And Now, An Update From Phlegm Central...

During this vacation I have done almost nothing. I was unable to travel to visit my aunt due to yet another bout with my lungs. Since she suffers from advanced scleroderma and is on oxygen 24/7, I would be compromising her health if I went to visit her with ANY type of illness. And since I haven't been able to shake this last bout, I've been holing up in the house all week.

I now have a doctorate from Cough and Hack University.

I have not worn makeup. I HAVE worn the same, tired pair of sweatpants most of the week. I did change t-shirts a couple of times. About as many times as I showered. We won't even talk about the underwear.

Oh, I KID.

What underwear?

The kids are gone out of town with friends until New Year's day. The Boy left last Thursday, and The Girl left yesterday. Lest you think we have become complete hermits, let me assure you we did indeed go out on a date last night - to Cracker Barrel and Wal-Mart.

As you can tell, Hubster and I rock the light fantastic around here.

I have two more days of vacation left. I plan to spend them doing laundry (gasp!) and cleaning house. Maybe. Or not. And then we'll go to Mom's to have blackeyed peas for New Year's day. Because as we all know, the blackeyed peas we ate last New Year's day brought us so very much luck in The Year of Our Lord Twenty-Aught-Seven.

Ahem.

I'm looking at going to the grocery store tomorrow, along with the bank and City Hall. I may use one of the Starbucks gift certificates I got for Christmas while I'm out. I may shop for bargains on Christmas stuff (70% off at Cracker Barrel) and/or other stuff. I may even have lunch out in a nice restaurant. I might go to an antique shop or even a bookstore.

We in the Singer household are nothing if not flexible.

MENTALLY flexible. Forget the physical part.

Tomorrow night Hubster and I will get all dressed up, he in his tuxedo, me in a flowing, sparkly evening gown. We will travel to one of the most exclusive parties in town to celebrate the New Year. We'll feast, drink, and dance the night away. When the clock strikes midnight, we'll kiss passionately before sipping champagne to celebrate. In the wee hours of the morning we'll make our way home, basking in the glow of the evening.

Uh huh. And now for the truth...

Tomorrow night Hubster and I will remain in the same clothes we've been in all week, a stunning ensemble of sweats, jeans, t-shirts, and the odd sock or two. We will travel to Applebee's to pick up Carside-To-Go meals in plastic dinnerware, and carry them home to eat. He will eat his in the comfort of the family room while watching whatever sport happens to be televised, whether it be football or Championship Curling. I will take mine into my lair (the office) and sit in front of the computer as I devour the edibles. Along about 10 p.m. I'll head upstairs to bed after waving and bidding the Hubster a Very Happy New Year. I'll plug in the iPod, take an Ambien to celebrate, and snooze off. Hubster will follow after the news is over, and we'll both snore/cough/snort/grunt our way into 2008.

Gee, don't you wish you were us?

Today we had fun. Tomorrow, a serious post to end the year. Be prepared!