Ho, Ho, Ho

Just boarded the bus to go to Grandma's house for the Big Bryant Family Reunion. Happy Christmas to you and yours.

Yes, I'm saying Happy Christmas this year. I just like the sound of it better than Merry Christmas...

Merry Christmas, blah, blah, blah….

Another Christmas is upon us, and has almost passed. Again, there were two family reunions for me to go to. The first one, I missed for all intents and purposes. I was in my Grandma’s living room, having just watched the Seahawks game. It was probably about 5 o’clock or so. The next thing I remember is like a dream. I was dreaming that my father and my brother were trying to get me to check my blood sugar. What had really happened was that I had a hypoglycemic episode and had passed out on the couch, and they were trying to bring me aroud. The m&m’s my father provided were what brought me around. So, I made it to the first Bryant Family reunion, and after my second cup of apple juice, I was coherent enough to chech my blood sugar, which was still low. I think what happened was the change in venue. Grandma’s house is too small for the family reunion, so they rented a Grange Hall. And that was where all the food was. Basically, I was a combination of too high of an insulin dose at breakfast, too long without eating, and not having a source of candy nearby. Lesson learned: I will always have candy within arms’ reach.

But I made it to the Grange Hall. And I felt fine after the third glass of apple juice. I missed the church service and dinner, but made it for the gift exchange. We drew lots this year, and I was the very last lot. This being done in white elephant style, you could either choose a present, or you could steal another relative’s present, and make them choose another. Since I had the very last lot, I could either steal any other cousin’s gift, or open the last one under the tree. Upon consultation with my brother (who is the cook in the apartment), I stole the crockpot that another cousin got. And having been on the recieving end of one too many ‘gag’ presents in years past, I decided this year to give one: a USB pet rock. I also threw in a gift card to a national retail chain, too.

So, fast forward to today. This was the family Christmas celebration. I made sure that I wasn’t going to pass out at this one. There was food. Lots of it. And it was good. And I brough leftovers home. When it came to the gift exchange, some nephews/nieces got gift cards to Target, some to Worst Buy. And my brother, I got him a talking plush Dalek. And the DVD set of I, Claudius (we had both taken the same humanities class in high school, where Mr. Tarry had shown it). I gave Grandma a couple of gift cards, one to Subway and one to Jack in the Box. My Father got a gift card to The Home Depot. And also there’s the present I gave to the owners of the Mrs. Fields I used to work at: I’m taking February 13th and 14th off to work at Mrs. Fields so they can go enjoy Valentine’s Day as a couple.

Some of the stull I got today:

• Know what, I’m not going to list it this year. It is better to give than to recieve….

Merry, Christmas, Happy Hannukuh, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Festivus, Happy Solstice, Hapy New Year, or Happy Whatever Day You Choose to Celebrate…

On a little road trip.

It's Christmas Eve. Which means I'm on the bus, headed out to Grandma's. This year, I have a full week off (I'm actually on day 2). And I'm heading up way too early, so I can service a laptop and hopefully get that up and running as a favor to my father.

So Merry Christmas, Happy Hanakkuh, Happy Festivus, or Happy Solstice. Or failing that, the 'Hawks are playing at the CLink this afternoon, and reminding everyone why you shouldn't wear a mitre on the football field...

The original Thansgiving…

Addams Family Values was one of the funnier movies around...

Two last Christmas presents

I know I posted a week ago that I was done with my Christmas shopping. I was wrong.  Christmas Morning, my brother wanted me to check the Sprint account to see if his line was upgrade eligible. It was. He then was talking about going to Worst Buy to get on the iPhone for life plan. Unbeknownst to him, I went to the Sprint website, and ordered his iPhone 6s Plus, and set the appointment to pick it up. Abd be just got it today. With the iPhone for life plan, whenever a one comes out, he can go in and get it. It is a $23+ a month payment as we're leasing the phone. But he's happy, and I made sure he has enough memory (64 gB).

While I was out and abøøt today, I also found a copy of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (the Gene Wilder film). I was looking for it before Christmas, but I couldn't find it. I know who they're going to....

It is over….

Not Christmastime. I traditionally celebrate it through the New Year. I’m Old Skool. I don’t gear up mentally for Christmas untill about 12 days before, and then up to 12 days afterward, gradually winding down around New Years. The madness of Black Friday is a part of Thanksgiving (which lasts until the turkey runs out)…
But I digress. What’s over? My vacation. This week, I took a vacation day on Christmas Eve to allow for travel to the Big Bryant Family reunion (I carpool to my siblings on Christmas Day). And after Christmas Eve and Christmas day, I took another vacation day to recover (this was all planned out in September, and approved in December).
So for Christmas Eve, at the Big Bryant Family reunion, there was much food to be consumed. An aunt brought her seven layer dip (one year she didn’t, and I think she almost got disowned). There was the one cousin who’s forehead I have to polish for good luck. And lots of food. About 3 insulin shots’ worth…
Christmas morning, we went to a sisters house. There were cats (this sister is the designated Crazy Cat Lady, but Rufus and Princess Bernice didn’t mind the attention). And the hyperactive dogs in the backyard. All of whom were very happy to see me. And much food. And much leftovers that I’m still munching on…
For the first time since 1998, I actually put a present under the tree for my brother. I got him a gift card to Worst Buy, and a desk lamp. He got me a complete bedding set (2 set of sheets & pillowcases, and a comfortor). I think he wants me to make my bed. Christmas Eve at the Family reunion, we do it white elephant style. I put my present under the tree, drew my number and waited my turn. My turn came, and I got a serving tray. Which I traded to a cousin for hot cocoa set and a coffee mug. At my sisters, I got:

• 2 Target gift cards. This is what I usually get from my parents. Either this or Wally World. I don’t mind a bit. I can put these away, and get what I need later.
• A lego minifig. I haven’t touched legos in well over 25 years. I need to rectify that.
• My Festivus hat. Forget Christmas. Festivus is where it’s at. Though my brother insists on an actual Christmas tree, so no Festivus Pole. And this year, the only chance I got to Air the Grievances came in a Twitter troll of Brother Charles. Maybe next year. A donation has been made on your behalf to the Human Fund…
• Gloves. That are touchscreen compatible. They will come in handy.
• A copy of The League of Regrettable Superheroes: The Loot Crate Edition. I think I may have to sign up for Loot Crate. But that will have to wait for January’s finances to resolve themselve first.

For giving gifts this year, I cheated. Everybody got gift cards to Best Buy. Except my brother, who got the aforementioned lamp. And come Monday, he’s getting a shiny new iPhone 6 Plus.
I hope you enjoyed your Christmas/WinterPaganHoliday/DayOff/Festivus/Hanukkuh…. Just remember it’s not over yet. There’s still New Years….

Christmas morning has begun….

Christmas morning has begun. Not because we realized that Santa came last night (not really, more on that later). No, Christmas morning has begun because I have my coffee. And my insulin shot.
So, after the Big Bryant Family reunion last light in Olalla, we all went our separate ways. I hitched a ride home with a cousin. But late last night, as my father was cleaning up, he heard a burglar on the roof. He attempted to come in through the chimney. I was a rather tight fit, as the would-be crook was rather obese. So, while he was struggling with the chimney and the flue, my father did the only thing that you should do when somebody tries to enter your house on Christmas Eve through your chimney: Call the pollice. They responded. And by the time he finally got into the fireplace, they greeted him with guns drawn. Needless to say, he got the cuffs slapped on him and he got his ass hauled off to jail. He had a bag of goods with him, obviously stolen from all the other houses in the neighbourhood. And he kept saying “Ho, ho, ho”. Obviously he was also some sort of street pimp…
In an unrelated story, there were no presents underneath my tree this morning, and I hear my father had to call animal control this morning. Something about 8-9 reindeer on his roof….

So, if you’re wondering….

It’s raining outside. It is close to midnight on Christmas Eve. So your chances of getting toys tomorrow morning are in serious jeopardy. Mainly because Santa has to go on visual flight rules this year, since Rudolph no longer has a red nose.
On the bright side, Rudolph is now sober…

Off to Grandma's house....

On the bus to Grandma's for the big Christmas Eve family reunion. Pulled the tablet out, remembering that I still have data service on it that I hardly use....

So if I'm not online the next couple days of so, let me wish you and yours a merry Christmas. Or, if you're not into Christmas, a happy holiday, whatever it may be (many, if not most of the world's religions and /or cultures celebrate a winter holiday, abd it need not be Christmas ). Or if you're not celebrating any holiday, there's a good chance you have tomorrow off, so enjoy your day off. Failing that, then have a nice day...

It is finished!

I was out the door at 5 yesterday morning. At work by 7. Worked my 8 hour shift, and got out of there by 3:30. Then I went to the mall. The mall I chose s the Commons at Federal Way. Didn't get out of there until 6:30, but I can now say for sure that my Christmas shopping is done. All of it. And I even got a spare present in case there's a lady minute addition to the family reunion...

At last, it is finished. At least until next year. Most people don't realize that the most important part of guy's Christmas shopping is the procrastination. The closer to Christmas eve you do it, the more sporting an experience it becomes. And doing it before Black Friday is just plain unsportsmanlike...

Happy Holiday To All….

No real message here. Just a lame excuse to post One by Metallica. My favorite Christmas carol….

Ate too much….

Went to my sister’s house today for Thanksgiving. And I ate too much, as is standard procedure for Thanksgiving. And I made sure to make an extra trip to grocery store to be sure that I have enough fixin’s for the mandatory Black Friday Turkey sandwiches (not to necessarily disclose who my current employer is, but my current employment is retail related). I just had to have not one, but two gravy volcanoes.

But the high point of Thanksgiving at my sisters wasn’t the food, or the family. Tonight was the very first time that I posted a cat picture to Facebook. I don’t own a cat, but Duecie stepped up to the challenge and was the stunt cat….

Happy Tuesday People!

I’m not Irish. I’m not Catholic. And I quit drinking quite some time ago. So today is Tuesday.

Happy Tuesday. Especially to all you non-Irish, non-Catholic, sober people. Having said that, it is perfectly alright to go out and celebrate if you so desire….

Just remember that St. Patrick’s day started out as a religious holiday in Ireland, and it was celebrated by going to church, not drinking green beer (and btw, Guinness is not definitely green, and St. Patrick’s color was blue).

But I’m not Irish, I’m not Catholic, and no longer drink. Happy Tuesday People!

Air the grievances! Prepare for the Feat Of Strength!

Ok, today was Festivus. There was a little bit of the Airing of Greivances, but I’m skipping the Feat of Strength.

Finished my Christmas shopping rather early this year (last Wednesday, to be exact). Due to my work schedule, I was working 6 days straight up until Christmas Eve, and working in retail, I definitely want to avoid the crowds. So this meant doing it on my last day off before Christmas. I did most of it through Spamazon and Wally World. Normally, in previous years the finances were sufficiently bleak that I didn’t give much for Christmas presents. But this year, I am employed full-time, so I got gifts for those whom I’d would’ve otherwise not given gifts to.

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and there’s the big family reunion at Grandma’s house. Normally, I ask for an opening shift at work, so I can get out of there early and make the trip. This year (since current employer has paid vacation), I took a vacation day on Christmas Eve, so I can have the day off…

ANd I’m taking the day after Christmas off as well. Just so I can sleep in…

It’s another holiday

So, Thanksgiving has come and past. This year, I went to my older sisters. Turkey was served. And it was good. Had my sister not invited me out, I would’ve gone with plan b: Chinese takeout while watching Football.

Most people don’t know the real reasons why the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. The Mayflower had run out of beer (when you consider the state of the water supply at the time, it was probably a healthier choice).

If you really want to pull a good prank, go to your favorite grocery store and ask whether or not they have any Soylent Green available… Then again, it can be really awkward if they haven’t seen the movie….

On dealing with rabbits….

Some of us may have an issue with a certain rabbit tomorrow. May I remind that this type of rabbit is best dealt with using Sacred Relics:

So, what all happened last week….

Last Monday was St. Patrick’s day. In Ireland, it is more of a religious holiday. In fact, up until 1970, all the pubs were closed on St. Patrick’s Day, and you went to church that day. It’s only in America that it’s celebrated with Green (actually St. Patrick’s color is blue), and excessive beer (which is ironic as St. Patrick’s Day is being celebrated during Lent this year, if you’re Catholic…). I’m not Catholic, nor  am I Irish. So I didn’t wear green, and I didn’t drink at all. I think it should be mentioned here that I no longer drink (alcohol is really pointless).

I’m watching Cosmos with Neil DeGrasse Tyson. He’s still no Carl Sagan, but he’s still making science interesting. The fact that he almost has a pornstache doesn’t hurt either… Carl Sagan introduced me to Johannes Kepler. Tyson has introduced me to Edmund Halley…

I renewed my phone contract a couple of months ago (I’ve already blogged about my new phone). And this week, my brother wanted to upgrade, too. So, he got his latest iPhone this week. And I had to be there, since it’s my account, and Sprint is rather strict about account holders…

And if you’re play Flight Simulator X, give yourself at least 15,000 feet before you barrel roll a jetliner. And while you’re at it, don’t hell dive the final appraoch…

Happy New Year

2013 is about to leave, and 2014 is about to begin. My resolutions this year:

• Get out of debt. When I apply for credit cards, if I have the option, I always ask for a low limit, so I can’t get into trouble, but still the balances just don’t go down…
• Bring down my blood sugar numbers. I constantly get yelled at when I go to my doctor. With Obamacare, I now (I hope) will be able to get something done.
• Write more in this blog. I use Twitter and Facebook a lot, but this was my original soap box on the internet…

Happy New Year to you. If you’re drinking, then please don’t drive. A DUI is a lot more expensive than a cab…

Technorati Tags: Holiday

Christmas has come, and is almost gone….

Went to my sister’s for Christmas Day. Texted my nephew to have the Altar and ram’s blood ready for the human sacrifice, and I was disappointed. Food was served, and there was a lot of it. To confess, I forgot my insulin at home, and I did over-indulge in sugar (but as soon as I got home, I immediately took a shot, though). But the food was good, and I got to see the brother that I hardly ever see (in Christmases past, we had the tradition of the Christmas Mule, where one brother did his Christmas Shopping, and the other was the bearer of the back-pack (the shopper had to pay for lunch…), But we’ve gone our separate ways. It is nice to see him and his girlfriend, though.

Eventually, it came time for the distribution of the loot. My parents gave me a gift card to Wally World, which is what I requested. I don’t necessarily need stuff right away, but with the gift card, when I realize what I need, I’ll be able to get it then. My aforementioned brother and his girlfriend gave me a big bucket of popcorn, and some sugar-free candy. I promptly regifted the popcorn (and one of the bags of candy) to my nephew (after explaining that I really don’t have the best of teeth, and I don’t do nuts that well, and the popcorn is just months of hyperglycemia). The armor-all gift set I got last night I regifted to my brother-in-law. My brother-in-law (and my sister) gave me a new coat, which has a removable liner (which can also be used by itself). I also got a hat and some gloves.

The gifts are irrelevant. I really don’t care about what I receive anymore, or even if I receive anything at all. It’s about family, friends, and having a good time.

Bah! Humbug

Well, it’s that time of year. The Godless Pagan Holiday (Winter). This year, I got Christmas Eve off, a simple gesture from my boss, but greatly appriciated. With those incompetent clowns at Peirce Transit cutting service to the bare bone and then some more, it would’ve almost been impossible to get to Grandma Bryant’s for Christmas Eve. I was originally planning to overnight there, and so I packed my laptop, the power cord for it, and the usb cable for my phone (so I could charge it from the laptop when I plug it in. I only forgot my phone at home. Phil and I decided to give Dad (he lives with Grandma Bryant) the old WiFi router that I replaced a last October. And I set it up as a Christma present to him.

We do a modified Secret Santa, where you buy the present, and they’re distributed by lottery. Usually there’s the one present that’s chosen by the one person that results in a big laugh. A few years back, it was a cousin who got a kid’s photo album (at the time, they were very definitely not having any children, she and her husband). This year, my name was called, and it was my turn to pick a presnet from under the tree. I picked one, and I heard a cousin try to dissuade from picking it. As I opened it, I realized why. It was a car detailing kit (in the big Bryant family, I’m the only non-driver). A good laugh was had by all, including me. It’s not about the present. I won’t be using it in the near future. But a good time was had by all, and that made it all worth it. I brought a Target gift card (my line of reasoning is if I don’t know who’ll end up recieving it, then I might as well get them a gift card. If they can’t find what they want at target, then they don’t deserve a Christmas present…). This year, the same cousin who brought the car detailing kit grabbed the gift card. She also grabbed the gift card I brought last year.

Well, tomorrow, we’ll have Christmas at my sister’s. But right now, I’m doing in my own Christmas tradition: watching midnight mass on TV. I’m definitely not Catholic, but I do have a couple of friends who are, and I figure this is one of the things we can do together…..