I had taken yesterday off because Andrew’s MRI was originally scheduled that day. When they moved it up to last week, I decided to keep the Monday night off. Sam was off, too, so we decided we’d make sure to get a night out.
Originally, Sam’s mom and dad said they’d watch the kids while we were out at dinner. They them said they kids could spend the night, which we were totally cool with! We can always use some “us” time!
Sam worked Sunday night, so she came home and slept a bit. When she got up, we got the kids ready and drove up to Cabela’s so they could see Santa. This is the third year we’ve done it and it’s a whole lot less stressful than waiting in line at a mall. It’s in and out for the most part.
Ella walked right up to him! Andrew was a bit more stand offish. He wouldn’t sit on Santa’s lap, but we got a cool picture anyway.
We finally got our Christmas Cards. Lack of stamps allowed some to go out and the rest will go out this week. LOL. We sent out a lot less than we have in the past. So from my house to yours – Merry Christmas and Happy 2024!
With each book I read by Fredrik Backman, the more I like him. I just finished A Man Called Ove, and it was so good.
I kind of held off on reading this one because I heard people say how sad it was. Were there some sad parts, yes, but life is not always happy. We all go through sad times. This book was that way. Much like the other Backman books I read, I found myself laughing out loud at times. Other times, I was anxious to find out what happened next.
Backman has a way of presenting his characters in such a way that you connect to them. They are real people with real emotions and experience real life situations. I think we all know someone like Ove, and all of the people in his neighborhood. To me, this could take place in almost any city anywhere.
Here is the Goodreads Synopsis:
A grumpy yet loveable man finds his solitary world turned on its head when a boisterous young family moves in next door.
Meet Ove. He’s a curmudgeon, the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People call him the bitter neighbor from hell, but must Ove be bitter just because he doesn’t walk around with a smile plastered to his face all the time?
Behind the cranky exterior there is a story and a sadness. So when one November morning a chatty young couple with two chatty young daughters move in next door and accidentally flatten Ove’s mailbox, it is the lead-in to a comical and heartwarming tale of unkempt cats, unexpected friendship, and the ancient art of backing up a U-Haul. All of which will change one cranky old man and a local residents’ association to their very foundations.
I compare Ove to Ebenezer Scrooge of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Not because he has this miraculous change and becomes a happy, cheery guy, but because of that grumpiness that IS Ove. That doesn’t mean you can’t like him, because you can. He has quite a story.
This book was made into the movie A Man Called Otto starring Tom Hanks. I like Hanks, but I’m not sure I want to see an American movie take on such a wonderful book. I started this blog by saying that I held off reading this book because of things I had heard about it. After finishing it, my only regret is that I didn’t read it sooner.
Despite having been able to sit and get a blog or two up this week, it has been a busy one and I thought I would let you know what’s been going on. As with most weeks, we’ve rode the emotional roller coaster.
Funny
We ran out of coffee creamer this week. Andrew wanted to go to the store with me to pick some up. I got him out of the car and put him in the cart. As we made our way into the store, I saw his eyes widen. He saw something behind me, so I turned around. There, in a shabby Santa suit was some guy obviously going to play Santa somewhere.
Andrew never saw the jeans that he had on under the Santa pants, all he knew was that Santa was following us. The guy saw him and said, “I’ll see you Christmas Eve!” and walked to the ATM in the lobby to grab cash. This made me chuckle. Of all the people who aren’t hurting for money this month, it’s Santa!
Andrew ran in the house with the coffee creamer and told Ella and mommy who he saw! I wasn’t quick enough to get a picture. Although a picture of the jeans under the Santa pants would have been funny.
Testing – Testing
We continue to take Andrew to tests to rule out things. Since his diagnosis of mild Cerebral Palsy, we’re doing everything we can to get him what he needs. We’ve been waiting for 6 weeks for his leg braces to arrive. These will help him stop toe-walking.
Sleep study # 5 happened. Once again, I got to hook him up. Wish the results had been better, but he still has sleep apnea. Looks like we’re going to be getting him back on CPAP. The results of this test is among many others that will be discussed next week with his neurologist.
Yesterday, we were up at the butt crack of dawn to get him to his MRI. The neurologist was pretty sure that it will be unremarkable, but wanted it done as a precaution. We should have results by Monday.
He had to be sedated for the procedure. It always breaks my heart to see my kids come out of anesthesia. All went well and he slept on the way home. Once he was awake, he was pretty much back to himself.
The appointment with the neurologist will be a long one, but hopefully, we’ll walk out of there with a solid plan of action.
This week’s “Awwww” moment
I have a pocket Bible that I bought for when my son used to come over. There was a time where we would do a Bible study together. Since he hasn’t been over in sometime, the Bible sat in the room we turned into a play room. Ella knows that it is the B-I-B-L-E (“… yes, that’s the book for me!”). She calls it her “Jesus Book,” and who am I to correct her?!
One morning she came out of her bedroom and curled up on the chair in the living room. ”Daddy, I’m just going to read from my Jesus book, until breakfast…”
This girl! What a blessing my children are!
Elfin’ Around
I added that Snapchat app a long time ago when my boys were using it. One thing I love to do is look at the filters on it with the kids. They love when it makes them look silly. This week, the “elf” filter is back!
They get a kick out of that!
Speaking of Elves …
Last night, we made sure to put the kids in pajamas that were stained. Why? Well, we had their Elf on the Shelf (Twinkles) go in and cut their jammies. I went in and cut one of the legs of Ella’s off and both of the legs from Andrew’s.
When Andrew woke up, he said, “Twinkles cut my pants!” This was before he even saw Twinkles, who was sitting in the Christmas Tree with the scissors and the pieces of their PJ’s (using them as a blanket). Andrew ran in and woke her up yelling that “Twinkles had scissors! She cut your pants!” Ella wasn’t sure what to make of that and walked out to the living room rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. She couldn’t believe it!
Only a few more days to try to come up with “elf” ideas!
Frederik Backman is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. His books are full of characters that you connect with. They are “real.” His books make me “feel,” if that makes sense. I find myself belly laughing out loud at times and holding back tears at other times.
Just this week I posted about the novella I read by Backman. You can read that here:
When I read My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry, I was first introduced to the main character of today’s recommendation – Britt-Marie. You can read about that one here:
In the above story, Britt-Marie leaves her husband and drives off. Her story picks up in Backman’s follow up, Britt-Marie Was Here. I was intrigued to know what her story would be and I found this to be a delightful read. Again, there was laughter and moving moments. There was a whole lot more to Britt-Marie than I could have imagined.
Here is the Goodreads synopsis:
Britt-Marie can’t stand mess. A disorganized cutlery drawer ranks high on her list of unforgivable sins. She is not one to judge others—no matter how ill-mannered, unkempt, or morally suspect they might be. It’s just that sometimes people interpret her helpful suggestions as criticisms, which is certainly not her intention. But hidden inside the socially awkward, fussy busybody is a woman who has more imagination, bigger dreams, and a warmer heart that anyone around her realizes.
When Britt-Marie walks out on her cheating husband and has to fend for herself in the miserable backwater town of Borg—of which the kindest thing one can say is that it has a road going through it—she finds work as the caretaker of a soon-to-be demolished recreation center. The fastidious Britt-Marie soon finds herself being drawn into the daily doings of her fellow citizens, an odd assortment of miscreants, drunkards, layabouts. Most alarming of all, she’s given the impossible task of leading the supremely untalented children’s soccer team to victory. In this small town of misfits, can Britt-Marie find a place where she truly belongs?
The one thing that really stood out in this story was that you have Britt-Marie, fresh from leaving her husband in a rundown and dying community and they both really need each other. Despite the obstacles that are thrown in the paths of each of them, they both learn to persevere and compliment each other. Both experience change as the novel progresses and it will leave you wanting more.
In 2019, there was a movie made based on the book. I think you can see it on Amazon Prime, but I’m not sure I want to as the overall rating was 5 out of 10 stars. Probably proof again that the book is almost always better than the film adaptation.
You may remember that I stumbled on Benjamin Stevenson’s Everyone in my Family Has Killed Someone last year and I just loved it! You can find my review of it here:
I have been waiting a long time for the follow up sequel – Everyone on This Train is a Suspect. Thanks to the good folks at NetGalley and Mariner Books, I was able to read an advance copy of it. It did not disappoint.
The main character of the book is again Ernest Cunningham. In this sequel, he has had great success with his first book (Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone) and comes face to face with some authors who are, well, much better known than he is. Here is the Goodreads synopsis:
Ernest Cunningham returns in a deliciously witty locked room (train) mystery.
When the Australian Mystery Writers’ Society invited me to their crime-writing festival aboard the Ghan, the famous train between Darwin and Adelaide, I was hoping for some inspiration for my second book. Fiction, this time: I needed a break from real people killing each other. Obviously, that didn’t pan out.
The program is a who’s who of crime writing royalty: the debut writer (me!), the forensic science writer, the blockbuster writer, the legal thriller writer, the literary writer, and the psychological suspense writer.
But when one of us is murdered, the remaining authors quickly turn into five detectives. Together, we should know how to solve a crime.Of course, we should also know how to commit one.
How can you find a killer when all the suspects know how to get away with murder?
It is just as entertaining as the first book. Ernest will, as he did in the first book, keep you abreast of things that you need to know. He offers up hints as to what is coming, etc. That was one of the things that I loved about the first book.
We see a bit of insecurity in Ernest this time around. He is the newly successful writer who is now among all of these other writers and he feels that he really doesn’t belong. He feels that way because he really didn’t come up with the story he wrote, he just wrote down what he experienced. He didn’t actually come up with the plot. He feels these other authors are way above his level of writing.
Now, his publisher wants another book from him. We learn fairly quickly that he has – nothing. No idea, no story, no nothing! Well, that is until one of the authors is murdered. The events that unfold on the trip come together and wind up being this story.
Once again, I was guessing right up to the end. Benjamin Stevenson does such a wonderful job in keeping you guessing. I love that we get the thoughts of Ernest and how he speaks directly to the reader at times. How it all plays out and how it all comes together is like wrapping a Christmas present – everything falls into place and it is tied up with a nice ribbon on top.
I loved it just as much or more than his first book. I truly hope that there might be another book in the future. I enjoyed this so much!
Thanks again to Net Galley and Mariner books for allowing me to read such a wonderful mystery!
Today I feature a holiday song that you may not have heard before. As a matter of fact, it may be the ginchiest Christmas song you’ve ever heard.
Huh? What is “ginchiest?” Well, back in the late 50’s and early 60’s it was a slang word that means “Cool. Hip. Admired by others.” All the hep cats were using this beatnik slang during that time. One TV show that featured a lot of this slang was 77 Sunset Strip.
Edd Byrnes played Kookie on the show and his conversations were sprinkled with words and phrases like: Baby, Baller, Gasser, Crazy, Dig, Flat Top, Flip your lid, Jazzed, Keen, Like wow, Nifty, Off the hook, Pinned, Rumble, and SO many more! (Younger folks remember him from the Movie Grease. He was the emcee Vince Fontaine at the Dance Contest.)
In 1959, Kookie and Connie Stevens had a hit with “Kookie, Kookie Lend Me Your Comb.” Because you know, it was all about the hair!
That same year, Kookie presented his own version of the Night Before Christmas. I’ve always loved this little two minute tune. While it is mostly spoken, I always get lost in the background music. I think it is so cool.
The beatnik slang often added, “sville” to words. Boresville would be someplace boring. Antsville might be a place where there were so many people that they were packed in like ants. So I suppose it is only appropriate that Kookie’s holiday song is called “Yulesville.”
Yulesville
Twas the night before Christmas and all through the pad,
Not a hep cat was swingin’ and that’s nowhere, dad.
The stove was hung up in that stocking routine,
Like maybe the fat man would soon make the scene.
The kids had fell by and soon made the street.
I was ready for Snoresville, man, was I beat.
When there started a rumble that came on real frantic.
So I opened the window to figure the panic.
I saw a slick ride that was making fat tracks,
Souped up by eight ponies all wearing hat racks
And a funny old geezer was flippin’ his lid.
He told them to make it, and man, like they did!
They were outta the chute making time like a bat
Turning the quarter in 8 seconds flat.
He parked by the smoke stack in bunches and clusters,
Till Chubby slid down, coming on like Gangbusters
His threads were from Cubesville and I had to chuckle
In front, not in back, was his Ivy League buckle.
The mop on his chin hit a button down collar.
And with that red nose, dad, he looked like a baller
Like he was the squarest, the most absolute.
But let’s face it huh, who cares when he left all that loot.
He laid the jazz on me and peeled from the gig.
Wailin’ “Have a cool yule, man. Later. Like, dig?”
Oh, and you might need the above book to get the gist of the lingo!
What a powerful and moving story. This short novella has all of the heart and emotion of Fredrik Backman’s full length stories. I found myself lost in this beautiful book.
My great grandmother had dementia. My grandmother had dementia. It is a terrible disease. I remember going to see her the last time and her not really knowing who I was. With Alzheimer’s and dementia, they call it “the long goodbye.” It is a very difficult thing to deal with for both those who have it and those they love.
Here is the Goodreads synopisis:
From the New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry, and Britt-Marie Was Here comes an exquisitely moving portrait of an elderly man’s struggle to hold on to his most precious memories, and his family’s efforts to care for him even as they must find a way to let go.
With all the same charm of his bestselling full-length novels, here Fredrik Backman once again reveals his unrivaled understanding of human nature and deep compassion for people in difficult circumstances. This is a tiny gem with a message you’ll treasure for a lifetime.
The “goodbye” and how to handle it is what drives this powerful story. I listened to the audio book, but want to go buy a physical copy just to highlight some of the content. For example:
“Almost all grown adults walk around full of regret over a good-bye they wish they’d been able to go back and say better.”
“Those who hasten to live are in a hurry to miss,”
“It’s about fear and love, and how they seem to go hand in hand most of the time.”
The relationship between this grandfather and Noah (Noahnoah), his grandson reminds me of my relationship with my grandfather. I didn’t want to lose him.
“Why are you holding my hand so tight, Grandpa?” the boy whispers again. “Because all of this is disappearing, Noahnoah. And I want to keep hold of you longest of all.”
“Noahnoah, promise me something, one very last thing: once your good-bye is perfect, you have to leave me and not look back. Live your life. It’s an awful thing to miss someone who’s still here.”
One of the most amazing exchanges in the book:
“Our teacher made us write a story about what we want to be when we’re big,” Noah tells him. “What did you write?” “I wrote that I wanted to concentrate on being little first.” “That’s a very good answer.” “Isn’t it? I would rather be old than a grown-up. All grown-ups are angry, it’s just children and old people who laugh.” “Did you write that?” “Yes.” “What did your teacher say?” “She said I hadn’t understood the task.” “And what did you say?” “I said she hadn’t understood my answer.”
The audio book look just over and hour to listen to. I would imagine you could read the novella in just one sitting. It is truly an amazing story. I highly recommend it.
I waited until he posted about this first, and now I want to share it with you. It brought me to tears.
First, let me say the pride a father feels in his children. The father-son bond is a special one. All too often, we lose sight of the pride that a son has for their father. Our dad is our hero. He is our role model. He is a teacher and giver of advice. My dad is all of that to me and more.
I have written about my dad and his time in the army here before. He was in Vietnam. I didn’t learn till I was older all the things he went through there and back home. When I came to partially understand those things, I felt more pride for him than ever. Well, that pride grew a bit more this weekend.
Let me let my dad tell you what happened. Here is his Facebook post:
Yesterday after around 11:15 am, a car pulled up in front of my house it had QOV on the door of the car.I had no idea what this was about. She came to the door and Rose opened it her name was Lynn Lebeck and she asked for me. So I came out to the front room and in her hand she had what looked like a flag inside of it was a quilt.This organization is the Quilts of Valor. Rose nominated me for my service in Vietnam. I was chosen to receive this quilt after they reviewed information about my service. When she pulled it out of the case I was without words, Rose broke out in tears and hugged me and said “Welcome Home, Sam”. I almost lost it, and told her and Lynn, that I felt I didn’t deserve this. Lynn said “you are so wrong Sam.” Rose found out about this organization because I did a Veterans Day presentation twice at our Elementary School.
What a tremendous honor for my dad! He has often told me that he was “just doing my duty.” He is quite humble, as many veterans are. His service to our country is nothing to take lightly, in my opinion. He deserves to be recognized for it (as do ALL veterans)!
This quilt is just beautiful and will forever be treasured by my dad and our family. How awesome to think of the work it took to produce it and the love that is behind every stitch!
I have never heard of this organization. If I had, I most certainly would have nominated him for it. I am glad that Rose did and that he was chosen to receive one of these amazing quilts.
Rose is not one who likes her picture on the internet, but know that before it was cropped, she is standing proud next to me dad as he wears his quilt of valor.
I am so proud to be my father’s son. Dad, I love you and I am happy that your service was recognized. Thank you for all that you have done for me, my family, and our country.
If you know of a veteran who is deserving of this honor, you can submit a nomination at their website:
Once again, Dave Ruch from A Sound Day has offered up an interesting topic for this month’s Turntable Talk. I see it as being a way for each of us writers to offer you a bit of ourselves. I mean, any time I write something, it usually has something that gives the reader a glimpse at who I am. In some blogs I read, there are a lot of facts and not much of the author. I’ve come to “know” many of the participants through their past submissions, but this month I feel we’re going to get a bit more personal.
This month, Dave presented us with the following instructions:
It’s almost time for Christmas dinner (even if you aren’t necessarily prone to celebrating Christmas, play along) and there’s one more seat at the table. Because of the magic that is Christmas, you can invite any one musician (or person from the music world) to be your guest. Even if they’ve passed away, they can be at your table for a meal, and a few stories. So, who would you invite? And any little musical gift you hope they might possibly come with?
As with past topics, one possibility jumped out immediately. I decided to think a bit more before I made that final decision. Oh! The list of names that I came up with! It was a long one that included Elvis Presley, Mel Torme’, Nat King Cole, Bobby Darin, Roy Orbison, Doc Severinsen, Louis Prima, Frank Sinatra, Paul McCartney, Tony Bennett, Reba McEntire, Michael Buble’, and so many more! In the end, I stuck with the first name that came to mind – Dean Martin.
To this day, Dean remains my favorite singer. His laid back, carefree, and effortless approach is part of the charm that makes him so likable to me. So many of his songs hold special memories for me.
I imagine him showing up dressed to the nines in his staple tuxedo, knowing he is the guest of honor. However, I also picture him as a humble man who gets along with everyone.
Naturally, on Christmas I’d make the dish that was always served by my grandma – Ravioli. I’d be sure to make the homemade sauce for him. I’d always seen pictures of him and John Wayne eating pasta together. I’d love to hear those stories.
I feel like we could easily talk about the similarities between his folks and my grandparents (both from the old country). I know he was a fairly private guy, but I would enjoy hearing his stories about growing up in that Italian family.
The conversation would naturally turn to music. I’d have so many questions for him. The recording process has always fascinated me. On some of the newer releases they’d include some of the in between take studio chatter. Dean always seemed to be joking around and I bet he’d have some great stories about that.
Not to mention all the stars he personally knew and hung out with. I bet he could have wrote a book full of Sinatra stories! If you look back on the guests who were on his TV show, on the TV roasts, or actors who were in movies with him – it is truly an amazing group. How could he just pick one or two stories to tell when he knew so many people!?
I certainly wouldn’t want to pressure him, but I think it would be very cool to be sitting around the table and for him to give us a few measures of a Christmas song. I remember watching how people often just sang with each other back in the day. Would Dean duet with me on Marshmallow World? Who knows?
As someone who really stinks up the golf course, I’d probably bug Dean for a few golf tips. He was SO good at it, I’m sure just one little piece of advice on my grip, my stance or my swing would help me tremendously!
I’m not sure what musical gift I would hope for him to bring, but I would certainly love to get my hands on one of two things. He once had his own brand of golf balls! I’d never use them, of course, but I would love to have a box!
I would also like to have a bottle of his spirits. At one time he had a few types of his own booze!
I don’t really drink, but I think it would be awesome to have these sitting on a bar.
I suppose I’d only have one more request – a photo with him. That may be pushing the limits, so I might just have to have the camera lying around so that someone could snap some candids of the the two of us together.
I’m sure he’d be the one to want to cut the evening short. “Look, pallie, I’d love to stay and answer all your questions, but I have a 7 o’clock tee time in the morning ….” I’d totally be ok with that.
Thanks to Dave for a great topic! I cannot wait to read the guests that our other writers come up with!
How about you? Who would you picki?
Wishing you and yours a VERY Merry Christmas and a blessed 2024!
Today’s blog is part of the Comfy Cozy Christmas, hosted by Lisa and Erin. Their blogs/websites can be found in the above graphic. By going to their sites, you will be able to read Christmas themed blogs by other participants.
I have probably mentioned in past blogs about this tradition, but have never devoted an entire blog to it. At the encouragement of one of our hosts, I am doing that now.
If you were to do a search on ‘things to do when visiting Michigan,” it is often recommended that you stop by Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland. The world’s largest Christmas store.
It truly is an amazing place. You could easily spend a few hours there finding the perfect Christmas ornament. We are lucky that we don’t live very far from there.
Our tradition was actually started by Sam before we were even dating. She and I do the same work (sleep technologist) and that’s how we met. When she graduated from the program, she bought an ornament for her tree. There are no real “sleep tech” ornaments, so she went with one that had scrubs on it.
The idea was that she wanted to have an ornament on the tree that was a reminder of the “big event” of that year. The following year was the year that she bought the home we currently live in.
Sam and I were just friends when she bought her house. Soon after, we began dating and fell in love. She changed my life and I couldn’t imagine life without her. I proposed Sweetest Day weekend while in a horse drawn carriage in Frankenmuth. She said yes less than a mile or so from Bronner’s! That year’s “event” was our engagement.
It goes without saying that when we were married a few months later, that was to be the big event of that year. There were plenty of wedding themed ornaments, but we liked this one best.
The bigger bulbs like that make it so easy for them to personalize.
Our first year of marriage brought about our first fur baby. A cat that sadly is no longer with us named Moe.
We’ve talked about getting some sort of ornament with the other pets, but each year after had bigger events. At some point I suppose we’ll get around to it…
In 2019, Sam was expecting. She was 7 months pregnant at Christmas. One of my favorite pictures is of her standing in front of the tree showing her baby bump. I just loved the “You, Me and Then Baby Makes Three” ornament.
The year 2020 brought COVID to the world. The world shut down and almost every Christmas tree had some sort of ornament that had surgical masks or toilet paper on it! For us, however, we welcomed our first child together, our daughter Ella.
I loved this ornament because they were able to put her name, birthday, weight, etc.. on it. One Christmas later, when Andrew was born, we went back and got the same ornament… In blue.
We try to go before Thanksgiving to get our yearly ornament. After that, it tends to be extremely busy at Bronner’s. When we went last year, there really hadn’t been any “big event.” We decided to get a plaque to hang on the main entry door.
After our trip to Bronner’s, tragedy struck as Sam’s sister Grace passed away. Her presence is missed daily. I decided that I wanted to do something for Sam and her parents. So I went to Bronner’s on my own and had a memorial ornament personalized with Grace’s name for both of them. Ours hangs near the top of the tree.
We’re a bit behind this year. We’ve had so many medical appointments and such with Andrew that we have yet to go to Bronner’s. I suppose the big event is getting our puppy, Daisy. I would imagine that they have some sort of ornament that will fit that event.
Sam and I will probably take our tradition and change it up a bit next year. I’d guess we’ll continue to get that one “event” ornament, but we think next year, we’ll have each kid pick out an ornament for themselves to hang on the tree. I have a feeling that will be something they will always remember.
Various Ramblings of a Nostalgic Italian 