Mattie the Maelstrom

Hard to believe no posts in two days... anyways, let's catch up.  Christmas Eve was fine; I woke up early to hit the gym and then to the grocery store for some items.  I went to the local Giant Eagle --  not my first choice as it is a bit pricey but convenient -- and lo and behold they had chicken thighs and fresh turkey for 29 cents a pound.  A pack of chicken thighs is one thing, but the bird... on the other hand, it was a 14.67-pound turkey for less than $5, and I think we know what happened next.  Anyways, I then went home, changed loads, and off to the mall to get the late-arriving presents wrapped and to get the last-minute gifts.  Phew!  Once that was done, it was home to bake peanut butter cookies for the brother-in-law and to decorate the house (having spent all of yesterday putting it back together)...  Phew!  Xmas Eve was spent with my sister, brother-in-law, and niece; we ate and hung out, and it was quite nice.

Christmas Day was....fine.  Woke up, went to Mass, and it was...outstanding?  I mean, it always is -- the church is decorated, we have drums and full music, and there is something to be said when the sun breaks and all the light comes through the stained glass windows; as I so often say, we just eschew the lights and go with the sun only.  Everyone was chatty and ebullient, and while I am not exactly either, even I got in the spirit, catching up and whatnot.  Then off to the gym for a fierce workout (the place was quite, for 10 AM on Christmas, though maybe I should not be surprised).  Got dressed and made the southern rounds to visits friends and godchildren.  I got home about 4ish and immediately transitioned to Operation Cook Fresh Turkey.  Bit different than the frozen one; lots of blood (had to sterilize the sink and counter, oi) and that was a pain.  As for the cooking.. after 3+ hours, it was perfect -- too much so, as it literally fell apart while trying to move it from the pan/tray to the settling dish.  I had to get a second one, at which point I realized the enormity of how much bird I have (not that I emptied the freezer from the last one).  Not sure what I will do with all of it, for many reasons.  Also -- all of the exertions of the day must have tired me out, because I crashed by 10 and slept through the alarm today.

Might not have been a bad thing -- it appeared there was AM ice; my mailbox, I noted, was frozen when I went to get the Xmas Eve mail (including Christmas cards, which I guess is good).  Anyways, did some cleaning, went to the OC to help with the pickups (we are closed tomorrow, which is fine, but I have no idea where we will put next week's stuff!), gym, and then some more cleaning and such.  Not sure, but again like last night, I am...feeling it.  I know I am not the youngster I once was -- and yes if I had proper sleep habits it would be easier -- but I am beginning to think that this is a bit ridiculous.