I do. I’m not a complete moron. Like those unnamed.
A beautiful day here on the coast of California. No breeze, balmy temp, sunny skies, very nice. Y’all should be here. Really. We have enough. Show up. Dinner around 5.
When I woke this morning, too damn early, I realized that Santa!! had been here. He left me a stocking. That’s proof he was here. Santa loves me. We go way back. Way. Back.
Stocking was nice. Sister in law pulled my name. She did ok. Fortunately, Emily and I fill in for each other just to make sure we have enough. No, I do not know what enough is. Nice stocking though.
Emily and I finally woke. And opened our stockings. Which is tradition. They are laying on the bed. Difficult to avoid. So the first gift of Christmas is some random item from the sock. Cool.
We are sleeping next door from the main house, at Mary’s. She lives next door. Since 1950. We use her house as our annex when the load is too high on the main house. Anyway, we opened for a few. I opened some candy cuz I was hungry. Strangely, sis in law gave me no food or candy. I did get a See’s gift cert. but it’s cardboard.
Showers. All clean. Needed two houses to do it. Finally, breakfast. Homemade cinnamon rolls, thanks Marika, Chile relleno casserole, and jalapeño bacon. Plus coffee with Amarula in it. Yay. Quite a bit of champagne which started before the showers. And continues. Never enough champagne. It’s now 1120. Maybe we can open gifts now.
We can. We did. Till 205, a modern record. We usually go past 3. I can say, all the things I received were useful or at least can be used. No stinkers or gotta be returned items. Winner. I did get a really Uber cool gift from the in laws. Seems Emily’s paternal grandfather, Wallis Clark, Hollywood and broadway actor, had something in common with me. He owned a very old school portable bar. As readers know, I have a very new school portable bar. He schlepped his around Lakewood a hundred years before me. What a wild coincidence, I am not related by blood to him. Maybe these similar personality defects are why I ended up with his granddaughter. Who knows?
The porta bar is in a small suitcase, squareish in shape with rounded corners. Looks completely retro cool I must admit. Beth, mom in law, told me she had discussed this gift with Hank, dad in law, and I was the only person they felt worthy of having this family heirloom. It’s an honor. It is in form and function like my new one. Just far smaller. Holds two bottles of hooch, a mixing can, a jigger, 4 shot and 4 single glasses, a small percolater with cord and two coffee cups. Reminds me a lot of old camping kits. Very heavy and old style durable. But fun nonetheless.
My other gifts were nice, and well thought out, and I do like all. We had fun, as always, opening. It’s always a great day when it is Christmas.
Now done, we sat awhile, drank mimosas, and then cleaned up and put our individual hauls into our cars or out of the main room. We are back to a useable sitting room. Which is nice too. But it would also be nice if it still looked like Christmas.
Not much else doing once we got finished. A little more sitting around each doing whatever we want. Reading, talking, stuff. Marika, Emily and I walked down to Schoolhouse Beach. Mary walked halfway down then headed back up and around the block. I guess she does not want any sand in her toes. We continued down to and across hiway 1. No crosswalks or lights btw. Just a dash across the hiway to the embankment on the other side. Then across an open space and down the hillside. Beach. There were a few others on the beach. It’s cold and breezy but not ultra cold or windy. We walked down the beach north till we got to the end, turned and walked down the beach to the other end. Then back up to the exit point, up the hill, across 1 and to the house. Maybe an hour. Very nice to get out and walk and get fresh air.
Got back and relaxed a little. Had some more champagne and relaxed. Switched to dinner prep so now in about 45 mins we get our fabulous Christmas dinner. My worthless bro in law finally arrived. With most of his immediate family. They are nuts but they cover for it ok.
I have switched to watching the news, Hank put it on. Nothing doing in the world. At least I can see the weather. Of course, I can just look outside too.
Hey good? news. Bro in law and family just showed up. Too bad. His family is mentally ill. But not in the nice way. We only get a little info out of them but I guess they had a big fight with their 17 year old. So they called and said they would be late and he was not coming. But they showed up as a four-some. I guess that’s good. Bro in law would not allow any discussion or questions. And we could not say or speak to the kid. That’s the attitude that leads to better mental health. I can only imagine. Everyone knows the kid runs their house. It’s weird. Merry Christmas!!
National Lampoon Christmas Vacation is onTV. At least I can escape the room with some inane holiday comedy. I can let the not-able-to-talk-about what’s going on group sit in the other room. Without me.
I watched the movie for a few minutes until the others decided to open the last gifts which they had brought. So we all sat and opened our presents. Always fun to get a nice gift. A couple were stinkers though ours was fine.
The bro and sis in law and kids took off not long after the presents. They tried to drop their dog with Hank and Beth for a week. That did not work out too well. Dog left with them.
I am going to bed very soon. Another Christmas come and gone. I always find it so sad when it gets to this point. I have always loved Christmas and am always sad when it is over.