It’s a new year and I have a bunch of things to update here.

We had a good Christmas – didn’t go anywhere because Nancy had to work. The kids read a Midnight Mass, Nancy and I were Eucharistic Ministers, and Cathy played her Sax. I really like when the choir does the What Child is This and Child of the Poor together. We got home a little before 2:00 AM. Cathy put some ice on her foot as she slipped on the steps and twisted her ankle on the way to Midnight Mass. I think Nancy and I got to bed around 4:00 AM. The kids were pretty good – didn’t get us up until something like 9:30 or 10. The kids insisted Nancy and I open our presents first so we ended up doing that.

I got a dart board game, picture (If you’re lucky enough to live in the Black Hills, you’re lucky enough.) for my office, an indoor/outdoor thermometer which displays max/min/current outdoor temp & outdoor humidity, a weather ball, travel coffee mug, socks, and some other things I just don’t remember right now. Nancy got a spa (one you put in the bathtub), two (office & home) ergonomic keyboards, candles, and some not so personal gifts of a new kitchen facet, automatic setback HAC thermostat and a dry erase board for by the phone. Cathy got a snow globe (which holds a candle), a Halloween haunted house that holds a candle, gift certificate for the local Celtic store, computer games, Borders gift certificate, and some other things I don’t recall. Matt got a guitar (within one year he has to play at Church), Kansas City Chiefs Jersey & football (says things) & cup, computer games, Borders Gift Certificate and his Black Hawk Down book signed by Mike Durant. We also got the Black Hawk Down CD which Mike also signed. We got Trivia Pursuit from Jim & Janet. A box of meat containing bologna, summer sausage, country style sausage and beef sticks from Grandpa Sass. And we got money from Grandpa & Grandma Dwyer. The kids have already spent some of that on books.

On Wednesday December 31, Nancy, Matt and I, along with Matt’s friend Brenden went to Deer Mountain to do some tubing. Nancy just took photos. It was okay – the snow wasn’t the best for it, but it was fun. Matt hurt his left hand trying to avoid some people that were just standing in the middle of the hill. Needless to say he is hurting yet from that – may have to take him to the doctor.

Cathy was still home sick today. Her medicines are just wiping her out – she got up, went upstairs, and promptly fell back asleep. Around 9:30, she was thinking about going to school, but hadn’t eaten and was still, what I would call, a bit light-headed. Around 10:30 she was up walking around to see how things were going. We both had some pizza for lunch. I had tried to call Nancy at work, but she was out doing visits, so I called her on her cell phone. Well, I didn’t expect her to answer so I was going to leave her a message, but she did. She was busy so I told her to call back when she had a few minutes. The main question I had was about how soon Cathy could take another dose of some of her meds. Well by the time Nancy called back, Cathy had pretty much decided not to go – she was concerned about rushing between classes and getting light headed and not making it.

The furnace/water heater service man had called in the morning and was planning on coming out. We decided around 1:00 PM would be a good time for him to come so that is when he showed up. The main reason for me calling them was the water heater. For almost two weeks, it kept shutting down and we would end up without hot water. Well, according to the blinking LED and the book, it was one of several possible problems. One was low gas pressure, but MDU was out and checked that last Friday, and it was good. Another was the flame sensor might be dirty or bad, but I didn’t know how to check that so they came out. A dirty sensor is exactly what the problem appears to have been. It has been working correctly since then – hopefully it will continue to. As long as they were coming out, I also had them replace the humidifier water filter and the UV light. They left the old one with me in case something happens and I need to replace the new one.

This afternoon I called and talked to Dad to see if their Texas fruit showed up, and it did. Dad said he hadn’t tried any yet but Dwayne said it tasted like it was tree ripened or something – which it was. Dad said his brother Rich called around 9:30 last night, and they didn’t get off the phone until 1:30 AM. Rich updated Dad on Pat’s condition – which doesn’t sound good, possibly only a few more months. She was to go today to see about possible some radiation treatment or possibly some surgery. Dad also called Pat’s sister Mary to let her know if she was going to go visit Pat, sooner would be better than later.

I picked up Matt from school also. Nancy had called and asked if I could as she was busy. I didn’t have much to do this afternoon so I went and got him. I also deposited two insurance checks that came in the mail today. And speaking of mail, I remembered this morning to pick up the neighbor’s mail and paper – I should have started it two days ago, but forgot, mainly because on Wednesday the mailman delivered the mail to the house because of a large package he had to deliver.