Life is back to normal...whatever that means?

I am back ....the holidays really through me for a loop. A good loop - full of family, friends and wine events but kept me away from the computer. Fortunately, it provided lots of material for future posts.

It was a good thing we had a Bed and Breakfast as we had family in for Christmas. Meg and her boyfriend Andy came from Hong Kong. Dave's parents, Joan and Charles drove cross country from Ohio and of course Kelley was home from college.

I know Christmas isn't supposed to be about the trappings. The Grinch taught us that, but I find it challenging none the less every time we move. Where to hang the stockings? Best place for the tree? What about the collection of Santa photos when the girls were younger (or not so young)? This was our first Christmas in long time without snow! Old customs gave way to new traditions. Instead of snowshoeing , we strolled the beach. Maddy was in heaven chasing her new tennis ball into the surf. We replaced our night at the Gutherie Theater with a night at Hearst Castle which was tastefully decorated for the holidays and included volunteers in vintage attire adding to the experience. We didn't have to fry the turkey in sub-zero temps. It was 60 degrees and blue skies. What is life but a set of trade offs.

All too quickly, it was time to ring in the new year and a new decade. One that holds lots of promise. Of course it means resolutions so here are a couple of mine:

• weekly posts to the blog (notice it's already week 3 of the new year - oops!)
  
• more effort to get in shape (no excuses with my Christmas gift of membership to the Kennedy Health Club)
• drink only good wine (There's plenty of Per Cazo open all the time)
• work harder at filling the B&B (who can help me with SEO)
• And the perennial favorite, make new friends!

Cheers! Here's to a happy and healthy 2010!!!