MC! Truck issues, brunch/gifts w/the Clarks, dinner w/family, and Xmas prep
Merry Christmas, y'all. :)
This morning, truck wouldn't start again, despite wire-wiggling, so I got a ride with Nathan to his parents' house, where they (and his sister, bro-in-law, niece, and nephew) were celebrating Christmas a day early (so they can go to his family's tomorrow, and the nephew could get his bike today.*) Had some egg nog w/Bushmill's, bacon-wrapped liver&waterchestnuts (nowhere near as good as my mom's bacon-wrapped walnut&dates), and got picked up by dad and Shauna, then taken back to my house.
* He got a wrapped box. Unwrapped it, found a well-taped shoebox. Opened that, found a wrapped envelope buried in wrapping paper. Opened the wrapping, opened the envelope, found a paper saying "Look in the closet." In the closet was an OCC-Black Widow-themed chopper-style bicycle, which is pretty badass. :)
At my house, dad and I troubleshot my truck's starting problem, and decided it was probably a failing starter motor and loose connection, though they're not usually quick to fail. Called Advance, talked to someone rather incompetent. Drove to the store, was helped by a much more competent clerk, took the new starter back, and it behaved about the same connected directly to the battery, pointing a finger at possible dying battery (or failing alternator), but the truck started (a little slowly) after that. Packed up my gifts and whatnot, drove to Steph&Matt's, picking up wine for tomorrow along the way.
Dinner/gathering at Steph & Matt's (with my family and some of Matt's) was enjoyable, as usual, and food included a pumpkin and onion soup that Matt's dad made, and bananas Foster that Matt made. Mmm. :) (I also took a few minutes to replace my work laptop's keyboard, which makes it much easier to use and more portable, vs. toting along a USB keyboard.) Afterward, back to the parents', where I've wrapped most of my presents and assisted Shauna in making assorted cookies and baked goods, including finding a replacement for baking powder. Woo!
This morning, truck wouldn't start again, despite wire-wiggling, so I got a ride with Nathan to his parents' house, where they (and his sister, bro-in-law, niece, and nephew) were celebrating Christmas a day early (so they can go to his family's tomorrow, and the nephew could get his bike today.*) Had some egg nog w/Bushmill's, bacon-wrapped liver&waterchestnuts (nowhere near as good as my mom's bacon-wrapped walnut&dates), and got picked up by dad and Shauna, then taken back to my house.
* He got a wrapped box. Unwrapped it, found a well-taped shoebox. Opened that, found a wrapped envelope buried in wrapping paper. Opened the wrapping, opened the envelope, found a paper saying "Look in the closet." In the closet was an OCC-Black Widow-themed chopper-style bicycle, which is pretty badass. :)
At my house, dad and I troubleshot my truck's starting problem, and decided it was probably a failing starter motor and loose connection, though they're not usually quick to fail. Called Advance, talked to someone rather incompetent. Drove to the store, was helped by a much more competent clerk, took the new starter back, and it behaved about the same connected directly to the battery, pointing a finger at possible dying battery (or failing alternator), but the truck started (a little slowly) after that. Packed up my gifts and whatnot, drove to Steph&Matt's, picking up wine for tomorrow along the way.
Dinner/gathering at Steph & Matt's (with my family and some of Matt's) was enjoyable, as usual, and food included a pumpkin and onion soup that Matt's dad made, and bananas Foster that Matt made. Mmm. :) (I also took a few minutes to replace my work laptop's keyboard, which makes it much easier to use and more portable, vs. toting along a USB keyboard.) Afterward, back to the parents', where I've wrapped most of my presents and assisted Shauna in making assorted cookies and baked goods, including finding a replacement for baking powder. Woo!