The 2008 Family Christmas Letter

Hi Folks,

Well, it's 2008 which means we've been married ten years. That in itself is an accomplishment, I suppose. We're still happily married in case you were wondering.

We still live on our property in Cheektowaga. The house is in ill-repair, but it's still full of love! Every time the wind blows another shingle gets ripped off our roof and hits the lawn. We have weeds or grass growing on the roof of our porch. John is hesitant to go up there and remove the shrubbery due to his anxiety and fear of falling to his death.

Speaking of anxiety, John is doing very well and hasn't had a panic attack in a year and a half. He is down to 150mg dosage of meds, and is able to eat solid food again. He works as a computer technician for a public school district and is dealing with the enormous stress and aggravation quite well so far. He is still a bit surly, but is trying hard not to be such a jerk.

Melanie is still working as a Math Teacher as Lancaster Middle School. She is an AIS (Academic Intervention Services) teacher which means she has to deal with students who have trouble with math or simply don't give a s*$# about it. She has a pretty sweet deal there, so she can endure the trauma. She calls in sick whenever she wants and has all the vacations, so she has no real reason to complain. Melanie still enjoys Sudoku, cross-stitching, and sleeping in her spare time.

Our babies Silas and Chloe are doing great. Their love affair with poultry continues. They love sleeping in their spare time too! Their favorite spot to lay is in front of the heating vents.

Our biggest accomplishment of the year was our purchase of the SX-5000 Recliner. It's a real beauty, equipped with heat, massage, cup holders on each armrest, and a compartment for the remote control! During Sabres' games, John likes to have a beer ready for consumption on each side! We bought an extended warranty that covers stains from all bodily fluids for 5 years. We all fight over who gets to sit in the chair every day, but the kitties usually win.

We know it's difficult to be as awesome as us, but we hope you all are doing fine too. Have a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanakah (or is it Chanakah?), Happy Kwanza, Happy Festivus, and Happy New Year! Did we cover all the various beliefs? Please don't sue us, because we don't have time for that.

Very truly yours,

John & Melanie