I dreamt I went up here to the Sistine Chapel attraction in Pigeon Forge. It was in a hotel, and my favorite part was how they had transformed the pool area into a Greek oasis, with all these jungle type trees and foliage. I tried to spend all my time in there. I was with somebody, maybe Kevin, I don’t remember. And then, for some reason, they brought in three longhorn bulls for display and were trading out the tired bulls they’d been using. I don’t know what that was about. Well, I do know. Emily asked me if I was planning on going the other day, and I hadn’t heard about it and looked it up. It looks fairly interesting, and something that Rhonda would like to take in. Then last night coming home I noticed a billboard on 66 advertising it. So there ya go.

All kinds of great things happening today. First and foremost, Jake Right now is in Knoxville. A very pleasant day ahead, indeed. Also, Scott fixed the driveway yesterday afternoon while I was out on the Christmas tree excursion, so that’s a bonus for sure. It was about a crater out there and I know Maggie appreciates his efforts. I texted Chas as I was headed out this morning and she said she was gonna have me over and casually suggest that her pantry would look a lot better with the door installed and the trim work around the house needs completing. 🤣🤣🤣 She said he never acts that quick when she requests stuff. I guess he figured he better keep my bread buttered on account of the free range chickens and dogs over the years. It could be better, but I’m thrilled he worked on it some. I hate I had to ask, but I’m in and out about a tenth as much as they are, so I felt like it should be up to the one and only man on the place to take care of it.

JA’s doctor visit was lengthy. The doctor said the Urgent Care didn’t prescribe enough antibiotics either time and that’s why his cough is lingering. He said he’s going to stop going to them because they also misdiagnosed his rash, it is a classic eczema, not a yeast infection, and that’s why it hasn’t went away, either. I asked him since they didn’t get that right, did they do a pregnancy test just to make double sure? Obviously, he appreciated my humor. They did a thorough work up on him today. Since he takes omeprazole for reflux, but no multivitamin, his magnesium is probably low. The main problem, she thinks, is the acid reflux. She said no whiskey or beer or spicy foods for two weeks, to just eat bland stuff. And he’s ok with that. We’ll see. But yes, it was that nerve that got constricted with the coughing. He’s not to drive tomorrow until they get the bloodwork back and can get to the bottom of things for sure.

The library Christmas party. We pray. They read to me. We eat. It’s not very exciting, but I like it. And everybody knows that food prepared by someone else is always better. Especially when you don’t have to pay for it. Icing on the cake is we didn’t have to do cleanup duty, either. Bliss.

But tonight’s Christmas party was a true snooze. Fish text me before I got there and told me there were two screaming kids with our group.
My reply was “what do you want from the bar?”
So I stopped there on my way through. Gina was trying to get a glass of wine. There were no bartenders in evidence.

That was supposed to be a cosmo, which are always, without fail, pink. So I’m not sure what she did, but it was ok. She was older and very unsure of everything. I only had the one. Rhonda text me to see if I was still coming. Not sure why she didn’t ask Fish, who was exactly one person down from her. I didn’t talk to her at all all night, she was totally wrapped up in Gina, who was seated behind her and Fish.
I stepped through the doorway and paused, martini glass aloft, and slid my gaze down the long table, looking for Fish.
Rhonda was like, “You can sit by Tim.”
I tried not to narrow my eyes (probably unsuccessful) and said, “Thanks, that was my intention.” But it made me want to sit elsewhere. Anywhere but where she tried to direct me.
They put us all at one long table. It was a smaller crowd this year. I recognized maybe half and could put names on four.

Pucketts is weird, they don’t really have servers. They have a QR Code on the table for the menu and to order, and you get your own drinks. As in the regular diners too, not just us. And as in, Coke products, not liquor. So I won’t be back because I’m sure they still want tips. It’s bs. The food was buffet style for us. There was salad, green beans, baked beans, mac & cheese (nope), rolls, meatloaf (did not try), chicken, pulled pork, cobbler, and banana puddin. The guy clearing plates and giving us direction said there was cherry cobbler. Fish got back with his plate and I pointed at it and said, “that ain’t no cherry cobbler. That’s blackberry.” It was too dark and they weren’t smooth like cherries.
He took a bite and argued with me. I shrugged. About the time I got back with my second plate (only another small piece of chicken, green beans, and the cobbler, before you go judgmental) he was working his way through it and saying maybe it WAS blackberry, because there were lots of little seeds. Mmmhmm.
I was like, “I can spot blackberry cobbler at thirty paces”.

We didn’t hear a Christmas story this year, we got a poem about a hairdryer, which was actually about a mother’s love. I guess all the mothers in attendance enjoyed it. I was eager to make my departure. And so I did. I hope next year’s is better. I kinda got the feeling everybody wanted to be somewhere else. And going by how few of us there were, everybody was 🙃 I like that the ones who came made the effort. It strengthens the group to be around one another away from work, in my opinion. It makes you remember they’re people with personalities and families, not just someone who steals your pens. I still appreciate a Christmas party, and being included. I don’t think I would have welcomed the board at Co-op attending our employee one. But what they don’t know is I totally get it. And I’m still a little awed to be in the presence of so many librarians at once. ❤️

Love from Appalachia,
~Amy