Christmas Eve 2020

 Do you feel it? The peacefulness and quiet of Christmas Eve? I do.

I always look forward to this time of year when I can experience Christmas Eve and sometimes Christmas Day working at the hotel.

When I came in for my shift this afternoon I was greeted with a gift of food from "Margaret." I'm not sure who "Margaret" is but she left me a delightful sparkly Christmas card (I LOVE sparkly Christmas cards) wishing me and Bill a wonderful Christmas. Her card was in a big shopping bag of individually styrofoam packaged FOOD for me and Bill to eat Christmas Day.  Hey, that sliced turkey that I had mentioned in previous blog posts about Thanksgiving and Christmas. How generous of Margaret and what a delightful surprise. 

I will eat both meals of course, because Bill doesn't like turkey and doesn't eat full meals. But he'll sure have some of that apple pie, which smelled delicious!

Thank you Margaret, you are very kind and generous. You made my Christmas celebration.

This year Christmas seems somewhat off because of all the confusion around Trump leaving office and the pandemic that is raging through the U.S. and the world. In fact, the days don't even seem right. Yesterday seemed like Friday and today seems like Monday. What day is it anyway? Oh, Christmas Eve.

Low occupancy at the hotel tonight (guest in the VIP suite, a reservation I made last Monday for them.) I just got back from checking all the rooms in the main building. I check to make sure all the TV's are working (our most common call at the front desk, synching the TV with the cable box). 

I would watch "The Christmas Carole" again (Alistar Sim 1951 version on TV) but we don't have Turner Classics on our system now, more's the pity. Most other shows are reruns and the live ones like CNN have anchor people I have never seen before in my life. I'm never quite comfortable with them, give me Wolf and Anderson anytime.

Bill and I have nothing special planned for tomorrow. We stopped exchanging gifts longer than many of you who read this blog have been alive. We do exchange cards though, which is always special. I think I have every card we've exchanged for the last fifty-five years. Yes, I'm one of those people who saves all my Christmas cards. Whoever inventories my estate when I pass on is really going to have a "Wow!" moment of "Why did he save ALL his Christmas cards?" I'll tell you why, because I'm a sentimental old fool. Besides, it makes me feel good to go back and look at cards from friends, relatives, and co-workers who I no longer receive cards from because they have passed on. Which reminds me, I didn't receive a card this year from another longtime friend.  She was the wife of a former boss of mine. He died some years ago but she has always sent me cards for over forty years now. Ironically I've never met her but she always puts a nice note in the cards. I also didn't receive a card from the husband of a former friend of mine who died over twenty years ago. I'll check the Social Security index on Ancestry.com to see if they're still alive. One day someone will say "Hey, I didn't receive a card from Ron this year. I wonder if he's still alive." Oh sure, that day will happen folks. Like by younger brother John said "We all get our turn Ronnie." And indeed we do and my turn is not that far down the road. 

I don't want to end on that down note, so here is my wish for a wonderful Christmas for all of you.

A Great Day!

A toast between friends this Christmas Day

Just in from my trip to Pennsylvania this morning.  When I got up this morning and saw the sun streaming through my bedroom windows and knowing that Bill (spouse) is still holed up in his bedroom depressed, I thought today would be an ideal day to take my friend Bill B. up on his offer (I have several "Bill" friends as I do several "Bob" friends) and have Christmas dinner with him and his family at their home in Pennsylvania.  Good decision!

"Did you get that picture?"

Bill B. was my best friend in high school.  After a thirty-five year intermission, we renewed our friendship at our 35th class reunion  in 1994.  In fact I have renewed my friends with several of my high school friends and my life is richer for it.

"I think she got it!"

It is a two and a half hour drive for me to get to Pennsylvania.  Normally it is very stressful because I have to contend with long haul trucks, road construction and driving through the center of Newark, Delaware (a college town) which is never a picnic.  However, today my drive up to Pennsylvania was a STRAIGHT SHOT.  I love it when the highways are deserted.  Why can't it be like that all the time?

"Let's do it again!"

My brother Isaac also lives in Pennsylvania.  I stopped by his house (the old family home) but he wasn't there so I left him a note.  No doubt his daughter or his son got him out the house.  He lives alone with his cat.  Ike is a good guy.  I'm glad someone took care of him this Christmas.

"Maybe we need a refill!"

At my friend Bill's I had a reunion with his cousin Ruth, who is a delightful person.  She is one of those people you can tease and tease and she is so good natured about it.  Bill  and I are always teasing someone.  Maybe that's why we're such good friends in spite of the fact that he is a conservative Republican and I am a liberal Democrat.  Funny thing about that, most of my friends are conservative Republicans.  Think it's me?

"Hey! My arm is getting tired of holding this glass of Zin"

The last time I visited Bill and his family was nine years ago.  That was also for a Christmas dinner.  My my, how fast time goes by.  I'm usually working Christmas Day, that's why I don't visit friends on Christmas.  This year it was a treat not to work Christmas Day.

"That's enough, I'm drinking my zin now!

The only downside of the day was that I had to leave so early.  I don't like to drive in the dark.  I really do have problems driving in the dark.  It's hard for me to see things and tonight there was no moon out.  The last hour of the drive home was in the dark but it was a straight shot down Rt. 1 so it wasn't too bad.  I didn't want to drive through Newark, Delaware with all those twists and turns and road construction in the dark.  The sun was just going down by the time I arrived in Newark.  I would probably be down some dead end street in Newark right now if I was caught in the dark.

When I was up in PA I did stop my our old house.  It is so depressing.  The place went into foreclosure almost two years ago.  It is so overgrown.  It looks like Grey Gardens.  I probably should stop visiting it.  But I can't help myself.  Bill misses it so much.  I love where I'm living in Delaware but I also do miss the "Old Props" as we call it.

I hope everyone reading this blog post had a wonderful day today.  I know I did.  Thanks Bill and Janet!

I should have worn red!  A fashion faux pas!

Christmas Eve 2011

This is the first Christmas that I am not working in ten years.  I don't mind working Christmas Eve and/or Christmas Day but I don't mind having it off either.

I feel like a kid set loose in a candy store right now.  I have this Quiet Time to myself.  You see, this is how I like to celebrate Christmas, Quiet Time.  By that I mean I don't get involved in all the Christmas Rush and craziness.  Oh I used to years ago.  I bought into the usual rush to get everyone presents and the whole shopping thing.  However, some years ago I decided that wasn't for me.  Not that there is anything wrong with that for other folks.  The way I feel about Christmas is that whatever way you want to celebrate the Season is what you should do.

For me it is sending out Christmas cards.  I've always loved sending Christmas cards.  I try to keep in contact with favorite old friends I don't see any more.  It is also my way of keeping in touch with relatives that I no longer live nearby.

Another tradition I developed over the years was spending Christmas Eve by myself.  I like the quiet of Christmas Eve.  If the night is clear, I like to look out my window to the black infinity that is the nighttime sky and search for the North Star among the other thousands of other sparkling stars.  Maybe that's why my favorite Christmas cards are the sparkly ones, they remind me of the Christmas Eve nighttime sky.

Christmas Day I like to take a ride around the neighborhood.  I love the deserted streets.  It is eerie.  Almost like a mysterious bomb was dropped and caused everyone to disappear.  I absolutely love driving down the wide open highways.  I'm always surprised at how wide the roads are once the other vehicles are off the roads.  I wish the roads were like that year round.

I wasn't sure what kind of picture of video I was going to put on my Christmas Eve blog entry.  I always like to put something original.  I think I found it today.  A friend sent me this link of a video of a Texas family feeding breakfast to...deer!  Yes, you read it right...deer!  Where I lived in Pennsylvania we had plenty of deer.

This hunting season I have seen many pictures on my Facebook account of my cousins who hunt holding up by their antlers the bloodied heads of their trophies.  What really saddens me is the 9, 10 and 11 year old cousins with their "trophies."   While I realize hunting is probably necessary to keep the deer population down I will admit that I feel better about seeing this video of a family feeding deer.

I'm all about peace and love man.  That may sound Goody-Two-Shoes to some but that is just the way I roll.  I love this video.  It makes me feel good as I hope it does for you too.

I'll be back later with another post (since I have the WHOLE DAY OFF) but I did want to share this video for those of you who feel as I do.

I think there is way too much hate and violence in this world today.  Isn't Christmas supposed to be about Peace and Love?  At the risk of being too preachy, I'm all for those Christian Principals and not so much for all the "Ye Must Praise Him" principals.

There, I've had my say.  Merry Christmas to everyone and Peace and Love to all!

Below are Christmas images from pictures I took in 1979 at Girard Bank in Philadelphia where I worked at that time.  The bottom picture was taken at the Drury Lane Bar (a gay bar) in Philadelphia.  I hired a singing telegram messenger to surprise my friend Tommy Murray (the bartender and longtime friend) with a surprise Christmas greeting.  Those were the Good Days!

Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

Mint Chocolate Chip cookies fresh from the oven

Want a delicious chocolate chip cookie recipe for the holidays? It's been awhile since I posted a recipe but "tis the season" and I'm a baking cookies celebrating the holidays. Tonight I made a fabulous batch of mint chocolate chip cookies with black walnuts.  Yes,  you read it right... BLACK WALNUTS with MINT CHOCOLATE CHIPS!

Doesn't sound like it goes together does it?  Give the recipe a try, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Here is the recipe:

Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 bag Hershey's Mint Chocolate Chips
• 1 cup black walnuts

Heat the oven to 375 degrees
In a large bowl, beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla and salt with electric mixer until creamy.
Add eggs, beat well.
Stir together flow our baking soda; gradually add to butter mixture, beating until well mixed.
Stir in mint chocolate chips.
Drop by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set.
Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.
Try to eat JUST ONE (bet you can't)

Mint Chocolate Chip cookies cooling on the rack

This recipe differs slightly form the Original Toll House cookie recipe in that it takes 1 cup of white sugar instead of the 3/4 cup.  Also there is only 1/2 teaspoon salt instead of 1 teaspoon salt.  And finally there is 2 teaspoons vanilla instead of the 1 teaspoon vanilla that the Original Toll House chocolate chip cookie recipe.

I like the texture and subtle taste if this version of chocolate chip cookies better than the Original Toll House cookie recipe that we all grew up with and feel is the only legitimate chocolate chip cookie recipe.  The minty coolness contrasted with the musky flavor of North American black walnuts challenges your taste buds to a new adventure.

There is only one problem with this cookie recipe that I can find...they are very addictive!  You absolutely cannot eat just one.  So if you're on some foolhardy Christmas Diet, DON'T BAKE THESE COOKIES!

But if you do decide to take the Chocolate Plunge, enjoy!

This is the Mint Chocolate Chip bag you look for in your local grocery store - this works!

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Me checking my iPhone ( this past spring at the Panera restaurant in Greenville, SC

Christmas is almost here!  Remember when you were young and you couldn't wait for Christmas?  It seemed to take FOREVER to arrive and then once it did, there usually was anticlimactic.  These days my Christmas "celebration" consists mainly of avoiding the outlets and malls and hitting the mute button on TV every time I see a commercial with a fat, white bearded man (which we all know is Santa Claus) that ends with a big "HO! HO! HO!" in the sky.  HA!  So that's who that bearded man was!  Looky here, whoever comes up with these asinine commercials, please...PUHLEASE come up with something new!

I'm not a "BAH HUMBUG!" kind of guy.  At least I don't consider myself that kind of guy.  But other than sending Christmas cards (my tradition) I just get through the Christmas season.

This year I put up minimum lights outside.  Bill likes to put red candles in all the windows. Even though I think that makes our house look like an Amsterdam whorehouse, it makes Bill happy so I go along with it. However, I do notice that NO ONE ELSE has RED LIGHTS in their windows.

Usually I put up so many Christmas lights outside that our house looks like Santa Claus threw up on it.  I have noticed that since I went the minimalist route this year, my neighbors put more lights up.  I wonder if there was a cause and effect. Maybe I'll give my Christmas lights to the thrift store and make a new tradition with single candles in the windows.  Tasteful white candles.

I seem to have more time these days since I'm not caught up in the Christmas Shopping Rush, and I've been cleaning out my e-mails.  I came across this iPhone photo that my dear brother John (love you John!) took of me at the Panera restaurant in Greenville, South Carolina when I was visiting him this past spring.  Apparently my dear brother took this picture of me without my knowledge and sent it to me by e-mail.  I'm so far behind on my e-mail that I just now discovered it this morning.  Good shot John! You captured me at my intense natural state.  I didn't know I pursed my lips like this.  I'll have to change that.

Intense Ron caught unawares by Brother John

So here is the deal.  I'm working today and tomorrow, then I don't go to work again until next week.  This year for the first time in YEARS, I'm not working either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.  I don't mind working those days but it will be nice not to work them this year.

In years past when I didn't work Christmas Eve I liked to spend those quiet hours by myself.  I would stay up until midnight then look out at the sky and look for the brightest star in the sky and maybe...Santa Claus.  I never saw either but I did experience the quiet peacefulness of this special time of year.  On Christmas Day I like to ride around the neighborhoods and experience the peaceful tranquility that only happens on that day.  There is no other day of the year that there is so little traffic.  I like that.

This year I have the black cloud of my impending appointment with my urologist on January 6th to have biopsies taken of my prostate.  That I am not looking forward to.  I just want to get through this period of my life then coast out the rest of the winter until spring time comes around again and Bill and I make our annual trek Down South.

I find at this time of my life I like quiet, peace and routine. I don't like change or unexpected surprises.

I need peace.  I don't need another "Ho! Ho! Ho!" I would love just once, JUST ONCE if someone would slam a cream pie into the face of one of those fake Santas when they bellow out that very annoying "HO! HO! HO!"  The kid even seems annoyed.

Christmas Cards

Bill signing our Christmas cards 2011

Bill just finished signing our Christmas cards this morning, this year's Christmas cards are finished and ready to mail!

We don't put up a tree, we don't exchange Christmas presents.  This year we're not even putting up Christmas lights outside the house.  But I am sending Christmas cards.  I love sending Christmas cards!

I've been sending Christmas cards since I was about 13 or 14 years old.  Every year since then I've sent Christmas cards.  I send them to former co-workers, relatives, and former neighbors. This is how I keep in touch with old friends and relatives and those I care for with whom I am no longer geographically near.

Every year I look forward to choosing my new Christmas card.  For many years I included a professional photo of myself.  These years I make my own photo Christmas card.

Each year my Christmas card has grown.  This year is the first time it has reached 100.  I had to remove some names to keep it at 100.  I don't want to go over 100.

A note to those who receive a Christmas card from me and Bill, we don't expect to receive one in return.  I don't do "tit-for-tat."  I only send Christmas cards to those I care for to give them my best wishes during this holiday season.

Now to lick all those envelopes!

Christmas Day 2010

Breakfast Tray this morning at the hotel 

As regular readers of this blog may know, I work part time at the front desk at a boutique hotel in Lewes, Delaware.  My normal schedule is Wednesday and Thursday evenings.  I also fill in for the full time front desk clerks when they go on vacation, are sick or having a baby.  In fact, many of the jobs I've had in my adult work career are as a result of filling in for a pregnant worker. That is how I got my first job at Girard Bank in 1965.  I stayed on that job 21 years!  But I digress (again he says).


What my blog post is about today is how I spent my Christmas Day.  First thing this morning  I drove the six miles down Route 1 got Rehoboth Beach to drop off the Spo-shirt that I received yesterday.  I tried it on, took my pictures and posted them to my blog so now it is official, Spo-shirt has made a visit to Casa Tipton-Kelly.  The next stop for the Spo-shirt was my friend, The Cajun.  He lives in an apartment on the second landing of a building just off the main drag in Rehoboth.  I've only been to his place twice (to help him move) so I wasn't real sure how to find it in the dark.  As I suspected, I had a problem.  


After driving slowly up and down Sussex Avenue (I knew he lived on Sussex but I neglected to bring his apartment number with me....natch), I couldn't find the white steps (in the dark) leading to his second floor apartment. I decide to park my car and get out and walk and look for his building.  So here I am, walking around in the morning darkness obviously casing out these buildings.  At any moment I'm expecting to hear the wail of a police siren and the flashing blue, red and white lights of a police cruiser.  The time was 6:43 am.  I'm due to open up the hotel at 7:00.  Plus, I had to serve breakfast to guests in their room because we didn't have enough guests in the hotel to open the breakfast room. 


The clock is ticking.


My heart is racing.


I'm starting to sweat.  


No white steps leading to my friend's building.


I get back into my car.  I'm headed out to Rehoboth Avenue to north on Route 1 to Lewes, where I work.


Then I decide "ONE LAST TRY!"  I did so want to leave the gayly wrapped Christmas box with the Spo-shirt in it to my friend so he would be surprised when he opened up his door this morning.  


I turn off Rehoboth Avenue to the environs of the side streets.  And there it is!  My friend's apartment building.  How could I have missed it earlier?  Maybe it was too dark.  Still no police.  I was in luck.


I park my car.  In fact I pull up behind my friend's car which I knew was his because he has a bumper sticker that says something about "Don't piss me off or I'll release my flying monks on you!"  Yep.  That's where he lives.


I get out of my car and grab the bag that holds the gayly wrapped box containing the Spo-shirt.   "CRASH!"  I stumbled into two trash cans!  Talk about waking up the dead.


I ascend the step stairs outside his apartment on the second landing.  I open up his storm door.  I gently place the bag in between his storm door and regular door.  I steal away.


I'm outta here!


I get to work (no traffic so I was able got whizz up Route 1 without hitting any red light or stoopid drivers), at two minutes before 7:00 am.  


I open up the hotel and prepared this breakfast for my guests.  And that my friends was the start of my Christmas  Day.  


Below are pictures of my co-workers who also joined me for work today.  The lady is Dee, the head housekeeper.  The young man (young enough got be my grandson - he's 31 to my 69) is my boss, the manager of the hotel.  

Dee (Head Housekeeper) at me at the hotel this morning on Christmas Day

My boss brought in a tin of candy that his wife made for me.  That was so nice of her!  Russian candy for Christmas.  That is a first.  

My boss and me Christmas 2010

I had a delightful Christmas.  I hope yours was as wonderful as mine.

Christmas Eve

Here I am up way early on this cold morning of Christmas Eve.  I go to work today at 6:30 am.  I'm filling in for my co-worker Blare who is taking the next three days off to be with her two daughters.  Blare works the day shift (7 am to 3 pm.)  My usual hours are Wednesdays and Thursdays, the second shift 3 pm to 11 pm.  Yes, I am a Nighttime Person.  I work part time at the hotel on the front desk two nights a week.  I also fill in for my co-workers when they are on vacation of sick.


Years ago when I got my first hotel job at the Pittsburgh Hilton hotel, I quit after three months because I didn't want to spend a career working holidays and weekends.  For thirty-five years I worked in banking.  When I left banking I went back to hotel work, part time in 1998.  I've been working at hotels ever since with a few breaks.  It is ironic, but now I don't mind working holidays and weekends.  Obviously my priorities when I was 21 years old (living for the weekends to spend time with my friends at the bars and nightclubs) and when I was 57 years old have changed.  For the better I might add!


So, as I prepare to go into work this cold Christmas Eve on the Delaware coast I want to take this time to wish everyone a very

Christmas Critters

Stormy the cat

On this Christmas don't forget our Christmas Critters.  These are the thousands of cats and dogs that are living in on their own outside or in shelters.  

If you can, remember to put out something extra for that feral cat that comes around your back door on these cold days of December.  These beautiful creatures depend on us for food and shelter.  

Even better, if you plan to adopt this year,  adopt one of the many loving animals that are languishing in the animal shelters.  Many of these dogs and cats are not considered for adoption because they are too old or have a physical problem.  All of these animals would just love a warm home for this Christmas.

The kitty pictured in this blog is Stormy the Cat.  He appeared one night during a raging thunderstorm at my friend Big Bob's double-wide outside of Georgetown, Delaware.  Big Bob and his partner Jim took this big gray and white male kitty in from the wind and rain that night.  The next day, Stormy's little sister showed up.  Now Big Bob and Jim have two rescued kitties. 

Guess that they don't have now?  Mice. 

Don't forget our critter friends this holiday season!

Christmas Cards

I love sending Christmas cards.  


I love receiving Christmas cards.


Everybody has their own traditions for celebrating Christmas.  My tradition is Christmas cards.


I've been sending Christmas cards since I was a teenager.  Now let's see, I'm 69 years young now so that would be a LONG TIME AGO.


Most of the Christmas cards I send are to friends, relatives and former co-workers (bosses mostly) who I don't see in person anymore.  Occasionally I send Christmas cards to current neighbors.  Truth be told, I usually do that because they sent me a card.  Although I do wish them a Merry Christmas, the reason I send cards is to keep in touch with friends, relatives and former bosses who I never expect to see again.


My longest contact is with the mother of my BFF in grade school, Larry M.  His mom is 90 years old now but she sends me a card faithfully every year.  And I send her a card faithfully every year.  She was always so kind to me when her son and I hung around together in our teenage years.


Over the years I have stayed in contact with many former co-workers for years and years after I left our common place of employment.  It is always sad when that year comes and one of my cards is returned.  For then I know that my friend is no longer with us.  One lady who I worked with when I was in my 30's still sends me a card.  I'm amazed every year when I get yet another card from her.  When we worked together I thought she was old then because she was retired and only working part-time.  And yet every year I receive a card from her.  I haven't received on this year.....yet.  


I like all kinds of Christmas cards, especially sparkly Christmas cards.  It must be my gay gene but a little sparkle always brings a smile to my face.


Perhaps my favorite Christmas cards of all time are those of Santa Claus riding his sleigh in the cold December night sky.  For some reason that has always brought the meaning of the Christmas of my childhood back to me.  


So far this year I've received a lot of Christmas cards.  However, there is one card I will not receive this year.   It saddens my heart just to think of it.  Deep down I'm wishing that I would get this card but I know I won't.  


This year will be the first time in my life I won't receive a card from my Mother.

Mom and me at my Philadelphia home 1979 with that year's Christmas card bonanza 

Like everything else she touched, Mom's cards were always the best.  

I miss you Mom.

Black Friday

Friday is almost gone and I did not spend one penny shopping.  


Very good Ron!


Oh I remember years past when I was out there in the thick of the throng of shoppers.  Not this year nor did I go out last year.  


Part of the reason is that I really don't have anyone to shop for.  Bill doesn't like to receive Christmas presents.  I don't give out any other presents other than to my neighbor Barb and my friend Bob.  I like to give them something personal that I created myself which is usually a picture calendar from photographs I've taken during the year.  


In the past I always shopped for my Mother.  Her birthday was on December 24th so I did double duty on the shopping for her.  Mom died this year so I won't even do shopping for her.  And I'll tell you, it's sort of hitting me harder than I thought.  This is the first year in my life that I'm not shopping for my Mom.  The first time in 69 years.  


The temperature was a tolerable 61 degrees so I dragged the outside Christmas lights from the attic.  I wanted to take advantage of this mild weather to put the outside lights up.  I hate putting Christmas lights up but they do look so good as I drive down Whitehall Drive to our home. 


I only got half the lights up though.  And, of course, one string is half out.  One light goes out and the whole block goes out.  I thought they stopped doing that.  Now I have to buy another whole string of lights.  Well, I got the white lights up and now I'm feeling a little Christmasy.


We had our friend Bob over for dinner tonight.  I usually make a new and fantastic dessert to try out on company but I got lazy today.  Probably because I spent so much time with those lights.  Bill was disappointed when I brought out the cranberry pecan cake I purchased a couple of days ago from Sam's Club.  Now I have major guilt.  I think this is the first time in my life I didn't make a fresh dessert when we had a sit down dinner for company.  I won't let that happen again.  I don't want to see that look on Bill's face again.  


I'm looking forward to having a few days off until I go back to work at the hotel.  Maybe I'll whip up that new dessert for Bill over the weekend.  We don't have to have company to have dessert. 


That pumpkin cheesecake recipe looked pretty good.

The Day After

Another Christmas is past. While I like Christmas (but no the craziness of Christmas shopping), I'm never sad to see it go. Now life can go back to normal, or at least what passes for normal around here in Slower Lower.




This morning Bill and I ventured out for our weekly breakfast at Zorba's in Rehoboth Beach. Actually, Zorba's isn't right on the beach (which it sounds like) but along Route 1, just past the Wal-Mart. Actually, aren't quite a few stores "just past Wal-Mart?" But that a subject for a future blog. Who says they run out of subjects for blog postings? Not I.



Anyway, we venture out in the wind and rain, barreling down Rt. 1 to Zorba's. We're the first customers there. No big surprise. The economy is bad everywhere, especially in the restaurant industry. I fear that some of the restaurants down here in this resort area will close permanently if business doesn't pick up soon. Even though this is a resort area and most of the business is in season, this year we have had an unusual amount of rain. In fact, we've had a LOT OF RAIN. Enough rain already.



Our usual waitress Erin (or "Ear Ring" as Bill likes to call her because she wears big hoop earrings) was slouched over the cash register. She was ready for another day of humoring the Old Gay Guys. Hey, it could be worse. She could be humoring the Grumpy Old Straight Guys. At least we're happy. Well, most of the time anyway.



Erin came over to chat a bit. We asked her how her Christmas was. She said "It was nice." She asked us how our Christmas was. We said "It was nice." HOOOKAY. Let's move this conversation on a bit further. I asked her how her kids (she has two daughters, an 8 year old and a 4 year old) liked Christmas. Well, that opened the flood gates. Asking parents about their kids is a guaranteed conversation starter. And that is fine. I love hearing parents talk about their kids. I like seeing the genuine smiles on their faces as they relate the latest exploits of their kids. After all, that is the purpose of most people's lives anyway isn't it? Having and raising kids?



I often think that if I had went the conventional route and gotten married (I almost did you know) at 20 years old I would probably have adult grandkids now. Wow. Anyone who knows me will probably find that hard to believe. But that was the possibility. Both of my brothers have adult grandchildren of child bearing age. It won't be too long before either or both of them are great grandfathers. So far I have five grand nieces and four grand nephews. Time is a ticking.



Last night I finally discovered my cache of old photos. I look a these photos and find it hard to believe that so much time has passed since I took these pictures in the Sixties. I always considered myself sort of a dorky kind of guy back then but now that I look at the photos I've changed my opinion. As compared with my Old Prospector look (I'm 68 now), I'll go for that unabashed naive, wrinkle free, low hairline look that I had in the Sixties. I sure would.

The picture above is me at the height of my Dorkdom - 1967

But back to the weather.  It looks like another gray, dreary, wet nor'easter type of day.  Dana Owens (aka Queen Latifah) said it best in her version of the old Mama's and Papa's song, "California Dreaming." 

All the leaves are brown

and the sky is grey

I've been for a walk

on a winter's day

I'd be safe and warm

if I was in L.A

California Dreamin'

on such a winter's day

stopped into a church

I passed along the way

well, I got down on my knees

and I pretend to pray

you know the preacher likes the cold

he knows I'm gonna stay

California Dreamin'

on such a winter's day

all the leaves are brown

and the sky is grey

I've been for a walk

on a winter's day

if I didn't tell him

I could leave today

California Dreamin'

on such a winter's day

It is going to be that kind of day.  Only three more months to go until Spring.

Christmas Day 2009

The sky outside is gray, the snow is melting under 48 degree temperatures and I have just returned home from working two shifts at the hotel in the last 24 hours.




This was the kind of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day celebration that I prefer. No more rushing around ladened with presents visiting friends and relatives. Some years ago I decided to opt out of the Christmas Rush and I haven't regretted it one minute.



Because I choose not to participate in this annual madness does not mean that I disparage those who do. In all things (except breaking the law of the land) I say "If that is what works for you; then go for it. This is what works for me."



Most folks have their personal traditions that they follow every Christmas season. I think that is a wonderful thing. Many years ago in my Previous Life, I used to take my bank profit sharing distribution and blow it on presents for my Mother and Father, nieces and nephew (I only have one), sisters-in-law (my brothers and I don't exchange presents; never have, never will) and my Honey. I even used to buy presents for all those who worked under me in the bank operations unit I supervised and managed for many years. Those days are long gone, along with the bank profit sharing distributions (wasn't that a relic of prehistoric times though?)



I worked the 3 pm to 11 pm shift last night at the hotel. All was quiet. This morning I worked the 7 am to 3 pm shift. All was quiet again. We had a few guests in the hotel. I welcomed them with a hearty "Merry Christmas!" and received the season's good wishes in return. That's all I ask. They're happy, I'm happy.



Now I'm home and adjusting to my new work situation. My manager informed me yesterday because of the low business at the hotel that I won't be on a regular shift next month and possibly the month after (January and February.) However, he told me that I would be "on call." That means I'll fill in whenever the regular full time front desk clerks are off. I've been doing that anyway since I have worked at the hotel. The only difference is that I won't have my regular hours.



The reduced income will necessitate me to review my expenditures. In other words, I have to watch my money more carefully now. No more buying things on impulse (my lifelong habit of which I have a basement storage room to attest.) Now I will have to be like almost everyone else and only part with my funds when absolutely necessary. This will probably mean fewer dine out nights with my friends in Rehoboth Beach.



So you see the ripple effect of this poor economy. We don't get the guests in the hotel, the employees of the hotel don't get the hours (I'm not the only one), and I don't spend my money at deserving restaurants in Rehoboth Beach thus supporting those establishments and their staff. Obama, DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ECONOMY!



With the extra time I have the next few months I plan to complete my purge of the remaining boxes I have in my basement storage room. I may finally get started with my EBay account after procrastinating all these years. I got a lot of "goodies" that need to make a one way exit out my front door. No excuses now. I may even cedar line my walk in closets. Now that would be a major accomplishment.



On this waning day gray skies and damp temperatures, Merry Christmas everyone and to all a good night!

Christmas Eve 2009

Christmas Eve 2009 and I'm finally starting to "feel it." This is what I always like about Christmas, this quiet time. I've never been one of those last minute shoppers or one of those people who rush around at Christmas visiting friends and relatives. That was something I did many years ago when I was young and went along with the usual Christmas activities.




About thirty years ago I found myself alone on Christmas Eve and I noticed how peaceful and serene I felt just by the quietness of it all. Ever since that time I have made it a point to spend Christmas Eve alone.

Many years I was alone at home during Christmas Eve. Other years it meant that I was working the Christmas Eve shift at a hotel. This year I am working at a hotel. Even working at the hotel I still find the peace and serenity of the solitude of Christmas Eve. I can't quite explain why, but it works for me. It is my tradition.



I understand others have different traditions at Christmastime. I am not disparaging those people or their activities. I think you should do whatever works for you. If you like spending time with the family and the kids, that's fine. Some others prefer to volunteer your time at a local soup kitchen, then that's fine too. But for me, tonight I will connect with the Great Spirit that is within me.



In the spirit of the season, I wish to all the peace and serenity I feel this Christmas.

Not Feeling It

Here we are, two days before Christmas and I’m still not feeling it. Yes, it did snow and it looks like we’re going to have a white Christmas. That should have put me in the mood. It’s still not happening.




This morning Bill and I took an early run to the Super Wal-Mart in Milford for a little last minute Christmas shopping. He wanted to buy our neighbor a clamp on light. I saw some pink and blue ones at that Wal-Mart. Bill took one look at them and deemed them not masculine enough for the work he and Bob (our neighbor) will be doing in finishing his basement. Bill said he wanted something more manly. He said they didn’t have enough wattage and besides, he didn’t like the color. Whatever.



I got on my computer this morning but there isn’t much activity out there. I think all my Facebook friends and my old fogey friends who don’t use FB are busy with Christmastime activities. I’m not in the mood anyway.



I tried to work up some interest in starting my Class of 1959 blog (my old high school class), but I couldn’t tape the enthusiasm. Maybe I’ll get the bug next week.



One thing that is good, the sun has been out two straight days. Hallelujah! I thrive on the light, especially in the winter. Two days running, I’ve taken my daily walk back in the development behind where I live. Even though the air is brisk and the road is covered with patches of ice, the walk was worth it. I always fell invigorated after a good brisk walk.



The location of my bedroom is such that I receive the maximum benefit the passive solar light and heat during the day. The room is almost sensual in its warm comfort. Today and yesterday, I had a wonderful when I wake up I ask “where am I?” nap in the afternoon. The comfort of my bedroom and the availability of a place to walk are two of the main benefits of living where I do now. I love the low taxes of Delaware and the wide open spaces but I especially love my bedroom; my oasis.



Tomorrow I go to work at the hotel at 3 pm to 11 pm and return in the morning at 7 am. There was a time in my life when I would not have liked to work Christmas Eve and Christmas Day but I have to say that at this time of my life, I don’t mind. No, I don’t mind at all.



Merry Christmas.

Are We Feeling Christmassy Yet?

Here we are with only two weeks before Christmas. Doesn’t it seem like each year Christmas rolls around even faster? First it’s Halloween, then Thanksgiving then it’s Johnny Mathis singing out “Sleigh Ride” at Walmart.

This year I wasn’t even going to put up Christmas lights because I just wasn’t in the Christmassy Mood. But, last week after returning home from our weekly breakfast outing at Zorba’s I decided to put forth an extra effort and go up in the attic and drag out the Christmas lights. Well, we all know how that worked out. I ended up putting my left foot through the ceiling above the kitchen sink.



Undaunted, I put up the Christmas lights outside the front of the house. And if I do say so, they look mighty fine. Bill is putting up more Christmas lights this morning on our shed in the back yard. We’re going for the Cozy Cottage Look out back.



Again this year I’m not putting up a tree in the house. In fact I haven’t put up a tree since we moved here in November of 2006. That first year we moved here it was out of the question. After the trauma of selling our house in Pennsylvania and moving down here (two monster moving vans); the only thing we were thinking about was decompression.



This year I did give serious thought to actually putting a real tree in the house. There is nothing like the smell of a fresh cut evergreen tree in the house. However, putting up a tree would entail me to pull out ALL the Christmas decorations and I am just not into that yet. Besides, we really don’t have company over for the holidays so it doesn’t make much sense to put a tree up. Plus, I’m working Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at the Inn. I’ll take a gander at their tree (which is beautiful by the way – good job Sandi and Monica!) and soak up the Christmas Spirit.



Earlier this week I was at J. C. Penney’s at the Dover Mall in Dover. Round the corner from J. C. Penney’s was the mall Santa (or one of his “helpers” I believe is the correct terminology.) I stopped a bit and observed a dad trying to get his kid revved up for his official Santa picture. I got a kick out of watching the activity. First, the kid didn’t want to be there, that was obvious. In fact the kid looked at me more than he looked at Santa. Then it was obvious that Santa didn’t want to be their either. Take a look at The Look that Santa gave me. I love it! That’s what I really like about Christmas; these little vignettes.

Last year I was at the Laurel Flea Market. Of course the Flea Market Santa is also a step (or two) down from the mall Santa. I took a wonderful picture of that bedraggled Santa but I can’t find it now on my hard drive. Maybe tomorrow I’ll take a drive down to the Laurel Flea Market and check out their Santa. I’m getting into the Christmassy Spirit now. Nothing like seeing a flea bitten Santa going “HO! HO! HO!”