… is not like the others.

The weather outside is frightful

But our tree is so delightful…

And Harvey has such a glow

Love him so

Love him so

Love him so

( Forgive me. I’m having a rare moment of giddiness.)

It was 18 degrees Fahrenheit when I left for work this morning at 6am.

We decorated our office for the holidays today.

It was 33 degrees on my way home. at 3pm.

It is currently 30 degrees.

And snowing.

Jeffrey built a fire.

I turned on the heated throw.

We ordered pizza for dinner and had cocktails.

We watched episodes of “The Mick” and “Cougar Town.”

I ordered groceries (to be delivered tomorrow) for a small cocktail party I’m hosting for a couple co-workers Friday after work.

I wrapped gifts for a family my work Unit “adopted” for Christmas.

Harvey has been sleeping all night on the heated throw.

I texted several friends.

I broke a Christmas moose.

I stayed up way too late.

Just another day in the life of a Sassybear.

We are finished decorating. It took us about 24 hours total, start to finish, spread out over 4 days, even though we pared down a bit. There were 25 bins and a few odds and ends to empty and spread throughout the house. We made a lot of changes this year and I (we) think it looks pretty good. Jeffrey helped a lot and had some great ideas. It was nice to decorate our home together again, especially considering Jeffrey does not normally enjoy it and hasn’t participated for the last 3 years, but he seemed to have a good time this year doing it together. I can’t say having the house decorated has put me in the “holiday spirit,” but I am relieved it’s done and I am happy the way the house looks. I will take photos and/or a video this week to post.

Our first official holiday gathering will be Friday night with two other couples. We will have cocktails and finger foods. I always like “showing off” our decorated house, so it will be nice to see if our guests like what we’ve done. The BFJ will be here and see it for the first time in 2 weeks, and I’m sure he will want to make changes.

Our gift shopping is done and now our decorating is done. I still have to wrap gifts and send holiday cards, which I will start doing next weekend. It all feels a bit perfunctory, but life goes on and so must we.

Anyone want to come for cocktails and see our decorations?

Apparently, we exhausted Harvey with another day of decorating.

No matter where my head is at, what I’m worrying about, or what problems I’m dealing with, this little guy calms me, grounds me, and reminds me that all that matters is being dry, warm, comfortable, and safe.

And staying close to the ones you love!

Not really, but we started Operation: Decoration none-the less! If I can’t get in the spirit, at least I can enjoy spirits next to pretty lights.

Thanksgiving was wonderful and we had a great time with new friends and old. It was good to smile and laugh and spend time with friends again.

We are back in Hartford CT for Thanksgiving. The BFJ and his hubby are hosting a party of 11 for dinner tomorrow and, tonight, they hosted a pizza party for the 6 of us that are out-of-towners. (2 couples from Canada, and us from NY.) We worked until noon, hit the road before 1:00 and checked into our hotel in downtown Hartford around 3:30 before heading to the BFJ’s house.

It was a lovely evening of cocktails and conversation.

Of course, Harvey suffered, having to be carted around in heated vehicles, getting oodles of attention, and otherwise being oohed and aahed over. Here he is, having to lick the homemade vanilla ice cream, off a plate his Uncle Ken served him, all by himself:

We are such horrible dads!

We’re in CT at the BFJ’s house. We’ve all been invited to a “Friendsgiving” dinner tomorrow.

Harvey did a great job in the 2.5 hour drive here.

Here’s hoping this little visit and time with friends help lift my spirits enough to start decorating for the holidays when we get home. I just feel so…numb…about everything, still.

Sigh.

Anyone have a chicken hat I can borrow?

FYI: Eggnog in a martini glass tastes better!