JUST FIVE MINUTES

My neighbor, Jan,  is known for popping in for five minutes, always with some  ulterior m0tive.  She decided I was lacking “bling”. You can see the  bling on  my shoulder.
I had hired a homeless guy, looking for work,  to do some chores around the place. He told me he had worked as a roofer, had some carpentry skills, knew how to use a chain saw, etc.  I have a storage shed with warped doors and I asked him if he could fix them. He did and I gave him some paint to paint the shed. Unfortunately, he painted the doors shut. So, I asked my friends to help me get the doors open.    Jan is one of those people who likes to have  fun with anything she does, and she likes ceremonies. She grabbed a pot to beat on, and Karen, my housemate,  is half Cherokee and did a ceremonial dance.

While they did their work,  I used a hacksaw blade to cut through the thin coating between the two doors.

It wasn’t budging. My crowbar and nail puller both disappeared but I had a long,  strong mechanic’s screwdriver. It took some doing to pry the doors open without wrecking them.

That’s when we discovered he had nailed the doors shut. I guess he figured he wasn’t coming back anyway. Gotta take laughter where you find it.  And, what the hey, the guy needed the money.

GOTTA HAVE A BIT OF BLING

Its fun taking time to explore a Las Vegas that many people don't see. But, the Fremont St. light show is seen by millions of people a year. If you want some bling in your life, this is the place to be. Earlier, we visited Fremont St. during the day and checked out the neon signs. Last night we did the same at night. And, we enjoyed the biggest projection screen in the world flashing five million LED bulbs per block for a six minute light show. They are shown on the hour from six p.m. to midnight. Each show is different. Have a look. (Hoping this video link works. If not the youtube link below it will.)

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGEgIqsgYtk

 

And at night, not only the flash and dazzle of the lights, but the dancing girls are out.

On top of a bar.

And on a stage.

Here are a couple of images from the light show.

THE WELL LIT TREE AND OTHER MERRIMENTS

When cousins get to tease cousins, no matter the ages they all enjoy.

Aunt Cathy with Abbie.

California weather meant the little guys spent several hours on the trampoline Christmas Eve Day.

Daniel and Beverly.

 

 Its hard to wait your turn to open a present.

 

Even the big kids enjoy a cousin present.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care.

 

 As the day got late, the guys put up the candles and lit the tree.

 

 By popular request, Cedric made his pecan sticky buns before working on one of the Christmas meat pies, or pastie, as the traditional dish is known in our family.

 Laurie displayed some Christmas "bling" with her lighted necklace.

The "dueling" cooks each made a giant pastie, each a bit different, both delicious. The banter goes something like this:  "Your pastie is an abomination, its too juicy its too much like a pot pie."
"Yours needs a little something to spice it up." All in fun, not a morsel remained after breakfast on Christmas Day.

After dinner, the candles were snuffed, the tree adored and the family enjoyed the evening.

 

Some looked at family photos or played cribbage or Rummikub

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One of the grown-up "kids" helped the little ones with their toys.

The guy who drove the farthest distance enjoyed a nap.

And, a merry Christmas was had by all.