Uuugh!!

I ate too much!!  Saturday was our big day of Christmas celebration.  We had chicken and dressing for dinner at noon.  I snacked while the food was being prepared.  We just about emptied the dish of chicken and dressing.  After noon we opened gifts in our traditional way that takes a couple of hours.  I snacked all afternoon on leftovers and desert.

In the evening there was a big computer game party at Sue Ellen's house (while she and the other ladies went shopping).  All the kids and I ate Pizza at the game party.  Took a long walk in the pasture before going to bed and slept well.  I used the new cap that I got for Christmas.  It has LEDs in the bill of the cap!

Wednesday

I think Chico is beginning to get used to seeing me.  He is still being a good guard dog.

Christmas Eve

I made my annual Christmas shopping trip to Walmart this afternoon.  Was it ever crowded!  I had to park completely at the far side of the parking lot but the air was filled with Christmas spirit even though the weather was warm and pleasant today.  I checked out at the automotive department to miss the long lines at the front registers.

Last week I observed the atmosphere at Hulen mall.  The decorations were beautiful giving a festive feel to the whole area but the shoppers were not really serious.  They were just strolling along the mall in their new clothes and some might even be carrying a brightly colored gift bag.  Today a Walmart the shoppers were serious about the business of making purchases.  They came in their work clothes and left with so much merchandise that it to took a cart to haul it to the car.  Some shoppers even required 2 carts to carry their goods.  No wonder some of the malls are in serious financial trouble!

115,000 Miles

The Ford Excursion is beginning to show its age.  I just got it back from the shop.  They installed a new idle control valve and a brake cylinder sensor that was leaking.  Minor repairs sure are expensive but still it is better than payments would be on even a small new car.

More Texas Weather

I am making good use of the muffler that I received last Christmas.  Our high temperature today was 31 degrees.  When I took my walk tonight there was a stiff breeze blowing from the east and the muffler really helped keep out the cold.

Our forecast calls for much warmer conditions by Christmas Day.

Firefighter Memorial

Funeral services for Deb Tribble were held at First Baptist Church in Grandview Sunday afternoon at 1 pm. All the seats were filled and firemen lined the walls for the service.

Here the firefighters await the casket with its bagpipe escort.



Ladder trucks formed an arch at the end of the street.

The flag draped casket was carried to the cemetery atop the fire truck.

I think there were about seventeen departments represented in the procession.  Deb had been the only female fire chief in Johnson county for about 9 years.