The Curtis Clan - Winter 2021
Winter Solstice to Spring Equinox
2020-2021 Holday Break
Winter began with the 21st Anniversary of our Randy and Bethany dating. We celebrated quietly at home with Racanelli's pizza. The next day was Festivus and at least member of the Curti family remembered that this was the designated day for the Airing of Grievances.
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Jane and Mom making cookies
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COVID separations altered our family traditions beginning with Christmas Eve, usually the first day of Sagemas FFF (Forced Family Fun). This year, we watched Holy Redeemer Mass as a family , followed by Bishop Mark's Diocese of West Virginia YouTube of Halleluiah! with Mark playing the piano (very touching). Eventually the Pizza World Delivery guy showed up (no soup for us) and we watched White Christmas before setting out stockings and going to bed (the earliest turning in ever).
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Jane and Cate waiting at the top of the steps
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Christmas Day was leisurely, relaxed and one of the one of the best in recent memory at 602 Tuxedo with everyone staying in matching dinosaur Christmas jammies for the day before having the traditional lasagna dinner and watching Die Hard for the first time as a family (the girls gave opposite reviews on whether it was a Christmas movie or enjoyable).
| I LOVE it! |
I LOVE it! |
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Breakfast Mimosas - hold the OJ
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On the COVID front, Christmas was the last day of the family quarantine and with all of us symptom free, we were relieved to see isolating Cate for 10 days worked. Our happiness was tempered with the news Randy's 85-year-old dad with COPD in Monterrey tested positive during one of the in a skilled nursing facility regular screening tests that occurred a few times a week. Initial symptom was only fatigue with him sleeping more than usual but no additional ailments thankfully.
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Entire Curti Clan
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Saturday, the 26th was the single evening of FFF Sagemas, taking form as a 4-5 hour Zoom call. Our 11-year-old nephew Henry did an 8 round trivia night which was really good, though we lamented not watching Elf recently. For the sixth year in a row, the Sage Siblings and their offspring produced a 12 Days of Sage Christmas with each of the Baker's Dozen of grandkids each taking a "day". The videos came be found here:
13 Days of Sagemas - 2020 Edition
13 Days of Sagemas - 2019 Edition
13 Days of Sagemas - 2018 Edition
13 Days of Sagemas - 2017 Edition
13 Days of Sagemas - 2016 Edition
13 Days of Sagemas - 2015 Edition
In a similar vein,
Mele Kalikimaka by sung by Jane and Cate Curtis - 2012 Edition
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Baby Yoda / Grogu - Cate (Santa is a Jedi !?!)
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Winter 2021 saw the Curti finish rewatching the entire Harry Potter series with films 4-8. We also enjoyed parts of the MCU with Cate's rewatching the entire series but the family only joining her for Winter Solider, Black Panther and the new series Wanda Vision. Cate also convinced us to watch Scott Pilgrims vs. the World. Cinematic fare of the parents choosing was scant with You Again as getting the four-family member to agree to a single movie became increasingly rare.
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Goodbye 2020, Bienvenue 2021
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January 2021
January 2021 proved uneventful at 602 Tuxedo but it was difficult to not be distracted by National events peaking on Wednesday, 6 January when the MAGA mob stormed the Capitol to protest the normally mundane task of counting the electoral college with patently false narratives about forcing a new election or reversing the November one. We were glued to live newscasts through the afternoon and evening . Many participants were clearly guilty of sedition and insurrection (including the President) though a fair number were merely rubes taken in by the Huckster in Chief. Embers of rage would remain readily ignitable for long afterwards (whiskey became a nightly sedative for a week or so). Relationships with family and friends of a different party strained further to the point of no longer communicating AT ALL with one another as respectful dialogue seemed impossible with polar opposite views of what had occurred that day and the last half a decade. It was unclear if there can ever be civility in America again as our political discourse has become monopolized by media personalities saying I'm right and if you disagree with me, you're an idiot that hates America. Hard to get anywhere when you insult and demonize the other side. The smooth transition of power was very much in doubt in the following weeks and it was a major relief when it occurred without further Constitutional drama when in the words of John Mulaney: 'The Horse Has Left the Hospital'
| 2016 to 2020 What a difference 4 years makes |
French Enlightenment Writer-Satirist Contempary of Founding Fathers |
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Kinship remained with like-minded folks politically, occasionally the weather allowed for gathering outdoors around the fire pit discussing house improvement past (and future?). Yes, the fur trapper souvenir hat from Alaska was a bit over kill but I stayed warm.
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Socially distant day drinking with John in the winter with some Spotted Cow
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At the end of January, Jane received a $32,000 scholarship offer to WPI, which was significant and gratifying that she was worth much more than merely being accepted and brought them into serious consideration for attending.
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Taking the WPI virtual campus tour in February with interest
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On the COVID vaccine roll out, in late January, we got wind of possibility being able to sign up early for a vaccine shot as rumors of not all the shots were being used for medical professionals. We certainly weren't going to let a valued resource go to waste and would have felt no guilt rolling up our sleeve if there was not enough people in line with a case of defrosted vaccine about to spoil. However, we weren't going to sign up days in advance to get a shot meant for health care workers. We remained hunkered down and waited for our turn to pop up.
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Curtis girls sharing Forensics class via Zoom
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Early February saw Jane's very last competitive swim meet. The "end of an era" refrain would echo through our minds reguarly for the next four months as Jane Senior Year drew to a close with the "last time" events kept comming (I'm not crying ~ must be something in my eye...). Ergo there was a Jane heavy focus to the quarter of the family blog before it shrinks as she leaves the nest at Tuxelia.
| Seniors swimmers at KHS |
In the pool |
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| Masked friends |
Unmasked Underwater Friends |
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| Jane in her WGHS swim parka before the last meet |
Last time on the blocks for Webster |
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Winter at Tuxelia 2021
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COVID delayed celebration of the annual Ice Cream for Breakfast at Serendipity to 12 February, so this year it also marked a Happy Lunar New Year and 212th Birthday for Lincoln and Darwin.
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Traditional Family Values Serendipity ice cream for breakfast
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WnJ Alumni Magazaine blurb
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Valentine's Day meant heart shaped Fortel's tomato pizza for diner (their biggest day of the year).
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Pizzas is LOVE
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St. Louis had snow on the ground through much of February due to a couple snowfalls and temps below 0 degrees and not reaching the 30s for a week and a half. Multi layers were needed in the basement telework office until the electric fire place / space heater was moved in to make it comfortable all day. Still the 15 degree drop visit to the bathroom were invigorating. By the time the other space heater arrived for the other office (there were none to be had at the hardware stores, and we tried multiple ones), it had warmed up to regular winter temps.
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Jane and Cate cleaning the snow off "Charles"
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Kicking the winter blues away
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Mr. Curtis buys a new car for himself - Saturday, 27 February
(It's a big deal to him so he wrote TOO much)
Justification (Whiny)
The Curti didn't HAVE to buy a car, which made it difficult to justify doing it. Mostly, Randy WANTED to buy a car; a thought that had been building for a while but he couldn't justify such a large purchase without a need. Last time he bought a car solely (primarily) for himself was in 1995, after his 3-cylinder 1 liter Geo Metro was no longer a reliable road trip warrior, which was the final straw that pushed the self-proclaimed "exciting single guy" to get something that didn't scream dork mobile to potential dates (There was the orange Spitfire, when it worked, wasn't too cold and wasn't rainy).
We were on borrowed time with his mom's old Mitsubishi Gallant, that we'd been using for half a decade (primarily Jane and Cate of late). Repairs were beginning to become significant costs to keep it running in safe condition, much less ideal shape. The catalytic converter died a year earlier and was going to cost $1800 to repair (the car's Blue Book value). How it passed the December emissions inspection is a mystery. The Gallant's paint was in horrible shape, particularly for a 2006 that had been repainted once already. The rear, driver's side door handle had broken off (because the girls are so incredibly strong...this was the second handle that way broke that way in the last few years on this car…not the best materials). Charles, the girl's name for the car, was an eyesore of a car in our least favorite color (black) and model (sedan). A car none of us would have picked, in serious declining condition. While reliable transportation for a number of years, the car was unloved and won't be missed.
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2006 Gallant looking almost good after a car wash (a car glamour shot taken when considering selling it outright)
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What did we get?
A third generation Kia Soul. Kia introduced the Soul to the US market in 2010 with hip humanoid hamster animations driving one extolling a "New Way to Roll". The commercials did NOT appeal to the Boomer demographic, but living with the subcompact, crossover SUV assigned as a rental car for a 3-person team for a week changed his mind and it quickly became the car of choice when allowed to from the rental car lot given its luggage space, usable back seat; roomy front seat for tall people; and distinctiveness making it easier to find in a hotel parking lot of rental cars. It was the only newish car that Randy really liked, a feeling solidified as family and friends got one too and LOVED them.
Even so the specific car we got was a compromise of what was available on the dealer lots. There aren't "deals" on cars you order (in 2004 we ordered the Sienna which were in very short supply, ergo no deals anyway, and typically overloaded (we ordered ours which was literally 1/2 the cost of the most expensive one we could have bought).
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Randy has a Soul (...now)
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So ya' got a deal?
Buying a car in February is normally a good idea (very slow sales month), as is buying at the end of a month (dealership and salespeople need to make quotas). It helps even more when there's been a week plus of frigid temps and snow dissuading going outside in general. Also, it was smart to buy a car BEFORE the third COVID stimulus checks arrived that clearly sparked a latent economy with rising prices and fewer deals.
We made a good deal but probably could have done better if we didn't really want a green one which aren't that common with only two in the St. Louis area, both at Kia Suntrup. Also, we had to move up a couple trim levels, getting the fancier 18-inch alloy wheels and a leather-wrapped steering wheel in the process to get a green one.
The base Souls all have: a 2.0L Multi-Port Injection, 4-cylinder engine. 147 hp @ 6,200 rpm with Intelligent Variable Transmission with AM/FM/MP3 audio system with Android Auto on the 7" touch screen with back up camera and Cruise control but the X line came with a bunch of safety technology extras that weren't part of the Curti pre-purchase requirements but were quickly appreciated while driving in Big City Traffic:
Blind-Spot Collision Warning
Rear Cross-Traffic
Collision-Avoidance Assist
Lane Change Assist
Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist
Lane Keeping Assist
Driver Attention Warning
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The Curti pose with their new Kia Soul
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There was a temptation to get a manual transmission too but there were even fewer 2021 Souls with a stick and no green ones. Since we didn't want a pre-owned car, we got the automatic. Anyway, we made a pretty good deal: $20K after trade in; they agreed to a ridiculous trade in value on the Gallant.
We plan to have the Soul for a long time...perhaps until we need to get a self-driving car.
We were bemused to see it was 9 years ago to the day after got the repainted the ‘95 Suzuki Sidekick from being repainted and 5 years plus 3 weeks since we got the Chevy Traverse and about 17 years to the day after ordering the Toyota Sienna. Clearly car shopping in February is a Curtis family tradition.
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Kia Soul meets Suzuki Sidekick (more similar than expected in size & shape)
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In the weeks that followed Randy acquired accessories to put the kayaks on the roof : Erkul Skybar V2 roof racks and Rhino-rack Nautic Stack Kayak Carrier - Folding) AND a hitch for pulling a light trailer (Curt Class I Trailer Hitch Receiver). In early March, we repainted the previous dark green shamrock car magnets gold in preparation for St. Pats. Ready for a parade
| Randy and the Kia ready for St Pats |
Jane looking like the Irish lassy |
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Kia ready to transport the kayaks
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In early-mid March , the dogs got their first hair cut in way too long, Pepper ended up looking like the hairless house elf in Harry Potter. Can you her saying:
Dobby never meant to Kill. Dobby only meant to maim or seriously injure.
Or
Dobby will have to punish myself most grievously for coming to see you sir.
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Pepper looking like Dobbie
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Short hair dogs "watching" TV with Randy
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Vaccine Scavengers of Route 66
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The first week of March, Randy's student employee missed a few hours of work because they got vaccinated along with a number of other students by going at the end of the day to a mass vaccine drive surrounding Rolla, when there were defrosted unclaimed shots going to waste. This coincided with him qualifying under the Missouri's guide lines for Phase 1B - Tier 1 as a Federal government employees in a public works agency (i.e., the Corps of Engineers). So, using the official state of Missouri COVID Navigator, he jumped on the Vaccine Tourism bandwagon , signing up for a drive outside Fort Leonard Wood in St Robert, MO on the 16th (there were still no shots readily to be found in the city or county). Based on numerous accounts of wasted vaccine shots in out-state Missouri, he talked the family into joining him with hopes of them scoring surplus shots. We picked the right event as there were hundreds extras when we got in line near the end of the day. As Woody Allen observed, Eighty Percent of success, is showing up. The National Guard was dispensing the Pfizer which had been approved for 16-year-olds, so Cate got one too without having to fib about her birth year (Pfizer Oddity: the Chesterfield campus is at the location of the 1960s era YMCA Camp Pioneer from Randy's boyhood). The Guard made an automatic follow -up appointment for us three weeks later on 6 April. We were happy, relieved and proud. Happy St. Patrick's Day indeed as the vaccine brought an end to year-long season of discontent to the day (plus 2).
| Curti got their 1st Vaccine Shot |
4 of a Kind - A winning hand |
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Our self-satisfaction of our resourcefulness didn't last long as later that week, vaccine availability dramatically opened up across the state and the country and large drives came to St. Louis that weekend for older adults. Even so, the girls were close to a month ahead of most of their peers and provide us confidence that Cate could get a job after school, as she had been requesting for over half a year.
In mid-March, Jane realized her summer dream job being hired as a camp counselor/lifeguard. Initially she had been offered the job at the St. Louis Gateway Region's Camp Lakewood, where she had gone for 8 years and she was thrilled to tears. The tears switched as Lakewood pulled back the offer because she was already a St. Louis YMCA employee as a lifeguard in Brentwood and the Region had an anti-poaching employee rule between branches for the first year. So instead of helping her chances of becoming a counselor at Lakewood, it nixed them. Her disappointment was short lived as within a week Camp Echo in Michigan, a subsidiary of YMCA of Evanston offered her the same job in a completely new location. We were all very excited for her mixed with a melancholy that that she would dramatically be out of our lives in only two short months. Realizing living with her in the future would be limited to brief interludes while attending college and the transition from four Curti to three would be eminent. Leaving the nest was always the plan but it won't be the same without her.
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The girls heading out (literally and metaphoracally)
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