And A Happy New Year.
I walked into our Church’s Christmas party some days back and “The Grinch” started playing on the radio. I asked, “Did you put on that song just for me?” which brought many a smile; sly mischievous smiles.
Even the lack of snow on Christmas, or seeing young ladies wearing white after Labor Day, cannot dampen the Christmas spirit. The lights would certainly look brighter with some snow however. Our home hold a lot of holiday decoration potential.
The cards all went out on time. Though we received far fewer cards this year than last I have no interest in worrying over stolen mail trucks, lost cards and packages, local thievery or vandalism, all which seem to be on the rise. This is Christmas.
I was Christmas shopping with my wife and asked “Should I use the fifty dollar bill I have or small bills?” as we walked up to the register. Her answer was indistinguishable.
“Are you going to pay, or should I pay?” she asked a few moments later.
The shopping is over. Now we can enjoy the rest of the Christmas season, I hope.
The Container Store had a variety of stocking stuffers on sale. I have to imagine their sales boom after the Christmas holiday. They sell bicycle hangers, as I mentioned before, if you need to store your bicycle for the Winter.
The Fat Bike Alpha Trail riders are encouraging, through Facebook, other Fat Bike riders to get out and ride to groom the trails. Yes the ground is covered and beginning to freeze. If Fat Bike is something you enjoy it is time to get out and support the cause. There is a race this Saturday. Otherwise there is the entrepreneurial success known as Ray’s to celebrate with.
Click here for editor picks for the best bikes in 2015, or if you are the type to build or upgrade your own bike click here for the best components of 2015. Here is a review of some bike shoes and a frame bag. There is still time to take a survey for an entry in a bicycle give away.
Are you ready? …Are you ready. It’s time. The Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival registration begins January 1st, and if you don’t act fast you’ll be passed over. The allure of the event comes from its foundational position on the mountain bike scene. This will be its 34th year. That, and the fact that it is in a remote area of the state that has avoided over development.
As I shopped a few days before Christmas in peace, by myself, the lines at the checkouts were long. It was far from shoulder to shoulder in the aisles as one shopped however. Will the malls ever be as packed with frantically merry shoppers panicking over last minute Christmas gifts as in times past? Does one blame the economy, or is it the Internet?
The major retailers were happy to wish me a Merry Christmas. This is the Midwest. The Post Office was another matter. I never felt such a sense of fear and/or disdain from another over Merry Christmases as I did from those working at the Post Office this year. It was as if they were saying, “Why are you doing this to me?”
Misao and I went to see “The Nutcracker” Sunday. We received the tickets as a gift. It lifted our spirits to enjoy a bit of extravagance in our life. The objective of the ballet performance was crystal clear to me; mice in the house need to be killed. Yes children, they may look cute and seeing a dead creature may be distressing but it is a necessary reality. Don’t disparage your parents for killing mice. As soon as there are enough mice to choose a monarch all could be lost. A message conveyed in Victorian militarist ideal and splendor. It is like those old stories of trolls and bridges, all to teach the children; “Don’t talk to those strange people living under the bridge.” It is for insights such as these that you read.
Finally we have snow. Misao almost made it home in the storm. She got the car stuck good, down at the end of our alley. She called and had me trod out to help. I rocked the car out, with the help of a neighbor, came back around the block and backed the car down the alley from the other end. Yes, the city did a lousy job cleaning up the snow. In-laws, via a younger brother, were in town (they left this morning) and were disappointed that it looked like they would not have the opportunity to see snow. They are from Brazil. The blessings of the Christ Child come in many forms. They got their snow and I hope it didn’t effect any of their return flights.
$360 for two new tires as I found a flat when we were preparing for our holiday sales December 23rd. A cut in one tire and a nail right at the edge of tread on the other; both needed to be replaced. The days around Christmas are very hard to judge as far as sales potential. I don not think we lost out much sales wise.
Snow tires? I wish I could afford them this year, but my dad has complete confidence in the modern all season tire and he should know. He learned to drive when everyone had snow tires, some with steel studs, and when one was still allowed to put chains on their tires in the city.
I was going to buy Misao a new washing machine but now with the cost of the new tires she says, better not. However, if I were to believe the e-mails Sears is sending me they are almost giving appliances away right now.
This is not the first time, in the many years we have lived here, that our car has had problems right on a big sales day. We celebrate Christmas unfazed. It is of no consequence in light of what others have suffered, and it makes the wonder of His birth all that more significant.
I had to call AAA for the tire change because the Ford Fusion has lug nuts that do not hold their form and go round and round in the manufacturer provided wrench gizmo. The ratchet set was no help either. I have several problems with the design of the Ford Fusion which I may innumerate on in the future. As I was attempting to change my flat the night before our neighbor was struggling with his truck, which wouldn’t start.
But no Grinch will be stealing our Christmas. Leaving our house this morning on a spare and a low tire I passed a slew of cars in the neighborhood also with low tires. Firestone was unexpectedly busy Christmas Eve morn when I brought the car in the next day. The man who arrived just after myself also had a low tire he needed repaired quickly, in order to keep to his travel plans. Colder temperatures; it’s the time of year to check your tire pressure. Even colder temperatures will keep tiny vandals off the streets.
Many demand our police officers wear body cameras. I say mechanics need to wear body cameras. I am completely confident that I will receive proper and reliable service for tires from any major tire retailer. But I do not care where you go. When it comes to other auto repairs, beware; especially you women.
Misao was happy with my gifts to her. We heated up a Honey Baked Ham on Christmas and went over to my parent’s home to share. Then it was to my brothers to spend some time with more family. My parents didn’t feel like leaving their home any over the holiday.
The dog received nothing this year and I think he has taken note. Perhaps it will be wise to sleep with one eye open for a while.
“The diet?” you wonder. Your concern moves me. The diet has suffered over the holidays. My initial twelve pound loss on the Bulletproof Diet is well preserved but I have retreated drastically from my under 250lb race weight goal. I thought I was losing a bit of weight but it was only improved muscle tone I had been observing. I am not sure if that comes from more walking, reflecting the demands of shopping, or the new health drink we are consuming known as kombucha. I will have a long post on our kombucha adventure in the New Year.
The $127 question: What were my three most favorite WORS races? Keeping the same question. Check out the Charity Jackpot Page link in the sidebar to possibly triple the amount.
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