Christmas Eve at my Sister's

Late on Christmas Eve #TeamSlap stopped by Christopher and my sister Chrissy to exchange gifts. Smiley especially loved his Gravity Falls hat!

An Update on my Mom

My Mom was discharged from the hospital yesterday, which I found out second hand from deciphering FB posts. But thank you for your prayers - apparently the Good Lord was listening!

Christmas at Alex Q's

After Mass #TeamSlap journeyed over to our friend's house for a get together with their family. They hosted a White Elephant gift exchange, a Bingo game for the kids, Surge, yummy turkey, and some potatoes horrifically covered in cheese. ;)

Veggie Trays

Two veggie trays Lisa made for the holiday. I ain't gonna lie - I said the tree was sub-par work for her.

Christmas Mass

Merry Christmas one and all!

Can't sleep. The hip is crazy, and Lisa keeps having nightmares and talking in her sleep. Not the best combination for a restful night. NOTE: this is not to be used by anyone as an excuse to cxl plans. If I can deal, so can you :)

Went to Mass yesterday night, my first trip out in crutches. Lisa yelled at me when I tried to stand for the processional so I spent the service sitting like an old ninny. Nice carols, and as usual a great Homily by Fr Ron - the guy has the knack. At Communion the man in the pew behind us had Fr. bring me Communion, which was very nice of a stranger.

Christmas

Jaspare and Jeanne  stopped by to wish #TeamSlap a Merry Christmas!

TV Time

 Watching What Not to Wear with Lisa, Smiley, and Junie 

Fantastic Four

It's not as bad as people say, but it isn't very good. No one is very likeable, least of all Johnny Storm (tho Jordan did a good job with what he had), and the action at the end was abrupt and pointless.

Many Thanks to Smiley

Kudos to my son, the only child to wish me well before the surgery. He even asked to come along and wait with Lisa, which we sensibly refused. He was the only one to greet me with a hug when I came back, personally set up the cooling machine that draped my hip all night, and volunteered to help me out. He even chose to cuddle up to me on the couch. Time and again, I think that whatever bumps lay ahead, in the end he'll be a fantastic husband and father. I love you Smiley!

I'm Home

I got home from the hospital only an hour ago. What a long day. Recovery didn't go smoothly, although I remember little of it. The doc told Lisa how the surgery itself went, and her impression was not optimistic, but I'll relay more info after the follow-up. Right now I'm sore and tired and a little high, and more than a little irritated that I'm -for the moment - not very independent.

Bob Iwen

RIP Bob Iwen, a leader in my Cub Scout troop thirty years ago who was very patient with a bumbling young Den Chief who was entirely too unsure of himself. 

I remember his blonde mustache, his hippe-esque past, he and my Dad driving us to someplace on 13th and Lincoln, his glowing review of the movie  Purple Rain (tho he stressed I was too young to see it) and his failure to embarrass me when I confessed a crush on Grace Slick of Starship. 

He was, in my Grandma's vernacular, a "good Joe", and I'm glad I told him so in our last communication (even if, despite his insistence, I could never call him "Bob.")

You will be missed 

A Visit with My Mom

My Mom was admitted to the hospital Tuesday. Knowing I'd be unable to traverse the mammoth St Luke's after the surgery, I went to visit her yesterday evening. I think she'll be fine, but I wouldn't object to you saying a prayer on her behalf.

Posted years later with a "SMH."

Thank you to the #Walmart cashier who, without hesitation, said "Merry Christmas," to us. I appreciate your courage.

- I've very pro-Christmas, but my preoccupation with the "War on Christmas" at the time of this post . . perplexes me as seen from 2024. Still, it was a genuine feeling and so it remains here in print. Who knows, maybe the depths of those feelings across the US helped turn the tide? 

A Surgery Update

My (rescheduled) surgery is tomorrow, and unlike last week when I was apprehensive, I just want the dang thing over and done. I'm sick of the pain, and resent the extra week I've had to wait.

LOL

SMH

Steve Harvey may never live down his error.

As long as you are out by 8, I don't see the problem. If not . . .

It's A Wonderful Life

 #TeamSlap just watched my favorite movie of all time at the Avalon. I made Lu wipe the tears that were streaming down my face! lol

A Tree Lot Christmas

We were proud to come out and support the Olson kids at their Christmas pageant, "A Tree Lot Christmas." VERY good show! Afterwards, Lisa and PD enjoyed a rib dinner at the church food court :)

I made French Onion soup from scratch today. I still have to perfect the recipe, but it wasn't half bad.

A Great Gift!

#TeamSlap is celebrating an early Christmas with Jennifer J. Look what she and Sydney bought me! #Creed

Here's JJ's gift to YaYa

And for Smiley,  Jenga Quake

UPDATE:  Dropped the kids off, went to the grocery store, then dropped Lisa off too so I could cruise around and listen to my new #Creed CD.

Is This Normal?

Ok....mind craft [Minecraft] /roblox moms and dads.... Do your kids watch videos of other people playing the game? I think my kids enjoy watching others play more then they actually like to play! Is this normal? Lol - Lisa

Fact

My Dad wore the same Eddie the Eagle T-shirt for (seriously) twenty years.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

(3D) With Smiley  and his friend Evan. I saw Nancy Z there too!

My (spoiler-free) verdict? 1. It makes the Lucas prequels look just as bad as u remember. U suck George. 2. As a movie, it's not as good as Empire. But that's a high, high hurdle, innit? 3. Not impressed by the bad guy. Yawn. 4. Death Stars are to SW as Daleks are to DW: iconic but so overdone 5. It's a damn fine SW flick. I'd rank it only behind 4 & 5, and welcome the resurgence in the series!

 I miss my Dad this Christmas even more then last. I think it's finally set in that there will be no other Christmases' with him, and that just sucks. Enjoy your parents while you can. Love you, Mom! Xo - Lisa