drove back out to her place to see how we did yesterday and to see my dad for his birthday. Some people put different things in their menudo, but I like mine with just a bit of lemon.

December 10, 2016 - Saturday - Today I went to spend the day with my aunt to learn how to make menudo. I found out it's a lot of work cleaning and cutting. We went to a cousin's birthday party after. It was a great day spending time with aunts, uncles and cousins that I don't get to see nearly often enough.

December 9, 2016 - Friday - I'm fortunate to work with a very good friend. At the end of a long week he made us a Jack and Coke to help ease into the weekend. It was a great idea.

December 8, 2016 - Thursday - This time of year dusk is full of birds. It's also the time when I leave work to go have dinner with friends. It's not the best photo but it's better than anything else I took today.

December 7, 2016 - Wednesday - A friend texted me early this morning. Thankfully since I turned off my alarms yesterday. On the way to work I caught the only light between my place and work and my car didn't even have time to warm up. The heated seats were just beginning to feel good.

December 6, 2016 - Tuesday - I went to visit my friend again today to get a little more work done and to spend some time with my friend too. She made a Panini-esque grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup for dinner. This was the perfect dinner to end a cold, dreary day. The company wasn't bad either.

December 5, 2016 - Monday - A friend at work has been looking for a new show to watch. He recently started this and after talking to him about it for a little while I decided to start watching it over again. Such a great show.

December 4, 2016 - Sunday - For Thanksgiving I make garlic mashed potatoes for our dinner. I bought all the stuff to make them at my brother's house but forgot everything at home that day. I know, the one thing I was supposed to remember. Anyway, I have a bunch of potatoes at the house, so a couple of those along with the mushrooms got put into this.

December 3, 2016 - Saturday - I went to visit a friend to help do some work on her place. We got a lot done but she did all the work in the kitchen. This pizza she made tasted like a pizza from Campisi's and the dough from Trader Joe's is pretty good stuff.

December 2, 2016 - Friday - I haven't made the creamy orzo dish in a really long time. I saved some of the mushrooms for a frittata I plan on making this weekend. You know most likely it will be my picture of the day for Sunday.

December 1, 2016 - Thursday - I came home after work excited to watch the Cowboys. I was thinking this run can't last forever, they're eventually going to lose a game. This was close to being that game. It was U G L Y, but it's still a W and there are no style points.