I had a mishap with my fireplace over the weekend. During Friday's obscene cold, my mom showed up at my house unexpectedly. She suggested I turn on my gas fireplace to help keep my living room a little warmer (especially since my fireplace is quite drafty). So I went and got my long-stem lighter and this is where things got a little more exciting than I anticipated!

I turned on the gas, and went to light the fireplace. Well...I guess I turned the gas on WAY more than I thought I did and I think one of those huge 50 MPH wind gusts came down the chimney at the same time too. When I lit the fire, I had a HUGE rush of flames coming out of the fireplace and my entire left forearm was in the fire!!! Luckily, it went out immediately and I turned the gas down, and all was well.

Just as a tip - BE CAREFUL to know how far you have the gas turned on and try to stay away from flames as much as possible ;).

For me, I'm perfectly fine except that my left arm still smells a little like fire, and some of my arm hairs are a little shorter than they were Friday morning! ;D

Hopefully you and yours had a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday... AND STAYED WARM.

This may turn up the heat as we still have one more big party to welcome in 2023. 

We had 'Christmas In The Country Fest' the past few weeks.  Win Tickets to the party of the Summer, in the Winter!

Here is one of The Country Fest Performers Jon Pardi who hosted Campfire Sessions on CMT for the Holiday.

He is playing one of my favorite Christmas Songs.   I'm just gonna say it Country Fest is gonna be a Pardi!  

 On the Christmas Episode Tracy Lawrence, Lilly Rose and many others made an appearance.

I hope you had a very happy Christmas weekend :). Now, it's time to turn the calendar over to 2023 this weekend. I was thinking earlier today that I remember at least one event from every month of 2022. My memory just works that way. Some good, some bad - but I'm glad I am able to do it either way.

There are a few things I didn't get accomplished in '22 or things didn't go as I thought they might. Now I guess, that means they go on my list of things to do starting next week lol. As we say in sports around here: "There's always next year!" LOL

With this extreme winter storm coming, PLEASE take care of the animals too. It's animal cruelty to leave them out in the cold. The wind chills coud be as low as -20 to -30. 

PLEASE, PLEASE bring them inside! Remember, if it's too cold for you - it's too cold for them. Period.

This week's Trailer Thursday is the teaser for the movie Barbie!!!!!! Look I know that it came out last week but it came out on a Friday so I had to wait till now to post it!

This movie is directed by Greta Gerwig and stars Margot Robbie and if that doesn't excite you I don't know what will. This trailer is colorful, star studded, and a brilliant homage to 2001: A Space Odyssey. I'm so excited for this!

Check out the teaser for Barbie below!

I am taking tomorrow off and I'm doing a couple of things I have been putting off (not intentionally): baking cookies and wrapping gifts! I really like wrapping gifts, especially the ribbon and bows, but it does take a while to get it done. So cookies first, lol! By now, you may know I am a fan of Babs and her account Brunch with Babs, always coming through with the helpful tips and advice. In this video she talks about gift wrapping, and I had no idea you could sharpen scissors with aluminum foil! 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Babs (@brunchwithbabs)

Today is one of my favorite days of the year! - the shortest day of the year. Now at first that may sound weird, but hear me out. I say that because from here out, the days get longer for the next six months!!! 

When you work 3rd shift like I do, this time of year is difficult. Almost my entire day is spent in the dark! If I do see what little sunshine we get this time of year, it may just be for a couple hours before it's dark again. So that is why I always say December 21st is one of my favorite days of the year.

You can't buy everyone in your life something personal. So why not make them something DELICIOUS instead? Every year, I make peppermint bark for people I'm not able to shop for! Mostly coworkers, parents of friends, postal workers, and everyone in between. It's so simple and sweet! Hopefully it spreads the joy of the season.

In other news, I got a new coat today. Make sure you bundle up before this weekend hits!

As you may know... 

Every week I do a 'Feel Good Friday' something you may want to call in to the Cricket Wireless Studioline 330-370-2000.  It is brought to you by Holiday Valley.   You can feel free to call those humble brags, community events, birthdays, anniversaries or just something that will put a smile on our faces leading into the weekend.  Last week, Joey had a special engagement planned.   Jen had a group dinner with all her girlfriends from high school.  Jackie had a birthday.  What great 'Feel Good Friday's' will we hear this week?   Call'em in if you have one...

Here is a pretty special one that put a smile on my face for the area.  Some of our biggest and most respected athletes supporting the Boys & Girls Club of Northeast Ohio.  You may remember Kane Brown has been a big supporter of this great organization, he donated a gym back in March.   Sure, it's not a Kane Brown song in the promo but the support for this organization from all of it's supporters speaks volumes...  And our local Cleveland Mega Superstar Athletes supporting is huge as well.  

 If you would like to donate.  Click Here.

  It's Christmas week of course and we all opened our gifts and emptied our stockings.  I'm not a fan of the stocking much anymore because you have to wait for yourself, and everyone to empty theirs BEFORE you get to open gifts. Stockings are like Joe Jones And The Outhouses opening for Luke Combs.  Can we just skip this part?

Anyway, when I was kid I LOVED stockings because without fail there was a Hot Wheel or two in it.  They were my favorite toy then.  I had a bunch of them, about 60 or so, and guess what?  I STILL HAVE THEM!  I had the track, a carrying case or two, the Supercharger, the loop the loop, the high banked corners, the whole bit.  I loved playing with Hot Wheels.  We all did.

I even watched the cartoon on Saturdays!  Yes, there was a show!

(The TV show caused a lot of problems as other toy companies complained the entire show was a commercial for Mattel.  The FCC agreed - came off the air along with another carton show, Skyhawks)

Hot Wheels have stood the test of time without question. They still makes them, and people still buy them.  I will more than likely save mine my entire life, for no other reason it is a direct link to my childhood, and things still in our possession like that are darn rare.

Here is a FUN article about the Hot Wheel, its history and why you should still buy them and keep them.

Hot Wheels History