The Saturday before Christmas Eve I did my last min grocery and alcohol prepping for the holidays. That means necessities and wine/beer. It was a rather nice day. Looked like it wanted to rain at any moment. After all that was knocked out I went out to my mothers to pick up her sweet labradoodle. He is 13 and he is staying with me until she comes back from Houston. You see, I’m the only one of my immediate family not to be celebrating Christmas together. I don’t like Houston but I also wanted to spend my first Christmas with Yvette and her kids and family. Last year we were 335 miles apart.
After my errands I decided to go have a treat of sushi and hibachi. It was a cloudy rainy day and that just sounded great. Of course some miso soup. They had the worst Christmas music playing but the food was fantastic as usual. My waitress was a dingbat though.
Once full I checked my second grocery list and went back to the store. It was just as much a mad house. I grabbed all that I missed on my first trip and got the hell out. When I was back home began the chore of wrapping presents. I think it went well. I won’t claim I have skills but I’m not bad considering it’s only once a year. After that it was once again a trip to my mothers to see if she had something I needed for a meal that would save me a $4 expense. She sure did. It would have been something that I’d only use once every 2-3 years. Success.!!!
Saturday night date night. Yay!! We had some nice steak. A meal I was surprised I had not made for Yvette. balsamic reduced steak. I also made some parmesan sour cream mashed potato’s. It was a great meal. Unfortunately the evening had to end early. She needed to get her son home and while she was doing that a pretty incredible storm came through and dumped a lot of rain which flooded the roads. Not worth her risking her life getting back to my house. We don’t live far apart but that little distance has a hell of a flood plain between us. The roads get dangerous.
Christmas Eve we went to her parents and had some ham, corn and potato’s. Good time. Watched some football. I was over there before 1 and suddenly it was 5. Time…. After that I rushed home to make some chili for us and the kids. I put everything together and cooked it for 2 hours. I transported it to her house and we all enjoyed. It was a big batch of chili. Leftovers.
After eating we sat around and laughed. I went home around 10 to check on my dogs and grab some decorating icing. They have a tradition where they bake and decorate cookies. It was a fun time. I decorated 2 of my own. We eventually all went to sleep so Santa could come.
Christmas morning!!! We woke up and unwrapped presents. It was a lot of fun. I really liked being a part of it. After presents I went home and checked the dogs. Let them go potty and eat. I got dressed into my matching pajamas. That’s another Christmas tradition, everyone wears matching PJ’s. Once dressed I picked Yvette up and we went to her parents again for some menudo. It was so damn good. Had some good conversations. Shaping up to be a heck of a day. When we left we all ended up taking naps.
A day can’t be perfect. I got a shitty text from my ex wife notifying me that she “debated tell me because it was Christmas” but my cat Samson died in the morning. She could have waited. It didn’t have to be Christmas Day. I was happy. I don’t say this on here but what a bitch. No explanation either. I later heard from a friend she posted about it on Facebook. I’m blocked so I have no idea. That was my favorite cat. I have missed him. Missed him more than her.
Christmas dinner was moved to 5:30. It was originally at lunch and moved to 7:30 and eventually 5:30. Yvette’s brother kept changing things. All worked out though. Yvette’s dad and mom out did themselves with the food. It was perfect for me, mostly protein. Brisket, beef ribs, jalapeño sausage. Homemade beans, potato salad and many pies. I ate a LOT of meat. We also watched football and opened more presents. I really wasn’t expecting her parents to get me anything but it was nice that they did. Really made me feel included. Her father and I had a few beers. God that man can smoke meats. I’m not only lucky to have Yvette but also lucky to have a great family.
Once we left her parents Al we went to her cousins Christmas party. The did a breakfast spread. Waffles, French toast, chorizo potato and an egg sausage casserole. We played some sill game. You have Christmas ribbons and cotton balls on a table. A spatula and a bowl. You are blind folded and have 15 seconds to scoop as many into the bowl. I had 5 ribbons and 9 balls. Not bears the worst but I didn’t win the $60. It was fun.
After we left I went home for a bit to be with the dogs. I went back over and stayed another night. It was a different but damn good Christmas. This life makes me happy.
Merry Christmas everyone!!!
En Fuego 