2012 ended with a bang (or would that be a whimper - mine?!?!?!)  We've done the fire and flood, and since we had 3-4 teenage boys here for the entire weekend, the locust were here, leaving us in famine.  (If it starts raining frogs out there - I'm really done!!!)  We are looking forward to a new year!  2012 wasn't all bad - just the last week or so, really!

Here's a shot of 'the guys' both wearing their new hats:

We heard back from the insurance company for the HVAC unit.  A new one is being installed tomorrow, with our co-pay of $3,000.  Ouch!  It is still better than replacing the whole thing ourselves, but, ouch!  The solar install drained our funds, but...me being me, I kept some aside for an emergency.  I think we just used that too.  Bummer.  Oh well, we will be getting a refund from PG&E for the solar install (eventually) so that will replenish the emergency fund (or at least give it a start).  The water damage specialist will be out tomorrow as well to write up the estimate on the guest house.  At the very least, we will be replacing the carpet and some drywall.  They may have to tear out the tile floor and the vanity as well.  Poor Dawn is living in "the big house" for now, sleeping on the couch, until everything is pulled out of the bathroom - hazardous air out there!

The last day of the year at work was another challenge - it always is.  I thought it might be a busy day, so I suggested a pot-luck lunch, so if needed, we didn't have to go out for lunch.  It was a good thing - I ate at my desk yesterday. I took in enchilada casserole and chili rellanos, and we also had quiche, coconut bread, and a wonderful pecan-caramel-apple cheese cake - yum!!   One reason (excuse?) for the pot-luck is that we were all going to start eating better with the new year, so it was a chance to eat not so good for a day.

I ended up with a small crowd here for dinner last night.  Per AJ's request, I made tortilla soup for dinner.  Dallas is leaving today, so he and his mom both came over as well.  I had leftovers from lunch, so we had a hodge-podge for dinner.  The soup went over big - I had less than a serving left.  Dawn came home off the mountain, so we had a full house.  AJ spent the night at Dallas's, so it was a quiet evening after they left.  Alli went to bed at 9:15, and I went to bed at 9:30.  I did wake up at midnight - everyone in the county was shooting.