I think I’ve been watching the same movie every morning since I’ve been to Asensio and I don’t know what it is.

They have their TV set to the Hallmark Channel and I can’t figure out if it is the same movie or not. I’ve been here a total of 5 days and they all seem the same. Well, maybe it’s their cast, but it’s two white leads and not much else.

I’m very curious to know if it is the same movie and curious to know if it is actually any kinds of good. I highly doubt it, but who know, it might be.

So, I’m fucking done with my yearly bah humbug to all and reflection and now anything is fair game. It’s back to my typical brain purge.

* * *

I’ve been working nonstop on this SB to SP migration since the break started. The first few days were rough; long hours and it wasn’t until yesterday when I finished with everything.

I asked for more work yesterday as I finished things that could have waited until the New Year. As I went through the site and saw how they were setup, I realize that I have a few things to clean up on top of the new National sites that I asked for.

The current SB structure is a mess with multiple sites for the same model. I’m consolidating those sites into one and I already have a meeting the first day back to discuss the structure even more. It doesn’t make sense to put all of these files in multiple locations. We all need to come together and work things out, ’cause it’ll get ugly quick.

Real quick.

I found that I haven’t finished the collateral site. I built it and left it thinking I would go back to it. I forgot. I didn’t remember it until last night as I investigated the National structure even more.

Man, I’ve just been swamped, but there’s light and things are in better shape and I have control over things.

Things will be fine.

Moving on.

* * *

Every day I come here, or most every time I come here these past few years, I see an older gentleman sitting in the corner and sometimes it seems he’ll be leading a group or something. He’ll have his shiny new macbook out and I thought he was leading a writing group or something, I don’t know.

I noticed that he’s here again, this time with a younger guy sitting in the opposite corner and I see that he’s reading a Bible.

Bible study. Hmmmm. It could be.

Maybe.

I like that answer. It’s not as romantic and relatable as a writing group, but Bible Study.

Makes sense. Maybe.

I like these little nuggets of information. It gives the situation more detail and a little humanity, some kernel of truth in everything.

* * *

Dad.

I don’t remember the last time I saw him in my dreams. I don’t even remember the last time he was in my thoughts.

Maybe I never think about it since he’s been in my thoughts or he’s in my thoughts so often that it’s second nature, but I remembered him being in my dreams on Friday night.

I don’t remember much of the details. We were sitting together alone in some weird empty room. We were having dinner or something and we’re talking Ngai. I remember that clearly, but I don’t remember what the conversation was about.

I felt a little anxious, as I know that my Chinese is getting worse, but I manage and we were okay. I wish I remembered what it was that we talked about. Maybe he’s asking me how I’m doing. I don’t know, but I missed it. I miss him.

It was a surprise to see him in my dreams. It’s been so long. So so long.

I miss him.

I think it was the same night that I dreamt that Pickles had a bout of explosive diarrhea too. Lo’ and behold, I got a call a few days ago from the vet saying that he has diarrhea. I told the switch to a different diet.

This happens most every time and I don’t understand why they don’t make a note of it in his file so they know not to feed him their usual food to begin with.

I authorized a checkup and meds if it gets worse, but I know that a switch in diet will work.

I have to let that go.

Ugh. People.

I know that they are worried and don’t want Pickles to be in discomfort, but c’mon, if it happens all the time and you know the solution, do it.

* * *

I was curious and looked up the Hallmark Channel’s schedule. It’s been a different movie every day that I’ve been here.

How?

How are there so many different holiday movies on the channel? How?

If there’s an audience and it’s cheap, I guess.

Maybe I should write one. Throw in all of these Christmas cheer and charming lovey dovey shit. Maybe.

Project?

Maybe.

* * *

Christmas turned out all right. I think I over did it with the food, especially with the homemade pasta. I was hoping it had turned out better, but I was disappointed in it.

I was banking on the pasta maker, which didn’t turn out to be a good one and I was preparing way too much food.

I needed some help and my bro was nowhere to be seen. He said he was sick, but he could have told me.

A little annoyed, but whatever.

I he’s been no different in terms of who and how he is, but he seems more of a little dick to me now. I don’t know why, maybe it was with the whole picking me up at the airport shit, but I think he’s a fucking dick.

Maybe I’m being sensitive. Who knows?

Christmas.

It was good. I cooked the prime rib the way that I wanted it to cook, which was high then low and it turned out to be a perfect medium rare. The other years that my bro cooked it, it turned out uneven with the higher temp. High and low, that’s the way to go.

It turned out good.

I had a great time catching up with the kids and talking about what they’ve been up to with school and work. It was good.

I ate too much and drank too much that day though. I passed the fuck out after they left.

Christmas, the only time a year that I’m around that family. I enjoy it.

It’s not because it is Christmas and no, I’m not a Christmas person, but it’s more about the family time, catching up, seeing the kids grow up, on the cusp of being adults, and talking about their interests. It’s good to see them turn out to be well adjusted and normal.

I wish nothing but the best for them. I wish nothing but the best for all of my family and friends.

The best.

* * *

It’s wet outside.

The snow has melted and the cold has warmed. The gentle droplets fall from the sky as Washington shows me everything that it has to offer while I’m up here.

There was the bitter stinging cold of a sunny day to the moody gray of a cloudy day and the gentle golden haze of the sun coming through a thick heavy fog.

Weather.

It’s exciting to see the change and the different things nature has to offer.

It’ll be back to the glorious clear skies and sunshine for another year in a few days, but I’m going to sit back and enjoy this wetness while I can.

Till tomorrow.