Yesterday began with a trip to Rising Sun to see Perry’s Mom for Christmas.
I think I’m a deer magnet.
I could barely stay awake on the drive there and back, but did manage to open my eyes just enough to see two deer at the side of the road. This time, they crossed directly AFTER we passed them. The drive beside the river is beautiful, and you know you’re in Madison by the iconic view — it’s almost the 1/2 way point.
Even though Perry’s Momma doesn’t look thrilled in the photos below, the surprise visit from Perry’s nephew, Coty, was the highlight of everyone’s day.
Our family Christmas is in the books – sort of.
Last night was our Christmas with Coco here. The presents are all unwrapped even though we’ll still get together Christmas Eve minus the granddaughter. My photos last year were awful because we didn’t have walls — this year, they’re lacking for other reasons…
I have lots of photos of Katie’s butt since she played Santa — and this one. 🙄
Here’s when things went downhill.
Carl’s TV needed Perry’s expert repair capabilities so we forgot to do our standard “all together” photo. Ben had to be at work early this morning, so they couldn’t stick around too late… he had to get some sleep.
Next, Perry’s scheduled worker had a family emergency so he had to cover the store overnight. After a busy day already, he left pretty darned ticked off… and sleepy. Carl was the only person that remembered the stove probably needed wood, so he came back and did that so I didn’t have to go out there myself. Perry got back by 7:00 AM, knowing he has to be back to work at 1:00 PM for another shift.
It was a crazy day, but we’re still grateful.
We had a good time for the time we had, and although not perfect, we all were grateful for one another and what time we did get to spend together.
Here’s hoping your holiday is smoother than ours, and you, too, get to spend it with loved ones.
Tomorrow I’ll share photos from holiday gatherings that will be taken today. Such a busy day planned and I should already be sound asleep since it’s morning already. But I’m not. My night owl self doesn’t think about sleep until 2:00 AM.
Riding with Katie is dangerous… and I had a close call myself.
Katie loves to drive and hauls me around for the most part. Her SUV is comfy, but a bit trashy too. I took the following photo of a beautiful sunset a couple nights ago. The road is not visible because she had papers and clothes on the dashboard, and the windows looked like a pigeon roost.
My close call involved 2 deer.
Coming back from Franklin with Coco last night, I saw a doe at the edge of the road and brought my speed from a bit over the speed limit to 0 in a flash. I alerted Coco and told her to keep watching because there would be another one to follow. Just then, a HUGE buck leaped across the road about 5 feet from the front of the car. She said, “Aren’t they the cutest couple?” 😏
Today is the 1st day of winter!
Now you know: During the production of the film “Roadhouse” (1989), all the actors did their own stunts. Actor Sam Elliott recalled: “All the actors, as far as I know, did their own fighting. I fucking got the shit kicked out of me for the entire film.”
Not sure why I was hanging more lights over the weekend when Christmas will soon be over… but I did just that. Actually, it wasn’t just me. I had help.
So what if I’m wearing shorts and it’s late December? Don’t judge me. At least I’m wearing a sweatshirt. And it’s a Merry Christmas one at that. Katie made it for me last year and I was happy to pull it out again this year.
Snow yesterday — squalls even?
It snowed sideways yesterday. Lots of snow…
I thought for a short time we were going to have some stick. But looking closer, it wasn’t really poofy snow, but snow pebbles. And even that was gone in about 15 minutes.
The only thing sticking around is the wind and cold (the wind makes it doubly cold).
The pool cover blew off… again. The big blue blow-up pillow that’s used to hold the cover off the water blew out into the woods. The wind was making it flop around against the trees. Merida was 100% sure it was a murderous perp just waiting to jump out and kill us all.
She barked at it all day long. 🙄
Now you know: The famous Christmas Carol, “Jingle Bells” was written by the uncle of J. P. Morgan. In the later verses, they lose control of the sleigh, crash, get laughed at, then are encouraged to pick up more girls and faster horses. It also was not originally a Christmas song.
Let me begin this post by letting you know that I’m typing EARLY this morning while listening to the wind HOWL. Snow squalls are possible today. Yes, seriously. Y’all know I want snow. You probably also know I want fluffy stuff that sticks combined with no wind or ice, and I want the temp to be right at 32° F. Not gonna happen today.
We’re doing Christmas when?
Everyone in my family (except for me and those pesky neighbors) have challenging schedules this Christmas. Perry’s and Ben’s work schedules cut back on the options for planning our family holiday gathering. We’d still be ok with the long-standing Christmas Eve date if not for the fact that we had Colette last year for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day — so this year, those days she’ll be with her Mom.
Perry and I will be going to his Mom’s house on the 21st this year. As luck would have it, that’s the only evening Ben and Perry both have off where we can schedule our get together. Not sure how I’m supposed to do this — especially when it means 3 hours in a car to Rising Sun and back… only to get home and be ready serve a meal — but guess we’ll manage.
And then there was light!
Late finishing up inside decor, I had Perry’s help to make the kitchen festive. Good thing it’s small, right? 🙂
Now you know: The Nike logo was designed for $35.00 US but the company gifted the designer stock that is now worth millions. She held it all without selling.
I’m grateful for the time I spent as a kid working in the parent’s grocery store. I learned about the public, customer service and how to make change. I understand that not everyone has family who owns and operates a business. In light of that, wouldn’t it be a good idea for all schools to offer a semester class based upon retail? Make it required!
In the time Katie and I spent shopping, we encountered two challenges pertaining to money.
Making a purchase with cash, my total was something that ended in .61 cents. Chick had no pennies. Katie handed over a penny and we had to tell the cashier that all she had to do was give me .40 cents. She gave me 4 dimes because she didn’t know she could give me a quarter, a dime and a nickel.
At another store, my change from the cash purchase was 1 penny. The cashier took out a dollar instead of a penny by mistake. (Der.) I didn’t care about the penny but she said it would make her short by .99 cents. Her drawer was closed so she couldn’t trade the $1 for a penny! Oh my! She called the young, stoner manager up who started talking about entering her numbers to void the transaction. I said, “Why don’t you just ring her (meaning Katie) up and when the drawer is open, switch the $1 for a penny?” The manager thought I was a genius! 🙄
Cashiers can’t make change & aren’t trained to treat customers like they matter.
Perry mentioned that at his store, his cashiers can’t make change either. If the amount is not on the register, they can’t figure it out.
It wasn’t my fault the cashier in example #1 didn’t have pennies, but you’d have thought it was. The 2 goofy girls in example #2 talked between themselves on how to remedy their challenge and not once said they were sorry we had to stand there 10 minutes.
Again, wouldn’t it be a good idea for all schools to offer a semester class that teaches how to make change, how to treat customers, and how to deal with the public in a positive manner?
It’s a good thing I’m about finished shopping — not sure I could take another shopping spree.
Now you know: Monkeys in Ethiopia have managed to “domesticate” wild wolves by helping them hunt small rodents. The wolves now coexist with (even baby!) monkeys without ever attacking them, instead going for smaller, harder-to-catch prey!
