Blame It (On the I - I - I - I - I - I - I - I-PAD)

Jeff surprised me with an I-Pad for Christmas.
I'd asked for a color Nook. But when I unwrapped the rectangular box, I recognized the iconic silver apple.
"You're so lucky!" my ten year-old quipped.

Me? Lucky? I thought. Uh...not quite.

So, for the past six weeks, I've spent lots of time exploring my Pad, using Facebook, email, syncing my calendars and checking out mostly useless apps.
About the only thing I haven't done is post a blog.

Initially I thought it would be great for writing. I'm sure that's what Jeff thought too. I envisioned carrying my I-Pad everywhere, the way I see other people working on their laptops. But after several starts, I realized that I missed the "tap, tap, rap, tap" of my laptop's keyboard. The I-PAD's smooth, soft-touch screen did little to satisfy my need for rebounding between keys. It may sound silly, but I love the solid tapping of my laptop, singing along as I strike its buttons.

(Hmm...this must have been how people felt when they were forced to abandon the "click, clack, return" of their typewriters in exchange for a PC.)

Now that I understand the nature of my relationship with my laptop and my I-PAD,
blame my absence on the latter.
We'll meet here instead.

Aah...
the satisfying thunk of my laptop.

Adjust those New Years Expectations

2010 sucked!
There, I said it (again...if you saw my FB post).

I couldn't get rid of 2010 fast enough!
By the time that ball dropped in Time Square at midnight,
I was so over it!!!!

Jeff and I were supposed to spend New Year's Eve out,
with friends, but our plans fell through.
Instead of getting upset because I wasn't having the proper "midnight experience",
we celebrated with family, donned party hats and with noise makers in-hand, toasted in the 2011. By 12:15 a.m., we were tucked into bed, without the retribution from the next day's hang-overs or threat from drunk drivers.

We wound up spending New Year's Day with a family, whose husband/dad/doctor/soldier left home for a six-month deployment in the Middle East.
I recalled Jeff's 14-month deployment and the friends who spent that "first day"with us. Their company had been a real blessing.
I couldn't change the situation, but I'd become accustomed to finding good in a bad situation.
Cancer does that for you.

So how did we wrap up our celebration of the new year?
Jeff and I got dressed up and tried out a new restaurant. With a fireside table, we shared a bottle of vino and dinner. So what if it was only 9:38 p.m. when he turned the key to our car's ignition to go home? The early hour allowed us plenty of opportunity to spend some adult-married-folk time before it got too late. (If you're over 40, you know that at 11:00 p.m., it's time to sleep.)

I never had high expectations for 2010.
I KNEW to expect chemo, radiation, countless doctors' appointments or worse.
Besides a barrage of doctors' appointments, follow-up care and surgery, I don't know what else 2011 will bring.
But three days into the new year, my ability to adjust and roll with it,
has already proven successful,
just 362 days to go.