12/24/2018: The day was mostly occupied with preparations for Christmas.
Not much happening during the day except started Bureau of Shadows story of
"That Year". In evening had tamales and dip, then made deviled eggs,
baked cornbread, made pea salad, and then 2 cheesecakes. Kam and S&A [Susan
& Andy] went to some Christmas program; they got home without A as he was
called away in the wrecker and they had to get a ride home. Then Kelsey called
and she and Ryan came to stay the night with their new puppy, Goose. Read
Christmas Eve missalette.
12/25/2018: Up about 6:30 AM; called in at 9 AM. Made pancakes, eggs, and
bacon. Then we all (Me, S&A, Kam, and K&Rh [Kelsey & Ryan Hoffman]
went in for presents. Got a stocking with chocolate candy and a $100 bill from
S&A. Much watching of "A Christmas Story" today, as it was
on infinite repeat. A little before noon the Hoffman's had to go to his side of
the family a while. Everyone else retired for a resting pause. About 1 PM
started the ham and mixed the dressing. At 3 PM put the dressing in the oven.
At 4 PM took the ham out and put the rolls in; made the gravy and tea. At 4:30
PM people started arriving as per schedule, first Kaitlyn and her dogs (her
Ryan had to work), and then John and his family. Remembered (at the last
minute) the cranberries. We all sat down to eat, and I said the prayer. John
and Amy brought green bean salad and little pecan pies. Afterwards we had a
little wine and some visiting. Kaitlyn gave out her gifts; she had got me a
razor and shave gel (which seems like either a hint or perhaps ironic, as
shaggy as I am, but I take it in the spirit it is offered; she thought about
me). K&RH came back, and they ate; more visiting. Goose (a chocolate lab) a
big hit. By 8 PM everything was cleared away and everyone had hit the road.
Thanked S&A for a good Christmas and went back to the guest house. Sat
around and read for a couple of hours, then hit the hay.
2019
12/24/2019: Christmas Eve.
Up about 6 AM. Prayers, catechism, and Bible. Watched “The Boy Who Became
Santa Claus”. Went in at 9 AM and
started boiling eggs and making my ramen. Then started putting the pea salad
together. Finished that at 10 AM and began making the deviled eggs. Finished
that at 11 AM. Cleaned up, came in and finished eating breakfast. At 1 PM I
plan to make the cheesecake, and that’s all the prep I need for today.
So, I went ahead and started
the cheesecakes a little after 12 Noon and finished (with washing up and taking
out the recyclables) at 1 PM. Now nothing between me and Christmas Vigil Mass
at 4 PM but getting dressed and walking over there. Must remember to fast.
I got dressed and left at 3
PM and got home at 5:30 PM. It was quite a nice service, including a pageant by
the children. On my walk home talked to a nice couple going into St. Andrews.
On coming home, I made myself some ramen. K&RT’s dogs are here, so I guess
they are too.
I felt good over the
evening, and over the time I set up a few of the Christmas action figures to
make things look seasonal. Bed fairly early, after a rosary.
12/25/2019: Christmas day.
Up about 6 AM, got dressed, prayers, catechism, and Bible. Went in at 7 AM and
started making Christmas breakfast: bacon, pancakes, and fried eggs. “Otto, the
Ugliest Christmas Egg.” Kelsey and Ryan came about 8 AM, then we all gathered
for breakfast (including Kaitlyn and her Ryan). Cracked one of my back
tooth-stumps on a bit of hard bacon and it nagged all day, but not insuperably
so. Then we gathered in the living room for presents. $100 dollars for me, and a new coat with a hood
(just what I’ve been needing for years). We all lolled around watching
Christmas movies. RH had to leave a little early, and Kelsey later. Then at
about noon I started making the ham, boiling the bone for gravy (which made
some of the best gravy for years, I think), preparing the rolls, and later (I
had forgotten) opening a can of cranberry sauce. We ate at about 2 PM, then sat
outside with the dogs a while, watched more movies (The Grinch – Jim
Carey edition), and then cheesecake. Kaitlyn and Ryan packed up and headed out
by 4:30 PM. It is almost 5 PM, and I’m ready to lie down for a bit.
Kenny called about 6:30 PM
and he and his family wished me a Merry Christmas. They were having a
“Fa-ra-ra-ra-ra” Christmas supper after he finished worked today. I asked him
if he’d read my new chapters, and he said he and Isabel were reading them
together. When I went in to pass along the greetings to S&A, they had just
finished trying to eat more supper, but were still too full. I myself was still
feeling full, but I agreed to finish off what they couldn’t, and it was a nice
little “filling up of corners” as the hobbits say. Came in and finished reading
“Taras Bulba” then said the Rosary at 8 PM. Then I tried to sleep but kept
waking up (a jug of Big Red will do that) and at last I woke about 11:50 PM and
caught the diary up. What will tomorrow look like? Well, some yummy leftovers
and Kam asked for bacon and eggs.
Sheesh. I just took a minute
to write down a dream and then spent 2 hours proof-reading the 2019 Dream
Journal. Now almost 2:30 AM.
2020
12/24/2020: Up about 6 AM.
Prayers and Bible. Feeling good. About 8 AM went out to take recycling, checked
porch, and no groceries, so the order I made hadn’t gone through. Oh, well.
About 10:30 AM Kaitlyn came over and said she and Ryan take me to pick-up HEB
pharmacy for my medicine; we went, then I waited in the truck (I certainly
didn’t want to tread the store during Christmas rush) while they shopped. Home
and lunch; they’d bought me a BBQ sandwich and potato salad. About 5 PM we
gathered for supper. Kelsey and Ryan had arrived, and they brought Goose, so we
had the whole pack with Kylo, Vader, Jade, Kia, and Goose. Had tamales with
chili and cheese, hot cheese dip and chips, soda, baked cookies, etc.
Afterwards it was already dark, so we gathered around the firepit and played Catchphrase.
The Ryans smoked cigars and drank mightily and the talk was fun and a good
family gathering. Toasted s’mores, and I even drank a little wine. Lots of
smoke and sparks flying up and dogs poking their heads everywhere and some
tried to eat the toasting forks and Andy melted a part of his boot on the
firepit. Kenny and the Florida Babels checked in and wished us a Merry
Christmas. Everyone went in about 10:15 PM, and I spent a while unwinding (some
Perry Mason) then went to bed at about 11 PM.
12/25/2020: Merry Christmas!
Awake at 5:30 AM. Prayers and Bible (the Nativity from Luke this morning).
Caught up diary. It’s now 6:36 AM, and I’m to go in at 9 AM to make the
traditional pancakes and eggs and bacon.
I worked on breakfast from 9
AM until about 10:30 AM, and it was the usual fine smoky business, with much
jockeying for pancakes as they came off the griddle and fried eggs as they got
better and better as my hand improved. Finally we had all eaten by 11 AM, and
we started handing the presents out. I got a light jacket, a Yeti cup, a
fruitcake, and a certificate from Susan and Andy for $100 services on Ebay.
During the rest of the day
there was playing video games, hanging around, and Kaitlyn and Ryan left about
2 PM, as K had to go back to work this evening. Later Kelsey and Ryan went out
visiting his folks and stayed overnight. I called John about 5 PM and wished
his folks the happy merry. I spent part of the evening with Susan making out
what I wanted to order, which she will do as soon as at the shop computer (more
secure). I’m finally getting those two seasons of Venture Bros, the 2020
Unfinished Tales, Tolkien the DVD, and Monster of Frankenstein
Volume One. Fiddled around until I went to bed.
2021
12/24/2021: Up a little
after 6 AM; did not watch the other half of cartoon reruns. Prayers and Bible.
Took out recycling and garbage, then went in, turned off the safety lights, and
fed the cat. Cleaned up some hairballs. Temperature only about 60 degrees.
Caught up diary, and now at 8 AM going to start making out Christmas
card/gifts. Unfolded the table and got to work. Done before 9 AM. Prayed the
Litany of the Sacred Heart. At noon made myself some dumplings for lunch.
Listening to Corey Olsen on Dante. About 2 PM John called ME, and we had a good
talk. Back to Dante. Everyone came home about 4 PM (S&A, Kam, Kelsey and
her Ryan, and Kaitlyn and her Ryan, and their dogs. We visited and ate pizza
and played games and watched Christmas shows until almost 11 PM, then I went in
for bed.
12/25/2021: Christmas Day!
Awake a little after 6 AM, then really awake about 7:30 AM. Prayers and Bible.
Got dressed. Ready to go in at 8:30 AM to start breakfast (pancakes, eggs,
bacon, and sausage). Cooked and cooked for over an hour, then ate, and we did
Christmas presents. After visiting some more, everybody went home about 1 PM. I
called John about 2 PM, then Kenny, who called me back at about 7 PM - 8 PM.
Rosary. Bed at about 11 PM.
2022
10/24/22: Did all the normal
morning stuff. Went in at 10 AM to start the deviled eggs, and soon thereafter
they began the Christmas exchange, with S&A, Ks&R, Kt&R, me and
Kameron. Most people got new shoes (nice but boring); I got a total of $100
(much needed at this time of month) and a new tumbler. Finished the eggs just
as Kaitlyn and Ryan left for his Dad’s for Christmas. Susan and Andy went to
JJ’s with Kelsey and Ryan (JJ is a divorced friend of Ryan’s Dad; apparently
his place is ‘Party House’).
About 3:30 PM I put the
tamales in the oven. As I was taking them out at 4:30 PM, the others came back
and started getting ready to go to Babeloth. We left, with me riding with Andy
in the wrecker. The country between was the typical Texas winter, bleak yet
somehow grand under the late long sun.
Arrived at John’s house. It
was great. They were all waiting on the porch with a firepit going. We went in
with the tamales and deviled eggs, and soon we were sitting down to supper,
including pit-smoked jalapeno poppers, deer sausage, some great chili that John
whipped up himself, chicken salad sandwiches, chips and dips, and so on. There
was Diet Cherry Coke for me. John turned on some classic Christmas shows on in
the background, including old commercials. The water was out for a while, but
that didn’t really affect much.
After the meal and visiting,
we got down to games. As Ryan and Morgandy weren’t playing, I was on the girl’s
team. We won, 3 to 0. Then we played one round of Crimes Against Humanity. We
finally convened a little before midnight; it turned 12 while we were on the
road. Very little traffic. In bed about 1 AM.
12/25/22: Up any old how at
5:30 AM; not really very sleepy. Despite some physical reluctance I prepared
and left for church at 8 AM; church started at 9 AM. Very nicely decorated, and
incense. Many Christmas songs for the hymns. Home a little before 11 AM. No
food in the house.
Went in at 1 PM, and they
were gone to JJ’s again. Kam home, of course. Had some leftover tamales and
some Cup o’ Noodles. While I was taking out some trash Andy came home for a bit
to run water in the pool and change laundry. I agreed to watch the water level
and let the dogs out again when done. Did so.
About 5:45 PM it was getting
darker and colder, so I went out to pen the Rotts up again. Kam was ready for
supper (he wanted them to bring him Whataburger). Andy came by to change the
wash. Kam and I had some tamales for supper. Went in and basically watched
Jimmy Akin (a four hour ‘Together at Christmas’) during which I fell
asleep.
2023
12/24/23: Woke up feeling
better. Prayers and Litany. Watched EWTN Mass at 7 AM. Ate a banana for
breakfast. About 12:30 PM Kameron came in and asked how I was feeling [I’d been
doing poorly] and I was able to tell him I was much better. Had a banana for
lunch. Pretty wet in the morning but cleared in the afternoon. Kind of moped
around much of the afternoon. Ryan T. and Oliver came over (Kaitlyn,
unfortunately, was feeling sick) and they all went to the Shanafelt family
gathering. They were back in the late afternoon, however. I was just about to
eat a bowl of pickle slices and mustard when Andy came in and asked if I wanted
to go to the Chinese buffet with them. I hesitated cautiously a bit but decided
to go. It was so good to see Oliver. Seeing a baby really makes it feel like
Christmas. We went, and Ollie had to have his diaper changed just as we got
there. John called to check in on me while that went on. We went in and for a
while Ollie couldn’t keep his eyes off me. He looked a little puzzled, even
gobsmacked. My second plate almost vanquished me, but I barely made it, so I
was obviously not 100%. My fortune: “Friendship is an ocean that you cannot see
the bottom [of].” We came home and I bid everyone good night. A bright, nearly
full moon. We made plans for 10 AM to start breakfast. Came in, watched more
DQ11. About 9 PM prayed Rosary. About 10:30 PM Kenny messaged all of us in
Texas and we messaged him back.
12/25/23: Christmas Day. I
woke up at 4 AM, said my daily prayers, read the daily Mass readings, made an
Act of Spiritual Communion, and prayed the Litany of the Sacred Heart. Almighty
God, we thank and praise You for the ever-giving, ever-living Gift of Your
Divine Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, and for
all our family, living, dead, or absent far away. We thank You, Lord, for all Your
bounties and mercies, and for seeing us through the tribulations of this year.
We thank You especially for the blessing we have all received through Oliver,
and for the deliverance of Kenny through his operations. We ask that You keep
us safe and bless us throughout the following year, that we may be together for
all times, and that we may bless You and praise You forevermore. In the Name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
And that, I think, will be
my prayer, also, if I am asked to pray today. It’s now almost 5 AM.
Went in a little early at
9:30 AM because the process of baking bacon was a little experimental to me.
Kaitlyn was there, joining Ryan and Oliver. I had started cooking when Kelsey
and Ryan arrived. There is something about having a baby around that makes
Christmas more Christmasy. He watched me all the time, so solemnly and so
puzzled, as if not sure of me at all. Making bacon, pancakes, eggs, and sausage
all at the same time, in the heat, with Kameron (with all the good will in the
world) distracting me every other minute or so, and nothing to sit down on, but
I came through with flying colors and a little assistance from Ryan H. There
was a minor miracle as for Hanukkah, in that the Pam Spray (which was low) did
not run out until I had finished with the pancakes. The bacon turned out
perfectly and most of the eggs had intact yolks. Success!
After we ate, we retired to
the sitting room and the presents were parceled out. First of all, we watched
Ollie as he frolicked among his many presents, including a push/bouncy/talking
scooter. Then we settled on opening the presents. I got “The Letters of JRRT”
(which I had asked Kaitlyn for), a fancy fruitcake from S&A (and $100), and
$50 from Kelsey and Ryan. We sat around and visited for a good while, then
about 4:30 PM (I think) Kaitlyn&Co packed up and headed out.
Kelsey&Ryan headed out soon after, while Susan and Andy cleaned up. I
retired to the guest house, and rested a while.
Back in at 6 PM (it was
already dark) to get a jug of water, which Kameron helped me with. Messaged
John and Kenny, sending them some pictures. As far as TV goes, Christmas is
over. Spent the evening (first) watching DQ11, then listening to Jimmy Akin’s “Along
Together for Christmas” on YT. Ordered a few groceries for tomorrow, to be
delivered between 12-1 PM. It’s now slightly after 10 PM, and I’m eating too
much Christmas chocolate.
2024
12/24/24: Christmas Eve. Up
at 2 AM. Did bits of straightening. PBL. Listening to Jimmy Akin on the Star of
Bethlehem. It’s now 3:12 AM.
Up again at 5 AM. Adan-12
and cartoons. Went out a couple of minutes before 7 AM, taking some stuff to
the recycle bin, and just I was checking my phone, saw that the delivery would
be here in zero seconds, and looked up to see him coming down the driveway.
Humped everything in. About 65 degrees.
Made myself some chicken
broccoli noodles with peas. Made post about 3 obscure old Christmas specials.
Kameron told me he was going to wait awhile to get the mail and bins; he and
Kelsey were working to get Andy some ‘snowmen’ for their video game. Rested a
bit. At 11 AM I went in to get the key to check the mail and bring the bins in;
Kam had finished and was about to go himself. Someone had already rolled the
recycle bin in, there was no mail, and the garbage men had not come yet.
S&A closed the shop at
noon and came home; Andy was leaf-blowing around the pool. About 2 PM I learned
they were eating out again, and I didn’t have to worry about making supper.
About 5 PM John and I messaged each other a bit; I had remembered our old toy
piano. Rosary.
Spent the evening puttering
around. Some Cup o’ Noodles for supper. Lay down early but awake again at 9:30
PM. Caught up diary. Looks like I don’t have to do any cooking tomorrow; they
are going out visiting.
12/25/24: Up at 4:30 AM.
PBL. Adam-12 and cartoons. Rosary at 7 AM. Since I hear Andy loading the
vehicle, so I took out a couple of Mom’s Avon pewter Christmas ornaments to
give to Kelsey and Kaitlyn. Made one pack of Knorr’s teriyaki noodles. They
leave about 8:30 AM. I kind of like this Christmas set-up: I don’t have to cook
or worry about traveling. Though I am a little nervous about being alone; what
if some crook decides this is a good time to burgle the house.
I lounge around, then take a
couple of bottles out to the recycle bin. The temps are in the low 60’s. No
blogpost today either.
Every Christmas is much the
same; every Christmas is very different. My Christmas this year was very calm
and very quiet. It has long been a tradition at Nolte Street that Susan and
Andy and their kids and their kids’ spouses would gather, first for a breakfast
of pancakes, fried eggs, and bacon, which I would prepare in enormous
quantities, and then we would all open presents. Well, this year they all went
to gather at Kaitlyn and Ryan’s house in San Antonio, which is most appropriate
as that is where the little kids are. I stayed at home, as I could not really
travel in their vehicle (too high, and I felt a little too queasy for the
trip); I didn’t have to cook, and I was able to keep an eye on the house.
Susan, Andy, and Kameron
returned in the late afternoon, and we all left to eat supper at the Grand
Buffet Restaurant (Chinese, Japanese, and Asian cuisine). As it was one of the
few eateries open at Christmas, you can imagine it was doing a brisk business.
I got a fortune cookie at the end of the meal, of course. My fortune read “You
will soon receive a gift with great gratitude.” And for once the fortune came
true, soon, and in spades.
Returning home we settled
down and opened our Christmas presents. I received $100, a 1 pound 12-ounce
fruitcake, and a microwave from Susan and Andy (they just found out I’d been
doing without a microwave for almost a year). That was surprising and
appreciated and received with quite a bit of gratitude. But I also got a couple
of books as gifts.
Beowulf: Translation and
Commentary, Revised and Expanded, Translated by Tom Shippey,
Edited by Leonard Neidorf (Uppsala Books, 2024). The main body is the poem Beowulf
in Anglo-Saxon, and on alternate pages is Shippey’s translation, informed by
his decades-long study of the poem. Almost 200 pages (a little under half of
the 430-page length) are notes and appendices. I am pleased as punch to get
this book; my appreciation of Tom Shippey has deepened over the past year.
Besides being a reading experience, it adds to my pile of both Shippey and
Beowulf books.
A Dictionary of Tolkien, by
David Day (Thunder Bay Press, 2024?) Well, yet another sausage grind from his
The Tolkien Bestiary, The A-Z of Tolkien, and Tolkien: An Illustrated
Encyclopedia. On the other hand, it does claim to have some new writing and
there are a few new illustrations (of no great skill or distinguished quality).
It is a beautifully bound book, and its size is much more handleable than my
old Tolkien Bestiary, whose cover is starting to crumble. And it has a
bookmark! All-in-all, I am pleased to have it, although it is not something I
would have bought myself (don’t particularly want to put any more money in
Day’s coffers). But it is still Tolkien, for a certain value of Tolkien. I
wouldn’t rely on it as a source, but it is a good-looking book. And I do love
expanding my Tolkien Archive. So, on the
balance, yes, I am grateful to receive it.
Notes
I was curious this morning to find out what I had recorded about past Christmas seasons, and thought, why else do I keep a Diary if not to find such stuff out. Wow. All the time from when Goose was a new puppy and to Ollie's earliest year, and now, this year, it will be little Julia's first Christmas. "Christmas succeeds Christmas, rather than the day it follows." -John Crowley.
