Christmas Season 2024/2025: The Eighth Day of Christmas - New Year's Day

 Wednesday, January 1, 2025

Brunch with Julie and Regina this morning at a restaurant called Book Club over on 54th and Penn.  They took a road trip to North Carolina and spent Christmas there. We told them about our Christmas in. Arizona. 

First cigar of the New Year.

Lit up around 3:30 while Dale was at the gym.

Finished up at 4:00 pm. The cigar would've lasted longer but it was just too cold outside and it's supposed to get colder and remain cold for the next few weeks. 

Leftover spaghetti from last night for dinner. Left over chocolate Bundt cake and ice cream too. Laid back New Year's Day. 

Christmas Season 2023/2024 - 8th Day of Christmas: New Year's Day Part 2

 Monday, January 1, 2024

The 8th Day of Christmas

Also took the snowmen on the porch and boxed them back up. 

 

And put some deer and bottle brush trees up instead. Again, I don't have enough room for everything so I'm having to rotate stuff. 

 

Listened to The Nutcracker this afternoon. Dale and I both enjoyed it. 

       

Christmas Season 2023/2024 - 8th Day of Christmas: New Year's Day Part 1

Monday, January 1, 2024

The 8th Day of Christmas

Dale and I headed to the gym for weigh in day. Not nearly the bad news we though we were gonna get. I actually have lost 6 pounds since Janauary 1st of last year. 

We came home for lunch as we've been eating out a lot. Sylvester found a cozy spot on the table.

Put the angel display away and set out a few other things. I don't have enough room for everything so I'm having to rotate stuff. 

Christmas Season 2022/2023 - 8th Day of Christmas: New Year's Day

Sunday, January 1, 2023

Happy New Year! Read the first reading at church this morning. Dale and I went to brunch at Pittsburg Blue out at the Galleria. Quiet day otherwise. So glad to have tomorrow off to ease back into work. 

Christmas Season 2022/2023 - 7th Day of Christmas: NYE Cigar

Friday, December 31, 2022

Back from Mike and Charisse's around 10:30 so I squeezed in a cigar for New Year's Eve. 

Was able to stay awake until shortly after midnight.

Christmastide 2020: The 8th Day of Christmas - New Year's Day: Evening Walk

Friday, January 1, 2020

It was a lovely evening for Athena's final walk of the day. Cold but not uncomfortably so if dressed properly. The sky was pretty and the lights displayed by many homeowners were joyous looking. 

Christmastide 2020: The 8th Day of Christmas - New Year's Day: Cocktail Hour, Christmas Music, and Dinner

Friday, January 1, 2021

Martini for cocktail hour. Dale stuck with red wine.

We listened to Christmas music while having cocktails. Dale said to me, "You know, I haven't heard that one song this year." I responded, "Which song." He said, "I don't know the name of it but it's the one that starts out 'Merry, merry, Christmas'." I knew which one he meant to I looked it up on my phone, found and played it. It's: 

Yes, Ring Those Christmas Bells, by Fred Warring and His Pennsylvanians. We listened and sang along and it was fun. 

However, while searching for it on my phone a version of the same song by Peggy Lee came up. This one was new to me so we listened and sang along. Again, more fun!

Simple dinner of a Kowalski's frozen pizza. 

Christmastide 2020: The 8th Day of Christmas - New Year's Day: Decorating

Friday, January 1, 2021

This season's star. 

Finally got the gift boxes around the base of the tree.

Added the shepherds to this manger scene. 

Christmastide 2020: The 8th Day of Christmas - New Year's Day: The Little Drummer Boy (Rankin/Bass)

Friday, January 1st, 2021

It was a fixture throughout the 1970s at least but doesn't get as much airplay as it once did, possible due to the more overt religious nature of it but also more likely because some of the facial features of some of the puppets are as seen racially highly charicatured.

The titular character, Aaron, feels alienated from other human beings and his anger toward them is quite evident yet just as apparent is his love for his animal friends. 

The theme song is beautifully sung by the Vienna Choir Boys and the climax to the specially is actually very touching. I found it on YouTube. 

I haven't seen it in years. I remember having it on VHS cassette and showing it to my 4th grade class the day before winter break in the mid 1990s. This is one of my childhood favorites. 

By the way, as I wrote the date above I have to say it felt really good to write a year other than the previous one. 

The Eighth Day of Christmas -

Wednesday, January 1, 2019

I was talking to a neighbor today who is so ready to be done with Christmas. While walking Athena back on December 26 I noticed his tree was already by the garbage can. It was funny to see this meme posted by Cindi on Facebook today. Just when it feels like the rest of the world has packed Christmas up...

The Eighth Day of Christmas

Wednesday, January 1, 2019

Dale and I brought Mom to the latest Star Wars movie this afternoon. There were some scenes with Carrie Fisher that were a bit emotional and made even more so due to her passing. Mom mentioned that she felt like she was right back in the theater in 1977 when the scrolling words popped up on the screen during the opening. Dale and I agreed. Time just seems to melt away. 

Eighth Day of Christmas - On the Road

Tuesday, January 1, 2019

Got up early and had breakfast with Dale, Dianne, and John at the hotel.

Got over to Brenda and Irv's and finished packing up the truck. It snowed last night.

We left around 10:00 a.m.

Above two photos taken near Moab.

On the road most of the day but not quite as long as the trip up here since we're dividing the trip back over two days rather than one. Lot's of snow so it looked very Christmas-y.

We caravanned the whole way. John and Irv were in front in the truck. Dianne, Brenda, and Harvey Ann were in the middle. Dale and I brought up the rear and drove in Brenda and Irv's sedan.

Spent the night in Tuba City. Pizza with John, Dianne, Brenda, Irv, and Dale in the motel room.