39: Aspiration aspiration (hoping not to choke)

I've got a busy, cluttery brain right now. Lots to say, lots to think about, lots I want to do, but not a lot of time for any of it. As is common, let's start in the present and move backward.

The weather as been weathering. This morning was windy and cold with a touch of snow. Wouldn't be a problem except for two things: the recycling bins being blown all around the lane (mercifully, the garbage truck has already been by) and the ice. On his walk this morning Hank decided we should go behind all the houses, which he never does (or I usually rein him in from doing so, but not so today) and I slipped on some ice. It was a soft landing as far as these things go, I'm pretty much unharmed (ask me again tomorrow) but in the process I noticed the little poop baggie holder popped open and I dropped my roll of them. Couldn't go back for them with Hank. Which posed some logistical issues when he pooped on someone's lawn. Well, I'm an honorable person, I'd be back, but I had to suffer through the rest of it. Back we got, and I fixed up my waste pile as best I could before setting out to reclaim my baggies, the end of the holder, and pick up the leavings. That was my morning.

The walks was a trifle earlier than usual because he wouldn't go yesterday, because it rained all day. Yeah, rain. It was about 2-4 degrees Celsius all day. Cold and wet. Pissing down. Hank wouldn't stand for it. Well, if he can hold it that's his business. We were engaged to go to my mom's for a Christmas lunch with the aunts and cousins. It was a fine day altogether, but being the end of our jag of Christmas visits meant I was pretty worn out, and other things had me feeling a bit off. I tried to be engaged but luckily the group is so talkative nobody probably noticed if I receded. The main topic of conversation anyway is Hank, because look at him. You can't see that guy without wanting to make him the center of attention. He has main character energy.

We ordered an excessive amount of pizza from Pizzaiolo, and there was salad and garlic bread and we talked about all sorts of things, mostly the kids' lives, their upcoming trip to Costa Rica, 6-7, the babies, birthing, and again, Hank. Hank was very disturbed by the Christmas crackers. I'll have to make a note of that for the future. But he did eventually settle back in once he sensed the danger had passed.

Before Christmas, we saw Dad and Deb for Christmas Eve Chinese Food. Dad had let us know he was getting over a cold but we said we were okay to come if he felt okay to host. The restaurant was clearly slammed and forgot our spring rolls, which annoyed dad, who called them about it and got an offer to come pick them up but nobody wanted to do that (I suppose I could have offered.) The guys had to get their ride home before we took a picture so it will be the first year where there aren't any pictures of all of us together.

We had the next two days to ourselves. Christmas we got our chance again to just be by ourselves. After stockings and gifts and panetone, we watched non-Christmas Christmas movies like Batman Returns and Gremlins (having already watched Die Hard and Rocky IV), only leaving the house once to see if I could get some cream cheese for bagels from the grocery store (answer: I could if I weren't looking for lactose free.) Instead I schmeared Mel's with goat cheese, and that worked fine. We called people, saw video of the babies and generally had a good time. I made lamb for dinner, relatively late, after we went for a family walk. For gifts, we knew we would be a bit leaner this year, mostly stuffing stockings with favored groceries (Mel did get me a neat eco-friendly toothbrush) but I got her a new Oodie to sleep in which she loved, and Hank got us an ornament with his picture on it. Santa brought Mel some of her favourite body wash, and I also got her a new dual-temp tumbler to replace her crummy dollar store one. She got me some coffee that also funds dog rescues (she was perturbed when she groused about not getting me enough and I offhandedly said "Just get me some coffee and I'll be fine") and an at-home escape room for us to do on New Years Eve, whatever that ends up being. I think it'll be a lot of fun.

It was not exactly a white christmas. There was snow on the ground but green on the lawn. It snowed more later in the week, then melted and turned slushy. We've basically un the gamut of what December does.

Activity-wise, Boxing day was a lot of the same. I went to the store again for some gift cards to give the kids. I don't remember what else was done but we ordered bagels for breakfast then had nachos for dinner and watched the movie Lisa Frankenstein, which I found enjoyable if slight. 

Mel has been intensely into the show Heated Rivalry on Crave. Annoyed that there were only 6 episodes and a long wait until the next season, she's already had us watch it over again, which is unusual for her. But I'm happy to indulge. Now she's going to get the book(s).

On the 27th, we dropped Hank off with my dad and went to Mel's parents' place for their celebration. We spent the morning making bocconcini-and-olive penguins, which were a big hit. The day was pretty much all about the babies, who are babbling lots now. They both wanted to play with Mel's light-up necklace, which resulted in some tears. We read to them and Noah correctly identified a duck. They looked great in the hats that Mel made for them. For Secret Santa I got a nice new set of silicone kitchen utensils (and some more coffee), and the lamp/charger/clock I got Laura was a big hit, and even Sherlie said she wanted one. Not too long of a day/night.

Yesterday was a bit off because we thought we'd had an appointment with our financial advisor but he didn't have it in his calendar, so we had structured our morning around it for nothing. And with Hank not wanting to go out for his walk, things were just kind of weird. And I had cause to think about how little I've amounted to in the time since I quit my job, which was a drag. Anyway we did get to mom's -- late, as we had noted we would be, not that anyone had an unkind word to say about it, and for the most part, as I said above, the conversation was light, with nobody asking how the job search was going, or about the other thing, which we had advised ahead of time was not in a good situation and maybe we don't want to talk about it.

Looking forward to a few days hunkered down together to end 2025, and then 2026... whatever it may bring.

Keep on rockin'

-Scotto