Just a Spark

Working at Casa Esperanza and serving Christmas Eve dinner to the less fortunate was a good experience.  I worked in the kitchen first, cutting cooked chicken and emptying cans of applesauce.  Eventually, all the food was brought out to a buffet line and a long line formed.  We filled trays with chicken, potatoes, rice, salad, yogurt, corn, and desserts.  Everyone was very thankful and polite.

This place is much different than the Rescue Mission, as it provides showers and lodging.  Everyone that came to dinner was clean and planning on settling down for the evening watching TV after dinner, and then sleeping in the provided warmth.  I definitely recommend that everyone perform this service, at least once, any time of the year.  We were invited to return.

Meanwhile, a spark of spirit began to appear and I guessed I was ready for the next day.  After we left there, we drove up the main part of downtown to find a place for our dinner, and then we had to return and fill the stockings and put out gifts under our tree for the next morning.

While our celebration was definitely toned down, because of my elephant in the corner, but also because our kids are much older and know where this stuff comes from.

We also had a quiet holiday dinner with just two of our kids (Brett is in Montana for the holiday season).  It was quite wonderful.  We had prime rib, loaded mashed potatoes and gravy and a string bean casserole.  The temptations of desserts were on display, but would have to wait.  

We packed dinner away and then headed out to see a movie.  The movie of choice was American Hustle.  The performances of Christian Bale and Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper was absolute perfection.  I would not be surprised to see this movie walk away with many Oscars.  These actors have become our new favorite stars, each in their own right.  We highly recommend the experience of traveling back to the seventies while watching this movie.

A couple was going out
for the evening. They had gotten ready, put the dog outside, etc. The taxi arrives, and as the couple walk out, the dog runs back in the house. They don't want the dog shut in the house, so the wife goes out to the taxi while the husband goes upstairs to chase the dog out. The wife, not wanting it known that the house will be empty explains to the taxi driver, "He's just going upstairs to say good-bye to my mother."

A few minutes later, the husband gets into the cab. "Sorry I took so long", he says. "Stupid bitch was hiding under the bed and I had to poke her with a coat hanger to get her to come out! Then I had to wrap her in a blanket to keep her from scratching and biting me as I hauled her ass downstairs and tossed her in the back yard! She better not shit in the vegetable garden again!"