We're back in Raleigh and well rested after what turned out to be a great new year's holiday in Oriental, NC.  When we first got there I thought for sure Janie and Butch would zonk out and I'd be spending New Year as the designated "waker-uper" again.  Turned out Janie just took a nice power nap and was rip roaring and ready to head downtown for the dropping of the fish.  We had every intention of making the parade and got there by 11:30 when we were told it started, but unfortunately we were half an hour too late and as we were pulling in...most of the sober people were pulling out.  We were left with the heavily boozed up section of O-town and us.  It was still fun though.  The rest of the weekend was filled with parties and movies and good times...oh except for that run in with #2 rebar and Butch's brand new propeller blade.  There was an unmarked crab trap somewhere in the bottom of the channel and we hit it...the rebar tore through the prop blade like it was paper mache and then wrapped itself around the blade.  It took us both to unbend it and get it off so neither of us had to jump in the 40° water. 

I also managed to pay for our entire Vegas trip with the contract work I've been doing.  Granted a big chunk of it came from working 7 hours on New Years Eve at time and 3/4, but still...work is work.  I'll submit the bill to them today and hopefully no one jumps through the roof.  They have to know how lenient I am though and I don't charge them for every phone call or even visits that are less them 15 minutes.  That's how nice I am.