I am keeping my grand dogs and they know what to expect. Their expectations are easy to meet, full bowls of dog food, plenty of water and this is harder...my constant presence. If I leave the house then little Mandy cries. She is my shadow. I had forgotten how loyal Yorkshire terriers are. Penny, the chihuahua, is sweet but perpetually cold and wears a sweater all the time. I have a furry throw and she has appropriated it. I woke up this morning with Jose and Mandy on my pillow and Penny coiled around the rest of me. Oddly enough I slept very well in this nest of dogs. I wonder if it is a prehistoric memory of life as a cave woman lurking in my brain. I went to bed early last night and heard nothing at midnight. A friend who stayed up said there were not fire works or sirens or noise makers. I guess our neighborhood is too staid and quiet for noisy celebrations. We are pretty much shut in because of the weather. The intense and damp cold robs you of the incentive to get out. I made a huge pot of chili and a pecan pie. The weather seems to call for it.