Monday
Christmas, Christmas, Christmas!
Christmas is definitely here. Mrs. Claus is giving and accepting invites; some stores have new sale flyers in the paper every day; many of the marginal motorists have come out of the woodwork and are making life interesting for everyone. I can only commiserate with Tom's rant from Saturday. If you haven't read it, give it a go.
Sunday ended up being pretty much a "get things done and ready for guests" day. As Bob Thompson had to do for Thanksgiving, I have to do for Christmas: clean the semester's accumulation of Stuff from the living area into the workroom (and that was quite trick if you saw Sunday's pictures). The boys have also found their "toy-zone" is now confined to their bedroom until the Great Day.
One issue that I've noticed with the re-director pages: On the change of the week, you'll often have to hit "Refresh" or "Reload" from the re-director page to allow the new week's link to load. 'Frinstance, I change my weekly page over on Sunday evening; if you don't see the new week's page on Monday morning, it's likely that your browser didn't pick up the change. It should have it by Tuesday; if you cannot wait, hit "Stop" and then "Refresh" or "Reload" from the re-director page and your life can continue apace. I also will have added the "next week" link to the left side of the page; you can reach the current week's page from there.
...and a hearty "Welcome" to our readers from the other side of the pond. If Dr. Keyboard's plan went as envisioned, you've been given an invitation to what can be described as a fascinating adventure in reading (not to be confused with extended rants from an eclectic selection of individuals). Opinions freely given, facts not withheld, tongue often firmly in cheek, "we aim to please!" Copyright © 1999
Brian P. Bilbrey
Speaking of Brian, as I was shopping Saturday evening, I came across a virtual Christmas present for him. It was a very tastefully done doormat with the legend:
To fish or not to fish?What a silly question!
Tuesday
Well, I for one am ready to be done with this blasted cold or whatever it is I have. It's 58 degrees F in the late afternoon and that is barely sweatshirt weather. Add in the non-existent precipitation and it's been a good winter to blade. ...and my late afternoons are once again free for a few unscheduled days: venerable Mom is off jury duty for the balance of the week due to multiple scheduling conflicts and illnesses. ...during the Christmas season! Who'd a thunk? So it's back to the "early to work and early to skate" gig. Mrs. Claus just loves that as it cuts her loose for shopping before rush hour.
Last night, while she was out, I managed to keep the junior birdmen quiet enough to do some coloring for a Christmas surprise for her. I'd elaborate; but I know at least one of the cats has access to her computer during the day and I'm just not sure what is happening. I don't really think that anything is going on; but Miss Chief (say it fast) always stayed close to the TV whenever that Sabrina show was on. ...and she's real close with my wife. ...although I don't think she'd spill the beans; she likes her head skritched way too much (yes cat, that is a threat).
Fun at the job site: prep for our usual winter holiday's increase in call volume (pre-hospital emergency care; read: ambulance); prep for that party in the downtown scheduled for the middle of the Y2K transition; oh yeah, prep for Y2K; compensate for the seasonal slowdown in the shipping industry for items needed for the first three; and while I'm at it, develop and implement a new inventory system with the MIS folk. Ho hum. Probably time to go check User Friendly for some guidance. (...and if that UF panel was all too strange to you, the storylines are here. Warning: Severe Time Sink Zone!)
... and remember: don't rush this Christmas thing, guys; there are still four days left until the semi-official Men's Shopping Night. I'm not even worried about Y2K; imagine what would happen if the power for the malls went out on Christmas Eve!
Wednesday
It occurred to me what a quandary it can be for the wives of techno-geeks when it comes to Christmas presents. This revelation came to me during a high level discussion between Mrs. Claus and her husband (who shall remain nameless; although certainly not blameless).
Maslow aside, my basic wants and needs are handled well enough: God, Mrs. Claus, the kids, a good job (x2), a roof, transportation (this is California), clothes to wear to work, Pepsi, jalapeño cheese dip, and I think I'm done. Moving on to addiction, we have roller blading, computers, Christian rock music (guess where DocJim heard about that Christmas album?) and SF books.
Now, working from those parameters, Shelley can only really work from the first list; and while I can never have enough dip, the clothes thing really only goes so far (I don't do sweaters). From the second list, I'm in Dire Straits (have all of Knopfler's stuff also) as we have really, really different tastes. There is no way in heck that she would even look at a Christmas album titled Ska-la-la-la-la and for me it was a done deal.
SF? I'm real picky about authors. Blades? Well, a discussion of the true differences in bearing brands even though they're all rated ABEC 5 fell very flat last summer (although I'm trying a different wheel mix to simulate the rockering that isn't available on my current set of frames). Hmmm... See that was a good example. Kind of unfair...
Which leaves computers and geek-stuff. We've tried gift certificates, but she thinks that's just tacky. ... and we've tried a list; that fell through when the geekhaus didn't have some of the stuff and didn't know where to get it.
We've currently settled on me buying Stuff and giving it to her to wrap; but I agree with her, the personal element of going and getting something for your loved one is just so missing! ...and I do understand because I love doing that for her.
The camera that I've been playing with has been an okay compromise for this year, but she's really frustrated in not being able to surprise me with something.
I'd guess that mechanics may have a similar problem:
...just which wrench does he need?
Thursday
Warning: Kleenex® Zone ahead
You've probably read in DocJim's current The docs try to treat or refer those who seek help, and many medics and EMTs regularly schedule some time on their days off to visit the "Holiday Regulars"; and that makes for a much more leisurely visit (man, those ladies can bake).
Maybe part of the Christmas experience is looking for one of those 'perfect' Christmases that we had as children. You know, ones where we didn't have to worry about buying gifts as much as receiving them; and where the lights on the tree were pretty much a magical thing. For some people those Christmases are easy to recapture: they just relax and let the magic of Christmas work within them. Others seem to be so goal driven that they never even look at their journey (picking out presents and decorating and baking and visiting), rather just at the end result: "It's all finally done!" ...and those people wonder why they have such a let down just before Christmas. Still others seem to have to work really hard to even get into the spirit; hard times this year with money or family or life just seems to weigh them down.
Moving from the abstract to the concrete: I'll be checking in with my mother a little more often this week and especially today. You see, my father died suddenly six-months ago Tuesday. Today would have been their fiftieth wedding anniversary. And Saturday will be Mom's first Christmas since Korea without Dad. ...and for all my years of counseling the druggies to come in and get help; and for all my time spent listening to stories spun by lonely widows on Christmas Eve; somehow this year's dinner at my sister's house will add yet another dimension to the Christmas season.
...and Mom won't let on. At least not to us. She is a very private person. Thing is, some of us know from the professional arena; and some of you out there know from your personal lives. ...and we're lucky; there are five rambunctious grandkids to take the sting out of Christmas Eve.
...and on Christmas day, please remember those public and private workers who are out there working:
Christmas Eve 1999
"</L>,</L>;</L>,</L>"
Well, that's my one and only attempt at an on-line sing-along for this year.
Good morning and welcome to the only true shopping day of the Christmas season. Fortified by a late night snack of Pepsi, chips and jalapeño cheese dip, I am ready to venture forth on my appointed rounds before the rest of the family is even stirring.
Ever the black sheep of the family (my sister finished her Christmas shopping in October----for next year!), I readily endure the taunts and dire predictions of those closest to me as I push onward, ever onward (Hi, Tom <g>) on my journey through another dementia. Ah, well, the BSFH must simply resist society's ever-earlier trends and concentrate on his true calling: last minute shopping.
...and today, I finally get to relax from all the hustle and bustle of the season. Mrs. Claus asked last night, "How did we even manage to get to this point?" and I had no answer, as I simply don't remember. I left work yesterday and the relief was palpable; I can finally concentrate on one thing: my family and the Christmas season.The kids have some drawing to do today while Mrs. Claus finishes a few things and I'll finish a few wrappings at the same time. Later, blading while Mrs. Claus does her final wrappings and still later, we'll pick up Mom and haul her off to my sister's place for dinner, talk and presents. After that, we'll return home for a quiet night. NOT! Seems number one son inherited some of his father's and grandfather's genes: sleep the night before The Big Event is simply impossible. Last year I checked on him at 0200 to find him staring at the ceiling and literally shaking in anticipation. While this can be somewhat amusing, Mr. and Mrs. Claus become reluctant participants in the morning festivities due to logistical and scheduling problems from The Night Before. Man, we'd really like the "Not a creature was stirring" system installed at our place.
...and as is usual at this time of the year, a little contemplation and retrospection is in order. A brief review shows the family is in okay shape health wise (the colds are almost over) and the job thing is flowing well (we are using this three day weekend as a dry run for the New Year's Follies). I'm ready for a break; and Shelley, the kids and I are all ready for a little "down time" together. The nice thing about this particular holiday series is that I have the day before and the day after Christmas and New Years off; that's something new from my firm and I'm very grateful for it.
I'm also grateful for the Daynotes Gang and our readers on the web. I've found when I need a break from the usual day to day stresses, I can wander in to what amounts to a virtual "Callahan's"; pull up a stool and listen to a good story. Mickey might be there that day or maybe it's Tom; whatever the case, I'll likely find a cure for the moment's ills. ...and since payment in kind is expected in Suffolk County bars (excuse me, Saloons), I can return the favor and share my stories with the other regulars and those who drop in from time to time. ...and it's been a pleasure.
Merry Christmas from my house to yours...
Sunday
Well, the table is cleared; the dishes are put away; the living room is once again neat as a pin; and there's not a scrap of wrapping paper in sight. ...at my brother-in-law's place!
Our house is a glorious disaster this morning: toys everywhere (I could not even break a path to the couch), wrapping paper anywhere the cats could drag a piece, the unread newspaper from Christmas just sitting on the couch, dishes unwashed from the hectic pace to get our portion of the meal cooked and over to Shelley's brother's house... And I seem a little tired. First, the late Christmas Eve at my sister's place; then, the boys had me up at 0215 and 0330 (as predicted here folks!); then, the very, very, very nice Christmas morning with all of us together (Hey! Guess what Santa brought me???? A really neato camera! Digital of course; although I think not MIDI enabled, Jim); then, the prep and trip to Shelley's brother's place; then, back home and try to unwind and detox from it all and, and, and; and I think I'm looking forward to a little downtime.
So, this morning I'm off to my Father's house for a little relaxation with some family members. We'll sing a song or two (or three or four or five) and spend some time saying thanks for everything (I've already told Him thanks, but He likes it when we get together and worship as a group). Then home for some breakfast and some catchup time on the newspapers. As Brian mentioned yesterday, we're having some real decent weather here in California, so some blading is definitely on this afternoon's agenda. Then hopefully some more downtime while I play with my new toys before setting up for the return to work.
All in all, I'll have to give this Christmas a "A+"; the boys did well both at home and visiting; Mrs. Claus and I dovetailed real well with presents; and, as we traveled back from Uncle Russ's house, Daniel said,
"Wow, this was a really cool Christmas."It doesn't get much better than that for a parent...
Thanks for Visiting
All content Copyright 1999 Daniel C. Bowman
. All rights reserved.
This site is Y2K complacent