Whether we go for 3 days or 8, the car is just as full. Shouldn't we have half the stuff for half the trip? Why do they cut off breakfast at 10am in these hotels? Didn't they think that some folks might want to sleep in? Especially new year's day? What's the rush...are they getting ready to serve lunch or something? The room sits empty all day. Are they so cheap they're hoarding bad coffee and stale danishes?
In this area of the country, any drive of length will be plagued by a car blocking the left lane sitting right next to another vehicle going the same speed, causing a huge backup of cars forced to go 64 in a 65 speed limit. This car is almost always driven by a woman from South Carolina. When this person finally gets over into the right lane, they invariably speed up 10mph. You get around this person, hit some open road and make some time, then the kids have to go to the bathroom. When you get back on the highway, you end up right behind her again. *sigh*
It was neat in Atlanta to see people setting off their new year's fireworks. Too bad that's illegal in North Carolina. And they call this "the land of the free". Oh well, I guess that they must take away that freedom because they're just petrified with fear that someone might get hurt. In the "home of the brave". Real freedom must include the right to make bad decisions and mistakes. "Those that are willing to trade their freedom for security (safety) deserve neither".
Marne's family has a white elephant gift exchange new year's eve. Everyone brings a gift, good, bad or ugly and we all draw numbers. One can choose to open a gift, or steal one that has already been selected. Great fun and laughs every time, and a good use for those useless Christmas serving platters we all have 5 of already. A new trick is to take a useless or ugly gift and hide money in it. You give away that Santa cookie jar only to find out there was $20 taped under the lid! We ended up with Godiva chocolate and a cool stained glass lantern for our screen porch. A good haul for sure. I feel sorry for the guy who got stuck with the Rudolf entrance mat. Man, was that thing ugly!
My wife Marne, at the big gathering at her Grandparent's house, cooked a huge meal for about 20 people. It was awesome! The place smelled so good all day. It was so good it silenced the crowd...too busy eating to talk. Afterwards, she proceeded to clean up that entire mess until there was no sign that anything took place in the kitchen. She had no help. Oh wait, I helped her dry some dishes. (I would have been more help but I had a sinus headache from the front moving through). I was so very proud of her!
Its good to be home. Time to take down the tree. My 3 year daughter is distraught that we are going to take down our beautiful tree and throw it away. Its kinda become a family friend and it is sad.
Oh well, time to watch the Panthers lose their last game of the season and put all this stuff in the attic for next year.
I'm going somewhere that requires a passport next Christmas.
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