There is another puzzle out there from my friends at PayPerPost. So much is happening with them right now. PayPerPost released a press release today. The terms of service have been changed to require Posties to disclose that they are writing sponsored posts. I have tried to make it very transparent that I am posting blog messages for money. I just surpassed $1,000 in blogging money too. So now in addition to the posts being in green they will also have information at the end of the post clearly stating that the post is sponsored and that I am being paid to post the blog post. There is also a link to the PayPerPost referral system. So, if you click it you can join PayPerPost and I’ll get a $15.00 referral fee. So thank you for that.

Today’s photo is of my Mickey tie. I wore it today because the latest contest is a new puzzle. It gives clues as to what Episode 4 of RockStartup is all about.

Tonight I went to my gym for a personal assessment. It is really sad when you find out that you have shrunk. I am shrinking. I need to improve my posture because I lost a whole inch. I am now 5’8″. The assessment went well. And then came the upsell. But the thing is they weren’t high pressure about it at all. The prices were outrageous for training sessions and a nutrition plan but they didn’t try and force it on me. So I liked that. I left with a good feeling and a Berry Berry smoothie. So it is hitting the gym hard sometime soon. Most likely after the holidays. I mean it, I really do.

Today was one of those days that I wait for all year long with eager anticipation. Today was the Family Christmas Party. The Family Christmas party is for my Dad’s side of the family because he has seven sisters and having Christmas Day with Seven plus families at one time is very hectic so we have the party on a non holiday day around or after Christmas. What is fun about the party is that we get to see everyone in the family in one shot and catch up. All of us kids have gotten older and some of the kids now have kids of their own. It is nice to see Grandma and Grandpa with their Children, Grandchildren, and Great-Grandchildren all around.

We usually do a pot luck meal and everyone brings something, we have some traditional Family Party dishes that we always enjoy like jambalya. This year we did a modified Yankee Swap. Each person was to wrap up something from home that they liked but no longer used. It could be a CD, DVD, Book or magazine (not sure how magazine got in there and luckily no one brought one, I wouldn’t want to go home with a stack of my Mom’s Woman’s day books from 1986.) Allison and I brought a copy of the Chronicles or Narnia that we accidentally got from the Disney Movie Club (because I missed the deadline for returns) and I brought Tyrannosaur Canyon and Life of Pi. Each person was to open a present and try to guess who brought it. It wasn’t until my cousin opened the presents that I brought that I found out that “my copy” of Life of Pi was actually my sister Tara’s copy that she loaned me. Well, neither of us liked the book very much in the end anyway so it was no big deal, but imagine my shock that I gave away something that had been loaned to me.

It was really nice to see everyone and catch up. I look forward to next year’s party as well.

Today’s photo is of my cousin David and my second cousin Gabby, they share a birthday.

Here are some more pictures from the family party. Bennett Family Christmas Party.