Tis the Season

I sit here with a few measly days left to prepare for the upcoming holidays. This is our tree this year with the bountiful offerings spread below it. Actually, the whole house is our gift this year, but I don't suppose the kids will see it that way.

Speaking of the house, the kitchen and bathroom counters arrived today and look way cool. Tomorrow the appliances are supposed to make an appearance and the plumbing parts are supposed to show up as well. The painter is busy staining doors and trim. The carpenters are trying to finish the trim. The carpet is on order and scheduled to hit town on Tuesday. The inspectors are invited in about the same time so it should be quite a zoo.

I head south tomorrow to rendezvous with my daughter, water the plants, visit with some friends, and hang for a day or two. My son will be coming down Friday afternoon so that he and his sister can go to the in-law Christmas party. He and I will head back north on Sunday for more fun and games in the construction zone.

As hard as I try, this part of the year is a difficult one. Christmas was never my cup of tea due to the heavy commercial overlay on what might otherwise be a warm and personal season. Somewhere along the line I picked up the label of Grinch which has proven stubbornly persistent regardless of what I do or say. Now it falls to me to lead the way through the holidays without the guiding light that used to accompany me. I am a sorry second for her efforts, but we don't always get to choose our roles, so I will do my best with our little tree (at least it is a living thing that may go on to live its life out with us for some time yet).

I am in the process of changing my email address and as luck would have it, I managed to send a bunch of my contacts into the either the other day, so those of you who have my email on file, drop me a line and I will send you back the new one.

Best of luck, one and all, during these last few hectic days.

TTFN

P.