Yesterday was the Boxing Day party of my neighbors and I think the photos tell it all. Every year they add another tree. I think they are up to 8 now. Their Jewish tree is hung upside down! Another tree is covered by cardinals. I don’t think I got a photo of it this year. At any rate, welcome to the party. Click on photos to enlarge.
See many more photos of the different trees plus explanations by Sergio HERE.
Anyone who reads my blog regularly probably knows what a fan I am of Cheetos Torciditos. I have probably done more to promote them than anyone in my part of Mexico and I’ve addicted more than a dozen friends and caused the store right next to the Racquet Club to start selling larger bags of them. Now, if you are wondering why I am suddenly showing a bag of them on my blog, perhaps the next photo will clarify.
Two days ago a mysterious, beautifully-wrapped gift showed up under my Christmas tree. Since it was my only gift to open and so beautiful, I still hadn’t unwrapped it until today when Sergio, my next door neighbor, came over to borrow chairs and TV trays for his party. He insisted I open it, but the wrappings are shown below.
Now, if you take a less closeup view of my bag of Cheetos, you can see that it is a very large bath towel with an image of a bag of Cheetos Tordicos on it. It turns out that they went to a lot of work to locate it in Liverpool, where they were sold out, and finally located it on the internet. They know me so well. Not only is this my favorite food on Earth, but I have been looking in vain for a full-sized towel to use in the pool.
Thanks once again to the best neighbors ever––David and Sergio.
They threw a great party as well, where I wore my Cheetos towel as a cape, looking like some sort of Cheese Curl Avenger. Photos to follow.
This is me, trying to show my cape but unable to figure out how without turning it around backwards. I might have figured out a better way if it hadn’t been for the sangria…Happy Boxing Day, Everyone!!!
And for more Cheetos excitement, go here: https://judydykstrabrown.com/2022/09/24/ode-to-cheetos/
Merry Merry Quite Contrary
By January, “Merry” is an attitude we’re through with—
that once Christmas is over, we don’t know what to do with.
I’ve never heard one person say “Merry Fourth of July,”
as they send a rocket soaring into the sky.
As I review the situations for a celebration,
“Merry” is never used again to signal our elation.
“Have a merry birthday” is a phrase we don’t adore
as we celebrate the fact we’ve piled up one year more.
By the time Christmas is over, I think we’ve used up “merry.”
Are we tired of this adjective? My thought on this is “Very!”
“Happy” seems to be enough for all else that we do—
sufficient for occasions we celebrate anew.
Prompts today are adore, situation, anew, merry, bother and review.
For Cee’s FOTD
Moonshine
Lustrous moonshine goddess slipping through the stars,
heading off for liaisons with Jupiter and Mars,
songs written in your honor spread moon dust in their lines.
Moonflowers crane their necks and twist upon their vines.
Eyes that scan the heavens as you grow pale and wan
grow stony charting courses where you may have gone.
At the stroke of midnight, they too will fade away—
pale bodies spread upon their cots under the moon’s faint ray.
Humbug
I’m already tired of Christmas before it’s even through,
and there are three more gatherings that I still have to do.
I look into the mirror and do not recognize
that woman that looks back at me in my face’s guise.
Should we discuss those brand new lines etched across my face?
How did they choose their birth date? How did they choose their place?
Perhaps they represent my angst over this Christmas season
that somehow soared way out of hand—nearly beyond reason.
Next year I won’t put up a tree. Stow every Xmas light
up in my spare room closet, safely out of sight.
I won’t say Merry Christmas to everyone I meet.
I’ll fly down to Bermuda and complain about the heat.
I’ll stay in a four-star hotel and won’t regret the tab.
I’ll forget my seafood allergies and dine on shrimp and crab.
Or perhaps I’ll go to Paris and scale the Eiffel Tower,
then sit in a sidewalk restaurant, my expression bored and dour.
My Christmas will be different. Perhaps I’ll dine on horse,
swearing when I’m finished that I’ll have no remorse.
Wherever I might choose to go, whatever choice I make,
I will not trim a tree, no Yuletide spirit will I fake.
I won’t bake star-shaped cookies dozen after dozen
or debate on what to buy for any second cousin.
I’ll make no trips to Walmart, braving holiday masses.
I’ll simply get my Yuletide cheer from bottles and from glasses.
Sangria for my breakfast. Tequila served with lunch.
Mid-afternoon martinis drunk with the cocktail bunch.
No over-saturation with holiday excesses.
No presents piled under the tree and wrapping paper messes.
If I have a hangover, it will be gin or port.
No light strings to untangle. No ornaments to sort.
Then, after all is said and done, the truth will be, I fear,
that my Christmas spirit will re-emerge next year.
For, New Year’s resolutions, as firm as they may be,
seldom last throughout the year. Somehow they seem to flee.
And so it is with Christmas. Much as we try to beat it,
It seems that every year we are destined to repeat it.
Prompt words today are birth, discuss, nearly, gathering, represent and mirror.
I had four other flowers to use today, but this is the only one my camera would release to my blog. Guess it just insists on a Christmassy theme.
For Cee’s FOTD
I promised to show you my favorite foot shot, but here are a few others as well: (Click on photos to enlarge.)
(TamrahJo’s blog can be found HERE.)
lifelessons - a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown 