4th of July Weekend

After making a run to the town dump with Dad on Saturday morning, I spent the rest of the holiday weekend alone. I watched the first two seasons of "Mad Men"; sorted (and read some of) Dad's musty old comics from the basement and sheds; cleaned and rearranged my living room and bedroom; and drew. No money spent, no travel required. Well, except for the nighttime run to McDonald's last night.

Sunday - Spring into Action

I got up at 8:30 and got ready for Easter brunch at the Wachusett Village Inn with my parents and two of my 3 siblings and their families. We have gone there every year except one for the last decade or so because they feature private rooms for family dining while giving access to their fine Easter buffet.

The economy being what it is (thanks, Bush & Cheney, you miserable fu*%ers), there was no chocolate fountain, to the seven kids' disappointment, and their usually outstanding seafood chowder had been downgraded to a serviceable clam. Otherwise it was a decent spread. I had a plate of link sausage, scrambled eggs, a slice of lemon cake and a fantastic apricot flaky pastry. Later, I had a second plate of eggs & sausage, but I added a cup of chowder (which was very good). I also had another pastry, which I cut in three so Jackie & Helena could try it too (Jackie hated it, while Helena liked it). The coffee absolutely sucked. I even poured out a nearly full pot in the room's sink so we could get a fresh pot more quickly, to little improvement.

All that aside, it was a fun morning spent with my parents, and Kevin & Sarah and their respective clans, hanging with the various kids and even playing a game of magnetic chess with Hayden. When I got home I made a pot of my coffee, and spent the rest of the day in a blur of television, internet games and reading. A nice low-key Easter is on the books.

The Haul

Do my parents know me or what?

I spent a great evening with my parents, Kevin, Sarah and their families last night. It sucks that Jason is still in California, but that's life. I arrived at the family estate just before 6 pm, and we all had a big dinner, with a choice of roast beef, turkey, various vegetables & salad, a few types of bread, and gravy for both meats. I had turkey, stuffing, gravy and buttered Italian bread. Coffee and a few cookies for dessert, and then it was gift time!

The kids all loved what I got them, and the adults were appreciative of the "Dinner with KJ" coupons. I received the following:

• J & Stacie - A gift card (gc) from Target that came with a small Lego set (the Target dog).
• Sarah & Jon - $25 for JC Penney (winter hat & scarf here I come).
• Kevin & Holly - Two framed vintage menu parts from the Union Oyster House, from 1945. He's had them hanging in his house for years, and I've long admired them. Kevin was going to make me a set, but figured I should have them now, and he could replace them for himself at his leisure. Very cool. Plus they gave me current school photos of the three kids :)
• Dad & Ma - Wow, where do I begin? They still bestow gifts upon us at Christmas as if we four were all still little kids. I received $25 gc's from Barnes & Noble, Michael's and Mobil/Exxon, plus a $40 gc from my local comic shop, That's Entertainment. Also, they got me the first "Flight" compilation, the hardcover graphic novelization of Stephen King's "The Gunslinger Born", and "Starbucked" by Taylor Clark. Ma got me a 6-pack of tube socks (over the calf, of course!), and a 3-pack of black dress socks. I have the "Mad Men" Season 4 dvd collection coming in March (it had to be pre-ordered), and I received the SNL "Saturday TV Funhouse" dvd as a 'placeholder' (funny, Ma!). I usually get some kind of coffee for Christmas, and this year was no different. I got a 2-pound bag of Starbuck's House Blend (whole bean), and a humongous 5-pound bag of Sumatra Mandheling beans from Coffee Bean Direct - SWEET! Plus I received replacement blades for my Norelco razor, and a big jar of M&M's. What can I say besides 'thank you', except 'my parents rock'!

Christmas Eve

I woke up at eight (I have been setting my alarm lately to form a routine even though I am not working, and some mornings I get up way before the alarm even goes off), made coffee, did dishes, and did some Christmas present wrapping while the tv was on. I only have gifts for the my ten nieces & nephews this year. Nothing for my siblings and their spouses, and nothing for my parents, except a promise. I plan on taking each couple out to dinner once I finally find a job suited to my skills and experience (alas, the time for being selective has long passed). Maybe I will win the lottery tonight... But no moping: more on tonight's family Christmas gathering later!