Well here it is Christmas Eve, after I just took a nice long hot bath, ate some dinner, lit some candles, and can finally allow myself to relax.
Ahhhhhhhhhhh!
It’s been a LONG haul. Two weeks working over 50 hours per week without a day off has left me POOPED.
Yet, I gotta say…it was not too bad concerning customers because most everyone I waited on was pleasant and patient. Business this year was very slow to start, but the last week had people shopping in full swing.
And yes, the last two hours before the store closed tonight, our department was FILLED with last minute shoppers (mainly men) going insane because there were no gift sets left on the shelves that were under $15.00 and came with a FREE bag and a Mercedes Benz.
I left the store about five minutes before it closed, totally burned out and with aching feet; utterly glad that it was over for another year.
But I got a very pleasant and glorious surprise when I walked out onto the city streets.
I recieved the best Christmas gift I could have ever gotten this year.
It was SNOWING!
A snowy Christmas Eve.
Yup….it doesn’t get any better than that!
I felt blessed.
So I walked home with a big smile on my face, a spring in my step, and my mouth wide open.
Trying to catch a few snowflakes with my tongue...
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, EVERYONE!
X
Enjoy your break from the madness.
ReplyDeleteI was done with 99.9% of my shopping about a week ago, but had the obligatory one last thing to get today. (Yep, another one of THOSE GUYS!) In a sick twisted sort of way it was kind of fun to watch some of the other last minuters scrambling about.
We were able to shut down our operation on Friday and will stay that way until Jan 2nd. No big plans, just hanging out with the family. We've got a puzzle out on the table, the fireplace is going and we just watched "A Charlie Brown Christmas". Ahhhh.... good times my friend.
Glad you got a white Christmas Eve present and a very Merry Christmas to you!!!
Ooh, wasn't that snow glorious! We were just starting our celebrations when the flurries began. Fourteen of us tonight. Whew! I'll be enjoying a hot bath before too long myself! Right now though, I'm sipping a glass of quite strong red wine called Jersey Devil. (19.5%!) ...and, I'm typing your comment from my new MacBook Air! Sweet, eh? Hubby and son surprised me with it and I'm having fun learning the way of Mac. :)
ReplyDeleteI was one of those crazy people out today still picking up a few little things. Just can't resist! I start shopping in early November but we have such a long list that it takes awhile to get completely finished. There were a lot of shoppers out. I stopped in Barnes to get my tea and the lines at the main registers were pretty long. Boscov's was busy too. All good for the stores but the salespeople have probably had it!
Merry Christmas, my dear friend. Enjoy your candles and relaxation. Very much deserved! {HUG}
...I was just thinking about you today and was wondering how you were doing and that I bet you're glad this shopping season is over. What you need now is a bottle of bubbly, yes? ;o)
ReplyDelete...I want to wish you & yours a very Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with love, happiness, prosperity and good health!
...(((you)))
...Blessings to you my friend. :o)
Merry Christmas to you and yours Ron!! So glad for you ... that you can FINALLY relax!! xo Jeanne
ReplyDeleteHappy Christmas Ron! Relax now, you deserve it m'deario. xx
ReplyDeleteI am washed and brushed and ready to enjoy the big day. There is NO snow, but we have plenty of flooding water. Just for once I wish it would snow. I am having a quiet moment on my own before the family arrive and how better to spend it than looking in on my favourite bloggers. Today we eat and get merry at Moor Hall ... I gave up cooking a few years ago. Peaceful tidings, my friend x
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm glad to hear you made it through the season (up to this point) relatively unscathed! I'm sure, however, that you brought a lot of joy to a lot of people with your great sense of humor. That sense of humor may be one of the greatest gifts you could give shoppers caught up in the insanity of Christmas giving!
ReplyDeleteHave a good rest; enjoy your beautiful snowy Christmas. Remember it only comes once a year! :-)
Merry Christmas, Ron!!
ReplyDeletePut in the DVD, crack open a good bottle of wine and just BE.
Wow......you got snow.
You got SNOW!!
How awesome is that......
((((((((((( Ron ))))))))))
BTW, I'm shocked that there weren't any gift sets under $15 with a free gift.
They MAKE gift sets under $15 dollars that don't smell like bug spray? *laughing*
It's Christmas morning--we're still blanketed in snow (like you we got a fresh dusting yesterday on top of the blizzard's snow, no less!) and I've got a fresh cuppa coffee, a really cool marshmallow roasting reel...LOL.......and there's a turkey for the oven.
AND a new DVD or two to watch.
We're having ourselves a Merry Little Christmas....now.
You do likewise, eh?
*huge hugs*
Happy Christmas!!
Merry Christmas, Ron!
ReplyDeleteAt least, the Christmas shopping rush is OVER...now on to the returns!
Much love to you!
Ron, that last photo image was hilarious! Glad to hear it's over and that now you'll be able to just chill and relax. Enjoy your day!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas, Ron.
X
Hola Denise!
ReplyDeleteYaaaaaaaaaaaaaay....it's finally over!
Yup...today it's all about chillin' and relaxin'!
Merry Christmas, girl! And thanks for stopping by!
X
Hey there Suzi~
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you too!!!!!
"At least, the Christmas shopping rush is OVER...now on to the returns!"
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! You said it! I don't look forward to tomorrow when all the returns come in. OY VEY!
Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend!
X and Christmas cheer to you and your family!
Happy Christmas to you too, Pearl!
ReplyDeleteI'm just gonna chill out today and have a nice quiet dinner with a close friend.
X and Christmas cheer to you and your family!
Thanks for stopping by!
Merry Christmas, Jeanne!
ReplyDeleteMuch X and cheer to you, your family and the girlz!
Thanks for stopping by!
Good morning TJ!
ReplyDelete"and that I bet you're glad this shopping season is over. What you need now is a bottle of bubbly, yes? ;o)"
Yes siree! In fact, I opened a bottle of red wine last night and REALLY enjoyed a glass, while watching the snowflakes outside my window.
It felt like a scene from the movie, "White Christmas!"
"...I want to wish you & yours a very Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with love, happiness, prosperity and good health!"
Ditto to you, dear lady!
((((((((( You )))))))
X and cheers!
Good morning Valerie!
ReplyDelete"There is NO snow, but we have plenty of flooding water. Just for once I wish it would snow."
This is only the second time it snowed on Christmas Eve since I moved back east. The first time was the second Christmas I had, when it was literally a snow storm. However, last night it was just a light sprinkling. But hey, I was so happy about that!
Your day with your family sounds wonderful!
I'm going to get together with a close friend of mine later on today for a dinner out.
MERRY CHRISTMAS, dear lady!
And much thanks for stopping by this morning!
Cheers!
X
Hey there Lowell~
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kinds words, buddy. Humor is what gets me through those challenging times in life - I tried to find the comedy.
Laugh and the world laughs with you!
I was soooooooooo happy to see it snowing when I left work last night. I always act like a little kid when we have our first snow of the year. There is something so magical about it.
Thanks so much for stopping by, Lowell!
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Cheers!
X
That comic just goes to show you it really IS all about location, location, location.
ReplyDeleteGlad you got to see some snow on Christmas, Ron. Wish we could, too. Have a wonderful, fantastic, merry and bright holiday!
Howdy Jeff!
ReplyDelete"I was done with 99.9% of my shopping about a week ago."
*applause*
Way to go, buddy!
"In a sick twisted sort of way it was kind of fun to watch some of the other last minuters scrambling about."
HA! Then you would have LOVED watching all the insane people shopping in my store last night; scrambling with that PANIC look on there faces!
" No big plans, just hanging out with the family. We've got a puzzle out on the table, the fireplace is going and we just watched "A Charlie Brown Christmas". Ahhhh.... good times my friend."
Sounds AWESOME!!!!!
( if you look on my sidebar, you'll find a clip from "A Charlie Brown Christmas)
I LOVE that movie!!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and your family, Jeff!
And much thanks for stopping by!
X
Hey there Mary!
ReplyDelete"Ooh, wasn't that snow glorious!"
GLORIOUS!!!!! I was like a little kid when I walked outside; all giddy and happy!
" Right now though, I'm sipping a glass of quite strong red wine called Jersey Devil. (19.5%!) ..."
OH MY GOD....19.5%??????????? I need to look for that wine!!!!!
"and, I'm typing your comment from my new MacBook Air! Sweet, eh? Hubby and son surprised me with it and I'm having fun learning the way of Mac. :)"
Yahooooooooooooo! You gotta Mac!!!!!!! What an AWESOME Christmas gift!!!! And bet you're LOVIN' it!!!!!!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and your family, my friend!
Have a faaaaaaaaabulous day!
Much thanks for stopping by!
((((((( You ))))))
X
Merry Christmas, Mel!!!!!!!
ReplyDelete"Wow......you got snow.
You got SNOW!!
How awesome is that......'
Yes, how AWESOME is that????? I was so happy to see those little flurries falling from the sky last night. I felt like DANCING home!
"BTW, I'm shocked that there weren't any gift sets under $15 with a free gift.
They MAKE gift sets under $15 dollars that don't smell like bug spray? *laughing*"
HAHAHAHHAHAHA! No, unfortunately they don't. The cheapest gift set we had was about $49.50. And yes, it DID smell like bug spray - HA!
"It's Christmas morning--we're still blanketed in snow (like you we got a fresh dusting yesterday on top of the blizzard's snow, no less!) and I've got a fresh cuppa coffee, a really cool marshmallow roasting reel...LOL.......and there's a turkey for the oven.
AND a new DVD or two to watch."
Sounds like HEAVEN to me!
I'm going out later to meet up with a close friend for dinner at our favorite old-time diner. I LOVE diner food!
Enjoy your day, dearest lady!
((((((((( You ))))))))
Happy Christmas to you and yours!
X ya bunches!
Howdy Mark!
ReplyDelete"That comic just goes to show you it really IS all about location, location, location."
Bwhahahhahahahahaha! You said it, buddy! It's all about the LOCATION!!!!
Last night I was so happy to see it snowing! And you, being a snow lover like me, can understand that giddy and child-like feeling you get whenever you seen white flakes falling from the sky!
*squealing*
Merry Christmas, Mark!
Wishing you and Tara a wonderful, fantastic, and bright holiday!
X and cheers to you both!
Glad you are back! Merry Christmas, Ronnie!
ReplyDeleteHi Ronnie,
ReplyDeleteRonnie,
Bless you, sweetie; you survived the Christmas holiday season. YAY!!! You really deserved a slow and easy Xmas eve. I am more than sure that you are savoring "slow time".
Awwwh; you even have snowfall on Xmas eve. You must have felt happy going home like that!!
Hoping that Xmas day is light, happy and easy. You have ALL the time in the world and... you gave out all the promotional gifts! Those crazies won't be back until next year.
I am looking forward to seeing your posts return as you settle back into things.
See ya soon and take care. Say Hi to the "city of my heart" from me as you look down from Penthouse view!!
xox
Glad you are back! Merry Christmas, Ronnie!
ReplyDeleteHey there Bijoux!
ReplyDeleteThank you, my friend. It's good to BE back!
Wishing you and your family a faaaaaaaaabulously Merry Christmas!
Looking forward to blogging with you in 2013!
Cheers and X!
Bonjour Barb!
ReplyDeleteYaaaaaaaaaay....I survived!
OMG...it feels sooooooooo good just to have a day off to just chill and veg out.
"Awwwh; you even have snowfall on Xmas eve. You must have felt happy going home like that!!"
I was ecstatic! It wasn't a heavy snowfall, but it was a snowfall all the same - YIPEEEEEEEEEEE! I acted like a little kid walking home from work last night.
Today, I'm meeting up with a dear friend for dinner at our favorite diner in Philly. We're going to order their Christmas Day Special!
Thanks soooooooo much for stopping by today, my friend. Wishing you and D a blessed and merry Christmas!
(((((((( You & D ))))))))
X and hugs to you both!
Merry Christmas, Ron!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you survived the insanity. Wow...over 50 hours a week? I bet you were happy to finally have a day off. Hope you had some R&R today, along with a bit of Christmas cheer.
Glad to see you back!
Greetings Matt!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you too, buddy!
I had an awesome day. Got up late, and then had an early dinner with a friend of mine at our favorite diner. It felt so wonderful to relax, catch up, and just BE. The weather was perfect too - cold and Christmas-like.
Hope you had a super day with family and friends!
Thanks for stopping by!
Cheers!
X
Hope you had a nice relaxing Christmas, Ron. xoxo
ReplyDeleteHey, Ron, sorry about the late commentary. I must've hit the wrong button. Anyway, I'm so glad you've survived another Christmas season. I'm looking forward to reading more of your fabulous posts in the new year. Have a great holiday, buddy!
ReplyDeleteHi Ron!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that your insane working hours has ended beautifully with greetings from the lovely snowflakes falling from the sky :)
And I'm sorry that the guys missed the free Mercedes Benz, but even if it was available, don't you think that they would have asked for a different color? :)
Hey there Chrissy~
ReplyDeleteYes, it was so nice to finally have a day off to do nothing but chill.
Hope you and the gang had a faaaaaabulous Christmas!
X and Cheers!
xoxoxox
Hey there Rob~
ReplyDeleteGosh, sorry about that. Disqus sometimes hiccups, so it may have been a technical error on my end. But thank you so much for stopping back and leaving another comment.
" I'm so glad you've survived another Christmas season."
Yaaaaaaaaaay! And I'm so looking forward to having the whole month of January off. I may be taking a day-trip into NYC the first week of January, before they take the Christmas decorations down on 5th Ave.
Thanks for stopping by, buddy. Enjoy the rest of the holiday and I look forward to blogging with you in 2013!
Cheers!
X
Greetings Abu~
ReplyDeleteIt was such a wonderful Christmas gift to have SNOW on Christmas Eve!
"And I'm sorry that the guys missed the free Mercedes Benz, but even if it was available, don't you think that they would have asked for a different color? :)"
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! You're absolutely right....they would have!!!!!
Thanks so much for stopping by, buddy.
Happy Holiday to you!
X
Merry Belated Christmas, Ron!
ReplyDeleteGlad to see you back! Hope you enjoyed the day with some rest and cheer. I spent the day playing with my new iPad. Yes, I finally got one!
Happy New Year!
Merry Belated Christmas to you too, Robert!
ReplyDeleteYup...I had the most awesome day. Got up later than usual and then had a nice quiet dinner with a friend.
" I spent the day playing with my new iPad. Yes, I finally got one!"
Woot! Woot! You GO, boy! Congrats on your new iPad!!!!!!
Thanks for stopping by, buddy. Happy New Year!
Cheers!
X
Ron,
ReplyDeleteSoooo glad you had a wonderful Christmas and that you can finally relax. I'm kinda glad the frenzy is over as well. And guess what? We got snow too! Christmas afternoon. It was glorious! Such a rare sight here and having it on Christmas made it all the more magical. Merry day after Christmas!
hey ron,
ReplyDeletei thought an angel would be floating down on a cloud to you with a bag of money. got to the end and you said snow! i hate snow, but since you love it so much, i'm glad it was good for you. can you keep it in philly, please.
i just came out of a snow storm - it's horrible where i work, very dramatic, but less so down by where i live and i'm traumatized. worse drive home, ever. i'm drinking wine to calm my nerves.
glad you're posting again though, always good to read from you. will be in touch. soon. very.
soon the returns will begin!!
ReplyDelete"can I return this free gift set for something better?"
love the pic
me and Hope send big hugs
Hey there V Girl!
ReplyDelete"i thought an angel would be floating down on a cloud to you with a bag of money. got to the end and you said snow! i hate snow, but since you love it so much, i'm glad it was good for you. can you keep it in philly, please."
OMG...that CRACKED ME UP! "an angel floating down on a cloud with a bag of money!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Hey, I wouldn't have minded that either. But alas....it was SNOW!
I know, I know...most people hate the winter AND snow. I am sooooooo in the minority.
"i just came out of a snow storm - it's horrible where i work, very dramatic, but less so down by where i live and i'm traumatized. worse drive home, ever. i'm drinking wine to calm my nerves."
Yes, I had heard from someone in the store today that the roads were treacherous, so I don't blame you for being traumatized because I would be too. Even though I like snow, I don't like driving in it - especially when the road are icy.
Enjoy your wine!
Thanks a bunch for stopping by, girl. Hope you had a Merry Christmas!
X
P.S. looking forward to getting together with you and the girls!
Hiya Dianne~
ReplyDelete"soon the returns will begin!!
"can I return this free gift set for something better?"
HA! You said it! Luckily today, I only got ONE return. But things start coming back this next week, so I'm dreading it.
Thanks so much for stopping by, dear lady.
Hope you had an awesome Christmas in Brooklyn yesterday!
X and hugs to you and Hope!
Yay! Congrats....it's all over! Now, on to the next holiday! ;-)
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that you were able to relax after your marathon work session. I myself snuck in an extra day off from work to wind down from the festivities. Seems I needed a small vacation from the vacation ;-)
Ron, Soooo glad you had a wonderful Christmas and that you can finally relax. I'm kinda glad the frenzy is over as well. And guess what? We got snow too! Christmas afternoon. It was glorious! Such a rare sight here and having it on Christmas made it all the more magical.
ReplyDeleteMerry day after Christmas!
Hey there Angelia!
ReplyDeleteOMG...this is too funny because I was just thinking of you when I saw your comment!!!!
"And guess what? We got snow too! Christmas afternoon. It was glorious! Such a rare sight here and having it on Christmas made it all the more magical."
Yaaaaaaaaaaay.....you got snow too? That's faaaaaaaaabulous! And you're so right, having it on Christmas made it all the more MAGICAL!
Merry day after Christmas, my friend!
Hope you had an AWESOME day!
X and Cheers!
Howdy Herman!
ReplyDeleteI am soooooooooo glad that the madness is over - whew! It was a loooooong two weeks for me.
" I myself snuck in an extra day off from work to wind down from the festivities. Seems I needed a small vacation from the vacation ;-)"
Good for you, buddy! Often times the holidays take a lot of energy, so it's important to take time to just chill and relax.
Hope you and the family had an AWESOME Christmas!
So looking forward to blogging with you in 2013!
Cheers!
X to you, Karin, and Mr. Tyler!
I hope you had a very relaxing Christmas day. We pretty much just lounged on the couches for two days. It was great. Now I need to get back into the swing of things.
ReplyDeleteHi Ron! Merry ex-Christmas. Christmas, as you know, is a 12-day celebration, so I'm assuming your back at work with your saintly aura glowing away! Non?
ReplyDeleteThanx for your funny comment. Just remember, if you're stopped by a pizza car, to check very carefully to be sure that's what it is. I'm not sure what would happen if you tried to tip the Philly cops. Oh, wait, they'd probably ask for more!
Just kidding.
Good morning Lowell~
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm back at work as of yesterday, but will have the entire month off in January. I am soooooooo looking forward to that. I may be taking a day trip into NYC.
"Just remember, if you're stopped by a pizza car, to check very carefully to be sure that's what it is. I'm not sure what would happen if you tried to tip the Philly cops. Oh, wait, they'd probably ask for more!"
HAHAHAHAHHAHA! Yes....you're probably right!!!!!!
Thanks for stopping by, buddy. Enjoy your day!
Hey there Jen~
ReplyDeleteMERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!
Yes, I had a very relaxing Christmas day - dinner with a friend at the Midtown Diner off Chestnut Street. The two of us LOVE diner food!
"We pretty much just lounged on the couches for two days. It was great. Now I need to get back into the swing of things."
Sounds like a GREAT day!
I am so looking forward to having the month of January off so I can recharge, relax, and get back into my regular blogging routine. I may even be taking a day trip into NYC before they take all the Christmas decorations down.
Thanks so much for stopping by, girl! Looking forward to blogging with you in 2013!
Cheers!
X
Ron, if I could purchase some cologne or make-up and get a free Mercedes, I'd be doing that all week! Alas, I didn't buy myself a darn thing this year. Not even a pair of socks. Sigh...not in the mood.
ReplyDeleteBut I'm SO glad YOU got YOUR white Christmas! We have five or six inches here! And I think more to come.
Yesterday, we went to my husband's brother's and it was really slick driving, but worth it. I enjoyed being with our family. Most of my husband's family lives out of Pa. It's great seeing them.
Hard to believe another year is almost over and another soon to begin. I'll be glad to begin the new one with the hopes it will be much better than this one. But I'm very glad you had a good Christmas season!
((HUGS))
Keep relaxing, you deserve it!!
Happy New Year, Ron - now that Christmas is over!
ReplyDeleteSo glad it snowed for you on Christmas Eve. What a nice thing to walk out into.
Looking forward to the new blogging 'season' from you!
Hiya Jay!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year and a Belated Merry Christmas to you!!!!
OMG...it was so AWESOME to see it snowing on Christmas Eve. I was jumping up an down like a little kid!
Mucho thanks for stopping by, my friend. Looking forward to blogging with you in 2013. Yahoooooooooooooo!
Cheers and X!
Hellooooooooooo Pam!
ReplyDeleteYou have been so on my mind lately, wondering how you are and if you had a Merry Christmas. Sure hope you did :)
"if I could purchase some cologne or make-up and get a free Mercedes, I'd be doing that all week!"
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! So would I!!!!!
I didn't buy myself anything this year either. However, I might be getting myself a new camera sometime in January when I have off from work and have the time to shop. I REALLY want a new camera.
"But I'm SO glad YOU got YOUR white Christmas! We have five or six inches here! And I think more to come."
WOW....six inches!?!!?? We only got a little bit on Christmas Eve and then more the day after. But I heard that this weekend we're going to get MUCH more and I can't wait!
"Hard to believe another year is almost over and another soon to begin. I'll be glad to begin the new one with the hopes it will be much better than this one."
AMEN! I can't say that I hated this year, but it was definitely a challenging one.
Thanks SO MUCH for stopping by, my friend. I saw that you posted today, so I will be stopping over tonight!
(((((( HUGS ))))))
X and Cheers!
I feel like you when it first starts to snow....then I panic because I live in the south where their idea of snow equipment is two guys on the back of a pickup truck with salt shakers and a shovel! LOL Honestly.... it's not a whole lot better than that.
ReplyDelete".then I panic because I live in the south where their idea of snow equipment is two guys on the back of a pickup truck with salt shakers and a shovel! LOL Honestly.... it's not a whole lot better than that."
ReplyDeleteHAHHAAHAHAHAHA! OMG, Peg....that CRACKED ME UP!!!!!
Trust me, Philadelphia is no better either. Their snow removal here is just awful. They just push the snow in front of your door so that you can't get out - I kid you not!
X
Glad you finally got a chance to relax. I know those $15.00 sets with the Mercedes sell out quickly, that's why I shop early and never, ever go near the mall after Thanksgiving. ;)
ReplyDeleteHey there Lady Nitebyrd!
ReplyDelete" I know those $15.00 sets with the Mercedes sell out quickly, that's why I shop early and never, ever go near the mall after Thanksgiving. ;)"
HAHAHHAHAHAHA! You're smart!!!!!!
Thanks so much for stopping by, Sis!
X ya!