Anyone
who knows me knows that I have always kept a diary and this year has been no
exception--here are a few excerpts from each month.
JANUARY  Checked out restaurants (any excuse to eat out!!) for where
to hold my birthday party next month. Caught up with movies and saw "There Will
Be Blood", "No Country For an Old Man" and "The Debaters".


FEBRUARY  Celebrated my 18th Leap Year birthday and retired the
old(er) phrase--now it is just old! Chuck and Terry came down to help me
celebrate.

MARCH  Terry and Chuck went back to Memphis after spending a week here
helping me celebrate my birthday. We went to the Everglades, the nude Haulover
Beach, Miami Beach and Rascals, a Florida restaurant landmark where I had
sticker shock from how high the prices were--it closed very shortly after!
APRIL  Won my first of 3 Florida Lotto Play4--
My budgie, Spitfire, died
MAY  Bought myself a new computer tower with Vista--a big mistake! Got
a new budgie, Cassidy, from Clive for free--it was a rescue.
Went
to hospital for carthurazation (sp?) and heard for  the first time that I would
need open heart surgery and was told nothing else.
JUNE  Butch, my first bird and first budgie, died. Butch on left
JULY  Aorta replacement valve operation and stopped smoking--all on
the same day!!
AUGUST  Won my second Play4. Had to go back to hospital overnight.
SEPTEMBER  Bought a 32" HDTV. Taking tranquillizers and having
excruciating anxiety attacks.
OCTOBER  Won Play4 again. This is probably worst month of recovery and
have become a completely negative person, constantly whining.
NOVEMBER  Tried my first yoga classes. Went to my first Mended Hearts
supportive group meeting and was very disappointed. John and I went to the Isle
Of Capri casino for their Thanksgiving Day buffet. Anxiety attacks are
waning.
DECEMBER  Didn't have an anxiety attack all month, started to wean
myself from tranquillizers and am definitely getting my positive attitude back.
John, Gino and I went to Isle Of Capri casino for Christmas Day buffet.
John and Gino
 
And so my 18th Leap Year birthday comes to an end