Category: holidaze

Last night we were skyping with Kate and she chewed my ass  (not really, but did make me feel a little guilty)  for not doing many jimsjoint postings lately.  She is right. I have been lacking on the family blog at a time when there is a Marine 7000 miles away that needs something to read.  Stupid facebook’s fault anyway.  So anyway, I do have lots to write about and WILL get around to it in the next days.   I promise Kate!

But at least I’m better than good friend and blogging mentor big Al, who hasn’t posted something since July!  So see Kate?  Fortunately you aren’t part of the ChampagneCrew, then you would really be out of the loop.  And don’t let those Christmas decoration on the ChampagneCrew banner fool you. Those have been up since last year!!

I’m feeling  better about my blog already!  With the new year will come lots more GREAT jimsjoint content. 

The last day of the four day Thanksgiving weekend is bittersweet. I LOVE the four day weekend. Who doesn’t?  Only problem this year, no Kate. ~sigh~   Thursday morning it was bike ride with Downing. Nice morning for a ride. crisp and clear.  Then it was home to make cornbread and get to Staci’s in Stockton. We took the little dogs with us and Bruno cried like a baby for the first 45 minutes we were on the road.  Great ( and I mean GREAT) dinner prepared (mostly) by Staci. Turkey and all the trimmings. yummy yum yum.Staci’s real mom and dad were there. So were her Godparents.  Since we consider Staci one of OUR daughters, I guess she had all the parental units covered on Thanksgiving. I know your ways Staci!! All in all it was a wonderful Thanksgiving.   We had a nice time,  but missed our little girl.  We all talked about her though! Did you feel your ears burning Kate?

Black Friday we pretty much stayed around the house. I snuck out for a bike ride and got caught in the rain on the way home. All good going out the creek trail. Started raining about half way back. I even took a short cut home but still got drenched.  We had leftovers (Thanks Staci!) for dinner!!

Saturday was bike ride with Vandenbusch and Downing. Just like old times. Gorgeous morning in the bay area!  Nice 20 miler then coffee back at Starbucks. Just like old times. Back home but only to get ready to go hiking with Marie and Ron. We hiked the Pleasanton Ridge  on a glorious autumn day. A nice easy up hill to the ridge, then a short meander to a pond where Lydia (the dog) went swimming.  After the hike we hung around long enough for dinner time to roll around so we all went to a local pub for some grub. All good!

Sunday – 9:30 mass (the advent wreath is out!)  then breakfast with the Vandenbusch’s at Cabrillo Park Cafe. Just like old times. Then home to watch football and get ready for the week ahead. We had the fireplace cleaned so we’ve been having fires in the fireplace too. Kelly says its starting to feel a lot like Christmas. People (including Sturms around the corner) are putting up Christmas lights already. Its not even December yet!  We had left overs yet again (thanks again Staci!!!!!)   and I made some rice pudding for dessert. Its already devoured!!

This one is for you Kate

Easter Sunday 1986 – 1st house

Thats what Barb wrote on the back of this picture. Look at that pretty young thang! Newlywed Barbie.  Easter of 86, we weren’t even married a year yet. No kids, just Apollo, the cocker spaniel our realtor (Jo Szeto) gave to us as a house warming present. All was good in this picture, with the whole world and our whole life ahead of us. Barb’s camero in the garage.  Its funny that Barb wrote “1st house” on the back. She probably figured we be in this place but just a few years. Oh well. Things worked out pretty well anyway.  Barb, you are such a hottie!

The plan – head to Carmel for some Independence Day beach time. The players – Flahertys and Downings. We set out at 9am under cloudy skies. Beach chairs, ice chests, blankets and money (remember, this is Carmel!!) Heading down 101 all was good. A little apprehension as we realized that it was race weekend at Laguna Seca. Turned out to be a non-issue as “race” traffic wasn’t too bad. In less than 2 hours we were in Carmel, driving down Ocean Street to the beach.  Unfortunately so was everyone else! Traffic was thick and slow. We were still three blocks from the beach, stuck in traffic, and already trying to figure out  plan “B”. We decided we would turn around at the bottom of the hill, get a side street heading south, and find a less crowded beach. Slowly we inched our way down to the turn-around at the beach. Right when we thought all hope was lost, WAIT!!! THAT GUY IS LEAVING!!!  Some guy right in front of us was pulling out. A DREAM SPOT!!  There were maybe 10 parking places that are right on the beach. All the rest were up the hill. We were golden!!

You could really tell it was a holiday. People were streaming onto the the beach. Most were walking down the hill because they couldn’t get a great parking spot like us!  It was really busy there. Most people were taking the main entrance onto the beach. We chose to take the path to the left and head down where it wasn’t so busy.  As we were walking we were trying to eye a good spot to spend the day.  We settled on a spot that had to be one of the best spots on the beach.  A DREAM SPOT!!   Up on a little bluff, overlooking the beach.  In the distance to our right,  we could see the 17th and 18th holes at Pebble Beach. It was almost like we had a corner booth on the beach. We had ice plant behind us and to the left, and being on a small bluff, nobody was setting up in front of us.  It was almost  in a sea of people. Really cool.

After a few hours of beach time, we walked up into town for lunch.  The eight block up hill walk felt good.  Checking out the cool, multi-million dollar houses, the shops, the people, the dogs (Carmel is “dog friendly”).   We found the deli (Bruno’s!) we were looking for.  We split a half bbq’d chicken, tri-tip sandwich, corn on the cob and a soda. YUM!  Only problem, where to eat this holiday feast?  Too far to walk back to the beach with all this food.  Everything was CROWDED. People everywhere!  We decided to head across the street to the park where the city was hosting its 4th of July festivities. A good, old-fashioned 4th of July picnic.  We’d find a place to sit and eat. The park was crowded with people. Some kid was just finishing singing songs from Oliver Twist.  The 6-8 year old sack race was just starting.  John took a quick right and headed to the back of the park, away from the crowd, and….DREAM SPOT!!!   An empty park bench!   ITS GREAT TO BE AN AMERICAN!!!  We settled in and ate our lunch.  We were tempted to take part in the adult pie eating contest but decided against it. We walked back down to the beach to chill. The sun was out and the beach was crowded, and life was good.  Sipped a cold beverage, soaked in the summer sun, talked, laughed and savored our freedom.

At some point, and regretfully, (hated to give up that parking spot! HA HA), we decided to head home.  John and Michelle had some Black Angus gift cards that were burning a hole in their pockets. I guess Black Angus’s are closing down all over, so they wanted to spend them before they went out of  business altogether.  And who better to spend them with but us? :  )   A little back seat sluething ( I called directory assistance)  showed  a  Black Angus in San Jose!  We took a short detour to Blossom Hill Road and were there before we knew it. We  finished off our great day with a 4th of July feast!   Ribeye steak on 4th of July is about as American as you can get!   From appitizer (onion rings and grilled artichokes) to dessert (root beer floats and Choc fudge cake w/vanilla ice cream),  it was all good. We’ve found some good friends in Michelle and John,  and its great to spend some fun times with them. And I’m not just saying that because they  bought dinner! 

Dinner was over and we were back on the road and heading home right at  the time all the  fireworks  were starting.   Made for a nice conclusion to our 4th of July.  We could see rockets red glare and bombs bursting in air all the way home. 

God Bless America

TA DA!

Out for a ride on the day after Christmas. Great day!  Downing, Vandenbusch and I, out the Creek Trail, then  around Coyote Hills and up Heart Attack Hill.  On this day we took it up a notch by continuing our ride up to Skunk Hill, the top of the hill on the other side of the old Nike Missile base. A place where no man goes. On this day however we found a Christmas present!  Nicely wrapped in strapping tape and ribbon. After Downing stepped up and determined the present wasn’t an IED, Vandenbusch produced a knife and proceeded to open our present.  Turned out to be a bible, a Cliff bar and a few pieces of Christmast candy! YAY! We ate some candy then placed the bible back into to box with a couple of “good vibes” wristbands. Paying it forward on Christmas.

 Flaherty Christmas tree 2008 – Putting a virtual tree out there in honor of recruit Kate. Even though Kate will be spending Christmas on Parris Island,  she helped decorate this tree before she left.  I took this picture, printed it, and mailed it to Kate today, hoping to send her a little Christmas cheer.   Every ornament on our tree is special in one way or another, and no two are alike.  This year we added a Half Dome ornament!   Next year it will be the Eagle and Globe of the United States Marine Corp. 

Let your heart be light!

I’ve been playing some of my favorite Christmas music lately, and really getting into the Christmas spirit. We have a good collection of Christmas music. From the Vienna Boys Choir to Jimmy Buffett, and everything in between.  A few years ago we got a promotional Diana Krall Christmas CD, with just three songs on it.  Slow jazz versions of “Jingle Bells”,  “Christmas Time is here”, and “Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas”.  I love it!

Have yourself a merry little Christmas has become my Christmas favorite!  I play it a lot.   The second line of the song is “let your heart be light”.  I like that.  I’ve been thinking about it.  Let your heart be light.  What does that mean exactly?  I think it means that if everything is good in your life, your heart is light.   If you have worry, fear, anger, or negative things going on, then your heart gets heavy.  So  “let your heart be light”  is a good wish for people,  that their “heart be light.”  I liked it so much that I thought I’d write a jimsjoint posting about it!  I was feeling the Christmas spirit and wanted to share it!

Ok, but before I start the posting,  let me go check on Barb and the pups.  Quietly I go into the house,  Barb is sleeping soundly, pups under the covers.  Not wanting to wake her up, I go use the hall bathroom, then back to my office to begin my “let your heart be light”  post.

I sit down, bring the screen up on the computer. Humming the Christmas tune while waiting for the screen to load. I type the post heading:  “Let your heart be light.”  As I begin the rest of the posting, something catches my eye on the floor.  What is that on the carpet?  Mud?  Closer look.  Smeared dog poop!   YUCK!   I check my shoe –  CRAP!!!!!  BOTH SHOES!!!  DAMMIT!!!

Kick the shoes off  and go  back into the house to see where I stepped on it. Sure enough, one of the little monsters had pooped on the rug  in the hallway.  I stepped in it then proceeded to drag it down to the bathroom, then back down the hall, and out to my office. FRIGGIN DOGS!!!! Bottle of 409 and roll of paper towels, I begin to clean. First the two spots in the bathroom *gag* , pick up the other “dog log”  out in the hallway *ble* , then scrub the smear in my office *gag* *ble* ,  hose the crap off my slippers and throw my office throw rug outside.  Oh yeah, I also had to light incense in my office because  the smell was terrible! *gag* *ble*.  To make matters worse, I had put the poop filled bottom of my shoe on the legs and rollers of my office chair, so, poop there too!!!!!! GRRRRRRRR!!!  Here it is, 7:30 in the morning and I’m scrubbing dog shit while everyone else is snuggled warm in their bed!  My bed!  INCLUDING THE LITTLE SHITTER!!!!!  Something is not right here!!!

As I’m on my knees, gagging and cursing and wiping the last piece of dog shit off my chair, I look up at my computer and see what I had just typed………. let your heart be light…..

*sigh*

I took a deep breath, and smiled. Is God testing me??  Just 15 minutes ago I was full of the Christmas spirit and all things good. My heart was light!  Then, suddenly,  it wasn’t.  BUT NOW IT IS AGAIN!!!  I saw those words on the computer screen and, remembered.  I can’t let the negativity of the moment ruin the beginning of a wonderful day and wonderful feeling!!!   I can change the way I feel. I can let my  own  heart be light!!    Into the house I went with a renewed outlook. Like the Grinch who stole Christmas, my heart grew 5 times bigger!   I  made Barb her morning cup of coffee and then kicked  the dogs.  Hey, it made my heart feel light!  (jk)

Christmas (and life in general) can become overwhelming, or stressful, or negative.  Not what Christmas is about.  This holiday season I hope we can all focus on what is good, what is healthful in our lives.  Physically, mentally and spiritually, and not necessarily in that order.

 Let your heart be light!

We have a lot to be thankful for.  As I was getting ready for a bike ride on Thanksgiving morning,  I went to kiss Barb goodbye and wish her a happy day.  She was already happy!  “Both my girls are home” she said with a sleepy smile on her face.

Yes, a rarity these days. Kelly, who had been “moved out” for the last two years,  has moved back in.  Kate is only with us for another 5 days then she is off to Marine Corp recruit training.  So, for a few precious weeks,  all the Flahertys are together again.  As I sat there on the bed  Thanksgiving morning, we both realized that this may be the last time that we are all together in this way,  everyone waking up in their own beds. Who knows where the next three years will lead Kate. The world is her oyster.  Kelly, who has already had a taste of “adult life” will surely try to get back out of the house ( and into the world)  as quickly as possible.   But for these few days, we are a family, just like the old days.