I thought long and hard about writing. Each year I review my work flow and decide how much I want to write, what I want to write, who I’m writing for, how much I want to share, and how I want to share it. First I decided I wanted to write more analog i.e. using pencil and paper. I needed more room for notes, so I passed on the 2010 Sports Illustrated Swimwear desk calendar and got a 2010 Moleskine Pocket Diary. I’m convinced more notes mean I won’t have to write a journal. The notes will be the journal. So far it is working out.
I almost pulled the plug on this blog. Instead I’ve decided to pull the plug on Facebook. I’ve grown disillusioned with the Facebook experience. I’m not closing my account but I’m not going to actively use Facebook any longer. The blog will continue but I envision shorter entries.
I would love to post longer fiction on my other blog, but I have to force myself to complete some of the many drafts I have laying around; maybe some older work as well. It remains to be seen.
Victor Teigen took the day off from work. He asked about lunch. I told him, “Bob and I going to Arbys.” I told him if he’d like to come along I’d pick him up, “I have to come downtown to deliver an order to CNV. I’ll be at your house in fifteen minutes.” Myron, Sara, Kira, and Vivian were still in town, and staying with Victor and Arlene. I spent a little time talking to Victor and looking at his computer. . . . continues
Sean called to invite me over, “The Vikings are playing the Bears on ESPN tonight. Do you want to come over?” he asked. It sounded like a good idea. Sean had an ulterior motive. I had his iPod Touch. I had upgraded the OS to 3.0.1. Sean wanted it back, and bad. Once Suzanne found out I was coming over, she decided to invite Paul out on a date. They left shortly after I arrived. I heated up the leftover pizza from Old Chicago.
After supper Sean started playing with Tim, it devolved into wrestling, also known as ‘roughhousing’. I tried to break it up but neither boy was interested in taking my advice. It is certainly natural for two brothers to start wrestling or fighting. (At one point Sean and Tim were Indian Leg Wrestling.) I kept my eye on them so no one got hurt and the house stayed in one piece. Interesting that Tim is almost as aggressive as Sean. What surprised me was how quickly Clare threw herself in the mix. She may only be two years old but that doesn’t stop her from joining in the fun.
I got a call from Suzanne, “Sean is requesting your presence at noon. We’re having a pre-celebration at Old Chicago pizza.” I love their Thai Pie so she didn’t have to twist my arm. Sean ordered a meat-lovers pizza with Bavarian Sausage that he shared with me. I shared some of Tim’s pizza as well. It pays to sit between them. It probably was a mistake to fill up on so much pizza. . . . continues
Yesterday it was still snowing when I woke up. I went out to warm up the snow thrower and clear the driveway. Afterwards I wandered around the yard with my camera taking some photos of the snow-covered yard. Mr. Ridgeline (our new neighbor’s father) pulled up and rolled down the window. I pulled out my headphones and wished him a merry Christmas. His kids appeared to be out of town. [get the name from mom]
It snowed all day Christmas Eve, but it didn’t seem too bad, even late that night. The wind is rather calm in the city, but fierce out in the country or the edge of town i.e. the Dobbins’ home. That evening the wind picked up and the snow kept falling. By morning there was no travel advised anywhere in the city. The Interstate highways were closed. Sean called all day desperate to get his iPod Touch set up. I downloaded all the software for his Touch and Paul’s Inspiron but there was no way to get there.
Late in the afternoon, I was a little bored. I decided to blow out the driveway. There was no wind, so I wasn’t too concerned about it drifting back in. I have a small Murray snow thrower and I am worried about getting accumulations that the Murray can’t handle. We weren’t going anywhere so I did not clear the snow in the street or the edge of the driveway- the snowplow will come and fill this in no matter what I do. Our neighbor Doug Smith was out with his snow blower. The neighborhood was filled with the sound of snowblowers and shovels- there was nothing else to do. Mr. Ridgeline swung by to check on the house. He had a flimsy shovel in his truck bed. He dug a path to the door and then left.
Saturday (12/26) It was still snowing but much slower. I was bored and ready to clear snow but I kept waiting for the snowplow to come by. It was quiet all day. Around 3:30 PM I heard three plows, one after the other- first our side of the street and then the other. (They cleared a narrow path down the middle yesterday.) I couldn’t wait to put on my snow pants and fire up the Murray. I hurried down the driveway and the sidewalk. I didn’t have much gas left in the Murray and couldn’t get out to get more. The plows left about three feet of snow in the driveway and street. I don’t like clearing the street but I have no choice. I switched to a shovel and carried the snow out of the way. Our other neighbors seemed to have a house full of guys. They came out in gangs to shovel before, during and after the snow plows came by.
Sunday (12/27) I was out clearing a little snow with my shovel. Mr. Ridgeline drove up with his son(?). The son didn’t look dressed for the weather and they had two cheap shovels. They looked to be crappy plastic shovels. They dug a path to the door and left- hopefully to get reinforcements. After I left Mrs. Ridgeline arrived at our door to borrow a shovel. Char said, “If my son was here I’d send him over with the snow blower.”
Snowy Stump on Christmas Eve Morning
I love the Craig Brand ™ Funtime Card as much as my nephews love getting it. It means no shopping for me, it is a unique gift that they will always remember and it yields some fun experiences all year long. . . . continues
I made an appointment today to have a cavity filled on tooth #14. He also wanted to replace the filling on #15 the upper left molar. Neither tooth was bothering me. I could feel tooth #18 cracking- this was the most expensive tooth as it needed an Onlay. . . . continues
I remember why I stopped watching “This Week” on ABC. They have maniacs for guests; the Republican’s aren’t much better than the Democrats. I catch myself yelling at the television set like a nut job.
I told Bob, “There is nothing to eat in the house. Come early and we can go for pizza.” Bob was early but it was still after 2 PM before we got to Godfathers. I ordered a Golden Crust for a change. I rented “Inglourious Basterds” on Bob’s recommendation. (B+) ” we’re gonna be doin’ one thing and one thing only… killin’ Nazis.”
Then we watched the Vikings lose to the Panthers. The Vikings didn’t play well at all.
Char had her last wedding as First Lutheran’s Wedding Coordinator today. Instead of giving a two-week notice she gave an 18-month notice; it seemed to take that long to find a replacement. She and Ray were invited to the reception. I dropped dad off at the Radisson just before 6 PM. As I was downtown, I thought about stopping to see Victor. Then I remembered Paul told me they were attending church this evening and would be done at 6. I killed some time at the Moorhead Hornbachers before crossing the street and waiting in the St. Joseph’s Gathering Place. Sean was the first to see me. Suzanne jokingly asked if I had attended mass. “Paul and I wanted to go Christmas shopping.” The boys wanted to ride with me. Paul, Suzanne, and Clare went to get McDonalds. Sean and I got the table ready. The ‘Avatar’ character from the happy meal went in the garbage before I could recover it. Paul and I made a quick run to Best Buy. We looked at cameras, and let the gal help us, but I already narrowed down the search to the Canon SD1200IS. Paul wasn’t interesting looking any further. He picked blue, one of only two colors left. We grabbed a SD card before leaving. Paul asked me to get the camera ready for Christmas. I charged the battery (about two hours for a full charge), formatted the card, read the manual, and tested image quality (very nice.)
Dad and I almost missed the Christmas Program at St Josephs. I knew it was today but not the time. Dad knew the time but the entire thing slipped his mind. We arrived just as it started. Mom came directly from work and saved us two spots at the corner of the stage. . . . continues
