I guess that mystery box was a double secret mystery and is only now just a single mystery because I FORGOT TO PUSH PUBLISH when I wrote it last Friday. But that’s okay because I had to USE GLUE and it will not go out until Monday morning. Maybe that adds to the mystery.

This is the season of earphones* for me; I am listening to carols and tuning out the negativity in my house. It will the also be the season of elfing and concentrating on sharing good cheer with others. I think I am going to devote each day to some little endeavor aimed outward – let’s see, maybe I will start with this mystery box to Glenda. Hint: It will contain nothing new, just refugees . . . so I guess I’ll have to punch air holes in the box. I’d ask for volunteers but they would all want to go, so I will probably have a lottery. Yes, I think I will do that tonight/early tomorrow morning. I’m going to have fun with this. Oh, yeah. Maybe I will rig the lottery and, well, you’ll see.

* Another reason for earphones is that Der Bingle does not like The Irish Tenors and I could listen to them ALL DAY – LOUDLY.

Shane and I – our little down in spirits period last night? – well, guess what, one of us opened the Kindle for comfort reading and the screen was an abstract black and white painting. Yes. Bummer. Fortunately, Shane still had a Wubba to hold close to him as I felt my body and spirit just right out sag.

I’m getting a new one. I contacted the company for troubleshooting and was instructed to call and did so. It’s out of warranty and I figured as much, and they offered me some refurbished options. They didn’t have the model I already had and liked so I said I’d buy a new one.

The girl told me to hold and, after a minute, offered me a one-time price reduction on that model and started to tell me about the next time I was on my account when all at once she paused and said, “Oh, it’s in your cart and you’ve clicked to buy it . . . I’m adding the discount now . . . and she did.” With free shipping it will be here Friday.

So . . . I got what I wanted cheaper than I would have had to pay – thus avoiding the question of “If you’re going to pay X, then maybe you should pay X+some more money and upgrade.”

It’s better than it could have been.

Shane and I are feeling morose tonight – thoughts of those not here seem to have settled on us like an evening fog. I suppose we will come round, but right now, we will rest a bit first.

A few minutes later

I had to come back to say we are not wallowing in low spirits; we are just not letting Our Sad build up until it has to burst out. Every now and then, we open the door a little and let the balance adjust. Just before I snapped this picture, we were staring at each other – and perhaps into each other’s soul – and I think we found comfort in that.

Well, I am back from my multi-step journey . . . and I did not win big in Las Vegas. Yes, it is true – what happens in Las Vegas, stays in Las Vegas. My money stayed there. Sigh.

But I did have a very good time at the Planet Hollywood; we stayed in the Bruce Willis Mercury Rising Room. I think the guest right before us must have felt their mercury rising from the excitement of drinks and winnings or the heat of anger at losing because when I went to adjust the shade, the chain came off in my hand . . . and the light at the desk had to be fixed.

The beds were soooo comfortable and, of course, were not lumpy from winnings stuffed under the mattresses, but that’s okay. We had good fortune in just having the trip itself.

The Gnome Ambassador went with us – I have a picture of him and the Bruce Willis shirt. Yes, yes, there will be some stories to come.