Arrived in Gainesville and checked out Swamp Head Brewery. We played golf at the Gainesville Country Club, had lunch on Fourth Street and watched the Florida 🐊 Gators basketball 🏀 team knock off #2 Auburn. The University of Florida campus is fantastic and atmosphere was rocking!

It only took an ❄️ icy and snowy day 🥶 to get Heidi in an Italian mood for dinner.

She worked all day, made dinner and is even considering making banana bread this evening. I am trying to talk her into adding some 🍫 chocolate chips and she isn’t jumping on board just yet. She said “I don’t like chocolate chips in my 🍌 banana bread.” To which I said “I do and “we” can make two loaves.” I think I have her thinking about it. That may be another post…hopefully. I will let you know.

Since our parents retired in 1990, David, Frank and I have gathered on Wildcard Weekend to watch the 🏈 football games and enjoy the camaraderie of the brotherhood.

Frank has a menu that makes your mouth water and we create a beer tasting experience that would interest most beer drinkers. This year, Frank went above and beyond on the party favors category. For instance, growing up, David liked then Rams, Frank liked the 49ers and Mom had gotten them bobbleheads. I was younger and liked the Packers later in the 60s, so I didn’t have a Packer Bobblehead. Two years ago , Frank got me one

This year our gracious host got us Sports Illustrated covers of Bart Starr and Roman Gabriel. I am speechless in response to this incredible 🎁 gift.

I was assigned the responsibility as driver for Heidi, Denise and Brandi for the Alabama concert 🎶 to which we have had tickets for close to three years. In 2019 Before Covid one of the band members was sick or injured. Then Covid and finally we are headed that way. However, only after dinner at Big Woods.

Alabama still puts on a good show. A couple of quotes I heard several times from the ladies throughout the evening were :

1. I love this song!

2. I love you , Randy!

Coldest day of the year. While discussing Yellowstone and 1883, the fact that we hadn’t been to the Crimson Oak in North Vernon in a while surfaced. The girls made the call and that is where we landed last Friday night. We sat at a table in the bar and had some great service and conversation.

Bruce even copied the Soda Pop Chop a day or so later with some 🍒 cherry pie filling and said it was good again.

As a stocking stuffer I got Heidi a Taku Japanese Steak House gift card. Pay $50 and get $60 in the gift card. They don’t take reservations, however, you can call ahead like we did and not have to wait as long when you arrive.

I used chopsticks and everything about the place was excellent! Having your food prepared right in front of you is entertaining and the Yum Yum sauce is a wonderful way to ring in the new year!

I have had Red Lobster gift cards for a year now, and after a trip to see the Country Christmas lights in the White Creek Lutheran Church area in Bartholomew County. The light are drive -thru and fun to see. I can recommend it.

I told Heidi that if I went that I get to choose dinner and she agreed. Bruce and Mendy were with us and we even got e trip to Kroger. Great selection on everything.

This was a wonderful way to start the Christmas 🎄 vacation.

Heidi’s parents and brothers and all spouses and grandkids were included in this second of several Christmas parties we will host and attend. Ken was in from California for the week and got to see his grandkids as well as patch some drywall for us and put in a storm door for Richard and Nina, just to name a couple. Not sure a $5 Brownstown basketball ticket and a tenderloin and fries from Poplar Street is adequate payment for all he does, but that is what he got.

We tried the Caribbean restaurant a week ago and were talking to the diners at the next table and they gave Heidi their business card to Amazing Graze. Heidi ordered this incredible charcuterie board with prosciutto and some other fancy meats and 🧀 and veggies and it was a hit. From the presentation to the quality and taste, it was outstanding!

The Army/Navy football game was on and the four little boys(Jude, Irie, Brooks and Lawson) all got gifts 🎁 and were the center of attention. As they should be.

After a basketball game this morning and helping Heidi host the party, I was looking for a recliner. However, there is an LC staff party tonight and we host the Melloncamp Christmas tomorrow. I saw the meme last week:

“Oh, next week things will slow down and we will rest then. And that’s what you keep saying until you die.”

Heidi wanted to make sure what time I would be home tonight because she was making dinner and we planned on attending the St. Peter’s Advent Service. I had just enough time to walk the dogs and then she had this waiting for me.

The aroma that hit me as I walked through the door was stimulating and the sight and sound of the burritos sizzling on the griddle added to the excitement.

1. Cook up a pound of chicken with taco 🌮 seasoning.

2. Mix Ranch dressing and cheddar cheese.

3. Add black beans and 🥑 avocado.

4. Wrap all that goodness into a tortilla and slap it on the griddle with some butter.

5. We topped it off with another slice of avocado to make it pretty and some 💃 salsa. On the side was some delicious sweet corn 🌽 from last summer’s garden.

6. Most important!!! Be married to Heidi and despite all of the dumb man things that you do, she still treats to dinners like this.

The girls drug us along for the Christmas home tour on Friday night. Originally Mendy and Heidi said we could wait at the tavern while they toured the homes. Using better judgement, they adjusted to go on the tour and maybe skip the last couple of houses and go to the tavern. (Probably a good idea.)

The 🎄 Christmas trees at Lanthier Winery and the beautifully decorated homes were impressive and fun to see. Then, Bruce and mine’s instructions were to drink a 🍺 beer at the Mad Paddle and then order food at Shipley’s. So, we had a tasty pint each of Blood 🍊 Orange for $14. Then we had a pint each of Amber Bock at Shipley’s for $3.50. We like the Mad Paddle, but we may make a business decision next time and stick with Shipley’s Tavern. On a side note, Shipley’s has been there since 1867.