Is It Still Christmas? I Hope So!

OK, here’s the deal, I am really drunk, we just heard that Betty White died, and I did not make a blog post yesterday. Can I make a blog post now? The answer must be yes.

I had meant to make a Throwback Thursday Post yesterday but could not muster the necessary oomph.

He’s the best.

Here is a true Throwback: a delightful Santa that lives at my parents’ house. It was a recurring joke for some years that my husband, Steven, would leave his clothes out of his suitcase and take that nice Santa Claus.

Since that time we have acquired a number of nice Santa Clauses of our own. Can I find a picture of same?

Are they not delightful?

It has been a wonderful wonderful Christmas season. My Tablet is not being especially helpful in my efforts to make a post today. No matter. I wish you joy in your continued yuletide festivities.

I Ran! I Blogged!

I have not made a Running Commentary Post in a long time. That could be because I have not been running much lately. What can I say? It turns out I am really good at talking myself out of doing things. Um, some things. I can almost never talk myself out of, for example, eating cookies. But let us not speak of these things. I want to blog about my run.

The weather was conducive: not too cold and not precipitating. I got myself into running clothes, put a load of laundry in the washer (the extent of my ability to multi-task), and set out.

Immediately I regretted not wearing my reflective vest or ARMY shirt with a reflective decal. The sidewalks were not uniformly clear. I knew I would want to spend some time in the road, and I like to give myself every advantage. Well, I would just have to be extra careful.

I turned left onto German Street, so I could be left-side-facing-traffic in the road. There was a nice stretch of no cars coinciding with some icy-looking sidewalk. How often does that work out? When I hopped back to the sidewalk, I had to dodge onto grass to avoid a couple puddles. I hooked around and tried to spend the rest of my run on less busy streets.

The best thing about the run was all the Christmas lights still up. How I will miss them! I feel I have not taken enough runs, walks, and drives to enjoy the lights sufficiently. However, I feel that way almost every year. I can’t spend all my time looking at lights, after all.

I changed my mind about which way to go several times but was delighted to go by a house with lots of lights and the homeowner outside.

“I have to tell you, the lights are lovely,” I said as I ran by.

“Thank you very much,” he said.

“Thank YOU!” I replied.

It was a short but enjoyable run. Perhaps as I get back into blogging regularly, I can also get back into running.

Deck Fratello’s

I was too tired to make my Thursday blog post on Thursday, and I am a little too tired and brain-dead to make a real post now. However, I have a few pictures of the Christmas decorations at Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort, where we had such a nice time on Wednesday. I love Christmas decorations!

Guarding the door.

This nutcracker greeted us as we walked in the door. I was especially charmed by the snow carpet with all the little things.

“We could totally do this!” I enthused. “I have lots of little shiny things.” The only problem would be limiting the display to just one of Steve’s nutcracker collection. Perhaps we could do a variation on the theme.

I love the angels.

We have wine bottles, so I guess we could do this one, too.

That EXIT sign seems out of place.

This one might be a little harder to accomplish, but we have an arch between our living room and dining room, so I might try.

All these thoughts of Christmas decorations have certainly cheered me up. If only I didn’t have to work, so I could get started right away! Why, oh why was I not born rich instead of so damn good looking?

Late Post, Random Pics

As so often happens, Monday’s good intentions went to hell on Tuesday. So here I am on Wednesday morning with not enough time for a real post but a few random pictures to share. I just now took the pictures. Does that count as Doing Something? Let’s pretend it does.

Aren’t they cute?

Steven has been after me to take a picture of the frog on the left. He purchased it from an artist friend.

I’d like to take a few detail shots.

Having more ambition than me, Steven Christmas-ized our mantle. You see the ghost had gotten into the, so to speak, spirit of things. Bonita is still working on her outfit.

You had me at Vincent Price.

Steven gave me the Vincent Price Pumpkin Spice coffee for an anniversary present in October. He put the bag around the bottle with the witchy stopper for photo op purposes, but I neglected to take the picture till just now.

Full disclosure: I may be late with my Wednesday post as well, because we plan to make our usual trip to Fratello’s in Frankfort, NY for food and music. Phillip Arcuri is playing.

Yes, He Brought Me Coffee

Hello, and welcome to another late post, made around five in the morning, ten finger typing on the lap top. I have not even had coffee yet but expect my husband Steven to bring me a cup when he gets himself one right along here.

Last night I began to made a Tired Tuesday Post and just did not want to do it. For one reason, all I wanted to do was whine about how stressed and depressed I felt. For heavens’ sake, many, many people are stressed and depressed. I do not have any more reason to feel so than anybody else, considerably less than some. And from me, it is getting dull.

One thing I did to help myself last night was to go for a run. It was not a bad run. It was certainly not a long run. It felt as if I was running fast, for me. Unfortunately I had my Garmin on and was discouraged to find that fast for me is just under a 13-minute mile. Well, what am I so discouraged about? I am not racing against anybody.

On the brighter side, quite literally, a few people still have their Christmas lights on. Tradition has it we should leave our decorations up till January 6, you know, Twelve Days of Christmas. I have long wanted to throw a Twelfth Night Party. For one reason, it would postpone my Post-Christmas Letdown. For another reason, I like to give a party.

I see I have rambled on for more than 250 words. By my rules for me, that is more than respectable for a Late Tired Tuesday Post. I wonder if I should also categorize this as a Non-Sequitur Post. Or add a category of Just Babble On Till 200 Words Category. Any thoughts?

Here’s the Cow Bell!

This evening, I bestirred myself to take a picture of the Cow Bell I mentioned in my last blog post.

Is it not adorable?

I also took a better shot of the sugar cookies from the So Sweet Candy Cafe.

They tasted as good as they looked.

Yes, we already ate them.

For anybody just tuning, these were part of a Christmas present from my sister Cheryl. I wrote about it yesterday, I neglected to give any information on the local businesses where she shopped. In lieu of my usual Tired Tuesday Post, I shall do that now.

The So Sweet Candy Cafe, where she got the sugar cookies, is located at 531 Varick St., Utica, NY, phone number 315-765-6463. They are open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Newport Marketplace, where she purchased the Cow Bell, is located at 7583 Main St., Newport, NY, phone number 315-845-8822. They are open 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.n. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Awesome Country, where she found items pictured in yesterday’s post, is located at 106 Park Ave., Booneville, NY, phone number 914-489-1460. They are open 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

I close with another picture of the cow bell, showing a few surrounding decorations. I am still feeling the Christmas Spirit, and I hope many of you are too.

There might be a couple of Halloween decorations there as well.

Sometimes Monsters Help

I do not know why I feel so tired. I have accomplished very little today, and even less in the area of writing. I know, the only thing to do is to pick up a pen and write. Or a stylus and start picking out one letter at a time. So this is my Wrist to Forehead Sunday Post.

“Follow me! To the Graveyard!”

I throw in a picture to pep things up. I love this shot of Elliott Ghoul. The reflection makes it look like he is holding a Santa Claus doll. My Christmas decorations stay up till at least January 6th. I would really like to have a fabulous 12th Night party, but this is clearly not the year for that.

Another favorite ghoul.

I loves me some Svengoolie. We watched a DVR’d episode earlier. I got some knitting done.

December 2019.

This post is becoming a little disjointed, but I guess I have kind of a spooky Christmas theme going on. Above is our skeleton Bonita, in last year’s Christmas outfit. In the background you can see Santa Claus and Darling Duck.

I am strongly tempted to grow my hair out.

One more Christmas monster picture. I wonder if I can blame today’s post on my Post-Christmas Letdown. Hmmm…. sounds like a lame-ass excuse to me. All I can do is hit Publish and hope for the best. As always, thank you for tuning in.

Christmas Past Post

As the Grinch famously said, “Tomorrow is Christmas. It’s practically here!”

“Looking for me?”

Since it is also Thursday, I chime in with a Throwback Thursday picture. This jolly old elf made his first appearance on our mantle in 2016. We acquired him from the Herkimer County Historical Society. It is, in fact, only half a Santa. He had blown into their yard during a windstorm. They posted him on Facebook, but nobody claimed him. I am certain I have told this story before, but as I often say, reduce, reuse, recycle.

There’s a happy girl!

This picture is from December 2017, a close-up of a busier area of decoration. I have mentioned that we were more elaborate in previous years. Perhaps we will be more so in the future. I started to put “No doubt,” but in fact I have my doubts. However, my purpose now is not to dwell on doubt but to enjoy Christmas Eve with a Throwback Thursday Post.

Here’s a fun bunch!

I skip ahead to December 2019. I think all of these decorations were acquired prior to that year. A few of them are still out. It is my way of making Christmas last all year. Oh, don’t start on how making Christmas last all year is about giving and goodwill etc (you know who you are). I KNOW THAT!!! I hate those holier than thou sorts.

Look at the size of that list!

I close with another shot from 2018. This Santa is in front of our fireplace this year. He is a Throwback piece himself; my mother found him for us in an antique shop in Pennsylvania while she was visiting my sister.

I hope everyone is having a delightful Christmas Eve and will have a Merry Christmas. Or, if you do not celebrate, a delightful Thursday and merry Friday. I personally plan on having a Lame Post Friday. As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

Will Santa Come Down That Chimney?

Who could blame me for having a Tired Tuesday Post on Tuesday of Christmas week when I am trying to learn a new job? Oh, you probably could (you know who you are).

It is increasingly difficult for me to write. I have barely written in the TV Journal.TV Journal. Writing is not the only thing that is difficult for me. Clean my house? Not likely. Shop for Christmas presents? Nope.

And just listen to me whine about it! What a pathetic display. Maybe I could lighten things up with a picture.

A jolly scene.

Here is a picture of my fireplace taken earlier this month. Regular readers may recognize it as a different angle from a picture I took for last night’s blog. You may notice the absence of fake poo.

What a difference a year makes.

This is my mantle I 2019. Steven did the decorating. I believe he has a knack for it.

Just look at all that stuff!

This is December 2017. If I was trying to cheer myself up with these blasts from Christmas past, the effort has failed. All I can feel is disappointed in myself for having such meager decorations this year. But let us not travel further down THAT road.

I occurs to me as I look at these pictures that Santa would have a hard time coming down this chimney, if he were inclined to do so. Lucky for him I was bad all year.

 

 

I Need a Little Christmas

Christmas is just days away. I wore Christmas socks and a Christmas vest today. I listened to Christmas music as I drove to and from work. And yet the Christmas spirit eludes me. Perhaps I can chase it down with a few Christmas pictures.

I draw your attention to the little Christmas trees.

My sister Diane sent me a picture of her mantle via instant messenger. I was delighted, because she used the garland of crocheted Christmas trees I made for her some years ago. I invented the crocheted Christmas tree back in the mid 1980’s. I was pretty pleased with myself.

It is not as elaborate as when Steve does it.

I naturally sent her a picture of my own mantle. Full disclosure: we did not make a concerted effort with this. We just put stuff up as we found or acquired it.

Pardon the mess.

And this is our fireplace. Yes, that is fake poop on top of a pile of scripts on an old television. I just now noticed it. When I took the picture, I was more annoyed with myself about the bottles and jars I left sitting n the stool with the wine light. Not annoyed enough to clean it up and re-take the picture, I’m afraid.

Now I am laughing at myself. Here is my messy house, with Christmas decorations and fake poo. It’s not quite the Christmas Spirit, but it’ll do.