A New Year--a New Normal

Hello all.  Hope everyone is enjoying a wonderful Christmas and Holiday Season.  While a tad on the chilly side down in the Lone Star State, we're surviving.  (A fire in the fireplace adds a nice touch of the season as well as a spot of warmth).

Well, the day came and went without much fanfare.  The people I care about offered their congratulations which were appreciated.  The people I supported were all concerned with "what are we going to do?".  

"Well, since you never DID anything before, why do you think you'll change?"

And those other folks....didn't say anything at all.  Which is fine by me, I'd have probably said something that would have gotten me fired.  

Even on my last day.

So, Beans, this is for you.

BTW, that's our help request system on the left.  The orange line is an unassigned request that popped up as I was taking the picture.

"Too Late!  Suckah!"

Easing in to the new Normal now.  Christmas helped.  Mrs J and I got the house all ready (Ok,  Mrs J did most of the directing, I did the initial stuff, she went behind me and made what I did right.)

Then we opened a Pre-Christmas present.  A lens kit for the cell phone camera.  (Not sure how good it's going to be.  The Telephoto lens is pretty good, but getting it in position is a bear)

Our next door neighbors are building a new house.  This is from our front porch.  Their house is about 3/4 mile away.  So, not too bad.  Just took about an hour to get the lens attached properly.

Christmas Mass was at 8 AM.  There was no choir or pianist, both were involved with the Midnight Mass and the Children's Mass at 10 AM.  But we did have someone start singing "Joy to the World" just to have some music.  Pretty gutsy as it came out with the cadence of a dirge.  But it was something. 

RTB'd to Rancho Juvat, cooked up a fritatta, coffee and mimosa's and setttled in the living room.  Cranked up Skype on MBD's laptop and dialed Little Juvat and DIL.  After getting some wiring fixed on the Sandbox side of things, we were soon seeing faces and therefore, ready to open gifts.

One of the "traditions" in Casa Juvat, is the election of the present presenter.  Said person has great responsibility to see that presents are distributed in an even fashion and only one is being opened at a time.  Part of the perks of that office is the snappy uniform that must be worn.  SIL rocked the roll this year!

As MBD and SIL are still in the establishing a home stage of their marriage, I had reconnoitered their apartment around Thanksgiving for gift ideas. I decided on this as something useful, that I could create.

A walnut and maple cutting board.  I'd gotten the idea here and modified it somewhat.  I thought it turned out well and most importantly, so did MBD.  So, one in a row for Dad!

Oskar was gracious enough to hold still for a second (only a second) for a picture.

Even the dogs got into the spirit!
After presenting presents and signing off Skype, we started preparing for dinner.  A bit of Prime Rib, Green Chili Mac and Cheese and Roast Butternut Squash with Gorgonzola and Pecans was the menu.  Oh, and Wine also.


The following day we paraded around Main Street, just to see the sights.  Brought along MBD and SIL's rental dog Scout.

They were dog sitting for friends while simultaneously seeing if a dog would be in their near term future.  While two of us are actually hoping Grand Kids come first, it looks like a dog is inevitable.

C'est la vie

Since Mrs J and I had also given them some patio furniture for Christmas, we loaded up the truck with that and the rest of their loot and followed them to their apartment in Moscow on the Colorado.  

Once more we schlepped furniture up the stairs.  (Man!  I thought I was over that requirement.  Apparently not.).  At that point, my sweet, sweet daughter asked if I would mind hanging some racks in her closets, and oh by the way, how about some pictures on the wall?

And maybe some over here?

I was happy to oblige.  Then a little light lunch and we RTB'd

Traffic leaving Moscow on the Colorado was even worse than normal.  Instead of dropping off to normal just west of town, it was pretty well crowded all the way to our town.  Turns out there was a Hot Air Balloon Festival as well as a Polo Tournament scheduled  for Saturday.

Talk about La-De-Dah!  (It got cancelled due to weather)

In any case, I decided we needed to stop in at the winery one of my co-workers (who also walked out with me on the 21st) is now managing.

Nice and quiet, with a very nice Tempranillo.  Just what was needed to round out a pretty good Holiday week.  

Now, back to the new Normal.  My schedule has been a bit of this and that to set things right around the house.  Then a bit of this and that to set things right around the shop.  Did you know that workbenches actually have tops?  Where work can be done?  I'd always thought they were just for tool and other junk storage.

I think I'm going to enjoy things around here. Oh, and maybe fill in a few of the remaining things I haven't yet seen/done from this song

Peace out, ya'll.  Happy New Year.