I just did it. I think it looks cute. Scroll down to see before pictures… Here’s the after:

She’s going on 13. Ack!

~~Toni

I am not one to make New Year’s Resolutions–actually, I loathe them. No one ever follows through on them, myself included, and even if we do, we go maybe a month and then *something* always happens to make us “stop”. Instead, I’d rather focus on the positives that have occurred in my life, stuff that I can only see improving from here on out.

***I forgot to mention the best thing: I’m published. The link is Shriek Freak Quarterly . Future issues will have just my moniker of “GothicGyrl” on them.

1. I’ve been married to the same man since June 16, 2001. We started dating in 1999, our first date was actually December 1st. And you gotta love a guy who let’s you take him out to a goth nightclub, knowing full well how freaky it will be, who even dresses the part (sans idiotic makeup–he just dressed in all black), who doesn’t run from your soon-to-be-freaky girlfriend, and even enjoys himself–all while being highly allergic to cigarette smoke. To this day, he’s still by my side.  Yes, we’ve had some seriously rough times, some seriously **bad** times, but we’ve also had a LOT of GREAT times. And he’s still with me. Of course, the best part is that he jumped, full throttle, into the role of “Daddy” as though my girls really did come from his loins and he’s been there ever since. This might not seem like a big deal to some, but coming from a family were first marriages don’t last beyond a few years–this IS a huge deal to me.

2.  Same said man is not opposed to hard work. Not only does he bust his ass working two jobs to make sure I can stay home, he does everything in his power to give me any damn thing I want, which surprisingly, is why I don’t ask very often. But this year I’ve received so many new things from him, I think I’ve run out of things to ask for.

3. Same said man is getting ready to graduate(again) from his Master’s Program with a degree in Space Science. Yes, we are still waiting on the chopping block for him to receive a pink slip (the school will be cutting again), but so far, we’ve avoided losing our heads. I’m hoping he gets to keep it again this year coming, especially with his Master’s now under his belt.

4. This year saw the birth of another family member–nice and healthy. He’s now 4 months of chubby baby fat and just a cooing and laughing and growing as ever. His big brother is learning so many new things too. My oldest nephew–Chris–made 2nd chair drum line (the best chair to have) in the band at my former high school. His sisters, my nieces, are growing and growing.

5. My baby, my Princess Brat, got her first job. She’s had a rough time of it, what with her typical teenage attitude and all, but she’s improving and the owner’s are “grooming” her to make sure it doesn’t happen again. She’s getting better at it and is actually starting to blossom. Yesterday when I went to pick her up, they got a little busy so I offered to help. I actually had her telling me how to put the bridle in the horse’s mouth and she did it with such “see mom, it’s easy” panache, that I decided then and there things were good.

6. The Princess-Brat-in-Training is quickly moving up to take over her sister’s soon to be former title. Hormones are a wonderful thing. But it’s all good with her too. She’s getting out of her “I’m the baby” attitude and quickly growing into her “I’m getting older” attitude. She’s even going to let me cut her hair today.

7. The brother-in-law’s health isn’t so good, but he’s getting surgery at the beginning of the year to make him better. He’s got a decent (if not stressful) job and has been promoted several times.

8. Financially we aren’t doing as good as we should be but it could very well be worse. We are doing well enough that there is plenty of food on the table, our bills are paid and no one is in default. So at least we are still above water.

9. My girls got to be part of the most mind-blowing, awesome, and kick ass election of the century. They got to see change occurring first hand, got to learn why that change was so important and actually felt part of that change for once. So much so that, come next election, it will be my oldest’s first chance  to actually cast her vote for the same person she so desperately wanted to win (and who did) this time around.

10. Lastly, I wish nothing but the best for all who read this blog. Things WILL get better, I can just feel it.

Have a safe and Happy New Year.

~~Toni

Just some Christmas photos for you. If you are opposed to seeing a Snake eat, don’t look. Otherwise, here are some photos I took over the last two days of family.

Mommy receiving the image I made for her of all the grandkids (full size is up on the art blog):

I’ll have more soon enough.

~~Toni

**Someone asked what type of goats they were–Nubians (long haired/ears), Pygmies, and Tennessee Goats.

This time we brought some apples to the Ranch to feed the pigs/horses while we waited for Princess Brat to finish up. Oh, and one with the Princess-Brat-in-Training on her new toy:

Yes, her and the goat are about to kiss:

This one was either just born last night or this morning:

“Look Ma!! Looky what I can do!!!!”

~~Toni

Yeah so we have another new family member, Kaa. You know, the giant snake from the “Jungle Book”? Except ours is just a bitty baby 3.5 foot Corn Snake.

And no, I was not afraid. I was trying to stand perfectly still since MadDad doesn’t know how to work my camera.

And don’t let her fool you either–she begged me all day to let him out but I wouldn’t because MadDad wasn’t home.

I don’t know his real name, but I’ve dubbed him “The Lovable Sentry” because he’s either always standing guard or trying to hump the chics.

These are just two of his babies:

This is Wilbur–a mean, ornery, horny, pig:

Ok, so I’m standing in the office pen, waiting for Princess Brat to finish and the next thing I know is that she’s got the camera and this is what she took:

Me realizing I had a freakin’ Llama breathing down my neck:

And me, after I was convinced that all she wanted was a kiss(I am closing my mouth as tightly as I could so she didn’t spit in it):

Do you guys remember that Jim Henson collaboration, The Dark Crystal? You know the one with those nasty Skesis? I found one at the ranch, I think he was trying to eat me or the camera:

Merry Christmas everyone!!

~~Toni

Our Hawk keeps showing up and I keep taking pictures. He’s just so photogenic. Plus, got some of the moon last night, which was absolutely gorgeous. And some images of me, the Princess-Brat-in-Training, and the Mad Dad and images he took at Busch Gardens.

Our Hawk(these two images are photo-manipulated):

The Moon:

Mad Dad and I at his Christmas Party and me getting it on with the Tiki Dude:

Mad Dad at Physics Day, Busch Gardens:

~~Toni

So last night, Mom and I took the kids to go light-sight seeing. I wanted to take them to see the house I grew up going to every year since the day it opened (it’s now in it’s 32nd year of display, so I would have been 3). Plus, we went to a smaller house that lit up their yard with lights timed to music, which was kind of neat to see.

Just some Doozer pictures, with Nene and Poppy:

NeNe’s Purple Tree:

A nativity scene my Grandmother hand made:

The Brat Princesses with Demon Doozer:

The rest of the images that follow are from the big house that I grew up visiting every year:

This was the musical house:

He’s conducting the”orchestra”:

Just a friendly reminder:

And don’t forget this: NORAD SANTA TRACKER!!!

~~Toni

As I sit here hacking my lungs and blowing my snot out; kicking myself because I did not get to go to Busch Gardens with the Mad Dad today (because of my stupid sinuses.. and he gets to meet wrestlers while there… grrrrrrrrrr)

Decorated our tree:

Had a visit from the Outback Steakhouse Goodyear Blimp:

And once again, our neighborhood Carnivore visted:

This is what it looks like in our house when you are sick:

~~Toni

This guy has been hanging out in my and my neighbor’s backyard, everyday now for the past week; I believe it is a Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis):

Thoughts? We’ve been having some rain and he’s been hanging out on our septic tanks, digging in them. I know we have moles, so maybe that’s what he’s digging for?

He’s beautiful anyway. And alone. I’ve not seen another, it’s just him.

~~Toni