Unexpected Happy Holiday Cheer Showed Up In My Mailbox This 2nd Day Of 2024

What with the Holiday Season over, til later this year, I was not expecting to find any additional Holiday related items to show up in my mailbox this Holiday Season cycle.

A little after 5 o'clock this rainy, cold, cloudy second day of 2024, I found that which you see above, or to the left, depending upon what means you are using to access the Internet.

A card from CJ, Carissa and Cade.

I now will remember how to correctly spell Cade's mama's name. I think I have been spelling Carissa with two r's and one s, as in Carrisa. Or maybe it was Carrissa was making my spelling error.

Due to the temperature frigidity Walmart was my walking destination today, for a half hour of high-speed grocery cart pushing. I called Cade's grandma whilst in Walmart, but she was not available.

I have not talked to Cade's grandma yet this year...

Happy New 2024 Year From Alaska

Happy New Year! A new year, a new wall calendar. The theme of the 2023 wall calendar was The West.

As in scenes of the American West.

I'd seen many of those scenes of the American West. Such as Monument Valley, Canyonlands National Park, Badlands National Park, Cannon Beach on the Oregon coast, Glacier National Park and Dead Horse Point.

The theme of the 2024 wall calendar is National Parks. As in American National Parks.

I have been to Alaska, but not to Glacier Bay National Park, which is what you see above.

I think I have been to all the national parks west of the Mississippi. Except for the national parks in Hawaii and Alaska and Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota.

And Texas.

Have yet to make it to either of the Texas national parks. Big Bend National Park and Guadalupe Mountains National Park. 

Maybe I will make a New Year Resolution to finally visit Big Bend National Park... 

An Elderly Lady In A Bikini Arrived In My Mailbox Christmas Eve

Last summer, an elderly lady I know, living in an east coast state, visited a beach in Delaware. At some point I said I needed photo documentation of her at the beach in her bikini. 

The elderly lady then told me she has never, and will never, be in a bikini.

So, imagine my surprise upon opening a package sent by this elderly east coast lady, with the package arriving on Christmas Eve, morning of.

The explanatory note inside the package said "This is the closest you are ever going to see me in a bikini."

The note went on to explain that she had posed for a local artisan who handcrafts lookalike figurines with a theme chosen by the subject, as in customer.

I must say, the likeness is remarkable. The face. The overall body. I know this elderly lady is wealthy, but, I hope she did not pay a lot for this, but I do appreciate it, and so the figurine is displayed prominently in my living room...

I Did Not See A New Baby Orca Today In Puget Sound

I saw that which you see here, this morning, via the online version of the Seattle Times.

This falls into the category of things I see in a west coast news source about something I would never expect to see in a news source at my current Texas location about something like this being spotted anywhere near my current Texas location.

In nearby bodies of water, called lakes, I might see something unsettling, like a plus-sized catfish. Or a scary looking garfish.

But no orcas, also known as killer whales, which is sort of a slanderous thing to call the relatively peaceful orcas. 

If you live in the Puget Sound zone long enough, you likely will at some point encounter a pod of orcas.

I have had that experience twice. With the best one being with my mom and dad, somewhere between Anacortes and the San Juan Island called Orcas.

We were fishing for salmon, when suddenly a pod of orcas was close by. A pod of about 20, give or take an orca or two. Mom was instantly freaked out. Didn't matter that I told her they were harmless, despite their killer whale nickname.

Soon the orca pod had us surrounded. They sort of came to a stop. There were two baby orcas. One of the full-sized orcas came right up the boat, looking at us, us looking at him. Or her. The orca looked like it was smiling. Saying hello.

And then just as suddenly as they appeared, the orca pod was gone.

This orca encounter happened years before one was always armed with a camera, ready to take photos, or video, and send that which you saw out to the world.

Did not even have an old-fashioned film camera with us onboard...

More Christmas Fun From Arizona

I have been having myself a virtual Christmas visit to Arizona, of late.

This morning's email brought photo documentation of Christmas at Cade's house.  The first photo was taken in CJ, Carrisa's and Cade's backyard, I assume, since the text with the first three photos said "Christmas at CJ's."

That would be Cade's Uncle Jeremy on the left, next to Cade's Grandpa Jack, the Cade's mama, Carrisa, next to Cade's papa, CJ, with Cade's Grandma Jackie holding Cade, next to Cade's Cousin, Theo, Aunt Michele, Cousin David, Aunt Kristin with Cousin Ruby at the opposite side from Uncle Jeremy.

I do not know the name of the dog. And I did not know Jeremy has had a big growth spurt, rendering him way taller than everyone else.

I do know the name of the cat which Ruby is holding. That is Munchie. I have met Munchie a couple times.

 And here we have Grandma Jackie and Grandpa Jack, with Baby Cade.

Another group of photos arrived with the text saying, "Burger Making Fun with Uncle Jack".

Apparently, Uncle Jack needed a couple burger makers, likely because the holiday had him short staffed. Uncle Jack manages several dozen McDonald's in the Phoenix area.

My favorite of Uncle Jack's McDonald's is the one in Maricopa, where I have had many a fine time sampling various McDonald's items, with my favorite always being the Filet O' Fish.

Above it appears Theo and Ruby are preparing to deliver a tray to a customer's table, under Uncle Jack's watchful direction.

Above I am guessing we are seeing Theo and Ruby on a lunch break after serving who knows how many McDonald's customers.

All this McDonald's talk has me craving a Filet O' Fish and a Cheeseburger. And Fries.

I am enjoying my virtual visit to Arizona almost as much as being there...

More Christmas Greetings From Arizona & Washington

More photos arrived on this Christmas day. Not via email. Via multiple phone text messages. 

Above, Kristin, Michele, Theo, Ruby, David, Jackie and Jack on in something called the Scottsdale Fashion Mall. Which, I guess, explains why they are all dressed so fashionably.

Earlier this Christmas day, in a blogging titled Merry Christmas Greetings From Arizona With Cousin Cade, I erroneously guessed where the Tacoma-ites were staying, and where they were desert exploring.

Well, they are not staying in a hotel in Scottsdale. They are staying at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Hotel in Chandler. And their desert exploring was not on South Mountain, but instead was at a location called Sabino Pass.

I also heard from my Skagit Valley nephews today. That would be my favorite Jason nephew and my favorite Joey nephew.

A couple photos from Joey. None from Jason.

But, Jason sent a lengthy word picture, also known as a text message. On Christmas Eve Jason went to brother Joey's house for what Jason says all thought the Christmas Eve dinner was the best any had had in a long time.

I have had multiple reports that Hank Frank's mom, Monique, is a real good cook.

Also at Joey's was Joey's mom, my favorite ex-sister-in-law, Cindy, her current husband, Asher, Hank Frank's grandpa, my little brother Jake. Apparently, Hank Frank had a lot of presents to open.

For reasons I have yet to learn, Spencer Jack, who is now 16, boycotted Christmas Eve.

Above, that is Hank Frank opening another present, or playing with one he already opened.

Grandma Cindy gave Hank Frank a wheelbarrow which he instantly liked a lot. Grandpa Jake gave Hank Frank a big rope with which a swing will be installed on one of Hank Frank's trees.

The above photo was among the ones Joey texted today. It is not a Christmas photo. It is a Thanksgiving photo.

Joey's in-laws, that being Monique's parental units, live on a ranch near Helena, Montana. Like his dad, Hank Frank is good to go on a long roadtrip, but, Joey and Monique have learned if they want a break from Hank Frank's chattering an ice cream cone will keep him silent for a few miles.

The Arizona Christmas is taking place at Cousin Cade's house, in Chandler, about three miles from Grandma Jackie and Grandpa Jack's house.

Meanwhile, in Texas, I had myself a relative-free Christmas with a Mexican food themed fiesta. The highlight of which was Tamale Pie Casserole, along with Chile Cheese Rellenos and Chicken Chimichangas...

Merry Christmas Greetings From Arizona With Cousin Cade

David, Theo and Ruby flew their parental units to Arizona, which is how they are sending greetings from that state, this Christmas morning of 2023.

Well, actually the photos arrived, via email, on Christmas Eve.

Several photos follow, with the last three photos documenting the Tacoma cousins meeting their Arizona cousin, Cade, for the first time.

The text in the next two photos said simply "From Out Hotel".

Due to the wall of rock in the background, I am guessing the hotel Ruby, Theo, David, Michele and Kristin are staying in is in Scottsdale. 

I am assuming the guy with the white beard is a desert version of Santa Claus.

The text with the next two photos asked "Where in the desert Southwest?"

I would guess they are heading to the summit of South Mountain. Which is in Phoenix.

Or maybe they have driven south to Tucson, since that is Kristin's mom, Janet, on the right of Ruby, Kristin, Theo and David.

 

That looks to be Kristin's mom, Janet, after taking off her coat, next to Ruby and Theo, with a big Saguaro cactus behind them.

And now, the newest member of the Jones/Slotemaker/Weston family, Cade Weston.

That appears to be Grandpa Jack, on the couch behind Cade and Ruby, with Uncle Jeremy on another couch, on the right.

Cade sure does look a lot like his papa, Christopher, when Christopher was a baby.

And now it is Theo's turn to hold Cousin Cade.

And, the final photo is all the Tacoma-ites, except David and Kristin, on the floor, with baby Cade.

Hope y'all have a mighty fine Merry Christmas...

Merry Christmas Eve From Texas To Arizona

Opened a Christmas card, sent from Arizona, today, on Christmas Eve. The card was from my second littlest sister, and family, she being the mom of nephews Chris and Jeremy, and grandma of Cade. 

The note inside the card suggested that I should have journeyed to Arizona for the Xmas fun, which includes the Tacoma Trio of David, Theo, Ruby and their parental units, with the most special guest being baby Cade.

Seems like I was just in Arizona, but it was way back in July of 2019 that I was last in the Valley of the Sun.

Getting All Shook Up In Texas On Christmas Eve

My old home zone had a Christmas Eve earthquake this morning.

4.0 on the Richter Scale. 

I have not felt the earth move since the 1990s.

There was a period of time, during that time, when multiple earthquakes shook me up, epicentered near Big Lake, only a few miles from my east Mount Vernon abode.

Those Big Lake quakes ranged between 2.0 and 3.0 on the Richter Scale. Due to being shallow quakes, with the epicenter so close, that cluster of quakes was loud, with the vibrating shaking quite noticeable.

During one of those quakes I was sitting in my living room. A room with a lot of windows, looking out at big fir trees. When the quake hit, the windows flexed and made a popping noise. The trees shook violently. 

As the windows popped and flexed, and the trees shook, I heard a cracking noise in the kitchen. When the quake ceased shaking I walked into the kitchen to discover the quake had cracked the tile floor.

Earthquakes are a bit scary, due to there being no warning, unlike other Mother Nature being angry events, like hurricanes, or tornadoes, or floods. 

Though, I have to say, while there may be a tornado siren warning a twister is in the neighborhood, it is still a scary thing, but not suddenly startling, like an earthquake. 

Since being in Texas I have experienced being near three tornadoes. I have never seen the stereotypical twister phenomenon associated with tornadoes. All I have seen is a dark, greenish wall of clouds.

Anyway, hope y'all are having yourselves a very merry Christmas Eve...

Merry Christmas Crying With Santa, Ruby, Theo & David

This is one of my all-time favorite photos.

I'd estimate this photo was taken over a decade ago.

That is Ruby and Theo being expressive on Santa's lap.

Ruby and Theo became teenagers last Sunday, hence the decade ago estimate.

Big brother, David, looks away, looking amused.

I have never eye witnessed any of the Tacoma Trio crying.

When I've been around the three they spend most of the time being funny and laughing...