I'm am NOT a snow person...anymore!!

Yesterday, thegrandson had a 1:30pm appointment to have his Christmas pictures taken at Sears Portrait Studio at the Ohio Valley Mall. Essentially, ever since this mall was built in 1975 - I have hated going there. The floors are not amenable to walking for long periods...and the track record of one store remaining there for a long period of time is next to nil (other than anchor stores). Even the anchor stores are in jeopardy now, with the economy in the toilet.

Anyway, there were just light snow fluffies when we left home at 1 pm. Considering this "portrait" studio hires seasonal workers - not really what I would call professional photographers - they couldn't keep to a schedule if their lives were at stake. There had to be at least 8 other children in a waiting area the size of a playpen, each cantankerous and bitchy..wanting this and that...whining and farting...just the kind of crowd I want to be around.

The snow "fluffies" I alluded to earlier have now turned into giant snow balls and are building up on the parking surface, just outside the door. My heart is sinking, as we drove my car to the mall, and my two front tires are BALD! To be frank, I just have not been able to afford $400 for 2 tires. The price of tires went through the roof when oil prices burgeoned - and as oil has now fallen to pre-2007 levels, the cost of tires HAS NOT dropped.

Thegrandson finally began the photography session at 2:00pm, and I just wanted it to go quickly, so we could get the hell out of there and off the damn hill - and back to the safety of home. (The mall is in St. Clairsville, OH - 10 miles from home.)

I told thedaughter to drive us home, as my nerves were shot (just from worrying), which was stupid, as she has a track record of hitting things in the snow. But luck was on our side, and we crept home, past one car accident...and once we were down off this hill, the roads were not as bad. It's times like this that I miss my 4 wheel drive.

This is a picture of the traffic tie-up, coming from the new Highlands shopping area, outside of Wheeling, WV. There is a Cabelas, Target, Bed,Bath and Beyond, WalMart and 30 other stores now in this plaza. It took the average driver 2 - 2 1/2 hours to get from the Highlands down two mile hill (I-70)to Wheeling last night, because of the wrecks and lack of salt for the highways.


I had been planning a "surprise" birthday dinner for theRuss (Dec. 1) and Toni (Dec. 8), all week - never even thinking about undesirable weather conditions. At the last minute, I realized using my car was out of the question, so I had to make calls and change all those prior arrangements. The snow had continued all afternoon, with weather alerts for treacherous driving conditions, which makes my heart skip a beat. In order to change all prior plans, I had to tell Toni that it was actually a birthday dinner for her and Russ, but Russ was still out of the loop. No problem there.


Since my best friend, Mom2 - Jean passed away, I try to include Russ in everything - since he has been lost since she passed away. Needless to say - I managed to totally surprise him with the dinner and presents. Conversation had to be rather good, because I forgot I had brought my camera till dinner was over. I had thedaughter take this picture - not the most flattering, but we are friends anyway!

Thegrandson told TheRuss, "Happy Birthday Uncle Russ! My Nina told me to tell you that!" Such a wonderful child!

Hopefully, I can get all my Santa's up today and the inside will be done - as much as I am going to do. Thedaughter is off again - so I need her help. But here are the outisde decorations.
Thegrandson loves his reindeer!!!
After dark - GREAT!
This was just at dusk!

So much for now...it is bitter cold again - and I'm going to make breakfast - or brunch for the little one...finish decorating before the Steeler game at 4:15pm! Steelers will be beating the Dallas Cowboys on their home turf - after watching them overwhelm the Patriots - I could not be happier.

Have a good one, kick back and enjoy the last of the weekend. Remember, 67 years ago today - Pearl Harbor.

Man --- this gets harder and harder every year.....

and I would be talking about Christmas decorating. With the pain in my back, I can't stand long, and definitely can't lift and tote like I used to. Screw this...decorating for the Holidays is one of the few enjoyments I get out of life!

I made it as far as getting the tree completed. I have one less string of lights on, as thedaughter didn't want to help me peruse the other boxes to find more lights...and I know I have probably 8 new boxes in the basement. Oh well, looks good anyway.

Thegrandson has been bugging me to put his train around the tree this year and I acquiesced. I told him once we start putting the presents under the tree, the train will NOT be running. I wanted to get a "skinny" tree this year, but didn't like the pricing, so being the ingenious person that I am...I bent the arms of the branches where they go into the hanging slots, and now the tree is not as full, which works well. The room is small, and I hate having the tree overpower the room.



I shook off the dust bunnies from my old "step ladder" and thegrandson decided he like his 3 tiny bears placed on the rungs. Oh well, he likes to help and feels better afterwards - that can only be a good thing. I have had this ladder for at least 15 years, and I actually forget what I used to place on the damn thing. I have brought up the pine and ornaments for decorating the top of the entertainment unit, but I honestly don't have the energy to finish it tonight. This may be a rough decorating season at this rate. Usually I am much more organized, but this year, first box found - I deal with it. Considering I never fulfilled my own promise, to REORGANIZE all this stuff prior to this holiday, I have to bear my own consequences.

Thedaughter has dinner ready, so I will post pics of any progress I might make...key word being "might!" Taking drugs for pain now.

Later all..........

...Let the Holidays Begin!!

I love the Christmas holidays more than anything. Rather than "presents" I much prefer the decorations and lighting. We lucked out today with 65 degree temps (although quite overcast), so I could get my lights and outside decorations placed. Thedaughter helped with some of the heavy lifting, as we went thru the boxes in the basement to find just what I needed. I had to have everything just right this year, as my brainstorm of a good idea, for something different last year...was horrendous. And theson (Slyght), before leaving for Edinburg, Texas, hung lights around the eaves of the house, which I have wanted forever, yet never accomplished. Thegrandson is in the foreground with a hug for the animated lighted deer. (Sorry the picture isn't that great, but does show off the lights.)



Thegrandson can be seen better in the picture above with his new best reindeer friend. The hard part is always planning everything well enough to have it all plug in at the same place. I AM THE QUEEN!!! I managed to get it all situated, now all I need to find is my timer and we are good to go!

Christmas shopping will begin, kids will be happy and I can sit back and enjoy the lights. I will begin decorating inside right after Thanksgiving.

Inside becomes a veritable Christmas land...as I have collected Santa's for many years and they have to be placed everywhere. Enough bullshit though for now - just wanted to share my joy at having the lights up and ready to go.

Everyone stay healthy and TTFN.