The year is running out. There’s about an hour left at the time this post goes live.

I had dinner with the family. A nice and quiet time. Kinda like christmas just without the presents. It was less cold than christmas too, thankfully. Although I went over an hour or so later this time, so it was darker. And with constant fireworks in the sky. All those explosions can be a little disorienting when you can’t see much. But it’s not a long walk at least.

Now I am back at home. I do sort of miss the good old days of new year’s eves at the old place, at midnight. But I don’t like being away from my apartment for too long on a night like this. And I wouldn’t like going home when all the fireworks are at their worst after midnight. So just a couple of hours with the family, and then I’ll spend the rest of the night back here. I’ll watch the fireworks through my window, if I can see them. And wait for my parents to call. And that’s all there is to it. Tomorrow is another year.

I’m not going to do any big year-in-review thing. It seems like a lot of my year has been spent waiting. For doctors and stuff. It obviously hasn’t been a great year, because of my eye situation. But at least it’s been better than last year I think. And it has ended on a positive note with the slight improvement from the cataracts treatment. I am still running my computer at 1024×768 and feeling all the little benefits from seeing clearer. That was the high point. The low point was the death of Vanilje, something I still haven’t really dealt with emotionally because I just can’t think about it without getting awfully sad and upset. So I just don’t. I rather think of Grethe, our sweet new goat girl. The circle of life, etc.

I hope everyone out there will get through the night safely. Remember, friends don’t let friends fire off explosives drunk.

Happy new year!

Well, that’s christmas over and done with. Now we’re gearing up for new year’s eve.

Lots of fireworks in the neighbourhood right now. I don’t like fireworks. I like them in the night sky on new year’s eve. Not on week days in the hands of rowdy teenagers. Last week someone lit some fireworks on my doormat outside my door and rang the bell. I could hear the fireworks going off outside before I even had time to consider whether I wanted to open the door or not. And I don’t think they were dangerous fireworks, really. But I still don’t think kids should have access to gunpowder. Especially kids these days.

But it’s not like I can stop the festivities.

Speaking of festivities, I made a little video christmas eve. Here it is: youtube.com/watch?v=XOw5MYtDHjU. Starts off with the trip through the snow to my parents’ place. And some celebrations. Just a little something. I’m sure my family won’t mind me putting that on the internet.

Meanwhile, I’m having a bit of trouble with my leg. It started a couple of weeks ago. I thought I had pulled a hamstring or something. I took a week off from the exercise bike and I thought it cleared up. But then as I started getting back into the biking, the pain came back. In the back of the thigh on my left leg. It got really bad a couple of days ago. It started swelling up and hurting. Felt like there was a massing of blood in there or something. I was close to calling for help, to get a doc to come see me or go to the hospital or something. But I decided to wait and see, and it has gotten better. The swelling has gone down some and it doesn’t hurt as much. When I don’t move it at least. So I’m sure it’ll be fine, but I’ll have to take another break from the exercise bike. Which annoys me, because the biking makes me feel better. Keeps the blood flowing.

I wonder if my blood circulation has gotten better? Last winter I had a really hard time keeping my feet warm at night. Problems sleeping. I had to really power up the heat at night. This winter I haven’t had the same problems. I turn the heat off at night and open the ventilation hatch above the door to get fresh air inside. Without getting cold feet.

But then on the other hand, my feet still get very cold when I go outside during the day. So who knows.

Thank you goes out to Corrie who sent me some delicious christmas treats. That totally makes up for not liking puppies, Corrie!

Y’all stay safe for the new year, y’hear?