Sunday, December 22, 2013

Easing Into Christmas Day

Friday was my last day of work before Christmas Day, I won't return until we're in the presence of 2014 and that feels pretty darn nice.  Our two far-away-at-school daughters are home this weekend, in fact have already been home for a couple of weeks and our oldest daughter made it home yesterday as well.  For a time it looked as though our son would be home on leave but that just did not work out the way we had hoped.

So, here I am, many days off and with most of our immediate family present.  We have some plans but only just a bare few......getting together with grandma the most important and actually the only planned event that will in any way be scheduled.  With all of this unstructured time, there are certain things that will be accomplished though, rest assured of that.  Decorating the tree, baking cookies, an extra decent job of tidying up the house, the last of the gifts to be wrapped; all things that are being taken care of over the next few days.  I've two books that will be re-read; both of them annually revisited over the holidays and this year they will luxuriously be enjoyed in fewer sittings.

So far, as of this afternoon --

  • Much grocery shopping completed; the cats will not go hungry either
  • Coffee yesterday morning with the crew at Diamond's in Minneapolis
  • Two more episodes of Downton Abbey watched
  • Now within striking distance of every Poirot episode seen
  • Photos and slides scanned, enhanced and cataloged for buddy Mike, the images from his Army days in Africa
  • The recently released motorcycle film "Why We Ride" watched (thanks for sharing the DVD Mike)
  • Route planning for next year's Wildcat Rally "Slow Ride" moving forward.  We'll once again mix in some area history with our rest stops, ride some real gravel for the first time and enjoy lunch at some place I'll bet none of us has dined at previously.
  • 2014 Rally dates marked on the calendar and my favorite form of all, the Requested Time Off Form is being caressed
Tasks hoped for and yet to be completed include a couple of naps, possibly even a few.  There's a large collection of music to not merely be listened to but really absorbed.....Quality Listening is what I refer to it as.  I'm promising to stay out of the garage other than to shift the Battery Tenders around the loop; real motorcycle work will not begin until after the holiday.  There are two audiobooks that I've been choosing to more closely enjoy than our commutes allow for as well.

Last though not least, a few future Blog Posts that have been drafted will evolve and some new ideas for posts will be started as drafts as well.

I've got a feeling that I'll be even better utilizer of this time off situation in another week and a half than I already am, in fact, so very good that.......

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and all the best to our friends in 2014!!

This photo from Christmas 2008........all persons except for me have become more handsome since then.  From right (your right) to left, the back half of Annie, our Chocolate Lab, Percy getting her neck scratched, Peg, Lauren, Katlyn, Hanna, Milford the Welsh One, our Marine Corporal Ben and Coop.



15 comments:

  1. ... yer blessed .... :)

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  2. Lovely family portrait. And I think you are now set for a wonderful holiday season. My best to you and your family :^)

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  3. Happy Holidays and enjoy the precious family time.

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  4. Wonderful pic of the family. It must be nice to have almost al of the kids home.

    You are putting us all to shame with your 'things to accomplish' during the holidays list. I wonder if I had a list i'd get more done?

    Merry Christmas and the very best of holiday seasons to you and your family.

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  5. I hope that is your list for the whole week off. Nice to have a houseful for the holidays. Maybe you'll get another family photo. One every 5 years is better than most...

    Merry Christmas to you and your family!

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  6. Coop

    Nice to have family home for the Holidays. You are so lucky to have the time off while some of us . . .

    Time for another family portrait this year

    A very Merry Christmas to you, Peg and the rest of your family
    enjoy your time with them

    bob
    Riding the Wet Coast

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  7. Happy Holidays and wishing you a joyous New Year Coop & family.

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  8. Thanks everyone for the Holiday wishes and kind words. I was up and out early yesterday city bound to pickup Gram for her Christmas day with us, getting back late after returning her to a warm and copy house....it was cold. A good day, I need a lot more practice and skill at dominoes to properly hang with the generations ahead and behind me.

    Good days to you all!

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  9. Merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year!

    And keep warm! I saw -15F this morning... ;)

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  10. Coop a very ambitious list but glad it includes many relaxing activities. Enjoy your family and Merry Christmas to you all.

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    1. Thank you Karen, the list is going well, hope you and family's Christmas was as special.

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  11. Merry Christmas my friend.

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    1. Thanks Scott, hope you folks had a wonderful holiday.

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    2. We did in fact have a great Christmas.Although my liver hates me.

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