Farewell to 2006...

My father-in-law asked me earlier this afternoon if I had made any New Year's resolutions yet. I told him that I hadn't made any "official" resolutions yet. The truth is that every year I make resolutions and every year I fail miserably at keeping them. So in some respects, I might be more successful if I just skip the resolutions this year.

I know I won't really do that, but the temptation is there. Maybe instead of avoiding them altogether, I'll work at coming up with realistic goals...wow, what a novel idea. I tend to be an all or nothing kind of person (those of you who know me, know this all too well). I know no middle ground...I'm either at one extreme or the other. I know this isn't a good thing, but it's just the way I am (not a cop out, really).

I'm going to let myself think on these things tonight and tomorrow and see if I can come up with, what I think, are realistic resolutions for 2007 (again, if you know me, you are already thinking that if I'm coming up with them, that precludes them from being realistic). ;-)

Enough said about that.

This year ends with mixed emotions. There have been a lot of really great things this year...I finally graduated from college, Chris achieved his license of ministry, vacation in Myrtle Beach, trip to Boston, fantasy baseball camp with Chris' parents, Thanksgiving with my mom and brother, Christmas with my family in Naples, NY, and much more.

But, there have been some hard times and major disappointments this year, too. Most of these center around people that were in our lives at the beginning of the year but for one reason or another are no longer part of our lives. These "lost" relationships have been very difficult for me to deal with and if I'm to be perfectly honest with you, I'm still dealing with feelings related to these relationships.

I'm someone who has a hard time when I can't find closure in a situation. A lack of real closure causes me to dream about things and constantly turn them over in my mind. Is there something I could have or should have said or done?

This year also brought several physical challenges for me. The positive part is that Chris and I both got very consistent at the gym in February of this year. That was great...we go just about every morning and have made wonderful friends there. However, in spite of that, and probably due to the stress of the year, I now weigh more than I ever have...and while most people won't sympathize with that, I'm personally not happy about it.

In addition, I finally had to go on blood pressure medicine. While that's certainly not the end of the world, it definitely reminds me that I'm getting older.

I'm not ashmaed to say that I've faced a sort of depression this year. But I am well aware that I have so many things to be thankful for. I know I am very fortunate and thank God that I have the freedom, liberty and grace that I do. And although I continue to struggle with some of the negative aspects of this year, I am looking forward to a new year.

I pray that each and every one of you has a safe and happy New Year's Eve and a most blessed 2007.

P.S. Chris posted a ton of pictures from 2006...it's really like a Pictoral Year in Review. Check it out...they're posted in three parts.

• 2006 in Retrospect - A Year-end Review with Pictures Part 1
• 2006 in Retrospect - A Year-end Review with Pictures Part 2
• 2006 in Retrospect - A Year-end Review with Pictures Part 2

The Fayre Word for 12/31/06...

The last edition of 2006.

chagrin \shuh-GRIN\ (noun)
disquietude or distress of mind caused by humiliation, disappointment, or failure

Hope you guys all have a safe and happy new year's eve!

The Fayre Word for 12/30/06...

Morning all...here's today's word:

slapstick \SLAP-stick\ (noun)
1: a device made of two flat pieces of wood fastened at one end so as to make a loud noise when used by an actor to strike a person
2: comedy stressing farce and horseplay

Happy New Year's Eve Eve... =)

My first Rocky movie on the big screen...

We just got back from seeing Rocky Balboa. Wow...it was weird to see a Rocky movie on the big screen...I've never experienced that before.

I have to say I really enjoyed the movie. I was a little unsure of the love interest part of the movie, but they didn't really push it, so I guess I'm okay with that. I guess I'm a purist...there can't be anyone else for Rocky but Adrian.

And I'm not ashamed to say that tears came to my eyes several times. There were a couple of really great Rocky/Paulie and Rocky/son moments. Not to mention the scenes of Rocky at the graveyard visiting Adrian (he keeps a chair stored in a tree near her headstone).

I wasn't sure how they would end it, and even though it's not what I expected it to be, I think I'm okay with it. (I won't spoil the ending since I'm sure you're going to see it, if you haven't already.)

There were some good lines and I tried to remember a few of them to share with you, but the experience was so overwhelming, that I cannot remember even one of them. Guess I'll have to see it again (and again, and again).

There's no question that I'll be buying this DVD the day it's released and watching it over and over again...it will live near the other five...a true complete set.

Wouldn't it be great if the theatres would run a Rocky marathon...it would be fabulous to see them all on the big screen...I'd definitely be there!

Christmas pictures...

I was going to post some pictures from our Christmas adventure in Naples, NY, but Chris did such a great job, that I'm just going to link to his post.

There's one caveat...ignore the picture of me in my jammies holding up my new iPod...now I know I just peaked your interest and that there's no way you'll close your eyes for that one, but I just had to speak to my disappointment that that particular picture was posted. The rest are great!

See the Christmas pictures now.

The Fayre Word for 12/29/06...

Here's today's word:

pell-mell \pell-MELL\ (adverb)
1: in mingled confusion or disorder
2: in confused haste

Note: In spite of posting these words almost every day, I've done nothing else in preparation for my GREs on January 23. Yikes!

After the GREs, I'll have to decide whether or not to continue with this feature or abandon it...any thoughts?

Merry day after Christmas...

We had a great day yesterday. We got up and opened presents with my dad in the morning and that was a lot of fun. Don't have any other memories of that experience.

After that we got ready, had a little breakfast and headed up the hill to my cousin's house for presents and food.

It was a lot of fun to see the kids (my second cousins) open their presents...such excitement and zeal, ripping off the paper, squealing and then dropping it, still half-wrapped, to move on to the next one. They'll be discovering new things for weeks.

Dinner was awesome...fried turkey (much to Chris' excitement), mashed potatoes, broccoli, stuffing, cranberry sauce, deviled eggs...I'm sure there was other stuff on the table, but I can't remember now.

I supplied the pies...my signature apple-cranberry-currant pie and then a peach pie...it was a new peach pie recipe and while the pie turned out okay, I won't be making that recipe again.

All in all it was a really good day. I enjoyed being able to spend the time with family...grandma is doing better than I expected (after falling and breaking her hip around Thanksgiving). I'm grateful for that.

Anyway, getting ready for breakfast...I can smell the bacon cooking...yummy! We'll be heading out tomorrow morning so we'll be making the rounds and seeing family again today.

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and enjoyed being with your families. We'll have plenty of pictures to post when we get back.

The Fayre Word for 12/26/06...

Merry day after Christmas!

Here's today's word:

ex cathedra \eks-kuh-THEE-druh ("th" is as in "think")\ (adverb or adj.)
by virtue of or in the exercise of one's office or position

Whether shopping or relaxing, enjoy your day!

Merry Christmas...

Merry Christmas to you! Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

We are having a great time with my family. I haven't been here to celebrate Christmas with my family since I was too young to even remember it. It's nice to be able to create Christmas memories with my family!

We'll post pictures when we get back!

The Fayre Word for 12/25/06...

Good morning...here's today's word (it's pretty lame)...

belated \bih-LAY-tud\ (adj.)
1: delayed beyond the usual time
2: existing or appearing past the normal or proper time

The Fayre Word for 12/24/06...

Merry Christmas Eve...we're getting ready to go to church with my grandma this morning...I'm really looking forward to it.

I keep asking Chris if I can open some presents today, but he's a big meany and won't let me! ;-)

Actually, my aunt Peg and Marie are coming down for Christmas today so at least that'll be something!

Here's today's word:

rue \ROO\ (verb)
1: (transitive sense) to feel penitence, remorse, or regret for
2: (intransitive sense) to feel sorrow, remorse, or regret

Hope you enjoy your Christmas.

The Fayre Word for 12/23/06...

Good morning from rainy Naples, NY. We left my mom's around 12:30 yesterday and didn't get here until around 8:30...it should have only taken us around 6 hours but because it rained the entire time, it took us quite a bit longer.

Anyway, we're here and getting ready to have some yummy breakfast...thanks, Dad!

Here's today's word:

adamantine \ad-uh-MAN-teen\ (adj.)
1: made of or having the quality of adamant
2: rigidly firm; unyielding
3: resembling the diamond in hardness or luster

After breakfast we'll get ready and head over to see my grandma and then do some grocery shopping for pie supplies! That's right, my famous pie returns!

Have a great day!

The Fayre Word for 12/22/06...

Morning from Northern VA. We're headed up to New York today to spend Christmas with my dad, grandma, aunts and cousins.

We spent last night with our best friends, Mike and Sonja. See Chris' post for details and a picture.

Here's today's word:

gregarious \grih-GAIR-ee-us\ (adj.)
1 a: tending to associate with others of one's kind; social
b: marked by or indicating a liking for companionship; sociable
c: of or relating to a social group
2 a: (of a plant) growing in a cluster or a colony
b: living in contiguous nests but not forming a true colony -- used especially of wasps and bees

We should be posting during our trip, so check it out.

We're toilet people, too...

This is the quote of the year...okay, maybe not quote of the year, but it sure comes close.

We were in our church business meeting last night and were discussing renovations to our community center where we currently hold Sunday morning services. We would be creating a foyer area in the building so that people had a place to fellowship before and after the service.

The foyer would encompass the space where there are two existing bathrooms, one for the women and one for the men. Right now they are single bathrooms and the issue was whether or not we should expand the bathrooms to create multiple stalls in each. Doing that will take away some of the foyer space. So, here's how it went:

Pastor Mike said, "We are foyer people."

To which Christy replied, "But we're toilet people, too."

In case you're interested in the outcome, we decided to expand the bathrooms. Oh what fun church business can be! ;-)

The Fayre Word for 12/21/06...

It's already been quite a day.

Here's today's word:

Parthian \PAR-thee-un\ (adj.)
1: of, relating to, or characteristic of ancient Parthia or its people
2: relating to, being, or having the effect of a shot fired while in real or feigned retreat

Have a great day!

The Fayre Word for 12/20/06...

Good morning from Northern VA. Heading into the office for a couple of meetings and a holiday lunch! Then returning home in time for church.

Here's today's word:

peradventure • \PER-ud-ven-cher\ • noun
1 : doubt
2 : chance

Have a great day.

The Fayre Word for 12/19/06...

I'll spare you the triple edition and just deal with today. These past few weeks (as I've mentioned before) have been incredibly busy. Outside of work, I haven't really had a chance to sit down at the computer...or sit down at all for that matter! ;-)

Anyway, I'm off to Northern VA this morning and will be back tomorrow afternoon...just in time to leave again on Thursday!

Here's today's word:

unabashed \un-uh-BASHT\ (adj.)
not disconcerted; undisguised, unapologetic

Hope you all have a great day.

The Fayre Word for 12/16/06...

It appears as those double editions of The Fayre Word are becoming more common...not because I intend it to be that way, but because things are wild and crazy...I can count on one hand the number of hours that I've been home since we got up this morning. I think we went to 13 or 14 different places today to try to finish up our Christmas shopping.

Anyway, here's today's word:

cajole \kuh-JOHL\ (verb)
1 a : to persuade with flattery or gentle urging especially in the face of reluctance; coax
b : to obtain from someone by gentle persuasion
2 : to deceive with soothing words or false promises

And yesterday's word:

heterodox \HET-uh-ruh-dahks\ (adj.)
1 : contrary to or different from an acknowledged standard, a traditional form, or an established religion; unorthodox, unconventional
2 : holding unorthodox opinions or doctrines

And what, you ask, is a good way to end the day? With a Cowboy's win!

The Fayre Word for 12/14/06...

Back from the gym and anxiously awaiting the coffee to finish brewing.

Here's today's word:

pelagic \puh-LAJ-ik\ (adj.)
of, relating to, or living or occurring in the open sea; oceanic

Just reread my whiny post from last night...I'm not sorry for complaining...just sorry if you had to read it!

The Fayre Word for 12/13/06 and a little more...

I admit that I've been completely neglecting this over the past couple of weeks. I owe you all major updates of all that has been going on...way too much, if I may say so myself.

Anyway, here's today's word:

euphoria \yoo-FOR-ee-uh\ (noun)
a feeling of well-being or elation

And yesterday's word:

aerie \AIR-ee\ (noun)
1: the nest of a bird on a cliff or a mountaintop
2: an elevated often secluded dwelling, structure, or position

If I didn't have something going on every minute of every day, I might be able to offer more than this dutiful post. But alas, I'm finally home from church (our youth Christmas party) and I'm totally exhausted.

And while I thought I might be home tomorrow night for some much needed rest and present wrapping, I've been informed that we have a Christmas dinner to go to. It's not that I don't love eating out and hanging out with people, but please can't I just have an evening at home?

Okay...enough complaining...I'm going to sleep.

The Fayre Word for 12/11/06...

Good morning...hard to believe it's already Monday...the weekend went by so fast it's almost like it never happened.

Anyway, here's today's word:

centenarian \sen-tuh-NAIR-ee-un\ (noun)
one that is 100 years old or older

Have a great day!

The Fayre Word for 12/10/06...

A very late post...a very long day.

Here's today's word:

Pecksniffian \pek-SNIFF-ee-un\ (adj.)
unctuously hypocritical; sanctimonious

Off to get some much needed sleep.

The Fayre Word for 12/9/06...

Happy Weekend...had a lot of fun playing games last night with our friends, Danny and Rachel. Woohoo.

Anyway, here's today's word:

nonpareil \nahn-puh-RELL\ (adj.)
having no equal

Winter funk...

Ever since the time change, I've been in quite a funk...having a hard time getting up in the morning, dragging all day long and falling asleep on the couch at 7:30.

This week as been particularly difficult...I have no idea what's wrong with me, but I'm not sure how much longer I can deal with this. Actually, I think it's directly related to the cold and the fact that it gets dark before 5:00 p.m., but it seems to have hit me much harder this year than it has in the past.

I'm blaming my lack of blogging and my late entries on this funk...hope you all can bear with me through this.

The Fayre Word for 12/8/06...

Another late post.

Here's today's word:

retronym \REH-troh-nim\ (noun)
a term consisting of a noun and a modifier which specifies the original meaning of the noun

The Fayre Word for 12/7/06...

Realized I hadn't posted yet. Major workout at the gym this morning...

Here's today's word:

parse \PARSS\ (verb )
1: to analyze a sentence by naming its parts and their functions
2: to examine in a minute way; analyze critically

The Fayre Word for 12/6/06...

Chris was quick to point out that I had let down my readers by neglecting to post yesterday's word and my weekend recap promise. Yesterday was just one of those days.

So, here's today's word:

cybrarian \sye-BRAIR-ee-un\ (noun)
a person whose job is to find, collect, and manage information that is available on the World Wide Web

And...here's yesterday's word:

symposium \sim-POH-zee-um\ (noun)
1: a social gathering at which there is free interchange of ideas
2a: a formal meeting at which several specialists deliver short addresses on a topic or on related topics
2b: a collection of opinions on a subject; especially one published by a periodical
3: discussion

Hope you guys have a great Wednesday.

The Fayre Word for 12/4/06...

Morning...hard to get up this morning.

Here's today's word:

adulate \AJ-uh-layt\ (verb)
to flatter or admire excessively or slavishly

Weekend recap to come later.

The Fayre Word for 12/3/06...

Morning all...Chris is getting ready to head out to Bedford, VA, this morning. I'll be staying in town and going to our church today. I pray God will use him today and protect him as he drives out there.

Here's today's word:

gourmand \GOOR-mahnd\ (noun)
1: one who is excessively fond of eating and drinking
2: one who is heartily interested in good food and drink

The Fayre Word for 12/2/06...

Kind of frightening when waking up at 7:30 a.m. on a Saturday means you've really slept in.

Here's today's word:

abyssal \uh-BISS-ul\ (adj.)
1: impossible to comprehend; unfathomable
2: of or relating to the bottom waters of the ocean depths

Today is my best friend's birthday. Happy Birthday, Sonja!

The Fayre Word for 12/1/06...

You'd never know by the temperature outside that it's December 1, but from what I hear, a cold front is coming in tonight. Since when am I a meterologist?

Here's today's word:

clerihew \KLAIR-ih-hyoo\ (noun)
a light verse quatrain rhyming aabb and usually dealing with a person named in the initial rhyme

Today's my mom's birthday...happy birthday, mom!