“I wrapped my Christmas presents early this year, but I used the wrong paper. See, the paper I used said ‘Happy Birthday’ on it. I didn’t want to waste it so I just wrote ‘Jesus’ on it.”
No more anticipation, the hoopla is over. Yesterday morning I opened the gifts from my sister, and yesterday afternoon I opened my stocking and gifts from my friends. Unwrapping each surprise, each wonderful gift, was great fun. There were some antique gifts: a wooden noisemaker with moving gears, an ugly Santa, old valentines like the ones we gave out as kids, and an old ladies hat perfect to wear for an afternoon tea or an evening at the theater. I wore it while I opened my other presents. The occasion seemed to lend itself to a hat.
I got the best t-shirt for Christmas. It says, “This is My Hallmark Christmas Movie Watching Shirt.” It also has a red pickup truck hauling a Christmas tree on it. I watched countless Hallmark movies this year. It didn’t matter that they had similar plots and a stable of stars reappearing in movie after movie. What matters is they all had happy endings, and that’s the best sort at Christmas time.
My plans for today are simple: hang around the house in my cozy clothes, look through my presents again and enjoy a lazy day. I’m thinking an afternoon spent reading my new book while drinking an eggnog or two might just be a perfect way to while away the day.
The afternoon is cold at 35˚, the high for the day. The winter sunshine is diffused, almost muted. It is purely for show. There is a periodic breeze, but mostly it’s a quiet day. Henry is asleep curled upon the couch.
When I was a kid, the week after Christmas, after all the excitement, was sort of boring. If we stayed inside, we’d play our new games or I’d sequester myself in my quiet bedroom to read one of my new books. If we had snow, we’d all be out sledding down the hill. If the day was warm enough, we’d use our bikes. Bedtime wasn’t defined during vacations. I went to bed when I was tired. I’d go upstairs and read myself to sleep. It was vacation so my mother never yelled up the stairs for me to turn off my light and go to sleep. I think I read forever.”
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December 26, 2018 at 3:58 pm
Hi Kat,
It does sound like the perfect occasion for wearing a hat. What color is the hat?
The dogs got me outside just before dawn this morning. It was okay. I was so tired from yesterday’s festivities that I changed into my pj’s when I got home and was asleep by 7:30PM. Today I’m doing the same thing as you are. Hanging about in my comfy clothes, eating cookies and reading.
It was chilly but sunny up here all day.
Enjoy the evening.
December 26, 2018 at 4:42 pm
Hi Caryn,
The hat is a very neat blue, the sort which just fits on your head and is held there by small side pieces.
I have been in a stay up late then sleep later in the morning to make up for it pattern. Henry follows along with me. Neither of us did much today except I cleaned up the fireplace hearth and the floor under the shedding pine swag which had fallen. It sounds small but it wasn’t. I felt accomplish.
I didn’t go out today, not even for the mail across the street.
Have a great evening.
December 26, 2018 at 4:51 pm
Bob and the Beatles.
The Christmas songs have been banished for another year and I don’t think that I could have listened to “Christmas time is here again” by the Beatles one more time.
The airwaves have been returned to More Blood More Tracks and the White Album. KTCCs favorite team stuck five past Bournemouth and strolled to victory without ever getting out of third gear.
Mrs MDH and I did some minor returns/change for a different size and were greeted by almost empty stores. The mild Michigan air encouraged walking and so we did.
Roma which is being shown on Netflix is being hailed as a masterpiece and is at the top of most critics list for 2018. I am please to give the MDH review of slow moving artsy fartsy nonsense. Oh well, the Prince May be here this weekend and we will go see Aquaman, much more my style
The Uncle of the Prince made the Pro Bowl, so he may go. Of course the chance remains that the Kansas City Chiefs will be at the Super Bowl which would involve a lot more of a trip and ticket
Couple of days of work coming up – well driving to my work place.
December 26, 2018 at 5:43 pm
My Dear Hedley,
I’m telling you I didn’t hear the Beatles once this radio season. Maybe I didn’t spend enough hours in my car.
I didn’t go out today. I have nothing to exchange and no necessary errands. It has been a wonderful, quiet day.
I did see Roma advertised, but I just haven’t yet been in the mood to watch it. I just stopped watching Hallmark and all that sugar. Aquaman does seem to be the better choice.
The Prince has memorial football one way or the other. I noticed how tall he now is in the picture of the Prince, you and Mrs. MDH.
Have a quiet week.
December 26, 2018 at 6:23 pm
The Prince is a young man of size. He is 12 and stands a solid 5’ 6” and moving very very fast.
December 26, 2018 at 6:34 pm
MDH,
Perhaps he aspires to the NFL!
My nephew’s son Ryder is also 12, a bit shorter but also moves very fast.
December 26, 2018 at 5:48 pm
Hi Kat,
The weather was cloudy, warm, humid this morning which is a perfect day to go to the movies. We started at the CVS to pick up a prescription and redeem a coupon for seven dollars worth of free candy. We then sneaked the candy into the early show, four dollars each, to see the new Mary Poppins movie. Afterwards we went out for a late lunch just as the thunderstorms arrived. Tonight a Pacific cool front will be preceded by a line of more thunderstorms. My spouse really how to take me out on a cheap date. 🙂
The movie was excellent and the story just as silly as the original. It’s not a remake but a sequel and was a lot of fun. The music by Lin-Manual Miranda is terrific along with the Disney special effects makes this version entertaining. The cast includes Meryl Streep, with cameos by Dick Van Dyke and Angela Landsbury.
When I was a kid the week between Christmas and New Years was dead time similar to what you described. The big let down of the year is the month of January. 😦
I’m off until the second of January and have to figure out what to do with myself each day. I brought some work home in case I get really bored. 🙂
December 26, 2018 at 6:46 pm
Hi Bob,
That sounded like a fun afternoon. I always sneak candy into the movies. Sometimes I do buy popcorn when I’m in the mood. I usually do matinees as well.
The movie has been well-received. It is amazing that Dick Van Dyke is 92 or so. I saw him on a couple of late night programs, and he looked and seemed great.
This has always been a flat time except for Ghana when I used the time to travel to other countries. When I was teaching here, it was a rest week. I guess a quiet week is perfect to offset Christmas week.
December 26, 2018 at 7:03 pm
Glad to hear that I’m not the only frugal, cheap, person here. I love movie popcorn with that greasy butter substitute. If everyone bought just popcorn they could give the movie admission away for free and still make a nice profit. 🙂 We have an older multiplex theater that shows second run movies for a $1.25 for mattenee shows. They charge the regular movie high price for the snacks. 🙂
December 26, 2018 at 7:39 pm
Bob,
I think the candy is costly at the theater. The popcorn is really a necessity!! There are no older theaters. The only one around shows all current films and is still expensive even during matinees.