Christmas Eve Eve

   

  Of course the furnace decides to not kick on this morning. DH must have noticed it was even cooler than I normally like it at night. We just had a full check-up on it in November and all was good. After a lot of what I can only describe as banging and dropping frequent effenheimers, it's fired up. DH isn't a swearer except during Vikings games and when working on mechanical things. I'm still in bed doing this post under a quilt as it will be a while before it feels comfortable. He must have just wrapped up in the blanket our older daughter made him and stayed downstairs.

I've got one more day before the first attempt to gather safely with my family. All are vaccinated, and should anyone not be feeling well, they'll forgo. Of course we know there's asymptomatic transmissions. I've been stressed about gathering, to be honest. I don't want my family to be the ones perpetuating this now two year sureal situation, but short of us all self isolated, not sure what else to do. We wear masks in public at stores or events, wash our hands repeatedly, use hand sanitizer- the whole lot. I've avoided public places without masks, no trivia or restaurants since December 9, but the others in my house have been out. We'll avoid hand grazing and have extra plates and utensils for nibbling at both gatherings- probably smart all the time. 

      I've a couple more presents to wrap, but I'll get those done easily while streaming YouTube. If my energy is here, I'm going to make a batch of jam and attempt Rosette's. I need to chill the batter so will mix that up after I get this posted. My office has been wrapping central and it's a mess. I'm trying to reuse bags and bows from last year and use recyclable brown paper, which with festive ribbon looks nice. 

     DD2 has plans with friends, if she feels up to it. She had her booster Tuesday night along with her flu shot and felt miserable, but has been able to sleep. She's not up yet, so we'll play it by ear. Her sister did both earlier in the month and it took a good 24-36 hours before she felt herself. DH is planning to stop by his work for their Christmas lunch. I think if he's lucky, the company brings lunch in, but some years it's been just a meat and cheese tray and pot luck. Basically, I'll likely be home alone a good portion of the day and I won't mind that to do my own things.

     It's supposed to be thrifty Thursday, but I'll be darned if other than the reusing wrapping I've done much to economize. Here's a couple.

• Rebated of $47 from electric company
• MetLife dividends combined this quarter for a whopping $81
• DD2 checked out a stack of books from library
• A friend mentioned Charlie Brown was going to be in Sunday night in PBS so I claimed the regular TV. It's my favorite and I also have an affinity for it because it premiered for my first Christmas in 1965
• Used $20 gift card from silent auction towards pizza, but DH gave a big tip when he picked it up so less savings 
• Got an Adsense payout of $102. Living the highlife, baby! Truth though, it will help increase end of year giving to our family service/ food shelf
• DS got thrown in the gift exchange. He asked me to pick up a bottle if Whiskey for his cousin-in-law, and it happened to be in sale so within the budget guide. I'm throwing some pistachios in with the bottle as well.

     Speaking of DS-still a slight chance he'll come at some point over the next few days. He just got back to LA yesterday and was pretty wiped by the time he was actually home. His birthday gift and main ( other than cash) Christmas gift, a Samsung tablet, had arrived. He was pleased with the tablet and said he was poking around on it. It's always nice when a gift is a win. 

     I hope your plans are shaping up, regardless of what you intend. I hope you and yours stay healthy, but also get to be with those closest to you, in person or by phone or Zoom.