Fun and Games Dept

I realize humans are doing some very awful things to our planet, but 50°F and higher in Chicago the weekend before Christmas is enjoyable.

It’s a shame we’ll pay the price for this weather further down this timeline.

Only a couple of the terraces on our side of our condo building have Christmas lights or similar decorations. This building down the street from us has seemingly all participated and coordinated the whole all white lights vs multi color lights approach. The designs are different but everyone seems to be thinking along the same line.

The rows of homes along any given street seem to follow a theme, probably in an effort to “do as the neighbors do”. You’ll see a bunch of homes in a row with all white lights on one block and then on another block you’ll see a bunch of home with lights of varying colors. Years ago I heard a discussion around whether this types of lights used were indicative of a socioeconomic status, but I don’t think this holds completely true. If anything I think this would apply more to the inside decorations.

We confuse people as we have multiple trees with multiple approaches to decorations.

Growing up we had the family room, which was decked out in colonial 1970s wallpaper and color scheme. I would decorate a tree with red and white decorations and all red lights. I always enjoyed doing this. In later years the red lights gave up the ghost and the tree was decorated in all white lights.

It was still quite enjoyable.

I’ve had quite a day at work today. Here’s a rendition of “Linus and Lucy” originally by Vince Guaraldi Trio, performed on the CBC in 2014. The drummer is the percussionist on the original recording, Jerry Granelli.

This is what one would call “loving the moment”.

My husband is busy in the kitchen. I’m not allowed beyond the breakfast bar. It’s just part of our “thing”.

Not a holiday song but usually heard during the holidays, here’s “Linus and Lucy”.

Growing up both my husband and I were in charge of the Christmas Tree lights in our family. I spent hours finding the proper lights for the tree our family would put up, Earl had a very specific way of putting the lights on his family’s tree.

Our approaches to putting lights on the Christmas Tree are completely opposite from one another. I always started the bottom, he starts at the top. He puts the star or other tree top on first, I put it on last. He goes counter-clockwise, I go clockwise. Everything is opposite.

So naturally we now do it his way. We’ve done it his way for 23 years.

We’re holding up just fine. And everything turned out beautifully.

I had my palm read while visiting Jackson Square in New Orleans. The woman was sitting at a card table on the square, dimly lit by the sparse number of street lights and ambient lights from nearby building. Everything was purple: the cushions on the chairs, her head wrap, her robe. I had a choice of having my palm read or a tarot card reading and I chose the former. She dove right in.

As she told me what she was seeing on my hand I couldn’t help but notice the mystical vibe she had going on with her eyes. While she couldn’t really be categorized as having cleanliness as a life priority, her eyes spoke and conveyed just as much as her friendly, confident sounding voice did. I did notice she wasn’t really interested in dental care either.

As she made her way around my hand I was surprised at how accurate she was with my personality traits and the like. Apparently I am going to live a long time and “keep all my marbles” along the way. She gave me numbers and I liked them. I like the sound of her interpretation of what lies ahead.

At the end of the reading she wondered if I had any questions and we spoke briefly around that sort of thing. Her fee was at scale with my satisfaction of the experience and I paid her what I thought my experience was worth. She wishes me a pleasant evening.

It was a very interesting experience. Hearing her beliefs of who I am made me a bit introspective and amped up some of my determination again.

I’d do it again.

We are aboard United flight 1174 to O’Hare after a wonderful weekend in New Orleans. According to Captain Catherine we are cruising at FL380 and the air is smooth.

We will be served dinner shortly. I think the flight attendant said something about chicken. She was speaking softly. I’m thinking it may be one of her first flights in the front cabin as she seems to be struggling a bit in the galley and the hot towel was actually sopping wet to the point where my pants are currently quite wet. I don’t mind, everyone has to learn and most of us learn on the job.

We spent quite a bit of time at the brand new KMSY New Orleans International Airport terminal today. From what I read on Wikipedia, the new terminal opened just last month. It has that “so fresh” feel to it. I remember the old terminal being a bit rundown; they were probably due a refresh.

We are currently flying about the clouds so there’s no much to look at out the window. However, courtesy of ForeFlight, here’s our route.

I’m amused by the fact the heating ovens in the galley making whirring noises like a jet engine spooling down. However, we are not losing altitude so all is well.

They say, “What happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas”. Las Vegas has nothing on The Big Easy. My husband and I have been in all 50 states. The most debauchery we’ve ever encountered is in New Orleans. People let loose in New Orleans and there’s nothing wrong with that. Anyone and everyone, no matter the color, no matter the gender, shape, size, whatever, needs to do that from time to time. We are at our best when we are honest and allow ourselves to be who we are. New Orleans is an amazing city. There’s music in the air, drinks flowing everywhere, and all sorts of other things that would make a mother blush. But in addition to all of this, the city generates a lot of garbage. All over the streets. People try but there’s no room in the garbage cans. It’ll be cleaned up by tomorrow morning, and we thank the city of New Orleans for that. In the meanwhile, we take a photo next to a hitching post. And eat pizza. And everyone in earshot knows I’m a pilot because, well, I fly airplanes (but not for at least eight hours from this moment).

Pizza with potato chips. I say “has anyone told you you’re awesome”? She blew me a kiss. I did the same. Last time I had pizza here was 2012. I had a full beard and it ended up my breakfast. I don’t understand it either.