World of mine Wednesday’s W

What’s top of my mind: Christmas. It happens every year: by this time nothing has been done about buying or decorating and there is a developing sense of panic to do things ASAP or there won’t be any Christmas. I think no tree or prizes would suit Someone fine, but not Urs Truly. I hope this weekend to haul out the holly and ask Mr. Bezos to send some prizes as soon as possible. Just for once I would like to have a Christmas season a joyous time, one that doesn’t feel pressured.

Where I’ve been: Zingerman’s Deli. When Brother #3 picked me up from the airport last Friday we drove to Ann Arbor and had lunch at Zingerman’s Deli. Zingermans is the best; do not dare to question this. We each had a pot of tea (no rubbish types) and their Reuban sandwich, which is to die for. I almost got emotional at the sight of it. Zingermans has online shopping, run by the most upbeat helpful customer service reps these is, who to deliver all sorts of goodies. This week I ordered Someone some bleu cheese (no rubbish indeed!) for his birthday.

Have you ever been to Zingerman’s?

Where I’m going: A Christmas party. Every year we get an invitation to John and Doug’s Christmas party. Someone never goes as he is always working a show that evening. I go and am often among strangers which challenges me to say hello and mingle. I feel sheepish accepting the invitation as every year I say to them we must get together some time and then we never do and I show up at their party and repeat. I am honored they still invite me. Their place is ‘one of those’ that their yard and house has no spot vacant but all is bedecked with numerous trees and wall-to-wall decorations. Doug once said they start right after Halloween and it takes some months to put it all away. Can you imagine?

What I’m watching: Michael Girdley. Mr. Girdley has a video subscription on The Tube of Yous where he walks outside as if on a stroll with the viewer while he talks about a business how it rose to fame and fortune and then lost it. He reflects on the factors that contributed to its into demise, which is often a combination of bad luck and bad decisions. He’s processed the rise and fall of NASCAR, Cracker Barrel, Boston Market, NFTs, and Southwest Airlines. One gets the impression greed is the key factor to most downfalls.

What I’m reading: Krampus by Al Redenour. Mr. Redenour did an excellent job researching all the dark and dismal monsters that appear this time of year. Thems in The States have little knowledge in Europe there are scores of Christmas witches, monsters, and beasties. Some of them quite scary. I am obviously wasted here in The States as I love this stuff. Santa Claus is a wuss with his soddish threat of a lump of coal.

What I’m listening to: Things that go bump in the night. I have developed a sleeping problem: I don’t stay asleep. I thought Harper’s passing would allow me to sleep more soundly but the opposite is happening. I wake often and too early. Little noises in the night wake me. The water filter was doing its weekly cleaning last night and the house seemed to shake with a gurgle resembling a nearby waterfall. The old humidifier makes rattling noises and outside cars/planes/coyotes all contribute to wake ups. No fun this.

What I’m eating: Bad coffee. I am not a connoisseur of coffee by any means; the stuff sort of all tastes the same to me. I thought I would get some holiday-related grounds to make for the folks at the MESA office. The good folks at Starbucks had one with peppermint tones, purchased at no small expense. It is awful; even I can tell it’s bad. This may be operation-error but I doubt it. It tastes like someone stuck as charred stick into it and poured some artificial peppermint oil on top. Oh the horror.

Who needs a good slap: Overly Sarcastic Productions. Mind! These guys are super awesome with their merch and not once things have fallen flat – until now. I ordered at Halloween a pin** for a friend for Christmas and it still isn’t here. I inquired online the other day; it looks like the damn thing hasn’t been made let along shipped, thus ruining Christmas.

On my 1-5 scale, I give OSC one slap.

Who gets a fist-bump: The Good Attorney. On Monday TGA sent an email the patient who lodged a complaint against me in May did not file an appeal in time for the board’s dismissal, so this case is closed. A seven month-long ordeal is over and I can talk about it if I want. A patient I saw for over ten years filed a complaint I was showing signs of dementia. There is no point in dwelling on it now; it is concluded.

What I’m planning: Travel ideas for 2026. We don’t have a pooch to keep us at home and Someone hasn’t had a proper holiday in years. It would be good to have some vacation time next year. We just scheduled a long weekend scheduled in February in Lost Vegas, but this is a medical conference and not a proper vacation, so that doesn’t count. Brother #3 invited us to come with him and his family on a family-oriented cruise in March, but imagine two O.B.s (Old Bachelors) among thousands of on-board kiddies! Count me out. There are many folks I would like to travel to see them and the sights; perhaps some long weekends to VA, NY, and Canada would be good things to start with.

What’s making me smile: A black cat. I was at the PHX office the other day, minding my own business, when a little black cat appeared at the patio door. I opened it to shoo it away, but it came in as if it owned the place. It soon made itself at home. Periodically I would pick it up and put it back outside, where it waited to be let in again. Sadly at day’s end when I was closing down the place, it was still hoping to be let in again. I posted photos on the all-employees TEAMS chat; someone christened the cat “Salem”. I will bring some food with me next time I am at that office for Salem if she/he returns.

**The pin is tasteful thing: Cthulhu hugging the Earth in a fond embrace. Lovely!