Christmas Week

Last year we saw Andre Rieu in person in Detroit.  It was a bucket list item for me.  Thankfully Ted was as interested as I was and we had a delightful time.  Our daughter, with connections, had secured 6th row, aisle seats.  When his Christmas video was shown two nights in the US in December at theaters, we couldn’t pass up seeing it.  We were not disappointed!

On Sunday we had no problems getting to the airport.  We parked off site and let the aggravating slow traffic to the bus driver. I can’t wait for the construction to be finished.  What a mess it has been. 

We had to use the kiosk to check our luggage because there was no skycap check in outside. It gave me a bag tag and Ted a boarding pass!  No matter what I did it would not give him a bag tag.  So we got into the assist line but got called up from behind a huge group heading overseas. That Gold Medallion Plus designation on our reservation sure helped.  Since I had a boarding pass on my phone and my bag tagged, I was good to go and after they printed a bagtag for Ted he was too.

Every seat was full and we sat as we always do, me in front of him on the aisle.  That way no one leans back into him trapping him spread eagle with no way to get his tray down.  And then to top it off, a lady came to sit next to me with a DOG!  She was holding it but was told at take off he had to go in his crate under the seat.  I watched a movie and it wasn’t too long a flight.

It took 45 minutes for our luggage to finally arrive and Kara and Bill were waiting outside.  We all met Pat and Kelly for dinner before heading home.  Whew!  Holiday travel is tiresome.

Monday, after playing games with Pops, we took CeCe to Bass Pro Shop for a photo with Santa.  

She was more interested in the 4 x 4’s and climbed on every one until choosing the camouflage one.  

She tried out all the camping chairs and beds in the tents, visited their aquarium and played with the legos and Lincoln logs set up on two tables for the kids to play with.  She had a great time. 

I had 18 gifts to wrap that evening and some were big, bulky and heavy!  My back was killing me by the time I finished!  Kara had invited everyone over for a soup and appetizer type dinner and we all enjoyed a nice visit. 

Christmas Eve we started with a big breakfast and tackled preparations for Christmas Day dinner.  Bill and Kara went to his family’s party while we went to dinner at Kelly’s and then the 9 of us there went to church at 6:00.

It was a lovely Mass and we were more than ready to head for home after all the running.  I put all the checks I had written in their envelopes and put them on the mantle. I was ready!  

Christmas morning was busy because Kara makes so much food!  Our company came at 1:00 pm and we started opening presents.  There were 15 in attendance and gift opening took quite some time!

The girls bought us tickets to see “Beautiful Noise” at Detroit’s Fisher Theater for 12/26!  I have been watching for the tour company and us to end up in the same city for quite sometime!  

We drove to downtown Detroit to the Fisher Theater the day after Christmas. It is a short drive compared to the trip driving into Houston from home.  Parking is free with your theater ticket and we maneuvered the garage, the scanning of the QR code to validate our parking, stood in line to enter the theater and finally a security scan.  Success!  

Beautiful Noise was fabulous. Neil Diamond wrote the songs he recorded and they all told the story of his flight with depression. “Clouds” he called them. His song Shiloh is about his imaginary friend, You Don’t Bring Me Flowers Anymore was the breakup of his 25 year marriage.  Forever in Blue Jeans was his wife’s response to her need for his company not what his money would buy. The context is his talking to a psychiatrist once he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s and can no longer perform. The music was fantastic and even Ted did the Sweet Caroline wave!  

Today we were to celebrate Bidkar’s birthday but Ally is under the weather so it has been postponed. So today I can stay “Forever in Blue Jeans” with no make up! 

Nm

Here Comes Santa Claus ! 🎼🎼🎼

December is turning into Doctor and maintenance around the house month!  We have had the water heater drained and flushed and a mortar and brick crack on the side of the house repaired.  Our neighbor alerted us to it because that is their zero lot line.  It was minor and all was good in less than two hours.  Then there is weekly yard work which at this time of the year we refer to as “blow and go.”  But the heavy pine needle cover and leaves make it necessary.  We also have cleaners every other week.  It was like Grand Central Station on Friday when all three companies were here at once.  

Ted has been going to PT twice a week for the past 8 weeks and is ready to wrap it up.  He has a doctor appointment as follow up.  I have been to M D Anderson for bone density, blood, mammogram and a visit with my oncologist.  All was good except they are concerned about my bone density so I have another visit but not until May 1!  How bad can it be if I can wait that long!  My PCP had made an appt for me with a kidney dr based on my blood results at my last visit.  But MDA saw no reason for concern based on their blood results.  I guess I will go for the tie breaker!  

It has also been a busy social time.  We had a birthday Christmas cake at Shanghai with our country club group.  And … I got a Shanghai!  Also on the calendar was a Sustainer group outing to downtown Houston to see decorations, some shopping and lunch at The Houstonian hotel which the older Bushes called home during his presidency.  

Saturday we met Gerre and Barry for dinner and to see Christmas with the Celts.  Once they made the drummer back off some, it was enjoyable!  

We delivered three children’s coats from Macy’s to our parish Christmas giving on Sunday since we didn’t go on Saturday evening like we usually do.  It gave us an opportunity to join coffee and donuts with other parishioners.  It has been a long time since we have done that.

On Sunday we took our elderly (like we are spring chickens, right?) to dinner and the Baptist church concert.  They are 92 and 82 so getting out together alone is difficult.  The concert was wonderful!  Tails and tuxedos, black shiny dresses and lovely Christmas music.  

Then there were four days of Donna On the Go!  Rachel, Anna and I all rode to Teresa’s to play Hand and Foot Monday afternoon.  Tuesday was 3-13 at Another Broken Egg.  I came in second!  

Wednesday was our neighborhood luncheon and dessert party.  After a terrific lunch at Adriatic Cafe we went to Anna’s for dessert and sharing of small table gifts.  I made a Carmel Apple pie for the occasion. I received lots of compliments and Ted gave me a 10 on the piece I brought home for him.  He had gone over to sit with our 92 year old neighbor and took a couple of Whataburgers for lunch.  They were supposed to go to Honor Cafe but Dick had PT and was too tired to go out.  

My table gift for everyone was a mini loaf of brown bread, a German recipe my family has made for generations, peanut butter and butter cookies plus several pieces of Linzt chocolates all in a Christmas box.  I received tea, hot chocolate, cookies, candy, hand lotion and a poinsettia!  

Friday was a clear my desk and start setting clothes out to pack!  Hope this brings y’all up to date.  I will try to check in more frequently.  

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

I think I lost about 6 weeks.

After I returned from the cruise we went to Alamo TX to meet up with Cindy and Tim. We had rented a house with a pool for a week of relaxation.  We celebrated Tim’s 62nd birthday, attended Day of the Dead celebration (music and dancing) at a flea market which was fun to watch and attended Mass at the Basilica complete with mariachi band.  It was a relaxing time for us all. 

I played Shanghai, 3-13 and Hand and Foot, we both had some doctor appts and our lady’s lunch at Black Walnut was a big hit. 

Kristin was in town and spent one night with us.  I was hoping she could stay for Thanksgiving but I was a week off .  It was not 2 days away, but 9!  

I hosted our two South African neighborhood families for Thanksgiving.  They brought a lamb roast because they weren’t totally sold on the turkey thing!  All went well and there was only enough turkey left over for one pot pie later in the week.  

And so now it is Christmas!  

I put my pumpkins away, decorated our front porch, the front door and gate and I am done with that. I doubt I will do anything inside. We are not expecting anyone. 

We are going to Michigan for Christmas. There is lots going on over the next 3 weeks before we leave. Maybe I will have more to write about next time!