I hope the next 364 are better

Oy veh!

Sorry to start the new year with Yiddish, but day one of 2017 was a bit of a dung downpour.

Firstly, it is never correct to say “Happy New Years.” All day long yesterday, social media was on fire with people wishing me a “Happy New Years.” How many years you celebrating this year, Jack? We were celebrating “New Year’s Day” on Sunday and after that, wish people a “Happy New Year.” The day before was “New Year’s Eve” but never, ever ever ever, is it “Happy New Years.”

Sorry for that rant. I know I am no grammar expert, but January 1, 2017, will forever be known in the Hebert household as a rather lousy day and this New Year pet peeve of mine was just fuel to the dumpster fire that was Sunday (also, its “anyway”, not “anyways” but I digress.)

The making of a crud New Year’s Day (see how that works) started the week before for me. Two Sunday’s ago, Oakland Raider’s stud quarterback Derek Carr broke his leg in a game against the Colts. This past Sunday, with the backup QB taking snaps, the Raiders got annihilated by Barbra Schlocker’s Denver Broncos (which she politely rubbed in on Monday morning.) The Raiders are still in the playoffs this year – first time in 15 years – but have little shot in making much noise without Carr.

I know many of you don’t understand how passionate some of us are about sports, and a loss of a game by one’s favorite team is small potatoes, but the entire day seemed to be one thing after another. The same Sunday in which Oakland lost Carr, Stella, the 7-year-old family Chihuahua, started hobbling around the house, unable to gain her balance. A $300 trip to the vet last week only seemed to make things worse. She has been going to bathroom (number two) a lot and is unable to control it. I washed no less than 20 dog blankets in the past few days and old Stella still doesn’t seem to be getting better. With all the things I have to be thankful for in my life – and they are plentiful – Saturday for a happy dog today, but so far, this year is already too long.

I hope your day was better than mine. Thanks for reading and hau’oli makahiki hou (not “makahikis.”)