Christmas Season 2025/2026 -The Twelfth Day of Christmas: Mom, First Cigar of 2026

 Monday, January 5, 2026

First cigar of the New Year. It's been since the day after Christmas. 

Mom was supposed to be transferred to the TCU this afternoon but there was a scheduling mix up and they're going to have to wait until the morning. The doctor called and said he felt confident they had done all they could for her and that she's ready for the next stage of her recovery. He also reported that she was feeling a little discouraged today. I think it's setting in for her that this is going to be a long recovery. 

Christmas Season 2025/2026 -The Second Day of Christmas: Boxing Day & Lucky's Grove

Friday, December 26, 2025

Finished Lucky's Grove, a ghost story for Christmas illustrated by Seth, this morning. I rather enjoyed it. According to the teaser on the back of the book: "In preparation for the upcoming Christmas celebrations, the servants of wealthy Mr. Braxton unwittingly cut a tree from the sacred grounds of Lucky's Grove. As guests arrive, injuries, illness, and mysterious occurrences soon plague Abingdale Hall - with the worst to come on Christmas Day." Da Da DAAAAA. 

Christmas cigar. Meant to smoke this one on Christmas Day but was feeling a little spotty. My body just doesn't want to cooperate with me sometimes. Pretty pleasant outside (for a hearty Minnesotan).

Had an Old Fashioned with my cigar. 

Holiday Season 2025 - Errands, Sylvester, Cigars

 Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Dale took me to Stogies on Grand in St. Paul so I could pick up cigars. We also stopped by the grocery store to pick up dinner makings and then Cork Dork so I could pick up some gin. 

Dale folded up the blankets we had available to Calvin. He set them on a chair in the living room so I could take them back upstairs for storage. Of course Sylvester couldn't resist and he slept there most of the rest of the day.

I tried to snap a picture of him sleeping in a sunbeam but he sensed I was there and popped his head up. 

Lit up a Camacho around 3pm.

Had some gin to go with it. 

Holiday Season 2025 - The Solstice and Cigar Time

Monday, December 22, 2025

Took Calvin to the Mall of America this morning for more shopping. He found a few more things for his collections. He wanted to go to Wendy's for lunch so we picked Mom up around 11:30 and took him there. Afterward we took in to the Mall of America for more shopping and to kill a little time before his flight. Cigar after dropping Calvin at the airport. Photo taken about 5:00 pm. Sun had set about 4:40. Shortest day of the year. Looking forward to longer days. I've heard by the end of January we'll have gained about two extra hours a day. Happy solstice.

Holiday Season 2025 - More Santas, Cigars, and Music

Thursday, December 18, 2025

Found another box with Santas in it. I knew I was missing a few when I set them out earlier. 

So I added them to the display. 

Another cigar. Lit up around 1:30. Probably almost twenty degrees warmer this morning. The temperature has been dropping gradually throughout the day. I could really feel the difference by the time I was finished with my cigar. 

More holiday music after I went back inside to warm up. Dale helped me. The soundtrack from A Charlie Brown Christmas turns 60 years old this year. I find it comforting to listen to. I've been hearing it my whole life. 

Cigar, Backyard Clean-Up, and Holiday Music

 Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Warmish day today so I took the opportunity to get the snow off the Adirondak chairs and get them back in the garage. 

Lit up a stogie...

...and listened to some music.

Nice to have a break from the more bitter cold we had recently.

Holiday Season 2025 - Holiday Music with Cigars & Cocktails

Friday, December 5, 2025

Smoking cigars (outside)...

...and having cocktails (inside)...

...goes well with holiday music. 

Christmastide - Trying to Keep the Christmas Spirit Alive

Sunday, January 12, 2025

Back at work this past week. I miss Christmas vacation but reality came calling and ended it all. It's still Christmastide so I'm trying to enjoy some elements of the Christmas and winter seasons. Informed Dale recently that we're observing Christmas until Candlemas this year. He didn't say anything cuz, well, what's he gonna do. 

Been listening to my expertly crafted playlists. 

Trying to get outside to appreciate winter. 

I've been trying to straighten up the yard. 

Here I am finally getting some of the lawn furniture in the garage. 

Here I am taking my morning coffee outside. 

Doing a little snow shoveling/sweeping. 

I've been breaking down an unusually large cardboard box out in the garage.

I actually have no recollection of what was in this thing but it's huge. 

Trying to do this slowly over time so it doesn't end up taking up all the room in our recycling receptical. 

Saturday shopping with Noel. 

Some of our favorite shops still have holiday merchandise out. 

Fun to look around but I need more Christmas stuff like I need a hole in the head. So, no, I didn't buy anything. 

I've indulged in cigars but I'm cutting back.

I've only had two so far this past week. Compare that to about 5 per week over break. 

Dale and I are doing a dry-ish January. We didn't start until the first Monday after Christmas break. 

Overall we're doing pretty well. I had a couple Old Fashioneds this past Thursday when we went out to dinner at The Howe.

We went out to brunch this morning at Northbound and I had one of their Old Fashioneds. Compare that to however many I had per week over break (it was more than 3). 

When I saw Mike on NYE he told me one of his goals for 2024 had been to read something like 40 books, which I found quite impressive. He made clear that not all the books were massive tomes and that some were shorter and/or easier reads. Right now I'm working on Cher's memoir which is quite fun. She's been around my whole life and I've followed her over all these years. Not sure I'll make it to 40 books in 2025 but I aim to put more of a focus on reading.

Speaking of shorter books I read this one today for old times sake. It dates from the mid-60s and is chuck full of the good-grief-ethos of that time period. 

Went shopping at Kowalski's for groceries today. Quiche for dinner and Oh-ho cake for dessert (speaking of old times sake). 

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