Where in the World Isn't Bob Saget?

[Wrangler-Rick]

I hope you all make it through snowmegeddon! We’re looking at 6-11” here, starting in a couple hours...

 

[Figgy1]

I hope you all make it through snowmegeddon! We’re looking at 6-11” here, starting in a couple hours...

Good luck to all of you getting the white carp

 

[donaldtoo]

So, yesterday we finally had our last Christmas celebration. It was the only time we could coordinate it with both of Carolyn’s brothers (unfortunately, her younger sis’ has chemical abuse and mental health issues, and has been out of our lives for decades - there’s only so much crap you can take, especially after doing your level best to try and help).

We had it at our home, and the first 3 pics below are before anyone had shown up…

The dining room table, and yes, that’s Columbo on the TV and I do play those guitars, and the extra table we set up with Matthew lounging on the couch…!!!!!



A couple of general pics after both BILs, one with his wife (the other SisIL was sick), and our niece had shown up…!!!



Some pics after everyone else had shown up…!!!!!



Then, food pics, including my plate of half a vegan enchilada, a cheese enchilada (and I mean seriously extra cheesy, as MIL always made ‘em that way ), a chicken enchilada, black beans, rice and a baby spinach salad with sliced strawberries, blueberries, and balsamic vinaigrette (only things missing are a coupla’ chicken tamales, and a small bowl of Carolyn’s awesome chicken enchilada soup, that I had sampled earlier)…!!!!!

 

[Figgy1]

UGGG!!!!!!!!!! Holiday overload. It's just past Christmas and New Year, tomorrow is Ephinany, and the stores and ads are all Valentine's Day Is a 2 week break too much to ask for? Spoken as somebody who already has gifts put aside, including some for next Christmas

 

[donaldtoo]

Some of Carolyn’s nutcrackers and nutcracker ornaments collection, and we had built a roaring fire…in the TV…!!!



Then, it was white elephant gift time…I ended up with a “Nessie” ladle and a soup cookbook…!!!!!



Then, it was time for some dessert…
Store bought cookies, homemade apple pie, and some ooey gooey vegan brownie stuff that Megan made…!!!!!

 

[MinnieM123]

UGGG!!!!!!!!!! Holiday overload. It's just past Christmas and New Year, tomorrow is Ephinany, and the stores and ads are all Valentine's Day Is a 2 week break too much to ask for? Spoken as somebody who already has gifts put aside, including some for next Christmas

Yah, it's really way too much advertising overload. (Now, as for your early 2025 Christmas shopping affliction . . . )

 

[MinnieM123]

Some of Carolyn’s nutcrackers and nutcracker ornaments collection, and we had built a roaring fire…in the TV…!!!

Always liked nutcrackers -- I have one from Germany. As for Carolyn's collection, I counted 15 nutcrackers -- did you say there's more than that?!

 

[donaldtoo]

After dessert, it was game time…!!!

First up was the game in the lower box…such crazy-silly fun, and we all laughed and laughed…especially because of the dental pieces involved that made everybody pretty unintelligible…!!!!!



Then, there was another game called Hues and Cues, which was also a lot of fun…it was all about subtle color differences…!!!



Emmy and Audrey playing Reindeer Rings, and I couldn’t leave out a pic of our “Fence Grinch”, as Audrey loves the Grinch…she loves how at the end his heart grows 3 sizes…a bit of a redemption story, methinks…!!!!!



And, that’s it Holiday-wise, for this season…I’m a very lucky man, and I hope this is the beginning of a great year for all…!!!!!

 

[donaldtoo]

Always liked nutcrackers -- I have one from Germany. As for Carolyn's collection, I counted 15 nutcrackers -- did you say there's more than that?!

Yes, there are more that I didn’t get a pic of, for some reason, but she’s already put them away.
Her father was in the Air Force way back in the day, and when they were stationed in Germany she got into them…!!!

 

[donaldtoo]

Still decent weather here today, but y’all can see we’re headin’ down to 28F overnight…I’m lookin’ at you @MinnieM123 …!!!!!

 

[donaldtoo]

Happy 92nd to your Pop! May he be blessed with continued good health.

Thank you so very much, Jennifer…!!!
So far, so good…he’s actually still very mobile and mentally sound, although his hearing is a bit shot from using power tools over the years without ear protection…it’s actually kinda’ funny the way he plays it up sometimes…!!!!!

 

[donaldtoo]

That reminds me of parking in The Bronx in The Winter.

It was ruthless. You'd only leave your shoveled-out spot if it was a matter of life or death, because as soon as you pulled away, someone would take it and squat there until the weekend. That's assuming of course that the snowplow hadn't buried your car.

Where we used to live in The Bronx, there was only street parking. We've never had reserved parking. Even here in the suburbs. Anyone can park in front of our house (if they want to deal.with my hubby cursing them.from behind the curtains ) but at least we have a two-car driveway (and garage)

Fortunately, we can park 4 cars in our driveway (25’ front yard setback, with a 10’ easement to the curb) because our 2-car garage is full of other “stuff”…!!!!!

 

[donaldtoo]

Thanks for sharing some great 92nd birthday, and New Year's, celebration photos. As usual, I'm salivating over the immense food spread you all put out!

A few other highlights (and there were more than a few) -- seeing how nice your parents' new home looks. (They've come a long way, since the fire a few years ago.) Also, I really liked the photo of your son sitting next to your dad -- togetherness!)

Thank you, Minnie…!!!
Fortunately, we don’t eat like that nearly all year long…!!!!!

Yes, the fire was a nightmare in so many ways, but, fortunately, so much was able to be salvaged, as it wasn’t a total loss.
I’ll never forget Carolyn calling me at the office, and telling me she got a call from the neighbor lady behind them one house over (Matthew’s best friends mom) that my folks house was on fire and she couldn’t get ahold of them.
Needless to say, I ran out with our office manager telling me to go and she’d take care of my time, logging out my computer, etc.
I got on the main highway and could see the smoke from almost 15 miles away. I was beyond freaking out. I finally got a call from my mother about 5 mins. later, and Mom and Pop were OK.
They had gotten out on their own, but Mom, weeping, and because of all the smoke as the firefighters were putting the fire out masking the house, thought that it was all gone. Thankfully, that was not the case.
The forthcoming rebuilding, right after Covid struck, made it way worse. So many delays, the company (Paul Davis) flat out sucked. I don’t care what their reviews are, they just plain sucked.
Flippin’ morons. So bad that we almost filed a lawsuit. Ultimately, Mom and Pop got back in the house a little over a year later, and that’s all they cared about, so no lawsuit was filed…and we honored that wish because we love them so much.

Anyway, yes, Mom and Pop are very much well-loved by all…friends, fellow parishioners, neighbors, and especially family.
They have a special bond with Matthew, after all these years, because of how he came into the world at 1lb. 4oz. way back in 1992, and they prayed like crazy for him.
Life is a very crazy thing too much of the time, sometimes , but we try to keep it in perspective…!!!

 

[donaldtoo]

As I was leaving for work this morning, the snow plow operator was in the lot. We exchanged good mornings, but when he saw what car I got into, he came over and got confrontational. Told me I was being relocated from my spot because that’s where he traditionally dumps the snow, and then told me what my new spot was going to be. (FYI - I already rejected that other spot, which is how I got this one!)

I don’t know this guy from Adam, so I said I’d speak to the Superintendent. He said I could speak to whomever I wanted, but if I’m in this spot when he comes back, he’s going to bury my car.

I told him I pay for this spot, in addition to the other spot that he’d already completely plowed in. He got really aggressive. I asked him nicely (the first time) to not yell at me. The second time, not so nicely. Dude, you don’t scare me.

When I got home, I was prepared to play nice and move into the new spot beside Mike’s spot, only to find that those two spots were still completely plowed in, and mine was clear.

I parked in my old spot, and called the Super as soon as I got in. Bahaha, nothing got plowed because Dude’s bucket broke, and the new part won’t be in until Monday. Can you say, Karma?!?

He’s out of commission for what will be two of the busiest days of the winter … all because he hollered at a middle aged woman for no reason.

I’ve escalated this to building management because I’m sick of them playing games. It’s a new owner, and they’re so far behind on capital improvements that some areas are bordering on dangerous.

Like these back steps for instance.
View attachment 834609View attachment 834610View attachment 834611View attachment 834612

You shoulda’ told him to go plow himself…
Seriously though, be careful with, potential, wackos like him.
I wonder what this clown does during his “off” season (although, it sounds like he’s probably “off” every season )…?!
And, as far as building management goes, WTH…?!?!?!

The snow plow guy reminded me of Chris Elliot’s psycho character from the movie “Snow Day”…!!!

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Some of Carolyn’s nutcrackers and nutcracker ornaments collection, and we had built a roaring fire…in the TV…!!!

View attachment 834688View attachment 834689

Then, it was white elephant gift time…I ended up with a “Nessie” ladle and a soup cookbook…!!!!!

View attachment 834691View attachment 834692

Then, it was time for some dessert…
Store bought cookies, homemade apple pie, and some ooey gooey vegan brownie stuff that Megan made…!!!!!

View attachment 834705View attachment 834706View attachment 834707

Love the nutcrackers! I have quite the collection myself. And that brownie thing looks really good.

 

[JenniferS]

Thank you, Minnie…!!!
Fortunately, we don’t eat like that nearly all year long…!!!!!

Yes, the fire was a nightmare in so many ways, but, fortunately, so much was able to be salvaged, as it wasn’t a total loss.
I’ll never forget Carolyn calling me at the office, and telling me she got a call from the neighbor lady behind them one house over (Matthew’s best friends mom) that my folks house was on fire and she couldn’t get ahold of them.
Needless to say, I ran out with our office manager telling me to go and she’d take care of my time, logging out my computer, etc.
I got on the main highway and could see the smoke from almost 15 miles away. I was beyond freaking out. I finally got a call from my mother about 5 mins. later, and Mom and Pop were OK.
They had gotten out on their own, but Mom, weeping, and because of all the smoke as the firefighters were putting the fire out masking the house, thought that it was all gone. Thankfully, that was not the case.
The forthcoming rebuilding, right after Covid struck, made it way worse. So many delays, the company (Paul Davis) flat out sucked. I don’t care what their reviews are, they just plain sucked.
Flippin’ morons. So bad that we almost filed a lawsuit. Ultimately, Mom and Pop got back in the house a little over a year later, and that’s all they cared about, so no lawsuit was filed…and we honored that wish because we love them so much.

Anyway, yes, Mom and Pop are very much well-loved by all…friends, fellow parishioners, neighbors, and especially family.
They have a special bond with Matthew, after all these years, because of how he came into the world at 1lb. 4oz. way back in 1992, and they prayed like crazy for him.
Life is a very crazy thing too much of the time, sometimes , but we try to keep it in perspective…!!!

So many emojis I could have chosen. I went with sad because that’s what I felt first.

 

[JenniferS]

 

[donaldtoo]

Love the nutcrackers! I have quite the collection myself. And that brownie thing looks really good.

Awesome about the nutcrackers…!!!
The brownie thing was actually very good, and although Megan wasn’t very happy about how it turned out, everybody loved it, and there were no leftovers…!!!!!

 

[donaldtoo]

So many emojis I could have chosen. I went with sad because that’s what I felt first.

No worries, as it was a crazy time.
My folks have been in that home since we moved back to Texas in August of 1976.
As I posted, it definitely wasn’t a total loss, but it was definitely a big mess, especially with all the water damage, but we all powered through it as the silly, loving family that we are…!!!

 

[donaldtoo]

I had a bowl of Carolyn’s AWESOME chicken enchilada soup for din-din earlier tonight, and, as per usual, it’s even better the next day…!!!!!!!