5th Day of Christmas

 

Special treat a few weeks ago for me, when I had to drop off my boy at the doctor for an hour. While he was visiting the Dr, I ate at the place right next to the office. Belle's Southern Diner. 

AMAZING. 

First, the place is packed full of blue collar workers, so right then and there I knew the place couldn't be that bad. 

I order a burger, fries, coke and dessert. 

The whole meal? $14 (with tax) One of the best deals in town! And ALL the food was great! Loved it. Amazing. Unbelievable. Highly recommend for anyone in town. 

Excellent. 

4th Day of Christmas

 Is there anything more worthless than wood glue? Not only did I buy the "strongest" brand but you also need clamps and 30 minutes (max) for the wood to hold. 

WRONG

Try 35 minutes with extreme pressure and the thing fell right apart the moment the clamp came off. I used gobs of it too. 

I may a well have used my own spit and gotten the same effect. So instead, I drilled a few screws into the panel and fixed it that way. 

I threw the rest of the "glue" in the trash. What a waste!

3rd Day of Christmas

 I got readers!

Earlier this year I was having trouble seeing my phones in the morning and reading directions on the back of boxes while cooking. 

At first I thought it was the lighting in the room but now I know it was only my eyes. 

So last month I got of pair of readers for $1.50 and have been happily reading without any problem! No more holding things away from my face just to read. 

Wait... does this mean I'm getting old??

2nd Day of Christmas

 This is the day you see people throwing out there tree right after Christmas day. Even saw someone have there's thrown out on the street within the same evening. Amazing. For us, we (of course) celebrate the 12 days of Xmas. Parties and Get-togethers at each others house along with Megan's birthday and New year's celebrations.

Gonna be a fun couple of days around here for sure. 

Have a good weekend folks!

Merry Christmas!

 If you got up this early to see this post at 6am....join the club. 

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!!!

Eve is upon us!

 As Christmas Eve is finally here, I reflect back to my childhood, when I remember being most excited about this day. It meant that tomorrow morning I'd be opening presents and (if feeling the packages served me well) I could guess how many action figures I'd be getting that day. 

Good times. 

I miss the feeling you get as a kid. I understand as an adult it's different and maybe for a lot of you its still special. Don't get me wrong, I love it, but not half as much as I did as a kid. I think that's just life. 

I'm not trying to be a bah humbug here, just stating how I feel. 

But with kids....and to hear them get excited....kinda brings back a little of the magic. 

Also, Megan's pissed some kid at school told the girls that the Tooth Fairy isn't real, to which Megan responded to the teacher (in the kindest death threat possible) that they better not ruin Santa. 

I'll be honest, in truth we have about one or 2 years max I bet before they figure it all out. Kids are pretty bright these days and the internet is EVERYWHERE.

Ok, I got off topic there for a moment. 

Have a good Eve folks!

Eggnog

 Ah, the delightful swill of the holidays. I love this stuff, though I only drink it at the first of the season (where it's everywhere in stores) and then disappears the week before Christmas. 

I get it. People don't want to be left with unsold stock after the holiday is over. I've always hated that. Because on Xmas day, I'd love a glass but there's never any in stores a week before. 

I LONG time ago, we used to make it. My sister bought the "kit" we'd mix it up and right before they put the hooch in it, I'd take a glass. (not much on drinking) but we don't even do that anymore. I'd like some homemade eggnog too but these days, I'm too lazy to go through all that work if I only want a small cup of it in the end. 

Eggnog flavor? Meh. It's really hit or miss to me. Do you love eggnog? What's your favorite brand? For us it's the (virgin) Southern Comfort one. But I've always liked Bordan's version as well. 

Gingerbread

 

I know we've all had gingerbread men before, but what about straight up gingerbread?

I remember years ago my mom made some. It was ok. I had one square and didn't ask for more. It tastes just like the men but in cake form. I think cake form is better because it more "well done" and not as "full" as cake is. (if that makes any sense)

Also, I love biting off it's arms and legs first before I go in for the kill and take his head.....and get his quickening....just like in Highlander. 

Sorry gingerbread man, there can be only one!! 

Pomanders

 These were used back in the day as a scented decor of oranges and cloves that would make the house smell like Christmas, all year round. 

I've never seen nor heard of these before I started going down this road of "lost" Xmas traditions. 

Look at these freaky things?? Look like they came right out of a Hellraiser movie. Dang, this is probably what other fruit see before these oranges drag them down to hell. 

You'd think in my long life I'd have known about these but this one is foreign to me. Let me know if it's something your mom/grnadmother/whatever used to do. And did you see it tear sugar plums apart with hooks and chains afterwards?

I need to know...

Have a good weekend folks!

Christmas Candy

 

I'm sure they still make these for little old ladies who want to put something in a bowl, that will stay there all season long and stick together in the bowl so that when you try to go for a piece the whole candy clump comes out with it. 

My great grandmother ALWAYS bought these for her house during Christmas and they ALWAYS stuck together. And they tasted horrible too. I'm sure they're still sold here and there but I don't know who in their right mind would be it. 

Does anyone else remember these? And did you enjoy it if you had them back in the day? I don't know anyone who's ever told me they have. 

Yule Log

 Yule logs have been a tradition this time of year for ages. It was a log that was supposed to burn in your fireplace all season long. It then became a cake! 

I don't think I've ever had one before. Looks like a giant Swiss Roll from Little Debbie. Gotta be honest....I'd try it. 

Kind of reminds me of Bacon Explosion. Pork wrapped in bacon....mmmmm....nevermind. I want this instead of the cake now. 

....what were we talk about again? 

Christmas Crackers

 Does anyone else have this tradition but my family? it's a cracker that you pull, it pops and gives you a small plastic toy along with a paper crown you were on your head. 

Every year mom has bought these for us and it's the first thing we do as we gather around the table to eat our Christmas meal. It's fun. The kids love it the most and it's also listed among the "lost" Xmas traditions in this day and age. 

Is it worth the cost? Probably not, but if you have small kids....they'll enjoy it. 

The return of Fruitcake?

 It used to be a Christmas tradition. My Mom would make several of them to give out to family and friends....I always threw mine in the trash. 

To be honest, I regret it. I should've at least tried it. Mom stopped making it years ago and for the longest the only place you could get it was the smushed one inside a tin can at the grocery store that looked horrific and was appetizing to exactly no one!

But I'd like to see it make a come back now. Maybe it's my old age and I'm going soft....like fruit cake, but I've dared my sister to try making some at her bakery to see if it can come back. 

She still hasn't done it. 

I get it though. Expensive to make it the right way and who would pay for something that over the years has had a terrible reputation for tasting awful? 

Do you know anyone who still makes it? Have you tried it? Would you try it again? Do you LOVE fruit cake?

I'm seriously all ears. 

Santa Bowl 2025 Breakdown

 Whoa boy, here we go. 

The youth had so many new kids, that no one on their own team could tell me his name. (Archer likes to bring in kids from around town to pad his team up with ringers)

Anyway, opening kick off that unknown kid ran the ball back for an easy 7-0 score.

After the adults threw an interception and after a pitiful 3 and out, some kid names Ethan made a falling catch into the endzone to put the score at 14-0.

2nd Quarter

Once again, the youth intercept the ball. Then after a few plays Cameron catches a tipped ball through in the endzone (that the adults refused to bat down) and the score starts to run away as it's 20-0

But the adults finally decide to punch one in as Coulter goes 45 yards in for a TD making the game 20-7

But after that, the youth walk down the field, no contest and it's suddenly 26-14 as the kid with no name catches a pass and runs it in. I'm guessing my nephew was the only one who knew him because when I even asked the team ON THE FIELD what his name was, everyone looked around and said "I don't know"

However, at the tail end of the half, I had them switch QB's and Jonathan Cross caught one and ran it in for 20 yards making the game 26-14

At halftime the youth strategized the whole time. The adults needed water and rest for 5 minutes, then sat around talking to each other about what we needed to do but no one having a plan. We decided to make Visa are QB for the second half since he used to play for Grambling back in the day....way back in the day I guess. 

Just like Jonathan (or previous QB) we were just slow to get off passes or do anything the entire game. We went 4 and out on our own 25 yard line. I have no idea why we didn't kick. But the youth was happy because it only took them one pass play to dump it to Ethan for his second TD of the game. 33-14

But the Adults finally answered with a beautiful diving catch from AJ to make it 33-21

4th Quarter

We finally stopped the Youth for the first time all game. Now was our chance to- nope interception by Ethan who ran it in for a TD 39-21 and I knew the game was over. 

But there was plenty of scores yet to come. 

The adults threw ANOTHER interception to no name, which was his 3rd TD of the game (because no one could touch him as he ran into the endzone) and the score is 46-21

But the adults weren't finished pooping themselves just yet! As we got caught in the endzone with the ball and handed the Youth the 2nd EVER safety in the history of the Santa Bowl to give us our final 48-21

Archer has to move over to the Adults, which means he won't be inviting his ringers anymore and the Youth's winning streak will officially end this year.  

It's too bad the church kids didn't get to play that much. I think next year's game is going to be so much more balanced moving forward. 

But the biggest tragedy of all was after the game, when I tired walking off with the trophy and Tyler Cychoz (for some reason) decided to throw the football at me. He missed and hit the Santa Cup, shattering it into a million pieces. 

The original cup from 1985 (40 years!) is no more. I told Archer we could just chip away the base of the old one and replace it with a new one going forward. 

But that wraps another year for the Santa Bowl. Next year I am thinking of moving the venue since this year there was so much going on. Where I'll move it is still up in the air but we'll see. 

The real deal

 Does anyone still get a real tree anymore? They get more expensive every year and artificial ones are good for multiple years for roughly the cost of 2 real trees. 

My dad used to get them until he stopped about 8 years ago because they kept getting more expansive. I see tree tents in town but at the prices they're asking for, I don't see why you wouldn't won't one pre-lit and easy to set up?

Maybe it's just me. Are you someone who gets a real tree every year or do you go full fake like myself?

Have a good weekend folks!

Christmas Goose

 This used to be the traditional meal served at Christmas years ago. But do you know anyone who's actually tried one or if they sell them anymore??

To be honest, I'd get one if they were available. I'd kinda like to try it out. Would it beat a turkey? I doubt it. 

For that matter, has anyone even had ham? I have. Well....for Thanksgiving I guess I should say. Not Christmas. Way back in the early days when I got married we hosted Thanksgiving for her family. To switch things up, I made ham. It was good. I'd have it for Xmas too I suppose. I'm impartial. 

What about you folks? Anyone had goose??

Advent Calendar

 I don't get it. It's a calendar and a countdown clock to Xmas. Big whoop. I see all kinds of these in stores and online. Something for everyone. But why?? Seems like a hassle to me. I never want to see one of these around my house. Thankfully the Mrs hasn't ever bought one so I guess she's not into it either. 

What about you folks? Do you buy advent calendar's every year? 

Frankenstein (review)

 Who knew I'd be interested in watching yet another movie based off this book? There's good scenery, good acting and overall, a fine story. Is it the best version of the movie? Sure. But looking around at its competition is that really saying much? 

Yes, I enjoyed the film. I was engaged the whole time. Is it one of the best movies I've seen this year? No, but it's certainly one of the better. 

I know this isn't sounding like a ringing endorsement but if you're interested, you should check this one out. It was worth my time so in saying that, it's gets a "thumbs up" from me. 

Good Fortune (review)

 Decided to give this one a try because I love John Wick so much and I like to imagine this is Wick after he died in 4 and is now an Angel with a sense of humor. 

All kidding put aside, this is an ok film. The angel Gabriel, who is responsible for saving people who text and drive, tries turning a "lost soul" around by giving him the lavish life he craves. The problem? All that money solves the guys problems, he hasn't learned a thing and he doesn't want to go back to his old life. 

It's a twist on a common story arc and for that I'll give it credit. However, without Reeves in  this movie, the story offers few laughs and a decent plot. If you're a fan or Mr Reeves, go for it. If not, skip it. 

Items BANNED from this House (5)

 Kinetic Sand, play dough, slime, etc. ALL BANNED. In less then an hour I'm picking it out of the carpet. My wife will buy them some every now and then and the moment they leave it out, I chuck it. 

Absolute worst!!

Ok, I'm done griping like an old man. Tis the season though right? 

Have a good weekend folks!

Items BANNED from this House (4)

 My girls will have someone this Christmas, give them a make up kit. It's happened every year for the past 3 years. And each year, I wait until we gather up all the gifts. Move these to the side and silently throw them away with the boxes and wrapping paper. 

Last year Megan found them in the garbage can and rescued them and wisely hid them from me for almost 6 months until I saw them and got rid of them the moment no one was home. 

Why? Nail polish STILL in the carpet and it will never come out. 

I'm prepared this year to throw more kits away. 

Items BANNED from this House (3)

 Anything candy that is in powder form. Why? It ALWAYS ends up all over the kitchen and carpet. And since my wife never cleans it up properly, it quickly turns into a sticky spot on the floor. They walk in with them and when they put them up (for later) I make sure to usher them out swiftly into the garbage. 

Items BANNED from this House (2)

 Stickers. Why? I'm always having to peel them off the walls and carpet...EVERY TIME. Whenever they get stickers from school or an event, I throw them away the moment the girls aren't looking. Sometimes their mother will pick up a pack of them and hasn't figured out who keeps taking them....and throwing them in the trash. 

When they reach the age of 16 I may think about lifting this ban. But for now, it's in full effect. 

Items BANNED from this House (1)

This week I'd like to discuss the various items that I banned from entering my house. The reason why and the penalty incurred upon violation of the rules. 

The first is markers. My wife keeps buying them, I keep throwing them away immediately on site. Why? For the answer, all you have to do is look at our walls, doors and furniture. Yet my wife still believes that one day they'll stop. Like giving a serial killer another chance and saying "This time, they promised they wouldn't kill anybody"

I hate markers.