Not a creature is stirring.
Why not, you may wonder?
It's too damn early to stir...
The coffee hasn't even been made yet!
Yesterday went well. We actually finished up yet another granddaughter's gift purchasing. Only one to go with a few extras here and there and we'll be ready for the BIG day, the day when all the work of wrapping culminates with the tearing up of all that work, stuffing it in a trash bag, and realizing there are just 365 shopping days until next Christmas.
We have decided that next year we are going to purchase one of those already decorated trees so all we have to do is put it together and plug it in. I'd like to find one on wheels so once put together we could roll it over and stuff it in a closet somewhere until the next time. Efficiency!
The snow continues to linger in the yards here, so I think we will actually have a white Christmas this year, the first in a long time. The weather is not supposed to be very warm until Christmas Day when the temperature is to rise into the upper 40s, and the day after, into the 50s. Then, back down into the lower 40s.
I really think we will have several more snow storms this winter. It's really needed around here to counteract the global warming coming from all the hot air blowing out of Washington, DC to our north. Those arrogant know-it-alls up there are the biggest bunch of elitist, egotistical, blowhards I have ever had the misfortune of being governed by. They should all be on posters supporting term limits! Nuff said!
Went to the bookstore yesterday and was heartened to see that people were actually in line with stacks of books they were purchasing that they were going to read, or give as gifts. I know the trend, so they say, is for the publishing of actual books to be on it's way out, but I hope not.
I sold a painting a few days ago. First one in some time, but then, I haven't really been trying. We dropped off several paintings in June to a new store to see if any would sell, and one has. Better late than never. I am going to pick up my check today so we can eat the rest of the year. Ginny sold a small one down at ArtWorks, that we know of, and so there will be a little more bread money for January.
This time period reminds me of when we were first married and had our sons. Ginny did not work outside the home, which was great. At least until Jimmy Carter became president, and inflation was running upwards of 11%. Then it became necessary for her to go to work in order for us to survive.
Up until that time, we never had a lot, but we always had enough. When some extra money was found, you could be sure something was going to break, or someone get sick, and that would take care of the "extra" money. But, unlike many, we always had a roof over our heads, clothes on our backs, and food on the table, even if it was only hamburger mixed with whatever else we had. We did eat, and we did survive.
I guess you could say that our financial life peaked several years ago when we were actually able to start taking trips to points far and wide. When we took our fist big trip to Hawaii and Seattle, we had no money. But, we did have credit cards! We charged everything!
We had some breaks, as well. In Hawaii, our son was stationed there in the Marines, and he set us up with a concrete block house on a beach of sorts. It had three bedrooms, a living room, and a kitchen. It was furnished with the necessities, which was all we needed. The best part, it was only $45 a night! He arranged it through the Marines. They have places for families to stay, or did then, while visiting.
Our last night there he arranged for us to stay at the government run hotel on Waikaki Beach. (I think I spelled that right, but not sure). This hotel was beautiful! The entrance was open to the weather, as were most along the beach. It had several pools even though it was right on the beach. The interesting part was that the rate was based on rank. The higher the rank, the more it cost. For enlisted men, it was really low. Our room was $65 for the night.
The next morning, we enjoyed the beach, the water, and watched as a rainbow rose out over the water as a rainstorm passed by. We had a great view of Diamond Head from the beach, as well.
We were in Hawaii for a week, visiting Oahu, Maui, and Kauai. On Oahu we were privileged to tour Pearl Harbor, and take the boat tour all the way around the harbor, something regular tourists were not allowed to do. We were because our son was in the military. There were places where one could see holes made in the walls from the bullets of the strafing Japanese planes. Seeing Pearl Harbor was an emotional experience, especially standing on the memorial over the Arizona and reading all the names of the men, many whose remains were buried below where we stood. It gave me a feeling of incredible pride at being an American, and at the same time, a feeling of sadness because what they fought for is now so freely being given away.
The island of Kauai was very tropical. One doesn't realize when looking at a map that the islands are several hundred miles apart from each other, and have very different climates. The island of Maui was our favorite. The temperatures were very moderate. We ate at a place called Mama's Fish House, recommended by a friend of one of our other sons. We thought this place was going to be a little dive hidden down an alley somewhere on the island. Wrong! It was a beautiful restaurant on the beach. The food was incredible, and the price was reasonable, considering. We were able to sit where we had a view of the beach. Off to the far side of that beach were a large number of windsurfers, bright coloured sails reflecting the setting sun as they skimmed over the waves. Nice entertainment for our dinner!
Honolulu is a BIG city. The people go to work about 4am so they will start about the same time as the people in California where it is three hours later. Huge traffic jams at that hour. Amazing! I thought it was interesting that they had interstate highways, considering there was not really anyplace to go.
While on one of the islands, I can't remember which one, we went to the beach and into the water. They sold fish food on the beach. We thought that was really neat, to be able to walk into the water and go out far enough to see the fish swimming around you, and feel them as they nipped lightly here and there, expecting you to feed them, which we did. They were a beautiful shade of blue and yellow, about a foot long, and seemed to be somewhat transparent. I suppose I could find the name if I wanted to, but never did. Perhaps I will now that I think of it.
After a great week, we rose early, and made our way to the airport to fly to Seattle. On the way onto the airport I saw a couple sitting in the airport. They were both huge, being considerably overweight. Man, I thought, I feel sorry for the person they sit next to! Well, I ended up feeling sorry for myself. The man sat next to me. He could not fit into his seat, and when he tried, the armrest was pushed down onto my lap. I know he couldn't have been comfortable, and there was no way I was going to be with all that weight pressing into my side. This "pleasure" lasted for 5 hours! He and his lady friend, wife, whatever, are prime examples of why airlines need to have rules governing how much space one can take up before they need two seats. Politically correct or not, having some humongous creature sitting on you for 5 hours is not fun.
Fortunately, I survived, a little flatter on one side, but still able to move, even if it looked strange, and we made it to our next stop, Seattle! It was nice that no one asked why I was walking sideways....
