2012......

It's not New Years Day without the parade.

It is a much nicer New Years Day without the hangover.

Maybe once a year I have a Mexican Beer when dining at the Mecca. While on a cruise I may have one cocktail over the course of a week, or longer. I don't drink alcohol because Wanda doesn't drink, ever. In the years B.W.* I had my share of nasty New Years Day mornings. I like them much better sober.

There are a couple of explanations for no Parade or Bowl Games when New Years Day falls on Sunday. One is the NFL games take precedent. The other is an old law in Pasadena that people go to church, so no noise. No noise, no parade. No Rose Parade, no Rose Bowl.

I would like to make a suggestion. The next time New Years Day falls on Sunday play the NFL games on Saturday. Have the parade on Sunday but tip toe by the churches on the route.

It's not New Years Day without the parade.

Once again I made no new year resolutions. Why set myself up for disappointment and failure?

Have money in your hand at the stroke of midnight. It's supposed to bring a prosperous new year. Since we are never awake that late we put the money in a pocket of our pj's. One year I forgot about the twenty in my Monkey Pants. I "found" the bill the next time I wore them. That's as close as I've come to a "windfall."

We watched the Rose Parade on HGTV. No commercials but the word AMAZING was used an amazing number of times, and, with an Aussie accent to boot.
Granted, the floats are spectacular but not everything can be AMAZING. I did see a few things that were really, really nice. A few things that were really nice and one float that was just plain nice.

Home & Garden TV is having a contest. The top prize is a "Dream Home" and package worth 2 million dollars. The house is in a ski area of Utah. To be honest I didn't pay much attention to the contest rules because I knew we wouldn't be able to pay the taxes on the winnings or the property taxes on the house.

I suppose we could live in one of the two garages and rent the house. Summers we could pitch a tent in the back yard. I wonder what average people do in a case like this? I have good news and bad news. The good news is you won a 2 million dollar home. The bad news is you owe 2 hundred thousand dollars to the IRS.

It wasn't too noisy in our neighborhood midnight Saturday. I'm pretty sure it was because the idiots that felt it was their duty to wake the world can't tell time. The NEW YEAR starts at a second after midnight not at eleven fifty. With all the smart phones and TVs with dropping balls they can't get the time straight.

Do the advertisers think we're stupid? Or, are they afraid someone will try this at home, get hurt and sue them?

I think the next time Wanda and I go up to Lake Tahoe in winter I'll try a barrel roll with the RAV 4. Or I could take the Plymouth and drive backward up a four story parking ramp. "Professional driver on an enclosed track with computer enhancements." DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME.

EVER

Wishing you all a Happy and Prosperous 2012. I hope you win something you can afford. May your appliances last another twelve months. Be sure to tell your spouse or partner you love them every day. If you must have an argument hit each other over the head with pillows until you start to laugh. Go see a new place or do a new thing at least once this year. Eat good food and exercise more. And, make peace with the person looking at you in the mirror.

*Before Wanda