"And what did you do for the last day in 2004?"

Oh! Oh! I know this one! I know it! I .. I.. I..

I paid bills online!

Ah, but the day is still young, and there is much more fun to be had.

So meanwhile, I got in (to my mother's place) yesterday after making good time because the traffic was nothing like the wretched Thanksgiving set I faced on my last trip.

My niece was already here, and my older brother met up with us for dinner several hours later..

And the most exciting part, my twin brother (Peter) and his partner (Jesse) were here! This was my first time meeting Jesse, whose birthday is today, and who fits in remarkably well (even frighteningly so). He is a gentleman and a kind heart, and I'm glad I've finally had the pleasure of meeting him. A little too trusting perhaps, the poor soul.. me and my poker face story-creator self has, I must admit, taken advantage of his willingness to believe almost anything I say without smiling. I REtold the fight-with-the-redneck-story and he believed it, even though he was WITH Peter when Peter was reading that blog entry and thus already heard both the fictional and factual stories! Rock on.

Peter, whose hair is quite long for him nowadays (and has been for a yearor more, but of course I haven't seen him since my gramma's memorial service over three and a half years ago when it was not long) has been great to be around again, too. Still just as quiet as ever, but happier, I think, and more... more something. I don't know what. I'm just so happy to see him again and for more than a couple of days and not at a funeral and all.

We'll do whatever we do for New Year's tonight and then go to see my Grampa tomorrow. Then I'll be visiting some other folks on Sunday, perhaps, and we'll prolly all get together again at some point.. and then Monday we'll spend most of the day together and I'll head back to the base in time to get there early enough to get to sleep early enough to work on Tuesday.

Lots still up in the air, lots (specific or vague) to look forward to.