Checkered Lounge Pants

“And there it was, gone!” was a line we used back in the day, when we had to do rush jobs in the shops. That seems to apply to Xmas 2007. It was a good one though, in spite of not being with family. Lots of Xmas cheer, great turkey dinner (why do people insist on canned cranberries, when the real thing makes the turkey and dressing scream out with festive flavour and blessed tasty delight?) and made my annual Xmas call to my aunt in California. I really must call her more often. Have you ever had an aunt that would smother you in hugs and kisses when you were a kid? That’s my Auntie Mary. Man o man, my brother and me had to spend hours washing off the lipstick smudges when Auntie Mary came to visit. She was going for chemotherapy when I called, but she sounded great. There was always a family debate between my mother and aunt Mary about the Winnipeg winters and the California earthquakes. The day I phoned, she said it was 30 F in Camarillo and it was 35 F in Windsor. Need I say more? T

Hey yall, wassup?? Got all the Xmas shopping done? Good thing about living 1000 miles from home is no one knows the gifts were purchased at the Boxing Day sales. OOOOPs did I say that out loud. Yikes. Not to worry, better valued presents when the après madness prices are ticketed. I am streamlining my Xmas gift list this year. Everyone is past the kid stag e so it’s just the ritual gifts for Moms and Dads this year. My buddy Gar got right in the spirit this year. He teamed up with the Grinch and they Ho Ho Howd right through his workplace in Vancouver. What kind of Xmas is that with no snow (do they have snow in Vancouver????? no eh? just rain, eh?)? Anyhow, had to sign off for a spell and now I am back. We got snow. We got one heckuva dumping of snow. Had to shovel, we got so much snow. Had to follow the neighbour’s SUV trail to get out, we got so much snow. OY, we got snow. Going to plus 9 on the weekend though. Oh well, it looks like a green bloody Xmas, eh? My dad is back at home.

Its snowing its snowing the old man is…. errrr, in the hospital. Pops had to be taken to the hospital earlier this week. Test showed he had water on the lungs and he has to visit with the medical staff until it’s cleared up. I have to be there for work next week so he better up and about so we can hang for a spell. What with, the medical system being what it is, its good to be in the observation unit. I had cause to take my buddy Gar to the emergency in Surrey on a recent visit (not that recent) and we sat in the emergency room for hours…some emergency frequenters go to any lengths to get free dressings and aspirins rather than spend $5 in the pharmacy. Too bad it clogs it up for legitimate medical emergencies. Ohhhh well, the alternative to social medicare is not very appealing either. Nuff on my rambling...get well Pop. Lets get back to the snow. It snowed here last night (see the picture). I got up early to witness the white powder before it melts. Time to get the Xmas tree, now tha