Happy New Year

Happy New Year

Happy New Year

Welcome Janus

January was named after the Roman God Janus.  He has two faces, one looking forward and one looking to the past.

I have seen several little posters on Facebook place the following on their posts.



"What happened in 2012 stays in 2012."

I can relate to that. There is no point in my listing everything that went on last year.  Besides you can always click on the links on the side to see what happened if you are really interested.

I will share one bit of news that I got today and it tops off the year on a positive note for me.  As you may know I am a diabetic.  You may not know that I do not have to take insulin. For this I am extremely grateful.  I take one 50 mg pill for control and I monitor my blood sugar.  I also a test which measures the BS over time I get a score called an AC1 (The A1C test result reflects your average blood sugar level for the past two to three months. Specifically, the A1C test measures what percentage of your hemoglobin — a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen — is coated with sugar (glycated). The higher your A1C level, the poorer your blood sugar control. And if you have previously diagnosed diabetes, the higher the A1C level, the higher your risk of diabetes complications.)
My AC1 test in September scored at 6.8.  Today I went in and it was 6.6 which is much better so the nurse told me to keep on doing what I have been doing.  Now if I could just get the pounds to come off again and the knees/shoulder to stop hurting I would be happier.  Actually the knees don't hurt it is just hard for me to get up and down out of low chairs.  That is one reason I don't go to many meetings as before.  

As far as looking forward to this year I have some things to look forward to. Getting my driver's license back in March so that I won't have to be dependant on others to drive me places.  A trip to Kansas City this summer for the Red Cross of Constantine meetings. A visit (I hope) by Miles in the summer and  perhaps another trip towards the end of the summer would be nice.  We will see how much more money I have to pay in taxes. 

 I am going to leave it at that. I don't do well in making predictions. And I don't worry about the future.  What is the point?  I am grateful for my sister and nephew and as long as I have Molly and Cassie to keep me company, some friends and brothers to socialize with and books to read and PBS to watch I am content and I wish you a very

It is 2010

I went to Des Moines tonight to the Des Moines Symphony's New Year's Eve Pops
Frank's Way A Tribute to Frank Sinatra with Steve Lippia and the Des Moines Big Band. It was wonderful. You know I really should go to more Symphony events. I love it and the Civic Center is easy to get to with good parking and a Skywalk from the ramp to the Center. I went down early enough to eat at Jethro's Barbecue (Ham sandwich and Waffle fries and a glass of Jamison) Every screen had the Insight Bowl on it and every time Iowa State scored the place went nuts. (I found out after the Concert that Iowa State won 14-13

I sat next to a delightful lady from North Carolina (Lives near Ashville - Jon and I actually stayed there one time on one of our trips.) and we had a nice conversation. She and her husband were here visiting her daughter who lives in Urbandale. I saw several friends and had two of Frank's Drinks. One - three shots of Jack Daniels on the Rocks and the other an "Old Blue Eyes" which had Blue Curacao, vodka and Sprite in it and when I took my blood sugar at 11:30 after I got home it was only 111.

Anyway it was a great evening. Music is the universal language and the Frank Sinatra songs were all familiar and well done. In fact, if you closed your eyes you thought you were actually at a Frank Sinatra Concert. They finished off the concert with the song Frank stole from Liza Minnelli. (If you know what that was you can put it in the comments.) And the 2200 in attendance sang Auld Lang Syne.

There were two numbers which were not Sinatra Numbers performed by the Orchestra. The William Tell Overture and The Blue Danube Waltz. Both were flawless. The Des Moines Big Band also performed with them. They are a marvelous Jazz orchestra and the first time I heard them was at the Scottish Rite Gala in October. I am going to go see them at Adventureland where they perform every Monday night. They were formed the year I graduated from High School - 1959 and are celebrating their 50th Anniversary.

It was a wonderful way to top of what has been, for me, a pretty good year. I hope you had a safe and sane New Year's Eve and this next decade is good to you - Hugs, and ARTYAL.

Speaking of that I got a really nice text message from Trevor on the way home and since I don't text I called him. It was wonderful to hear from him and to talk to him Nite nite. j

Happy New Year

Bob's Grandson wishes you a Happy New Year












I raise my glass in a toast to you for the New Year













And Jib Jab gives us the year in Review.



I hope your 2009 is a better year. Happy New Year! From Jay, Bailey, Max and Cassie.