A quiet and joyful new year has decended upon us ~~ nothing has happened that would knock anybody's socks off, so that seems like a good sign for the rest of the year. I mean, nothing has occured that would scare us or make us go screaming out of the house, into the front yard and start tearing our clothes to pieces.

That being said, I just heard a siren go off on some kind of emergency vehicle, over on the larger highway near our subdivision. Fortunately the siren and vehicle are not on their way to our home, so that is definetly a good thing.

I've never made any New Year's Resolutions, and it seems that most people I know have theirs forgotten by time June rolls around. I think one year our oldest made some kind of resolution, but it escapes me what in the world it was. Neither the middle one or our youngest has said any thing toward a resolution...I think they both have too many things going on.

Which brings me to something that did happen to me & the youngest earlier in the week. He's signed up for classes at the local community college, and went about applying for financial aide. The office took most of his information, he filed a FAFSA for whatever Federal Monies there are lurking out there. Then, he decided to try and get a small loan to use as a way to get the classes he needs, without having to wait on any grants or larger loans he may receive. He went back into the financial aide off. to see what they would say, and they told us to wait in a room just across the hall. A nice woman said she'd call his name when they came to his file, and then there would be a discussion on what he could do -- maybe even take a deferment just so the classes wouldn't get filled before any funds come in.

Fine ..... So...we wait....we wait some more...an' jus' a little bit mmmmooooorrrreeeee......
4 & 1/2 hours later, my son finally got a chance to see one of the financial aide people...just for them to tell him that they don't have a deferment program, and for him to get the classes he needs, he'd have to pay cash for them...somewhere along the lines of $600. To say we were somewhat suprised is putting it mildly. But -- the good thing is -- that since my son has this knack of being resourceful, he came back home, got online, rearranged the class schedule he'd set up, and is now able to take one of the classes online, and will only have to pay for that one. The other classes will be available in summer, so his thinking is to take them then, which should be when his financial aide will be available. I was so worn out from sitting and sitting and SITTING in that room, I couldn't see straight, let alone try and come with another schedule for college classes...sheesh..

So -- things are looking up for him..and he has another temp job for at least this week..and the middle one got some work last week, and should get paid for all of that sometime early next week. He'd been cleaning an elderly couple's home, and was expecting to have 1 more day there, but the husband became ill, went into the hosp., and won't be able to get back to his house for at least the next few days. But -- my son isn't too worried about the pay, but he is concerned for the health of the gentlemen who's house he cleaned.

The Husband has been driving and driving and DRIVING here there and everywhere it seems...a few trips out of state, a couple to D.C., and lots of loads being taken from one Port to another aroundHampton Roads. He's rather the happy guy because his wonderful middle son got him a BIG ol' bag of clothes for him to wear. Lots of pants from thrift stores, some other from friends, and still others from other people the middle one knows. But, I think the most wonderful present The Husband is Thrilled with, is a new coffee maker our oldest got us for Christmas...there isn't a coffee pot to go with it...there's a little lever that you push with a cup, and the coffee comes out of a little container inside the coffee maker. Something like the drink dispensers at fast food restraunts...push the little bar and the soft drink comes out of a container behind the clever signs saying what kind of soft drink it is. Clever. Clever. Clever. I'd seen a commercial on tv sometime last fall for the new coffee maker, and just about jumped off the couch and yelled "HOLY MACKEREL!!" -- said some other words too, but won't print them here...les' just say I was mightly impressed with the lil' goodie. An' then, the oldest hauls off an' gets us one...Man - O - Man! >> As you can see, it doesn't take a lot to make us happy...

So ~~ on goes the New Year ~~ and now it's time to go and make some more collages..I think there will be another one posted here in the not too distant future...am now getting ready to get some picture wire set on one piece, and do some painting for another collage -- Dont want to sit and waste time!!

Lady of The Tulips -- who had to let The Dog out so she could romp in the back yard..the weather is quite warm, which is sorta freakin' me out...but if it makes The Dog happy, who's gonna stop HER from playin' -- After all, she's off the COUCH!!