I only read seventy books this year. Last year, even with all the events surrounding Mom, I read around a hundred. In a normal year, I read around a hundred and twenty. I guess this year, it was work-related responsibilities that got in the way. Also, those jigsaw puzzles and an online coloring app ( Read more... )

Well, just about everything. Lots of stuff did, anyway.

First, here’s the yule log we started to consume last night:


( Read more... )

Got some interesting gifties. Blythe Spirit sent me a faceplate insert she’d made for the retirement countdown clock she’d given me for my birthday earlier this year. It has photos of me with her and Curmudgeon in various places in Colorado, so it’s thoughtful and personal. She also sent me a copy of her movie. (She’s a moviemaker.) So I’m ( Read more... )

Sent Blythe Spirit an iTunes gift card, but I had ChatGPT write a poem for the message:

“[Blythe Spirit] in Colorado, boots on the ground,
Rock ‘n’ roll heart with a wild sound.
Mountains high, music loud -
Her spirit forever unbound”

I signed it, “Hark! [galtex]”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I paid a visit to the wholesaler from whom Curmudgeon and I bought ( Read more... )

In a staff meeting a few weeks ago, the Controller told us that, if we’re having to do work on vacation, something was wrong, and that the company should provide backup for tasks so that people could disengage from work while they were out. Then a couple of weeks ago, he said that, if we took off more than Christmas Eve and Christmas day, he ( Read more... )

We had leftover turkey breast with gravy, but Curmudgeon made this side dish. It’s Brussels sprouts and kale sprinkled with bacon, walnuts, and diced avocado. I provided the soft-boiled eggs:


( Read more... )

Makes 9-Inch Pie ( Read more... )

I wrapped gifts today. That wore me out! Still had to make dinner, though ( Read more... )

We just nabbed a timeshare in Honolulu next summer! We had plans to go in 2020, then COVID hit, so we had to cancel. I had to text the boss to make sure she would approve it because she and I are off till Friday, and Curmudgeon and I didn’t know how long it would be available before someone else grabbed it. Fortunately, she replied positively, ( Read more... )

Most everyone went into the office today, which was the day of our lunchtime holiday party. Olive Garden did the catering, so I had spaghetti with meat sauce, fettucine Alfredo, salad, and bread sticks. The big boss forgot to arrange for dessert! We had a white elephant gift exchange. I scored a travel mug and some specialty coffee. Then we ( Read more... )