MERRY CHRISTMAS 2010!

(Wauchula, FL -- Hi 75 Lo 47) - We both got up earlier than normal so we'd be ready for the phone calls to come in from the family.  We love hearing from our kids.  My sister and I did a three way call to mom.  Jim and I traded gifts.  Now to understand his gift you have to be a Craig Ferguson fan.  Craig is the host of the Late Late Show on CBS from 12:30 to 1:30am weeknights.  We think he's the funniest guy on TV, and we record his show every night and watch him during our coffee/email time every morning.  One of the props on the show is a rattlesnake mug that he drinks from. It's a very large mug, which he says "compensates" for a certain "insecurity" he has.  (If you watch the show you know what I'm talking about.)  Some time ago Craig happened to mention where the mug came from, so I called the company and ordered one for Jim.

Now ordinarily that would be a really ugly mug.  But since we see it every night on Craig's show, that makes it cool.  :)  Jim really loves it.  He said it will be his "happy hour" drink mug.


As for me, one of my secret longings since I was a kid was to learn to play a harmonica. My Grandfather played one and every time I'd pick it up I'd have to put it down, it wasn't allowed to be "played with."  Another thing Craig Ferguson does on his show is he plays a harmonica, and I've been mentioning that I would like to learn it.  So Jim got me a harmonica for my gift.

I've been playing around with it most of the day.  There's all kinds of resources on line.  I'm already (barely) playing a few tunes.  Jim says it doesn't bother him (so far).  :)  Isn't it interesting how small things bring so much love and happiness at this stage of life?  We don't "need" anything, and there isn't much that we "want" anymore.  We're so glad the days of having to buy so many "toys" are over.


We went to the Christmas dinner at 1:00 in the club house.  It was a potluck and there was a tremendous amount of food on the tables.  We stuffed ourselves. 

After eating we played a couple hours of shuffleboard to work off some of the calories.  The winds really kicked up and clouds started coming in.  The sun was quite warm, but we can tell some cooler weather is on the way.

One secret goal I have now is to learn the harmonica enough to play some Christmas songs at next year's party, no matter where we are. So now I have plenty to do for the beginning of the year.  I'll be practicing, organizing photos, researching and preparing for our Canada trip this summer, and playing computer games.  

I'd like to share this adaptation of a short prayer that you may be familiar with. It was sent to us by a dear friend.

THE SENILITY PRAYER:
Grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway,
the good fortune to run into the ones I do,
and the eyesight to tell the difference.

It's been a wonderful Christmas day here in paradise. We wish all our readers a very merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous new year!