December 2025
December 31, 2025 Wednesday - I went to my friend’s house up north for New Year’s Eve. We ate a grape under the table at midnight for good luck. We’ll have to see how that works out for me this next year. It was after midnight before we got a chance to sit down and relax with our first cigar of the new year. Not a bad way to kick off the year.
December 30, 2025 Tuesday - It’s not quite New Year’s Eve, but I have a small pile of cigar bands on my desk. The old Single Barrel Jack bottle that I have is full. This bottle is almost empty and will make a good home for all the cigar bands I have and the ones that will come in the new year.
December 29, 2025 Monday - I got Biscuit back this morning. Her surgery went well and she recouped well over the weekend. It was weird having just the two pups over the weekend. She’s seems to be herself.They told me she has to take it easy for the next couple of weeks, so no jumping on/off the couch or going up/down the stairs. She’s going to be a princess for a while.
December 28, 2025 Sunday - Christmas Eve morning. I went to my aunt’s house to pick up some tamales. I immediately drove to Kroger to get this salsa; it’s good on everything. When I started working in advertising, my boss made salsas as a side gig. This is his brand. The chips and salsas are all great. I remember so many days having tamales and salsa at work.
December 27, 2025 Saturday - I started a fire for the first time in forever in the fire pit. I had the pups out with me. I set up my new tent and took a nap on my new sleeping pad later in the day. I ordered groceries along with stuff for s’mores and invited a bunch of the family over. It was nice to sit around the fire with so much family.
December 26, 2025 Friday - This morning I had to take Biscuit to the vet. She’s not been herself the last couple of days. The poor thing needs surgery, and I won’t get her back until Monday. After our trip to the vet, I went to my friend’s to take their presents to them. This really cool ashtray was one of the presents he received. We put it to use tonight.
December 25, 2025 Thursday - Christmas morning for me was spent with the pups sharing their treats and toys with them. After I showered, I turned the car around and loaded up the presents and drove to Riley’s. We started a new tradition of going out for Chinese before we open our presents. Today was a good day with her and Ari.
December 24, 2025 Wednesday - I think I’ve found a new Christmas Eve tradition. Today I spent most of the day wrapping presents and doing a Star Wars marathon. It’s not that I bought that many presents; I’m just really slow. They looked nice, though. I did take a break to go see my brother’s new calf, but I wasn’t gone long.
December 23, 2025 Tuesday - I was shopping for presents a while back on Amazon. I came across this and thought it would be perfect for my desk. I put this together tonight and use it to hold my charging cables for my mouse and keyboard. I think I’m to the point that I can’t buy any more Legos until I assemble the sets I have.
December 22, 2025 Monday - My boss invited me out to dinner. We planned to meet in Grapevine at Esparza’s because it’s across the street from Kilwins. I got to introduce her to their delicious goodness, and she got to pick out her own Christmas present. I think she liked her present.
December 21, 2025 Sunday - Today I went to run some errands and pick up a few gifts from Target. I decided to take the pups for the ride. We decided to pick up some lunch after we did our little shopping trip. This is the drive-thru at Dos Juanito’s. They have pretty decent menudo and good breakfast burritos. I couldn’t get to stay still long enough to get a good photo of him.
December 20, 2025 Saturday - I left the house to go get dinner. My phone didn’t connect right away. I pushed a couple of buttons, and the first thing that showed up was the Maps app. And the thing that popped up on Maps was my favorite Italian restaurant in Dallas. I wish I were going here for dinner.
December 19, 2025 Friday - Zak stopped shedding in large patches a while back, but from time to time a little spot like this will come loose on his hip. I got this off of him while we were relaxing on the couch. It’s weird that the inner tips are so light-colored. He’s such a rusty red dog.
December 18, 2025 Thursday - This is the same blanket from back in August. It’s definitely letting more warm air out than keeping cold air out. I mentioned this to my nephew’s wife last week when we all went out to dinner. She texted me to let me know Target had their blankets on sale. I ordered one and some treats for the pups.
December 17, 2025 Wednesday - Today at lunch, Biscuit heard me eating a snack at my desk. She hopped up here to see what’s what. Of course, I shared with her and the other two. I guess she liked it up because she stayed for a while and napped. I was worried she would roll off.
December 16, 2025 Tuesday - I finally made it down to my last caramel. If any of you are wondering what to get me for Christmas, another box of these dark chocolate-covered caramels from Kilwins fits just fine. Actually, anything covered in dark chocolate from Kilwins would be welcome.
December 15, 2025 Monday - I finally put my tree up one day last week. I was busy most of the day with work, and I feel like I’m coming down with something. I didn’t take a photo all day, so before going to bed, it crossed my mind to get this one. Starting to get into the spirit of the season.
December 14, 2025 Sunday - Today, my good friend planned to grill a couple of picanha. On top of that, I didn’t get a chance to make guacamole for our good friend that’s visiting. Her girls were really looking forward to it. Of course, we had a couple of cigars and a few drinks with all this.
December 13, 2025 Saturday - A good friend and her kids came into town for the first time in a long time. I headed up north after having menudo at my aunt’s house this morning. We all went to see my friend’s daughter play volleyball before heading out to have dinner. Today was a good day.
December 12, 2025 Friday - Yes, we were just here having tacos two days ago, but after work today it sounded like a good idea. We finally got the kinks worked out. The girls know to go to the back to eat and then back to the front to ride home. I got bowls for the pups in my camping box so we don’t make a mess too.
December 11, 2025 Thursday - Today is Dad’s birthday. I went out to get pho with my sister for lunch. Then this evening I went to see my nephew’s daughter’s basketball game, and then a big group of my brother’s family went out to dinner to celebrate his birthday. I have a good friend whose birthday is today too.
December 10, 2025 Wednesday - This morning on our status call, we were all talking about food. Tacos were part of the conversation. By lunchtime, I decided to take the pups for a ride to get a bite to eat. After lunch, Biscuit and Pancake decided to stay in the back and ride home in Zak’s new bed.
December 9, 2025 Tuesday - Today was ZaK’s turn to go see the doctor. He was due for his shots, but he also hopped off the couch, and one of his claws popped off. He’s been favoring his paw since. I guess he learned a lesson because he let the staff clip his nails this time. I got him a burger at DQ for being so good at the vet.
December 8, 2025 Monday - This is the room where I’ve been spending some of my most recent doctor visits. It wasn’t horrible but sufficiently unpleasant to make me not want to go back. Thankfully, this was my last of 5 treatments over the last few weeks, and now I’m as good as new.
December 7, 2025 Sunday - I’ve needed a new big pot for a long while, but I don’t use it that often, so it wasn’t pressing. Now that the cold weather is here, it’s time has come. It actually was delivered earlier this week. This is the first thing I made in it. A big pot of stew with just a little hint of cayenne pepper really did the trick today.
December 6, 2025 Saturday - I’m really liking this cold weather. It’s even better with all three of the pups surrounding me on the couch, keeping me warm. You can’t see him, but he’s right next to me. The sun only hits the couch here during the winter, so at least the girls get a little bit of its warmth.
December 5, 2025 Friday - Today is Zak’s gotta day/birthday. I made quite the meal for all of us. I made some garlic mashed potatoes, roasted parmesan broccoli, and steaks. The sides were more for me, but I did give them a little bit to taste. They definitely like the steak more. My boy is getting older and gray.
December 4, 2025 Thursday - Today I was making up for being out half of yesterday. I wrapped up a little bit early to go see my nephew’s daughter play basketball at the local high school. I was going to go do some grocery shopping for tomorrow after, but I remembered the Cowboys were playing.
December 3, 2025 Wednesday - Today I took a half day because I have a couple of doctor appointments. One was all the way in Dallas, and I didn’t have time to get pho or Roti Grill. My next appointment was all the way in southwest Ft. Worth. I settled for tacos. I did find a cool Lego store too.
December 2, 2025 Tuesday - It was only slightly warmer today. Mostly just because it was sunny. I called my sister and invited her to get pho. To me, it’s never a bad idea to get pho, and when the weather’s cold, it borders on a brilliant idea. This really hit the spot today!
December 1, 2025 Monday - I need to get a bigger pot to make soup in. This cold weather is perfect soup weather. This evening I made another batch of vegetable beef soup. I shared a bunch with my neighbors. I worked out a trade with my SIL. She made a bunch of chili. I think we both are thinking this cold weather needs to go away.