Saturday, December 22, 2018

Christmas Break

(Source)
So yesterday I spent some time listening to sitar music, specifically this collection -



It's hard to be mad or frustrated when listening to the sitar, at least for me it is.

There is far too much negativity in the world, something I find distressing at times. Both "sides" are guilty of it, after all, they want you to be outraged/angered/upset/offended along with them. Not buying it, nope, check your nonsense at the door, grab your favorite beverage, put on your favorite tunes and relax. It all ends soon enough.

Been thinking about my buddy Buck lately, gone four years ago this month. There were a couple of recent posts over at his place, one from his son Sam, another from his granddaughter Angelina. Both shared some good memories of one of my favorite people that I've met on this long journey to whatever comes after. Man, I miss that dude, a lot. But I feel it in my bones that I'll meet up with him someday, in the great whatever.

Yesterday was windy and rainy. A typical fall/winter day on the Atlantic coast in the Northeastern U.S. of A. It was also the first day of winter and the first day of my employer's winter break. I'm taking a few vacation days at the beginning of the New Year so that I will be enjoying seventeen days off. Gonna do a little traveling, gonna do a little drumming, probably do a little dining and drinking as well. Not that we don't do that every day, but when it's with folks you haven't seen in a while, it's a bit special.

I'll see the nation's capital as well, a place a lot of people don't like. I like it there, sure there are politicians and bureaucrats there but I won't be hanging out with them. I'll see the sights and be with family. It'll be a good time.

Blogging might be light, it might not be. I reserve the right to goof off over the next two weeks. No doubt I'll post more than I planned to, probably less than I'd like to. I also get to spend time with the The Nuke and my granddogs, haven't seen them in a year and I do miss them.

If I forget to mention it between now and whenever - I love doing this blogging thing, I love the folks who contribute here - whether it's a post or a comment - and heck, I even love you silent lurkers. Some folks who used to visit don't anymore, I often wonder why, I miss them.

I truly pray that you all have peace and love this holiday season. Maybe you'll find Nirvana?



Yup, if given the opportunity to pun, I take it. (Can "pun" be used as a verb?)

See you around!



30 comments:

  1. Seventeen days straight is a very good run, enjoy the visits with loved ones Sarge. One year at work I took three weeks off during Christmas time and it was a little difficult to come back to the work routine! Remember this is a practice run for retirement, eh?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, returning will be a chore. But now that retirement is in sight, it should be easier.

      Delete
  2. Enjoy your time off work and being with family. An early Marry Christmas to you and all who gather here. D.C. does indeed have things and places worth visiting.

    Thanks for the post.
    Paul L. Quandt

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  3. Happy Christmas! Write down your passwords for work. Two weeks is as long as I can remember them. I took two weeks off for our anniversary last year, and then had 3 days of bereavement tacked on. I had to reset everything....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have a very effective system for passwords. Haven't forgotten one in 30 years.

      But yeah, that can be an issue. Mine were up for change soon, changed 'em a couple of weeks ago so that the muscle memory would be updated. Should be okay. OTOH, the IT folks can reset them in seconds. So...

      Have a good one STxAR!

      Delete
  4. I’m pretty sure that social media asists a great deal with bringing forth negativity.
    I probably notice it a lot because it seems like everyone has to take a shot at California.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're right, I take everything there with a metric butt ton of salt. (A term The Nuke introduced me to.)

      There are parts of California (most of it actually) where the people are no different than anywhere else, it's just that the loons get all the press. And yes, they're also running the state which is bad news for most of the state's non-lunatic areas.

      Delete
  5. Enjoy your time off, good luck in DC and Merry Christmas!

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    1. Thanks Rob, right back atcha. Well, except for the DC part, unless you're visiting DC. In that case, shoot me an email.

      😉

      Delete
  6. Enjoy your holidays! Take pictures to share with us! Rest, relax and make good memories.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The camera is coming along, rest assured.

      Enjoy the holidays Mary. May you get to spend quality time with friends and family!

      Delete
  7. I believe Nirvana is where I already am, that’s how un-negative I am��. Even my blood is O Positive ��

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, you do live in a place of which William Blake had this to say -

      And did those feet in ancient time,
      Walk upon Englands mountains green:
      And was the holy Lamb of God,
      On Englands pleasant pastures seen!


      And Blake left out the apostrophes, not I.

      Happy Christmas HD!

      Delete
  8. Yes, 'pun' can be a verb. I pun, you pun, he/she puns, we pun, you(pl) pun, they pun. Verb conjugation, it's a grammarian's punishment to little children.

    Enjoy the vacation/mini-retirement, as it is kinda a preview of a year or so from now.

    And keep your eye on the road.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aha! I knew it!

      I'm flying down, with a window seat so I can see what's what from 32,000 feet or so. I will be chauffeured during the visit to Northern VA and southern MD, so I really will be on vacation.

      Thanks Beans.

      Delete
  9. So, it's "Talk amongst ourselves" for a while.
    We'll be here when/if you post again.
    Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all.
    John Blackshoe

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What?!?! You don't like avoiding each others' eyes and awkward silences? Very well, please talk quietly amongst yourselves, replenish the liquor cabinet when you're done (provided Virgil remembers to bring the key back) and all y'all have a Merry Christmas. I'll be keeping my good eye on the place, if there are any shenanigans, like Nelson I'll turn a blind eye to that.

      Cheers, and thanks John.

      Delete
  10. Have you been to Udvar Hazy? And if not, is it on the list for this trip?

    Battlefield visits perhaps?

    Enjoy your time off, have a safe trip, and a Merry Christmas.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Been there twice, love it.

      This trip is all about family, nothing more, nothing less. But who knows? Might be some side trips along the way.

      Delete
  11. Oooo, DC!! There are some very awesome museums there, only a few that I have gotten to see. The only 2 times I was in DC was for my diabetes educators conference, and as work was paying half, I felt obligated to go to the workshops, and generally learn new stuff. Although a good friend and I did play hooky on Friday afternoon and took the subway out to the zoo. Also saw some of the Natural History Museum as one of the major insulin manufacturers' did dinner there one evening. One less dinner I had to buy.
    I would like to go back some day, just to see more of what I missed.

    Anyways, Christmas is supposed to be about family, and being together, and being grateful for what you have. So, go. Enjoy! Take pics so you can share some of the fun with us. Enjoy your 17 days of low stress, and get in lots of puppy pats and lovin'. That should help your eyeballs heal up faster-er.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Suz, I'm anticipating a good trip.

      Keep the lads in line while I'm gone, won't you?

      😂

      Delete
  12. Enjoy your time with family and friends!
    In case you got a little too mellow with the sitar music here is some non-Mongol throat singing to raise your energy levels. I just stumbled onto this "Heilung" group somehow this very evening. I swear I'm not weirdly fixated (or even non-weirdly fixated) on throat singing. But the Heilung video is pretty amazing.

    And a Merry Christmas to all!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wy-W-pYlds

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  13. Is this where we sing the Song of Departure?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah, I see you've been paying attention all these years, this is the perfect time for that tune!

      Delete
  14. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9HFF9gnlY3c

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Just be polite... that's all I ask. (For Buck)
Can't be nice, go somewhere else...

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