Seems like we're supposed to get our first real taste of winter in the next day but it should be short lived. January, I know you're just around the corner, and I demand the so called "January thaw" that I keep hearing about. My ass has still not thawed from yesterday. Our 24 year old garage door opener died last week so we spent yesterday replacing it. It actually works too but my ass has yet to thaw after sitting on a 35 degree floor all day. We celebrated by eating not at one, but two buffets yesterday.

For the first time in years, my Christmas shopping is 95% done and it's only December 4th. I tried to get it done early because almost all of it has to be sent through the mail. It's wrapped and sitting on the floor and ready to be boxed up and dropped at the post office. I think I did well this year considering I'm really into the holiday spirit yet.

..........

Why I still hate Bill James.

..........

Today was an excellent day, excellent that is until I got home from work. I closed the garage door, you know, the one we installed the new opener on Saturday, and the spring snapped off. I thought the opener was broken and I was super pissed off. It was 22 degrees, snowing, and I couldn't get the door to shut. I discovered the the spring was off and reattached it way to easily. I closed the door and it turns out I attached it to the wrong place. The door was now shut and off the track and I could get it open. I finally got it back on track but it was too heavy to lift without the spring. I was getting more pissed off by the second. I abandoned it and waited until Duncan got home and we lifted it up and reattached it correctly.

Before this happened, my day was grand. Yea, it's snowing but it's gonna be warm tomorrow with rain so it'll all be gone. It reminded me of NC when I enjoyed the snow. Last week, a guy asked my age and I told him 39. He made me show him ID because he thought I was messing with him. Today, he was going around and asking people if they knew my age. Everybody guessed I was in my 20's. Two people even guessed 23. That is the second reason I was having a good day.

My mom was my age when she had me. My dad was 42.

Mistake of the day: One guy asked me how old I thought he was. I thought 50 so I said 46 to play it safe. He was 43.

I also have packaged all my Christmas presents and they are sitting on the floor ready to send...Maybe Christmas cards tomorrow, maybe not...

..........

I met Santa Claus today. I helped him with a very special Christmas project but was sworn to secrecy. I just know it will make some kid's Christmas more special and he proclaimed Ho Ho Ho as he left the building.

Christmas shopping done, (except two), packaged, wrapped, and entered into the United States Postal Service. Most Christmas cards are also in the mail unusually early this year but I ran out so I still have to get a few more done. That'll probably happen two days before Christmas. We also are now the proud owners of a snow blower. I guess you can call us official New Yorkers now. Wait, I think we were official after we got our first tax bill.

It's also official that I have turned into a bath whore. I bet I went years without taking an actual bath, choosing showers over baths. A couple of years ago I discovered the bath and a period of several months I was in the tub a lot. I grew out of it. Last year, while painting the house, I discovered the bath again. It's the best way to get off all that paint. During the last couple of months, those HOT baths are in vogue again. They take so long, if only I had the time to hang in there for hours. If only there was a TV in the bathroom. If only they made books and magazines made with plastic pages. Oh if only...

..........

A trace of snow fell today and winter is coming in with a bang tomorrow. Only 14 degrees tomorrow afternoon. With my Christmas shopping done and the weather turning dreadfully cold, I'm getting in the spirit of everything. I'm watching Miracle On 34th Street now and plan on watching A Christmas Story, (my favorite Christmas movie) and Alf's Christmas Special. After seeing The Macy's Parade this year, I've really been wanting to see this movie. Maureen O'Hara is so hot in that 1940's business suit.

Favorite quote from Miracle On 34th Street:
"I fired him! He's crazy! He thinks he IS Santa Claus..." "Maybe he's just a LITTLE crazy, like painters, composers, or those men in Washington."

If this means anything, we got a snow blower last week so it only goes to reason, we will get no snow this year. I'd say the insurance is well worth the cost though a white Christmas would be cool. My mom is worrying about my dad again. He fell the other day while helping out at one of his club events. He hurt his shoulder and unlike true dad fashion, he actually says it hurts...which means it probably hurts pretty bad. I have more faith in my mom than she seems too. I've seen how strong she really is the past couple of years.

..........

20 December 2004

What law of physics or nature says that the earth slows down between the time you sit on the toilet and realize the seat is up and the actual time you hit the porcelain? It seems like your whole life flashes in front of you. Whatever law this is, it's the same one that makes the earth speed up between the time you hit your snooze alarm and the time it goes back off.

I've known of so may people and couples that I have looked at and wondered what on earth gave them the impression that they have the right to bring kids into this world. Either they are stupid, inept, hostile, selfish, or just not financially able to take care of a kid. I've known people that I thought would make pretty good parents and only a few that I thought would make the best parents. It seems unfair when they are the ones dealt the cards that makes it almost impossible for them to have kids on their own. My friends Michael and Lara have been trying to have a baby for some time and for the past year or so have been trying to adopt. This past weekend, it seemed like it was finally going to happen for them but the parents backed out at the last minute. My heart was broken as I know theirs was too. I know they will get their baby some day and when they do, it will be one of the luckiest babies around. They are kind, smart, giving, and loving people. No doubt, their day will come.

After a high of 3 today and a minus 7 tonight, I have decided to grow my hair out for the first time in 10 or more years.

..........

OK, I have already decided not to let my hair grow. It would mean I would have to get up that much earlier. Knock some sense into me.

..........

Today at work was just like being in school before Christmas. We didn't do anything except just hang out and talk and think about the work we should be doing.

..........

I will clean the toilet, mow the yard, or hang drywall, but please don't make me cook. I don't like it. That's why Duncan is in the kitchen tonight, and tomorrow too. All the traditional stuff, turkey, stuffing, mashed taters, cheese cake, and much more. Today at work, all we did again today was goof off and eat donuts. Tonight, I called my brother's house and the whole family is there. I got kind of homesick for a minute as I heard all the noise and commotion while I talked to everyone. My mom still dominated the conversation but I talked to everybody. My freaking nephew is getting married next summer. I remember when we used to watch Pee Wee Herman and dance around the living room. Everybody seems to really like his girlfriend and I'm so happy he's met someone who makes him happy but I do wish he'd wait about, let's say 5 years. It's cold in Schenectady but still no sign of any snow this year. No white Christmas. That's OK. A Diva's Christmas is on and Kaleb is on the blanket at Duncan's feet. Santa will be here soon...or have we been bad?

..........

Favorites of the day: New miter saw, an old fashioned milk shake maker, and a Mohawk River iceberg after some warm days trying to make it's way down stream. Today was not one of those warm days. Big Christmas dinner is over and now it's time to settle down to some Cops.

..........

80,000 dead in Asia from the tsunamis, and of course, it's expected to pass 100,00 dead soon and probably even more to follow. That many more don't have homes. All the jobs are gone, all the businesses are gone. It's hard to imagine. People are looking for loved ones, it's possible that that twice the number of people that have already died may die from disease associated with no sanitary water and sewage. This week, I've gotten up and gone to work, come home, gone out to eat, gone shopping, paid bills, and have basically gone on with life in general. Tomorrow and the next day, I'll do the same. Our life goes on and hundreds of thousands of people have died or will die.

I'm changing my e-mail address so if I forgot to send you my new one, let me know.

So long cool Jerry Orbach.

..........