snippets of the weekend 12.26.2022

Festivus for the Rest of Us Friday, along with my last workday of 2022. My niece was over for a while in the morning. Chicken caesars for dinner, avoiding outside due to deep freeze (ice inside the window panes next to our door above), doing prep work for Mimi's bacon breakfast muffins, and asking the universe for no burst pipes at the shore, and Christmas Vacation. 

Christmas Eve we had Mimi's muffins for breakfast, and I did the prep work for Italian Wedding Soup and fresh bread for Christmas Day - spoiler alert, the fresh bread was glop. I think my flour was old. Try again on New Year's, maybe. Kitchen fails are normal! 

We did our annual rounds to Sandy's, cousin Colleen & John's, Uncle Billy/Aunt Sue's, and added a stop to cousin Jamie & Cindy's this year to see the Caldwells. We also did our annual drive through the well decorated neighborhood cul-de-sac. 

Christmas morning gifts with Dad & Carol. They have continued the tradition of getting me an Eagles item since I am the number one fan in the category of does not like football but likes football food and it is a running joke. My dad also picked this mug out for me, it appears that he knows me LOL. It was a fun morning watching MFD with his survivalist shit. We went to Stephen & Aubrey's to see the kids and have breakfast. We're all already thinking about summer. 

Back at home Dad & Carol left and we couched it all day. We watched both Knives Out movies, and when MFD went to do a shift for Advocates for Homeless & Those in Need I watched Do Revenge and made Italian wedding soup. MFD made separate chocolate and vanilla pudding and that was that for us on Christmas. I love doing nothing the majority of Christmas day.

Today I purged my top two drawers, jewelry, nail polish, and linen closet and made avocado dip. I assembled some goat cheese and prosciutto crostini at Mom's for Christmas Day 3. We had another fun time

weekending reels on Instagram 

Cheers to everyone who is feeling some sort of way about something that is decidedly not holiday-ish, to those missing someone or something, and to all of us out here finding joy amidst the complications of life, growing around our grief when we are grieving anyone/old ways/anything, coexisting as imperfectly perfect humans, and grappling with general societal expectations. I'd send the entire world a hug if I could and encourage us all to keep showing up, talking and laughing, sticking with each other through the hard stuff, and just to keep going.

This week I hope to keep going on purging, sorting, and getting rid of a bunch of shit. Whatever you're doing, enjoy!

Thursday Thoughts - So happy Christmas

The publishing houses were giving this week. I got surprise packages from St. Martins Press - Maame by Jessica George, publishing February 7, 2023 (according to this copy, I have January 31, 2023 marked on Netgalley?) - and from Macmillan Red Queen (Antonia Scott #1) by Juan Gomez-Jurado with a bonus puzzle. This was originally published in 2018 and is the basis for an Amazon streaming series that's coming in 2023. I had Maame from Netgalley already, but prefer the physical book any day so will happily add both to my winter store of books I always start amassing in December. 

I'm also going to share books on Instagram that I'll mail for the cost of postage or a donation to Mighty Writers (which has pivoted to ALSO provide food donation in the face of food insecurity beginning in Covid and beyond in our communities as well as encouraging kids to be writers) or Room to Read. So keep an eye out for that, probably will do that next week in stories? I'm not sure yet. 

Jim has been the anchor of Action News since I was just over two months old. I cried a little on his last broadcast last night. I hope he has a terrific retirement.

Zelinskyy was amazing in front of Congress. 

All the motherfucking windows at the shore house save one have finally been replaced. It just took a little small claims court prodding for the last four. 

Billy Hicks has taken the guest room over as his room. There's a double bed and a single in the room, and they're pushed together so it's like an extra large bed. He sleeps on every part of it, under the comforter and under the sheets. Over the last week Ben has been joining him. They are sun animals. Yesterday they got evicted because humans need to use the room and we had to wash all the bedding. Billy lay outside and bitch meowed all day

I swear Shit MFD Says is coming back one day. Until then the fucking toenail clippers again.

Fantastic energy around the Winter Solstice last night. I was happy and clear setting my intentions for this new season. I hope you are at peace and ready for winter. 

Speaking of, the forecasted temperatures this weekend are rude. Really very rude. 

Mom dropped our Christmas Cookies off this week! I was very happy. As was Bruce.

Billy sat with me this week, which is not a thing. And other pet things.

Big love and hugs to anyone having a hard time with anything right now, big or small. This season is shiny and bright but it's also hard as fuck for a lot of people, sometimes for reasons they can't put into words. 

 
What appears beyond the hyphen in Thursday Thoughts titles is what I'm listening to when I'm starting this - this week is Fairytale of New York by The Pogues

snippets of the weekend 12.19.2022

Friday we were supposed to have a festive night in Cape May but MFD got in an accident on the way to an appointment in the morning and best laid plans and all. He's got some neck issues but in the grand scheme of life is fine, no one else involved but a few kind motorists who stopped to help. The car is another story, so we're in one car right now which is interesting for a person who does not share (me). Friday afternoon I took B&B to the beach to check out the surge from the storm that finally left the area, and we took a long walk at night. Saturday I took care of some stuff we were going to be doing at the shore on the weekend - moving furniture and shit around for the final four windows to be installed this week and headed back to Philly Saturday around noon. Everyone pray for no damage from anything frozen this week down there!

I unloaded all stuff and immediately the Philly house looked like a bomb went off. I visited my nephew for his birthday, then we went to Georgine's where we haven't been in years. It was good. We picked up groceries for the zillionth time. 

Sunday was cooking and prepping for MFD's siblings and fams to come over. We had a nice fun day with everyone, only missing Ali who was working. 

Dinner was spiral ham, spinach casserole, Hungarian mushroom soup (need to do a blog post for this recipe), and indulgent mac & cheese by dwardcooks - really happy with this recipe for a gathering. I channeled Gamma and had some candy trays out for dessert and a modified version of a dip Aubrey made for Thanksgiving - need to do a recipe for that too. We cleaned up and hit the couch by 9. 

weekending reels on Instagram 

TWTW - the one with the Christmas

Friday Up and at 'em at the crack of dawn. Thanks dogs. I painted my nails, then Carol and I went to Cake Life in Fishtown to pick up my pre-order which included amazing herbed goat cheese biscuits. I came back and made eggs then relaxed and watched a Hallmark movie and took a Covid rapid test before going out even though I'm triple vaxxed because 202021. It was nice to return to a version of Christmas Eve traditions of Sandy's and my aunt and uncle's and the start of what will be a new one at Col & John's, whose open house landed in the middle. And where MFD dropped me and left me to deal with some volunteer work and also to check in on the dogs as Gus shit everywhere. God bless. When he got back I ran to see my Pop before he turned into a pumpkin and Mom and Rich had to take him home, then MFD got dropped off. We hung around for a bit, then dropped my brother Swan off, and  drove around listening to a few of our must hear Christmas tunes and taking in some lights. I was in bed by 9 with Tums, my stomach felt off. 

Saturday Nothing says Merry Christmas like your husband waking up and puking. Good thing we had planned to do nothing on Christmas Day! Ho ho ho, mofos. The dogs and cat enjoyed the morning (Billy's first Christmas experience), I loved stockings the most as I always do (ours made by Lori). I usually buy all gifts but MFD got me some this year from a woman, African American, veteran owned small business in Philly - Trunc - and I loved that so much. I popped over to see my niece and nephew and have bacon breakfast muffins. The rest of the day was amazing - MFD was asleep or on another floor all day so I could read, order slippers I wanted, order chinese, have chocolate cake, and watch Great British Bake Off holiday shows. Delightful. I dislike Christmas in general so doing the fun on Christmas Eve and nothing on Christmas day suits me well. 

Sunday Unfortunately I could not fall asleep and was up until 2, then up at 5 with Gus, and up for the freaking day an hour after that. That led to a grouchy Sunday. I put some of Christmas away and futzed around putting some new stuff out - how cool are the vintage candle holders Carol got me at a store in their new town? Purple, vintage, and reminiscent of the moon - ran to the grocery store, watched the Eagles in my new official Eagles gear which meant they won of  course, had salad for dinner, got a visit from my niece and nephew, and did some work. Yes, I am allegedly off this week. 

I hope you had the Christmas you wanted, and that you're going to have the week you want this week. And not the night MFD had last night, pulling a ribbon out of Billy's butt because he ate it. Merry Christmas everyone.

Show Us Your Books Favorite Reads of 2021 here on Thursday! 

TWTW - the one before Christmas

Friday It was like 62 degrees on Friday. Amazing. I picked up some Johnson's popcorn gifts and a Bungalow Bowl and worked the morning at the shore, driving back to Philly at lunch to close out the work day. I ran over to see my nephew for his fourth birthday at night. 

Saturday I was at HomeGoods before 8 am in the clothes I wore the day before. My Christmas pipe dream is extended hours at HomeGoods all the time. I got a shit ton of pantry organizers, did the organizing, and packed up the rest to return. I dropped stuff off at the Pack & Ship and picked up food for Mae. I painted my nails ( OPI I'm Really an Actress). I had my first appointment in Kristi & Maria's new salon, Salon Harmony in Langhorne. I love it and am thrilled for them. Such a relaxed, nice hair experience and of course always love catching up with my long long time friend (and long time hair stylist) Kristi and Maria. After that I returned the unused organizers to Marshalls and had family Christmas at Mom & Rich's. It was a nice relaxed evening and I brought home my cookies!

Sunday I was at Giant early, made veggie soup and macaroni salad and prepped fruit and veggies and dips. Carol made spinach dip. I picked up a lunchmeat tray in the afternoon. MFD's fam came over for dinner and it was another relaxing nice visit situation. Good to see everyone, and the dogs loved all the laps to sit on. I put my phone down the first time I got up then never picked it up again until everyone was out except Mark and Sarah. Ben did not mind the extra solo attention. We were cleaned up and laying down by 9. 

Here we are in Christmas week.

I am allegedly off until January 3 after today, but I have external deadlines that will need to be met over the break so I'll work on those as needed and nothing else. I'm sour about it but there's nothing we can do.

Friday Five-ish: Christmassy shit

Happy Friday - one week left until Christmas Eve. Two weeks left in this year. A good time to dump the holiday-ish photos I've taken here and wander off into the weekend, where I have three actual event-related things to do. After so long of having nothing to do, doing a fraction of what I used to feels like so much LOL. 

Ocean City's beach trees: North Street, 11th Street, 15th Street, 21st Street, 37th Street, and 55th Street. I also went to see the secret tree on Seaspray that lights up at night but it's been so heavily misty this week my pictures are shite.

Over a week ago my Dad and Carol took us to dinner at Macaroni's. The meal was absolutely delicious, I cannot stop thinking about the brussels or the stuffed chop. Their entry tree was amazing too. Then we drove around two of the cul-de-sacs in our neighborhood to look at the lights. 

Clark Griswold finished his window after that. You can land a plane in our living room but it always looks festive and nice.

Of course we have pet photos to accompany that.

If you're not feeling it or feeling very fucking tired of the show that is 202021 - I'm just saying it together now, it's run together and it has run well amok - hang in there. I hope you get some rest over the holidays. Remember you don't have to do everything, buy everything, see everything, be everywhere. Quiet holidays are wonderful too. Or not observing them at all if you don't feel like it also works. 

I hope everyone is vaccinated and boosted, taking advantage of the warmer temps to ventilate well or be outside and in general careful out there. If you indulge in holiday spirits, do not indulge in holiday driving.

I am ill over the national threats of school shootings trending on social media. This country is beyond broken and it cannot be fixed within the systems we currently have. This is freedom? Really? Be safe out there everyone. 

Happy happy happy birthday to my very favorite little boy  - my nephew turns four today. He is smart, funny, mercurial, and gives amazing hugs. 

TWTW - got my money's worth

Friday I painted my nails, had a delicious dinner a la Carol, ran errands to strangely empty Target and Aldi, and watched the end of Christmas Vacation when I got home. 

Saturday I finished loading up the car, changed sheets, and headed to the shore. I unboxed the replacement ottoman and some Christmas gifts that had arrived while I was gone last week. The weather was shit so I read most of the day and night with some time off of that to hit the beach, put stuff I brought back with me away, and pick up dinner from Boyar's. 

Sunday I took Bruce and Ben down to the South end for an hour walk in some glorious light provided by an already risen sun behind a cloud wall on the horizon. Mildly good treasure haul.

I did some cardio dance shit, organized my tupperware cabinet, showered, dropped donations off to the thrift store, and headed over to the community center. The library was having a holiday event with singers, refreshments, and Santa by the tree outside. I dropped off books and picked up a hold, then popped into the Ocean City Historical Museum and the Art Center to buy a piece of pottery. I ordered a new pantry and rolling spice rack for Philly to arrive this week and got some Billy shots from Carol. He's very into the Christmas spirit.

Very early we headed to the beach for sunset and frolicked for a half hour. Back at home I finished the newest Josie Quinn that I started Saturday and had taco salad for dinner. I was asleep by 11.

Another good weekend where I sent it off feeling like I got my time off work money's worth from it. You know?

Happy birthday to Mimi Saturday! Yesterday was Gamma's birthday and I wrote about that a little on the shore instagram here. 

Show Us Your Books tomorrow! See you here for that. Rest in peace Anne Rice - I loved Interview with the Vampire and the rest of the Vampire Chronicles, but my true love is the Mayfair Witches trilogy. If you read IWTV but not the rest of the vampire books, try them. If you like that kind of writing and story, try the Mayfair Witches trilogy too.

Devastating news out of four states hit with December tornadoes Friday, particularly Kentucky. If you have anything to spare please check out this mutual aid doc via Appalachians for Appalachia and do what you can, donate to the governor's Team Western Kentucky Tornado Fund (per Bright on a Budget he did similar to get money directly to people during the pandemic and it worked), or Convoy of Hope (multi-state, April's suggestion). Please avoid the Red Cross and remember that unless you are super local and can drop off goods, cash is king and it is needed if you have any of it to spare.

TWTW - the one with the Christmas

Friday was The Christmas coming off a night of extremely fragmented sleep thanks to a Christmas Eve rain and wind storm. We had water coming in the front door, water on the second floor through siding somewhere, and flashing lost on the back of the house. I was happy to wake up to no more of it. I walked Bruce and Ben and went to the beach to wish the ocean Merry Christmas before coming back to make breakfast, did a Christmas Friday Five blog post, and sat around with Debbie watching A Christmas Story. 

MFD arrived around 11. We opened gifts - old people gifts like a bidet for MFD and a neck pillow for me - and watched more ACS. I put dinner in the oven around 2 (eye round), Debbie made the eggs, and we were eating by 4 like the seniors we are. 

But it meant I could make the sunset with Bruce. He misses going out with me alone as my sidekick dog. 

Christmas night was Christmas Vacation twice in a row, family zoom with MFD's fam, and Gremlins. Which I don't think I've ever watched all the way through and can I say the Gremlins are gross like messy gross and totally rude? I started a new book too. 

Saturday was pretty cold and pretty lax. I did some blogging in the morning, and bought wreaths for outside on clearance for next year. Then I cleared out Christmas. I took Bruce on a sunset walk. 

Throughout the day I read and we watched Murder on the Bayou, two indie movies: The Week End and The Festival, I, Tonya, and Vice. The sum of these few days is more TV than I've watched in months. 

Sunday Since we were up late watching Vice, I was slow to get going in the morning. I started a new book. Debbie left around 11:30. I went to get some groceries. MFD and I took the dogs shelling in the south end. I napped and walked to my corner store for rolls. More reading. I ate a salad which tasted amazing after all the cookies. It was a good and relaxing day. 

Not unlike other years, I am happiest when Christmas is over and decorations are stowed away. Even when they were minimal in the first place like they were this year.

Tomorrow is Show Us Your Books: Favorite Reads of 2020. See you here for that!