ANOTHER YEAR OVER, A NEW ONE JUST BEGUN!

Post Christmas and pre-new year is probably the strangest time of year.  Everyone is still quite animated from the festivities, but the build up is over, and it is as if everyone is hanging in abeyance.  

I waited for the sun to come out on Sunday, but it did not.  I got out the jigsaw puzzle that I had started and continued to work on the frame. I was quite happy.  I was back in my childhood bedroom, sitting on the floor, working on a puzzle that was 'difficult' for my age.  I had separated all the side pieces and was putting them together.  Dana kept taking a 'middle' piece out of the box, and asking, "Do you need this piece?"  I do not play well with others when doing a jigsaw.  It is 'mine'.  I kept thanking him very much and we told him I would put the piece back in the box for safe keeping. It made us laugh!

Watching the remake of 'The Railway Children' was a delightful end to a very long weekend. It was a 'delightful' film then, and just as much a 'delightful' film now.  Christmas was over for another year!

Our office building was only half occupied on Monday, but there were several workmen refurbishing a couple of rooms.  It was very warm, and I was wearing a summer dress.  It felt funny to wear summer clothes in 'abeyance week' but the temperatures were hitting 'record' each day.  Everyone swapped stories of their festive day, and then we set about getting to work.  As expected, it was fairly quiet, with a few 'emergencies'. 

"New Castle", I shouted into the other room. "Two words, not one". There was silence.  A paper had been delivered in Wilmington, Delaware, and Grant was giving Dana the information to fill out an affidavit.  Dana had asked "What county is that? Did they say?" I had shouted the answer.  Grant was looking perplexed. "How do you know?" he asked.  Dana was checking it out on his computer. He did not say anything.  I responded that Newcastle, one word, is a city, in fact, one of the largest cities, in England.  A blank stare was received. The question had not been answered.  I continued that during the time when we had several papers to serve in an asbestos case, several went to Wilmington in Delaware and I was quite chuffed to find out that the county in which Wilmington lies, was given that of an English city!  It had stuck.  Dana still did not respond.  Grant was impressed. I walked into the back room.  "Come on.  That was impressive, was it not?" I asked my husband.  He smiled his "Yes, but I am not going to answer", smile, and I went back to my desk, whispering, "Yes!" It is always amusing to me when I know something a native does not!

The week continued at a slow pace.  Usual Yuletide and New Year felicitations were being cast at anyone within earshot.  It felt like the slowest week of the year.  Despite the 'rules' for the Christmas trees decorated along the road being that you must clear away all items on the 'twelfth day', the 'recyclers' are usually around immediately after New Years Day. As New Year was on Saturday, and Friday was a holiday for most offices, we wondered if the local 'decoration recyclers' would be doing their rounds early this year. The local paper had published an article two weeks before Christmas, suggesting that 'litterers' had once again been 'defacing' the trees along the highway, and that the poor unsuspecting leylandii were being strewn with all kinds of refuse and debris, making the highway look as if it was from a war torn area.  They were, in fact, referring to those of us who still decorate, (lovingly and carefully) the fir trees that line the freeway, and give cheer to those who pass by.  We know that we give cheer to those that pass by, from the hoots, hollers and whistles received whilst decorating such trees.  The Austin tradition was received with joy, until about four years ago, when someone decided this was 'inappropriate' and possibly 'offensive'.  However, obviously, the tradition was still being upheld, by the 'irresponsible, offensive litterers'.  We decided to go and retrieve our 'offensive litter' on Thursday at lunchtime.  

It appears we were not the only people to have had the thought that our trees would be undressed early. A young lad had parked his truck next to our trees, and was carefully unwrapping the bunting that he had presumably left abandoned on a pretty, lone fir.  He was meticulously removing the baubles and replacing them in what seemed like the original packing tube, and then attentively rolling up the yards of red ribbon, before placing them in a box.  Although carefully removing the tinsel and other decorative objects so as not to damage the shrubs, we were discarding them with reckless abandon into the box we had brought with us.  He was still labourously unwrapping his one tree, as we finished throwing the last particles from our seventh, and after tossing the box into the back of the truck, we left for the office!  We had visions of next week's newspaper headlines reading, "Killjoys removing the joy of Christmas early, offending the city's residents and dampening the New Year celebrations!"  We will see!  

The young chap's method was to be applauded later, as I had to sort and divide the decorations, which were put away for another year.  The simple task of being diligent with the removal at the site, would have saved twenty minutes of untangling!  However, you live and learn.  I would imagine the newspaper article would read, "Poetic Justice!" for both the littering and the mood destroyer!

A later walk on Friday was followed by a trip to the store.  I had not planned to stay out long, but I did!  Heading for Walmart, I stopped at a shop where I found exactly what I needed for my 'half bath' and then to the Dollar Tree. I was in and out in no time at all!  However, Walmart was a different story. As I walked in, there were no trolleys to be found.  I searched the car park, and eventually found one.  In I went again and saw some Christmas items on sale.  Although I did not need 'decorations', there were some decorative bits and pieces that would just set off my 'spring' look for my living room.  Samantha called me while I was hovering, and as I chatted to her, I walked around the stand.  I walked back to my trolley but it was not there. I could not see it anywhere. "Someone has knicked my trolley", I said, wondering where it had gone.  I then spotted the things that I had collected, strewn on a shelf, and two ladies (although ladies is being rather polite) with trolleys, one of which studying one of my 'picks'. "She knicked my trolley!" I said to my daughter.  At that, the lady (hmm) turned around, and said, "Oh, do you want this?" placing my 'pick' on the shelf.  "Yes", I said, abruptly, "And my trolley".  She ignored me and sauntered off.  I was left with a handful of items and nowhere to put them.  Out I went again and found another cart!  Once back inside I held on to the trolley with one hand, not letting go!  I saw my friend, Tony, and we chatted for a while, then I went to check out.  The queues were the longest I have seen. It appeared that the store was going to be open on Saturday, but perhaps the memo had not yet been circulated!  In fact, it looked like people thought it was never going to open again!  The reason suddenly became apparent.  Their 'scan and go' sections, which has quite a few 'scanners' were both out of action, and a single cashier was having to do the work of about thirty machines.  

Eventually, I was on my way again.  I arrived at Costco which was also very busy.  Costco were shut on Saturday.  I wandered around and everyone appeared to be in a very happy mood.  No doubt, they had not heard about the 'grinches' taking down the decorations!  "Would you mind if I just ring up this lady?"  I was asked by the cashier. Did he mean make a phone call?  I was a little perplexed at the question.  I then saw a woman with a cart, standing at the end of the desk.  It appeared they had not checked out all her items.  I was gracious and said it would be okay to do so.  I received an abundance of gratitude from both the cashier and female shopper. She thanked me profusely, several times, and I just wished her a happy new year. Everyone was so happy!

I ventured to Hobby Lobby, where I purchased a crock pot that I did not need, but it was 75% off normal price, and I thought it could be left at the office.  I could not leave it on the shelf!  I had decided to go to the shop as I do not often get the chance, and did not get anything that I was looking for, but a lot of what I didn't need!  However, it will all be useful, and it was not all for me!

I came home and found Dana watching television.  It was good to see him relaxing on a weekday!  I set about doing some more of my puzzle and he 'helped' again!

We did not have plans for New Years Eve, and that was by design. I was happy to leave that to the youngsters!  My friend, Cathleen, had called to say a delivery had been made to her condo, and she was out, so could I take it in.  She would retrieve it when she got home, or the following day, if she was late.  She got home around 8:30, and came in for a New Year's celebratory cup of tea.  However, she left at 10:30 and we went to bed!  I was asleep before midnight.

My walk on New Year's Day was very lonely.  No one was out, not even a dog walker!  I saw another neighbour upon my return.  It was very warm and she was sitting on her porch.  "Oh I did stay up until midnight, just 'because'." she said.  I told her that I had always found it to be a bit of a disappointment.  It happened and then it was over. There were a couple of years that were outstanding, but now I am happy to sleep through it!  I would rather wait up when the clocks go forward and see it jump from 1:59 to 3:00!  Or 1:59 to 1:00. Paige found that rather amusing and said she would try it!

I sat by the pool on Saturday afternoon, and read for a couple of hours.  It was glorious.  The temperature was 81 at its height. I then returned and covered up all my plants, as it was going to get cold.

Sunday morning was not freezing.  It was well below freezing.  On the Celsius scale it was -3, and 26, according to my phone, on the Fahrenheit scale. The wind was howling, and apparently made it feel like 14!  It was like New Year's Day all over again!  No one was out! I was not surprised.  I returned home and checked my plants, all of which seemed to be protected.  Thankfully the babies in the greenhouse were nice and warm!

It is going to be fairly chilly next week, and I am actually looking forward to it!  The summer dresses have had their extended wear, and the winter frocks are looking forward to coming out of hibernation! (Contradiction in terms, I think!)  

Happy New Year to one and all, and I hope that 2022 is both happy and healthy, and prosperous.  I shall continue, no doubt, to report on my life's events, and to those that read, thank you for supporting my whim!  All that is left for me to say today is, look forward to seeing you in .......... another story!