I did it.  I pulled the trigger and paid the deposits to have my flooring materials ordered.  It hurt, it gave me anxiety, but the hard part is over -- now I just need to get rebuilding on the slush funds.  I'm currently slated for the work to start in early February.  In the mean time I need to focus on clearing crap out of here.

In the mean time, I am enjoying my new coffee pot.  I have another kitchen machine coming that I don't really need -- but I won it from work for our "maintain don't gain" challenges over the holidays.  I need to look around a bit and get some ideas for a Nutrabullet.  I'd like to turn this into a good thing.  I was recently contemplating how I could tolerate getting some matcha into my diet.  Unfortunately, I'm not a green tea fan, so I'll need to bury it in with something else.  I hate feeling renewed hope or desire to lose weight in January.  I can't help but see it as a sham "resolution".

Most of the Christmas decor is down and away.  Tree is in the box at least, but I need to carry that heavy thing down the stairs still.  I also still need to pull the wreaths off of the window, but we are getting a brief wave of warm weather, so this weekend may be perfect for this.

It's time again to review the year.  2025.  It went so incredibly fast!  We lead a relatively mundane life, but it's good, we're good.

Let's start out with boring old me...

My left shoulder did chill back out this year and I regained range of motion without needing to go to physical therapy or under anesthesia for a procedure to release the adhesive capsulitis.

My weight remains a tremendous disappointment and I find my attempts to reduce consumption and/or fast don't effect any change.  I've had a few aches and pains, like a periodic feeling in my foot that I attribute to my weight too.  I had a little bout with acid reflux causing GERD.  This too is probably tightly related to my weight.  I'm honest with myself, why can't I shift this into action?  It's so much to take off just 5 lbs multiply that by a number larger than I want to confess and it feels impossible.

Work remains busy.  I appreciate the stability.  One first here was, give my age, I was able to put more away for retirement thanks to catch up contributions.

The Fuzzy Beasts are next...:

Zero has his moments.  Of course the second I try to trust him he shows me why I shouldn't.  I'd really like to get the large metal crate out of my dining room and not need to scrub down that wall and baseboard as I do.  He just turned 6 the day after Christmas, the magical age at which siberian huskies chill... right?  Right?

Barney and Church continue to find their spot in my bed.  They've both become food-hounds who periodically rip open bags of buns or get a bit too pushy to get my food.  And people say begging dogs are annoying.  Hrmph.

We didn't have fosters early in the year but eventually had three tiny littles join us:  Saturn, Mercury, and Venus.  Mercury has to be the most gentle foster cat we've had. Saturn left as the year closed out, but Mercury and Venus remain with us at this time.

I would be remiss to not also note that it's been over a year since Saffy passed.  I still wish for more time and remain so grateful for what she did for and meant to me.

The girl...

She finished first grade strong with great grades and continued the trend into second grade. She did return to CCA for 2nd grade and is still loving it.  She excels in most things with just minor challenges on a few things -- exacerbated only by the fact that she gets frustrated when she doesn't get something right away.  She loves math and has started to enjoy reading books.  Most of all she loves playing her Nintendo Switch or a game on her school chrome book and clamors to take the remote to watch Avatar, Miraculous, or other people playing Minecraft.

Voice lessons didn't last long.  More an issue with the instructor being intolerably inconsistent and eventually giving our time slot to someone else - that whole situation was my final straw.  We have time to get back into music, which typically spins up in public school in 4th grade.

We have found our summer routines.  There is a bit of sleeping in, there is a bit of vacationing, there is some at home "school work" imposed upon her, there is a couple of weeks at vacation bible school type events and a couple of weeks at Camp Splash, and there is time playing with neighbor friends outside.

She also started swimming as part of a team for the first time this spring and got her first ribbons. As fall took up we did a round of developmental swim team (no meets).  I'd say she loves it, and she does, but she doesn't like to have to leave the house.  She doesn't enjoy jiu jitsu/muay thai as much but we did just get past the 1 year mark training and signed up for a second.  She has learned some skills that are wise to have especially as a young lady.

There was one visit to Kennywood this year - and it was a big one since the girl was big enough to ride everything; and she did as she discovered a love of roller coasters and she fearlessly rode them all.

For our cruises, we did two trips on the same ship/itinerary.  The first round we got to enjoy some time with one of our neighbor families who were on the same sailing.  The second round we got to enjoy with one of my sisters and her SO, and one of my very best friends and her family.  Both were 7-nighters to the Bahamas/Cococay.

Halloween this year was a ninja.

This year we're doing catechism at home after here too things got hosed and my willingness to help as an aide was ignored.  I'm kind of looking forward to shopping for her first communion dress.

The plantars warts I bemoaned last year did go away earlier this year.  Over the summer we visited the eye doctor and sure enough the girl needed glasses.  We also had our initial consultation with the orthodontist.

Around the House...

While my shoulder works again I never did fix the light over the basement sink this year.  Didn't put the pulls on the cabinets either.  I did a lot of looking into flooring and recently got another estimate after finding some that I really liked - I need to ask a few questions and then I can look forward to reporting that work being completed in 2026..

I did get some issues addressed outside with the trim/siding popping loose.  I also survived my first full year of making my payments on what would normally be escrowed directly.

A few things were cleared and given away or donated, more to come for sure.  My basement is complete chaos.

I skipped starting seeds before summer.  I didn't have a great garden, I'm kind of ready to give up on a lot of it.  My asparagus continues to survive - that's two years of growth!  Third year you can supposedly get "finger sized spears", so that's exciting.

Looking ahead to 2026...

We have two cruises booked - one being a trip to Alaska!  This is definitely something to look forward to and relish.  This will be with both family and friends.  The other will also be with family.

I expect to look back at the end of next year where I consider the new flooring to be something that I wished I did sooner.

The big change will be the shift to public school.  I pray this is the right choice, I pray this is the right time (3rd grade).

Avery will receive the sacraments of reconciliation and communion for the first time.

I'm sure we'll see fosters leave and maybe more come.

I don't have other "big plans" for next year. Time goes so fast, I honestly haven't really given it a lot of thought.  As I said when I started, I feel like we're pretty boring, but I'm very okay with that.  I'm grateful that there isn't some huge (which often translates to traumatic or negative) thing to reflect upon this year and I pray for that same peace and calm in 2026.  Happy new year all.

I had gotten software installed and data moved onto the new laptop.  Yesterday I tried to boot it and had a big blue screen.  Yay.  Now it is acting like it can't find the hard drive although it was able to tell me that it sees Windows on C:.  It was only indicating 200 GB when what I was 'sold' from work was 500 GB, but I suspect they swapped drives after a bit of a "recall".  I'm exasperated and irritated.  I can open my old laptop, but it currently has limited protection as I have moved my license for Malwarebytes and you need to be able to get in to disable it on one computer to move it around.

These shenanigans wasted my time yesterday and prevented me from getting some research done that I wanted to do. It also means I lost the notes on the research I did on the flooring and including the questions I jotted down.  Theoretically it shouldn't be too painful to recreate these notes.

Back to work today.  I'm wishing I took the whole week.  At least it is a short week.  Wish me luck.

Christmas went well.  Avery was happy and answered yes when she was asked if she felt she got everything on her wish list.  She was pleased even with the gifts that weren't so "fun" like her electric toothbrush.  Our little gathering here at the house with her Nonni and Zia/Zio was full of food and went smoothly.  The meat from the local packing place was amazing.

Both on Christmas eve and on Christmas day I was so wiped out that I fell asleep right away -- rather than laying in bed overstimulated and unable to sleep -- so I'll call it a huge win.

Yesterday was a lazy day and I've gotten some extra sleep, so I am feeling a bit more calm.  I know the new work week will spin me back up, but for now I am well.  My gift to myself of a new coffee machine arrived today and I made a second cup (of decaf) this afternoon.  It takes both kcups and grounds.  I have also started to move data from the old computer for the new one, it is such a time consuming process.

I got some insight from others regarding the flooring and I feel like my decision is made on what type of floor.  Now I need to go through the full estimate and ask a few questions.

Today productivity took the form of going through the toy box, storage drawers, and bookshelf in the living room -- all full of the girl's things. I filled one garbage bag and put together lots and posted them on a local FB group to get things gone.  We now have a bit of room for all of the things that will be incoming in a few days.

We also made a batch of ham, cabbage, and bean soup today and some muffins in my skull pan.  At least this will make for some easier eating for the next couple of days with kiddo home.

I'm off all week (in theory).  I'm sure I'll pop on a bit, but I do want to get a few things accomplished around here this week.  Yes, a nap is on that list since I didn't get one today.

It's been over a week now since our one foster, Saturn went to his would-be home.  I need to check in with them, but all sounded positive earlier in the week, which is exciting for him.  Venus and Mercury have been a bit more energetic in his absence.  I don't know if this is them being sad/missing him or if he was what kept them worn out so now they have a bit more energy.  I'm hoping we can get them queue up soon, that would definitely make floor replacement a bit easier.

The toilet is functioning again, the Christmas cards were mailed, the bin is back in the basement, and all of the must have cookies have been made; that include chocolate chip, no bakes, and pizzelles.  Yippee!  I did end up taking part of Friday and Monday off which allowed me to cross off some other to do tasks as well.

Girl had her Christmas concert last night.  They did a great job and it was K-2 for the entire program so no shifting groups on and off of the stage (wise move).  They had a 2 hour delay due to the cold.  I'm glad they got to go to school both so the concert happened and because the week before holiday vacation is non-stop fun clothes and activities.

Today the flooring business that did my upstairs bathrooms and laundry room was back to measure the whole house.  I had stopped there on Friday whilst out achieving some of those other goals and found a flooring sample that really seems to work well with both the beige/tan tones and grays.  They also had a few newer carpet samples in within which I found items I liked including one that really works with the flooring.  Quotes are in hand and a bit cheaper than the estimates I got early this year.  I need to figure out what I want to do about the flooring.  They did not indicate I had to go with a glue down, but did advise as to some of the reasons why I should consider it.  I guess I need to do my research and make a decision.

Things feel chaotic.  While one thing gets checked off five more get added to the list.  I wrapped a ton of the gifts I have here and then my favorite egg brought some he got for the girl child, unwrapped.  C'mon man.  Never mind the gifts that I haven't gotten yet; I'm running out of time.

We did get down to the Canonsburg Old Time Christmas celebration this past weekend; just kiddo and I since I noticed her bestie had already gone the night before.  We also made a cheater batch of peanut butter cookies yesterday -- they'll never make it to Christmas, can I still call them Christmas cookies?

I got the Christmas cards ready too.  I want to take them to the post office and verify that they don't need extra postage - call me paranoid - or they'd already be out the door.  Maybe this is a good excuse to go get fish fry from the Italian Club on Friday and pop into the Muse post office!

I also decorated the half bathroom mirror so it is festive in there - even if it is out of service.  In theory the new flapper will arrive today or tomorrow.  It is absolutely ridiculous how often I have to replace gut parts in toilets in this house.

Today was a holy day.  Our church has reduced the number of masses after one our priests passed away.  The 7am was too awkward of a time w/ the bus etc and the 6pm was out if we're hitting jiu jitsu, so I had to run to the furthest church at 12:15 today - and it was paaaacked.  After I checked off another to do, swinging into the engraving/embroidery place to get kiddo's swim parka embroidered.  Of course, they can't get it done by Christmas, go figure.  How do people who always wait until the last minute get anything done for Christmas?

The container that holds the bulk of the Christmas decorations is still sitting in my kitchen.  I want to pull more stuff out from the wall in the basement and sort/remove things before I take that back down, but dang it, it's in the way.

I needed this pseudo vacation.  4 days went pretty quick. Granted, I worked for a few hours on Thursday morning, but that allowed me to get a few things done that required the focus I can't get on a normal work day with all of the calls and chat messages.  We went to my favorite egg's aunt/uncles for Thanksgiving about an hour away.  There was a bit of black ice etc around the area.  We made it home without incident, but did pass a fresh hot mess of an accident.  My take for this event was a broccoli salad (since his one aunt that normally makes it wasn't coming) and a cheesy crab dip (which turned out really yummy).

Friday I spent the morning working to clean upstairs (bathrooms and vacuum) and in my bedroom.  I gathered a few things to get rid of, sorted through the gifts that I've bought thus far, and wrapped a majority of them.  We then ran out to make the remainder of the payment on Avery's second year of jiu jitsu/muay thai with their seasonal "deals" on pre-pay.  We watched a movie, had some hot cocoa, and just relaxed.

Saturday we relaxed at a local coffee shop in town and then popped into the library to get the girl more reading material.  Today I got busy downstairs pulling everything out at the front of the living room to vacuum and clean before putting up the tree.  Avery picked to put it in the living room this year rather than the entry hall, which I support so I don't have to move my antique table out there.  I also started filling out the envelopes on my Christmas cards.  I need another 4 days to get other things off of my to do lit.

I want to get up to the mall again to visit with Santa, but I am dreading how busy it will be.  We need to make some Christmas cookies too - that is the best to do, with a built in reward.

The end of November already and I'm so not ready for the holidays.  I'll also freely admit that I've been fighting the non-festive feelings that comes with the holidays a bit early this year.  I'm good, don't worry, just saying the bits of sadness exist.

I'm not going to get gifts I want/can use unless I order them myself; I'm struggling to come up with a gift idea that will make the kid light up (my greatest desire), and I really don't want to do the pile of other gift buying/wrapping and going to gathering after gathering.  I miss having the holidays with Mom.  While I enjoy every moment with the girl I already lament that one day she'll move on and who knows what the holidays will be like then.  I remember like a fresh would a super hard holiday season many many years ago--I recognize if things didn't go the way they did I wouldn't have what I have and I would suffer it all again for her.  I miss living somewhere that I had friends, even if it was rare that there was time that worked out to hang out with them.  Even so, sadness.

Some of it I think comes from the moments where you see yourself getting old.  When work announces two meetings for retirement planning, one for people that are new to mid career and one for people that are in late career, it hits you a bit, especially when they confirm---based on age---that you should attend the later.  When the acid reflux continues to linger, the sinus issues that persist for almost a month turn into a cough (again), when the shooting pain starts in your left shoulder again (after you suffered through that shoulder also freezing last year), when you find a cyst-like bump on your elbow (and admit you watch too much Dr. Pimple Popper), when you see your eyelids starting to look like they're viable for hood surgery, when random pains strike in your feet, and don't forget those samples that had to be punched from your flesh, when your sight is still fuzzy when using your not very old bifocals., when you realize you need to think about a timeline where you'll need a house with less stairs someday.

Work has remained quite busy.  I find myself sympathizing with and recognizing the remarkable beauty of Phil's experience in Groundhog's Day.  We get things moving in the morning, I work, we run to swim or jiu jitsu, we eat, we ready for bed, and repeat.  Sprinkle in some time hanging out with the foster cats (yes, all three are still here).  This just means that precious time is slipping through my fingers.

Where did this year go?  Why and how did I allow myself to miss it?

Am I caught up?  I am not.  At least 2/3 deliveries have been achieved at work and I've gotten some fall decorations out in the house.  Along with that later activity I did a bit of cleaning, so that's a win too.

Avery has two half days to end the week, so I'll need to engage with her a bit after she rolls out of bed.  It's welcome, don't get me wrong -- I wish the third item was out the door so I could indulge and drop off early both days.  We will step out tomorrow for parent-teacher conferences.  I don't expect it to be a negative thing, but it's always nice to see and talk with her teachers.

Earlier this week I got new tires for the car and then drove across the street to their sister company for an alignment.  The car is officially old enough that something in there has given way and it isn't something that can be adjusted so something needed attached - toe joints or something?  Either way, that wasn't inexpensive, but it still is cheaper than a few months of a car payment.

I'm still waiting for the siding/trim guys to come.  We were on the schedule for last week but it needed to be pushed out to this week and I'm waiting for the call that they're coming.  That too will be a painful check to write, but it'll do good for the house -- and at least give me something to say I wisely did at the end of the year!  (Yes, I think about my end of year blog post to nudge me to get things done.)

Life remains crazy busy.  Tonight's swim practice was cancelled and kiddo wants to just stay home.  I'm here for it.  I told her we could light the fireplace and have some cocoa.  She doesn't have school tomorrow so she'll get a bit of a mini-vaca out of these little extras.

Me on the other hand, I have to work - all three of my tasks are pressing hard to get things delivered before the end of the month.  I'm fighting a sore back (not sure if I tweaked it or if it's understandable muscle tension) and my sinuses/head are doing the normal pressure change freak out.  At least the cold has come so we can expect a bit of allergy relief soon.  I even gave in and turned on the heat the other day.

I still don't have any Halloween out in the house.  If we get anything out I think I'll stick with the pumpkins and fall leaves so we can rock them through Tgiving.  Maybe a year off will reinvigorate me for the Halloween decorations I have.  Maybe there's something up w/ me because I wasn't even all about the Halloween hunting this year.  I'll blame the abnormally long warm weather.

The emails are screaming that a frost is coming, so I took a few minutes over lunch to go pull the non-volunteer tomato plants.  Gathered a small bowl of non-ripe tomatoes, much less than previous years, but it is much later in the year so some have turned naturally on the vine instead.

There are three volunteer plants out there that I need to bring into the basement, we'll see how far they can get.  Two have bit hefty vine; I'm trying to not be too hopeful.

To my surprise, post butchering back of basil the one is booming again.  I should probably bring her into the kitchen and see how long I can keep her going.

Got one more pumpkin off of the vines that I had put out front and pulled the last of those.  The little tiny pumpkin that was trying to grow didn't make it, but I will put it back into the ground and we'll see if she seeds herself.

Last weekend we went to the Houston Pumpkin Festival and the requisite Halloween parade in the morning.  Later in the weekend we went to Monessen to visit daytime hours at Castle Blood.  It was very nicely appointed and we enjoyed it.  Avery commented that it was fun but boring - meaning, it wasn't scary.  Well kid... careful what you wish for or I'll break you in right proper.