This morning I realized that we had no breakfast meats in the house and decided to take a quick trip to the grocery store. When I pulled my cart around the corner I came across an assortment of carts and boxes filled with clearance items leftover from Christmas. They had candies and toys for up to 80% off the original prices. I scored on some Hershey’s kisses and Reese’s peanut butter cups. They are normally almost $4 a bag and I bought 4 bags for $1 each. It was not something I really needed, but the bargain price was too good to pass up.
The past year has been full of tragedies, dramas, comedies and some good things, too. I can’t help but wonder what will 2012 hold for us that will top all the newsworthy moments of 2011? I hope the events are good, with peace, prosperity and good health bestowed on my family and friends.
Politically correct or not, I still wish people Merry Christmas. I also wish people who do not celebrate Christmas (like I do) to have happy holidays. There are several different holidays being celebrated this time of year, so I hope that whatever you celebrate that it is a joyous occasion.
Today is the first day of winter break for all the schoolchildren here. They get two and a half weeks off from school and do not have to report back until January 4. That is a very long time to be out of school.
I don’t remember ever having longer than a week off for Christmas, If I had kids with that much time off I would plan a nice long vacation out of town. That is long enough to go someplace warm for several days and then also head north and spend Christmas with the family in Maryland and Virginia without having to dash back home so the kids don’t miss any school. When I was a kid we did go to Florida for Disneyworld and visiting grandparents, but it was always a very long drive home, straight through for 20 hours on a Sunday, so we could be home in time for school again on a Monday.
A friend of mine is married to a man who was born and raised in Portugal. He came to the U.S. to attend college, got an engineering degree and was hired by an American company to work on aeronautics. He must be very good at what he does. When the company offered him a promotion, they paid for his family to move, paid for their lodging while they looked for a house and paid the down payment required for his new mortgage. I was very impressed.
At Christmas, his family in Portugal sends boxes and boxes of gifts for him and his family. Their special gifts include foods, like Portuguese sausage and special candies that you cannot buy here in the States.
I am going to be learning a lot more about Portugal as our friendship grows. It sounds like a lovely country with great people and a moderate climate. So, maybe a trip to Portugal is in my future?
Financial, Food and Beverage | Alice Pretchet | 
January 6, 2012 6:48 am | 
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