MLK Weekend 2024 - Sunday (Christmistletoe)

  Sunday, January 14, 2024

Another day of not having to hustle to get to work. 

Dale and I  drank coffee and took turns having Sylvester on our laps. 

The wind is whistling outside and it's even colder than yesterday morning yet it's very cozy inside. 

Went to church this morning on this 2nd Sunday after Epiphany. 

Dale had to count the collection after the service so I zipped over to Lake Harriet for a (very) short walk due to the cold. 

Despite the frigid air I was able to appreciate the beauty of the peacefulness and stillness. 

After my Lake Harriet visit I picked up Dale at church and we headed over to Creekside for brunch. 

                      

We both had omletes. Dale had the Denver and I had the mushroom and Gruyere. Delicious.

Stopped by Kowalski's after Creekside and picked up some potato salad to bring over to Warren's tonight. 

          

This afternoon Dale went to the gym and I had a cigar upstairs. 

 

Also listened to another childhood favorite Christmas album by the Harry Simeone Chorale. 

   

Dinner of BBQ chicken and ribs at Warren's townhouse. Gary was able to join us and we watched Crazy Mama starring Cloris Leachman. Oh so silly. Actually, just stupid. 

MLK Weekend 2020 - Music, Wassail, Old Twelfth Night, Virgin Mary, and Deviled Eggs

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Woke up and listened to some music appropriate for a winter morning. 

Interesting discovering about Old Twelfth Night a couple days ago. After reading about it I decided to see what kind of wassail related songs I have.

I searched my Apple Music library and of course came up with Somerset Gloucestershire Wassail by The Kingston Trio which I've known and loved for years.

There's also Here We Come A-Wassailing performed by Bonnie Rideout  on the A Scottish Christmas album. It's a medley with another song called Bottom of the Punch Bowl which is not a song I'm familiar. 

Dale and I worked out with weights this morning at the gym. I weighed in and I'm 6 pounds lighter than I was on January 1st. This dry January is paying off. I had a Virgin Mary instead of a Bloody Mary for brunch at the Red Stag. 

Warren and Gary came over for dinner tonight. Warren brought some deviled eggs and Dale made Texas chili. We also watched a John Melaney comedy special. Very funny stuff. 

Christmas Season 2017/2018 - Warren and Gary

Thursday, December 28, 2017

My martini next to Warren's rum concoction.

Warren invited Dale and me over for a post-Christmas gathering with Gary at his place. He made a lovely turkey meatloaf and we watched the Judy Garland episode of The E! True Hollywood Story. 

His place was decorated more than I remember it being in recent years.

Holiday Season 2017 - Warren's Birthday

For Warren's birthday, Tonya and Alissa hosted Warren, his sister-in-law Paula, Gary, and myself for a dinner that Warren made. It was a Cuban pulled pork recipe that we had with rice and beans and tortillas.

Tonya and Alissa had their house decorated very festively.

Alisa recently inherited an old-school stereo system and a bunch of LPs. We played was one of the Andy Williams Christmas albums. It was so nostalgic to see the vinyl spinning around and hearing the much warmer sound that I think analog produces as opposed to digital. We used to have a console somewhat similar to this one back at the house on Stevens that Mom and Dad had picked up in the mid-60s. What a blast from the past.

Christmastide 2014/2015 - Summary

January 6, 2015

Christmas really is a most wonderful time of the year. I'm so grateful to have spent this Christmastide with so many wonderful family and friends including Mom, Dale, Noel, Mike, Charisse, Warren, and  Gary. I love experiencing the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and emotions of this fantastic season with them. 

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.

Christmas Season 2014/2015 - Dinner with Mike and Charisse

Had Mike and Charisse over for dinner tonight. It was great to catch up. We realized it's probably been since this past February since they've been over. Mike found the pickle on the Christmas tree so he won a prize. Warren and Gary are coming over Friday. We'll see if Gary can spot it.

Christmas Season 2011 - Nordic Ware Yule Log Cake

Dale and I entertained our friends Warren and Gary last night. We had lasagna for dinner and I made a Yule log cake with my Nordic Ware cake pan.  It was fabulous, even if I do say so myself!