It’s that time of the year again — twinkling lights, being serenaded by Mariah Carey, the aroma of baking cookies, a roaring fireplace, and snowflakes floating down while sipping champagne!
I live in such a fantasy world or I’ve been watching too many television Christmas movies! Or, maybe I’ve had too much spiked Egg Nog!
I hope this holiday season finds you happy and well!
Life for us is very much the same as last year. That’s a good thing, except for still being single. But, if that’s the worst life deals me, I can live with that!
It’s been another fun year with Miss Xanadu! (Yes, we have matching onesies!)
She turns two a few days before the New Year.
She’s so adorable, but she’s definitely naughty.
The pug knows right from wrong, but intentionally chooses wrong to see what I’ll do! She’s definitely still a puppy, but she’s showing some signs of maturing.
And, so am I!
I’m coming up on my fifth year in Decatur, Illinois, and as the morning meteorologist at WAND, the NBC affiliate in Central Illinois. This summer, I extended my contract through April 2028. Where does the time go?
Good thing I love my on-air morning partners-in-crime — Deron and Sierra!
When I got Xanadu, I expected my international travel would end. I didn’t even renew my passport.
However, I was offered the chance to be a tour group leader on a Rhine River cruise across Switzerland, France, Germany, and the Netherlands in April.
My responsibility was to get my group of 40 people to Europe and back. I didn’t lose anyone and I had a great time.
It was so beautiful spending a few nights in Lucerne with the Swiss Alps as a backdrop.
Back in 2013 on my one-night visit to Switzerland, I had a cheese and wine feast for dinner in Zurich. I recreated that this spring in Lucerne.
The cruise boat, the Emerald Dawn, was the most splendid, cleanest one I’ve ever encountered.
The food was incredible and the red and white regional wines served with lunch and dinner were tasty.
Here are some of my favorite photos.
I also visited the “Ass Bar” a couple of times and it’s not what you think. LOL
Äss Bar is a play on the Swiss-German word for “essbar” — meaning “edible”.
Äss Bar goes to restaurants and bakeries collecting leftover desserts and sandwiches and sells them at highly reduced prices. This cuts back on waste!
I came out of Äss Bar with these desserts on my two visits within an hour. (Yes, they added more treats between visits!)
And, the Keukenhof botanical garden near Amsterdam was just breathtaking with more than 7 million tulips.
I bought myself a wooden bouquet of tulips that don’t need watering, just dusting!
In summation, the cruise ship was gorgeous, the food was incredible, the sights were amazing, and my group was fantastic.
Thankfully, my sister Tammy is still with us.
She struggled most of the year, but has stabilized a bit and is in the land of the living again. She applied for disability in October and my fingers are crossed she gets it!
We traveled to Clarksville, Tennessee, in June, for her to see a couple of her friends from her time there.
Also, two of my favorite cousins, Steve and Ronda, and Dennis, my dear friend from my Kentucky days, came down to visit, too.
This fall, I said goodbye to a longtime friend — my 2008 Chevy Cobalt after 104,000 miles.
Hopefully, my 2025 Chevy Trailblazer, will be with me that long, too.
In October, Miss Xanadu and I planned to drive to visit two sets of friends in South Florida in October, but Hurricane Milton had other planned.
While that trip was scrapped, we spent the weekend in Murray, Kentucky with Steve and Ronda on Kentucky Lake. Xanadu loved the golf cart ride!
Thank you again Ronda for letting us stay in your beautiful home.
Also, in October, I hit a big milestone — turning 60 with a clean bill of health. I can’t believe I can retire in five years and work part-time!
This is what I envision for retirement — a balcony with a view of citrus or avocado trees!
For 2025, I only have two thing on my wish list. I’ll fulfill the first one on April 2nd when I finally get to see Kylie Minogue in concert in Chicago.
The second one is to date again!
Don’t bore me with “it’ll happen when it’s supposed to”. I’m now 60 and I’m not “playing the field”, I’m playing “beat the clock”! LOL
Here’s to the holiday season and winter!
“May hope and faith conquer fear and hate this Christmas!”
Anthony & Xanadu
What's Peeps Thinking About Now? It's Probably Random! 