A Holiday Hodgepodge

Hello, dear friends.  I hope that I find you calm and relaxed.  If that is the case, you're either extremely organized or on meds.  Either way, good for you.

This is my second to last post before Christmas.  My final one will be a post on my holiday home tour.  I only have a few things to do before writing it like finding the tree in the basement, putting it up, decorating the house inside and out, writing a shopping list, buying presents, wrapping presents, buying some stuff for me, learning to bake, losing 20 lbs. and taking Chowdah and Chili's royal portrait.

Only kidding, the royal portrait is being taken by a professional.

If it's Wednesday, it's time for Hodgepodge.

1.  Where have you found unexpected magic or delight this holiday season?

I don't get out much when the temps are below 40 degrees, so I can't tell you about a magical, heartwarming moment that I witnessed during the holiday season.

Amazon

But I can tell you that I just finished a delightful, uplifting novel.  The Story of Arthur Truluv is a beautifully written, charming tale of two lovable misfits with a 60 year age difference who find each other and life suddenly becomes a lot more colorful and sweet for both of them.

I finished this book last week with a smile and a couple of tears.     

2.  What's your favorite type of holiday gathering?  Will you/ have you gathered in your favorite way this month?

No gathering is complete without these 4 rascals.
It will be a very Merry Christmas because both girls will be home.
Now if they don't break into a rip-roaring screaming match over a hairbrush like the old days, my holiday will be full of joy.

3.  Time has named 'The Silence Breakers' (women who came forward with stories of harassment) 'person of the year' for 2017.  Would you agree?  If not, who do you think deserves the title?

Yes, I think it was not only an interesting choice but also puts a face and voice to the end of an epidemic that has finally become unmasked.

I had a bet with the Mister that this guy was going to take the cover.  

Not to worry, I didn't lose my 5 bucks.  
The Mister's choice didn't win either.
He thinks James Bond should win every year.

4.  How did you spend your time this year?  

Are you happy about that? 

Elaborate.

This is a bird's eye view of my typical day in 2017.

I get up around noon, splash some Bailey's in my cup of joe, and pray for something of interest to blog about.

Hours later, after my second nap, an idea finally comes to me.

I usually wear the same get-up every day and hope that the doorbell doesn't ring.

Later, I read my post with unbridled animation to my editors.  My hard work is met with deep sighs and disappointed expressions.

I then go back to the old drawing board and make some revisions and final edits.  I casually check the clock to see how many hours are left until cocktail hour, and most often than not, run into a technological difficulty. 

I then calmly call the Mister and tell him he needs to come home NOW because my dang computer is on the fritz again. 

When the Mister eventually arrives home, he usually pushes one button, looks at me with a blank stare, and solves the problem. 

*For those who don't read my blog regularly, this is not the Mister.
It is his body double.

I murmur an inaudible thank you and then quietly ask him what he's making for dinner.  

5.  Bid farewell to 2017 in ten words or less.

Any year that begins and ends with my family being happy, healthy, and safe is a good one.

I went over the ten-word limit, so I borrowed some words from a fellow Hodgepodger that didn't participate this week.

6.  Insert your own random thought here. 

My #2 sent me this post on Instagram.

Hugo sounds like my kind of guy.




Until next time...

Would it kill these two to crack a smile?