Best Of

A belated Happy New Year.

Betrayal, loved the info about the mummers. A fun tradition here at the Fiesta Bowl Parade is the participation of the "play it again, band." People from all over the state sign up and the music is sent ahead. After one afternoon of practice, they go and play the whole route. DH learned to play the trumpet after he retired and participated for several years. It got to be too hard. After all the marching, he had to get back to his car. But the crowds always gave them great support even though they weren't nearly as good as the college bands. There is probably a tee shirt or two sitting somewhere.

We've had both the old and the new shingles shots. I remember how miserable my mother was when she got them.

Carole, can you share more about the "black eyed peas" tradition. We were talking about it just the other day but we are definitely northerners. I know I can look it up on Wikipedia but would appreciate your interpretation.

My folks always made Cornish hens on New Year's Day and DS has continued the tradition but we haven't. We went to the party at our club but left early. The last time we made it to midnight was 2000. Do you remember we unplugged stuff, stored water, and got extra cash?

Rain over New Year's but lovely this weekend. Usually in the high 60's/low 70's when I golf. Now listening to the local newsperson saying more rain and cooler temps by mid-week.

I'm collecting pictures from family members for my Story project. My nephew sent me one of my parents at a beach in a very sexy pose. Loved it! I don't remember ever seeing it.

Have a good week, everyone. Extra hugs for those who are hurting.

Spent the morning working on some new genealogical leads. Yesterday my cousin called to thank me for the card I wrote to him after I found out both of his sisters died in 2025. I was researching the one after her Christmas card was returned to me, and discovered her sister's obituary which listed her as deceased. No one thought to let me know the cousin I had kept in loose touch with had died in February. Her older sister died in December 2025 and I had not heard from her in many years. We spent nearly an hour on the phone and initially, he was very choked up about his sisters deaths as was I. Then we got talking about family memories we shared, given he was the oldest of my cousins, and the sister I was closest to was the youngest. So I explored the leads he provided and spent the day chasing bright, shiny objects. Still, sometimes they reveal new leads, so I don't always consider them a waste of time.

After I quit, I took a quick shower and DH and I went through his dresser drawers culling, discarding and donating excess clothing items. The man has a fixation with socks (I will not list all the categories he has) and we just bought 2-8 packs which he really did not need. He ended up with a drawer he can use for summer shorts, organized socks in just one drawer and his over the door shoe hanger which he uses for yardwork socks (don't ask) is now half empty. We went through outdoor shorts and tee shirts he uses for yard work, summer pj's, and the summer dress shorts mentioned above and rehomed to a drawer. We still have dress summer shirts to sort through, but that was enough for today. He is also donating all the extra plastic hangers we have left over.

The plumber was supposed to come today. He called yesterday and asked if he could some later in the day providing a tentative time. He texted later to let me know the one job was running over, and did I still want him to come? Of course, it was okay for me and he showed after 5 PM. He used his industrial snake and was able to unblock the toilet! Yeah! So now the primary bathroom is available again. His rate was a bit more than I expected, but I willing paid it to have a functional toilet and he cleaned up after himself. He was highly rated on Nextdoor by other users and I have to agree with how professional he was, he was also personable, and had to walk up my driveway (carrying the heavy snake) because I had warned him one section was still icy. He thanked me for the warning and decided not to try to drive his pickup up. He asked if the sink and tub were draining and I told him there was not issue with them. I did give him a thumbs up on Nextdoor as well.

DH has a large box of donation items almost ready to go. He has some socks to wash and then they can go in the box as well. I have a large bag of items from the linen closet that can go as well. I still have the closet in my DD's old room to go through. I think I'll call the Vietnam Vets when we are done because they will pickup at the house. The linen closet looks so good.

I now need to run the vacuum and dust in the rooms we have worked in because they have been somewhat neglected. The guest room was piled in clothes on the bed while the closet was being repaired and then organized. DH had used DD's room as a satellite storage, too. I'll start in the guest room, and once I am done in DD's room, will do that one, too. DH can dust and vacuum his room. We'll start to put the Christmas decorations away after the 6th.

It has been bitter cold, so I have been more or less hibernating. I do have 2 doctor's appointments this week, so I am hoping for some warmer days. It's been gray as well and that's a downer.

I hope everyone had a great day and waving "hi" to everyone.