Holiday Greetings – 2021
Thank you for visiting.
John

I dreamed about impressing everyone by playing like a pro.. but every time I turn on the video, it’s a disaster. This is as good as it could get. This year I am determined to play guitar for my visitors as a Christmas gift. I don’t care if I make mistakes. My visitors know I do everything mediocre and I’m proud of it.

My prediction for the year 2022? It will be yet another boring year with the same routines and same Costco shopping. Yes, the good time will continue, I wish. Boring is the best.

Keep in touch. Good times. Happy holidays~!!!

First Sign of Christmas 2021
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John

It’s Beginning To Look Like Christmas

Here’s the first sign of Christmas (2021) in Costco.

My regular visitors know how much I enjoy Christmas. Forget Christmas in July. I listen to Christmas music year-round. I have 70+ Christmas CDs (physical CD collection from the 90’s). I decorate my cubicle at work with a full-size Christmas tree with a train running around it (picture below)

Naturally, I enjoy looking at Christmas items in Costco.

I see these ribbons at Costco, usually at the end of July or early August. They rotate the designs of the ribbons every year. Last year, the ribbons had a slight hint of Winter. But this year, the ribbons scream Christmas~!! I like these.

After these ribbons, there will be about a month of calm at Costco. After 3-4 weeks, by September, there will be Christmas isles at Costco. Some items will look familiar. But they will also have stuff you have never seen before. You never know what you will find.

FYI: Some cool Christmas items sell out quickly at Costco, way before Christmas. And you may never find them anywhere else.

2019, my cubicle at work
Costco Shopping – September 18, 2020
Thank you for visiting.
John

25th Costco Shopping in 2020 – $147.87 today / $1,821.66 this year

I took a sick day from work so I could go to Costco first thing Friday morning when it’s not busy. Sick day was justifiable because I got 2 vaccines today, shingles and flu.

Costco Vaccination Process

Before going to Costco, I visited Costco’s immunization page and downloaded immunization consent form. They wanted 2 copies. I didn’t make an appointment, but I went to Costco pharmacy at 9:15 AM (unofficial opening hour). There was nobody in the line. The process was smooth.

  • A gentleman greeted me at the “Patience Counseling” window. I gave him my immunization consent form.
    • I filled out a short questionnaire to declare I was not sick.
    • He checked my insurance card and settled the payment. ($29.53 total).
    • He checked the temperature off my forehead.
    • I was told to wait 15 minutes and go to the pickup window
  • At the pickup window, I paid $29.53 with my HSA debit card.
    • Afterthought – I was stupid to use HSA card. HSA account earns high interest, just like 401k. I should grow my HSA account until I retire. I will pay all my medical expenses with cash if I can.
  • Several minutes later, my name was called.

Costco Adult Immunization Program

Christmas in Costco

I enjoy looking for the first sign of Christmas in Costco.

As I do every year, I took pictures of Christmas decorations and sent them to several friends. As always, they texted me back with “Already?” “Too soon” and “Yikes” – They knew I was loving it.

European cookies are back for the season. These cookies are part of my life. I have never run out of these cookies for over 10 years. Every year I buy a few cans of these cookies and freeze them. I enjoy them every weekend with coffee.

I saw a cool Halloween decoration and an interesting kitchen item (pictures below).

I spent over 2 hours inside Costco warehouse. Members only savings saved $15.80.

One Rotisserie chicken, a hand sanitizer, and Whisps chips are for my friend who can use a cheer up gift.

Strawberries were just OK (not bad). It was about 7 out of 10 on taste scale.

I came home, took a shower, put away food, vacuum-packed rotisserie chickens, and made chicken stock with the bones. I finally had time to rest around 3 pm. I was exhausted (don’t get old). It’s a lot of work to live alone and do everything alone.

I guess my next Costco shopping is when I get a Thanksgiving turkey. This year’s turkey will be epic. -E-P-I-C-

We survived 6 months of pandemic. Perhaps we repeat this a few more times. God bless everyone. Please take care.

First Hint of Christmas at Costco, 2018
Thank you for visiting.
John

I was a little disappointed that these ribbons didn’t scream “CHRISTMAS”

Ribbons were at Costco on August 1st, 2018, just as I expected. But they didn’t have any obvious Christmas designs such as snowflakes or Santa. Still, these ribbons are hinting at us to get ready for Christmas.

Christmas Moment
Thank you for visiting.
John

I contacted my friend Friday (Dec 22nd) and convinced her to come out after work for a “Christmas experience”. Both she and I get off work late. We were tired, but I told her she will look back and cherish the moment – that we must force ourselves to create some kind of Christmas moment before it’s gone.

The entire night I played my favorite Christmas music in my car. I picked her up at her work and went for a quick bite. And we went to a coffee shop and enjoyed holiday flavored coffee.

Then we walked around the shopping center and took some pictures. I struck a silly pose in front of a big Christmas tree. Then we realized that my belly was exposed in the picture. We had a big laugh. We kept looking at that picture and kept laughing.

We took a detour back to her work and looked at houses with Christmas decorations. I took her back to work in three hours.

4 days later, I cherish that magic moment.

Wardrobe by Costco (5 items): Cashmere scarf, Buffalo brand hoodie, Calvin Klein shirt, Buffalo brand jeans, Kirkland Signature belt. 

My cubicle – Christmas 2017
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John

I put up this decoration in my cubicle on Thanksgiving week. Since then, every single day I hear people going “Oooh~!” “Aahhh~!!”. It’s been super fun so far.

The Christmas tree with 800 lights was $10 at a garage sale.

I bought the train, stuffed reindeer, and a red scarf from Costco.

I’ve been playing Christmas music for the last 2 months. Christmas is now only two weeks away. I already feel emotional that the end is near. I would like to enjoy more and share with more people.

Merry Christmas. Happy holidays.

Music Choice Killed Classic Christmas
Thank you for visiting.
John

Created: July 14, 2017

Update December 2021: I quit cable TV since my original blog in 2017. Now I have a new setting to enjoy Christmas music. I tune my TV to Pluto’s Christmas channel (free). The TV is on mute, and I play my own Christmas music through the home theatre system. This is the best setup so far.

Update November 12, 2020: Comcast now has a Classic Christmas channel via digital Music Choice channels. All the classic tunes and pretty pictures. Read more about it below – comment #14789.  Thank you for posting!

### original post below ###

I love Christmas.

Music is very important for us Christmas lovers. Along with decorations and the smell of pumpkin spice, music is the element that will hold Christmas together. I like classic Christmas tunes that make me feel happy and sentimental. Classic Christmas music takes me back in time. I own 70+ Christmas CDs. I bought my first Christmas CD from BMG CD Club 20-30 years ago. Remember BMG? Columbia House? I used to buy records from them. Good times.

Every Christmas season I tune my cable TV channel to Sound of the Seasons, a part of the Music Choice channel line-up. They play commercial-free Christmas tunes. I enjoyed that channel every year. Then something happened.

They started to play Christmas songs by young artists such as Brittany Spears, One Direction, In Sync… Then last year, they rarely played classic tunes, but most of the songs they played were teeny-bopper, hip hop Christmas tunes, some songs with deep heavy bass – as if I’m at Run DMC concert.

YO BABY, YO BABY YO~!! SOME-BODY SCREAM~!!
NO~!!!

So, I stopped listening to that God-awful channel.

Look at this abomination. Britney Spears is a beautiful and talented young lady. But that’s not Christmas.

To sum up – Christmas music should sound like Christmas. Christmas music should NOT make me feel like I’m in the middle of a breakdance battle. Don’t drop the bass on the yule log.