Christmas Countdown - 2017

[Holiday]

Has anyone heard from snowflake22? I have noticed she has not been around lately. I hope everything is ok.

She sent me a PM last week. She's been really busy with work, Har & shoveling snow!! (Adi was out of town) Her parents & their dog Jazzie were coming for a visit this past weekend.

 

[Holiday]

There's no way I can catch up on the 62 pages I've missed in the new countdown thread. Once again my husband's chronic pain required more time and attention than usual and then I got so busy with my work deadlines.

The good news is, I'm booking Nov. 13th off as a vacation day so I can stay awake to greet the start of the 2017 "in Season" with y'all.

Been a tough week and a half; trying to help a father and son grieve the sudden loss of their wife/mom at the age of 26 (heart failure) and a co-worker who lost her father (73 yrs.) who was more than a "rock" for the family.

Sad things happen in life and although I can look at life and death with logic; it still hurts. I'm compassionate and can usually help people through their grief with a caring nature and strong resolve.
My prayers include many of you with intent and all of you in generalities.


So, I bid you a belated HAPPY NEW YEAR, good health and much merriment as we travel down this merry thread together to welcome another wonderful Christmas!!!

So sorry to hear AMD!! Prayers for you, your hubby, your friends & your co-worker! They are lucky to have you in their lives!! Hope things get better! Nice to see you!

 

[Holiday]

Morning! How's everyone's weekend going? Mine has been more relaxed just like last weekend. I guess that's one positive about January weekends. My tree will stay up for 2 more weeks (still). I will take it down on the 29th. Today is the end of the 1st half of January already. Yikes. Wasn't yesterday Christmas? I think January has become an extended month of Christmas to me with the way I've left my tree and lights up these past 2 January's. Neighbors are helping by keeping theirs up too. Have a few errands to do and some more relaxing. Hope everyone has a great day!

I agree that January feels like an extended Christmas this year. Possibly for me b/c mom was in the hospital most of December, it didn't feel like I totally was able to enjoy it. Still not ready to take things down!

 

[Holiday]

Good morning everyone!

Not much going on here today. I need to grade some papers, but other than that not too much going on. Tomorrow is my youngest son's birthday. So tomorrow will be a bit busier. We are taking him and a friend to a place called Scene 75. It has video games, laser tag, and other games. It is a really neat place.

Outside it is cloudy with a little ice left over on the trees and untreated areas. But that will melt as the temperatures work back up into the 50s.

Well, everyone have a wonderful day!
I need to go drink some coffee before I fall back asleep!

Happy Birthday to Henry! Nice that it's a day off school for him. Hope you all have fun at Scene 75!
I'll say it again - CRAZY WEATHER!!!

 

[Holiday]

Happy Sunday! So far the weekend is going well and I have tomorrow too so that will be a nice extra day! Today we have a busy day. My youngest daughter has a basketball game and then a softball pitching clinic. My oldest daughter has a soccer game at 6. But tomorrow will be a relaxing day. Hope you all have a great day!

Enjoy your relaxing day off!!!!

 

[Holiday]

Just got back from running errands and O'Malley insisted on trying my crabmeat sub. I don't if that's what was driving him crazy or if he knows I picked up new dry cat food for him. It's the Simply Nourish Turkey and Oatmeal that is supposed to be gentle on his old tummy. He's going to turn 20 this Friday; the new food is like a present.
I was sick to my stomach 4 times in the wee hours yesterday and spent most of the day in bed. Not like me at all. I'm not human that way. I figured it was from stepping up my workouts at the gym and from all the stress of last week - think my electrolytes were out of whack. Sweet cat came knocking on my closed bedroom door. Sometimes I think he actually cares. After a bunch of rest and some water/salt/sugar in a shot glass, I started to perk up a bit. Feel great today!
Keep a merry thought in your head!

How sweet of O'cat! Hope you are feeling better today!! xx

 

[Holiday]

Good Monday morning! Off to work in a few. Doing training almost all day today. Weekend at work wasn't too bad but I'm really looking forward to having a day off tomorrow. Hope everyone will enjoy a wonderful day!

Hope your day at work goes well today & you enjoy your day off tomorrow!

 

[Holiday]

Morning MMC! Happy MLK Day! I'm working today but the roads were empty. Not many people on them. I know the schools are closed today. Some jobs are off but some are not. It's ok because I'm going to take my 1st PTO day 3 weeks from today the day after the Superbowl. Speaking of that the games were kind of interesting this weekend. I still think 1/3 of the lights are up around here and it's great to see as we are in the middle day of January now. Glad I ordered my Nintendo Switch because now it's sold out all over everywhere. Just another reason to look forward to March this year lol. But for today going to stay busy at work and then go home to relax.
Have a great day whether you are working or off!

Congrats on getting the Nintendo Switch pre-ordered!!

 

[Holiday]

Good Morning, Milestone Trappers.

And marker number one is just about to step into our time trap.

First, today's data:
Days to the Season: 301
Days to Christmas Day: 343

Yes, tomorrow the trap will be sprung, the 300-day Season Window will be captured and opened, and for the next 100 days, we will gaze on a landscape populated by 200's level numbers to Christmas Season 2017.
(Hey! A bit of excitement in the dead of January!)


Nicely warm again for January yesterday, with just a touch of evening rain.
It should be dry today and continued unseasonably warm.
(And this time of year, I LOVE unseasonable warmth!)
Currently, an inspection of our back door thermometer reveals that it is 44 degrees here in our part of MMC Land.


Wasn't that an exciting and nerve-wracking win by the Packers yesterday?
(Took at least a few hours off my life!)
Now, it's the Packers and the Falcons for the NFC championship!


Have a Marvelous Monday, Everyone.
And a Stellar Start to your new week!

Hard to believe after tomorrow we will be in the 200's!! Crazy!
And WOW - what a game!!!

 

[Holiday]

Good Morning ... Home today with todays as we all have off. I bought to much banana last week so I have a bunch that are very ripe so I am going to make chocolate chip banana bread later today. Not much else going on today other then I have to take my mom grocery shopping sometime today.

Well have a great day!

Have fun baking today. Your house will smell so good! Have a good day!

 

[Holiday]

I'm sorry your mom still isn't feeling much better. I bet she'll spring back once she gets home. hope you have a great day, too!

Fingers crossed! She sure is ready to come home!

 

[Holiday]

Good Monday morning, Christmas friends!

What a beautiful weekend we had! I know it's not really springtime, but it was sunny and 75°F all weekend! I was on a ladder repairing shingles and siding on the house, then I worked on some of my side-business stuff. After that, I rode over to my brother's shop for a while. Lulu and I rode around most of the day Saturday. Nice!

Jim went to an auction a couple weeks ago and paid 30 bucks for two electric digital smokers and a dehydrator that didn't work. They were new, and had never been used. He took them back to his shop and found loose wires in both of the smokers. Now they work like new! He gave one of them to me, so I spend a few hours yesterday afternoon "seasoning" the inside of the cabinet with hickory smoke. I plan to try out some boneless pork chops tonight. Mmm, mmm, mmm!

I hope y'all have a great day!

You are going to love your smoker!! How awesome! You'll have to let us know how the pork chops turn out. What kind of smoker is it? (now I'm hungry for smoked food...)

 

[Edge612]

Congrats on getting the Nintendo Switch pre-ordered!!

I look forward to playing it. I've always been a Nintendo guy.

 

[noodlenoggin]

You have a good way with words. You might like to consider being in the Special Post Series this November during the lead up to the start of the Season.

Yeah he definitely would be an awesome choice for it!

Ive really enjoyed reading your posts. Can relate to everything said.

Wow, thanks for that feedback. I'm glad there are others who appreciate my writings. Like I've said before, this is the only place I can do anything like that. If I say the things I've written here to someone else, especially once Christmas is over, they would look at me like I'm totally crazy. It's essentially a constant running dialogue I have going in my head at this time of year. And it certainly makes the PCB's a lot more bearable having somewhere to express it and to have people around who appreciate it. I would love to do something like a Special Post Series, and would love to know there are others who would read it and relate to it so that I could give to others so much of what I've been given here at MMC.

However, I've got some things coming up this year though that might prevent me from doing that with any regularity come next November. The main thing is that I will most likely be in the military by that point, assuming everything goes to plan and there aren't any hiccups with that process like I've experienced in the past. But which is why I'm sort of taking it all in as much as I can right now and have been for the whole season, knowing this might be my last opportunity to do so in the capacity I'm in now, just with where I'm at in life and all. There's a good chance that for the foreseeable future I might have to put any major focus on the holidays on hold and be focused on other things. And right now could very well be the end of a recent five/six year run where I've rediscovered my love for the holidays as an adult and where it's become a major part of my life. Don't get me wrong, I'll definitely get back to this point, when I'm done with my service and travels and can finally settle down with my life once and for all, maybe hopefully even do the wife and kids thing and be that guy who goes all out for Christmas every year. But for now, hopefully not too long from now, I might have to put my focus and energy into other things.

I'll certainly remain a part of the forum though and will post regularly when I'm off and about, especially during the little down time I'll have during the holidays. I don't doubt that at certain points this forum might be the only place for me to do anything Christmassy.

I'm not leaving yet though! This isn't quite my goodbye yet. I'm still in Christmas mode for one more week, and I'll definitely keep posting my thoughts. At the end of this week I'll be taking down my tree and decorations, since my house will become occupied again, so that will inevitably bring its own sadness and subsequent ramblings about it.

But again, thanks for listening, or reading, I never know which one to say, or write...jeez. Anyways, it's good to know there are others out there who appreciate this kind of thing.

 

[Bradmac]

You are going to love your smoker!! How awesome! You'll have to let us know how the pork chops turn out. What kind of smoker is it? (now I'm hungry for smoked food...)

It's this one:

http://www.basspro.com/RedHead-Sportsman-Elite-30-Digital-Electric-Smoker-by-Masterbuilt/product/1505111257/

 

[Crown 84]

If they put you in a straight jacket, we will bail you out!! Ha ha ha!!

With fired twinkies. (Carl says he will donate all that is needed.)

 

[NcGunny]

Wow, thanks for that feedback. I'm glad there are others who appreciate my writings. Like I've said before, this is the only place I can do anything like that. If I say the things I've written here to someone else, especially once Christmas is over, they would look at me like I'm totally crazy. It's essentially a constant running dialogue I have going in my head at this time of year. And it certainly makes the PCB's a lot more bearable having somewhere to express it and to have people around who appreciate it. I would love to do something like a Special Post Series, and would love to know there are others who would read it and relate to it so that I could give to others so much of what I've been given here at MMC.

However, I've got some things coming up this year though that might prevent me from doing that with any regularity come next November. The main thing is that I will most likely be in the military by that point, assuming everything goes to plan and there aren't any hiccups with that process like I've experienced in the past. But which is why I'm sort of taking it all in as much as I can right now and have been for the whole season, knowing this might be my last opportunity to do so in the capacity I'm in now, just with where I'm at in life and all. There's a good chance that for the foreseeable future I might have to put any major focus on the holidays on hold and be focused on other things. And right now could very well be the end of a recent five/six year run where I've rediscovered my love for the holidays as an adult and where it's become a major part of my life. Don't get me wrong, I'll definitely get back to this point, when I'm done with my service and travels and can finally settle down with my life once and for all, maybe hopefully even do the wife and kids thing and be that guy who goes all out for Christmas every year. But for now, hopefully not too long from now, I might have to put my focus and energy into other things.

I'll certainly remain a part of the forum though and will post regularly when I'm off and about, especially during the little down time I'll have during the holidays. I don't doubt that at certain points this forum might be the only place for me to do anything Christmassy.

I'm not leaving yet though! This isn't quite my goodbye yet. I'm still in Christmas mode for one more week, and I'll definitely keep posting my thoughts. At the end of this week I'll be taking down my tree and decorations, since my house will become occupied again, so that will inevitably bring its own sadness and subsequent ramblings about it.

But again, thanks for listening, or reading, I never know which one to say, or write...jeez. Anyways, it's good to know there are others out there who appreciate this kind of thing.

If you need any help with navigating getting in or help with applying for waivers let me know or send me a PM Noodle. I retired with 23 years so I kinda know the ins and outs of it..lol. Just so you know..the chances of anybody entering the military now and retiring from it are slim. Its a political and monetary issue.

 

[Holiday]

Wow, thanks for that feedback. I'm glad there are others who appreciate my writings. Like I've said before, this is the only place I can do anything like that. If I say the things I've written here to someone else, especially once Christmas is over, they would look at me like I'm totally crazy. It's essentially a constant running dialogue I have going in my head at this time of year. And it certainly makes the PCB's a lot more bearable having somewhere to express it and to have people around who appreciate it. I would love to do something like a Special Post Series, and would love to know there are others who would read it and relate to it so that I could give to others so much of what I've been given here at MMC.

However, I've got some things coming up this year though that might prevent me from doing that with any regularity come next November. The main thing is that I will most likely be in the military by that point, assuming everything goes to plan and there aren't any hiccups with that process like I've experienced in the past. But which is why I'm sort of taking it all in as much as I can right now and have been for the whole season, knowing this might be my last opportunity to do so in the capacity I'm in now, just with where I'm at in life and all. There's a good chance that for the foreseeable future I might have to put any major focus on the holidays on hold and be focused on other things. And right now could very well be the end of a recent five/six year run where I've rediscovered my love for the holidays as an adult and where it's become a major part of my life. Don't get me wrong, I'll definitely get back to this point, when I'm done with my service and travels and can finally settle down with my life once and for all, maybe hopefully even do the wife and kids thing and be that guy who goes all out for Christmas every year. But for now, hopefully not too long from now, I might have to put my focus and energy into other things.

I'll certainly remain a part of the forum though and will post regularly when I'm off and about, especially during the little down time I'll have during the holidays. I don't doubt that at certain points this forum might be the only place for me to do anything Christmassy.

I'm not leaving yet though! This isn't quite my goodbye yet. I'm still in Christmas mode for one more week, and I'll definitely keep posting my thoughts. At the end of this week I'll be taking down my tree and decorations, since my house will become occupied again, so that will inevitably bring its own sadness and subsequent ramblings about it.

But again, thanks for listening, or reading, I never know which one to say, or write...jeez. Anyways, it's good to know there are others out there who appreciate this kind of thing.

Best wishes for you noodlenoggin & stay safe! Thank you for your service! I will keep you in my prayers & will continue to look forward to your posts!!

 

[Holiday]

It's this one:

http://www.basspro.com/RedHead-Sportsman-Elite-30-Digital-Electric-Smoker-by-Masterbuilt/product/1505111257/

HA! Ours is a 30" Masterbuilt! Just not the "RedHead" version! Looks very similar though!! You will love it! Excited to hear about your adventures!!! (you need to try a turkey breast....MMMMM)

 

[Holiday]

With fired twinkies. (Carl says he will donate all that is needed.)

That Carl always comes through for us when we need him!!