The Inmates Run the Asylum

I'm quite happily buzzed right now. Tradition dictates that if you open a bottle of champagne on New Year's Eve, you must finish it or risk bad luck. Carrie wasn't feeling up to drinking her share and I didn't want to have bad luck, sooo...I drank most of the bottle.

I also survived my first close encounter with death shortly after ringing in the new year. Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating, but champagne hiccups hurt, dammit!

Since I'm on the intoxicated side, I'll just say that I hope everyone has a marvelous 2013. I hope it's happy, healthy, and a lot of fun for everyone. We all deserve it.

Here's to a bright and shiny 2013!

Went to my job interview today. It went pretty okay. I should hear back from them by Wednesday at the latest.

It ended up being two interviews as I interviewed with the boss in town and then went to Bloomington to interview with the bigger boss and HR guy. All very nice, though, I think if I don't get the job, it's because I'm a Bears fan. Okay, not really. But it's not often that sports have come up in my interviews.

On the way home I rocked out to Y103's Back in the Day Cafe, which was mostly music I listened to in junior high and high school.

I'd have been offended, but I was too busy singing "No Diggity" at the top of my lungs.

Rang in the new year at home with Carrie. I made chicken and spinach pizza for dinner. Later, we snacked on chips and queso, and I had pickle wraps (Carrie had black olives and mozerella, but she forgot them in the fridge). Food is an important part of all of my celebrations.

Carrie bought us silly string and these popper that had confetti and streamers. She also got us champagne classes with light up stems. They were really cool to drink champagne out of at midnight in the driveway.

After we drank our bubbly, popped our poppers, sprayed each other with silly string, and cleaned up most of the mess (it was windy, so we just let the streamers and confetti blow into the neighbors' yard), we played cards and ate cheesecake until the too early hours. It was a good time.

We decided to go into 2011 as positive and optimistic as possible in order to properly set the tone for the new year.

I'm ready to take on 2011 and I'm ready to own it.

After going to the Cubs game and staying up way too late, it took me until today to figure out what day it was.

Just in time for Apple and Pork weekend.

Which I will be too broke to enjoy.

Because of the Cubs game.

I feel this week very closely resembles a carousel.

Went to Dad's retirement open house this afternoon. Actually, it was for him and Barney, who also retired. Either way, it was a do that neither of the guys really wanted, but the Chief insisted.

When I got up this morning I asked Dad if he was ready for his big day and he flipped me off. He did not appreciate the manic giddiness in my laugh, as it was a clear sign of me enjoying his suffering.

I rode with him to the police station and he ended up parking on the street right next to a big snowpile, so I had to climb over to the driver's side to get out. Yeah, he definitely didn't appreciate me taking pleasure in his suffering.

Really, it wasn't too bad of an event. Three car loads of family showed up, some of Barney's family, several of the other officers (including Smitty, who retired about five years ago), and some people from the city. I was suprised that no one Dad had ever arrested showed up. Of course, they might be in jail again.

He survived the party (the way he was talking and carrying on, you'd think he liked it *rolls eyes*). There was only a small formal part of the event when Dad and Barney were presented with busts engraved with their names and years of service. They also got ID cards certifying them as retired law enforcement and the other officers and members of the union got them shadow boxes with pictures and their badges. They're really nice.

I think it's finally sinking in that Dad's retired. Today was the final nail in the coffin. No matter how much he goes on about how happy he is to be done, I know there's a little part of him that's missing it. There's no way he doesn't. Not after 25 years. He can't help it.

After the party, Carrie bought Dad dinner (at Mickey D's 'cause we're fancy like that) and then she and I went to see Sherlock Holmes. Well, after the 85 trailers, we saw the movie. Seriously. I'm a woman who likes her previews. They're almost always of movies I'll never see and that pleases me. But, anything over four is excessive.

Also, I feel that showing a preview for Iron Man 2 before Sherlock Holmes is a little much. I'm just saying.

Anyway, Carrie and I both liked the movie. I'm not going to go into any kind of detailed analysis of what I liked and didn't like because I'm probably one of the last people in the States to see this movie. However, I will say the use of "Rocky Road to Dublin" pleased me muchly.

We went to Dairy Queen afterwards and got Blizzards. Unskilled people made them because all of the stuff was junked up on top. After I dropped ice cream on my pants not once, but twice, I determined that it was defective and possibly sabotaged.

Now, I'm exhausted. I'm not used to so much activity in one day.

I think I'm ready for the girls night potluck tonight. I made cheesecake brownies for it (and for the family reunion tomorrow). All I have to do is get them ready for transport.

It promises to be a good time. The guest list is fab: me, Haley, Mimzie, Diana, Natalie, Andi (after she gets off of work), and possibly Lori. Carrie's opting out because she's not feeling up to it.

I'm ready to party!

FYI: one_more_cherry and gypsyjr, I'm not going to be on AIM tonight. Between girls night tonight and getting up for the family reunion tomorrow, it's not looking possible. I'll catch you ladies next week. :D

Had a blast last night at Haley's house. Small group, just me, Haley, Carrie, and Diana.

Haley made cherry pineapple dump cake, brownies, and Jello shots. She also bought a bottle of blackberry wine. Diana brought two bottles of Boone's Farm. Carrie and I brought the last of the Mike's that was left over from the birthday poker party.

Diana ended up renting a couple of movies. Confessions of a Shoppaholic and He's Not That Into You. The first one wasn't too bad. It was kinda cute. I admit, I LOL'd a few times.

The second one didn't really hold our attention as much as the first, so when it was coming up on the half way point and we actually started paying attention, it was a big game of WTF? Also, I don't think like the girls in that movie so my WTFery was compounded.

Despite the aundance of booze and treats (the brownies were so awesome), I figured it would be an early night.

Yeah, Carrie and I didn't home until three in the morning. There was quite a bit of chatting, joking, and laughing after that second movie was done.

It was a great time and I hope we can do it again. We're all hitting that age where a night in is better than a night out.

Also, I survived two chick flicks in one night. I am hardcore.

The poker party last night was a hit, even if the guest list was down by two. Haley's husband Matt and her sister Andrea couldn't make it, so it ended up being just me, her, and our two birthday celebrators, Damon and Carrie.

I actually took notes last night during the poker party to help me remember the funny bits (the last time, I failed to remember much). Now, looking back over the list (over a page), I'm not sure how much of this I want to admit happened.

I'll just hit some of the high points. ( Disclaimer: While there was drinking, no one was drunk, and all events took place outside, some even in the daylight. )