New Year's Eve

A lack of funds, enthusiasm and people who were free to hang out with all left me with spending New Year's Eve home alone, which was perfectly fine with me this year.

Dinner was 2 messy but amazing cheeseburgers from Omaha Steaks (a last-minute Christmas gift from Dad & Ma - I still have 18 patties left). I made them in the small frying pans, and then put them on a toasted slice of multigrain bread. One had: American cheese both above and below the beef, then tomatoes, and half of a sandwich roll with mustard on top. The other had: beef, cheddar cheese, pickles, and the other half of the sandwich roll with mustard. They were SO good! However, going forward I am going to learn how to cook them in the oven to avoid the extensive grease cleanup, post-cooking. 

I spent the late evening up to and beyond midnight with the last beer of the year, a mediocre one called "Slippery When Wet IPA" from Tripping Animals Brewery in Doral, FL. It had two hops I am not familiar with, Lotus and Trident. The beer wasn't good or bad, merely boring. The logo artwork is amazing though! It definitely made me choose it.

Also, I spent the time listening to the following music to end 2024:

• Beach House - "7"
• Lush - "Blind Spot" EP
• Tchami - "Revelations" EP
• TWICE - "With YOU*th" EP

All very good stuff! Especially the first and last on the list.

Boston Haunts

I went to Boston with nieces Celia, Helena and Georgia to finish up with last year's Christmas gifts, "Hang Out with Food".

I wrote about it on my other blog, Not Lame Minus, but long story short, we went into Davis Square, had dinner at The Burren, and then had fancy drinks at The Foundry once we discovered that Saloon was closed for the evening. So much fun!

NYE

Nothing fancy for this year's New Year's Eve.

Breakfast was coffee & cereal (shredded mini-wheat) as I watched the final 90 minutes of "Thor Love and Thunder". The weather was suuny-ish and 50's.

Late lunch during college football and "New Girl" was angel hair pasta w/ground beef in Ragu sauce.

I had night coffee and cinnamon toast for a late supper, with Ken Burns' "Benjamin Franklin" documentary on.

The end of the evening (midnight and beyond) I spent drawing a few Legionnaires, drinking my last two beers, and playing "Dig Dig" and "Elvenar".

L to R: Kid Quantum II, Invisible Kid II, Ferro Lad, Tyroc.

Christmas Day

I got out of bed at 8:00 am, had coffee and the slab of Jon's banana bread in front of "A Charlie Brown Christmas", and spent nearly the entire day reading Matthew Perry's memoir, with football on in the background. Toward the end of the day I had my last two beers (this one is decent, but not a favorite) as I drew and played "Elvenar" and "Dig Dig".

Christmas Eve

The family Christmas gathering was very small this year.

Kevin's family was all down with Covid, or at least exposure. Judy & Rich decided not to come (under the weather as well). Hayden & Audrey came early. So it was me, Dad & Ma, and Sarah's clan. It was still fun though, and a lot less hectic than usual.

Ma made a roast beef to go with a charcuterie platter and a cold shrimp plate. All very good! The kids all liked their ornaments/"Hang Out With Food" gifts. Dad & Ma LOVED the mugs I got them. And I came away with a pretty cool haul (haha).

Starbucks Sumatra K-Cups & scratch tickets from Kevin.
'Paris' Starbucks mug and $20 from Sarah.
'Mexico' Starbucks mug & $25 SB gc from Jason.
There is a theme here, but I can't quite grasp it...

It was a fun evening, low-key and cozy.

Advent

I got home from working a double shift, and there was a package waiting for me. Lo and behold, it was a LEGO Star Wars advent calendar!

I assumed that Ma bought it for me, but it turns out it was from J & Stacie. Very cool! 

Most of the minifigures had on 'ugly Christmas sweaters', so I took the minifigure which I have in my likeness and added C-3PO's to 'me'.

Halloween Stuff

Various images from this year's holiday season, wherein I worked October 27-31, 

and was unable to attend any events.

Chumble on his perch.

My hand-drawn window decorations.

The return of David S. Pumpkins on "SNL"