Definition of a Snow Day

Starting the day off by napping on the couch with some friends...

Back to Work

After a two week break for the holidays and another week off due to a brief household COVID scare, Sam went back to work today all decked out in the new jacket his coworkers gave him for Christmas and wearing his new Christmas socks from Santa.

In yet another example of how Sam in unlike me, he was actually having trouble getting to sleep for several nights beforehand because, as he put it, "I'm excited to see my coworkers." 

Then again, if I had coworkers like his, I might feel the same way. Maybe.

Breaking My Silence

Here we are, barely a week into the new year and it feels like the new year is too long already. 

I do my best to vere away from politics around here - at least as best I can - though it's a decision I struggle with. First of all, there are way more articulate people around that express coherent views far better than I. And secondly, there has to be somewhere, no matter how insignificant, to get away from it all - even if for only a moment (I think I'm referring to me, not necessarily you). While this is far from my "happy place" (which I have yet to find, by the way) at least it's a "place" - and right now, that'll do.

But even I have my breaking point. Now, a line has been crossed. I just noticed that, for some reason, instead of the usual soft, quilted pattern, my new toilet paper instead has deep and pronounced ridges. How long has this been going on? Who's responsible for this travesty?

 I blame Antifa.

Scenes from Our New Year's Day Hike

That is all. Carry on.

Our New Year's Eve

Perhaps in celebration of the unusual event of having an extra family member at home, last night, after a fine dinner of take-out Chinese food, Sam reading me a local news story or two, taking our nightly showers (Sam and I - individually, that is), and then sitting on the couch, Sam, Rachael and I spent the remainder of our New Year's Eve (and the conclusion of an exhausting year) together, quietly watching a last minute addition to our evening. 

It was mutually decided that it was way too late to start a movie - especially after all the recent festivities - and the aforementioned Exhausting-and-Thank-God-It's-About-to-Conclude previous year, so instead, we watched a very appropriate "Mr. Bean" - before retiring to bed at the more than reasonable New Year's Eve hour of about nine forty-five. 

All-in-all, a pretty good New Year's Eve.

It's a little late, but if you would like to pretend to join us, we'd be happy to have you...

Another Year Over

Well, together and apart, we made it through another year. I don't know anyone who isn't glad to put this year behind us.

Tonight, we'll order Chinese food, then I'll celebrate as I do pretty much every New Year's Eve - including the all the previous non-COVID ones: away from the crowds, and because it is just as unappealing to me (and pointless, besides) - away from watching the crowds, if there are any, on tv.

Instead, I'll sit in the sometimes comfort of my home, maybe read a little, maybe do nothing more than sit and listen as the clocks tick. I’ll think about those I love. I'll think about those I'm lucky enough to have in my life. I'll think about those I carry with me every day- whether they are physically near or not.

In other words, I’ll treat tonight pretty much like every other night.

I hope your News Year Eve is, or was, a happy, healthy and safe one. And I hope your New Year’s Day - and the days and months that follow - are happy, healthy and safe ones, as well. Here’s to the hope of a better year ahead.

 

Merry Christmas

 

Santa has just finished his handiwork and as soon as it's quite upstairs, Santa will leave candy under the mini-tree in the upstairs hall plus a few more pieces on Sam's nightstand, and on his Dad's nightstand, as well. Then, finally, it's off to bed for me...

Merry Christmas.