HOW AM I DOING WITH THE LIST?

Before I can check off accomplishments I must add to it.
11. file business tax report
12. give the dog a haircut

Now for the good part I will xxxx the completed items.

1. get rid of Christmas
xxxx                 2. get a new nightgown
3. get a haircut but really just a trim-up
4. clean the house
5. pack my mini suitcase
6. make a list for my suitcase
7. keep painting
8. finish Christmas projects I did not complete
xxxx               9. check my calendar for conflicts
10. finish grand-daughters birthday presents

That felt good but this is taking way too long. Here's the zinger... Today I got word of a change to the plan. We are to leave the 14th, a day early  and that leaves me 4 days to do all this. HaHa 

I forgot the most frustrating part. Since my husband will be at home during my absence I assumed my mother, who lives with us, would have no complaint.  How wrong I was.  Oh, she told me that even though she thinks it's good I'll be taking the trip and helping someone...she does not want to be alone 8 hours every day while my husband goes to work. Imagine my surprise.  I'm analyzing my options.

I realize she is 92, has serious visions problems, no hobbies other than TV and making phone calls.

On a brighter note I continue to sell my watercolor paintings on EBAY, paint with my friend Sunday mornings as we can, and consider my merchandising options for my jewelry dolls and greeting cards.
Life is good.  Really. 

The other day I walked into the garage and had a flashback to the day I found my husband's secret hiding place for the checkbook and extra blank checks out there. It was a metal locking toolbox type thing and I became a maniac with a screwdriver and hammer.  The combination lock codes I tried brought no results.  To my surprise I managed to bend, pry, finally shake the thing and out popped the book.

These terrible things I did made me feel like I had a split personality. While I was engaged in the act I could stand behind myself, talk to myself and tell myself "this is wrong" but the disease was most powerful at that point. It took a family, counselors and doctor, fellow gamblers, and yes myself because I had to want to stop, to get me here today.

So, you see. Life is good. It's been 427 days since I walked out of that casino with a $1200.00 jackpot sitting on the buffalo machine and it's bells ringing.