Tag: Christmas

Today was a Good Day

Today wasn’t the usual Christmas Eve for us, but it was still a good day. It was just the four of us rather than the extended family, but I loved every second of it. The kids are going to their dad’s tomorrow afternoon so we did the full blown Christmas dinner today. After that it was Christmas music, Christmas TV specials, Christmas sweaters, and Christmas games.

Covid-19 is a solid kick to the scrotum, but it couldn’t hold us back today.

Today was a good day. Looking forward to another good day tomorrow, now go to sleep or Santa Claus won’t come.

Can’t Blame UPS for This One

Well, it’s Christmas Eve. Time to make one last check on the straggler packages that haven’t been delivered yet. First thing I went to was The Big One (which isn’t that big, we agreed to go small this year, and we already bought a Big One that counts for Christmas so it’s all good). The estimated arrival date is now, We’ll Let You Know. I checked the tracking number with UPS and they still don’t have the package. The number is in their system, which means someone at the warehouse actually printed out a shipping label, but it hasn’t made it to UPS yet (did I mention I have a ton of experience running a business’ shipping office? I do. I have a little less experience running the receiving office, but I’ve done that too).

Someone has a birthday in early February. Do you think we’ll have the package by then? I’m not holding my breath. I got refunds for a handful of non-Christmas things I bought from Amazon that got lost in transit, but this puppy ain’t even left the building yet. You can’t blame UPS (or Fed Ex, or USPS, or whatever carrier you want to blame it on) for this one.

It’s all okay though. Like I said, we’ve already done a big gift pre-Christmas, and I have a nice placeholder for the missing Big One too, so Christmas will not be tainted any more than Covid-19 has already tainted it. We’re good.

Aside from all my bitchin’ and yakkin’, allow me to wish y’all a Merry Christmas Eve. HoHoHo.

One Tiny Missing Detail

It just dawned on me that Covid-19 has taken something away from me that I used to look forward to. It’s a teeny tiny detail, but I didn’t get to experience it this year. Note: this is not a complaint at all, just a comment.

I’ve mentioned on this blog (one or two thousand times) that I have a long, painful commute to work. Thanks to the Covid lock down I haven’t had to make that commute in over nine months. This is a good thing. The silver lining to our personal Covid nightmare, if you will.

Traditionally speaking, there is only one day each year in which my horrid commute is actually pleasant. One day out of the roughly 260 business days over the course of a year where I don’t really mind the drive to and from work.

That one day is the last business day before Christmas. On that day, there is never any traffic. I get in the car, hit the highway, and I’m in the parking lot in record time. It’s brilliant.

Today is the last business day before Christmas. Again, I’m not complaining. It’s just another little thing that I always looked forward to (on the rare moments that I actually thought about it) that I don’t get this year. Obviously my commute today was better than any other year. I just sat down and started working. I’m just saying, okay?

Shipping Blues

There are three Christmas packages that haven’t been delivered yet. At lunch today I took a minute to check their status. Let the laughter and the tears commence.

Package #1 was ordered from a popular brick and mortar store’s website. The order was placed on 12/10. I received a ship notice two days ago. Prior to that, the estimated delivery date was 12/24. When the shipping notice came the date was changed to 12/22. That’s today. The order page currently still shows the estimated delivery date of 12/22, but when I look up the tracking number on the carrier’s website…

They haven’t received the package yet.

Package #2 was more of a last minute thing. I ordered it on 12/16, figuring if it arrived on time that would be great, but if not it’s not the end of the world. This order was placed with the manufacturer’s website. When I check my account, the order page states that the estimated delivery date is 12/22. What a coincidence! When I look up the tracking number on the carrier’s website (a different carrier than package #1) it says…

The estimated delivery date is 12/28.

Package #3 was ordered very early, on 12/7. It includes one Christmas gift and two unrelated, non-Christmas items. The order was placed with the big guy: Amazon. The package shipped on 12/8. Good customer service right there, eh? The estimated delivery date was 12/10. It hasn’t arrived. What does the tracking page say?

It could be lost. I called and got a refund.

It’s a Covid Christmas after all. HoHoHo

Weekend Wrap Up

On Saturday I posted my to do list for the weekend. How’d I do?

  • Wrap Christmas Presents. I only have one person’s gifts left to wrap.
    • Every Christmas present I had in the house that was not wrapped is now wrapped. I’m still waiting on a couple of deliveries, but that’s not a big deal. Almost done!
  • Do Christmasy things with the whole family, specifically we need to watch Elf.
    • Oh hells yes. Elf, Polar Express, Christmasy stuff all over the place. WOOHOO!
  • This is a late arrival to the list but I am going to help Jen make a shit ton of cookies. Hell yes.
    • So many cookies were baked. So many delicious cookies. I’ve done a decent job not devouring all of them, but I doubt my will power is going to hold out for very much longer.
  • MUSIC
    • Holy crap! 48 hours ago the December music was nine songs, seven of which had rhythm guitars. That’s it. Now? 10 songs, all of the rhythm guitars are done, all of the lyrics and melodies are done, eight of the songs have vocals done, two of the songs have all of the tracking done, and one of them is mixed. I did a car music yesterday, and another today, and I’ll need one more tomorrow. December music is suddenly on fire.

So there we have it. My weekend to do list may have been short, but it’s complete. Big time complete. I like it when a plan comes together. Now we just have three work days, and a Christmas Eve to go before our first and hopefully last ever Covid-19 Christmas. Here’s hoping the little bastard goes down in history as a unique little blip on the universe. HoHoHo.

That’s Disappointing

It’s been kinda a crummy weekend so far. Jen and I were looking for an old timey holiday friendly movie to watch to brighten things up a smidge. Something possessed me to suggest Holiday Inn, the Bing Crosby movie that includes the debut of the song White Christmas.

We made it as far as the black face scene.

Well, that’s disappointing.

To Do List for This Weekend

It’s the last weekend before Christmas and here is my to do list. It’s pretty short.

  • Wrap Christmas Presents. I only have one person’s gifts left to wrap.
  • Do Christmasy things with the whole family, specifically we need to watch Elf.
  • This is a late arrival to the list but I am going to help Jen make a shit ton of cookies. Hell yes.
  • MUSIC

I had a tough time with the intermittent fasting last night. We went out to deliver Christmas presents (successful) and check out some Christmas lights displays (woefully pathetic). We left right after dinner and we didn’t get home until 9:00 PM. I am supposed to start my fast at 9:00 and I was seriously hungry. I had a snack and started the fast at 9:45. I’m still going to get the full 16 hours in before I eat again, but it was just a sign that it’s going to be tough this week. Add that to the to do list, keep on schedule if you can.

HoHoHo.