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Kinda puts me in the Christmas mood.

Or I should say, postponed until next week. WoKzoo is still not 100% from being sick earlier in the week so she made the executive decision this morning. This time of year you go from 0 to 60 in the blink of an eye. We just went from 60 to 0…

This has been a good move for us. The people in the south are so much nicer than in the north. In Boston, if you hesitate for even part of a second after the light turns green, multiple people will be beeping at you, even if there is nowhere for you to go. I've been here three months, I have not heard one horn yet. As for the job, I love it. I came from a facility of over 20k employees, part of a system with closer to 100k employees. The pathology department had about 1k employees, and I was responsible for about 50 of them with 8 direct reports. It was the most miserable, toxic environment, and I never realized it until I got out. I am now in an organization that is about 75 total people, I have a team of 3. They are wonderful people who are very smart and are open to me making lots of change. Overall, the organization is in terrific shape and I am being cautious with how much change I am introducing. If all goes well, I will retire from here in less than 10 years.

My cousin Matt went into the hospital today and I know very little. He’s in good hands so I’m not worried, but men don’t live long in our family. Prayers appreciated. His dad, Norman, was part of the 82nd Airborne in June 1944. In fact, that part of France is named Normandy to this day.

Last night I took our dog outside and noticed an odd lump in a tree. After we came back in I grabbed my Nite Ize Lumina 650 and Mrs. TK's phone, and this is what the lump was: Not a very good picture, but we think it is a barred owl. We've seen one around here last year, too, and we've heard them in the woods surrounding our house. Eventually it got annoyed with me and the light and it took off. The wingspan looked like it was about 3 feet or so. So Mrs. TK and I decided to get an owl box: Barred owls supposedly prefer to nest within 100 feet of water and we don't have that, and the one I saw may already have a nest it prefers. Anyway, it's worth a shot because it would be pretty cool to have a pair of owls nesting near our back yard.

Now that you have timr, can you go shovel my driveway?

I know I haven't been around much. It truly is only because I have been trying to reduce my screen time and be present for the people in front of me. I hope everyone understands. Several years ago... I think it was before everyone moved to this site... I made a comment about being irritated about my parents expecting me to call them every Sunday night. I was promptly and rightly trashed by a number of people. There were many comments, but the comment that stuck with me for years was simply, "I wish I could call my parents." I realized I was being selfish and honestly started looking forward to the weekly Sunday night calls. For years, I called my dad at 7:00 and my mom at 7:30. Nothing personal to either of them, but my mom talks much more than my dad did. Last week my dad passed away. I was lucky enough to be the one that held him as he passed. I would like to believe that he heard me say "I love you" because he turned to face me before his last breath. Because of everyone here, I talked to him at least once a week for years. Most weeks, we talked three or four times but I would always call him at 7:00 on Sundays because that was our time. Thank you all. Those calls are a big reason why I am at peace right now. Happy holidays to everyone. Hold your loved ones close whenever you may see them.

A lucky guess 2!

My pellet stove has been supplying all my heat through this cold spell. It is not very well located, being in the living room, at one end of the house, rather than central to everything. The living room is a bit warm, 80 ish, and at the far end the back room is about 65, but my very expensive to feed electric furnace has not turned on in quite a while, several days. The heat pump costs about the same as the pellet stove to run, but it only works down to about 40, then the electric furnace kicks on and the electric meter goes in to over drive. Mrs. couldn't tolerate the heat in the living room so we never really got full use out of the pellet stove. With her confined to bed I've been letting the pellet stove run. I'm OK with sitting in my underwear when it's -2 out. I really feel bad for people that have no heat.

On my new cutting board

No idea how tomorrow will go. Son #2 rolling in tonight, getting together with son #3 on Monday. I’m going to roast a turkey. I don’t know what we will eat tomorrow. There are people missing this year, it won’t be the same.

Just by the hair of my chinny chin chin. Wordle 553 6/6 ⬛⬛⬛🟨🟨 tales 🟨⬛🟨⬛🟩 score ⬛⬛🟨🟩🟩 whose ⬛🟩⬛🟩🟩 youse ⬛🟩🟩🟩🟩 noise 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 poise

My brother & SIL got a pair or Electra Townie E bikes. They were e assist, no throttle, higher end with Bosch motors. I took it for a test spin today and wow I get it now. I guess I always “got it” with e-bikes but I know first hand how fun they are. I put it in Turbo mode and dropped it into the highest gear and got to 26 MPH on a flat road! Had I not been sick and starting coughing up a lung I probably could have hit 30. 0 to 12 MPH was really effortless in the lowest mode. 12-18 required me to push but not like I was really pushing hard. The higher modes just made going faster easier. I still think an e-bike is in my future but more from a utilitarian mode. Tootling along at 15 MPH with hardly a sweat with my groceries in the back.

Onions and peppers simmering with some beef. Cinnamon roll filling is blended and waiting. Dinner bread is rising. Sweet dough is next. Oh, and to support @Randomguy, I just made a jello salad.

in Chatham, Ontario, not far from the international border. There was a major traffic car accident and weather was crappy, not safe for cars during the snowstorm and high winds. So about 30 people spent overnight sleeping and eating there inside the store. Staff were there to supply bedding, some food and music.

She has hyper mobility issues and sometimes over extends herself and blows out her knee.. today she is walking around on a crutch and I kept referring to her as Tiny Tim while we were shopping.

We are punting on Christmas too. I do have a couple little things to send to the kids, and I have a DQ gift card for HoSmudge. He's too nervous to drive yet and he feels bad he can't get me anything. As long as I'm not stressing about his health, that's enough Christmas for me.

Reminds me of the time my Mom thought a "clove" of garlic was the whole garlic head and put two of them in her tomato sauce. My Dad likes garlic, so the thought it was great! The rest of us was smelling it all night.

We got our extended family gathering moved up to Christmas Eve because of scheduling conflicts with other some of our people's other family gatherings. Fortunately I had all the things I needed at hand at home. So I'm ready to roll. I assembled the 9 lb lasagna yesterday, will drop it along with the White Elephant Game gift and the three cards with money for the younger members of the family to my SiL - the gathering is at her and my brother's house - at 11:45, drive to my sister's house and feed the 2 small dogs and 2 cats, then return to my brother's house in time to watch the Ravens game begin at 1 pm.

Christmas will still happen...just differently Celebrate the love..in sadness and sickness

It has been canceled at casa further, try again next year

We have a full house generator. Built it into our new home three years ago. Despite living in western NY, we haven’t lost power once. The generator has been a good insurance policy.

I'm watching cooking shows wearing day jammies and hanging out at home...No rehearsal during the day...I will pick up the other dance person..she lives about a mile from me..around 7:30pm...we will do 1 or 2 run throughs...and 1 with music..church is at 9 pm. Should get home by about 10:45

We might go to a Japanese restaurant with our neighbors.

Eating it...maybe for a week I will let my sister taste it..if she likes it she can take some home tomorrow...she doesn't like salmon..not sure how she feels about peas ...she may not like the leek..and she will certainly find the tiny bit of celery.. Yeah I think I will eat it for a week

We'll make a pot roast, brussels sprouts, and potatoes after we ski. But first, the mountain calls.

Took our guest home when her power was back on. We wanted her to stay but she wanted to be home. Cooked a bunch of stuff in a relaxing way. I am heating the oven to bake the bread and Einstein is watching Top Gun Maverick.

I'll bet WoK saw that documentary about the Holy Grail, and she's way too smart to get on the cart.

My wife is making a crab dip and the hot sauce smell is wafting through the air.

I will wake up, let the dogs out, tell them how horrible they are and unloved as I give them treats and pets. I will then make a cup of coffee, drink it while watching scrolling Facebook until the kids and wife feel like crawling out of bed. Then I might get a call to go into work while they are all asleep if something bad happens and they need me. Thats about it.. just another typical day here at the Krazy house.

We have Christmas Eve dinner plans with my SIL’s parents. Christmas morning the kids come over and my sister invited us all over for brunch. Hang out with my sis & her wife for the afternoon & drive home. Sons GF asked if we have Christmas dinner plans. I told her none planned but you are welcome to make some. So she might make a dinner, we’ll see.

I can be a real tool in the kitchen sometimes...

You get an extra week of pre-Christmas. Woohoo!

Soon enough! I feel for the kid. He has been going to school. Swim practice right after, and then straight to work. When he’s off school it’s usually at swim by 8 for 3 hours and then off to work. Yesterday was the first day in forever that he’s has NOTHING. I bet he too 6 hours of naps. 😂

I did but I converted it to a wine/cigar cellar.

There is one in the carriage house. A leftover from when Springwood was a working farm a hundred years ago.

Careful, it' s fra-gee-lay

I quickly made up a stew to feed our English guest. Also made some biscuits and broccoli. She has been without power all day. We are just going to keep her here all night.

I’m glad to hear you’re in a better place. The organization is better for having you there.

Your situation sounds a lot like mine. God bless.

The outlaw Christmas eve party started 15 min ago. There is no one here but the three of us. There is food for hundreds. Anyone want to show up and have some?

That’s good. I seldom rush.

No. However I once lived in a place that had a coal room in the basement.

Making cod fish sticks, rolled in seasoned flour, beaten egg, and panko crumbs. Baked at 375 for 30 minutes. Fries made from russet potatoes, soaked in water, dried then tossed in oil and old bay seasoning, baked at 375 for 20 minutes then another 20 @ 425. Broccoli steamed for 10 minutes. A beer on the side. Pre gaming with a MacAllan 12 year old whisky.