ROBBBLOG #360 N E W Y E A R' S Edition

My reflections on 2011 and looking ahead for 2012.

If 2011 was bad for you, things could get worse. Yup, come December 22- according to the Mayans, the whole world as we know it will come to an end. What a bitch and it’ll be right in the midst of the busiest week for Christmas Shopping in 2012. So, don’t be too hard on yourself if 2012 looks gloomy. We all could be going to hell in a handbasket!

So how were the holidays?

Good here for Tom and I.

We had tons of fun with friends- mostly agnostics and Atheists it turns out. No family involved to speak of but thank goodness for some of Tom’s Family. At least we got some calls and a chance to catch up- with many of the calls coming from Europe, out west or from eastern Ontario.

Our audio Holiday Greeting was a big hit! We heard back from many who received it. On Christmas Eve afternoon Tom and I just went into the Swisssh Radio studio, turned on the mics and just talked. It was fun and from the heart.

For me personally, I never heard from any member of my family.

Not so much as a Christmas How Do You Do.

Not one.

Pretty sad you say?

Not really.

Everyone marches to the beat of a different drummer and right now our beats are not in sync but I have come to realize in these past couple of years that I have to look out for myself- and I am doing just that.

Sometimes I feel alone until I talk to friends who are in similar situations.

One friend’s Mother- not unlike my own, told him she didn’t want to see him for Christmas.

My Mother on the other hand,  just didn’t have time for me, telling me she would be seeing “The Family” on Christmas Day.

That’s right folks.

I am chopped liver in a Santa hat.

Another friend’s Mother told her that she liked her brother better- even though he has some drug problems. She abruptly told her that if she separated from her father, he could have her and her sisters and she keep the brother. There was more to the story but you get the idea.

Another friend said he could never imagine treating his kids that way. Just the same- time marches on.

2011 was pretty good. We spent a few days in New York City at the end of March and saw a trio of shows including attending Opening Night for the Book of Mormon. We went to Paris- twice, once in May and again in late November early December. We travelled to Mainz Germany for the Christmas Market first of all and from there we took the train- first class no less, to Paris. It was a memorable trip.

Hey!

I turned 60 in July.

Yikes!

Tom booked me a party at Casino Rama. It was fun! I had a bunch of guests. The food was great- especially the cake. All Chocolate and the most expensive Birthday Cake I have ever had! I asked people to donate to the University of Guelph’s Veterinary College which they did.

I was in a summer theatre show in Gravenhurst, which was totally terrific. Then I wrote a new show for “Hank”. It was going to be a goodie but a couple of days after coming home from Paris, I cancelled it. Why?

Lack of interest.

Too much work for too little return. I mean, I have to pay my actors.

Guess I lost about 500 dollars on that one.

Now there’s 2012.

Swisssh Radio will be 5 years old on March 7^th. What does the future hold? It would be grand if Canadians actually started to listen to Internet Radio but it’s just happening in dribs and drabs. As in Terrestrial Radio, money is sparse in Net Radio. All I want to do is pay for my servers and station upkeep but some months it’s hard to make ends meet. It’s a great hobby running my own station but I’ll never get rich!

Thanks to Don, Heather, Charles, Jeff and Sue, Todd, John and Jack (for a new Computer and monitor) who all help the station sound so great week after week!

We’ll be travelling again this year. As a matter of fact, we are making plans right now for several trips during 2012. Now that’s something to look forward to, eh?

Tom will continue to fly for Air Canada, even though I would prefer him to retire. However, he still likes it and it does keep me in the manner to which I am born!
Only kidding for pete’s sake!

Our kids are all in good health. Kiki turned 15 ½ in December. She’s doing just fine and we hope she continues to run and jump and stay with her Dads for many years to come! Missy- our Schnauzer, was 7 in November while Dickens and Doyle- our orange puddy cats, turned one in June. We have had them for one full year as of September 19^th. Bringing up kittens was a real eye-opener but now they’re a part of the family at Pine Tree House.

So that’s where I am.

I hope you have the best year of your life in 2012. Look out for yourself because no one else will. Hold those close who are supportive and don’t fret about those who go in a different direction. It’s the circle of life and life’s just too short waiting for people to give their head a shake. Keep to the centre path and friends and family will find their way back if it’s meant to be. If not they’ll take that “forever” detour.
Just keep tending to life as you always have and always will.

Happy Holidays and a sincere wish for a Happy and Prosperous New Year 2012.