It’s that time of year again! Catan with Christmas Dice!

Look who found his cozy spot. Pushed his snoot right up to the grate.

My current joy is pulling a Polar Express, and anytime my wife buys something for Christmas for the first time… I lift it up in the store and in my deepest voice I say: “The First Cookies of Christmas!” Or puzzle, present, blanket, ornament, dog treat, etc. Straight to the naughty list I go.

These dogs know this pancake is for them. However they don’t know that it too hot to eat so they’re giving me the impatient whine and whimper.

Damn you old navy for having my size and setting your prices just within my I can do that range.

As I get older I’m finding I don’t have the stamina for grocery shopping anymore. It’s absolutely draining.

My HVACC guy is taking foreverrrrrrrrr! Dude must be paid by the minute. Sooooo slow. My man… please… a little faster. It’s Friday. I gots things to do.

My oldest son gave me my favorite Scotch Whisky for my birthday. I raised him well.

My wife and I went out for Mexican food this evening. She clearly just wants to watch the world burn.

It feels really good to be back at work. I feel like I’m contributing to society again.

It’s cold here in Virginia. I made my wife her favorite butter but squash soup, sliced a fresh baked baguette, and started a wood fire in the fire place. When she comes home from teaching all day she can just sit and chill. It’s been a day for her. Might as well use my furlough time for good.

I feel like my ice cream isn’t wearing pants.

I programmed my Alexa so that when my wife comes downstairs and she says, “Alexa, Christmas Time!” All the decorative lights turn on around the house, the Christmas tree lights up, and all the Amazon Dots around the house play her favorite Christmas Music!

Good news. We survived the dealership. No car purchased. Not sure why we were there. That’s ok. Next they want to go to dinner. They say “anywhere is fine”… I know that is a lie. We went a couple round of “where do you want to go? Oh anywhere, but not there.” A spot was picked. I need a stiff drink.

My wife and I are at the Honda dealership with her very aging parents helping them look at cars. Pray for us please.

My wife is a high school teacher and her duty tonight is to work the football game and keep folks from walking around the field. I’m sitting with her. We’re like gen-X security. lol My 18yo senior came to say hi. It’s a cold night. He cuddled with mom in front of his friends. No embarrassment. :)

My dogs clearly don’t understand daylight savings time. It’s too early to eat I tell them. The drool says otherwise.

I found these cute houses, garland, berries, and little tree thing at Walmart. I put it all together dirt cheap and it looks cute as hell.

So damn proud of my daughter. Shes been working months for a blue campaign (Jess Anderson) in Virginia, and her candidate won! My daughter has been working so unbelievably hard for blue. So many doors knocked and real honest conversations. Well earned victory for a Virginia House seat! Good job kid!

It’s amazing that my most liked post is a photo of my apple pie. I’m furloughed right now. I’m feeling anxious and dismissed. I just want to do my job. I’m losing sleep and doing my best to stay positive. You all liking my apple pie makes my heart sing. Thanks for bringing a smile to my face!

Apple pie complete. First time making one. I hope it tastes good!

I’m making an apple pie. Look at the brown sugar and butter ooze. It’s mesmerizing.

The fall season so far. Fresh apples: 5 stars, Fresh cider: 5 stars, Crisp weather: 5 stars, Never ending furlough hell scape with zero pay, a deep dislike for minorities, and the threat of millions not being fed: 0 stars - would not recommend.

MIL ran a red light. Totaled two cars. Zero injuries. I was expecting anger and rage when I arrived. It was nothing but kindness, grace, understanding, forgiveness, and empathy. The internet has programmed me to expect hostility. Life greeted me with humanity. I shall return it 10 fold.

An unexpected surprise to being furloughed. Since I’m not buying a breakfast burrito everyday at the office, I used all the money I’ve saved to buy mulch for the front of the house. Our landscaping looks nice again!

This furlough thing is starting again to feel like the covid days. Lots of baking. Today I made two apple cobblers with crumble topping. Picked up the apples while enjoying the Shenandoah Skyline Drive this past Sunday.

Despite not getting a paycheck today, I did walk around my neighbor and pick-up trash. It was nice to feel productive again.

Oh goodie. No paycheck today. Oof.

You all liked the French Bread I made earlier in the week… So I now present the Cinnamon Raisin Walnut Bread I made today. Omg. Toasted with a smidge of melted butter. Heaven!

Achievement Unlocked: Group 7

I’ve entered the next phase of my furlough time. Making bread in the bread machine. This is a 2lb loaf of French Bread.

Just watched Tron Ares. Such a good fun. Tons of fun. Honors the previous two movies. Awesome music. I want to watch it again.

I forgot that I ordered a subscription of Archie Comics Digest. My first comic just came in the mail. What a nice surprise. Grown ass man with reading glasses reading Archie. lol. It’s such a good comic. Silly. Wholesome. Good humored endless dad jokes. Good stuff.

Since I’ve been home on furlough I’ve come to discover that my dogs spend their days in a heightened state of paranoia. What’s that over there… run. What’s that sound… run. What’s that smell… run. All day. Absolutely zero chill. Omg. Just friggin’ sit down.

Good news. I can still count bridges, bicycles, and buses. I’m not a robot.

In a shocking turn of events, I ate too much last night at the Korean BBQ joint down the street. Feeling sooooooo full.

I got to write a letter of recommendation for a young lady heading off to college. I got a bit misty. What an honor it is to love on a person and recommend them for college. Some real joy during a time where it feels so scarce.

A partial paycheck sucks. An empty paycheck sucks more. Not enjoying this ride. I’d like off now please.

For those of you interested. Here is my wife making the “fake” vomit for her high school biology students to test. This vomit needs to have sugars, starches, and no proteins. We giggled the whole time making this slop.

Each year my wife runs a lab in her science class where she tells the students someone in the community died and the backed-up county needs help testing the stomach contents to see what the cause of death is. She makes fake vomit. Kids test it for proteins. Kids always think it’s real. Lmao!

Just went to my kids last first string ensemble concert of the his high school career. That kid can play the cello. Very proud.

So much bsky in the news and not for good reasons. I remember a more hopeful time. :(

I was oddly amused by running head first into the reality of getting older. This is my actual expression trying to read the instructions, as well as the instructions I was trying to read. #GettingOld #NeedReadingGlasses

Someone in my house ate all my double stuff Oreo cookies. Monster! Then someone in my house replaced the cookies they ate with a brand new pack of double stuff Oreo cookie. What a sweet angel.

I am trying to watch TV but this stinker won’t stop snoring.

I’m not happy with how much home automation costs. Replacement switches and plugs should not be this expensive. First world problems I know. It still stings the pocket book.

I’m making stuffed peppers tonight for dinner. I used to cut the tops off and put the filling into the pepper. Now I cut the peppers into “nacho chips” and top the peppers off. Family loves it 100 times better. Easier to serve and eat!

I just replaced the shower cartridge in my shower. It was leaking. The replacement part was $57 bucks. That replacement part had no business being $57 bucks. Had to be tariff costs. My god.

If you recognize this then you are my people.

Found two of those invasive Japanese lantern flies mating outside my office. They dead.