Happy Last Day of the Year!!!

We have more rain! It sounds glorious as it hits the roof and falls from the eaves. Will it be glorious when I leave in a few minutes to drive to work in it? Well, that, of course, remains to be seen.

As does whether or not it rains tomorrow...on the Tournament of Roses. It's never happened before. Will tomorrow be the first?

This morning was another good writing morning. I like good writing mornings. And, generally, I tend to like what I write in the morning much better than what I write at night. I'm much more forgiving in the morning when I've just gotten up and the day has started and I haven't gone through the trials and tribulations of work yet.


Beginning of the End 1,337 words so far today

207,206 total words to date

Pandas, and Fishies, and Parrots...Oh, my!

The judging is underway, I understand, on the Tournament of Roses floats.

And, when I arrived at work, I was amazed to see the front of the Buena Vista Pavillion open to one and all...and the most beautiful array of floats visible...bright colors alive against the backdrop of gray clouds and almost obscure mountains. Almost glowing in the steady downpour. Lovely against the dreary day.

There must be five or six large floats in there...

But the two I can see the most of from my second story office window are one with a family of pandas and one with a stunning array of colorful fishies. I think they're swimming through coral reefs. (I know the parrots are in there because I saw them go in a few weeks ago.)

The weatherman says rain today. No rain tomorrow for the parade. Rain beginning again on Sunday and lasting for a few days after.

It's never rained on the Rose Parade. I hope that holds true for tomorrow.

Happy, Happy New Year to One and All!

While I'm looking forward to it--welcoming it with open arms even--I am not waiting up for it. It's going to come with, or without, me watching, so I'll happily sleep and wake to find it waiting for me in the morning.

Normally, I stay up and celebrate. This year, I'm just too dang tired.

Worked almost 11 hours today. This has been a really hard couple of months. But, today, I really accomplished a lot, even though I was at work until around 6:15 tonight. Got lots done. Feel really good about it all...but really tired now. Sleep it far more important than ringing in the new year. There's a new one every year, after all. :)

I ended up seeing around 9 spectacular floats today as they were judged and then driven from the Buena Vista Pavillion and lined up down the street to be taken to Pasadena. I believe they're some of the prettiest I've ever seen. Can't wait to see them in the parade tomorrow.

Saw one for Starbucks, one for the city of Ontario, California, one for the Coast Guard, one for the city of Las Vegas. One commemorating Route 66. Saw lots, but couldn't see the owners/sponsors on all of them.

I was very productive today as far as writing goes, but kinda petered out now that I'm tired.


Beginning of the End 3,173 words today

209,142 total words to date


And, since I'm really getting a three day weekend off this week, I'm going to set about finishing Beginning of the End. That'll be my first accomplishment of 2005.

Everybody be safe and happy! See you in 2005!