<p>Entering Big Corp this morning, I noticed a very large menorah in the lobby. It looked so nice. I’m sure that’s nothing new for those who live/work in other parts of the country, but it’s the first time I’ve seen it in Dallas. </p>
<p>Well just found out we are getting 1/2 day on the 24th off so I’m happy - doesn’t take much to make my day! :)</p>
<p>Tired with H but I’m getting through it. Would love a nap though. Hoping to finish up my Christmas shopping this weekend. I would love to go some night but by the time I get home and get everything done I’m just too tired to go out. I’m going to look and see if the stores I need to go to are opening early on Sat. Maybe if I get there at open or right before I could avoid some of the crowds.</p>
<p>H wants to go back to work tomorrow. He’s off the percoset so it’s an option I think – of course a bit more work for me. He also wants to go to Mannheim Steamroller Holiday Concert tonight that we bought tickets for prior to this happening. I’m tired but sure that it will be fun once I’m there.</p>
<p>shaw – I can definitely see why that’s the least favorite part of your job. At this point in my life I have very little patience for people who go through life with a sense of entitlement.</p>
<p>mp – your house will be bustling! I’ve always said my life would be so much easier if no one had to eat dinner … Something about the prep, cooking, and cleaning up at the end of the day when my energy levels are low. Since it’s just the 2 of us most of the time now, I’m into simple meals with as few pots and pans as possible – which is why you’ll find me grilling all through the winter!</p>
<p>RM – hope your H continues to improve. Going back to work sounds like things are going well.</p>
<p>Soooo – the calling hours we went to on Sunday? The obituary said they started at 1:00 pm, which is when we got there. They were held at a private HS in the man’s town since LOTS of people were expected. We finally got though the line to speak to the family at 5:30pm!!! The line snaked through the cafeteria and halls. Then on Monday we went to the funeral Mass – the church was overflowing, with a video feed downstairs in the parish hall for the people who couldn’t fit in the sanctuary. What an amazing tribute.</p>
<p>Trying hard to get more into the Christmas spirit here … S is definitely not going to be with us on Christmas, so that’s just a bummer. But, looking on the bright side, at least he’s still in NJ and not deployed some place on the other side of the globe.</p>
<p>Wow, CBB. I am amazed, and somewhat dismayed for both the family and those who waited in line. </p>
<p>I’m now at 4 presents acquired for Christmas. Woefully behind.</p>
<p>yes to the dinner time energy zap. I love to cook and am still at it for just the two of us but I wish H would learn and also that he would at least say what he wants. I do yer round grilling also.</p>
<p>I am taking a health day today–I think it is a mental health day although I wokre early feeling ill. It is close to noon and I am still in pj’s. H gets home around 3 today, S and family arrive late tommorow night (leaving Sunday night) and D arrives Saturday night. I will be alone again on Jan.5th. That is a long long time for me. The amount of cooking and food buying and prepping feels overwhelming right now. Oh, and I threw in a party on the 30th just to keep me on my toes.
Also, can’t forget that S and DIL will have fingers crossed that I will make a major bag of food for them to take home.
They even bring a cold bag with them hoping for left overs. Which is fine as I don’t want to keep giving them my coolers.</p>
<p>I have been a little grinchy which is too bad as it is lovely that everyone will be here for the weekend and D for Christmas and Holidays. I think some of the events in the world are getting to me even though I do not watch on TV and only read the smallest amount on line. I will cook for everyone forever if we can just have the violence stop.</p>
<p>Ok–so on a Happier note…Christmas Vacation is just so much fun. We have watched it every year since 1989. I do not think I will get the kids to watch this year but at some point H and I will. </p>
<p>Moda…where are you??? We are missing you! Should we send a search party out for you?</p>
<p>Z…missing you, too! What is new in your world?</p>
<p>oregon…so nice to have everyone home! The cooking and cleaning fairies are on their way but please send back when you are done! ;)</p>
<p>arabrab…you need some shopping fairies!</p>
<p>RM…Hooray on the time off!!! Take care of yourself and that hubby of yours.</p>
<p>missy…enjoy the family time. Hoping everyone pitches in to help!</p>
<p>kmc…I need your work out mojo. My weight has slowly been creeping back and I just can’t get motivated.</p>
<p>CBB…Hoping you post some Christmas pictures soon to get me inspired. I just love your photography.</p>
<p>dte…Congrats on finishing the class! You should be proud of yourself and take some time to celebrate!</p>
<p>shaw…Hoping you find some time to relax and enjoy your family during school breaks. </p>
<p>D2 wants me to meet her after work at the MOA so I happily said yes! D1 just texted that she would also be stopping there on her way home from work. Yay! Hoping everyone has time for dinner there.</p>
<p>I am making D1’s new boyfriend a grilling basket for a gift. I will get a veggie grilling basket and put a gift card from the local butcher, some rubs and sauces and some cedar planks and grilling utensils. Masculine and not too personal. </p>
<p>Still need some gifts for D2’s H. I got a work shirt and sweater, a box of golf balls, gift card to his favorite home improvement store, a hockey pull over, a sweatshirt, shoe shine kit from Nordstroms and a long sleeved thermal shirt from his favorite NFL team. I will put men’s lotion, shower gel and aftershave in his stocking. Anyone have any small tech ideas that could fit in a stocking?</p>
<p>I have also started to wrap. May take a few days as I get stiff sitting in one spot for too long.</p>
<p>Hey maybe you guys can help me! I need ideas for the people who work for me. All male, all engineers, some married and some not, some drive to work and some don’t, some drink coffee and some don’t. You get the picture. Don’t want anything too personal. I struggle with this every year. Currently thinking about a funny (Dilbert maybe) desk calendar for each of them but I’m not really liking that. Anyone have any ideas? Need something that I can get by early next week. :)</p>
<p>I bought for myself a little rechargeable charger for a phone (see <a href=“Portable Power Station for Charging and Exploration - Jackery”>http://www.jackery.com/jackery-mini</a>) on Black Friday. There are a few brands. I paid about $15. Maybe you could find them for less. I just used it as my phone was running out after a full day of meetings.</p>
<p>RM…have you seen the “Pocket Monkey” ? It is an all in one tool gadget. Google it and see if that interests you. Funny flash drives? Staples used to have different ones. Last year I bought everyone the tool that breaks your car window and cuts your seat belt if you are in an accident. Got it at the home improvement store. How about the goo that cleans your computer keyboard. Looks like silly putty to me! :)</p>
<p>Oh how the great minds here think alike! Last year Santa put portable phone chargers in everyone’s stockings. This year everyone is getting a Pocket Monkey! “Santa” got the latter from The Grommet (<a href=“https://www.thegrommet.com”>https://www.thegrommet.com</a>); they were 2 for $19.95, which was cheaper than Amazon. “Santa” also found some fun techy related things at Walmart on this special display – all things invented by ordinary people. </p>
<p>Thanks for the compliment NM – at the moment I’d rather be taking photos of all the Christmas doings! (Temporary Scrooge thing, I hope …) </p>
<p>Hi, everyone! Checking in from my work assignment in Key West. It’s gorgeous here, but since I’m learning a new job I’m tired from focusing so hard on learning. Although I doubt I’ll receive much sympathy from anyone!</p>
<p>Still have stuff to do for Christmas. H texted me this morning that he got the tree up, but hasn’t decorated it yet. We didn’t have time to do it before I left, so I’m glad for any progress he made. </p>
<p>Back to “work” - having dinner with my new boss as we discuss how the day went, review questions, etc. We’re finding nice waterfront seafood places for these discussions.</p>
<p>Too funny CBB! We are on the same path for stocking stuffers! 
</p>
<p>NM, that work out mojo you’re referring to might look a non-swimmer trying to save another non-swimmer at the moment…but I’ll send you some anyway and if it works you can send it back ;)</p>
<p>Cool stocking stuffer ideas, guys! RM, if you’re looking for additional geek-suited gifts that run toward silly on the utility meter, have a visit to <a href=“http://www.thinkgeek.com”>http://www.thinkgeek.com</a><br>
My guys always love stuff from there. </p>
<p>And CQ, what a lovely locale for a work meet-up! Enjoy! And Key-West it up a bit for me ;)</p>
<p>PS speaking of gifting shenanigans, here’s a little taste of mcson’s Xmas list:
</p>
<p>And people wonder what to get him ;)</p>
<p>Had to google Chockovine.</p>
<p>I’ll be leaving work early today, several of us from our office book club are seeing “Wild” and then going to dinner. Saw Theory of Everything last Sunday. And then of course we’ll be seeing Unbroken on Christmas Day. This might be a record for me. I usually don’t see more than 5 movies a year.</p>
<p>Moda, zetesis, sevmom, eddieo - I hope you are all well and would love to see you check in.</p>
<p>Me too with the Pocket Monkey. Cool tool. </p>
<p>And echoing FallGirl – it would be great to hear from any and all…</p>
<p>Hi all. All is well here. I’ve been traveling (to New Haven, where it is much colder than here), and under the weather. But we’e got our tree up and will soon wrap our few gifts. H and I agree neither of us wants or needs anything, so we’ve committed to exchanging a “token” gift. Last year we got our Sonos system, which we absolutely love.</p>
<p>So, I have a “big” birthday (one that ends in 0 and it’s not 50 or 70) coming up next week, and we’re doing a 3 day party. IBoth my girls (and SIL) will be here and we’ll do a family dinner at a local French-Japanese fusion restaurant one night; the next day both my brothers and spouses and kids will be in, and my daughters are making dinner for all of us; and the day after that we’ll have a reception/open house for family and friends. Hope that’s not over the top and that I meant to do this.</p>
<p>I think D1 will soon tell us she’s leaving her doctoral program to explore other options. The school has not been a supportive, good fit for her. She has really taken to teaching in the middle school this year; parents are after her for tutoring and summer programs. So, I don’t know if she’ll pursue that route, but at least she sees there are other ways of pursuing her vocation of teaching (in one form or another). She’s great with the elderly too (very patient). And SIL just got a raise and bonus at Google so she has some freedom to explore.</p>
<p>D2 finished up her first quarter at grad school. She “joined a lab” about two weeks before the end of the term and, when she did, her PI said she ought to apply for one of the big government fellowships. So on top of finishing an overload of courses, and serving as a TA for beginning chemistry (which includes teaching a weekly section), she submitted an app for this fellowship!! It’s one of those things I"m glad I didn’t have to watch, although H and I spent a number of hours each helping to edit and format material. (It’s about all we can do: we have no clue about the underlying science). She is super organized, and it came to her rescue there at the end.</p>
<p>That’s about it for our update. I’m off to explore the Pocket Monkey for stockings.</p>
<p>ShawSon is back and has slept for a few days. Great kid. A few days ago, he said he needed to decide about the offer to be CTO of a startup that has a great team but that he would need to drop out of school to do it as the venture funders (they plan to seek $10 MM) would require it. Last night, he said, “I need your help in writing a letter turning down the CTO position. I think I should stay in school.” </p>
<p>Sounds like a tough period for Z’s D1 and a tough but rewarding period for Z’s D2. Have a great birthday, Zetesis.</p>
<p>And, nice for C-Q – Key West is a tough place for a work assignment. LIfe is tough but some people have to suffer. I went with my client team to a dinner in a restaurant in the Holbein Museum in Frankfurt. Traditional German goose dinner. Nice, but I think Key West seafood wins.</p>
<p>I’m curious what is happening to med school admissions for Moda’s S.</p>
<p>Hi to all as well. I’ve been reading all of your posts and hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season. And Happy Birthday,Zetesis! </p>
<p>We had a major leak the day after Thanksgiving from the second floor to the first. In a 91 year old house so had to talk to 5 different plumbers before we could find someone that could do the job after the water remediation people had done what they needed to do and the walls and ceilings opened up so a plumber
could get in to replace the pipes, old drains,etc. Didn’t have hot water for 10 days . The major work is not going to start until after the holiday so right now my foyer ceiling and walls are torn out. They were able to save some of the original wood trim so we think that can be put back on. So, I’ve ben a little preoccupied. My sister , and both kids are coming for the holidays and everyone will have to use<br>
the shower in our master bedroom since the guest bathroom is out of commission. But there are certainly worse problems in the world.</p>
<p>Both kids are doing fine, like their jobs . S1 started a new job in July and has done some traveling from DC to California for that but he doesn’t seem to mind at this point. Glad to read all your news!</p>
<p>Oh my sevmom! Sounds awful but glad to hear you could save some trim!
shaw - tough decision for S… nice you could help him with it.
Aww… zetesis…I’m less than a half hour from New Haven! Best wishes to D1.
Fallgirl - Unbroken looks terrific. Have fun!
kmc - what a hoot!
Off to check out pocket monkey.</p>