Stop and visit, talk all you want. pt6

Hey Celia...sorry! I got a phone call right after I posted last. My SIL....couldn't get away....lol!
Wanted to tell you I have two of those little greenhouses. Aren't they great?
My goodness! What all did you plant....and why so early??

Well I am off to bed. See you tomorrow. Sleep well everyone!

I want to know, too. Lots of questions here: What did you plant and why so early? Where do you get those little greenhouses like that? Do you keep them inside? If so, why do you need the plastic over them? How long does it take for the seedlings to be ready to put outside in the ground? and on and on and on. . .
waiting for answers. LOL

Edited to say that I guess everyone has gone to bed so I'm off to nitey-nite, too.
See y'all tomorrow.

This message was edited Dec 30, 2007 10:29 PM

Hi all, been kickin back on the couch cause I am sooooooooooo whooped! I will never catch up now, so hope I didn't miss anything? I know, still no puppy pics. :( They do both have their eyes opened now, but still not walking. Probably too fat! LOL Green house is almost done, the worst is over! I am feeling kinda sad cause my oldest turns 16 tomorrow!

Who asked about pots and pans? Sorry, too late and too tired to go back up and see. Anyway, whoever it was ☺ here's a place to start
http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/app.nav/params.class.7959.level.3/walk.yah.0102-3344?venue=cgen
I see they don't have the set I have in the stainless steel, but this is the best of the best. 18/10 stainless steel, in the oven up to 500º, use metal utensils in a non-stick pot or pan, stay cool handles, lifetime guarantee. I love mine. I also have a set of the Revere Ware pots and pans, copper bottomed. They aren't non stick though. I have a metal potato masher and you cannot use them in a non stick pan. You can in the Cooks Essentials! I have that metal trivet thing too. It's magnetized, so it sticks right to the pot, which I find way cool...lol.

Hey Mau, I owe you an e-mail. I'm going to try tomorrow. Lots done and lots more to do. I would imagine that they're wintersowing. You plant seeds, set them outside in the snow and cold, by spring you have plants. Not sure about the mini greenhouses though.

Uh, Tammy, dear, just wait till your oldest grandchild turns 22! Now THAT will made you sad!!! LOL Actually it will make you feel old--not sad. However, I am glad I am still breathing and in relatively good health! Age is all in the mind anyway. Here's a piece of advice for you younger folk even though you haven't asked for it: I heard this on a talk show years ago: They were having a show about seniors and aging, etc. One man got up and said, "Just because there is snow on the mountaintop doesn't mean the fire has gone out in the furnace!!!" LOLOL
Moving right along---
It's cold here this morning but supposed to be up into the 50's later. However, we have a cold front moving this way so it will be much colder this evening and the next day or so. However, no precipitation forecast, thank goodness.
Be back later.

Hey all, Happy New Year! Mau, I hear it is all in your mind, and if you don't have a mind it don't matter! HE HE HE I think I still have mine, for now at least! ☻We have a cold front coming in as well, but going to a friends for a big bonfire tonight to get rid of some brush! :) Everyone be safe and stay away from all the idiots out there tonight!
HUGS
Tammy

Happy New Year everyone!!!! Hope all your dreams for the new year come true!
I got my little greenhouses at Big Lots...several years ago. They have them in the catalogs...but are much more expensive there.
Marilyn, my oldest grand is 24!! Talk about feeling OLD!! I don't!!! LOL!!! Love that little quote! And Tammy's too! Stay warm!!

Good morning!

24º outside. Brrr...no precipitation expected until Friday. Yea! Blue skies in the distance right now so maybe we'll get to see the sun sometime later.

I planted lots of things. I got so many seeds, I'm seeing which ones will do better started inside and which I can wintersow in the ground. Some things will be left in the house and most will go outside. I have Shu peppers, cupid's dart, morning glory, datura, bells of Ireland, marigolds, foxglove, columbine...I know lots of these can be WS (and they will be) but I'm experimenting, also. Oh, and almost one whole tray is coleus. Woohoo! LOL I have few things of which I'm not sure. Erigeron glaucus (sea daisy), desert willow, Orlaya Grandiflora, Cassia alata, Tacoma stans...hmm... I googled them and looked them up on Dave's but still am not sure how they will do in my yard.

My copper-bottomed pots heat very well, even with most of the copper gone. I have another set, as well, from the Cooking Club of America.

I had all kinds of fun with my labelmaker, too. heh heh heh The lady who lived here before us had one and she labeled EVERYTHING! It's great to know when the water heater and furnace were purchased. Lights switches were even labeled. Now we're going to do the power breakers, too. This labeler is cool because it has different types of lettering and sizes AND can utilize different kinds of the labels themselves, like magnetic.

Okay, off to work. Only until 6pm then we close. I'm off tomorow, too! LOL One last day home with DH then he goes back to work.

Still haven't heard anything on our refi. Our guy doesn't call us unless we need to do something and we think he's been on vacation for the Holidays. would have been nice to be told though I suppose we should have guessed it.

Have a good day, everyone and we'll talk tonight! Happy New Year and be safe and have fun! LOL

Morning all.. well, I guess its afternoon now LOL Mike got me a heated mattress pad for Christmas, and my sister got me this awesome fuzzy soft blanket, and now its really hard for me to get my behind out of bed!! Like it wasn't hard enough before!

Stayed up way to late last night, reading the new Dean Koontz book.... it was supposed to be a Christmas present, but Mike couldn't find it. Its called "The Darkest Evening of the Year". I read the whole thing!! LOL It was pretty good.

We didn't go to Chuck E Cheese ( I couldn't handle the thought of all the screaming kids, I had a sinus headache!) or get my pots and pans, but we did get the kids each 2 pairs of new shoes, and I found a store called "Half Priced Books" and boy was it awesome! I'm an avid reader (think we have talked about that already), and I bought 29 books! And it was only $150!!!! 90% of them are very good condition hard covers. The biggest hardcovers were only $6.98. The paper backs were half the list price on the cover, so it was a better value to buy the hardcovers. I got all 3 of the "odd Thomas" books by Dean Koontz (I've read them but wanted to own them), and a bunch of John Saul that I haven't read. I've got to get to the other house and get my books, so I can make a list of what I have and don't, so I can go back up there and finish off some of my collections. I'm working slowly on getting all Stephen Kings novels in hard cover, and all of Nora Roberts stuff. I have probably 50% of Nora Roberts stuff, and probably only 25% or so of the Stephen King stuff. Those are books I can read over and over again though so owning them is better than borrowing from the library! I knew there was a bunch of John Saul I hadn't read, so I got a bunch of them... now to find time to read them all. I have to get my card table put up too, so I can start working on my jig saw puzzles too.

Well, I'm not sure how I feel about this, but my friend Jess (with the baby with hearing loss and medical problems) got engaged last night! I'm happy for her, but she hasn't known the guy that long, so I'm worried. I hope it works out for her. I forgot to tell you guys, the baby, Zoe, startled the other day at a loud snapping noise, so maybe the hearing loss isn't complete!! We start at Easter Seals for her physical therapy for her back on Jan 9th.

The kids go back to school in 2 days!! Yippee!! Between their dad not taking them except a couple hours Christmas day, and me being sick, its been a long Christmas break. I'm ready for them to go back.

Hugs to all
Janis

Woofens, I'm another book lover, hmmm wonder what the price of an airline ticket would be. I could bring a trunk......LOL
I think I read another of your posts about that baby having hearing problems. My youngest son is unilaterally hearing impaired in one ear. He doesn't hear the upper range of sounds in that ear. He wore a hearing aide when he was in school, but no longer wears one. He had extensive speech therapy both in school and private sessions in the summer. You can't tell he's partial deaf. School was not fun, not once we hit middle school, I ended up pulling him and homeschooling from 8th-12th. We have since won a judgment as part of a class action lawsuit against the state of Virginia, the state school board and the county in which we live. It took years, but if keeps even one kid from going thru the hell they put my kid thru it was well worth it.
So tell her Mom to run not walk and get her hearing tested ASAP. If she needs aides and her mother cannot afford them, have her contact the local Lions club, they'll be able to help her get what she needs.

Hugggs Janis! I remember well kids being home on holiday breaks....lol! Sometimes...emphasis on the word sometimes....I wish those days were back. :))
Isn't it funny how people are different? I too, am an avid reader, but I hardly ever have the feeling I want to own books I have read. One exception...garden books! I ALWAYS want to own them! And I have quite a few. Others, I am content to get from the library, and return after reading. Seems once I have read a book, I don't much want to read it again. Of course, there are exceptions.
Now DH is like you with movies. He wants to own them all! I cannot understand that concept! Guess I am strange that way.
Speaking of new soft blankets, I got a new one for our bed before Christmas, that I dearly love. It is like fleece I guess. It is so soft and warm, and I know what you mean about not wanting to get up!

doccat, We have been working on getting her hearing tested, its been one hang up after another. She has failed 3 tests from the audiologist at the hospital, and we are trying to get a brain wave test done, but we are running into problems with her insurance. Her insurance won't cover her to take the baby to Pittsburgh, and the local doctors won't have the equipment to do the test. We are gonna have to fight to get the test done and covered by her insurance.

Hmm...something doesn't sound right there. If she's hearing impaired she would fail the tests. The audiologist should be able to make some determination based on the tests. How old is she? Sometimes that can be an issue.
A letter explain your problem to your State Board of Insurance examiners might help move the insurance company off the stick. Also if you can get the audiologist or the ENT to state she needs that additional examination to make a final determination and the facilities to do that type of testing are not available locally. Include those with the letter and copy the insurance company. That should get their knickers in a twist. The State Board determines who can be licensed to sell insurance within your state. And they can get rather nasty.

GRRRR--that makes me so angry to hear that Jess's insurance won't pay for things that really need to be done!! Failing 3 hearing tests should be enough for any insurance co. to pay for the trip to Pittsburgh! Anyway, I hope Jess's engagement works out for her. Sounds like she is due for something good to happen to her--and to Zoe. BTW, I may have missed it in one of your earlier posts but I don't remember reading that little Zoe had back problems, too. What's up with that?

Cathy, you go, girl! Sounds like you really stuck to your guns with the home schooling and the lawsuit, etc.

I love to read, too,--only not that scary stuff. I have a pretty good little library of my own although my books are mainly stored in boxes in the garage right now. When we moved into this smaller house last year, I found myself without bookshelves and therefore, no place for the books. Our other house had a 22' wall of built-in bookshelves and, believe me, I had them full of books and family photographs. I have had to scale way back on the number of books and pictures I display. However, it is also less stuff to dust, which is fine with me!! LOL

I love those fleece blankets. My BFF gave me and my DH each one for Christmas with our names embroidered on them. Each one has big pockets in the bottom to put your feet in and also a smaller pocket at the top to put the remote for the TV or maybe a cell phone or whatever in it. Really neat!

I got mad! Fighting mad, I had one of my son's teachers (and her case I use the term loosely, she wasn't in the top 75 percent of her class) she didn't think he needed a hearing aide, he spoke to perfectly. My reply was for about $5,000 I sure hope so. What a noob. One of the main problems for these kids is not their disability it the inflexibility of the school system and frankly some of the teachers are nothing more than supposedly educated idiots. It takes more time and costs more money to educate a kid with learning problems. God forbid they should use their knowledge to figure out a way to make that happen. Heaven forbid you get an adult in there to help you. That has changed mainly because of the lawsuit. This was middle school, we never had problems in elementary. I still get hot when I think about it. These kids are not entitled to an education because it's too difficult, too time consuming to work with them.
There are laws on the books designed to protect and stop this kind of thing, but it's only good if it's enforced. This county got a major nasty surprise. I testified before the state legislature about this issue. It's put up or shut up, boys and girls. You talk it, now walk it. I'm glad to say it has improved, there are still some issues, but the courts here are stepping up and pushing for enforcement. That really helps.
I still get called as an advocate occasionally. My son is fine, got his GED, ripped it off the wall, is married and has those 2 lovely DGB's I adore. We always insisted he figure out a way to make it work for him and he has. DH and I are very proud of him and what he's accomplished. He's only 26 so he's just beginning his life.

Good for your son that he had parents like you and your DH who didn't quit and wouldn't let him quit, either. Thanks to you the road will be easier for others who encounter those problems in the future.

doccat, Zoe is only 3 months old. She failed her hearing test at the hospital when she was born and 2 subsequent tests since then. Since we have gotten Easter Seals involved things might be a bit easier, they may have the equipment necessary, but we have only seen a physical therapist so far there. We have to get an appointment to see the doctor there, and go from there. Hopefully the insurance won't be an issue much longer, as when the DNA paternity tests come in, Zoe will have her dad's insurance through the coal mine, and it won't be the hassle it is now. His insurance is much better than Jess'.

Mau, the doctors thought Zoe had something called torticullis, which is the muscles in her neck not being long enough, but the physical therapist at Easter Seals said that isn't the problem. Her back is curved, badly enough that you can't hold her chest to chest like you usually do with a baby. She arches too far back to hold her like that. We are waiting on the doctors to come back from their Christmas break to schedule X Rays and a CAT scan or MRI.

Here is a picture of Zoe and Aaliyah taken a couple weeks before Christmas.

Cute little girls! Are Zoe and Aaliyah sisters? Do you think Zoe might have scoliosis?

Don't think its scoliosis, but its possible, I guess. Does it manifest in a child that young? Yes, they are half sisters. Aren't they precious?? I was there for Jess' pregnancy, all the doctor's appointments, and for her birth. She is my darling :))

I'm really not sure when scoliosis first manifests itself. I suppose you could "google" it and find out or go to www.webmd.com and search there.
My mother-in-law has scoliosis. Her back is way out of shape and one hip is higher than the other plus one leg is shorter than the other. Of course, she is 81 and when whe was a child I don't suppose the doctors knew all that much about it. I don't imagine she was ever examined for it as a child, either, but the older she has gotten the worse the curvature in her spine. She has quite a lot of back pain due to that problem. That is why it is so important to have it diagnosed early. I'm not sure how they treat it but I know there is more they can do nowadays than what they did when she was a child.
I hope little Zoe does not have scoliosis but whatever it is, they need to find out ASAP for her sake.

Both of the little girls are precious, indeed. How old is Aaliyah?

A little about scolliosis. That is what I have. I was born with it. And yes, as Marilyn said, they didn't know much about it...even when I was young! My mother took me to an orthopedic dr when I was 12. He told her there was nothing he could do for me then, that I was too old and my bones were already formed. Nowadays, they can do something about it. This is what started all of my back surgeries. I have had 3. My whole spine is fused because it broke. I was pretty much ok when I was younger. Had 3 children. The dr had told my mom I should never have kids...lol. I always felt much better (in the back) when I was pregnant. But things steadily got worse as I got older. I can do most anything that anyone else can do today, and I am pretty straight now. I do walk with a cane, because my body doesn't want to stay up straight without it. I don't use a cane around the house though.
Probably more than you ever wanted to know...but yes...children are born with it. :))

Thanks for the info on scoliosis, Marcy. I knew you had the back surgeries but didn't know the scoliosis was the reason for them. I am certainly glad that you are "pretty straight" now and can do most anything that anyone else can do!

Depending on the severity of the scoliosis, surgery is not always necessary. Sometimes the muscles and ligaments of the back are not strong enough to hold the spine upright as it grows. It can be treated and corrected if diagnosed early enough. I am a retired Chiropractor and have treated patients with scoliosis successful. Usually young children benefit most, because the bones are still soft. There are also additional exercises that can be done to help strengthen the muscles and ligaments. A series of x-rays should be able to determine exactly where the problem begins in the spine and how sever the curvature is. I have had several patients in their teens that I have had to refer to an orthopedist, in most cases unfortunately they were beyond my ability to help correct the problem. I certainly hope that everything that can be done for this little one happens soon. Her mom is lucky to have you as a friend, my dear. A good support system makes the burden a lot easier to bear! Hugs

You never cease to amaze me, Cathy! A chiropractor, no less. My son-in-law is a chiropractor in Harrison, AR. He is not a young thing, however--he is just two years younger than I am. I am fond of joking that my husband is younger than my daughter's husband!! (My DH is four years younger than I am.) LOLOL

Man, I just can't keep up with all of you! Hopefully things will calm down in a day or two and I will be able to, but I can't read up that fast! LOL
LOVE ya ALL Be careful and Happy New Year! ♥

I caught up! LOL You can too!

My mom has scoliosis. She didn't know it and one day asked my to lift her shirt to look at somehting on her side. When I did, I got the surprise of my life! Her spine was all twisted to the left and one hip was higher than the other. I made her go to the Dr. about that but by then it was too late to do anything. She's in a wheelcahir now and can only stand for a minute. I don't know why no Dr. before that said anything to us about it. Or her. It has to hurt but she didn't and her clothes covered it up.

Speaking of mom, I just found out she has a tiny patch of skin cancer on her arm. It's been bothering her for awhile and I pushed her to have the nurses look at it in the care center but she never did. Just before Xmas, I called the on-call Dr. there and told him to check it out, which he did. The results came back today. She's having it removed next Wednesday.

Anyway, things are quieting down at work and at home. Going to watch a movie. I think one we just picked up. Escape From NY. Love that one and the sequel.

Books, books, books! LOL I have more than I know what to do with. And one of my DBs just got rid of his place and moved in with my OTHER DB. He gave me all HIS books and they're still in the boxes he gave them to me in. (What a sentence.) LOL Stephen King is tops in my "book". Him first, then Clive Barker. Love the scaries! More and more, too, I'm finding movies from out of the country to have excellent scary movies. Good, thrillers and really creepy moments. the Asian market is the best, so far, that I've found but Mexico has some good ones, too. Scary books, Fantasy and Sci Fi, they're for me.

Speaking of sci-fi, ScIFi channel has a Twilight Zone marathon going on right now! Woohoo! LOL

Janis, Doesn't Easter Seals do the scholarship things anymore? Where they pay the bill of whatever the child needs when the parents funds won't allow it? Or insurance won't? I know when I signed my daughter up for the ABC program there back in the late 80's, I was asked if I needed to fill out the papers for that. You might want to check into that. Teaching hospital anywhere around you? They also do lots of things for those in need (as well as people who can pay for the service). I know she's only 3 months old now, but at 3 yrs of age she qualifies for school and the district pays for hearing exams. At least in IL they do.

Happy New Year Everyone!! Will post tomorrow, too much New Years Cheer tonight LOL

Janis

Happy New Year!!! Phew.....just read through all the posts. This is a busy place. Thank you for the warm welcome. I know that nothing happens by accident and you all talking about scoliosis just proves it. I am 52 years old and developed it in the past two years. The Orthopaedist that I consulted with wrote a lettter to me and said that there was nothing he could do for me other than refer me to an Orthopaedic Surgeon or to a Neuro Surgeon. As soon as I saw the word "Surgeon" I went in to denial mode and haven't gien the whole issue much thought until now.

Marcy, thank you for acknowledging that you have it. I am sure that you will be able to answer some of my questions, because like I said, at the moment, I am not ready to deal with it. Aperson would ask, why am I not ready to deal with it? You will be sorry that you asked. First off, I have been dealing with an autoimmune system disease called Behcets which is very similar to Lupus, though Behcets is much rarer. I became ill with Behcets when I was in my late twenties in 1985. Actually, I was thirty years old in 1985. I am much better with this disease because after this long I can for the most part realize when I might be over doing things and setting myself up for a flare. I haven't worked since 1993 and draw Social Security Disability.

This is one of those diseases that a person looks as normal as can be, but are usually battling chronic pain and depression due to not being well. If that wasn't enough, in July of 2006 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was extremely lucky in that the type of cancer I had was non-life threatening and non-invasive. I knew nothing of the stages of cancer until 2006, but mine was classified as stage zero. I did lost my left breast to a mastectomy. i have spent the past year and half having different types of reconstructive surgery. I am left with a "knot" that to me does not resemble a breast. That is the first time that I had ever voiced that. Oh well.

I hope that I am not depressing anyone. I am trying to explain why I have found it necessary to cut back on some doctor visits for a while. During this past year and a half I also experienced something that I found to be more distressing than losing the breast. During the same month of July 2006, I had a crown fall off of my front tooth. This meant that I was fit with a partial plate with one tooth on it. It is now December 2007 and during the same year and a half that I have undergone 4 surgeries for breast reconstruction, I have also been visiting my dentist as every tooth in my head has had to come out. On December 22 I was fitted with my whole set of upper and lower dentures. I am doing much better at accepting that than I was originally, but have to fight to keep the proper level of self esteem.

The dentist believes that this sudden onset of tooth loss is due to twenty two plus years of loads of mouth drying medications that I take daily. So, both the dental work is nearly over with and the last surgery for breast is done and I might be able to find it in my psyche to begin dealing with the scoliosis. I have just had too much on my plate to deal any further with this at this time. During the past year I have sought the help of first of all a Neurologist who referred me to a world renowned medical center who ran some tests and eventually referred me to the Orthopaedist who wrote the letter that I referred to. Now that the holidays and most of the other stuff is winding up, I will once again look in to the treatment options for me.

I almost hesitate to push this send button because I, like Marcy wonder if this is too much info, too soon for me being brand new here. I guess I will push the send button because if no one else reads this post other than Marcy, I feel as though she is the one that I am supposed to connect with anyway.

One thing that I can tell each of you, no matter the age or circumstance in life is that even though this old body is wearing out pretty quickly, I am still the same person that I was before the health issues came to the fore front and I don't want to be known as and identified as "the sick woman."

Sorry about the length of this post, but thank you all for the opportunity to put some thoughts to words. Ahem, now lets get back to some laughs. Did you hear the one about.........?

Thanks ladies.

Ruby

Ruby, my darlin...Once you get use to your new teeth, you will not believe how much better you will feel. Both DH and I have removables. LOL I have mine pulled in 01, I kept showing up with a low grade infection that nothing seemed to be able to kick. Come to find out it was my teeth causing the problem. Same thing with DH. It's amazing the difference it makes. I can still eat almost everything including biting into an apple, which for me was the true test! LOL
Do consider alternatives to your problem with scoliosis before you opt for surgery. Regular adjustments can also help strength you're autoimmune system. My dr has tenatively diagnosed me as having Fibromilagia. Unfortunately, I cannot tolerate the drug they recommend for treatment, so am exploring alternatives in the hope of feeling better. I know it's tough to diagnose, but it seems like it has taken forever to get that far.... sigh. I do see my Chiropractor regularly and it does help tremendously. I happen to have an MD who has no issues with that, not that that would matter to me, but it makes it easier to explore treatment options. I may try the local acupuncturist as everything else I've tried to quit smoking has not worked. The cure was worse than the disease.....LOL

Cathy aka doccat5

Don't apologize, Ruby, for putting your thoughts to words. None of us here are immune to problems, whether they be physical, financial, problems with family members or whatever they may be--That's why we are here--To give moral support and encouragement when needed and, hopefully, a laugh or two along the way, as well. I am sure when the others wake up and join the thread that you will find encouraging words from them, too. ---and if some things are just too personal to share on a public thread you can always use the "dmail" here at DG to contact someone you want to get to know better or to seek advice from. I think that you will find on this thread that we don't condemn anyone for the way they happen to be feeling on any particular day--we just try to lift them up and let them know that we love them and we don't take offense when someone is poking fun at us. That's why I like this thread--we just try to love each other, regardless of our differences.
I, for one, don't intend to look upon you as "the sick woman" --you are correct to say that you are still you no matter what your body may be experiencing.
. . .and no, I haven't heard the one about. . . but I am sure it is quite funny!! Share it with us. . . LOL
BRB with a cute pic of a strange bird I saw over on another thread.

Ruby, Ruby,Ruby...I'm just going to say ditto to what Cathy and Marilyn said. We're here to support one another and we care what your thoughts and feelings are, not about the physical problems. We complain a bit about them but as you've probably read, we all have them to one degree or another.

Enough said. Stick around, you'll feel better. I know I do.

Okay, it's really cold outside. Weather station says 10º and the Feels Like temp is -1º. Wow. I'm not going to even consider going out until that reads a higher temp. Blue skies so maybe later it will happen.

Tammy, where are the puppy pics? Withdrawals are an ugly thing this early in the game. LOL

Bird pic? Where is it. I'm very much trying to be calm while I wait for stuff. LOL

And Happy New Year! LOL Almost forgot it's now a new year for beginings...

Hang on, Celia--Now I am trying to figure out how to copy that picture on the other thread so I can paste it over here. I thought I had it copied but it didn't work--BRB

Okay--here's this "strange bird" that was sighted in a DG'ers tree one morning a few days ago.

edited to say: I don't know what I did wrong but you can't seem to enlarge the photo-- Anyway, you all should know what this "strange bird" is--I thought he was cute and would make you smile!

This message was edited Jan 1, 2008 9:54 AM

And he did, he's one of my favorite birds all around! LOL

I'm gonna try that picture again but before I do, Celia why don't you start us a new thread for the New Year?