Welcome 2023

2023 has started with deep fog and temperatures in the mid-60s. A lazy morning to begin our new year. Grant remains abed, recovering from his cold, which produced a copiously runny nose and not much fever. I’m debating whether I’ll get it. Everyone is so twitchy about even the slightest cough. We are supposed to go to Fort Lauderdale tomorrow for a brunch with our covenant group, so we both need to be well. We will decide whether to go or not when Grant gets up and assesses his health. I want to see our friends, some for the first time in 2+ years; I don’t want to do the drive down and back.

I stayed up last night to watch the Sugar Bowl, which Georgia won at 12:01 AM, 42-41, when Ohio State’s kicker missed a short field goal. The earlier Fiesta Bowl was a slow game, with TCU rolling over Michigan 51-45. For dinner in front of the TV, Grant broiled scallops and shrimp which he served with rice and a cucumber-radish salad. I put out a plate of all of the remaining Christmas cookies we’d been given. With all that and 2 bottles of champagne, we celebrated the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023. Grant went to bed as did the cats. The fireworks didn’t wake any of them. Around 9:00 PM, our neighbors across the street who likely wanted their young daughters to see their fireworks, then go to bed, shot some on their lakeside. The expected city-wide fuselage happened at midnight, then just a few random explosions afterwards. I think there were many fewer than last year. Or perhaps I’m just inured to the noise now.


My New Year’s resolution is to read any new magazine in the month I receive it AND to be caught up on all back issues by the end of the year. I know, not earthshaking. I chose this because 1) I do enjoy reading the articles, 2) it will cut down on an annoying set of clutter, and 3) I will have a measurable accomplishment. Currently I have 3 Audubon, 1 Florida Naturalist, 2 National Geographic, 1 Rails to Trails,  3 Cornell Lab of Ornithology Living Bird, 4 Native Plant Society’s  Palmetto, 2 Xerces Society Wings, and Florida Audubon 2021 Natural Climate Solutions booklet. Actually, not as bad as I thought. There are AAA and AARP magazines and newspapers coming in, but I’m up to date on them. My plan is to read from current issues when I get up in the morning so I don’t fall further behind. Then, in the evening, work through the back issues. I’ve put a reminder on my Remember the Milk app to review this quarterly. I will report back.

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