Monday Musings - Christmas Eve Edition...

We're almost there, boys and girls...just one more day.
(and then the jolly old elf comes a'calling)
Don't forget to leave the milk and cookies out.
Our Hoosierland weather for today brings us partly cloudy skies, temps climbing to around 34 degrees and a slight chance of precipitation. Whether it'll be rain or snow is still "up in the air" (no pun intended), so we'll have to wait and see.

In the meantime, let's get a nice hot cup of coffee, tea, or cocoa as we see what else has been going on since last we convened...
*** First out of the oven is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
DECEMBER 24 -
---It's Christmas Eve

(like you needed anyone else to remind you of that, right?)
---It's National Egg Nog Day

(I prefer to fortify mine with either bourbon or scotch, thank you)
*** Next, Tis the season to be bludgeoned? Here's the story:
https://www.wane.com/news/local-news/man-found-face-down-in-blood-with-head-injury/1673343202

This took place in the 1800 block of Chartwell Drive (yep, the good old violent SE side of town) last night around 2320 hrs.
Police found a man face down in the apartment parking lot lying in a pool of blood. He is alive (in serious condition) and police believe the head injury was intentional in nature. A vehicle was flat-bedded away later on as part of the investigation.
Sorry, but that's NOT what people have in mind when they talk of "Christmas Cheer"...is it?
*** Next up, our good friends, Chris and Laurie stopped down to visit Saturday, and we DID have cake (chocolate, in fact).

A nice time was had by all, and our female cat, Violet even came out and made some new friends. Gallifrey was busy hiding (as usual).

We also played a card game (Mille Bornes) and Scrabble.
I also offered Chris a Killian's Red...to which we found out had become FLAT (guess you can't keep beer for longer than a year these days.

I did apologize for that, but I will admit after having the last one myself, it STILL had a bit of a "buzz" left in it...only without the carbonation (no burping). And it tasted good.
Next time, I PROMISE that any beer I have will NOT have dust on the bottles...LOL.
*** Next, Wifey did another Jib-Jab with all of us in it (and one of the cats).

It's really a hoot, and believe it or not, THIS time, the LINK WORKS (for a change)...enjoy.
https://www.jibjab.com/view/make/the_buttcracker/0638f921-582c-4236-8567-3bcc1283d026?recipient_token=a17f5893-84dc-4f4c-b000-ad1c4cacf5c1
The background "music" is from Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker.
*** Next up, the BBC America channel has seen fit to indulge we Whovians this week with a DOCTOR WHO MARATHON  (which began early this morning).

Yes, all the past doctors from the 2005 reboot (Eccleston, Tennant, Smith, and Capaldi), but unfortunately not in the order they originally aired.

You'll have to check the schedule to make sure you don;t miss your favorite episodes.

Can't think of a better way to ring in the new year, than with a trip in the TARDIS.
(be sure to bring your "sonic" along)
*** Next, time to stop by our "Kitten Corner"...

"I'm the sleepy one."

Our kids have been doing very well (except for Gallifrey not wanting to make nice with company). Violet was anything BUT "shrinking" when it came to being personable (as much as  felines can be, that is).

"I'm the friendly one."

Aside from that, the rest of the weekend was fine.
I guess we can count them both on the NICE list, which makes life so much easier for everyone.
*** Next up, let's check in with "Midnight and Whiskers"...

"Hey, why are YOU upside down?"

Our furry duo were sticking close by...well, Whiskers was anyway. She likes the shelter and takes turns using them both. One day she's in the larger one, and the next day, she uses the smaller one.
Midnight prefers finding a place to sack out somewhere else, and I'd wish he'd bed down at our place.

"You know I'm here when it counts."

He missed lunch, but is always back for dinner (and with wet food on the menu, there's no problem with either of them getting their fill.
I'd like to have them around all day tomorrow, but we'll have to see what shakes out.
*** Last back to the manger...I'd like to hope that Christmas this year will be better than the last.

And that's not to say that we get more stuff...that train left the station many years ago.
What I want is for life to calm the hell down for everyone. We're being yanked in too many directions and seemingly all the time.
If it's not something local, it's something national. or global to worry about.
But, to NOT be bothered by any of this shows a lack of concern, and that (to me) would be even more troubling.

We all really need to remember WHAT this holiday is all about, and it's certainly NOT about us.
It's about humanity and how it was saved from itself by the miracle birth of the Christ child.
It's about doing FOR your fellow man (as God would lovingly remind us) rather than doing anything TO your fellow man.
It's about being of GOOD cheer, and not wallowing in the throes of despair.
Yes, it's about so much more than we even realize.
And we all need to take that to heart, because it is the truth.
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay SAFE out there, America.

And most of all...from our home to yours, have yourselves a 

VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS.

We'll catch you on the "flip side".