Penguins, Pot & Other Stuff

Christmas was fantastic this year.  Good family, friends & food made it the joyous occasion Christmas is supposed to be.  Even the weather cooperated!

 

Christmas Eve was spent at Sister Dianne’s.  The whole family was there and the atmosphere was simply joyous.  Christmas Day saw me at Brother Michael’s house enjoying a wonderful Christmas dinner.  Thanks Cindy for a delicious meal!

Saw lots of friends over the holiday which is always nice.  Ate too much which is also always nice!  Even managed to pull in some really nice presents; lots of penguins, Toblerone chocolate and clothes.  And the leftovers-simply fantastic!

 

Now New Year’s Eve is almost with us.  Don’t really have anything planned other than leaving my door open for anyone who would like to drop in for a visit.  Watch some hockey and maybe have a Scotch or two.  Who knows, if I get an invitation to a nice house party, I’m there.  In any case: Happy New Year!

You guys understand where I’m coming from on this one.  Your favorite piece of clothing.  It’s been with you so long it has become a part of you; your trademark so to speak.  Comfortable, always out of style yet made for you.  Those who know me know I’m talking about my Blue Hoodie.

 

I brought it with me when I moved to my apartment over 17 years ago.  Sure that I owned it for at least five or six years before that move.  It’s been everywhere with me.  Even has battle scars: small burn holes it received while I was on picket duty during the infamous civil servants strike a few years ago.  Quite a few sparks from the garbage barrel fire landed on that Blue Hoodie!

 

Well, time to put her out to pasture.  I’ve been able to purchase a couple of nice replacement hoodies courtesy of eBay.  As much as it hurts, I’m saying goodbye!  How long it will take the pain to go away, I don’t know.  Donations to the "Aquilina Bereavement Fund" gladly appreciated & accepted.

 

For posterity’s sake, a picture has been put up.

Not to be outdone, Dickhead managed to pose for a couple of pictures while opening his Christmas present.  Up until this year the two of us had fun giving each other this extremely ugly yellow tie for Christmas.  I knew it was my turn to "receive" so I came up with a plan.

 

Got the Dickhead’s lovely wife Liz to buy the ugliest tie she could find.  She volunteered to glue some fake food to it to make it even uglier.  Strange thing was, once Dickhead opened the box he said something about this being the best thing in his wardrobe.  Poor man!

 

Check out the pictures!

Kelly brought the two little ones over for a Christmas present exchange.  Paige got a Dolly & Owen got a monster truck.  They were so excited opening their presents.  Check out the pictures!

 

Kelly even managed to get a figurine of her favorite hockey player, Darcy Tucker.  I guess she was a bad girl and Santa wanted to teach her a lesson.  I was lucky enough to receive a penguin decorated hand towel & washcloth set.  Oh yes, also got a box of truffles.  Delicious!

Hard to believe Christmas is only seven days away.  I’m about half done with the Christmas shopping.  One more day should do it.  Looking forward to spending Christmas Eve at Sister Dianne’s house and then heading there again the next day for Christmas dinner!

 

Hopefully the weather will cooperate.  Love the season but hate the cold & Snow.  Oh well, this is Canada!

Nine years ago today.  Hard to believe.  Remember what that first Christmas was like after he passed away-tough on everyone.  You learn that life goes on and Christmas is definitely a happy time again!

 

Take Care Pop!

Dianne brought Nicole & Danielle over on Saturday to help me decorate my apartment for Christmas.  We’ve been doing this for at least 10 years now.  It’s a great couple of hours with lots of joking around.  Kaleb joined us and helped decorate the tree.  Now it feels like Christmas, Ho Ho Ho!

 

Check out the Pictures!

Took my friend Caitlind of CNE fame to Jackson Square to watch "The Mist", a Stephen King thriller.  I had read this short story along time ago so had an idea of what the storyline was all about.  Won’t give it away in case some of you are planning to see it.  Very good movie; the usual gore & suspense.  What an ending!

The usual gang of poker buddies gets together at my place for a game sometime just before Christmas.  The boys arrived with glee & anticipation in their eyes.  Unfortunately Joe & Jan could not make it so the five of us that were here dove into the cards.

 

Had a great time and Tony C. was the big winner.  Unfortunately, the other Tony was the big loser!  Still, the fun was worth it.  Maybe another game between Christmas & New Year’s!

Got together with some of the people I have worked with as a government employee.  We met at The Wild Orchid, the restaurant where I had that delicious rabbit dinner.  This time; a lovely combination of cubed pork, oven baked potato & clams.  Simply delicious!

 

It was so nice to see so many people that brought back so many pleasant memories (except for Dickhead who managed to weasel his way in there).  Everyone is doing well and there was a lot of catching up on things.

 

Check out the pictures!