December 24, 2019 - Christmas Eve

27 degrees/partly cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

Well, here it is, the day before the big day. Man oh man, what a year. Sounds like the intro to a Christmas letter, eh? Not today. Come back tomorrow.

Monday began with the usual stroll to Pentoga Village. Other than a deer standing to the side of the road, I took this picture to show the hills that lie between here and our hustling, bustling, ghost town, population zero.

One of the several large hills between the house and Pentoga

 I walk "the hills" five days a week to improve my cardio strength and do "the block" two days a week for endurance. The first is three miles, the second is five. 

A year from January, I'll take out a gym membership and plan to attend exercise classes to strengthen my core in preparation for the attempt at the Appalachian Trail during the summer of my 70th birthday. Since only fifty people, 70 or older, have ever successfully completed the 2,000 plus mile trek, I'll need to be in as good a shape as I can possibly be.

Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah, the walk was a good one and uneventful.

The rest of the morning and most the afternoon was spent in the shop. I hoped to get a Plan B Christmas gift completed, one that I didn't think I'd have to time to do, but wanted to try.

Unless some unforeseen down time happens today, I'm afraid the praying Santa will become a gift for next year. 

Sargie and I made a quick dash to Iron Mountain late yesterday afternoon for a couple of last minute things. Last night was spent with Yooper Brother Mark, Isabella, and Curtis, helping to coach the Packers onto victory over the Vikings. 

It was a sweet sweet win, one that crowned Green Bay the NFC North Division Champions. It's a good day in Title Town.

Sargie works only to noon today. I have about fifty thousand things to do this morning, presents to wrap, bales to lift and barges to tote, but first I'll walk a quick five miles.

Tonight brings my favorite family gathering of the year, The Mighty Milligan Christmas Eve Celebration. We're celebrating tonight at my most favorite place (other than Pentoga Road) in the UP, at Nancy and Ron's, the old family farm, high atop Milligan Mountain. 

Somehow, when one pulls into the drive and enters the old farmhouse filled with hugs, kisses, and Merry Christmases, it just seems like home. 

Before anything happens, however, I need to get Sargie's breakfast ready and lunch packed.

After all, a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...