New Years!

New Years Eve was spent at home with Kris and the dogs. We slept late and then had a quiet dinner while watching America's FUnniest Videos. I bought some Margarita Mix and Tequila and we had a few drinks. Then we opened a bottle of Merlot and had Lobster tails. Kris was still recovering from a procedure she had on Friday to relieve back pain. So we both decided an early night would be in order.

New Years Eve Eve, I went over to Scott's house for another CQB game with Judy, Jason, and a few other local players. This time, we all chipped in for dinner and brought a dish. I made cookies and we had Sloppy Joes. We played for a few hours until two of the players left. We played a few more 2-on-2 games, but soon discovered we were pretty much spent. I was invited back for a second game on New Years Eve, but I felt it would be better spent at home as I was not entierlysure I wouldn't have work on the 1st.

The kids are over at their father's house for the evening, so we probably won't see them again until later in the week. We did most of our grocery shopping at Wally World and managed to save about $50-$80 buying most of our frozen food there. We got the truck back after having the starter changed out again. We hope to be getting a new vehicle withint the next year, but we'll have to see how that goes.

That's really all I have for the last couple of days. Happy New Years to everyone.

Will

Post-Christmas Carnage

This year, Christmas was not too bad. WE had a nice dinner with the Parkers, we did some lite shopping, we had a few laughs. On the 23rd, I went to play a Close Quarters game with Jason and Judy. That was a lot of fun.

Christmas Shopping Carnage
The shopping was brutal and horrendous. Lines stretched from each Cash Resgister, crowds at the Mall were huge and loud. It was just a miserable shopping experience.

There were reports of angry shoppers pushing, yelling, and fighting. Rediculous. I was perfectly content to smash the face of anyone that got between me and my intended Christmas Gift. And if they were old people, it would have been just as easy to push them out of their little electric scooters and wack their knees with their old cane. After all, that's what Christmas is all about, now-a-days. Out with the Old and in with the New.

I was able to send William a Gift Card from Wally World and Old Navy. I had to Google Mickey's address to get it to him. Whatever. I sent a letter with them to let her know I would be sending a Birthday present in February.

Christmas Haul
Jacob was surprised to get his Gameboy Micro. It was probably oe of the few times I have ever seen him excited, although he is generally more grateful and easy to please than Andrea. He couldn't stop thanking Kris and I for getting it. His old Gameboy was sold to help pay for it, which was just as well.

He had been a little prick about it ever since Andrea was rewarded with her Gameboy Adv. SP. I almost didn't get it for him because of his crappy behavior. But he has been doing ex eptionally well in school this year and apart from one C, has had almost straight A's and B's this last Report Card.

Andrea, on the other hand, has been doing horribly this school year. C's, D's, and F's. Most of it is because she doesn't complete or turn in homework. ALot of it has to do with her obnoxious attitude. Yet, Kris, who was trying to motivate her to do better, gave her a new cellphone as an early Christmas Gift. I got her old phone and after some lite cleaning, it has been a wonderful phone. I almost feel I'd be lost without it.

I also have to apologize for lack of updates, I have been extremely busiy with work and holidays. I will get back into regular updates after the New Year.

Camelot...Camelot....Camelot...It's Only a Lego...

Found this one, too!

I'm OK!

I know you all know this one, so please feel free to sing along!

First Significant Snow of the Year.

This weekend has been cold, with the temperature steadily dropping and the threat of snow on the horizon. Will we have a White Christmas? Highly Likely.

Christmas Time is Shopping Time
Are we doing Christmas Shopping soon? Yes. Rather than fight the hoardes of losers in the stores, I think we may simply buy Gift Cards for the kids and then wait until after the Holiday Rush to let them cash them in.

The kids don't really want "toys" and it might be easier to just get them a few "gifts" and leave the larger part to a gift card. I know I'll prolly buy William a Wal-Mart Gift Card and an Old Navy Gift Card. Not that I'm really lazy, but it seems that would be easier for him to get clothes and toys he wants and needs.

I haven't spoken with Mickey in nearly two years. I can't ever get her or her parents on the phone, so most of my news about William comes from Vanna. I really hate myself for not being able to talk to him, so I'm going to sit down and write him a letter to send with his Christmas presents.

Last year's present was, for lack of a better word - pathetic. That came from being out of work and my one job with UPS not even getting me any pay. My paycheck of $50 went directly to pay Union Dues. I didn't see a dime from them. I was furious about that, but even more so that I didn't get called out to work more than once. And that was for four hours at $15/hour. GOOOOOOOD Pay, bad hours.

This Year's Fun
So far, we've already started on the candy making. That is to say, Kris and her parents have started the candy making. I bugged out on Sunday to the last Airsoft Game of the year. It was cold out there. Very very very very very very cold. Guns were going down, battery life was almost non-existent, and despite the fun we were having, it was obvious the weather was going to be a problem.

I managed to rack up four kills, even though I came out to the game late. I also took some video for Jason and Judy. I though about brining one of my co-workers with me, but decided it might end up a bust. The weather was cold enough it was likely to be canceled. But we did have a really good showing of about 30 players.

Many of them trickled out during the day as guns went down. Some of the players did have to drive back across the state and it was a mess out there. it was a really good game and it was nice to see alot of new faces.

Truck Problems Again
The truck is still acting up with the cold weather. I really wish we could take the damned thing to a real mechanic instead of one of Harold's Old Cronies. The guy is a decent mechanic, but in the last few times we've had the truck in the shop, he seems to cause almost as many problems as he's trying to fix. I know alot of that comes because he's doing charity work, but I have a hard time believing that him fixing a problem would make us have to bring it back a few weeks later with the exact same problem.

The truck is showing its age and it has been a great truck. But I think we're gonna have to replace it in the next few months. I'm gonna try to get the truck into one of the actual Ford Mechanics either this month or next month. I just have to make sure we have all the bills caught up before we can do that. That shouldn't be too difficult.