Christmas Season 2024/2025: Christmas Day - More Photos (1st Day of Christmas)

Wednesday, December 25, 2024

The work of the documentarian is harder than it looks.

Christmas Season 2024/2025: Christmas Day - A Very Speedo Christmas (1st Day of Christmas)

Wednesday, December 25,  2024

What a gloriously lazy Christmas Day. 

Had an Arturo Fuente cigar lit up by 1:30. 

Didn't change out of my speedo all day. 

Wasn't sure what to expect for a Christmas with no cold or snow. 

Turns out I did just fine.

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: 2 Days

 Monday, December 23, 2024

Woke up this morning around 5:00. Last night was Dale’s first night away from staying with his parents this trip. So nice to have him here this morning. Hot tub with John about 7:00 am. Talked family, (my) work, and politics. 

Nice walk with Dale up to the sundial on a nearby trail. 

You stand on the month. . .

...and your shadow points to the hour. This photo was taken at 10:53 am. Pretty accurate. 

The trail ends with the sundial at the top of a hill. 

The views from up top are pretty nice. 

Dale and I took the same hike last time I was here in February. 

After our hike we went to lunch at IHOP.  Dale got breakfast and I got the shrimp platter.  The regular shrimp platter not the 55+ version. 

Dale needed some clothes so we did some shopping at Kohl’s. He got a pair of pants and some shirts. I ended up getting a couple of shirts as well.  Next off to the cigar store where I picked up a couple of cigars. Our final stop for errands was Safeway where I got some cereal   and some premade Old Fashioneds. Those should last me through Christmas. One would hope. 

At Safeway I also picked up an Archie Christmas Comics Digest. It’s a throwback to when Pete was born in late November back in the day. Mom was in the hospital for a few days which was how they did it back then. No get-‘em-in-and-get-‘em-out like they do now. They also didn’t let kids in to visit so Dad bought Sam and I comic books we could read in the waiting room. Archies were my favorite at the time and by that part of the year Christmas issues were out so he bought me a few. 

When we got home we were at the high for the day...

Was feeling a little sniffly so I decided to take a soak in the sun but not the water. 

I read a ghost story for Christmas from the Seth series titled Captain Dalgety Returns. I may  have to reread it as I found it tough to follow. 

Gathering at the home of Candace and Doug, John and Dianne's next door neighbors. They had a nice gathering of folks who live on the blockc and it was nice to meet so many of them. I met a woman named Nancy who is a retired primary teacher who left the profession around the time of Covid. We talked about the many joys of teaching but also about the joys of not doing it anymore. 

John and Dianne's other next door neighbor, Kirk, came to the party as well and is pictured here with us on the left.  The theme of the party was Mele Kelikimaka which is the reason for the leis. 

Dale and I back at John and Dianne's place after the party. 

Countdown to Christmas: 3 Days

Sunday, December 22, 2024

Hot tub this morning with John. 

He made a nice breakfast for me and Dianne. 

Dale came back at around 9:00 from staying with his Mom and Dad.  We took a nice walk and  then stopped by the club for 2nd breakfast. I had a Bloody Mary and some eggs, bacon, and potatoes and he had coffee and oatmeal. 

Took a nice swim around 1:00 p.m.

And sat in the sun for a little bit. 

At 72 degrees it felt just perfect.  

Brenda and Irv came over for cocktails and dinner. It  was good to see them. again and I think it was good for them to get out.  We sat on the patio for cocktails and then ate inside for dinner. 

Dianne brought Brenda and Irv home. John turned on the fire features and then he Dale and I went for an evening swim. 

Turned out to b e a very nice day and it's good to see myself relaxing. 

The neighbors watching Sylvester sent the above picute. God I miss him.

Countdown to Christmas: 4 Days

Saturday, December 21, 2024

Hot tub this morning with John.We had a nice time talking. 

Dale came over from staying at his parents last night. We went to Village Inn for lunch. He had a  breakfast skillet  and I had a cheese burger.

After lunch we took a walk in Dale's favorite park. I love this wavy looking cactus.

After getting home I decided to take a swim. 

The temp was perfect. 

I'm having a hard time. getting used to walking inside from 75 degree weather and seeing a Christmas tree. 

Dale and I had dinner at Brenda and Irv's tonight. After my swim we stopped by the store to pick up a frozen pizza and a pre-made chef's salad. We brought it over and had cocktails while the pizza was cooking. Irv's nightly Canadian Mist cocktail is such a ritual that he loves so much. Dale made the drink for him and made it on the weak side so it didn't interfere too much with the meds and painkillers he's on from his recent hip replacement surgery. We also talked about the life alert call buttons that Dale and. Dianne are encouraging them to wear.  We had a very nice dinner. It was so nice to see them and they really appreciated my being there. Dale's been here more reccently but it's been since February for me.  

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