respublica

Bear Hugs

For a few weeks our local Schnucks has had a display of giant bears in their seasonal aisle. This has struck me funny each time I'm in the store and see these huge cuddly stuffed bears. One week they were seated on tiny chairs in a circle as if they were having a good time together. Another time they were tossed into a huge box. This week they were back on display among the chairs. All to tempt us to bring one home as a Valentine's gift.

Valentine's Day was yesterday and that day is also our grandson Connor's birthday. For 3 years Connor has been in love with these big bears and since he was turning 11 we all figured that phase was over. But no. When I asked Lizzie what he wanted for his birthday, one thing was a giant bear. Another giant bear. I'm pretty sure his parents tried to dissuade him about this. His mother even told him not to get his hopes up for a bear.  She even sent me a picture of his face after she told him this.

So, what else could I do? I love these bears, they are so soft and really cuddly. So I got one for Connor and we brought it over to the birthday boy's house last night. Pure joy!

He then went to his room and brought down his past bear gifts and we sat and laughed and laughed.

They really are comforting.

Valentine's Day dinner reservations

It's not a good idea to think you can just go out to dinner on Valentine's Day without calling ahead for reservations. Truthfully, you should have made them by now, that evening is huge for eating out and every place is jammed. We learned that many years ago when our kids were young and we made a spur of the moment decision to take them out to eat on Valentine's Day. Every place was packed and the waits were long. So we went home. Lesson learned.

But, this is one place I'd never have expected to need reservations-Waffle House. Yes, Waffle House will be taking reservations this year.

Just an FYI if that is the place where you'd planned to celebrate Valentine's Day.

The comments to this story are funny in a nice way. One guy wrote: "Valentines/ Waffle House: Because Pancakes Work when all your other plans fell FLAT."

Let there be light

It is light much longer in the late afternoon, but, boy, it never seems to lighten up in the morning.

Staying warm in this deep cold

It took me what seemed forever to get dressed this morning as I pulled on several layers from tops to bottoms. Then I went outside with Ferdie and the cold went right through those clothes, at least the 2 layers of pants I put on. That led me to thinking how much better served men are in their options for cold weather clothes. Women's winter clothing are seemingly called thermal or cold resistant, but are made more for looks than actual warmth. We don't want to look bulky I guess.

Back on a 90 degree day in mid-September, the Cardinals played their last game of the season and the give-a-way was a red plaid fur hat with ear muffs. We all got one and laughed a lot over the seeming absurdity of these hats. But, frankly, I'm wearing mine this week without shame or embarrassment. The funny thing about the hat was finding an L L Bean catelog for winter with a Golden Retriever on the cover wearing the same hat.

This is most certainly true this year

Sunrise sunset

It's interesting watching the time of sunrise and sunset . It's not something I pay much attention to in the summer since daylight lasts a long time most days. But right now, at the beginning of official winter and in the fall, I do take note. Once the first day of winter comes, each day sees sunset coming a minute later than the day before. But the mornings do not come earlier for some time. Actually it's darker in the mornings longer than you'd expect. We may think the days are getting longer when winter comes, but only at the back end.

If you have to drive east in the morning or west in the afternoon, it's good to know when the sun will be at the worst spot on the windshield. I've learned when heading east to church on the interstate on Sundays that 20 or so minutes after the official time of sunrise is the worst. That is when the sun is up far enough that even the car visor will not shade the blinding sun ball which stares right into the lower middle of the window. I always hope for a cloudy start to Sundays.

The scariest moments I've had driving were when the timing was such that I drove into the sun and could not see a thing.

Interested in the Rose Parade?

We almost always watch the Rose Parade because it's a great parade, but also Dale has ridden on floats 3 times. Two years ago the whole family went out to Pasadena for the parade and it was such a memorable experience to have all the grandsons watching right on the street.

It begins at 10 Central Time. If you're interested in certain entries, here is a link to the order of appearance tomorrow. The Lutheran Hour Ministries float will be 61 out of 91 entries. i have to confess, as good as the parade is, the getting out of there and to a car and back to wherever you're staying is a nightmare of traffic and closed streets and people walking in front of cars. But it's worth it.

After we broke free from the congestion two years ago we stopped at an In N Out burger place and it was so good. Most of us in the family had never had an In N Out burger so it was a treat. I wish St. Louis would get one of these and also a Chicago based Portillo's Italian beef franchise. Why is St. Louis ignored by these well loved places that go to so many other states?

List of words to be banished in 2019

Lake Superior State University in Michigan publishes a list of words and phrases they, and probably we, are tired of hearing and put them on a banished list. This year's list is headed up by the word "collusion". It then continues with the following:

Wheelhouse

In the books

Wrap my head around

Platform

OTUS

Yeet

Litigate

Grapple

Eschew

crusty

optics

legally drunk

thought leader

Importantly

Accouterments

Most important election of our time

 

 

New Year's Eve thoughts from the web

Came across two New Year's thoughts this morning which are interesting. Maybe I'll add more as I find them during the course of the day.

From a New Yorker: "New Year's Eve in New York City: stand outside for 12 hours in the cold being elbowed by total strangers so you can watch Ryan Seacrest count down from ten, then get on a packed train and stand with drunks all the way to Bellmore. What part of this sounds like fun?" 

We usually watch part of the Times Square ball drop on New Year's Eve and have wondered the same thing.

From Chad Bird: "New Year's Eve is the annual festival of we're:

Not good enough

Not skinny enough

Not nice enough

Not smart enough

It is the unholy day of the Little Law that always accuses us. Today and every day hear this: Christ is our Enough in Him alone we are 100% pleasing to God."

A blessed Christmas to all here

We actually have more energy than Ferdie today.