Countdown to Christmas: 1 Day

 Tuesday, December 24, 2024

Hot tub again this morning with John. I've been sneezing a bit this morning but the tub still felt good. Laid low afterward and stayed back when Dale went over to his parents to help out with some stuff. 

While he was gone I read a little bit and worked on building my Christmas 2024 playlist on Apple Music. 

Around noon I was feeling better and decided to sit out in the sun. Pulled out a cigar for later. 

The sun felt absolutely amazing.  The vitamin C and vitamin D provided had to help how I was feeling and the little bit of gin I poured for some vitamin G probably didn't hurt either.  

Countdown to Christmas: 5 Days

 Friday, Deccember 20, 2024

What a LOOOONG week.  I have a very sweert.  class of first. graders this year. This last week of shool before a two week winter break was the loopiest I've. ever seen them. Nothing horrible but let's just. say they. were. there but they weren't there. Anyway,  one girl in particular has been driving me to the brink with her neediness. She's constantly looking to interact and receive reassurance. She gave me a jinglebell bracelet this past Tuesday. I thanked her and I put it in my track jacket. The bracelet stayed quiet in there until I  removed the garment when I got home. It jingled and it reminded me of the story The Polar Express. I was able to muster up quite a bit a patience to last me the rest of the week. 

* *. * * * 

Left for Phoenix tonight. I was so Zen about figuring out the logistics for  everything to  happen for me to to be ready to leave for the airport. However,  actually getting myself to the airport and on the plane ended up being quite the shit-show. I drove to the wrong terminal and when I got to the right one it took the third of three attempts to get myself into the right parking ramp. After foolishly putting my credit. card on my lap instead. of back in my walletafter inserting it into the kiosk for the parking ramp I drove ahead to fing parking. After getting to the ticketing window to check a bag I realized my credit card was missing after trying to fish my ID out of my wallet. After. going. back to look. for it (and finding it on the floor of the car!) I realized I hadn't gotten a boarding [ass so I went back. in line to get one. Yikes. I was too tired to be traveling on a Friday after one of the most emotionally charged weeks of the school year. 

After a couple Bloody Marys on the plane I was just fine. My seatmate ordered a vodka Sprite. He was great as far as seatmates go. We exchanged some pleasantries but he slept most of the flight. 

John and Dianne know a guy named Dave who does airport runs to bring people to and from the airport. He picked me up after I retrieved my bag and it was about a 45 minute ride to John and Dianne's. It was nice chatting with Dave who's a very pleasant chap. 

Got to John and Dianne's quite late and let myself in as they were asleep. Took about and hour to fall asleep.

* * * * *

Countdown to Christmas: 7 Days

Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Dale left for Arizona this morning. I'll be joining him later in the week. 

It'll be strange being away from home over Christmas. Especially someplace warm. 

Couple cigars for  me tonight. 

Countdown to Christmas: 8 Days

Tuesday, December 17, 2024

Eight Days Until Christmas

Cigar after work. Contemplated the last couple of days at school.  The kids are getting loopy and today was the day I realized that from here on out until the end of the week we're only going to get the very minimum done.  It's like they were there but they weren't there. Visions of sugarplums...

Listened to some music while out in the garage. These playlists I made number of years ago are really quite well curated. 

Dale had quite a day too. He's leaving for Arizona tomorrow. We wound down from the day by having cocktails and dinner at Northbound. Of all of our neighborhood spots this one is Dale's favorite. I'm quite fond of it too. 

                      

When we got home Rudolph was on TV. I fell asleep however. 

It's so dated yet still fun. 

Christmas Season 2023/2024 - Christmas Eve Cigar

Sunday, December 24, 2023

I never thought I'd be saying on Christmas Eve, "What a great day to sit outside with a cigar."

53 degrees. On Christmas Eve. Weird.

But enjoyable nonetheless even though it feels like Halloween instead of Christmas. 

Holiday Season 2023 - 2 Days to Go

 Saturday, December 23, 2023

Countdown to Christmas - 2 Days

Dale started the preparations for the beef bourguignon and I helped.

Sylvester was banished from the kitchen as he kept jumping up on the counter trying to get into stuff.

While I was out with Noel, Dale let it bake and eventually added the mushrooms. Next it'll go into the fridge for a couple days where it'll marinate in its own juices until Christmas.

Tonight we watched Shop Around the Corner on TCM. So charming and romantic.

Holiday Season 2023 - 3 Days to Go

 Friday, December 22, 2023

Countdown to Christmas - 3 Days

Decorated my Swedish themed tree with straw ornaments I picked up yesterday at ASI.

Gloomy day but mild enough temperatures to make taking a walk quite pleasant. 

Afternoon cigar. 

Sylvester checks out the tree. 

Late afternoon walk. Lots of pretty lights. 

Dale and I watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas tonight. It's been a few years since we've seen it. Always fun and it brings me back to being a kid. 

Found this chart on Facebook recently. Dale and I are bracing for a brown (and rainy) Christmas. It's predicted to be 51 degrees on Christmas Eve. I'd be willing to bet that the snowless Christmases noted above were not that warm. 

Holiday Season 2023 - 4 Days to Go

 Thursday, December 21, 2023

Countdown to Christmas - 4 Days

Today is the Winter Solstice.

I set the angels out today. 

Mom and I went to the American Swedish Institute to see the holiday displays. 

We checked out the display of Himmeli. Shown above are a couple examples. Himmeli predate the Christmas tree and they were traditionally suspended in a dining or living space during the Winter Solstice. They remained in place until the summer months to help ensure a good harvest. 

Mom got to sit in the Snow Queen chair. 

Mom got some ornaments in the gift shop. I got this kick ass PINK dala horse. Who knew they came in pink?

Dale and I went to Creekside Supper Club for dinner. It was delicious. Dale had the chicken breast and I had the fish fry with walleye. I had a Grasshhopper for dessert.