Monday Musings - Post Christmas Edition...

Well, that certainly seemed like a WEEKEND, didn't it:
I think we need a lot MORE Friday holidays, instead of those Monday ones, hmm?
And, we're starting off this week with a freezing rain advisory.
(Getting a bit dicey out there already this morning - use CAUTION while driving)
The rest of our Hoosierland weather will take us through a mostly (quite) soggy day with temps creeping a wee bit above the freezing mark to the upper 30s I would not count on seeing anything but CLOUDS in the skies today.
Winds will increase as the day progresses.
Could always be worse, like down in Texas.
Prayers go out the those who lost everything, including the families that lose loved ones.
NO ONE should have to endure that during ANY time of year, let alone THIS time.
You can ALWAYS replace "things"...it's the PEOPLE that matter and can never be replaced.
Remember that.
*** First off of the slip and slide is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
December 28 -
---Today is NATIONAL CHOCOLATE CANDY DAY

(right after the 1/2 off Christmas sale, too)
---It's also NATIONAL CARD PLAYING DAY

(keep 'em "close to the vest")
---And, it's HOLY INNOCENTS DAY

Here's the WIKI to "splain it":
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massacre_of_the_Innocents
---It's also PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE DAY

(it seems to be making a slow comeback in many schools)
*** Next up, it was a pretty good weekend (as weekends go), and even the "locals" behaved themselves for the most part. I knew they could refrain from being LOUDASSES if they TRIED.

Boomcar noise was way down (a welcome change), but there was still crime around if you watch the news (naturally NO details from any of it).
---Wifey and I prefaced our weekend by stopping by the SPCA on Christmas Eve with bags of food for the cats and dogs, like we've done for more than a few years now.
And, we got to "visit" with the cats they have there.

Got me some "Sugar", baby!

Immediately, one particular cat came right up and rubbed all over me...she was named "Sugar".
Yeah, I fell in "love" all over again.

Also did likewise with a cat named "Tornado" and a  male named "Sloane".
All of these cats were at least 2 years old, too.
Call me the "cat whisperer" (works with some squirrels too...lol)

They get set in their ways at that age (as have I), but I guess they know a kind old guy when they see one.
Wifey and I started out on the 25th by opening the Christmas gifts AFTER breakfast.
We didn't go hog-wild, but rather only a few gifts each, and that's okay with me (and her).

Get outta the trash-bag, Rass!

Our cat, Rassie got a bag full of jingly-feathery toys, but instead found a length of red ribbon MORE to his liking...go figure. Plus, he had to check out the bag with the wrapping paper remnants.

Wifey got some tops, a book, a Hello Kitty hot cocoa mug set and the monarch butterfly earrings she wanted. Those were hand-crafted by the same person who made her hummingbird earrings from last year.

For next year's Festival.

(gotta know where to shop and who makes this kind of stuff).
As for me, I got my health (always a blessing), some items from a Rural King that Wifey visited when she was in Vincennes (she got to visit one before ME...I'm envious...lol).
Got a nice t-thirt, ball cap and watch-cap and I got a Star Wars Rebels figure playset I had my eye on.

Boys and their toys

I also got a neat book on Churchill plus "Killing Jesus" by  Bill O'Reilly.
But the coolest thing was the "spin and fly" TARDIS with light and sound!

(naturally, also got a "driver" for it - a 10th Doctor figure).
Plus, a TRULY FANTASTIC Doctor Who CALENDAR...!

You have to dress for the venue.

I also got a HALO 5 (Athlon) figure.
Never played the game, but the figures are cool, very well-articulated and THIS one is an "exclusive" figure found at only ONE store (Walgreens of all places).

My dear high school friend from Delaware sent me the first season DVDs of the classic TV show THE UNTOUCHABLES.
Like I said...not a lot things, but enough for us. Besides, it's not like we can't get anything else we wanted during the other 364 days, right? I'm appreciative just to be here to enjoy the season.
---We had a good dinner (baked ham with pineapple, homemade macaroni and cheese and dinner rolls with hominy for the missus and peas and corn for me.

Again, this was a humble affair, and it IS only the TWO of us. I made some brownies that Wifey says caused a "fudge-gasm". I used TWO packs and baked them near the minimal time, and they were VERY moist inside.
And they were thicker than with the one packet deal.

We also made more sugar cookies the night before, so we're LOUSY with cookies for the holidays.
---Saturday, we went to the grocery and they did NOT have any "cheese trays" made up...you know the ones...the CUBES of different cheeses people have on New Year's Eve...not a single one prepped or out for sale. WTH?.

THIS is what we were looking for. And found NONE.

So, we bought several BLOCKS of cheese and will do it ourselves, and at a substantial SAVING from the pre-made platters...so THERE!
We DID get some shrimp and had to get spuimante for the toast at midnight (a MUST).
---This morning, The lovely Mrs. Bobby G. and I take the Wifeymobile in for routine service (oil change, etc), and also the get the trunk lock cover - the infamous metal CHEVY BOWTIE  (bowties are cool), because
Saturday, when we were out and about, the thing damn near fell off in my hand when I flipped it up to put the key in the lock.

Seems the pop rivets broke off (with age, no doubt), so I'm going to ask the guys at Yeomans if they can drill out the old rivets and put two new pop rivets back onto the thing so it's affixed back where it belongs. I miss having the tools I USED to have.
Lord knows how much it would cost to get a brand NEW one (for a 20-year old car as of next year...lol)
---Had a lot of birds come by over the weekend...and I mean LOTS.

I did manage a picture of a TITMOUSE as he stopped by frequently (there are actually TWO of them - just like the Nuthatches. You can tell when they're near.
The really cool birds seem to travel in pairs (in our neighborhood, it's pretty much REQUIRED to do so for anyone...lol).
Those birds never seem to stay put long enough to get GOOD pictures, and you have to be patient when trying to photograph them. Same goes for the new batch of squirrels we have...skittish as all get out.

There's Patches..chowing down.

We did get to see Patches come by a couple time...not AS skittish, but he ain;t coming onto my knee any time soon, sad to say (I miss Mr Wrinkles so damn much).
---That Doctor Who takeover did not disappoint, either. I watched as many episodes as I could, taking breaks to sleep and eat, naturally.

And on New Year's Eve, we get to do it AGAIN...with a Who-year's eve marathon...LOL.
That's as cool as wearing a fez!
Wifey is already rolling her eyes over this...YOWZAH!
---Unfortunately, all wasn't peachy-keen...last night before we went to bed, Wifey called the po-po on two men sitting out front our house smoking weed in a dark grey sedan.

Naturally, by the time she could complete the call and get officers rolling to check it out, the car drove off, and one guy got out and walked up the next block.
Hey, do that shit at YOUR place...NOT ours...'effin druggie MORONS|
And, this morning around 0200 hours...hadda drive the porcelain bus for a spell.
Dunno know what caused it, but it might be a small stomach bug or something similar. Wifey was fine, so I know it wasn't the food. Could be a dose of post-holiday stress or maybe it's the rollup to all the gunfire we'll be hearing on New Year's Eve (as usual). Not going to fret about it (and obviously the FWPD won't either). I feel better now.
*** Last back to the sleet-laced streets...There you have it then...all the lowdown on the Mr and Mrs Bobby G. holiday festivities at the "Fortress".
Now, all we have to do is get past the new year, and we'll be alright, God willing.
I trust all YOUR holiday cheer was well spent, and that the remaining days of THIS year will find you hoping for a much better time for us all in the year to come.

Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay SAFE out there, America.