The Year of Awesomeness Begins….

While we didn’t go out on our crazy cravings run to celebrate New Year’s (not that I was holding my breath :-P ), I think the year got kicked off great anyway. The old tradition of visiting with Nana on New Year’s morning to grab some menudo (which has been neglected for a couple years now at least) has been replaced with spending the first day of the year with Dad (and apparently visiting Best Buy, hehe). :-D We still got our menudo! Nana dropped some off a few days later. Num! It didn’t last long. :-P

Awesomeness of the month:
-Target Tuesdays all this month with their usual fun, shopping, and dinner from Fantastic Café to be shared with Mom at home…

-While there were fewer Daddy Days (entire weekend days spent with Dad), there were a couple evenings when he came over with dinner and laughter. :-D Amazing how much fun can be had by just being silly around the dining table!

-Birthdays! Nana on the 7th said “it made my day” because she received a funny card from Mom (even though they’re not really talking), a computer made card from me, and flowers from my uncle. I’m glad. She usually says otherwise. Mom was on the 17th and was happy to get love in the form of work IMs and cards from me and Nana. So it was just a nice lil day. :-D And! As the Saturday prior Dad had picked up pizza and cakes, she got her mother load like chocolate cake fix! The 21st was Uncle David’s birthday. I sent him a card and Mom signed it (progress to making up hopefully).

-Had a fun couple of outings with Issi! Actually one of them was half a Daddy Day with breakfast and shopping with Dad and then Issi and I spent the afternoon/evening at Disneyland. :-D AWESOMENESS x2! And this past Sunday, Issi, her parents, and I watched Dad’s borrowed copy of Tron (I still can’t believe $115 on eBay for that!), then went out to dinner and Tron: Legacy in theatres! Good movies!

-As if all that weren’t enough to make it an awesome start to the Year of Awesomeness, Issi found out this week her visa was approved! Yay for Issi! I can’t tell you how happy I am for her. Yes, I will miss her. And now that she’s got tickets, and it’s even more official, I miss her even more. BUT! I am more happy than sad! :-D She deserves to be really happy and I have faith she will be able to finally have that when she’s moved. So, hurray for Issi!!!!! You can start storing your stuff here any day now!

Signs of Awesomeness to come:
-Nana dropped off belated Christmas gift money. Most of which, I’ve decided to save for travel! And I’ve already talked to Mom to sort of get the okay to set aside money each month. My passport expires March 2012 and I fully intend on getting a couple more stamps in it! So wish me luck!

-I think Mom may eventually come around to rejoining the living. Comments here and there. Like talking about all her bummers (casual house/pj type clothes) being worn out being a sign. There’s guilt there for her, but I told her not to make it worse by adding to it with regrets of not spending time with those still living. We’ll see. Prayers for her healing would be appreciated. Also, she (at my urgings) texted her friends. Hopefully she’ll start communicating with them more. Not since we were in high school or maybe even up until we left Anaheim was Mom really a go out person (I mean more than just the once in a while movie). But the odd outings here and there I think kept her sane. Baby steps are all I can hope for.

All in all not a bad way to start off this year. :-D I hope everyone enjoys the Year of Awesomeness!