So far the holidays have been goodly on this end. Matthew, and I are still dieting so we had a low-fat Christmas dinner, that was delicious, and we pigged out on. I got some really nice presents, and got to spend time with some loved ones. Hope your holidays are going equally as well or at the very least you are enjoying them.

Looking back 2009 was a very stressful year for me. I had a massive radiation treatment for the Graves disease in March that took a lot out of me, and my closest family, physically, emotionally, mentally, and financially (I'm not working full-time anymore) and just as I started to feel a bit better my Mom was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in July, and passed away on August 15th.

A lot of people I know, and care about have had a tough past year from job losses to health problems, and I for one am not sorry to see the backside of 2009 (don't let the door hit you in the arse on the way out) along with quite a few other people.

I say bring on 2010 - Year of the Tiger and wish you all the best in the new year....let us all hope it is a much better one than the last.

Happy New Years!

Image Credit: BBC

1. My daughters find satisfaction, and a sense of pride in both work, and school throughout this upcoming year. I am very proud of all three.

2. Matthew and I will finally get to take a real vacation together in 2010 or at the very least we get a nice summer since we barely had one in 2009.

3. My friends who are sick or in pain have their health restored, and find peace, and happiness within their lives.

4. A larger zoo for my fur babies ...ok and us humans too!

5. That sanity will prevail, and that people will start taking climate change seriously despite the failure of Copenhagen. If people would only remember this Native saying, "We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors....we borrow it from our children," we would be in much better shape.

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas (if you celebrate), and a Happy Prosperous New Year!

Yesterday afternoon we checked out the Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs exhibit at the Art Gallery of Ontario here in Toronto.

The Kiddo and I outside of the AGO underneath a giant Anubis.

The exhibit itself was breathtaking! And it was a lot of fun to be led through giant doors made to look like the opening of the tomb itself. Unfortunately no photography is allowed once you're inside, so I have scanned a few images from postcards to give you a taste of some of the fascinating pieces that have been included. The mummy, and death mask are not included.

This is a lid of one of the canopic jars used for Tut's vital organs.

These are part of an assortment of Shabtis that were found in the tomb.

This gorgeous piece of jewelry is an earring!

This is part of the colossal statue of Tutankhamun. Colossal is almost an understatement to describe this figure, which is simply gigantic, and neck straining to look up at.

This is a cosmetic jar that has a cartouche containing the King's name.

There are thousands of pieces that include other Dynasty's and Pharaohs tombs to look at. The exhibit is definitely worth checking out (runs to April 2010) in my opinion, and who knows when or if they will ever come back to Toronto. The last time a King Tut exhibit was in town was in 1979 when Matthew and I were both 12 years old.

The only disappointments were the prices on most of the items in the special gift shop area for the exhibit itself. You would be far better off checking out the Egyptian stalls at the Canadian National Exhibition in August located in the International pavilion where last year I bought gorgeous statuettes of Horus, Bastet, and Anubis for $30 bux a piece. To be fair the prices in the main AGO gift shop especially for art prints is fantastic in comparison, and we did buy a few.

Also an overzealous security guard shouted at us when Matthew was simply pointing at a symbol on a cat's sarcophagus. He was explaining something to the kiddo when the security guard started shouting (as opposed to simply coming over and talking with us) and when Matthew stated he did not touch the object the security guard actually had the nerve to say "Yes, you did!" despite another patron who was standing right beside Matthew that he (the security guard) was mistaken, and that Matthew had not touched the object at all. The security guard was very rude to both us, and the other guest, and being an older, middle aged fellow I can only assume is possibly a failed cop. You know the type. Otherwise the other AGO staffers particularly in the ticket area were very helpful, and friendly.

Overall an excellent once-in-a-lifetime experience, and the ticket price includes admission to all the other exhibits within the gallery so you can make it a full day.

Marty tagged me into this over on Facebook, and since I'm a good sport I'll play along....over here on my own domain.

1. What time did you get up this morning?
5:55 am.

2. How do you like your steak?
I don't eat red meat

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
Pirates Of The Caribbean

4. What is your favorite TV show?
Doctor Who

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
Canada will always be home.

6. What did you have for breakfast?
Chocolate Chip Oatmeal muffin

7. What is your favorite cuisine?
Indian

8. What foods do you dislike?
Turnip

9. Favorite Place to Eat?
My dining room - Matthew is an awesome chef!!

10. Favorite dressing?
Italian

11. What kind of vehicle do you drive?
I don't own a vehicle

12. What are your favorite clothes?
Pyjamas

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance?
Egypt, Romania, Ukraine, Russia, Hungary, England

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full?
Depends on the day

15. Where would you want to retire?
Canada

16. Favorite time of day?
Morning

17. Where were you born?
Toronto

18. What is your favorite sport to watch?
I don't watch sports.

19. Who do you think will not tag you back?
I'm not tagging anyone.

20. Person you expect to tag you back first?
See the last answer

21. Who are you most curious about their responses to this?
See last answer

22. Bird watcher?
Yes.

23. Are you a morning person or a night person?
Both.

24. Do you have any pets?
Two dogs, three cats, one bunny, one fish.

25. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share?
Lots of new UFO and ghost reports added to the PSICAN website.

26. What did you want to be when you were little?
An astronaut

27. What is your best childhood memory?
Playing on the beach in Miami with my Mom or stargazing with my Dad, and sister.

28. Are you a cat or dog person?
Both

29. Are you married?
I'm engaged to my partner.

30. Always wear your seat belt?
Yes.

31. Been in a car accident?
Yes

32. Any pet peeves?
Paranormal wanna-be celebrities who are more interested in trying to be reality stars than the topics they claim to have an interest or knowledge in.

33. Favorite Pizza Toppings?
Broccoli, and peppers.

34. Favorite Flower?
Carnations

35. Favorite ice cream?
French Vanilla frozen yoghurt

36. Favorite fast food restaurant?
Ew!

37. How many times did you fail your driver's test?
Never.

38. From whom did you get your last email?
Lynn Tucker

39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card?
I don't use credit cards

40. Do anything spontaneous lately?
I almost always think things over carefully before doing them.

41. Like your job?
Yes

42. Broccoli?
Absolutely!!! Best food in the world!

43. What was your favorite vacation?
I LOVE the beach

44. Last person you went out to dinner with?
Matthew

45. What are you listening to right now?
Tiger Lillies

46. What is your favorite color?
Blue

47. How many tattoos do you have?
None

48. How many are you tagging for this quiz?
No one

49. What time did you finish this quiz?
1:29 pm, Monday, December 14, 2009

50. Coffee Drinker?
Hell Yes.

Her Majesty, Queen Mary, all curled up with her blankie on a cold, wintery night. She tends to hide behind her big, fluffy tail when the temperatures drop.

I had a good long talk with my Step Dad this morning. I called him because we are in the midst of our first winter storm, and he tends to over-do it when it comes to shoveling, salting etc. Not only will he do his own walkway, and the public sidewalk, but he'll do the neighbours driveways as well...which is nice, but he is 75 years old!

Sure enough when he picked up the phone he was out of breath from shoveling what has amounted to slush.

After lecturing him (like my Mom would have) not to do too much, and to come in when he feels tired I asked him how he has been keeping.

The last time we got together was in November in order to pack away my Mom's clothes, and personal belongings. Needless to say it was hard, and we were all very emotional. I was not certain how he'd been doing emotionally since, and it was nice to hear my Step Dad sounding in good spirits despite being tired from cleaning up the driveway.

We talked about how he just learned to make homemade soup for the very first time (he is quite proud of himself, as he should be) and how he has finally got the hang of laundry.

He told me he has been keeping busy including taking long walks to the lake and back. My Mom loved walking along the boardwalk, so I think he finds some sense of peace or Zen if you will from doing this hike on a weekly basis. Sometimes his brother goes with him, or he'll go with the neighbour and a toddler she babysits, and other times he goes alone.

He then chatted me up about his favourite tv shows, which includes Desperate Housewives, CSI Miami, and how he keeps up on my Mom's favourite soap opera the Young & Restless.

I did not bring up my Mom, and when he did, we did not speak of her too much, but he did confide in me that when he starts to miss her a lot, and the sadness gets bad he tells himself "she is on a long trip." In fact that is how he is getting through this, by pretending she is simply away on an extended vacation.

When my Mom died, my sister, and I worried that our Step Dad would die soon afterwards as he and our Mother were constant companions who were never apart for 30 years. His heart was shattered when she became sick, and passed away in their home as was her last wish, only 3 weeks after being diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. We thought that the devastation of her loss may prove to be too much for him, and in the first few weeks afterwards it seemed to be.

I had read before that many widows, and widowers get through their grief by pretending their deceased partner was merely away shopping, or visiting etc, and that this was normal, and healthy. I didn't get into that with him though....I just told him that what he was doing was perfectly ok and then we started talking about the upcoming holidays, and present ideas. I think he is going to get through this. And that is a very good thing!

I do not pretend she is alive, but I often forget my Mom is gone if that makes any sense. I do know that wherever she is she would want all of us to do whatever it takes to work through our grief, and I think we are all doing that at our own pace including my Step Dad.

Pic of last year's tree with "shiny guts" on top

Christmas cards are filled out, and stamped, wreath is hanging on the front door, stockings, and presents have been started, the tree, and decorations including skeleton garland coming out of storage tonight.....this year I'm early.....

Will be missing my Mom, and Dad. However, I'll be keeping some of our family traditions alive, so it will be ok, and I'm certain happy for the most part looking forward.