Christmas 2018

Christmas this past week went well. After a shortened day at work on Monday (24 December), I went with mom to a Christmas Eve service at Calvary Presbyterian Church (http://calvarypresbyterianchurch.org/). This was a joint service with Affton Presbyterian Church (http://afftonpc.org/), which is co-located with Calvary. The service was pleasant, including seeing my friend Lisa Crain with her parents, sister and sister's family. Lisa and I chatted for a bit before the service.

After the service, Mom and I came back home, where she asked me to open one of my presents. It had come earlier that day from the delivery truck. It was a camera I had ordered just over a week before from Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/). This is a Canon (https://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog) PowerShot SX530 HS, a digital point and shoot camera with 50x zoom lens. This came with a host of accessories, including: carry case; two batteries and charger; two memory cards; lens cleaning kit; mini tripod; carry strap; and view screen protector. I charged the battery up overnight, so I could use it the next morning.

The next morning, after a small breakfast, Mom and I opened our presents in the living room. I must have been very good this year, as I received several presents. They included: two calendars; two DVDs and a few books from my brother Rick (I sent him a book in exchange); and a few other things.

Mom greatly appreciated the bedroom slippers and restaurant gift cards I gave her for Christmas. We spent the day relaxing around the house. I also did some test shots around the house with my new camera.

Normally off work on Wednesdays, I worked this past Wednesday (26 December). It was a fairly quiet day for the most part. The rest of this week went well at the branch. Late Friday afternoon, I filled in at the Ballwin branch as they lacked a car prep that day. My services there were most appreciated.

Yesterday, after helping Mom pick up leaves from the back yard, I went to the Church of the Immacolata (http://www.immacolata.org/) in Richmond Heights to catch the last day of the 10th annual Mary McDermott 3rd Grade Basketball Tournament (https://www.glennon.org/mary-mcdermott-basketball/). This was a tournament for boys and girls Catholic Youth Council (http://www.cycstl.net/) teams. Proceeds from admissions, concessions, and a silent auction of sports memorabilia will go to SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Foundation. This event is a memorial to Mary McDermott, an Immacolata parish member and athlete who died for a heart ailment in 2008. She was the daughter of my friend Bill McDermott, a graphic designer and soccer commentator. It was a pleasure for me to watch some of the action and to support this effort in at least a small way.

Back to work until mid-afternoon tomorrow, then time to celebrate New Year's Eve. This past year was good, and I am hoping for better in 2019.

Later.