Happy December

This is the sunset from the dog beach I take Ozzy to. Weird being here for the holiday season. Christmas ads on TV, decorations about the town, 80 degrees yesterday and sunsets like this one. I'm not sure how I feel about it yet. But how gorgeous is this sunset?!

Lauren got a great check up with Dr. Doom and Gloom, er, Virkus last week. She has been given the go ahead to start walking. Of course it's a process and little by little she is applying more weight on her foot each day. Doc said it would probably take about 3 weeks to completely rid herself of the crutches and she has to continue to wear the boot for 6 weeks. In the days leading up to the crucial appointment with Virkus, we were all anxious. If we went into his office last Wednesday and he started his "Doom and Gloom" routine, I think I may have slapped him. We have followed all medical advice to the tee for 4 1/2 months now and none of us were in the mood for negativity. It went exactly the opposite. Virkus came and greeted us in the lobby with a big smile. That was a first. The smile, that is. Lauren already had Xrays at that point but right away he said he needed more. "Those weren't enough." He was so pleased with how the heel has healed. (That sounds funny.) I would say he was just shy of pounding his chest in victory! Another bonus was getting to see the nurse, Patty. Patty has been Lauren's bff through all of this. Not only always answering Lauren's calls but in the beginning when things were really rough, Patty would phone Lauren every single day. Patty has a daughter a year younger than Lauren who is a swimmer at Michigan State University. Lauren's injury really struck a chord with her. Quite frankly, it should with everyone. Please don't ever jump into a lake etc. Not from a boat, a cliff or a damned rope swing.

The Jeep is en route to California as I write. It should arrive sometime tomorrow provided the truck carrying it isn't toppled by these crazy Santa Ana winds. It will be so much easier here with two cars. We are not a one car family. That's just ridiculous. The goal is to get Lauren driving ASAP. There will have to be some driving lessons just so she can get used to using that foot again. Not sure how that will go or where I will take her to practice. All the roads here are very curvy and hilly and not intended for "practice." The dog beach has an enormous parking lot and there is never more than four cars, including mine, parked in it. Perhaps we'll go there.

Lauren's birthday and Thanksgiving were so much fun. We celebrated with Lauren, her roommate Jenny and her friend and fellow grad student Matthew at Duke's in Malibu. Not a good idea to pack at 11:30pm for 9am flight after that. We all got home to the HG with such worthless shit in our suitcases. What seemed like a great idea the night before made absolutely no sense when those suitcases were opened. For example, I had plenty of bras and underwear, my Ditka sweater for Hanie's debut last Sunday and one pair of jeans. For six days. I swear I had more clothes at home but anything I left behind in the HG, I left for a reason. I really don't like those clothes. Turns out Lauren's suitcase was much like mine. We have vowed no more drunk packing! It was her birthday. I feel like that should be a sufficient excuse.

Debbie, Denise and my mother made the most fabulous Thanksgiving feast. I didn't do a thing. I brought wine. I didn't cook anything and I didn't wash one single dish. Denise packed up a leftover bag that we enjoyed the entire weekend. Boy, do I owe my sisters. They have stepped up so much with my mom and the holidays since I've been away. Sisters ROCK. End of story.

And the nights with my girls Karla, Mikey and Sue. I need rehab.