The Crazy Cactus

Today we realized that Katie and Todd left the crazy cactus xmas present at our house on the refrigerator where we had put it to keep in our of the hands of the kids. This toy was particularly obnoxious and a real pain. Sean and Ashely gave it to Violet but Clara was really into it. The cactus played music... loud but the real issue was that it also recorded voices and played them back. It wiggled too.

We also had a good laugh about the cactus listening to us too. We contacted Katie about sending the cactus to her because we thought it was spying on us and she replied that it was probably for Chinese intelligence services which was exactly what Becky and I were joking about. LOL

Bills vs Eagles Party w/ kids

We had all five of our grandchildren at our house because of a Bills vs Eagles game in town. Sean and Ashley were at the game and so was Todd and his father. We had ourselves and Katie with the kids. Then Valerie came by which was also a big help as she brought some toys with her.

The kids were good and were kept very busy with all the toys and some shows on the TV too.

It was a crazy game with the Eagles squeaking by the Bills 13-12. Bummer for those at the game. Bad weather too.

Sean and Ashely came home from the game after the 3rd quarter. It was a 4:30 game so it was later in the evening when they got back to the house. Then they picked up the kids and headed out. We said our goodbyes because they were leaving for home early the next morning from Mel's house as they wanted to beat the storm that was heading our way. 

Katie and Todd waited out the storm on Monday and then headed back to Philly on Tuesday. We needed some time for

some rest and recuperation. 

Mood Machine - The Rise of Spotify

Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist by Liz Pelly, 2025.

This was one of the last books I read in 2025 and finished yesterday. I read it in a little over a week.

I really struggled with this book as I have over the years with the very concept of Spotify. It really was some essential reading and the author, a music journalist, writes a fascinating analysis of the inner workings of this popular streaming service. She has many interviews with former Spotify employees, musicians and listeners. She goes into great detail describing the motivation of the company and their justification for the so-called playlist. Also the way the company treats musicians and their creation of their data gathering algorithmic mood inducing "ghost artist" which are actually fake bands.

I really felt like immediately dropping my Spotify account. I first started using Spotify in 2017 after I retired and was no longer acquiring lots of new music. I used it as a way of keeping up with current music that I was interested in by going online to my usual music sites like AllMusic and Pitchfork and looking at their new release section. Then I would put those albums in my Spotify album library to check out later.  

I also found a third party software that took all of my playlist on iTunes and transferred them directly to Spotify. So I was using Spotify to get access to my personally created playlists and I was not using their playlist. I did try a few of their system created playlists that were based on my Spotify listening but it was mostly a rehash of my own playlists with a few of the new songs from those albums I had added to my library. I was not listening to any of their background mood music playlist at all. 

Another Spotify playlist that I started listening to a few years ago was their weekly collection of classical music new releases which I have continued to enjoy.

But now I'm considering what to do about Spotify after reading this book. I am really now looking for an alternative to both Spotify and iTunes. Apple has given up supporting iTunes and in my opinion has actually made it so bad in an effort to drive users to their Apple Music and their other Apple iPhone related products which I am avoiding like a plague but that's another story.

Glass of Beer - Shiner Bock

While out grocery shopping with Becky I picked up a six pack of Shiner Bock from Spoetz Brewery in Texas. It's a nice dark amber lager that I've always enjoyed but hadn't had any for awhile. Probably five or six years since I had some. So I've been enjoying the six pack over the past week or so. Todd had one and liked it a lot.

And then there is the tuna and the sardines. Sean gave me these cans of fish as a gift for Christmas and I'm looking forward to digging into them.

Christmas Day 2025

We had a great time hosting our Christmas Eve dinner and then it was a day to relax and enjoy the kids opening their presents. They had so much fun... and we did too. I got a couple of nice books to read and we received a gift certificate for JT's restaurant. And then there were those cans of sardines and tuna. Looking forward to that treat.

Meanwhile the kids played with their new toys.

Later in the day Katie, Todd and the kids left for a Christmas Dinner at Todd's uncle's house. The kids were going to have more fun with their California cousins who would be leaving the next day to fly to Boston to see Rachel's family.

Then Becky and I had some time to relax.

Christmas Eve Dinner 2025

Our Christmas Eve dinner was wonderful again. Becky made some fabulous braciole as usual. Things were a little different this year because Dave and Donna went to NYC for Christmas with Jim and Cassie and were not here. Mary did come and we had Val for dinner too. 

Of course Katie, Todd and the kids were here and so were Dick and Iris. Katie and the kids had been in town for several days but were staying downtown at the hotel because Todd's brother and his family were also in Buffalo for the holiday and would be for a couple more days before flying to Boston to spend time with Rachel's family. So we also invited them to dinner. That made ten people at the main table and five at the kid's table. The kids really liked hanging out with their cousins from California.

The dinner was delicious and everyone enjoyed the braciole and pasta. And also of course the wonderful cookies Becky and Katie made.

Earlier this week we had a Hanukkah dinner at the Schifeling's with Jeremy and Rachel and their two kids Ruby and Hannah. So it was nice to spend more time with them and have them over at our house. They really wanted to try the braciole too. 

Making Braciole 2025

Today Becky got an early start on her annual Christmas Eve dinner braciole. Usually she does most of the work preparing the braciole on the morning of the dinner but not this year. This time she worked on them this evening and they are all put together, rolled and in the fridge to be cooked tomorrow.

Downtown Hanukkah Dinner Party

This evening Becky and I went downtown to Dick and Iris' apartment for a last day of Hanukkah dinner. It was also our first chance to see Katie, Todd and the kids since they arrived in town Saturday evening at the downtown hotel. This was a special gathering of Todd's family as his brother and his family also came into town late Saturday night from California to spend some time with his parents. So yesterday our grandkids got to play with their cousins all day at the hotel where they were all staying. It was all very special for Todd's family.

So tonight we got to hang out with the their family and enjoy a wonder dinner. It was also fun to hang out with all the kids including Ruby and Hannah who love spending time with Henry, Clara and Violet. I had a nice time talking with Jeremy and Rachel along with our usual good time with Dick and Iris. The weather held up too with none of the snow that had been predicted earlier for this night.

Buttermilk Falls 1976

Here is another photo from that old box of "stuff" on the third floor that I've been going through recently. Me standing at Buttermilk Falls in August 1976. This was my first time in the Adirondacks. There was a group of us who spent a week there that year including me and Becky, Karen and Ed and Dave. We stayed at what was left of the old Sagamore site in one of the cabins. 

The Sagamore Hotel burned down in the early 1960's and the remains were still there. It was kind of a creepy site. Becky's family had stayed there several times when she was growing up. 

That week in August was very chilly. Later when Becky and I would vacation in Long Lake we would always book a week in July. The weather was much better.

Cookie Time 2025

Becky has been making her annual Christmas cookies over the past couple of days. Not quite as many as other years but still a lot and they are delicious. I helped with the cookie decorating. The cookies will be very popular with our house full of kids in the coming days.

Christmas Tree 2025

We went out and got our Christmas tree a little earlier this year than usual and got it at our usual place Northtown Garden Center on Sheridan Dr. We brought it home last week. It was also the most expensive tree we've ever had. $100. Something was really off this year with the cost of trees and I'm sure it must have something to do with the orange turd's tariffs. Most of the trees around here are brought in from Canadian tree farms. The most we ever previously paid for a Christmas tree was about $60. 

But anyway it was a very beautiful tree especially when we had it all decorated and that was done a week before Christmas this year.

It was fun decorating the tree as usual. Becky put up the lights and then we both did the ornaments.

Xmas Shopping on Elmwood

Every year we try to do a little bit of Christmas shopping locally on Elmwood Avenue. We went down there today to get some gifts at Penzy's. It was a cold windy day and not very pleasant walking along the avenue. We parked on Lafayette and walked around the corner and down the street. We didn't do our usual browsing shopping at the many gift shops on the avenue. We did our Penzy shopping and headed back to the car. We got some nice spices for Sean and Katie.

Then we went to Clayton's on Hertel to buy some toys for the kids. It's always fun to shop Clayton's.

Another Old Pic - 1970

Another pic from the old box of "stuff". Me in front of my locker in a barracks at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station. The date on the photo was August 22, 1970. I was just back to the base after an emergency leave to bury my father following his sudden ruptured fatal brain aneurysm. I was 18, probably still in shock and never the same.

Dinner @ Romeo & Juliet's Cafe

After decorating the Christmas tree and the house, wrapping presents and putting the lights up on the porch... pizza and panini with some montepulciano wine and limonata at a favorite nearby restaurants... Romeo & Juliet's Cafe & Bakery. Brought home some of their delicious panettone too.

We always have a wonderful dinner there and the service is always great. This place reminds us of a cafe in Rome or Florence.

Studs Terkel - And They All Sang

And They All Sang: Adventures of an Eclectic Disc Jockey by Studs Terkel, 2005.

I've been fascinated with the career of Studs Terkel as an American historian, actor, broadcaster and writer and his leftist perspective of an oral history of America. 

I really enjoyed his take on music of all kinds... classical, opera, jazz, blues, folk, soul, gospel and rock. The book includes some amazing conversations with people involved in an incredible assortment of biographic discussions of their music. Terkel was always prepared for any and every guest.

Other Studs Terkel books I've read and when.

• Hard Times: An Oral History of the Great Depression, 1970 - Nov 1976
• Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do, 1974 - March 1976
• The Good War: An Oral History of World War II,  1984 - Oct 1985

Old Family Photo Collage

This old photo collage was found by Marisa when she was cleaning out the attic in the Evergreen Avenue house when Dan was selling it. The photo then went into a storage unit until recently. The other day Dan sent me a copy of the photo and asking about the people in the pictures. 

The framed picture featured photos of our parent's wedding and focused on Mom's side of the family. The lady in the center of the photo was Mom's grandmother Agnes McDevitt Keegan who had passed away earlier in 1948. 

The upper photo on the left is Mom, Mom-Mom (Elizabeth Keegan Morris Casey), Mart (Martin Casey) and Dad. Upper center is Mom-Mom, Dad, Mom, Nana Morris (Ada Meehan Morris) and Grandpop Morris (Thomas Morris). Upper right is Mom and Dad. Lower right is Mom-Mom and Mart. Lower center is our Grandfather Emery, Nana Emery (Clara Smith Emery), Dad, Mom and Mom-Mom. Lower left is Mom-Mom and Mart.

Many of these pictures I hadn't seen before.