Daily Ramblings – Bonus Content – Thanksgiving Countdown

Tags

Christmas, family, Friends, Good Food, Good times, Gratitude, Happiness, Holidays, New Years, passion, recharge, Relaxation, Thanksgiving

Ooh! Pumpkin pie, turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and all the rest await! It’s going to be a great Thanksgiving this year, like every year. I’ll be making the final grocery run tomorrow and I always end up getting more than we need.

I’m not much of a football fan, so I don’t watch the games, nor do I watch the parades. I used to when I was a kid, but now, I just enjoy hanging out and doing whatever. I’ll be doing a little gaming, reading, hanging out with the family, and eating a truckload of food, on and off all day long.

I decided today would be my last posting for the year, other than my holiday postings. I was going to continue all the way to the end of the month, but decided it was time to just shut things down for the rest of 2022. It’s been a great year, folks.

I’ve made some great friends here, that I would not have met anywhere else. So here’s a shameless plug for their blogs, in case you are interested:

https://kmallan.com/ – K.M. Allan is an Australian YA author. Her Blackbirch series is terrific. If you’re thinking of writing a book, she provides all kinds of tips, tricks, and real-world experience writing and publishing a book. She mailed me a copy of her first book, which was not cheap, and I so appreciate her.

https://tierneycreates.com/ – Enjoy crafting? Check out this blog for anything related to quilting, travel to cool places, and even some postings from one of her creations. Her husband is also quite the craftsman.

https://joannaoftheforest.wordpress.com/ – If you want some great pictures of the outdoors and enjoy reading articles that are happy and interesting, you’ll want to check out here postings.

I consider all three of these bloggers friends, because they always respond to my blog postings and we have had some interesting interactions.

Well, folks. I hope all of you have a terrific holiday season and get some time with friends, family, and your favorite hobbies. I’ll be doing what I love–gaming, reading, and writing. I’ll also be making some decisions about some daily postings that I’ve done this year, that I may change up, just to keep things fresh and help me explore new areas that I have not dove into before.

Happy Holidays, folks.

See you in 2023!

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Motivation Monday – Holidays

Tags

Christmas, December Off, Holidays, motivation, New Year's, Relaxation, Thanksgiving

Well, folks, we are fast approaching the end of the year. As a reminder, I started a tradition last year that I will continue this year. I will be shutting down Daily Ramblings at the end of this week. For those of you who are new, December is the month I shut down everything. I literally take the whole month off to do what I want to do. I sleep in, I read for hours, I game, I hang out with family and friends that visit this time of year, pretty much no schedule, no obligations, nothing. It’s a great way for me personally to come into the new year strong. It also gives me time to think through what I want to accomplish in the new year as well.

Many of you are preparing for Thanksgiving (US) and many other holidays that are celebrated specifically in your country. There are too many to keep track of and recognize here. That being said, holidays are truly motivational because of their recuperating characteristics.

I know most of you do not have the ability to take an entire month off. I get it. But you do have the opportunity to take some time for yourself a few times this month. When I worked, we always got a four-day weekend for Thanksgiving with a half-day the day before. For Christmas and New Year’s, we always got a half-day before the holiday and depending on when it fell on the calendar, we’d get a three or four-day weekend. Some folks, save their paid time off (PTO) to capitalize on these holidays and string Christmas and New Year’s Day together.

I’ll remind you again when I shut this down for the year but wanted all of you to know in advance. I look forward to this month and toward the end of this month, I am really looking forward to getting back to my work schedule.

Well, that’s it for today, folks!

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Bonus Content – Merry Christmas

Tags

Cheer, Christmas, family, Friends, God, Good Food, Hope, Love, pets, Presents, Reflect

I hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas or a holiday specific to your country. This a time to reflect on the year, enjoy our friends, pets, and families, and celebrate how terrific life is. It is a time of hope, thanksgiving, and sharing love for one another.

Merry Christmas to all of you, from Daily Ramblings.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Thankful Thursday – Christmas food

Tags

Cakes, candy, Christmas, Cookies, duck, goose, ham, Mashed Potatoes, Pies, Turkey, yams

It’s that time of year for pies, cakes, and cookies! Today, I’m thankful for these sweet morsels and all the great food during the holidays. Whether it’s a turkey, ham, goose, duck, or Cornish hen, they are all scrumptious.

I’m also grateful for my Mom and Sister for all the cooking they’ll do. My sister makes some killer deviled eggs. Mom makes awesome sweet potatoes, and all of her pies, cakes, and cookies are phenomenal.

So today, I’m grateful for the Christmas food.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Wisdom Wednesday – 5 Quotes

Tags

Christmas, Clement Clarke Moore, Dale Evans, Edna Ferber, Happines, Holidays, Love, Peace, Taylor Caldwell, Thomas S. Monson

Christmas is the spirit of giving without a thought of getting. It is happiness because we see joy in people. It is forgetting self and finding time for others. It is discarding the meaningless and stressing the true values.

Thomas S. Monson

Christmas isn’t a season. It’s a feeling.

Edna Ferber

Christmas, my child, is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give, it’s Christmas.

Dale Evans

Don’t let the past steal your present. This is the message of Christmas: We are never alone.

Taylor Caldwell

T’was the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

Clement Clarke Moore

This is the last 5 quotes post for 2020. In light of the Christmas season, I chose quotes that are about Christmas, rather than selecting a specific author’s 5 quotes. I hope you enjoy them. If this is the only post you follow on my blog, Happy Holidays to you and your family. Wherever you are, I wish you much love, peace, and happiness during this great time of year.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Ted Talk Tuesday – The History of Chocolate

Tags

Cakes, Chocolate, Christmas, Cookies, Goodies, History, Holidays, New Years, Pies, Tis the season

Since we are in the holiday season, many of us will be tossing aside our dietary concerns for the cakes, pies, candy, and all the rest that this time of year offers. In light of that, enjoy this Ted Talk on the History of Chocolate. It is short, but very informative!

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Schedule

Tags

Brother, Christmas, December Schedule, family, Good Food, Holidays, vacation

Hey all! My brother is coming into town on December 20, 2019 to hang out with the family. I’ll be shutting down from the 20th – 29th while he’s here to maximize time with him. I’ll be back up on the 30th, just in time to provide you my end-of-year autopsy and put out my goals for 2020.

I’ll announce this again on the 19th, but wanted to give you a head’s up.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Bonus Content – A Soldier’s Christmas

Tags

Christmas, Gratitude, Holidays, Sacrifice, Separation, Service, Serving Abroad, Soldiers, Thanks

Too all my brothers and sisters serving during the holidays:

A Soldier’s Christmas

Submitted By: Happytoscrapitall

The Night Before Christmas

T’was the night before Christmas, he lived all alone in a one bedroom house, made of plaster and stone.

I had come down the chimney with presents to give, and to see just who in this home did live.

I looked all about, a strange sight I did see: no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.

No stocking by the mantle, just boots filled with sand; on the wall hung pictures of far distant lands.

With medals and badges, awards of all kinds, a sober thought came through my mind.

For this house was different, it was dark and dreary. I found the home of a soldier, at once I could see clearly.

The soldier lay sleeping; silent, alone, curled up on the floor, in this one bedroom home. Not how I pictured a US soldier.

Was this the hero of whom I’d just read, curled up on a poncho, the floor for a bed?

I realized the families that I saw this night, owed their lives to these soldiers who were willing to fight.

Soon ’round the world, the children would play and grownups would celebrate a bright Christmas Day.

They all enjoyed freedom, each month of the year, because of the soldiers like the one lying here.

I couldn’t help wonder how many lay alone on a cold Christmas Eve in a land far from home.

The very thought brought a tear to my eye; I dropped to my knees and started to cry.

The soldier awakened and I heard a rough voice, “Santa, don’t cry. This life is my choice.

I fight for freedom, I don’t ask for more; my life is my God, my country, my corps.”

The soldier rolled over and drifted to sleep; I couldn’t control it, I continued to weep.

I kept watch for hours, so silent and still, and we both shivered from the cold night’s chill.

I didn’t want to leave on that cold, dark night, this guardian of honor, so willing to fight.

Then the soldier rolled over, with a voice soft and pure, whispered, “Carry on Santa, it’s Christmas Day, all is secure.”

One look at my watch and I knew he was right, “Merry Christmas my friend, and to all a good night.”

Author: A peace keeping soldier stationed overseas

Scrapbook.com I do not know who the original author of this is, but wanted to cite the website I found it on. If you, or someone knows who the original author is, please reply in the comments, I will edit this and replace it with the original copyright owner. I had to share this. It warms my heart every time I read it.

Daily Ramblings – Thankful Thursdays – Ah, Holidays!

Tags

Christmas, Coffee, family, Friends, Good Conversation, Good Food, Good times, Grateful, Holidays, Movies, Snow, Thankful, TV

Today, I’m thankful for the holiday season. I don’t really care about the gifts and such, but I enjoy relatives visiting, the Christmas lights, the tree, the snow, and all the food that comes this time of year.

This year my brother and sister are coming to town and it’ll be great. We’ll watch movies, talk as a family in the living room, eat out a few times, and maybe even catch a movie at our local movie theater. Then there’s the Christmas dinner, which will be Mom’s recipe for roasted duck! Yummy!!

Obviously, the gifts are fun, but I get a kick out of people opening my gifts, not so much the gifts I get. It’s nice to get people something you think they’ll like. It’s also fun to just enjoy the vibe of the family being together, reminiscing about times past.

I realize we should all be giving to one another all-year long, but because this time only comes once a year, it is special; you know?

I realize for some this is a traumatic time of year. It brings back memories of family members who have passed and the gaping hole they have left in the family. This is just tough and my heart goes out to all of you who are experiencing this. That being said, I would recommend throwing yourself into a charity or volunteering. I’ve always found that when I give of myself, my problems fade a bit. I know this is probably a simplistic solution to your problem, but I wanted to throw that out there, in case you have never tried it. It works. At least it does for me.

Well, that’s it for today. I hope all of you have a great Thursday!

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Thankful Thursday – Holiday Season

Tags

Christmas, Eating out, Exchanging Gifts, family, Friends, Good Food, Holidays, Movies, New Years, Thanksgiving

Today, I’m grateful for the holiday season that is fast approaching. My family celebrates Thanksgiving and Christmas. I used to be a big New Year’s Day fan, but frankly, my religious New Year occurs on the 23rd of October, so other than watching the ball drop on TV if I remember, it’s not that big of a deal.

 

I think the best part of the holiday season for me is the ability to just do whatever on these days, eat what I want (think potatoes, cranberry sauce, pies, cakes, and cookies), and hang out with family that comes to town.

This year, my Brother is coming to visit for Christmas. Mom and Dad are obviously excited about their middle son coming home, but so am I and my sister who is also going to be coming up to hang out with us. It’ll be a grand time!

During the times family comes home we gather in our home theater and watch movies, hang out in our living room over coffee in the morning, and go out to dinner once or twice during their stay to give Mom a break from cooking. If my brother comes, it guarantees us to get in some time on the Xbox.

What is so interesting about this venue is the ability to interact with so many people around the globe. What are the holidays you celebrate in your part of the world, and what do you do?

 

Post these in the comments below!

Have a great Thursday, everyone!

Until next time…

Dave