Idle Eyes and a Dormy

The above picture is of a fun display I saw last weekend in a grocery store in Connecticut. When I retire (in 179 Days) I want to get a job making fun displays in local stores and shops.

I worked from home today and, in-between various work tasks, I tweaked some of the holiday decorations and displays around the house. I never really stop fiddling with it until Christmas Eve. I have a few more items on their way and then I’ll do my annual holiday decor photo tour.

Tomorrow is our Department-wide Holiday Celebration. Several years ago, after a few failed attempts by the Administration to provide a “holiday buffet lunch” for everyone (that was poorly attended and awkward to go to) they just gave up.

3 years ago (in 2023) our Department heads tried something new with the 6 Units they oversaw. In an effort to be more inclusive and get more participation, they chose a day in mid-November, prior to Thanksgiving (when people were less likely to be out for holiday festivities), assigned each unit a different holiday for a theme, and asked each unit to decorate their unit accordingly, as well as provide a food, a beverage, and an activity associated to the theme. Our unit was assigned Thanksgiving, and we went all out (as did most of the other Units, with one Unit barely “calling it in.”) It was a huge success. Everyone had a great time and morale was boosted for the rest of the year.

The second year (2024), we were provided a list of categories for themes (excluding holidays since we’d already done that) that we all voted on. The winning trend was “Decades” and each Unit was assigned a different decade. We got the 80s. Other decades assigned were the 70s (that unit went with a ‘Christmas in the 70s” theme) the 60s (that unit did a lot of tie-dye, hipster props, and some PG mushroom treats) the 50s ( that was the lackluster unit…they sort of had a 50’s diner theme) and the 40s (that unit did an amazing job representing the depression era with their decor and outfits, including making foods with the few ingredients readily available to most people in those days.) Another big success and, as soon as it was over, everyone was already excited and eager about this years themed event.

This year, the winning theme was “Board Games.” We each submitted 3 ideas for games we wanted to use as themes. We got our first choice – Jumanji. (We had picked Jumanji for a theme if another category was picked – movies – but as luck would have it, there is a Jumanji Board game based on the movie, so the theme still worked.) T

his past Monday, several staff switched their telecommuting day (everyone but me telecommuted on Monday) so they could come in and decorate for Wednesday’s event. And I have to say, my staff kicked ass! The few pictures I’ve already shared barely did it justice. We know few other Board game themes that were chosen (Candy Land and Operation) but we have no clue what the others are (Maybe Clue?) or what anyone else is planning.

Tomorrow, I will dress for, and play the role of, a Safari Guide, using my cardboard jeep to “drive” visitors from the entrance to our Jungle (by my desk) to the site of our jungle themed activities on the other side of our Unit, which will be run by my staff dressed as (or in colors and patterns of) different animals. We will have animal sounds and jungle drums playing, a selection of fun jungle themed food and beverage, two animal themed activities, and animal themed PRIZES! we will divide into two teams, so that one team can stay at our unit to run things while the other team visits the other units, then trade off.

We will be allotted an “extended lunch” of 90 minutes for the event, and all staff are given a card with each Unit’s name on it. There will be activities at each unit and, if you participate in each activity, you get a stamp on your card from that unit. Anyone completing all activities, and getting a full card of stamps, can turn in their card to be entered in a raffle for a prize. I don’t remember what the prize is…a gift card, I think, funded by the higher-ups in our Department.

This is a highly anticipated, very involved event that is well attended. I will take more pictures (and maybe a video) tomorrow, so I can share the entirety of our Unit’s production, as well as the themes of other units.

If I’m being honest, this is probably the one and only thing I will miss when I retire. (Maybe I can come back as a consultant next year!)

Now I need to get to bed and rest up for tomorrow. I need to be alert so I can keep a lot of people safe from inflatable animals.

It wasn’t a bad day for a Monday. I spent the bulk of my time in the office constructing a Jeep out of cardboard, and then making a couple signs. Instead of doing a “Christmas” celebration, our department does a themed holiday event each year. We vote on the theme, then everyone picks a category that fits the theme.

This year’s theme was board games, so we chose “Jumanji.” I will be the Safari guide taking visitors to our “Jungle Activity Area” with my Jeep.

If that failed to pique your interest, here’s some candid shots of our handsome house manager, Harvey.

We had the day off today for Veterans Day. The only plans we had was to relax by a roaring fire and watch movies. Then Jeffrey remembered he had scheduled an appointment mid-day to get my car’s oil changed, tires rotated, and get a general inspection. While he was gone, I did a few small projects:

1. Changed the bases on some of my action figures to smaller ones that take up less space so I could fit more on the shelf.
2. Sorted my different size action figure bases into separate bags.
3. Printed out a tiny label with the name of one of my support staff to put on her Santa Ornament. (We have 3 support staff, but I could only find Santa Ornaments with 2 of their names, so I bought some clear adhesive paper to print her name and put on her ornament.)
4. Gathered the things I’ve been instructed to bring for Friendsgiving this weekend: Clear Display stands, my Crochet bag, a bottle of Amaretto, and some Gluten Free Rolls.
5. Collected leftover Christmas decorations to bring to my Mom’s to use when I decorate her house.
6. Took pictures of some items I want to sell.

Not much, but it was a little productivity. I finished just as Jeffrey got home, so we returned to the sofa with Harvey in front of the fire to finish out the day watching favorite shows.

Not a bad day off, if I do say so myself.

First snow of the season…

Means first fire of the season…

As you can see, Breen Acres is fully decorated. It’s kinda weird to be completely decorated so early, but also kinda cool. I’ll save the full tour for later in November, so as not to send the “no decorations before Thanksgiving” crowd into a frenzy.

Tomorrow, we have the day off (Veterans Day) so we will be enjoying the day chilling by the fire (is that an oxymoron?) and watching movies.

We hosted a lovely brunch with the G&G gang this past Sunday…

We realized we’ve all been hanging together since meeting (and working together) at a Summer Day Camp in 1994. Wow! 31 years. How many friendships last that long these days?

It was a good kick off to the holiday season. This weekend, we head to CT to see Hamilton (for the 3rd time) Friday night, and then enjoy a home cooked Friendsgiving meal on Saturday at the BFJ’s house with mutual friends.

We don’t have a free weekend again until the second weekend of January.

ZOIKS!

Lest you think I would just skip over Halloween and go right to X-mas decorating, here is the current decor at Breen Acres:

Pretty good considering we used to just put out 1 light up pumpkin, eh? There are also some ghost and pumpkin solar lights out along the driveway.

I put a crockpot of “Taco Chicken Chili” on this morning, so dinner will by easy peasy.

I will pick up the female parental unit after work and bring her back here, where she will pitch herself in front of the door and wait for tricker treaters to arrive.

All the while, the BFJ and I will be sipping cocktails, watching Halloween Specials, and checking the porch cams for DILFs bringing their kids to trick or treat.

Should be a fun night!

Our power is out. We lost it about 45 minutes ago. We have enough flashlights, candles, and charged motion light bars to help us navigate through the house safely, and my laptop and iPad are fully charged so we have some entertainment (at least until the batteries run out.) I hope it doesn’t stay out too for too long or we’ll have to deal with two refrigerators full of food.

I’m usually good for the first 2 hours of a blackout. After that I start to get antsy. But I should be in bed asleep by then. Hopefully lights will be on by Morning. The BFJ is arriving around 7am tomorrow and we both have to work from here which will be problematical without power. Also, tomorrow is All Hallow’s Eve and the mother person is coming to hand out candy to the crotch fruit (although a dark house lit by candles might just add to the evening’s atmosphere.)

The BFJ is here for the weekend because Saturday morning, bright and early, we start decorating my house for X-Mas. It’s earlier than I have ever decorated, but BFJ really wanted to help me and this is his only free weekend. Hopefully the power will get back on by then.

FYI: The image above had nothing to do with this blog post, by the way. But I loved it and wanted to Post it.

198 days to go (after today.)

It has been a very productive weekend. Through the use of Facebook marketplace and Freecycle, I have managed to get rid of five bags of plush animals, four metal chairs, a set of 10 shot glasses, 2 Xmas trees, and about 2 bins worth of Christmas ornaments. Plus a few odds and ends.

Some of it I’m giving away. Some of it I’m selling (for VERY little money.) And sometimes, even if they come expecting to pay, I give it to them for free.

Getting a few bucks for things I don’t want or need is nice, but way better than that, is the feeling the gratitude from the people I have given stuff for free and how wonderful that gratitude makes me feel. It feels almost as good as getting a new batch of comic books to read! (ALMOST!)

My two favorites:

A sweet lady who showed up to get my two pencil trees. Her friend saw my add on line and asked if I would please hold them for her friend who was in need. After she arrived and we loaded the trees into her car, I asked her if she could also use some decorations. And she excitedly said “yes.” So I brought up 2 large and 2 small containers of ornaments. Then I asked if she’d also like a matching pre-lit garland, tree ribbon, tree topper, and big red metal bow. She got so excited she started jumping up and down.

After I loaded the last bit into the car, she told me how grateful she was, because her father loves Christmas and she really wanted to make it special for him this year. Thanks to my trees and ornaments, now she could. She gave me a big hug, called me her “Christmas Angel” and said she felt blessed to meet someone so kind. I had to hold back tears. Something so simple to us as getting rid of some extra decor to free up space in the basement, meant she would be able to do something wonderful for her father. Shortly after she left, I received this message from her friend:

Again, tears…

My next favorite, another sweet lady came by to take our collection of Christmas moose (which no longer fits into my decorating scheme.) As we were putting her bags of moose in the car, she explained she works with special needs children and these would be wonderful toys for them that they would really enjoy, especially because they were “soft and cuddly.” I asked if she’d like some more, and when she quickly nodded yes, Jeffrey and I ran around our rooms and collected enough plush animals from every corner of the house – goats, giraffes, beanie babies, bears, Disney characters – to fill three more bags. Again, she was incredibly grateful and promised us she would share these items with other people she knows who also work with (or are parents of) special needs children.

After she left, I was SO filled with new joy, mingling with the residuals from the interaction with the first wonderful lady who got the ornaments, I couldn’t stop smiling.

Today’s customers were happily surprised when I refused the money and said the items they stopped to pick up were a gift. I got the distinct sense this couple might be struggling, and the few bucks I was taking from them probably meant way more to them than it would to me. I may have been wrong about them, but better that than take money from people who can’t afford it. They both thanked me profusely, and gave me a hug. I suspect that small act of kindness was a huge win for ten.

Man, who knew getting rid of a few things we no longer needed would turn out to be incredibly cathartic and reinvigorating for me!

I was reminded that no act of kindness is too small. I also realized that maybe the most rebellious thing I can do to fight against this fury-driven fascist government of hate, is to continue to be kind; continue to help others in need; continue to be caring, compassionate, and sympathetic; continue to do what good I can, whenever I can, to whomever I can.

And I learned that, indeed, there really is still some goodness in this world.

Word of advice:

When given the chance to be someone’s “Christmas Angel,” please take it! Because the wonderful, warm fuzzies reward you will feel from helping someone else and making their day a little brighter, is the fuel you’ll need to face the monsters in this world, because your reminded of who and what you’re fighting for.

Be kind, folks, for goodness sake!

https://youtu.be/8w3o6oKxQHI