What a wonderful win!!! My mother and nephew attended the game, while the rest of us watched at the "Party House". Mom says that next season she will buy 4 season pass tickets. $$$ Oh well, I am powerless! Also, while we were celebrating, my niece and nephew's offer on a pretty cool house (which backs up to a mountain preserve) was accepted. More celebration! On the scary side, the family baby spiked a temp and was taken to urgent care. Here's the question: Do you think a 104 temp slowed him down??? I think not. Still all smiles and cuddles. I have nicknamed him "Mr Happy". Once again, it was fun to be with the Addams family (which is actually a family name on my mother's side)!

Just rec'd word that my darling niece, w baby, and hubby will be coming into town to attend the Cards playoff w my mother. Yes, I said my mother, who of all people, has had season tickets to the Cards games, and lucky for her has tickets to the playoff this Sat. I'm not a big football fan, actually not a fan at all, but here's something footballish that I will enjoy! :)

Here's an interesting tidbit! Who would have thought?

Your happiness: These two personality traits may lead to a longer and happier life

by Sarah Jio, Vitamin G, Glamour Magazine, on Mon Jan 5, 2009

Quick: Describe the personality of the happiest person you know. What adjectives did you come up with? Bubbly? Spontaneous? Funny? New research reveals that two of the most boring-sounding traits can actually help you live a healthier, happier and longer life...
Surprise! It turns out that people who are ambitious and disciplined live up to four years longer than more impulsive folks. A study from the University of California at Riverside found that conscientious types--the kind of people who have their nose to the grindstone and always pay their bills right on time (or early!)--are more likely to have stable relationships and are less tempted by health-dampening drugs, alcohol and other risky behaviors. People who were less conscientious were 50 percent more likely to die at any given age, on average, than those who were highly conscientious. The results shocked researchers because it suggests that personality traits might have a stronger effect on longevity than socioeconomic factors and intelligence.

Comments from Michael Yon's Blog, from a British soldier:

"I know that, in the past, us Brits have rather banged on about our COIN experience and there is a natural (and not necessarily unhelpful) rivalry between US and UK forces that has existed for 70 odd years. But there is deep respect for the US military in the British Army, but particularly the US Army and USMC with which we have more contact, especially the doctrinal transformation over the past few years. This goes from the lowest level, for example the Scottish infantry soldiers working with the MEU in Garmsir in 2008, to the highest levels of our command.

Let me give you just one example. In July 2006 a Danish soldier working under UK command in Helmand was grievously wounded in a rather beleaguered (it was under repeated direct and indirect fire) outpost in Helmand – if I remember correctly it was Musa Qaleh. The compound was too small for a Chinook to land to get the casualty out and the UK's small helicopters could not fly in the day time because of the extreme heat and altitude. The soldier was dying and he couldn't wait. A battle-group level hasty air assault operation was planned to secure a landing zone nearby in Taleban dominated area and the intent was for the small garrison to fight its way out to get the casualty to that landing zone. There was no doubt, not only must we expect to take further casualties, we could lose a Chinook. Then, a US Blackhawk medical helicopter swept in and then out of the compound with the casualty who I know was still alive when he later made it home to Denmark. The whole attitude, despite the acute risk involved, was one of "no problem, anytime, just ask", as we say, "normal jogging". Yet, no one who knew of that single event would have had anything other than the greatest admiration for those involved and the organization to which they belonged."