Christmas Eve 2012

It's Christmas Eve. We've got a tree up in the living room: the same permanent/artificial one we've had for a few seasons now.

I'm taking a slight break from blogging, doing shorter 'seasonal' posts for today and Wednesday.

We'll be going to church today, and again tomorrow: and hope to see #2 daughter and son-in-law later today. Or tomorrow. Or whenever they're able to break free.

One more thing: Merry Christmas!

Thanksgiving, 2012: Macy's Parade; Wind Advisory; Relaxing

Mid-afternoon in Sauk Centre: Thanksgiving Day. November 22, 2012.

Thanksgiving Day came 'early' this year. It's the third Thursday in November, so it can fall anywhere between the 22nd and the 28th. I think I got that right.

I watched part of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on television: a regular, if minor, celebration for me. A new (to me) wrinkle was the Fred Hill Briefcase Drill Team. I am not making that up.

Fred Hill Briefcase Drill Team

chillwisc, YouTube (December 3, 2008)
Video, 2:55

We're having a very low-key holiday here in Sauk Centre. I spent most of the day relaxing, and looking through some reports from Spiral Light Candle: and then relaxing some more.

Wind, followed by a little snow, made Christmas decorations some neighbors set up earlier look more seasonal.

The weather forecast promises more of the same: wind advisory, snow flurries, heavy overcast. Days like this help me appreciate insulated windows and central heating.

More-or-less-related posts:

• "Thanksgiving Day, 2012: Desperate Times..."
  Apathetic Lemming of the North (November 22, 2012)
• "Going from Guy Lombardo to Justin Bieber: Happy New Year, 2012!"
  (December 31, 2011)
• "Christmas, 2011"
  (December 25, 2011)
• "Release the Chickens!"
  (May 9, 2011)
• "I Almost Don't Have a Cold: Just in Time for Memorial Day Weekend"
  (May 27, 2010)

Christmas, 2011

My wife, son, and #1 & #3 daughters, are in the other room, playing a game one of them got this Christmas. I plan to join them in a few minutes, but figured it would be a good idea to get slightly caught up in this blog.

I started working for my son-in-law this month: answering phones and helping with a massive spreadsheet. He and #2 daughter started a candle-making company this year, and need more space to make the things. I posted about that in another blog.

I also set up a 'between checkups' checkup at the eye doctor this week. A 'floater' had popped up in an inconvenient spot in my right eye.

It's a sort of 'good news/bad news' situation.

First, the bad news: "Degeneration" is in the name of what I've got. It's vitreous degeneration, a fancy way of saying that the gel in my right eye is shrinking, and pulled away from the back of the eye.

Now, the good news: Vitreous degeneration is normal for someone like me, who is 60: and hasn't died yet. It's one of those things that happen to folks, if we live long enough. In my case, there's no damage in the eye, and I've got a short list of things to be aware of.

Apart from that, I'm trying to lose weight and move around more. Which is a little at odds with my new 'telephone answering' job: but that's just a matter of creative scheduling.

There's more that's happened since my last post: but I'm itching to join the rest of the family.

Merry Christmas!

Somewhat-related posts:

• "Loan Approved: Next, Spiral Light Candle's New Factory"
  Starting a Small Business Without Losing My Mind (December 20, 2011)
• "Candles: Analysis, News, and Very Odd Questions"
  Starting a Small Business Without Losing My Mind (December 3, 2011)
• "Mostly Medical"
  (June 15, 2010)
• "I Can Feel Crumbs! Wow!"
  (January 25, 2010)
• "Tuesday: Dentist and Eye Doctor"
  (January 16, 2008)

"I Yust Go Nuts at Christmas"

I remember when Yogi Yorgesson's "I Yust Go Nuts at Christmas" was allowed on the radio.

Happily, the extended family I married into isn't as dysfunctional as Yogi's apparently was.

On the other hand, I see I've let this blog go unupdated. That's a word my spellchecker says doesn't exist: but you know what I mean, so it stays.

My father-in-law will be over for supper in a few minutes. Barring the unexpected, of course. I'm looking forward to that - but it means that I've a bit less time to get tasks done.

The good news is that I printed off enough of the Christmas letter - and most of the address labels. Then I ran out of label stock.

Like the song says, "I yust go nuts at Christmas."

Epiphany Sunday: and Glad to be Home

I've had a good Sunday. The family went to church today: me, my wife and #3 daughter up with the choir, #1 daughter and our son in a pew.

Home again, by way of Coborns to pick up lemon juice and butter. My wife gave our son the money, and he went in for the supplies while I waited with the van. That gave me some time to listen to Minnesota Public Radio, and still leave room for a chat on the way to the grocery and back.

When the French fries were far enough along, I went out to grill the burgers. My technique is improving. After studying what happened while #2 daughter was watching me, I flipped the burgers a bit sooner than I would have. The results were better: This batch wasn't as crunchy as many.

This afternoon, #1 daughter chatted online, she and #3 daughter had fun taking pictures of each other, our son did something on his laptop, and I leaned back and enjoyed the show.

After supper, we were back to church for Vespers. That was a good way to wrap up the Christmas season.

I started going through photos I took while visiting my dad.

This is I-94 in Minnesota, between Sauk Centre and Moorhead. It's nice scenery. Nothing spectacular: low hills, little valleys where streams run, that sort of thing.

My father lives in the Red River Valley of the North: some of the flattest land on Earth.

The Red River Valley has gotten a lot more built-up than it was when I was young.

Some of those shelter belts were barely visible then.

It was good to get back home, to Sauk Centre.

Tuesday: Christmas, 2007

Merry Christmas!

I've had a good day. Our eleven-year-old son took the VHS/RW-DVD player/recorder out of its box, along with the usual spaghetti bowl of cables and parts this afternoon. By supper time, he had the thing set up in the family room, correctly connected to the television and VCR, and working. He's pleased with his work, and so am I.

#2 daughter and #3 daughter spent quite a bit of time talking. At one point, they were at the kitchen table while I was at the computer. #1 daughter was sitting next to me, but we hadn't talked in a few minutes. She was reading a book, and I was trying to sort something out.

#2 daughter came over and said something like, "If you're just reading, why don't you move one chair over: I'll sit there and talk to Dad so he makes more mistakes."

It's great to have kids who look after your reputation like that!

The rest of the evening was more or less routine, except that my wife - all of us, with the probable exception of our son - enjoyed another episode of "Hawaii 5-O." This time, it was one she hadn't seen before. Which is a rare experience for her. She's quite a 5-O/Jack Lord fan.

Our son and I went through the once-again-usual routine of reading comics and a song before bed. I'm still touched that he remembered that, and wanted to pick the custom up again.

About the photos I mentioned yesterday: I'll post a few now, maybe get more ready later. Sorry about that: but I had a choice between enjoying some high-value family time, or processing pictures.

This first photo is me. Among other things, I got a Santa cap and a cartoon necktie. Excellent presents, both.

Yes, that's the Grinch, waiting around the corner from Santa Claus.

This household has put on quite a show in their garden for many Christmases.

This has been one of my favorite Christmas displays, since we moved to this town.

Sunday: Lille Julaften (Little Christmas Eve)

I slept through more of lille julaften ("lilee yule-aften," or Little Christmas Eve) than I intended to. I'm beginning to suspect that the timer I use to wake me from naps doesn't have a very loud beeper.

The rest of the family were more 'on the ball,' getting over to (the Sauk Centre) Grandpa's house this afternoon, getting together with assorted kinfolk.

We all made it to church. The place was packed. We'll be there quite a bit in the near future. Tomorrow, the choir will be singing at 9:00, which involves my wife, #2 daughter, #3 daughter, and me. We'll be back Christmas Day, since this is a Catholic family. We "have to" go to these celebrations, like the official birthday of Jesus. Hardly the worst duty I've had to perform.

#1 daughter came home today. We'll have her here for five days, I understand. I've already stayed up too late, talking with her.

Everyone in the immediate family, except me and our son, went to Soo Bahk Do practice tonight. That kept me away from the tree-lighting ceremony at church. I haven't heard anything, so I assume that it went without incident.

About lille julaften: that's something that my Norwegian forebears made rather more of than I do. We've had the Christmas decorations up for a while - but I like to remember the day, anyway.

Monday: A Poster and Transitions

#2 daughter and #3 daughter are assembling a poster on the floor. #2 daughter wants a particular picture as a poster on her bedroom door. The two young ladies found a way of printing a mosaic of the picture on over a dozen sheets of 8 1/2" x 11" paper. I'll want to ask them how they did that.

I got a call from Hospice in the North Dakota town where my father lives. His health has been deteriorating for a year: quite frustrating for him. Right now, he's spending a few days in the hospital up there.

#2 daughter and I will be going up there, some time in January, to take care of some paperwork. Since my father's lungs aren't letting much oxygen in, he wants to be sure that all the end-of-life arrangements are set up.

Meanwhile, Christmas preparations go on. My wife gave me a correction for our Christmas list, and I got my "office" decorated. That decoration is a pair of plastic candy canes, about 18 feet of blue bead garland, a plastic candle, and a Santa cap my wife and daughters got for me.

The effect isn't exactly "Rockwell," but it's festive.

Sunday Morning:

My son has been telling me about a Wii player he used at the family get-together. It's pronounced "wee." Which pretty well describes his reaction to it.

I'll admit that it sounds impressive.

Now, it's time to go to church.

Saturday Night

#1 daughter is, I presume, back in Alexandria. #2 daughter and #3 daughter spent a good part of the evening, talking in the other room. They, and our son, had a good time at the family get-together. The only no-shows were the cousins who have moved to the west coast.

I'm sorry to have missed it, but staying put was a prudent decision, I think.

These big get-togethers are good for the family: we get to renew bonds and share stories. I think there's another, involving another branch of my wife's family, coming up next summer. And something around Easter.

If that sounds vague to you, you're perceptive. There's a reason that my wife does the scheduling in this family.

I got a real treat this evening. #2 daughter had some free time, and talked with me for about 20 minutes or so. Good times.

Saturday Morning: It Could Be Worse

The family Christmas get-together (my wife's family - a great bunch) is happening today. It's in the Metro area. I'm here in Sauk Centre. So is my wife, and #3 daughter.

This wasn't my first choice. #3 daughter is still getting over a bug, my wife's not entirely well - and I'm not going to see what happens the cough-and sneeze act my respiratory tract is working on, after I drive it in an unheated van for two hours, schmooze with a few dozen kinfolk, and then keep it well-chilled for another two hours.

Interesting though the experiment might be.

#2 daughter came home from college last night. With a sack full of laundry. I suppose that traditions must be maintained. And, knowing my wife, #2 daughter will do at least a laundry-load's-worth of work while she's here.

#2 daughter and #3 daughter had an extended talk, later in the evening. At least, I assume that's what was going on. The light was on in #3 daughter's bedroom later than usual.

#1 daughter arrived this morning, and left with #2 daughter and our son. They're getting a ride with their grandpa, to the get-together.

This makes two years in a row that I've missed the Christmas party. Last year, I was recovering from hip replacement. This year, I'm playing dodge-em with something like a cold. At least the health situation is going in the right direction: next year I may make it.

As we say in Minnesota, it could be worse.

Thursday: Routine Errand Becomes Day-Brightener

Today was mostly routine. My wife talked with #2 daughter on the phone, Our son went to school, #1 daughter is still looking for work, and #3 daughter is still trying to shake some sort of bug.

On the other hand, there was a little variety in the day's routine.

I took the van to a garage, and learned about several options for getting more heat into the passenger space:

• Have a pump replaced - it costs about $500 USD
• Put a sheet of cardboard over part of the radiator during cold weather

I'm opting for the cardboard.

And, I picked up some office supplies at the Wal-Mart supercenter. Going down one of the aisles, I passed a mother with two kids in her cart. The girl was sitting in the front of the cart, the boy stood in the center. The sides of the cart were about chest-high for him, and he had a hand on each side.

Until I came in sight. His eyes locked on my face, and got very wide as his jaw dropped slightly. He raised on hand to point at me.

I try to be polite to people, so I said "hi" to him, paused a moment, and walked down the aisle. About three paces later I heard the phrase "Santa Claus" behind me.

When I told my wife about the meeting, she said that I couldn't trim my beard until after Christmas.



This is a kids-eye view of me. I don't know: That's a serious Santa, at best.

Friday: The Week Ends in a Scramble

A bulletin that I edit for the local Knights of Columbus is in the mail now. Between doing counts and postal forms, getting the thing to the post office, and getting a number of household errands done, I spent the day being busy - and getting almost nothing done in my online business. I've been catching up this evening.

This weekend should be interesting. We'll be going to church twice tomorrow: partly because a few family members are in the choir. That probably means I won't be grilling on Saturday.

Now, it's time to work on the family's Christmas letter. That my wife wrote.

Thursday: Christmas Program at School, Snow in the Driveway

I had a pretty good day. Our son is back in school. The way he was bouncing off the wall yesterday, my wife was quite justified in telling him that she was ordering him back.

After he came home, he and I went to Fleet Supply, a sort of department store geared for an agricultural community, to find snow pants for him. It took us an hour, but we came home with a pair that will fit: with a little work.

My wife has set up a Christmas scene under the tree. I think it's a good idea, but our son discussed the matter with her. He seems to favor the traditional presents-under-the tree approach.

After supper, I drove to school, taking our son for the Christmas show, my wife and #3 daughter for Soo Bahk Do, and me to watch the show. After the show, I called home - my wife and daughter were there already. They came over with the van to pick me and the boy up.

Then we got stuck, trying to get into the driveway. My wife, son, and I got the wheels shoveled out in a lot less time than I thought it would.

Tuesday: Time to Break Out the Winter Coats

I asked my wife to break out my winter coat from storage today. It's getting nippy: about 15 degrees Fahrenheit. That's about nine below, Celsius.

Next thing you know, I'll be wanting gloves and shoes. So far, I'm doing okay with socks and flip-flops.

Our son is still in the Christmas show. That makes him about an hour late each day. He's still excited about his part. My wife and #3 daughter found reindeer antlers (horns?) at Wal-Mart today. #3 daughter was very taken by them, and since they were cheap - make that inexpensive - she and my wife got three.

The things are cute.

I had a good chat with #1 daughter this evening. She called, from Alexandria, and we talked about a colorful Japanese ruler she'd learned about: Oda Nobunaga. She's been very Japan-conscious lately, a by-product of her interest in anime and manga.

I got some writing done today, and made what I trust is not a futile gesture of organizing a square foot or so of my work area.

On a civic note, the traffic lights at the south end of Ash street are working again today.

Monday: Another Week Begins, and Countdown to Christmas

I spent two an a half hours at choir practice tonight. It didn't seem that long: it helps that I like this season's music.

Our son is still in the Christmas show, despite missing rehearsals last week. That's the good news. The bad news is that, one more missed practice and he's out. We didn't have much choice, keeping him out of school: that boy was genuinely ill.

Christmas is bearing down: less than a month away. Happily, my wife gets the gift acquisition done early: at rummage sales, for the most part, I think.

The wind's blowing around the house: a cosy sound, as I've said before. A little snow was scudding across yards and streets earlier. It's picturesque in town. When you meet that sort of thing traveling cross-country, it's a little less so.

Friday After Thanksgiving: Getting Ready for Christmas

#3 daughter and our son spent much of this morning, practicing for a play they're planning to do with cousins at the Christmas get-together. While they doing their rehearsal, #1 daughter and my wife had a good talk on the phone.

#2 daughter is with my father today, and will be tomorrow, too. She called in and talked with #3 and my wife later in the day. I'm glad about two things: the communications technology that makes talks like these possible; and my wife's budget sense and diligence that makes marathon chats like those affordable.

While all that was going on, I was doing something of a technologically frustrating sort, not getting something to work for a website I maintain.

Normally, we'd have been going up, sometime around Thanksgiving, to see my father. As it is, the part of the family that lives in Sauk Centre is either ill, or recovering, or getting sick. I'm in one of the last two conditions: I'm not sure which.

Since my father is in his upper eighties, needs a moderately portable oxygen unit, and is dealing with deteriorating health, bringing bugs into his household didn't seem prudent.

What happened today made me particularly glad that we have a modest collection of kids.

• #3 daughter helped keep our son, the youngest of the lot, productively occupied for much of the day
• #2 daughter both represented the family at my dad's place, and helped him with housekeeping
• #1 daughter wasn't so obviously useful, but we don't need to working at something all the time

I almost forgot: #3 daughter and son have the (artificial) Christmas tree up, and decorated, strung lights on a railing, and got other decorations up. This may be the earliest that the house has been Christmasized.

That tree is new-to-us. It's previous home had been with my father.

Happy Thanksgiving Eve!

I missed yesterday's post. Our son is still ill enough to be out of school, but better. I picked up his homework yesterday, so he's keeping up his studies.

#1 daughter called a few minutes ago. She's got a cold, apparently. Daughters #2 and 3 seem to be doing okay, and my wife isn't admitting any indisposition. Of course, it takes a lot for her to admit that she's not up to doing her job.

Me, I'm hoping that I'm not coming down with a (*sniff* - choo!) cold.

Aside from that, things are fine. I called an employment place in Alexandria yesterday: no job now, but they said that I should call back early next week. Finding a job, when you're a fifty-something, physically impaired guy with mostly clerical, writing, and graphics experience isn't quite a slam-dunk proposition. But, something should come up, sooner or later.

Actually, getting laid off in the spring of 2006 was very handy. All that free time gave me time to get long-overdue hip replacements, have carpal tunnel and 'trigger finger' work done on my wrists and hands.

I spent a lot of time in the shop last year.

More households got their Christmas displays up in the last couple of days. Sauk Centre got those over-the-street garlands up, wreaths on the light poles, and those nice, safe, generic "HAPPY HOLIDAY" signs over Main Street. I've only seen the south one, but I assume the crews got the northern counterpart up, too.

I hope nobody objects to the red and green lights.

That's not as much of a joke as you might think. Fort Collins, Colorado, may not have red and green lights in 2008. The Coloradoan wrote that the city's Holiday Display Task Force wants to limit the city displays to white lights and "secular winter symbols" like snowflakes and icicles.

The Ft. Collins city council voted to keep their discriminatory colored lights, 6-1.

That's probably just as well. If they'd gone to a white-only policy, someone would probably insist on yellow, red, and black lights, too. And the icicles and snowflakes would have to go, since they'd suggest that people whose ancestors came from equatorial regions were unappreciated.

Sorry about that harangue.

Come to think of it, black lights in Christmas displays could be pretty cool: Anybody remember those groovy black light posters, back in the sixties?

Back to Sauk Centre, here's what one household has for a Christmas display, so far.

Christmas Season Begins: Before Thanksgiving?

One of my wife's back molars broke (again) as the the weekend began. She put up with a ragged edge until today. The dentist says that if one more filling breaks in that tooth, it'll have to go.

Our son is feeling better today. Not well: but better. He's concerned about missing rehearsal for the Christmas musical. I'm not sure how that will work out.

Good grief! This Thursday is Thanksgiving Day.

And more households, and businesses, have Christmas decorations up. Sauk Centre was putting up the overhead garlands this afternoon. I haven't spotted the nice, safe, "Happy Holidays" banner yet.

The church choir has started practicing for Christmas. I was the only one going tonight. Among other factors, my wife didn't think she should leave our son.

Not bad, for a Monday