New Year's Eve

Dear all!

It's almost noon so I decided to sit and write while I had some time. I am planning on staying home tonight...my last few New Year Eve's have been at home. Just don't want to get out in that drunken crowd...yeah, maybe I am maturing?? So, I'll have another quiet night. The neighborhood is planning an outdoor get-together at 11:15 pm. In the past year, we have had Germantown's version of the New York City ball-drop at midnight. This year, due to our German neighborhood heritage, they are planning a lighted bratwurst into a bowl of sauerkraut. I can't picture that, so I guess I'll have to go and watch...

I hope all of us always take a moment tonight to remember all those that perished or are injured in Southeast Asia from the earthquakes and tsunamis. It is such a catastrophic situation that I cannot even comprehend the totality of it. It just leaves me at a loss when I think about it. And it is bound to get worse from disease.

Yesterday, two cousins stopped by. JD Schramm from New York and his (our) cousin Jody Howard from Denver are related on the Schramm side, my great-grandmother, Mary Ann Schramm Kotzman, was their grandfather Hugo Schramm's step-sister. Yeah, not really related by blood but they are family and we act like it! Jody's son lives in Nashville, and since he was working and couldn't get to Denver for Christmas, they decided to make the trip here. Good to know I have another cousin in Nashville. Didn't know about him until a few weeks ago. We talked genealogy and then went to lunch at Blackstone's. I never met Jody before, and just met JD and his dad Jack at the family reunion we had in June in Frontenac KS.

I have some small jobs that need to be done today. Don't have to go back to work until Tuesday, thank you Gov. Bredesen! I'll try to get to mom and dad's either Sunday or Monday. I haven't felt too good the past few days...don't know if it's a bug or stress or acid reflux or just my body telling me to lose weight and slow down. But I hope it passes quick because I feel like, well, you know...

So, I'll get my butt in gear and start being productive today. Select great resolutions! I usually do the weight thing as a resolution. This year, it's not. It's not a hope-to thing, it's a has-to thing. I've joined a program at work called "Peel the Pounds". It's a six-month program which is not really a diet, but an education method to change lifestyle and eating habits. So In June, we'll see where I am. I would like to lose 50 lbs this year.

OK, have a wonderful New Year! I pray 2005 will be the best for all of you!

Mark