Wedding Anniversary and Christmas

Charlie and I celebrated 25 years of marriage on December 17th. I say "celebrated", but we're not into parties or fancy dinners or big to-dos. We went to our favorite pizza place - Cugino Forno (delicious Naples style pizza - they use the original 1889 recipe and get their ingredients from Italy), exchanged cards, and he sent me flowers. Normally we probably would've gone somewhere like Salvino (great Italian food) or something, and for a few of our past anniversaries we've gone to Asheville, but we wanted to keep things simple.

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We had a pretty good Christmas. Money was tighter this year, (Charlie's truck payment for the truck he bought in the spring, vehicle tax on the Honda and Charlie's car hauler, car insurance, vet bill, etc.)  so not nearly as many presents were bought/given, but it was fine. The kids (who are technically adults) are old enough to understand.

We got Sean a video game he wanted (he wanted a couple others, but his girlfriend Ashley got those for him), a Playstation gift card, and Charlie ordered something for him that we're still waiting to be delivered. We got Kelly a book, a Fawkes Pop (Harry Potter creature), a big plush cat (can't remember if it's a Pusheen thing or what), and a Playstation gift card. And, of course, a few goodies in their stockings.

Charlie/the kids got me the perfume I wanted (I had recently run out) - Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream - and an iTunes card. I got Charlie a Calvin Klein dress shirt. I got my brother a Starbucks gift card. He goes there every morning. I got my mom a soft, purple blanket. Mom gave each of us money. I bought a book Saturday evening with part of it - Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens.

I bought it at Macy's. Originally $75, but was on sale. I can't remember how much I paid. The color is called bordeaux.

The food was good. I made roast chicken, stuffing, green beans, black eyed peas, and biscuits. Desserts were apple pie, pumpkin pie, chocolate chip cookies, and butterball cookies (made with almond extract instead of vanilla).

My mom had to work Christmas Day, but came by at around 7:30 after she got off work. My brother ate dinner with us and watched a movie/TV with Charlie, and Sean's girlfriend was here for several hours.

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~*~Nocturnal Queen~*~
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Thanksgiving, Uncle Dusty, and Music

We had a nice Thanksgiving with good food.

My mom cooked the turkey and got crescent rolls and gravy. I did the green beans, black eyed peas, stuffing (Stove Top; I may make my own stuffing/dressing someday), mashed potatoes, buttermilk biscuits, pumpkin pie (Mrs. Smith's), chocolate pecan pie, and chocolate pudding pie. Charlie doesn't like turkey (gasp!), so he grilled some pork chops. My brother ate with us.

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My uncle Dusty (given name James) passed away on December 1st of a massive heart attack. He was my mom's brother. (Her brother David died when he was a baby. Her brother Tony died seven years ago. She also lost her sister Nancy seven years ago. Her other two sisters are still living.) Two uncles gone in 10 days. :-(

He will be cremated this Saturday. I don't know if there's going to be a memorial service on that day or not. Last I heard, they were still trying figure things out.

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I've purchased several new songs since the last time I posted about that.

There are more songs that I want, but I ran out of money from the last iTunes card I bought. I asked for an iTunes card for Christmas (and Daisy Dream perfume because I'm almost out), so hopefully I can buy some more songs in a few weeks. :-)

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~*~Nocturnal Queen~*~
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