‘Twas the Stream of Consciousness Saturday before Christmas and all through the joint – Every creature was scrambling to score bonus points:
“Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is ‘tin.’ Use it as a word or find a word with “tin” in it and base your post on that word. Bonus points if you start your post with that word. Enjoy!”
Let’s see if I can get in on the spoils.
Continuing our series of conversations at the bar, Cheryl opens today’s discussion with a cry for help.
“Hey guys, before we get to your drinks, do either of you know anyone around here still selling poinsettias?”
“Having cats in the house, Cheryl, I never bother with those. But I’ll have a Corona when you get around to it.”
“No help Dan. How about bourbon boy? “
“I get my poinsettias at Cormier’s. And, I’ll have wine today.”
“Where are they?”
“I don’t know, they moved two years ago.”
“I thought you said you shop there.”
“I do. I buy a gorgeous poinsettia for my sister every year.”
“How big is it?”
“I get the twenty-five.”
“Inches? Does that include the pot?”
“Dollars. Nice ones start at twenty. I get twenty-five. They have them up to thirty-five.”
“OK, but how big are they?”
“How should I know. I just order it.”
“Don’t you take it over?”
“They deliver.”
“Haven’t you seen it at her house?”
“No, she always comes to my place for Christmas, I put on a nicer spread.”
“Then how do you know they are gorgeous?”
“My sister always thanks me for the beautiful poinsettia.”
“Thanks, but I was hoping to pick one out.”
“Pffft, what’s the point. Pick the price, trust the florist.”
“I hate to butt into this conversation, but ‘trust the florist?’ That’s about the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard you say.”
“Why would you say that, Dan?”
“I’m going to get those drinks. I’m sorry if I started a feud here.”
“It’s OK, Cheryl. He’s entitled to his opinion. I’m just curious.”
“Look, I’ve been burned by florists more times than I care to remember.”
“Well, I’ve had good luck with these guys.”
“As far as you know.”
“You don’t know my family. If my sister didn’t like the poinsettia, she’d bring it with her and dump it on my living room floor.”
“OK, a Corona with a slice of lime and a glass of Meiomi. Now, perhaps you two should change the subject to something less controversial. Maybe sports?”
“Maybe not…”
“Oh, that’s right, your teams played last week. Congrats Dan.”
“You may want to hold off on those congratulations, Cheryl. We play your team tomorrow.”
“OK, so sports are off the table. Shopping is going nowhere. Neither of you travel for Christmas. Other than drinking, what are you two doing this weekend?”
“I set up my tree.”
“Really, Dan? Three days before Christmas? Why the rush?”
“Well, Cheryl. I was going to do it last Saturday, but I had to get my garden shed into winter mode.”
“Stop! I’m going to go check on the tables. I don’t want to hear the ‘S’ word.”
“Well, cheers my friend. Here’s to having plenty of gas and the snow-blower pointed toward the door.”
“You joke, but it makes all the difference when this rain turns to snow.”
“Not to me, I just wait for the plow guy.”
“I know, for every difficult task, you have people.”
“You forget, I’m older than you. I’ve done my time behind a snow-blower.”
“Fair enough.”
“But did it take you all weekend to organize your shed?”
“No, just Saturday.”
“So, you could have put the tree up last Sunday.”
“Last Sunday was the game, I watched at my daughter’s place.”
“Oh, yeah. I’ve been trying to forget that.”
“Hey, I’m being kind. But, you are paying today. That’s the deal.”
“I am. I’m way ahead on this running bet.”
“You are, but not…hey…wait a minute, that’s why you’re drinking wine today – isn’t it?”
“Of course, I’m not paying for John Howell’s bourbon.”
“You know, I think he’s a Steelers fan.”
“All the more reason to have Meiomi.”
“How about some food? Will you splurge for some wings?”
“Cheryl, when you get a chance, can we have another round and an order of 20 wings?”
“I’ll put those right in.”
It’s been raining and dark here as we lead up to Christmas. Cheryl and I won’t speak until Christmas Eve, but I don’t think linking to her site will jinx my team. There will be a simple post here on Monday, but in case you’re too busy, I hope you have a Merry Christmas. If you don’t celebrate Christmas, I hope you are enjoying the holiday season.
ENJOY!! The perfect word for this season!

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I think you’re right GP. I hope you’re enjoying the season.
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I’m doing my best!!
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I like your early morning shots and also the reflections, Dan. Merry Christmas.
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Thanks Ruth. I don’t like commuting in the dark, but I do like those reflections.
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Terrific photo ops for sure.
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I’m with Cheryl. I’ve been burned by florists as well.
But Merry Christmas to you and all the less than satisfactory poinsettias!
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Thanks. Yeah, I prefer to pick things out myself.
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I especially love your reflections photo. So pretty!!
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Thanks Laura, it’s one good thing about these short cold days.
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This gave me a smile, Dan
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I’m glad, Roberta. That’s always my hope
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HhHH. Great fun as always!
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Thanks Pam! Have a wonderful long weekend!
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Hope you have a good lead up to the holiday. It is gray, foggy, damp, and soon to be rainy here – yuck. But, a good day to stay off the major highways and away from the traffic. Maybe I’ll bake something I shouldn’t eat. That will perk me right up. :-) Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. :-)
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It is gray and wet here, too, Judy. Maddie is confused by this weather but I hope to get a walk in. We will stay close to home. I like the idea of eating something we shouldn’t.
Merry Christmas !
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So your tree is up, the snow blower is ready for action, the gas can is full and ice melt and sand are at the ready. I like to be prepared too.
Love that beautiful sunset. And the shots with the reflections are outstanding. You can never go wrong with photos of the three M’s, and today is no exception. I like the way the squirrel has his left foot on the chain link. Guess he’s going for the casual look!
Hope you don’t need the snow blower this weekend. 1-2″ snow forecast for here. I’m not in the “White” Christmas fan club!
🔹Ginger🔹
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Thanks Ginger. We’ve had almost 3” of rain since yesterday! No snow in the forecast. The tree isn’t up yet, but it will be before I head to the bar.
We were ambushed by squirrels today. They were hunkered down yesterday but hungry this morning.
I’d like a white Christmas, but st this point, I’ll settle for dry.
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Thanks Dan. Love that painted sky shot. I don’t believe in jinxes, but I rarely sit down and watch a game in its entirety, they do best when I pop in and out. Thank good ess we have a whole day planned tomorrow for sightseeing. But I will have my phone set to check in. Talk to you next week!
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Enjoy the break and your family, Cheryl. That’s what really matters. It’s still raining here. I hope it stops before Santa trades his sleigh for an ark.
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🤣Im sorry. We finally got a sunny day Dan. Hoping for the same tomorrow. We have an excursion planned.
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I hope you have great weather for your outing. We’re cold and dry.
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xoxo Cheryl! See you on IG…
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I like how the trees seem to be painting wisps of white in the sky in that one pic. One of my old poinsettias has got some red back on its leaves. May Christmas brighten up your days and nights!
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Thanks JoAnna. It does look like the trees are painting that sky. We’ve had almost 3″ of rain since yesterday, so I think things are due to get brighter soon. In any case, the Christmas spirit usually does the job.,
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LOL…I’m laughing at MiMi’s roof rack. I call it a cat trap, but whatever.
I don’t have poinsettias at home either, due to the furry kids, but mom loved them and always had one.
Not talking about football either, but you know who I’ll root for in the playoffs! Merry Steeler Christmas!
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You have to love the way cats claim things and then you have to leave them there. I always feel guilty if we actually have to use the step stool as a step stool.
I hope my guys make it to the playoffs, but I’m trying not to think about it too much. This season has been too hard already.
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I’ll have to try and get a photo of Ziva and her new taco pillow. :-p
I sure hope the Packers hire a great coach for next year, but more importantly, that they sign great players. I don’t want another hard, losing season.
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Our idiot fans are lobbying to fire Tomlin and hire your ex-coach.
I still want our rematch 🙂
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Really? LOL! You know, it’s not just the coach that’s to blame, but they make good scapegoats! Perhaps McCarthy and Tomlin could job-switch and see what happens. :-p
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Ha ha – our fans (yours and ours) are spoiled. I grew up going to Steelers games during losing seasons. I cherish each and every win, and I know how hard it is to keep winning. Mike Tomlin is 2nd behind Belichick. I honestly don’t know what these morons want.
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Is Ziva named after NCIS… Because we are beginning to call Hari-Fred Gibbs!
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Yes, both of my kids are NCIS characters…or perhaps just characters in their own right! 😼😽
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Merry Christmas Dan.
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Thanks John – And Merry Christmas to you.
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Thank you for the pinback, Dan. One heck of a Sunday last week. Enjoyed the photos and wonder why you passed on the hungry man’s special. Let me feel your forehead. Merry Christmas to you, Faith, and the editor.
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Ha ha – When my best friend John and I worked together for a consulting company, we would often meet halfway to Rhode Island and leave one car at a little diner. He would have a cup of black coffee. I would have the “Trucker Special”
I was fine with French Toast and bacon, but it was a tempting offer.
Merry Christmas to you and your family. Twiggy’s first Christmas – I hope it’s uneventful.
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Thanks, Dan. I hope it is unevetful too as I watch the Producer chasing her down the hall. Seems Twiggy grabbed a bow off a gift and doesn’t want to give it up.
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Merry Christmas, Dan!
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That squirrel picture is just gorgeous! Happy holidays to you and yours, including all the squirrels and bunnies!
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Thanks Marian. And back at you guys.
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Great post, Dan. And thank you for keeping the Steelers game comments to a minimum. That was a tough one to watch up here. 🙂 Have fun putting up the tree. 🌲
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Thanks Jennie. I was happy with the way that game ended, but we’ve been on the other side too often. The tree is up, decorated and lit.
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Well said! And we did the tree and decorations today, too. It’s the lights that do it for me; they fill me up with goodness and cheer, and an overwhelming feeling of gratitude, remembering, and peace. Really. Merry Christmas, Dan. 🎄
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Thanks Jennie. The lights on the tree really do make a difference. That plus the memories associated with all the special ornaments. All the best to you and your family, Jennie.
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You’re welcome, Dan. Light and memories – I think we hung the popsicle stick and the paper ornaments on the tree until our children were in college. Best to you and your family. 🎄
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We still hang an ornament Faith painted in kindergarten. Sometimes, memories are enough.
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Aww… yes, they are. 🙂
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Excellent pics! Happy holidays, Dan. Ive enjoyed your site this year. Trust the florist – certainly a learning experience.
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Thanks for visiting and for the comments. We’ve had very good and very bad experiences with florists. Live and learn, I guess.
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From start to finish another great post. Cheers to bonus points 😂
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Thanks – I’ll be spending those points in the bar (researching future posts, don’t you know).
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Just in (tin) time, read Saturday on SATURDAY! Yay! Wishing you and yours and so many peeps above Happy Whatever you celebrate, or Best Scrooge Time! xo dk
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Thanks Kate – Our small family will celebrate Christmas, along with two cats and the red dog. Enjoy the season (and the well-deserved break).
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All these poinsettias… I hadn’t realised they were a tradition in the USA as well as the UK… or maybe they started there? I dunno. Anyway – happy Christmas, Dan.
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Happy Christmas, Val. Thanks for spending dime time here. I don’t know where this tradition started but I always remember poinsettias at Christmas.
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I love the shot from the morning walk for coffee, and your very early shots by the river with the reflections.
Hope the team wins again!
Merry Christmas to you and the family Dan!
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Thanks Deborah. It’s funny to see the sun still on the rise so late in the day, but my coworkers waited for me.
We need a big win against tough odds today.
Merry Christmas. I hope you have a great week.
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I hope you have a great week too!
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Hope your holidays are merry!
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You too, Deborah.
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We can’t have the poinsettias either. I’ve considered some nice faux for the tops of my bookshelves, but at the cost of whoa, likely not. We had an enormous poinsettia plant delivered to our office. It made me smile every time I saw it. Lovely bunch of happy in the lobby. Far from my pets :)
I have had very good luck with florists, particularly where my mother lives.
The Mister was watching a sport thing a bit ago, on his phone, Eagles v Texans. Sounded terribly boring ;)
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We have poinsettias all over the office. It does feel good walking in. I can’t imagine having plants. Every time we’ve tried, the cars have destroyed them in a matter of days.
For the record, that wasn’t a boring game, but I understand. They will all seem boring soon, as my team has slipped out of contention.
I hope you’re ready for a wonderful Christmas.
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Somehow I was waiting for Rin Tin Tin to show up . Oh , well ! Have a wonderful Christmas , Dan .
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You too, Dan. I do remember that show, but it didn’t work at the bar.
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First, the pictures are lovely. Flowers are so in demand in India as well. I mean India has so many religions and all focus in some way on using flowers. The rich and affluent families spend hundreds and thousands on flower decorations and garlands. The next morning they’re all in the dumpster. When I and Sarah were threw a reception party we decided to use balloons instead. Now, generally in India, flowers are usually used for weddings and balloons for birthday parties. However, we went with the balloon concept and by the end of the reception party I plucked out almost every balloon and gave it to the kids attending the party. I believe almost every kid who came to our wedding reception went home with 10-15 balloons each. The shameless ones got more.
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That was a nice way to have color and make a bunch of kids happy. We decorated a lounge in a restaurant for Faith’s graduation from graduate school. We had a huge spray of balloons. We the party was over, we had to remove them. One of the waitresses asked if we had plans for them. We did not. It was her son’s birthday, so she took them home.
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That’s very sweet of you.
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happy christmas
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