Whatever they put in the painkiller yesterday worked; I slept clean through the night and didn’t wake up until 6:47 am this morning. Mary woke soon after and made me some tea before returning to bed. I heard her scurrying around in the bedroom and looking to see what was happening; she was getting ready for the gym! I forgot today was Friday!
We went to the gym, and I did pretty well until I became warm. Then, I cut the exercises short and started to cough again.
When we returned home, we began looking at the house and thinking about packing up Christmas. Finally, around mid-afternoon, we got into gear, and the process began!
We began in the family room.
Oh my, where did all this stuff go? We had boxes and boxes of “stuff,” and this year, we tried to get everything back in its original boxes; we did pretty well!
We have completed the living room/TV room.
Finally, at 9:30 p.m., we declared victory and went to bed with the idea of getting up early and finishing everything. Joe and the kids may come over this morning to get the van (Joe’s truck is in the desert getting fixed).
We got a note from Colleen that she found a brass big like my mother, her gransmother gave her many years ago at a swapmeet in Indiana.
She was so happy to have found this little guy!
NOTE: 42 days, and we will be at sea with Sarah and Jon, sailing away to Mexico on a week-long adventure!
We were up early and working in the office, attempting to find the desktops. We were up early, caffeinated to the max, and diving into the office like explorers searching for lost treasures—only our treasure was buried under mounds of paperwork that seemed to multiply like rabbits. If you think finding desktops is a piece of cake, try navigating a paper avalanche! I half expected to discover a long-lost coffee mug from 2010 or a rare species of dust bunny in the process. Who knew that in the quest to be “organized,” I’d end up training for an extreme office marathon? Buried under mounds of old paperwork.
After 8:00 am, I was not to drink OR eat, oh my! On my last trip to the kitchen at 7:59 am, the last chocolate in the previous candy box whispered to me as I wandered by in a daze. I overcame this by slamming the top of the box closed and running back to the office.
At 11:00 am, we prepped to go outside and set our GPS for Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Orange. Mary decided I should wear my black jogging outfit because it makes my butt look cute (I swear I am going to send her to an eye doctor!).
We arrived at 12:15 am for a 1:00 pm appointment, which was good as we beat the post-lunch rush! A male nurse came out and asked if I could go with the flow instead of smoking a pain pipe, poking several Voo-doo dolls dressed as the medical staff, and doing incantations in the lobby! I responded accordingly.
We were sent to the procedure area at 1:00 pm sharp, and I was instructed to put on the hospital gown, but he said in no uncertain terms, “PLEASE keep your pants on, AND the gown opens in the back.!” Maybe he remembered me from my last visit. What was the nice nurse telling me??
We went through all the pre-procedure chit-chat, including signing away my firstborn. (I was happy to do that! It’s an inside joke.)
A bronchial scope procedure, also known as a bronchoscopy, is a procedure that allows a doctor to examine my airways and lungs. During the procedure, a doctor inserts a thin, lighted tube with a camera into your nose or mouth and down your throat. This was the operative word; I am sure it was the diameter of a milk bottle. The doctor then used the camera to view images of my airways and perform various procedures. I swear it went in so far I could see the color of my underwear!
During the procedure, I was given medicine through an IV to help me relax, and I was put under general anesthesia. I had a numbing drug sprayed in my mouth and throat and a numbing jelly placed in my nostril (I would have preferred whisky). They said the procedure may feel uncomfortable, but it shouldn’t hurt. He did say I might need a stool softener.e
OK, I was out like a light and didn’t see anything or feel anything, but I did dream of my beautiful bride driving me home, and I was in a complete body cast!
After a few minutes, I woke up in the recovery room. I was a recovering pentathol addict! I did feel woozy, but I was not going to let on in front of my amazing wife, so I tried to put on my pants. Several people complained about the “loud and obnoxious pole dancer” who was trying to put on clothes instead of taking them off. I acquiesced and allowed Mary to get me back in presentable attire.
Mary drove home the seven miles, making it in under two minutes (a new record for Vicky to beat).
I had not eaten in days, so I was ready to eat the doorknob off the bathroom door when Mary suggested kabobs! That would keep me busy long enough to make it until 6:30 am when the doctor said I could eat again!
In the oven at 3:30 degrees for a few minutes, they disappeared!
The meds were still in my system, so MAry put me to bed and got me into my “Papa Bear” jammies at around 7:30 pm, and I did NOT open my eyes until 6:45 am the following day!
Also, I did not cough all night, and Scout, fearing for his life, stayed asleep all night (I think!).
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We found a great way to start the year: a trip to the Segerstrom Performing Arts Center to see Back To The Future.
We had brunch at the Silver Trumpet across the street from the theater. Robin, Bob, Bill Capps, Mary, and I enjoyed a leisurely brunch with bottles of champagne and lively conversation!
We landed at 11:30 am, tight on time!
Robin and Bob decided to hitch a ride with me this morning, and guess who got to play chauffeur? That’s right, I was the designated driver! I mean, if I had known I was getting into a comedy show on wheels, I would have charged them admission! I think my driving skills were impressive—especially when I navigated with one hand while holding a coffee cup in the other, pretending I was on a cooking show with all the dramatic flair.
“And now, my friends, let’s spice it up with a little lane change! Who knew driving with passengers could be such a thrill? Buckle up, folks; it’s going to be a bumpy ride full of dad jokes and pit stops for snacks!”
Robin and Bob looked great after last night’s party and regaining their composure after this mornings terrifying ride.
There were many dining options but in keeping with my desire to get back to 190 pounds, I chose the salmon bowl. When it was served, it looked like a minnow but that what happens when one is on a diet!
Bill had not been to the performing arts center before.
Bill and Mary were ready to see the show. Bill is always charming and awaiting for whatever outbursts come from yours truly.
When Marty McFly is transported back to 1955 in a time machine built by the eccentric scientist Doc Brown, he accidentally changes the course of history. Now, he’s in a race against time to fix the present, escape the past, and send himself… back to the future. When Back to the Future hits 88mph, it will forever change musical theatre history.
Hop in; it is going to be quite a ride!!
To say the show was high-energy would be an understatement. With singing, dancing, and terrific music, it kept us on the edge of our seats all afternoon—the production lasted two hours!
In the final scene, the car is lifted into the air and comes out toward the audience before zooming off at 88 mph to return to 1984.
The cast kept busy changing costumes from the 1950s to the 1980s to 2000 and beyond!
After the show, we stopped at the Silver Trumpet again and had a drink before going home.
It was beginning to get foggy, so we departed around 6:30 pm for the short ride home.
Upon entering the house, Mr. Bark, known as Scout, came to see what the fuss was about. He was happy to see us and required roughly ten minutes of scratching.
We got a glass of wine and headed across the street to visit Jeff, our neighbor, and we stayed with him for 45 minutes discussing the day’s events!
“OK, youse guys; you must stay with me for a while!!!”
We successfully celebrated the first of January! We shall crash and begin the process of putting up Christmas tomorrow. First, we will go to the hospital at noon so I can have the bronchial scope procedure done and find out why the cough!
I was up at 6:00 am and went to the office, attempting to stay quiet so Mary could get her beauty sleep! (She does NOT need it, but I offer the option anyway)
Around 7:45 am, I intently watched the US Navy Channel on YouTube when I spotted a shadow across my keyboard. It was an angel bringing me some hot tea!
We decided to do nothing strenuous today since we must be ready for tonight’s wild party. The “kids” (Bob and Robin) are coming over around 3:30 p.m., and we will break open a boggle of bubbly to get things started.
We planned to arrive at the Elks at 5:45 pm—because nothing says “we love punctuality,” like showing up just in time for the dinner rush! Why strive to be fashionably late when you can be hilariously early? Imagine us making a slow-motion sprint through the parking lot like we’re in an action movie—“Elk-caption: The Fast and the Furious Edition!”
We’ll have 24 friends and family with us this evening, and we’re hoping to recreate last year’s epic saga! You know, the one where Uncle Bob Zaitz tried to prove he could still do a backflip and ended up embracing the lawn like it was a long-lost friend? Here’s to more questionable dance moves, burnt offerings from the grill, and games so competitive that we might need referees! Let the fun (and the chaos) begin!
We had a wonderful time last year and will repeat that feeling this year, too!
I was thinking about my resolutions, and I have several. Remember: A New Year’s resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other!
Stop blaming my farts on the dog.
Stop using the Treadmill used as a clothes hanger.
I resolve to make resolutions I can keep.
Create a detective agency for lost socks: Solve the mystery of where missing socks go after laundry day.
Tell the doctor the truth when they ask how many drinks – alcoholic or caffeinated – you have in a month.
Lose weight by inventing an anti-gravity machine.
We kicked off the celebration like a bunch of kids at a candy store, then wobbled our way to the Elks, convinced that if the food couldn’t be as fancy as our pre-party, we’d just bring the confetti!
One for the road!!
We had our chauffeur pick us up! He was dressed for the evening like he was about to win a Best Supporting Actor award at the Oscars! I half expected him to hand us tiny golden statues instead of our luggage!
Low-cost Uber!
We arrived right on time, and the girls were ready to party!!
Dang…. They stole all the colors from around them!!
We had a table full of folks enjoying the evening—24 in all! It was like a family reunion, except nobody was arguing about who brought the bad potato salad. Instead, we were just debating whether pineapple belongs on pizza or if that’s a crime against humanity! Who knew 24 people could fit around a table and still have enough elbow room for all the desserts? We made sure to leave plenty of space for our jokes about the “endless buffet” of spicy opinions.
It’s a fantastic group!
And on the other side of the table…
We are ready to rock and roll!!
We danced, ate, giggled, and had a load of fun all evening long! I was blessed to have Mary right next to me, and we had a fantastic time together. I led a Conga Line that had twenty people in it!
Fun is a four-letter word!
We laughed so hard that my stomach almost staged a rebellion. We giggled like we were auditioning for a comedy show, danced like no one was watching (but the neighboring table was), and ate until we resembled stuffed sausages! It was a wild night of fun and food, and our dance moves were more “wobble” than “waltz” as the clock ticked past a ridiculously late hour!
Bob is looking good!
Good night, all! We are heading home! Buckle up, folks—it’s time for the world’s slowest race against the couch and snacks!
Love is in the air!
We headed home around 10:00 p.m. as the music slid into the 1990s. It was like someone hit the “no dance” button! We looked like confused penguins trying to bust a move, shuffling awkwardly while dreaming of our favorite early 2000s jams. Next time, we’re bringing a time machine!
Great fun with wonderful friends!
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Relapse time, the cough came back… phooey on this! Now, I will have to cancel the hand surgery AGAIN until the cough is gone and I am off meds.
I was up with Scout several times last night; he is getting old. At 5:00 am, I decided to stay up and breathe steam and drink a hot toddy; it worked because, by 7:30 am, I was feeling ok.
YouTube has some additional Amos and Andy shows, so I watched “The Rare Coin” to see what the Kingfish would do now. These guys rival Laurel and Hardy, Martin and Lewis, Cheech and Chong, and Abbott and Costello for being funny!
Big decisions, I shall NOT be a wuss and I will go to the gym just to get loosened up so we were on our way by 8:15 am giving us 30 minutes on the upright bicycles. Indeed we made it to the gym but about 40 minutes into the routine, I gave up and sat down and proceeded to cough sounding like the I needed an oxygen tent with all the wheezing, blowing, panting, puffing, snorting, suspiration, and coughing going on. Three people entering the gym offered to call 911.
Illustration of Old man weightlifting
We dropped by home for a few minutes after the gym to get some things we needed before heading to the hair parlor. We stopped and Mary got a blood-oxygen measuring device as she was afraid with all the coughing my levels could be low. Nope, I was a solid 97% oxygenated and 55% accoholnated, a good combination.
We arrived at noon at the hair parlor and proceeded to get beautiful for tomorrow night. With Mary it is easy, a touch here and a ship there and she is radiant.. Me on the other hand, Tammy puts on dark glasses, sharpens her tin snips, and then says a small prayer to the Saint of the Ugly that he won’t take me when she is done.
When she asked how I wanted it cut, I told her to decide. She immediately went into her top drawer and withdrew a bag of small dried bones and sprinkled them on the floor. After examining them and saying a few incantations, she was ready to begin.
After the hair-doo in Huntington Beach we decided it was time to eat so we went to the American Legion in Newport which was only six miles away.
We had a hot toddy and a nice lunch visiting with some of the people already there. It was great to catch up and enjoy some good food together. The atmosphere was warm and friendly, which made the day even more enjoyable.
Just us!
It was a beautiful day!
With a little help from AI…
Lunch was leisurely!
From the Legion, we headed to Tustin to pick up Mary’s new gown for tomorrow evening and she was met with a surprise; it was NOT ready. After a few short words, it was agreed we would come back in an hour. In the meantime we went to the bank to get some money and stop by the house to visit Scout.
Back to the alterations shop we went and success, the dress is now ready (shortened) for my 5’3″ babydoll!
We decided to celebrate and went to Aces for a Hot Toddy. 2024 was still handing out disappointments, they had no honey so we had one glass of wine and went home.
We visited our neighbor Jeff for a while before returning home to crash! Tomorrow is going to be a big day!!
We were off to see Bonnie*, and when I mentioned the car, Scout jumped in and back out of Mary’s car. She calls her car Precious! He got a little worried when I showed him the map and asked to have it translated into Australian Shepherd. We failed to find a translation, so he decided to take on the job of protecting the backyard from elephants, which he is good at!!
* Bonnie is Mary’s college roommate’s daughter. Mary’s daughter, Becky, is named after Bonnie’s mother! (You will be tested on this later!)
Precious is excited about her run up the coast today!
The 2018 Lexus LS 500h is a luxury hybrid sedan with a 366-hp powertrain and a 0-60 mph time of 5.1 seconds. Its combined fuel economy is 26 mpg. The Lexus LS can sprint from 0 to 100km/h in 5.4 seconds when chosen as a V6 hybrid or 5.0 seconds as a turbocharged V6. Its top speed is 250km/h (155 mph).
We will NOT be testing these features today; we may never see the speed limit with Captain Safety at the wheel! Mary can’t reach the gas pedal when she sits like a lady on the passenger seat with her seatbelt tight, and I do NOT allow her to take umbrellas or other items with long handles on trips!
When Mary drives, I lie in the trunk, fastened to the floor by a five-point racing car harness and covered with three layers of fireproof blankets. I also have three first-aid kits, two MREs, and a miniature version of “The Jaws of Life” readily available. She can hear me since I use the backseat-to-trunk sliding door for selective screaming and backseat driving.
This morning, I felt better than in the past two weeks. The Prednisone was a needed roborant for his infection. We stopped at the local coffee shop, got some egg bites and a latte, and set about our ninety-minute drive on a foggy Sunday morning.
THe top of the Sepulveda Pass is now the 2/3 mark for our trip and we went from fog to bright sunshine!
We aimed to arrive at Bonnie’s house around 11:00 am—just in time to catch them in their natural habitat before they become fully caffeinated and start plotting world domination!
We visited for a while and then made amazing Shish Kabobs using fresh bell peppers, onions, and mushrooms with terrific hunks of steak. The kids got to make their own, which was quite a mix of things.
The kids help us put on the feedbag!
Almost ready for the oven! You could smell them across the room; they were absolutely delicious.
Why did the kebab go to therapy? It had too many beefs.
Did you hear about the kebab restaurant on the moon? I heard the food was good but it had no atmosphere.
I asked for a kebab with everything on it. They gave me a stick with a mini fridge, a TV, and a sofa.
The assembly line is going strong! Yes, the garlic was also put on the sticks after it softened up in the oven!
Yum yum; good for the tum!
Everyone helps! Shish kebab is an English rendering of Turkish: shis (sword or skewer) and kebap (roasted meat dish) that dates from around the beginning of the 20th century.
We made a batch this time!
Ladies, you are looking good! Bonnie is Mary’s college roomates daughter and they are very close!
Bonnie and Mary
We visited for a while and then went to Diane’s Camarillo home to meet Megan and Steven. After visiting in their home, we decided to go to The Lure for a late afternoon lunch!
Lure Fish House is a family-owned restaurant featuring the freshest sustainable seafood from trusted sources.
Mary with her grandchildren, Steven and Megan! Everyone was recalling their college days just getting Megan ready for the start of her adventure in six months.
Mary with the grandkids!
The whole family, including Diane, had a great time dining, telling stories, and listening to Steven’s adventures at Texas A&M, where he is a sophomore in Engineering.
Did You Know? Texas A&M University (Texas A&M, A&M, TA&M, or TAMU) is a public, land-grant research university in College Station, Texas, United States. It was founded in 1876 and became the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System in 1948. Since 2021, Texas A&M has enrolled the largest student body in the United States and is the only university in Texas to hold simultaneous designations as a land-, sea-, and space-grant institution. It is classified among “R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity” and a member of the Association of American Universities.
Everyone was here…
Diane will soon be an empty nester. Megan will depart for Hawaii in the summer to attend the University of Hawaii in Honolulu on a gymnastics scholarship and major in mathematics.
The Guilland family at home before school begins again!
We enjoyed hearing the kids being so excited about going to school and their plans for the future. We never said, “Been there, done that!” It’s great to listen to the kids and then remember back when we crossed our campuses always on the lookout for dinosaurs creeping around the rocks.!
Just us!
Just us (and a little AI to help) still in the Christmas spirit!
Season’s dreaming.
We zipped back toward home just after the sun had set, and it took about 90 minutes. Mother Nature, being as powerful as she is, requested a session, so we stopped at Old Ranch in Seal Beach just in time to make her happy. While there, we had a Hot Toddy and visit with Juan, the Maître d’* before going home.
*Maître d’ is short for maître d’hôtel, which comes from French and literally means “master of the house.
p.s. We asked Precious if she was happy and got a resounding yes with only a minor comment about the driver NOT opening up to her full potential! (I made it to 80 mph once going down hill into LA).
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We were up bright and late. It was last 7:40 when we got up. Being the perfect husband, I got up first, turned up the heat, turned on the bathroom heater, started the coffee maker, and sent Scout out to do his business!
Scout only got up once last night, at 4:00 am, after he saw the “Dog For Sale” sign in the front yard. He has been re-adopted.
We decided NOT to attack Christmas until after the New Year, so we are in planning mode, which is short for waiting!!
Around 3:00 pm, we began getting ready for tonight’s foray into the dance world at the Elks with Bob & Donna, plus Vicky & Jim. Dj Ronnie will start the evening, and we will dine and dance until we are too pooped to pop!
Much to my dismay, I found out my old boss at Rockwell passed on recently. We were supposed to visit each other this summer, but medical situations between us did not allow for the visit. Ed was one of my mentors and as the Chief Engineer on Apollo and Space Shuttle, we was terrific.
He always had me doing “special operations,” like sending me to Canada for several months to solve an antenna development problem on the Apollo Lunar Sounder and then to Corning Glass Works to oversee problems with manufacturing alumino-silicate thermal glass on Apollo.
In 1975, he moved me to run the Avionics Development Lab under Sy Rubenstein, another of my mentors, who was very special and extremely intelligent. After three years, Ed and Sy sent me to the classified world and away from spaceships. Years later, I returned to work for Sy when he was President of the Space Station Division, where I met Sue in 1985.
Ed and Sy were absolutely fantastic bosses and engineers. I owe much of my success to their leadership and involvement in my work at Rockwell and Boing.
One of a kind, a real man!
We were off to the Elks at 5:00 pm for a 5:30 pm arrival time. I plan to be careful this evening as my cough is improving, and I do NOT want to have a setback! I was thinking about dinner and have come to a profound conclusion:
We met Vicky, Jim, Donna, and Bob on Saturday for a delightful tamale dinner and ballroom dancing with DJ Ronnie.
The sun was setting as we left our home, which meant it was 4:35 p.m. We zipped down the 55 in The Silver Fox, who was still wearing his Reindeer outfit. We pulled into the Lodge parking lot at 4:56 p.m., just in time.
You could almost hear the water sizzle!
We arrived first, so we ordered a hot toddy to start the evening. The toddy seems to help with the cough by coating the throat with honey and cutting the phlegm with hot water, lemon, and whiskey.
Vicky and Jim burst in like they were late for a surprise party—only to find out the only surprise was tamale night! As the four of us sat down for dinner, Jim accidentally knocked over the salt shaker, declaring it a “sacred ritual” to ward off flavorless food.
Meanwhile, Vicky was trying to decipher the Elks attempt at making tamales, which looked suspiciously like a science experiment gone wrong. Who knew dinner could double as a comedy show?
We knew B&D would be late as she was working around the house so we ordered. I should have kn own something when Vicky ordered Fish & Chips.
We told stories and organized New Year’s Eve!
Ronnies was DJing, so we danced to great hits from the 1940s through the 1960s for almost two hours. We ChaCha’ed, waltzed, and did a lot of old-fashioned swing with some new steps!
Mary is a fantastic dancer—so amazing that when she steps on the dance floor, even the floor starts doing the Macarena in fear of being outshined!
She could follow my lead and make me look good, but my leads are more like a hilarious game: “Follow the clown!” I saw people pointing at us and thought, “Oh dear, my zipper is down.” On the way to our table, several folks commented on how “cute” a couple we were and how nice we looked together dancing. At the next dance, I will bring some of Mary’s business cards and attempt to get their eyes adjusted!
We do have fun!
Shen Mary looks at me like that, my life lights up and the there are fireworks!!!
It happens every time!!
We went directly home after dropping off a dessert of Peach and Boysenberry cobbler to our friend Jeff, the neighbor.
We watched some TV in bed but soon fell asleep as tomorrow is busy!
Posted inElks, Friends, Working Around House|Comments Off on Saturday And We Are Coming Back On-Line; Power Restored; Cough 80% Gone
Bad news: Scout has been fired! He managed to come to the side of the bed three times last night and want out. First, to get some “outside water” at 10:00 pm, he again announced his presence for a #1 & #2 session at 2:00 am and the coup de resistance, a 4:00 am visit to the “outside water” again!
Each time, I managed to get back in bed and get “warm” as the house was 60 degrees! Finally, at 7:30 am, he again made his presence known with a short, mild “BARK,” I knew this would be his morning visit to the patio and do his elephant check!!
Scout has his daddy trained because instead of coming back into the house each time, he stands at the door (knowing I might be in my birthday suit) and awaits the sound of the “treat bowl” being rattled, my hand going into the bowl, and my hand coming out with “a treat.”
Then, with the spring of a caffeinated grasshopper, he bounces back inside, only to trip over the doormat like it’s a ninja and land face-first in his treat. Now, he’s not just getting a snack; he’s auditioning for the next big slapstick comedy!
We went to the gum, although I took it easy. I wanted to eliminate my cough, which comes when I get heated up, so I told my trainer to take it easy! What does the word “easy” mean to you?
She then had me do squats, leg presses, lunges, deadlifts, leg extensions, leg curls, push-ups, pull-downs, bent-over rows, shoulder presses, shoulder shrugs, tricep extensions, bicep curls, and crunches.
My calves, quadriceps, hamstring, gluteus, lower back lats, trapezius, abdominals, pectorals, deltoids, triceps, biceps, and forearms were dealt with in an extreme manner. After thinking about it, I am sure some of these items only exist in the female body!
We escaped with our lives at 10:00 am, just in time to take revenge by buying two bagels with cream cheese. We drove by the gym and waved our bagels high in the air; phooey on you!!
Nienner Nienner Nienner !!
We made it home in just enough time to clean the house before the house cleaners came! That means putting up the Christmas plates and unloading/loading the dishwasher.
While they were here, we escaped to Mary’s Loft, where she could paint, and I could watch YouTube technology movies.
We just piddled around the rest of the day!
One question always asked of parents is , “Do YOU know where your kids are???” Well…. we know where are son and grandson are!! Desert rats!
Zack & Joe!
The rest of the evening we worked on the upcoming events calendar which is getting fuller every day! Oh my, we have season tickets to the Segerstrom theater as well as South Coast Repertory Theater plus we are getting ready for a Valentine’s Day Cruise and our dance clubs and the Elks are already buzzing with activity. add to the the gym workouts and painting classes, eek!
We watched some movies and I got the website ready for the New Years Eve activities. We crashed around 9:30 pm. We are looking forward to tomorrow as we are going dancing with Bob and Donna at the Elks to the music of Ronnie the DJ.
We did nothing today except visit with Diane for lunch and pitter-patter around the house. We didn’t even do “Girls Night Out” because I needed to eliminate this nagging cough!
We watched a couple of movies and crashed at 9:30 pm. Perhaps tomorrow will be a more productive day!
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I was up early, not because I wanted to see Santa but because I was having a coughing attack! Mary brought my hot tea, and I pushed my nose into Vick’s vaporizer for a couple of hours and popped pills like a junkie. Mary went back to bed for a couple of hours. I cannot figure it out; I feel fine, with no temperature but a nagging cough that does not want to stop!
All afternoon, we just piddled around getting ready for our guests, who arrived around 3:00 pm.
The festivities began at 3:00 p.m. with the arrival of Joe, Amy, and their families. Soon, the house was filled with revelers sharing stories, laughing, and giggling.
Joe and Amy were the first to arrive.
The “Rent-A-Food Detectors” assumed their position facing the kitchen. When their noses start twitching, please do not stand in front of them; you could get run over.
Awaiting food!
Greg came in, and Scout welcomed him to the foray! Scout and Greg get along just fine—mostly because Scout thinks Greg’s snacks are the only reason he ever shows up. Greg, on the other hand, is convinced that Scout is secretly training him for some sort of Olympic event involving frisbee and running away from squirrels!
Greg and Scout swap stories.
We were dressed and decorated for the day; everything was ready!
Justy us!
Bob and Donna strolled in, and Bob was bubbling with excitement. “I have a surprise for us!” he exclaimed. We all leaned in, thinking it might be a puppy or a vacation, but then he pulled out… a large paper sack! What could it be? He said no more until later!
Donna and Mary are great friends!
Stories were swapped, and the kitchen was bustling with activity! It was so busy that even the pots and pans started debating who cooked the best meal. The Heneral Tao Chicken was threatening to tie up the Low Mein in a pasta showdown, while the vegetables were protesting for equal sautéing rights.
In the midst of it all, the blender was trying to make a smoothie but couldn’t stop laughing at the paper wrapped chicken’s attempts to tell a joke! We could be heard several blocks away!
Stories are shared!
The Chinese dinner popped out of the oven so hot, it practically said “Ni Hao” with a sizzle! I barely had time to grab my oven mitt before it started steaming like it was ready for a spa day. I half expected it to burst into a dance and serve itself! Who knew dinner could be such a dramatic debut?
The feedbag is on!
The food alarms went off at the same time! Look out, teens heading for the food! We have never seen them move so fast!
Duh!
Daddy Joe filled his plate, and everyone was quiet. All you could hear was the loose dentures from the old folks chomping away at dinner.
“Who, me??”
Have you ever seen in the movies where the buzzards circled the dead animal? This is what it looked like! They only get to go around three times before having to sit down.
The vultures swarm the island.
Dinner was perfect, and Vicky brought ham, which was devoured faster than you can say “Pentagon planning meeting!” I swear the ham vanished like it was on a secret mission. We didn’t even get a chance to discuss how it was cooked before the plate was empty. Next time, Vicky needs to bring a decoy ham just to keep us distracted!
Dinner time!
It was time for the movie to begin, and walking down the hall was a… I do not know how to explain it. Needless to say, continue if you are NOT faint of heart and have not digested your food. **”YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!! But don’t worry, the consequences are just a huge pile of laundry and a lifetime supply of awkward moments!”**
Ralphie’s jammies from his elderly aunt were stretched, and Bob decided to wear them to watch the movie “A Christmas Movie.”
Oh no!!!
We all giggled, and some had to leave the room to regain their composure!
This will go down in the annals of the Starlighters.
8″ by 10″ glossy reproductions will be available soon! (We have to find a printer that dies R-rated photos!)
It’s time for a video call to Colleen, where she is about to hit the hay! We all shared greetings.
Saying hello to Colleen
Time for Ralphie to get his BB gun, so Mary sent me to the He-Shed to get mine!
Aiming!
Vicky decided Rudolph’s nose was not bright enough, but a bottle of champagne would be better!
Rudolph will now be replaced!
What a wonderful day with family and friends!
Great Friends!
After everyone departed, we went to the TV Room to watch “A Christas Story II” but after a day of celebrating, we didn’t make it past the first half-hour.
We crashed!
Bad news: Scout has been fired! He managed to come to the side of the bed three times last night and want out. First, to get some “outside water” at 10:00 pm, he again announced his presence for a #1 & #2 session at 2:00 am and the coup de resistance, a 4:00 am visit to the “outside water” again!
