Potpourri before and CHRISTmas

Have I ever mentioned that I love CHRISTmas?

Anyway.....

Got to meet Joey's sister Peggy. We sat and talked for about 2 hours. Wow!So happy  YAY! What a lovely person. The families are so happy to finally connect.

I got an email that Cynthia's DNA results were ready. Text to let her know to come over the next day so she could open the site. My puter would not sign on! Strange. So after several attempts we looked at my Kindle, DUH! She was finally able to see her DNA. I was sitting across from her and she just stared, not blinking. I was ,"are you ok, anything wrong??? No answer. I walked around to look at the screen. She is 45% British! Now I can't tease her about her dad being a 1950s Polish spy;) But we can have a spot of tea now and again.

Now on to our next DNA tester----Elaine. Her spit is cooking. Can hardly wait to see what turns up there:) She'll have to open her results too. Hopefully before Christmas.

Char and I had  a late lunch at BJs Bar and Restaurant last Thursday. The services left much to be desired, unfortunately. I was going to ask some of the staff if the restaurant was closing. But even the hostesses were not at their stations when we left. The food was very good, But......later in the night started puking! Ugh! Saturday turned into a rest and recover day.

In the spirit of Christmas shopping, I decided to shop this past Sunday=:O  Loved it. Got the 12/6 Sunday paper and separated the sales out. God Lord!! The actual newspaper was reduced to a puny 1/8 of the whole. Didn't NEED to shop for anything but a new wreath--which was on sale at Joann's by my place---but wanted to see the crowds. Are they desperately hunting for bargains? Or, last minute Christmas gifts? Will I find a little something for myself? Are there any gifting trees with children's names left?

Started at Joann's to shop locally. Hit a variety of stores ultimately ending on the west side of Albuquerque in Macy's at Cottonwood Mall. Macy's had been devoured and still the staff remained friendly and helpful. Made a comment to the clerk as I was checking out that they looked worn out. She smiled and nodded. Told her I was worn out too but needed CHOCOLATE after such a long day. Ever helpful, she said, "We have chocolate:)" But I said not like Rocky Mountain Chocolate factory.
Rocky Mountain is located right outside and down the escalator from Macy's 2nd floor. Carrying my mountain of packages I headed to said chocolate factory. But the DOWN escalator was turned off. OH NO! The mall elevator is on the other side of the food court. Almost all the way across the mall. Still optimistic and having my handy-dandy cane I headed to the elevator. At least the UP escalator was working at the end of my trek. Damn! I was bushed by the time I got there. But I was determined to end this shopping trip with excellent fresh chocolate. Or a chocolate caramel pecan apple. Did I buy chocolate?! NO! I found real licorice! No more chocolate caramel pecan apples. Settled for the aforementioned sans chocolate. Who needs chocolate anyway?
Plus, in my tired, one-way idea drenched brain, didn't think of turning around and using the escalators IN Macy's:) Hello.

Thank goodness I had purchased almost everything I needed online. Including, Bri's, and Elias' gifts. Got back online and bought some skirts, Ahava bathing gel and lotion(mmmm-Chamomile), dish washer liquid and rinse from my Amazon. Decided to order my fruits and veggies locally from Skarsgard's Farms. They also deliver:) and are local.

Did I mention that I LOVE CHRISTmas?

Monday was Rae's  b-d. We will have a nice quiet dinner this Thu so I can give her her gift. Aahh, December. Ended up at Outback. Yummy.

Tues Veronica and I went to Sandia Casino. We were there 7 hrs! I played a 20 cent machine for hours and ended with $75+. Nice penny payer")

I spent 5 days cleaning and decorating my balcony. Our in-town 50 mile per hour winds blew leaves, spiders and other manner of debris into the balcony. Whew!! SO, I got a wild hair and went looking at NEW houses. With the possibility of the ex finally refinancing the mortgage on my house HOPEFULLY before the end of the year, I had the "wants" for a house that NObody has ever lived in. What!?! Have I lost my mind? More financial responsibility? I even picked out the house.
THEN, after having talks with family and friends, who spoke volumes as to the ball and chain of a home, I saw the light of day and changed my mind.

Next on my list was a new car. Do I NEED one? No. Do I want one? Yes. Saw the light day in  that folly.

Third on my list was new furniture. Went to the furniture and bought new furniture set to be delivered on 1/9/2016:) And will have money left to travel:))!! Cheers I>--:<I

Did I mention that I LOVE CHRISTmas?

On 12/20 we met at my Sis' house and made a lot of tamales. I don't like tamales and eat probably ONE a year. We made tamales every December at Mom's house. I was so sick of making tamales that I preferred to buy them. Would even have them removed from any Mexican food combo plate in favor of anything else. This year I ate 1 1/2 and don't really want to even look at another one for a while. I brought a dozen home. Those went into the freezer the next day. Sadly they will remain there until I give them to a neighbor or friend.

We decided to have a Christmas Eve-Eve dinner at a Chinese restaurant today. Then Bren, Dave and I went to see Star Wars! Yeah, baby. I wanted to travel into space since watching the first Star Trek on TV. Scifi:) The fuel of dreams.

Did I mention that I LOVE CHRISTmas?

My favorite ever Christmas carol is Little Drummer Boy. What is yours? The chorus would sing it for our Christmas assembly at Garfield Junior High, and at Valley High. I so enjoyed the booming voices of the bass and tenor sections imitating the drum. The best part was how the  peaceful and calm way that our Music teacher brought us all into harmony at the end. Mrs. Suber. She was an awesome teacher.  I love that it addresses our unworthiness and yet our love for my Savior.

The words and music to the Christmas song Little Drummer Boy was composed by Katherine Davis, Henry Onorati and Harry Simeone in 1958.

The Little Drummer Boy

Come they told me

Pa rum pum pum pum

A new born King to see

Pa rum pum pum pum

Our finest gifts we bring

Pa rum pum pum pum

To lay before the kIng

Pa rum pum pum pum,

rum pum pum pum,

rum pum pum pum

So to honor Him

Pa rum pum pum pum

When we come

Little baby

Pa rum pum pum pum

I am a poor boy too

Pa rum pum pum pum

I have no gift to bring

Pa rum pum pum pum

That's fit to give our King

Pa rum pum pum pum,

rum pum pum pum,

rum pum pum pum

Shall I play for you

Pa rum pum pum pum

On my drum

Mary nodded

Pa rum pum pum pum

The ox and lamb kept time

Pa rum pum pum pum

I played my drum for Him

Pa rum pum pum pum

I played my best for Him

Pa rum pum pum pum,

rum pum pum pum,

rum pum pum pum

Then He smiled at me

Pa rum pum pum pum

Me and my drum

Elaine's DNA results are ready!!!!

And, as the Red Baron said to Snoopy "Merry Christmas my Friend"

Have a wonderful, blessed Merry Christmas. God bless!

Did I mention that I LOVE CHRISTmas?