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.

Christmas Eve 2024: Kalle Anke

 Tuesday, December 24, 2024

After the Christmas Eve festivities Dale and I retreated to the TV room to watch Kalle Anke.

We found the American version, From All of Us to All of You, on youTube. The Swedish version, Kalle Anka och hans vänner önskar God Jul (Donald Duck and His Friends Wish You a Merry Christmas) is similar. 

Sadly I fell asleep about a third of the way through. I woke up briefly for the beginning of the live stream of the Christmas Eve service of the church of a friend of mine from high school. I saw some of the preservice carols being sung but fell asleep for the service. We had planned on going to the actual church service but I was feeling a bit run-down today. 

Christmas Eve 2024: Cookies and Lattes

 Tuesday, December 24, 2024

After dinner Dianne made lattes and we had some holiday inspired Milanos. 

I asked Alexa to play a few Christmas songs for us starting with Do You Hear What I Hear by Lincoln Brewster. 

Next a trio of Christmas songs from The Killers. Dale's favorite is Joel the Lump of Coal. He says it always makes him a little teary. Christmas In L.A. really resonates with me this year as it's about not being home for Christmas. It's evocative of the song White Christmas and actually incorporates part of that song into it. I'm doing pretty well not being home for Christmas and am enjoying it here quite a bit but am finding I'm missing Mom quite a bit. 

Christmas Eve 2024: Dinner

Tuesday, December 24, 2024 

The table was minimally yet beautifully set. 

The stroganoff was savory and delicious. 

And enjoyed by everyone. 

Dianne selected A Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack for dinner music. 

Christmas Eve 2024: Cigar Time

Tuesday, December 24, 2024

Shifted into Christmas Eve mode around 3:00.

Provided minimal help to John by chopping onions as he was starting to get tonight's beef stroganoff ready.

Dale coached John by sharing what he does for his own beef stroganoff recipe. 

Cigar time arrived around 3:30. It was perfect out. 

We'd reached the high for the day. 

So I lit up. 

I moved on from gin to bourbon. John took a break from cooking and came out for a swim. He said my cigar smelled great. He was right. It tasted great too.

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.