Saturday before Christmas Stuff

Yesterday we had my employees Christmas lunch. We had fun--I took them to a restaurant that they chose (expensive) and then we went home around 2.

After he got his hair cut (the cutter girl was a real "slimmee" --not slimy . . . slimmee-- and wanted him, don't you know) LP and I went out Christmas shopping. Well, he mostly shopped and I stayed in the car. I was forbidden to go into Bed Bath & Beyond with him.

We're wrapping present today. I told him that I'd help him wrap everyone's and he could wrap the presents he got me and BP.

Yesterday late afternoon it started to mist rain and after that it got foggy as hell. Rudolph's nose would have to be at full wattage to get through that pea soup.

Phil Donahue's 72nd birthday was yesterday and I forgot to mention it. I love Phil Donahue and miss seeing him on tv. So, Happy Belated Phil, you old Liberal Fart!

I'm taking the rest of the year off--don't have to go back until January 2. Who's happy about that? Who? Who? MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

One of the secretaries came into my office today explaining that she was asking people to donate money because this woman who works in the cafeteria had her gas shut off and she needed $700 to get it turned back on.
A few people around here (me included) know for a fact that she received over $6000 in back child support in October. So did she pay her utilities and other bills then? No, she bought cigarettes and Jack Daniels and a flat screen TV and went on a trip to the Bahamas.
Now her two kids had to leave the home and go and live with an aunt who has heat in her house.
I did not contribute to this fundraiser. The secretary fell for a false hard luck sap story and talked other people into contributing.
I just hope the money raised goes directly to the gas company and not to the woman herself to blow on smokes.

Dan Fogelberg: 1951-2007

When I was in school, I played it so much that I wore out two copies of his Souvenirs album:
That picture of him, with his long hair, sitting on a rocking chair was just a quiet kind of sexy.
Loved his music.
Loved his voice.
Dan Fogelberg died yesterday.
Thanks Dan.

Same Old Lang Syne

Met my old lover in the grocery store
The snow was falling Christmas Eve
I stole behind her in the frozen foods
And I touched her on the sleeve
She didn't recognize the face at first
But then her eyes flew open wide
She went to hug me and she spilled her purse
And we laughed until we cried
We took her groceries to the checkout stand
The food was totalled up and bagged
We stood there lost in our embarrassment
As the conversation dragged
We went to have ourselves a drink or two
But couldn't find an open bar
We bought a six-pack at the liquor store
And we drank it in her car
We drank a toast to innocence, we drank a toast to now
And tried to reach beyond the emptiness but neither one knew how
She said she'd married her an architect
Who kept her warm and safe and dry
She would have liked to say she loved the man
But she didn't like to lie
I said the years had been a friend to her
And that her eyes were still as blue
But in those eyes I wasn't sure if I saw doubt or gratitude
She said she saw me in the record stores
And that I must be doing well
I said the audience was heavenly but the traveling was hell
We drank a toast to innocence, we drank a toast to now
And tried to reach beyond the emptiness but neither one knew how
We drank a toast to innocence, we drank a toast to time
Reliving in our eloquence, another 'auld lang syne'
The beer was empty and our tongues were tired
And running out of things to say
She gave a kiss to me as I got out and I watched her drive away
Just for a moment I was back at school
And felt that old familiar pain
And as I turned to make my way back home
The snow turned in to rain...

Sunday Morning

1. We got a lot of snow yesterday. It's supposed to stop around noon but we're getting 40MPH winds until 3 so that won't be good. LP's going to have to shovel, shovel, shovel.

2. Spidey** you little imp. I received your Christmas card yesterday and I felt all the little shineys you put in the envelope before I opened it, so they didn't go all over the floor! ;)

3. Last night I made this kick ass chicken recipe I saw that Food TV guy--Guy Fieri--make.
RECIPE. I used chicken breasts instead of thighs, and just regular red and yellow peppers instead of the kind he used. It was really really good. Lots of flavor.

4. On today's agenda: clearing off the snow, reading T is for Trespass, cleaning my kitchen and that's about it.