Sunday Stealing-For Those Who Celebrate Christmas #2

For those who celebrate Christmas #2

Bev, at Sunday Stealing, has another page of Christmas questions to answer.

Happy Holidays. 

Star or Angel?

Usually Father Christmas type Santa, couldn’t find it so went with the star.

White Lights or Colored Lights?

White.

Blinking Lights or Still Lights?

Still.

When do you open your gifts?

😂 Christmas Day. 90% of the gifts weren’t wrapped. I just couldn’t do it. The Baker’s Cyst behind my knee and sprained ligaments, and my back pain were too much. I did fold them neatly so they would fit in boxes, but I never got to boxing them until Christmas morning. My wife and I set up a system. I got a tote for each of us and put the folded items for each. We used the lids to block and told the kids to watch tv. I’d toss her an item, she put it in a box. We had 4 boxes we used for the gifts. When we had 2 gifts boxed for each kid we gave them to them and they opened them. Rinse and repeat until all gifts are handed out. It was better than just passing out unwrapped gifts. We opened the wrapped gifts from my sister and my daughter last. A lot less mess.

Do you buy gifts for your pet?

Not always. 

Be honest: What's the worst gift you've ever gotten?

A box of toiletries and cleaning supplies. It was a lean year that year and it was the only gift I received that year. It was with gifts from the kids from a community group.

Have you ever traveled for the holiday?

Yes. Before my step grandmother and aunts passed away, Christmas was at their house, so I drove my family IL to WI. 

Did you see Santa as a child?

I don’t remember, but there is photographic proof:

Can you name all the reindeer?

Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph. 

Have you ever gone caroling?

Once I may have joined some friends who were caroling, but I didn’t actually sing.

Do you drive around and look at the Christmas lights?

Yes! I took my kids to see the lights my wife and I saw earlier in the week.

Have you ever left Santa cookies?

We usually do, but this year I guess we forgot. Too much last minute stuff going on. Apps didn’t get prepped ahead, no baking done.

Have you ever had a white Christmas?

Yes. Living in the Midwest there’s a good chance of it.

Have you ever made a gingerbread house from scratch? From a kit?

I bought a kit the 2 previous years but we never made them.

Be honest: Do you think the season is too commercial?

Seriously?

Imagine you were going to create the quintessential holiday soundtrack -- which song(s) absolutely must be included?

Pass for now. May come back to this.

What are your Christmas pet peeves?

Bad manners on the road and in stores.

Lola’s Diner cc.  2008-2020

Sunday Stealing-For those who celebrate Christmas #1

December 20, 2020

Welcome to Sunday Stealing. This feature originated and published on WTIT: The Blog. Here we will steal all types of questions from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent questions. (Past hosts include: Our first - Judd Corizan, Mr. L, Kwizgiver and Bud) Cheers to all of us thieves!

 

 

For those who celebrate Christmas #1

Taken from Pinterest

What’s your favorite thing about the holidays?
This year it will be getting to see my daughter and give her hugs. She came home for Thanksgiving, but it was a short visit. Christmas will be much longer due to new rules from IDPH and the agency that runs the group homes. I am dreading how long the visit will be because of all the arguing and fighting at the end of the Thanksgiving visit. I will be playing the role of referee.

Do you send out Christmas cards and if so how many do you send?
No. Two years ago I joined a Facebook group that  sends cards. I got about 40, sent about 50. I get no cards from family. I got my card from my insurance agent and one of my attorneys this year. That will probably be the only ones I get. My wife has gotten 2 cards from family. It’s interesting, the half-ashed way they include me and my kids on the address of the cards. Ms (my wife’s name), Ms & Family. It’s like they don’t remember my name, they just put “Ms”, no name, and the fact that we are Mrs’s. I find it incredibly rude.

Be honest: holiday newsletters. Love ‘em or hate ‘em?
I don’t recall receiving any once I moved out of my parent’s home. The ones we received when I was a kid were kind of made fun of because the relatives that sent them never had contact with us the entire year. When my kids were little I did newsletters a few times. They were very wordy...not unlike my blog posts. I stopped doing them because, for me, for my family, I consider them a waste of time. At a family gathering I overheard derogatory comments about newsletters and they made fun of them. I was done with them after that. Why spend the time if it’s just made a joke?

Be honest: photo cards. Love ‘em or hate ‘em?
Not really a fan of photo cards, but loose photos inside the card are fine.

How soon do you start shopping?
Whenever I see a deal on something I know a family member will love.

Real or fake tree?
A real tree is enjoyable because of the smell, but the cleanup is always very time consuming and usually kills a vacuum cleaner. The other reason we don’t do real is because they have become incredibly expensive. We do fake.

When do you put up your tree?
Whenever my wife is up to doing it. My son will bring everything down from the attic, but my wife sets it up. Last year it was Christmas Eve. This year, probably the same. I injured my left knee getting off the MRI table when I had my annual checkup. I have a Popliteal Bursitus or Baker’s Cyst behind my knee. It’s ridiculously painful. Knee and ankle are swollen. Feels like a constant, very painful charley horse down the outside of my calf. I was given steroids and told what to take for pain and inflammation. I may be going back to my PCP this week. He said to come back in 2 weeks, sooner if it’s not getting better.

When do you take down your tree?
Early January.

Describe your typical tree (size, decorations, type)
I believe our pre-lit tree is 7 feet. It’s very tapered. Not wide near the bottom, because we don’t have the space for a wide tree. Decorations are ornaments I’ve collected over the years, and my Mom’s decorations. We only use some of my Mom’s, just in case the cats knock the tree down. We also put gold and white bows all over the tree.. 

What do you top your tree with?
We have an old looking Santa, more like Father Christmas, that we top our tree with.

Do you put Christmas lights outside your house?
We did the first year at this house. We have a huge spruce (-?) tree in our front yard that we put lights on. Even bought a pole to hang the lights high on the tree. We don’t have an outdoor outlet in the front of the house, so that’s an issue. 

Is there a wreath hanging on your door?
There will be.

Do you hang up stockings?
Yes, but they haven’t gone up yet. We have stocking hangers that spell “PEACE” that we hang on the entertainment center ledge. Yes, they are filled. Candy and non-candy items. This year will include funky/cool face masks.

Your favorite Christmas Movie(s)
It’s A Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street (the original), Christmas in Connecticut, A Christmas Carol (the original with Alister Sims), Jingle All The Way, Christmas With the Kranks.

Be honest: A Christmas movie you hate
Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer.

Favorite Christmas Song(s)
I really enjoy the Vince Guaraldi, A Charlie Brown Christmas CD.  

Be honest: If I hear this/these Christmas songs again I will throw up...

Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer. Also, anything Mariah Carey. I don’t care for her.

Give or Receive?

I really enjoy selecting and buying the perfect gift to give. I pay attention all year long and when I notice something a family member likes, I make a mental note of it.

Eggnog or Mulled Cider?
Spiked Egg Nog. Never had Mulled Cider. 

Ham or Turkey?
Neither. Prime Rib. Christmas Day is the only day we have it. We do Turkey for Thanksgiving, and Ham, Hoppin John (Emeril Lagasse’s recipe, and smothered greens for New Year’s. 

Merry Christmas!

Lola’s Diner cc.  2008-2020

Day 273, 274 of Sheltering In

Friday, Saturday. My knee pain has been terrible. The knee brace came late Saturday afternoon. Finding it difficult to find something to wear that is not tapered at the knee down to the ankle. Jeans are out. I thought a pair of sweatpants joggers would be ok. Nope. The only thing that doesn’t taper are my track pants. My wife had them in the laundry she took to her Dad’s to wash. Even wearing a sock feels like it’s strangulating my ankle. I stayed home by myself because I knew the long car ride would be uncomfortable, then finding a comfortable position at her Dad’s would have been an issue.

Something is up with my daughter. It’s either boredom causing depression because there is still no tv to watch. No Dish Network or cable. Staff did get a DVD player hooked up on the first floor, but was unable to connect one to the tv on the 2nd floor. Or it’s depression caused by her being told that if she can’t return to work by the date of her previous dr note she will be terminated. Her doctor gave her a new note saying she can’t return to work until June. (Could he know something we don’t ?) She was told she would need to re-apply when she is able to return to work. Her manager said they would love to have her back. 🤷🏻‍♀️ It could be general holiday depression, or all of the above.

I’m finding this knee pain making me super irritable. I now see where my wife gets her irritability.  

Lola’s Diner cc.  2008-2020

Day 272 of Sheltering In

Thursday. Before ordering the new gas range I looked up what the problem could be, researched prices. Over $200-? Better off buying new. It came this morning at 10am. My brother-in-law came shortly after the truck left to pick up the old one. We had to go get a new connector, so I picked up a new gas line. Thinking back, I hadn’t replaced it the last 2 used gas ranges I bought, so good idea to buy a new one. Went back to Lowe’s, bought the gas line kit and a can of pipe compound. My wife tried to loosen the old gas line off the gas pipe coming up through the floor but couldn’t do it. My leg has been screaming all day, so no chance of me getting down on the floor to try it. Besides, 2 bad shoulders. I will give it a shot first thing in the morning. If we can’t get it, my wife can call our neighbor. He actually replaced the pipe coming up through the floor when he helped installed the Jenn Air gas range I’m replacing. My brother-in-law is not handy. I had to teach him how to install cabinetry in the dining room, so having him try to loosen a pipe fitting would not be a good idea.

Before our trip to Lowe’s, we stopped at the Jewel to pick up frozen pizzas, thinking we’d try the new oven. That didn’t work out, so we finally got to use the toaster oven I got last year. Fits a 12” pizza perfectly and makes a great pizza. Why haven’t we used it before? Wife preferred the oven. 

My leg is terrible today. I asked my wife where her knee braces were from her TKR’s, but she thinks she tossed them. Our doctor told me to see if she had one of them for me to use, or Ace Bandage. Ace Bandage isn’t working out. I’ve tried. I ordered a knee brace  from Amazon. Should get it Friday or Saturday. I can’t wait to try it.

Lola’s Diner cc.  2008-2020

Days 263-271 of Sheltering In

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. It has been quite awhile, a lot going on. Lots of appointments and running around.

Wednesday MRI appointment. Had the same tech I had 3 years ago who does not know how to find a vein for an IV so she just tries to jam it in down to China. This time she also exploded the contrast all over my arm, then poured alcohol all over my arm. Nuf said about that part. When I got off the MRI table my left knee went out, causing my leg to buckle. I thought nothing of it until I started having pain. By Sunday night the pain was nearly childbirth level. I called my Insurance’s 24 hour nurse hotline past midnight. She was telling me to go to the ER. The hospital that takes my insurance is gang banger central. The only way you want to go to the hospital after dark is via ambulance. No thank you. Monday I got into my PCP. Posterior Bursitis. Small, probably won’t need it drained. Went home with instructions and 3 rx’s. Monday it was like I had a bad charley horse nonstop. Tuesday I met with the doctor for the MRI. He said tumor is exactly the same size as last time. Great news! After we picked up a CBD lotion. $50 for a pump lotion. I have to say at first I hated it. Smells like Vick’s Vapo Rub. But I put I on before bed, I was able to sleep through the night with my regular meds, and did not have pain in the morning. 

Our gas range oven stopped working Monday. It had progressively lower temperatures. Before my appointment Tuesday I researched online for a new one. As I am doing that a mail message flashes and I thought it said credit limit increase. I went to my emails, yup, got increased. So then I had the ability to actually go buy a stove. Lowe’s is next to our pharmacy, so we stopped. Turned out the 1 stainless steel one was sold, won’t be in stock until February. So I went the cheap route, I bought the white. 🤷🏻‍♀️ What could I do? I couldn’t wait til February. The dishwasher is white, so 2 appliances will match. 🤷🏻‍♀️ It’s being delivered Thursday. My brother-in-law will take the old one to the scrapyard. (Lowe’s charges to take away your old one.)

Can I please not have to watch the Santa Clause trilogy anymore this week? Add to that Home Alone and Home Alone 2. 🤦🏻

Lola’s Diner cc.  2008-2020

Days 258-262 of Sheltering In

Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday. Geez! It’s all a blur. Family not getting along. Let’s just leave it at that.

Saturday was my wife’s birthday. Her gift didn’t show up until Monday even though I paid extra for expedited delivery. It’s not worth my time to try to get that refunded because the place I ordered from is across the pond. I wouldn’t even know what time to contact them. The trip to my father-in-law’s to celebrate her birthday was canceled because his wife had to go to the hospital via ambulance. She tested negative for COVID-19 and was told it’s probably pneumonia. She returned to work on Sunday. She is a hairdresser. We celebrated at home. I got 2 bundtlettes from Nothing Bundt Cakes.

Sunday I spent over 3 hours cutting my daughter’s hair with my Flowbee. (Did you hear? George Clooney cuts his own hair with a Flowbee He was interviewed on some show and he mentioned it, then did a demo!) It’s never taken that long to cut my son’s, or my own hair. My daughter’s hair was shoulder length and super thick. I had to use my hair cutting scissors and cut off about 4 inches. Now she has collar length hair, layered. Looks cute. She was happy. That was the end of haircuts for Sunday. Mine and Josh’s will need to wait and I’ll do our another day.

Lola’s Diner cc.  2008-2020

Days 251-257 of Sheltering In

Thursday (Thanksgiving), Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.

Thankfully there were no cooking accidents this year on Thanksgiving. We ate later than planned, but it wasn’t too bad.

We stayed in Black Friday. Saturday was laundry at my father-in-law’s. Ate pizza and played cards. Thankfully he did not serve his nasty wife’s leftovers. My brother-in-law said the turkey was so dry it could have burst into flames. Thank goodness for Aurelio’s. Yes, I typed it correctly. His wife is nasty. She was the one at our wedding where every photo she was in she had RBF.

The honeymoon is over. My daughter is telling my son what to do and isn’t keeping up with her promise. It’s not like I expected anything different. It’s just really hard on me. Calgon...take me away. I wish! I’ve spent way too many days not leaving the house. I did get out Monday to pick up prescriptions and get gas. Woo hoo!

I need to make a decision on the Pilot. I think I’m basically going to get screwed and call the scrap car place to come get it. I’ll get...maybe $75. It’s not right. The tires are practically new (but not the right size for the Buick, the Buick tires, which I need to replace, are much larger), the body is in good shape and it starts and runs really great. The leather interior is in great shape. It’s got a new battery (free warranty replacement), and I just bought a battery for the Buick (different size). It was preventative. The battery was 5 years old, so it could have gone any time. The issue with the car is either the power steering pump about $350, or the rack and pinion steering $the same, or a bit more than the Pilot is worth to fix it. I need to cancel the insurance Thursday. I won’t sell it privately because of the liability. The rear axle repair could fail if someone were to drive it more often or further than my wife was driving it. Because of the steering problem I can’t even take it to the scrap car place, so if they have to come get it and tow it, you get less money. I could part it out and get more $, but that would be a big hassle, not to mention not safe these days to sell items online, etc. I don’t know why, but letting go of the Pilot is harder and more emotional than letting go of any of my previous cars. It’s the first car I’ve ever put over 200,000 miles on from buying it new. My wife wants me to replace it, but with the current economy, I’m not sure I could get a car loan at a reasonable rate. My previous loan on the Odyssey was from my credit card company, and they are probably the best place to start. I just really don’t want a car payment again. Especially now when my electric bill is so incredibly high. My brother-in-law had mentioned a few months ago about giving my wife his car, because he wanted to replace it. Since the extra unemployment stopped, he’s changed his mind. My father-in-law got his truck back from his youngest. He shouldn’t be driving anymore. My wife getting the truck to use may be a possibility, but it’s not my place to ask. Getting along with 1 car in a city with no public transportation isn’t easy.

This week was to be a week of doctor appointments, including my annual MRI, but I screwed up again. I forgot I had to schedule it at the hospital. This year again I thought the MRI was at the center. Nope. My MRI is scheduled for next Wednesday. I still need to reschedule the doctor appointment. Thankfully I had scheduled the neurologist just before Christmas, so no need to reschedule. I had an appointment with a new doctor to replace the 1 that doesn’t take my new insurance. I dislike him more that the old doctor so Thursday and or Friday I will be doctor shopping. I should shop for my son too. He had his every 3 month appointment while I was scheduling my MRI. My wife sat in on the phone appointment and he was incredibly rude to her. 

I spent an entire day on the phone with my insurance trying to find out why I’m getting billed for my PT visits. There should be $0 due after both insurances pay. Of course the state takes their time paying. I talked to a very nice woman at my insurance company. She called the PT place’s collection department and explained to them it may take 3 months to fully process a bill, but I will in fact owe nothing. I also called again opt out of their medication review. My pharmacist and all my doctors review my medications, so why? I thought I had done it in October, but the other rep I spoke with explained that they have a 3rd party also calling. The actual insurance company did stop calling. Some days I would get as many as 5 calls and 2 texts. Calling me on the weekend, and 8am this past Sunday. 🤬 The rep told me it’s difficult to get the 3rd party to stop calling, but she would make the request. She told me what number the insurance calls from and told me I could block all these 3rd party calls. I did that after I finished the call. I should see a lot less calls. Probably won’t make much of a difference since the calls regarding my student loan (I never had one) and my expired car warranty (it’s not expired) are increasing from numbers in my area code. I’m sure with all the politicians talking about student loan relief that the scammers are doubling their efforts to scam as much as they can before whatever student loan relief goes through.

I did something I probably should have done years ago. That is, look up the actual dates my parents died. It is amazing the information you can find on the internet. Turns out I was a couple days off on my Mom, 1 day on my Dad. My Dad will have been gone 30 years this Saturday, which is also my wife’s birthday. My Mom has been gone 36 years. I knew my Dad’s was coming up because I’ve been in a funk and in general I’ve been a hot mess.

Thursday I have to call the new Asst Director  to schedule my daughter’s Covid-19 test. She has to get tested (and be negative) before she can go back to her group home. Hopefully I will reach her as quickly as I did when I made arrangements with her for the home visit.

Lola’s Diner cc.  2008-2020