Christmas Season 2023/2024 - 9th Day of Christmas: Sylvester

Tuesday, January 2, 2024

The 9th Day of Christmas: Nine Ladies Dancing

Dale and I both went back to work today. I think Sylvester liked having us around during our break. He liked to be on our laps a lot. I think he does just fine without us though. He sleeps a lot  especially the late morning until the afternoon. 

Christmas Season 2023/2024 - 9th Day of Christmas: The Dining Room

 Tuesday, January 2, 2024

The 9th Day of Christmas: 9 Ladies Dancing

Took down the Belsnickles in the dining room...

...to make room for these.

The manger scene.

It all looks nice by candlelight. 

Christmastide 2021/2022 - 9th Day of Christmas: Winding Down Christmas Break

Sunday, December 2, 2021

Mixed feelings about going back to work. On the one hand I guess I'm fine with it. It'll be what it'll be.  My sources tell me that district wide there are 250 teachers who are out tomorrow when on an average day it's about 50. I'm assuming it's Omicron as the district gave us all test kits and recommended we test ourselves before coming back. How many kids will be out? I'm getting so used to constant uncertainty (work, politics, climate, etc.) that it feels like a minor annoyance rather than overwhelming and I feel oddly zen about it although with a certain amount of tentativeness. Dale and I hung out on the couch before dinner and finished up  the little bit of holiday wine we had left on hand. We're starting our dry January tomorrow albeit a couple days late. 

Christmastide 2021/2022 - 9th Day of Christmas: Covid Ain't Goin' Anywhere Any Time Soon

Sunday, December 2, 2021

Last day of vacation started with a bang. Actually the beginnings started last night when someone I've socialized with in the past week let me know they tested positive to Covid and has mild symptoms. 

I took the Covid quick test my school district sent home with me before going on break. I read the directions and Dale double checked them to make sure I was doing it correctly. 

Test result: negative!

John C., still in the hospital, had some new issues this morning so Dale zipped down to check in on him. He's fine, at least for now. 

A bit down today. Not sure I have the energy to face the work world and the other realities we face on this planet. 

Christmastide 2020: The 9th Day of Christmas - Listening Party

Saturday, January 2, 2021

Dale and I listened to a couple of our favorite Christmas albums during cocktail hour. We started with Christmas Cornucopia by Annie Lennox.  This album is amazing. Annie has taken traditional Christmas carols and added African  drumming and an African children's choir to many of the selections. My favorite Christmas carol is See Amid the Winter's Snow and the version of it which is contained here is gorgeous. 

Our other favorite is Christmas Spirit by Donna Summer. Her medley of What Child Is This/Do You Hear What I Hear/Joy to the World is glorious. I asked Dale what his favorite Christmas song is and he said O Holy Night. I love that one too and there is a version contained in Christmas Spirit. I first got this album on CD back in 1994. It reminds me of Christmases we spent in our apartment on Fremont Avenue. This one really has become an old favorite.

 

Christmastide 2020: The 9th Day of Christmas - The Joe and Noel Post Holiday Shopping Adventure

Saturday, January 2, 2020

Rescheduled from last week, Noel and I made the rounds for holiday sales at some of our favorite stores today. Our first stop was at A Rare Bird Antiques and then The Loft over at 50th and Xerxes.

 

Noel picked up some vintage glass ball ornaments at The Loft. I picked up a cranberry spice scented candle. Dale loves this brand. They are not overly sweet smelling. 

Our next stop was Victory at 44th and Beard. They always have such wonderful things although neither of us picked up anything there this year. We usually check out Brown and Green as well but they were closed this weekend. 

Our final stop was 14 Hill at 48th and Chicago. I found a couple more of the retro beaded ornaments like the ones I had purchased earlier in the season. I really like them a lot. 

On our way home we lamented how stores don't have as much holiday merchandise anymore and that a lot of what they do still have isn't quite as special and unique. Also, there's not as much hustle and bustle to accompany the holiday shopping experience. That always added to the energy and anticipation that comes with the lead up to Christmas. Of course all of this has quite a bit to do with more and more online shopping but it was especially more pronounced this year due to the pandemic. 

The Ninth Day of Christmas - Reindeer & More

Thursday, January 2, 2019

I haven't posted pictures of the stuff displayed on the porch. So here we go. 

The reindeer are looking great.

So are the bears. 

Shiny Christmas balls.

And Santa.

Ninth Day of Christmas - Moved In But Not Unpacked

Wednesday, January 2, 2019

Woke up early and had breakfast at the restaurant next to the motel. I noticed the decorations came off the lobby Christmas tree between yesterday and today. 

Photo taken near Tuba City, AZ.

Photo taken near Flagstaff, AZ.

Got in to Phoenix and headed to Brenda and Irv's new place. Had the truck unpacked around 6 p.m.

Time for a quick cocktail before Dianne, John, Dale and I headed out for dinner. Brenda and Irv were exhausted and wanted to stay in. We brought them back some dinner from the restaurant.

Cocktails and dinner at the restaurant. John and I each had a couple Old-Fashioneds with bourbon. They were quite amazing. 

Christmas Season 2017/2018 - Ninth Day of Christmas

January 2, 2018

On the ninth Day of Christmas...

Mike and I got together at his place on the 9th Day of Christmas for cocktails and basement jazz. He informed me that he hadn't watched any Christmas movies this year. I was sure he had at least seen White Christmas, but no. Would have watched one with him except I wasn't able to stay to late. Fortunately I had enough time to listen to some music and share cocktails and conversation. He had recently spent the Christmas holiday in Arizona with Charisse, Shayla, and his in-laws. Jealous cuz here it was and still is...

Christmas Season 2014/2015 - Warren and Gary

Had Warren and Gary over tonight for cocktails and dinner. Warren brought a nice salad and Dale and I ordered over the pizza from Pizza Luce. They introduced us to a Comedy Central show called Drunk History. It was quite entertaining. 

Warren noticed our manger scene and told me that when he was a boy he would swipe the Baby Jesus from his family's manger scene and keep it in his room with him overnight so as to keep the Baby safe. I usually set up the our scene on Christmas Eve day but don't put the Baby in until after the Christmas Eve service.

Gary found the pickle ornament on the Christmas tree. He got the same shot glass Mike got a few nights ago for finding the pickle. Gary told me where he could see the pickle but I told him that wasnt it since it wasn't where I hid it. Upon closer inspection I realized that Gary had indeed found the pickle. Turns out Mike moved the pickle the other night from its original spot unbeknownst to me. Rascal.