As we get ready to go back to work and get back to the normal routine we end a long Thanksgiving weekend.  We went to my father in-law’s house in Checotah, Oklahoma where we got to visit with relatives that we have not seen in a while.  In a strange, out of the ordinary trip we found ourselves driving in freezing rain.  We had a very warm 79 degrees on Wednesday, the night before Thanksgiving but that night things really changed.  As the front moved in we experienced some lightning and thunder.  The East of us they had some thunderstorms.  When we got up early on Thanksgiving morning to drive to Checotah, it was cold and cloudy.  By the time we were to the East of Shawnee it started raining the rest of the way down there.  Before long we began to see ice forming on the wind shield and on the radio antenna.  By the time we reached Checotah we had a half inch of ice built up on the radio antenna.  We had a nice visit though it was cold and raining keeping us in the house the whole time.

When we came back, I took the opportunity to spend some time with my dad here in Del City.  He has been a bit under the weather but we still had a great visit.  I see my dad frequently but rarely with other family members there so that was fun. We really enjoyed both my wife’s family and my own.  Everyone was in a great mood and no one got into any fights which is nice .

Today we find ourselves listening to Christmas music on Pandora.  Currently playing Mannheim Steamroller.

It sort of helps to create the mood of Christmas even though we are still living in a cramped apartment this year.  There is no room for a Christmas tree or any decorations.  That stuff will have to wait until next year when we are in our new home.  It is hard to believe that it will be December in just three days.  Then we’ll only have one month before we can start actions on getting our house built.  It seems like it has been forever and will be two years by the time we get it built.  I can hardly wait to set  up my new ham shack back up.  I had to put all of our gear in storage so that I will have room while we temporarily live in an apartment.

This week I have a class all week long at work so I will not be in my office even though I am at work.  I have several days scheduled off work this month because I have some use or lose vacation time to take.  I love being in that position where I have to take vacation time.  Don’t get me wrong… I love my job but just as anyone will tell you that vacations are not only pleasant, they are needed to relieve stress.  I hope all of you had a nice Thanksgiving.  It is always a good time here.  Even though it is only 2:30 PM I find my self drowsy since we did not make it to bed until 2:00 AM last night and then I was up again at 6:00 AM.  Hopefully this will help me sleep tonight since I normally have insomnia.