Holiday Season 2023 - 9 Days to Go

Saturday, December 16, 2023

Countdown to Christmas - 9 Days

Wonderfully slow first day of vacation. Dale and I went out to Bachman's to get some new lights for the tree. Picked up a strand of 300 white lights which should do it for our tree. Tree's already up and I'll get the lights on tomorrow. 

Cigar in the back yard.

Listened to more Xmas music including many of my own playlists. 

Xmas party tonight at former colleague Sandi's house over by Lake Nokomis. I ran into lots of former colleagues and it was fun to catch up. 

One of the highlights of her party every year is singing the 12 Days of Christmas. She coordinates who will sing which parts. Ashley, Goldi, and I were the four calling birds. 

Sandi oversees the singing of the 12 Days of Christmas

Holiday Season 2023 - 10 Days to Go

Friday, December 15, 2023

Countdown to Christmas - 10 Days

Last day of work for 2023 and the beginning of a 17 day vacation!

Dale's on vacation now too. Tonight we celebrated with cocktails, salads, and Everybody Loves Raymond. 

Holiday Season - 2 Weeks to Go

Monday, December 11, 2023

Two weeks to go. 

Set out some Belsnickles.

Holiday Season 2023 - Another Cozy Day

 Sunday, December 10, 2023

Dale and I skipped out on church and went shopping at Macy's for pants. We got some great deals. We also stopped at Target where I picked up some hats and gloves. 

We then went to brunch at Pittsburg Blue at the Galleria. I had a Bloody Mary and a seafood Cobb salad. Dale got coffee and a chicken salad sandwich. It was all very good. 

When we got home Dale went off the gym and I put up the tree. I meant to get the lights up also but two of my three strands don't work any more and one strand is not enough to cover the tree. I'll have to pick some up at Target or Bachman's this week. 

Another cozy day. 

Holiday Season 2023 - A Cozy Day

 Saturday, December 9, 2023

Gloomy day today. We got a dusting of snow. 

Earlier Noel and I went to lunch at Heather's. Since my stomach's been feeling better I've really been craving a burger and fries which is what I got and it really hit the spot. We stopped by Bachman's to see their Christmas stuff. There were a good number of people about and it all had an air of holiday bustle which has been missing from my Christmas shopping experiences of late. The Christmas tree area had a strong and wonderful scent of pine. 

Dale and I had cocktails and listened to Christmas music before dinner. I was still really full from my heavy lunch so I just had some tomato soup. Dale had some sushi we picked up at the store. 

Flurries into the evening and the wind was whistling outside; very cozy. Watched Only Murders in the Building and called it a night. 

Holiday Season 2023 - Another Sick Day

Friday, December 8, 2023

Feeling a lot better but still far from 100%. Decided to take another day off from work to rest. 

Rewatched the last two thirds of Christmas In Connecticut I slept through recently. 

Moved the snowmen from the dining room to the porch to make room for the . . .

Santas.

Oh, and I listened to a lot more Xmas music today. 

Holiday Season 2023 - Sick and On the Couch

Thursday, December 7, 2023

Woke up in the middle of the night nauseous as heck. The rest of the night was miserable and needless to say I didn't get much sleep. Didn't go to school this morning. I finally got up around 6:30 a.m. and threw up one last time. Throughout the rest of the morning the nausea abated but I was on the couch most of the day. Dale was so sweet and ran to the store to pick up applesauce, Pedialyte, chicken broth, and saltines. The applesauce was the only thing that was tolerable at first but I eventually moved on the the other things without too much trouble. 

Quite warm for December today. Dale worked from home today which worked out really well for me. He took good care of me. He got a few nice walks in. I on the other hand just wasn't up to going outside although I enjoyed all the sunshine coming in the windows. 

Laid around all day trying to recover from the dehydration and exhaustion that come with unrelenting wretching. 

I listened to LOTS of Christmas music which was quite enjoyable. I've been needing rest for a long time. It's too bad it takes something like this to get me to do it. 

Sylvester came to cuddle with me which was very cozy.