Off The Desk 12/22/2025

Hello and welcome to Off the Desk on this Monday morning. I'm Kaylee Collins >> and I'm Julia O'Keefe. Yes, we're looking festive here today in celebration of we're now how many days out from Christmas? Three. Yeah, >> two from Christmas Eve >> is officially on. Yes, >> we're not the only ones here today. >> Hugging sweater, too. Yeah. I think I got like a llama that you can see. >> Look at that. Look at that. >> What you call a pom pom? Yes. >> Yeah. Like the little I guess. What would you call this? Like on the end of Santa's hat. >> Like >> a pom pom. I guess. Yeah. >> Puff. A puff. >> I don't know. >> Pom pom. Yeah, I'll call it pom pom. >> Okay. >> I like it. Looks nice. We got the red going on, too. >> Yeah, we do. >> Um, this is a Buddy the elf. >> Buddy the elf. What's your favorite color? which I was saying last week how I quote it so often. Bob Simony was so surprised by that. But >> yeah, >> it's a good classic Christmas movie. So, I had to sport sweater. And yours is probably my favorite party animal. It says it at the bottom. Dogs and bells, which is so funny cuz I think I don't know if I told you guys I got this in a secret Santa gift exchange, but from someone that I didn't know like at all really. And she gave it she gave it to me and she was like, I don't know, it just reminded me of you. And I opened it and I was like, that's a great compliment. Sure. Dogs. I'm here for it. >> That's so funny. Yeah. Bells. >> Oh, it rings. >> Yeah, it rings. Hear that? >> Very festive. >> Fun. Fun. Fun. >> Oh, good things. So, >> Oh, good things. >> Yeah, we're very excited. A couple days away from Christmas now. And Chris, as you were explaining in the news this morning, there is a chance for some snow tomorrow. So, at least that's looking a little festive. >> Yeah. Yeah, there is the chance for some light snow tomorrow. Um, it looks to be overall pretty minor. you know, one or two inches is um possible here in the valley. Maybe a little bit more on the Birkers, but it's enough to get us into the holiday spirit. Um and maybe give us a white Christmas. I'm saying maybe because I think Christmas Eve um will be a little not warm, but when it comes to snow terms in the upper 30s to near 40° with a little bit of sun. So, there will likely be some melting on Christmas Eve. Um to the extent of that I don't know but if there could be a inch or more on the ground on Christmas morning when the sun rises it is a white Christmas. >> Okay. >> So there's a chance. >> Fingers crossed. >> Yeah. There's a chance. I would say if we get two inches or maybe it's an overachiever and a little more then it's a pretty good lock for a white Christmas. >> All right. >> Um but if you got an inch on the ground >> I don't know. I'd say if you're in the hills of the Birkshars you're looking pretty good. The valley we'll see. >> Okay. have to keep our uh fingers crossed for that one. But >> it's still exciting that it's around Christmas time. >> Yeah, for sure. >> Yeah, I think it honestly is perfect because you have the snow tomorrow, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, the weather's very quiet. You know, travel plans, anything you got going on, >> right? >> It looks good. And then after Christmas, there's potentially another storm. So, like Christmas Eve, Christmas Day are kind of sandwiched in between, you know, a little bit of stormy weather, but like I think the two days themselves are actually going to be pretty nice. Yeah, that's going to be nice. So you don't have to worry about if you are going to different holiday plans and maybe have to drive a little bit, you don't have to worry about weather being a factor, >> right? It's good, right? >> Yeah. And it'll be not warm, but not too cold. It'll be like 40° on Christmas Day. So >> Okay, that's Yeah, we'll take it. We'll take it. It's seasonable for this time of year. >> Seasonable. That's good. >> Yeah. >> But yeah, um we're also coming off a a fun weekend. Yeah, >> one of the last of 2025, which is kind of crazy to think about. >> Um, you guys want to go through our weekend recaps? >> Sure. >> Julia. >> All right. Friday I went to Bright Nights. Had a blast. That was great. >> Yeah. We're going to try to take my dogs, which I wanted to, but then it was rainy and they were like muddy and my mom didn't want them in her car. Whatever. Maybe some other time. Um, but it was really fun. It was fun and festive and got us in the holiday spirit for sure. >> Very nice. >> Um went home and watched Die Hard, which that's what we debated on. That's what we debated on Simply Cinema because I came in on Saturday. Yeah. And that was part of the game we played. Um is this a Christmas movie or not? >> They agreed that it is a Christmas movie. They think that it is a Christmas movie. >> Interesting. >> I said yes, too. I haven't watched it in a while, but I do remember as a kid like yes, it around this time of year >> because like the plot itself could happen any time of year. So, I think the fact that it takes place at Christmas time is enough to make it a Christmas movie. >> And there's Christmas music in it. >> There is. >> So, I don't know. Definitely a big debate, but I would lean towards a Christmas movie. >> Yeah. Yeah, that was the general consensus. So, yeah, I was that episode airs. Actually, it already did. It airs right before Off the Desk. So, nice. Yeah. So check that out and it'll be on the 22 News plus app. But we had a lot of fun. Justin and Max are great. They talk about movies so well and they really know their stuff. But they said they were impressed with my analysis. So that was good. I was like, "Guys, you're talking to an English major. I got it. >> I can analyze." Yeah. Um so that was fun. Um Yeah. And then Saturday was our 22 News holiday party. So that was super fun. We have some photos. Maybe we'll try to show some tomorrow. Um but yeah, it was a ton of fun. It was great to see everybody, especially because the morning team, you know, we we see our our people, but we don't get to overlap with the evening team that much. So, that was a lot of fun. >> A lot of fun. And then Sunday was relaxation in football. >> Kind of kind of it. >> Good weekend. >> It was a good weekend. Festive weekend. Yes. >> Very fun. >> About you guys? >> About you, Chris? >> You You want me to go first? >> I can go first. >> Someone go first. >> All right. Um, what did I do Friday? >> It feels so far away. It does feel like Friday was a long time ago. >> I want to say I didn't really do much on Friday. Can't remember it. I think I just got early. Maybe. I don't know. Friday. I can't remember. But Saturday morning, I ended up going um to go see the new Housemaid movie. >> Yes. >> Which I was saying that Bobby and I were planning to go. He had the day off from work. He usually works on Saturdays, but he was off, so that was nice. And um we went to go see that. So, we got coffee, had a little breakfast date in the morning. We saw we saw like a morning movie which we had a while probably because I wouldn't have been able to stay up that Friday night. So um we did that. I really liked the movie. I think it was done well. There were some parts of like the book that were a little bit different but >> it I think they did a good job. They did it justice and it told the story well. So that was good. And then after that we came home. Bobby's sister was over his parents house. Um, and we went over there, hung out with his sister and nieces for a little bit talking baby stuff. She gave me a bunch of >> girl clothes to go through, so that was exciting. And then, um, yeah, we got ready for the Christmas party, so holiday party, and >> we're there on Saturday night. >> We all got to see each other and hang out, which was fun. Like you said, it was just nice seeing everybody. And um, there's a wide range of >> holiday attire. >> Yes. At the party. Some people are like Patrick Barry. >> Oh. decked out in like a Christmas suit. That was fun to see. And then just to see people that you don't normally that work different shifts and stuff like that from our sales department and stuff was was really cool. We had a raffle there >> which I wasn't a winner but you did you win. I did win. Yes. I got Marshalls and TJ Maxx gift card. I'm excited about >> that was good. >> Yeah. >> There was a lot of good prizes. >> There were a lot of good prizes. Yes. >> I mean we did walk away with the Amazon Fire Stick. I was going to say you guys got those. Yeah. Vinnie got beats, headphones. >> Yeah. >> So, that was fun. >> Tablets. Yeah. Cool. >> Lot of good stuff. And then, um, yesterday slept in a little, which I don't normally, which was up late on Saturday night. So, um, slept in and then we went to a Barnes & Noble that's like new in a certain area of Connecticut, which was really nice. Got a new book. >> Um, the correspondent No, >> it's like a collection of letters apparently. It's um I don't know. I'm intrigued by it and people say have given it good reviews. So start that soon. >> And then Yeah. Just like made food. Oh, I baked cookies. >> Nice. So that the holiday celebrated baking. >> Yes. >> Got to get the cookies ready to leave out for Santa. >> That's right. Got to get it ready. >> Friday I was off. Um Oh, right. just had some things my wife and I did together. Um, >> but pretty laidback. Um, Saturday during the day, really nothing, >> but we had our Christmas party that night, so that was fine. Um, actually Saturday morning, um, my brother was actually coming through and I just got breakfast with him. >> Oh, nice. >> I forgot about that. >> Well, it feels so far away. I don't know why. >> It does. >> Yeah. Um, and then Sunday, yesterday, watched football. Um, had a fire in my house, like in the fireplace. >> Very nice. >> Made some cookies as well. >> What kind of cookies did you make? >> Um, those Well, one was the sugar cookies with the Christmas trees on them, like those Pillsbury ones. >> So good. They're so >> um And then just like chocolate chip cookies. We already did our big Christmas decorating cookie stuff. >> I think you said that. Yeah. like week like last week or something. I was just like I got nothing else to do and we had cookies and they were like Christmas themed and I was like when else am I going to make these? So I just made them yesterday. >> So good. >> Um and then I took a nap because I wanted to stay up and watch the Patriots game last night. >> Yeah, I was up until around like 10:30. Um and then I kind of fell asleep on my own. Yeah. And like missed probably the last like >> pretty much the fourth quarter. But um >> it was a good game and they won so I woke up happy. >> Now they're going to the playoffs. >> Going to the playoffs. >> First time since 2021. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So it's exciting. Um they got two more games left in the season, but hopefully they should be wins. >> That's or fingers crossed. >> Fingers crossed. >> But uh definitely exciting. And um yeah, a short week for me this week. >> There you go. >> The holiday. >> That is the holidays. So yeah, exciting stuff. Feeling festive, merry and bright. >> Maybe we should keep these on the whole day. >> I am newscast like this. >> Wow, that would be a choice. But I don't know if we should be. >> I've worn it during mass appeal before. >> Oh, really? >> Yeah. Um, >> that's funny. >> But I've never done this on the news. >> Yeah, I don't know. That would be some >> I don't think we wouldn't be able to do that with some of the the the stories. >> Yeah. How do you dark and you're wearing a llama? That's why we we saved it for off the desk. Keep it. >> Yeah. This is fun. This is fun. All right. >> Speaking of darkness though, uh well, I guess not. I guess >> the winter solstice was yesterday. >> Yeah. You know what? We're going to leave you with I can't even speak. I was going to leave the cliffhanger. >> She's ahead. And we'll talk about the winter solstice when we come back. >> Okay. All right, welcome back to Off the Desk on this Monday morning. >> I heard like the jingle of your sweatshirt >> as you started the block again. >> You know, it jingles. It jingles all the way. >> Jingles all the way. >> Right back for sure. >> This one looks like my dog. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Cute. Those are That's a cute >> little um >> That is fun. >> What's the word I'm looking for? I can't think today. I don't know. >> It's festive. >> It's festive. I was going to say like a cute group of >> You ever seen Santa Claus? >> Yes. I love Santa Claus. I keep calling my dog Santa Claus cuz he looks like him. >> Cute. All the Santa Buddies movies are great. >> They are. >> Or Snow Buddies. Buddies. Snow Buddies. Santa Buddies. Space Buddies. There's a bunch of them. Spooky Buddies. All the buddies. Anyway, The Darkness. Back to the darkness. >> Chris, take it away. >> Yeah, it was the winter solstice. Uh, yesterday was wait, what's today's date? >> Yeah, 21st. Yesterday. >> Yeah. >> Um, so now it's only going to get brighter from here. We've we've hit rock bottom with the darkness. >> We've hit rock bottom. Now we're going up from here. >> But um uh yeah, you're you'll gradually notice the day is getting longer now. I mean, in the month of January, January, we gained 40 minutes of daylight. >> Nice. >> So, >> sounds like a lot when you put it that way. Yeah. >> Yep. You'll uh >> I like that. >> You'll definitely notice the day is starting to get longer. Of course, it doesn't mean it's going to get warmer just yet. You got a lot of winter to go, but >> right >> um you'll notice those evenings the sun staying up a little later. Of course, you won't notice like today, but you'll notice it, you know, a month from now. You'll be like, "It's a little lighter out, you know." >> Yeah. Things to look forward to. Yeah, you can see my chair. >> I don't know if you um >> I mean I did it. I purposely went outside yesterday at like noon because like the winter solstice is when your shadow is like super tall. If you're like Have you ever looked at your shadow? >> I remember doing Yeah. And doing it on on with chalk and making your outlines and stuff. Oh my gosh, I haven't thought about that. >> Your shadow. >> So your shadow is like incredibly tall. Like I took my dog for a walk yesterday around our neighborhood and I was standing on like the left side by like the curb. My shadow went across the entire road. >> Yeah. Like how tall it is. And then if you did it in the summertime, there's pretty much little to almost like no shadow cuz the sun's right above you. >> That's cool. >> That is really cool. >> It is pretty wild. >> I wish I thought of that yesterday. >> You could do it today. It's really not going to change much. >> Good to know. >> So you see me out in the parking lot later. That's >> Look how tall you are in the shadow. should get some sidewalk chalk and you should trace some shadows. That's our shadow size. >> Yeah, fun. >> Me being a weather nerd, I think I actually uh Hang on. >> Take a picture of this. >> I think I take a picture. >> Did you ever watch the show? >> Yeah. Look how tall it is. >> Oh wow. Look at that. Yeah. >> Um the show when when I was really really little, the show Little Bear. >> Oh yes. >> I always think of the winter solstice episode of Little Bear around this time of year. >> I remember that. That's how I learned about the winter solstice and the duck is they're doing like a solstice party kind of. >> We should have done a solstice party. >> We should have next year. >> Next year. Anyway, I always think of that episode of Little Bear. >> Little Bear. I forgot about that show. >> Yeah. >> So good. >> Good kid show. >> Yes. >> Yeah. I mean, at least now that's something to be cuz winter feels so long. >> And I know Chris, you're like a winter lover, but >> if you're not like a huge fan of the winter, it just feels like compared to all the other seasons, it's so much longer >> because it's cold and dark for so long. But >> at least it's something to keep in the back of your mind that all right, it's getting brighter. Yes. >> Warmer days are ahead. I'm not I mean I think we can all agree that we're not a fan of the lighter days when we have to sleep at 6:00 p.m. in the evening. >> True. Yeah, we can look. >> That is one thing that's been actually very nice. Like when I'm in bed at 6:00 or 6:30 and it's dark, it doesn't feel wrong. >> Like, oh, it's dark out. I got to go. >> Yeah. >> It's much harder in the summer. Yeah. >> Yeah. when you're trying to go to bed, even at like if you stay up late in the summer at like 8 8:30, it's still kind of light out and you can hear people are outside and stuff and so much too. >> Yeah. >> Like I would be going for a late night summer walk right now stroll >> and the mornings are brighter come summer. >> That's true. >> Yeah. >> Oh, that's awesome. >> So, >> good things are ahead. >> Yeah. >> Up from here in terms of the light. >> Yay. >> In terms of light. We like that. We like that. Well, I don't really have much else. Christmas trivia, didn't you? >> Yeah, I have a Christmas trivia. I was going to say that. I'm trying to look at the time. >> Say that for the end. >> We could we could take Yeah. Or do we have anything else for this vlog? You had a couple things written down. >> Or like what are your Christmas plans? I don't >> We're not going to see each other. That's right. Okay. Yeah, let's do Christmas plans. >> You want to go first? >> Sure. Um Well, sure. Said that so enthusiastically. Sure. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Anyway, um so Wednesday is Christmas Eve. That's kind of like my family does the bulk of our celebrating as a whole big family Christmas Eve. So I'll be here working in the morning, but then I will be going to my aunt and uncles right around. We're all local, so it's right in the area for that. Um church is at in the afternoon as well. We go to church on Christmas Eve. So we'll do that and then go to my aunt and uncles and then um that's that's fun. Just Christmas dinner, game night, you know, kind of all that kind of stuff. Then Christmas day we host at my house, but it's smaller. It's just my immediate family, my grandparents, and I think my great might be coming too. So, we don't see my cousins on Christmas day. We do all that stuff Christmas Eve. So, it's small. It's a fun just chill day. Christmas PJs. I'll probably be probably wearing this. Um, and we do a silly gift Yankee swap. So, everyone got something really funny and like dumb and then we >> the best. >> We do it. Yeah, it's fun. Games, movies, just a chill day. Nice. >> I'm excited. Yeah. What about you guys, >> Chris? >> Okay. Um, well, I'm off tomorrow, so tomorrow though is just chill. Um, I think Matt and I are going to head back down to our hometown. Um, and just spend most of the week with our families. Um, so yeah, tomorrow chill day, uh, enjoy the snow. And then Christmas Eve is like our big day like when it comes to family gathering. >> Um so and we do go to church Christmas Eve. Um but afterwards everyone comes back to my parents house and we have like a huge like big dinner and >> nice >> kind of Christmas little party. We do like a fun um like grabback game. >> Fun. >> Santa comes. So all like the little cousins get excited and he brings like the first like gifts of Christmas to them and stuff. So, that's a lot of fun. And then Christmas morning, we'll do gifts with my family and stuff and go spend the day with Mattiey's family a little bit. You want to watch Christmas night? You'll see me here Christmas night. >> That's right. I forget you're here on Christmas day. >> Yeah. And then uh Friday, Saturday, Sunday, I'll just be back home and we'll just I don't know, just enjoy family time. Everyone's, you know, our siblings are all home and >> um >> always nice. >> I think it'll just be really laidback. I honestly look forward to like that time between Christmas and New Year's. It's like so >> everything's just slowed down and like >> it's just quiet. Like >> I'm with you. I saw I saw a it was a meme on Instagram, but it called that period the void. The schedule of Christmas, it was like Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and then it was blank on December 26th. And then the 27th through the 29th is or the 30th is just the void. The void. >> I love the void. It's a great time. Technically, it's still Christmas cuz you have 12 days of Christmas afterwards. Goes up to January 6th. So, >> um, and my family doesn't take down our tree or anything until January 6th or after because it's like, you know, the Christmas season still, >> right? >> Um, but yeah, I don't know. It's pretty laidback. I say Christmas Eve is our big day. >> Yeah, >> I think that's kind of a lot of families do it that way. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah, that's similar. This year is a little bit different for us. Sometimes we do go to my aunt's house on my dad's side for Christmas Eve and that's like all of my cousins on my dad's side, my aunts and uncles. So, there's like a ton of people there, but we're not doing that this year. We're going to be at my parents house, but my siblings, we all have different like schedules that day. So, we're trying to go earlier to my parents house. I'll be here in the morning and then get to my parents like early afternoon >> um to do like a gift exchange. We did a secret Santa and then we got gifts for the kids and stuff, too. >> So, um, just so we can at least all see each other at some point on Christmas Eve and then >> Bobby and I are debating, yeah, we might go to church Christmas Eve or Christmas Day in the morning. But then we're going to go to his parents and spend time with them for the rest of Christmas Eve, like evening. And then on Christmas Day, my sister is having um our family over for like an early dinner, early afternoon. And so we'll do our like gift exchange in the morning and then um we'll probably have do the have already done the bulk of our presents on Christmas Eve as far as like our exchange with my family and then maybe go back to Bobby's parents for like a later Christmas dinner on Christmas day. >> Nice. So see >> the same with me like we do most of our presents on Christmas Eve. >> Yeah, >> that's when like everyone's kind of more together and stuff. I mean we'll open a few in the morning on Christmas day but I feel like a lot of it happens Christmas Eve. like Bobby and I will, you know, exchange gifts and then open our gifts from Santa on Christmas Day, >> but um >> yeah, as far as like with our families, I guess with his family though, we'll do our gift exchange on Christmas day. We don't do Christmas Eve presents, but this year he doesn't know this. I'm surprising him with matching. >> My god. >> So, I want to see what he's going to be like. I'm going to be like, "Put them on. Let's go get changed." like you really want me. >> Did you do that growing up? Is that a tradition? >> Um, my parents would always get us Yeah. John was on Christmas Eve. Not always like matching, but it was just my mom would get whatever she thought we would like as kids. >> Um, >> so I like the the Christmas PJs tradition. It's something I want to do for my family, and I figured now's the time to start for the babies here. Get Bobby used to getting the Christmas. >> A quick funny story about PJs. Maddie actually ordered matching PE pajamas for her and I this year like and they came in last week and I guess they took a while because she ordered them off some like website from like China and she was like takes a while to ship. >> Yeah. And so she was like um I guess she opened the box. I didn't know what it was but she's like ah. And she's like laughing and I'm like what? And she goes well >> these were supposed to be our matching Christmas pajamas and they were supposed to be red. to check them out and they were like bright pink. >> Oh no. >> Yeah. And I'm was like, "You want me to wear pink pajama?" Like pink Christmas pajamas. She goes, "You don't have to if you don't want to." But I I won't lie, they're pretty comfortable. So yeah, I've been walking around in pink Christmas pajamas. Yeah. >> Do they have any designs on them? >> Yeah, it has like ornaments and stuff, but they're >> And they're pink. That's so funny cuz pink isn't the color that you necessarily think of. >> No. She's like, "They looked red online." I was like, "Yeah, funny." >> It's like the It's like the sound more the videos. It's like, "This is what I wanted and this is what I got." And it's one of those >> I mean, we'll definitely get more on Christmas Eve cuz my mom hands out ones that everyone changes into. >> Yeah. >> But she tried. >> A She tried. That's funny. >> Gonna say we could take another break, but it'll be really quick back. >> We probably should just take a break. Okay, we're back and we'll have a quick goodbye once we're back. All right, welcome back to Off the Desk. I'm Julia O'Keefe. I'm Kaylee Collins. >> And I'm Chris Pazakis. It's Monday. >> It's Monday Christmas week. >> You need uh Oh, that's great. Okay. Anyway, sorry. I'm just getting some Christmas trivia questions up. Oh, >> good. >> Um Oh, wait. That's my off the desk. Of course, this this is when we don't have that much time and I'm on the wrong day. Anyway, >> Julia, we love some holiday trivia as we get into the spirit. Um Oh, this one says, "These questions and answers are a merry good time." So, >> let's hear it. >> All right. Let's see. Where are they? Okay. Okay. Okay. Sorry. Sorry. Okay. Which two Chris, this one's for you. Which two of Santa's reindeer names come from weather phenomena? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Comet, right? I guess none of them are really, >> but Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, comic. >> I don't know. I'm a Comet. Maybe >> it's not Comet, but Blitzen is one of them. That's for lightning. >> Okay. >> Oh, I said like a blitz. >> Yeah. The other one is Donner for thunder. I don't know. I've never actually heard this before, but that's cool. >> Blitzen. Okay. >> Yeah, >> I would have thought Comet, too. Can't forget Rudolph, too. >> Can't forget Can't forget Rudolph. >> Which US president made Christmas a federal holiday? >> Roosevelt. >> No. >> No. Taft. >> No. >> Wasn't FDR, was it? >> Eisenhower. >> I'll give you a hint. He's on a form of currency. >> Oh, it goes that far back. >> Um, I didn't say what form of currency. >> It's not. I think it's the 50. >> Is it Oh, is it >> the 50? Yeah. I don't know. >> Jefferson. >> No. >> No. Jefferson the 20. >> I think it's the 50. I could be wrong, but I think >> I don't want to guess. And then >> Okay. I'll just say Ulyses Srant. >> Oh, I would have never got >> He is on the 50, right? >> I believe so. >> Okay. I really hope so. That would be really embarrassing if not. Um, what is the name of the famous Christmas ballet? >> The Nutcracker. >> Correct. Yes. >> Got it. How many towns in America are named Christmas? That's actually a really hard question. I don't know why I know North Pole, Alaska. >> Really? >> Yeah, I've been to it. >> Really? Cool. >> I think I'm going to guess like 15. >> That'd be more than I would think. >> No, it's just two. >> Oh, >> two. Where are they? >> Christmas Michigan and Christmas Florida. >> That's so interesting. >> Yeah. All right, last question. Uh, actually, never mind. Okay. What are people expected to do under the mistletoe? >> Kiss. >> Yay. You got it right. >> Got it. >> All right, that's all we have time for today. >> Happy holidays. Merry Christmas, everyone. Chris will see you next week. >> Yeah, I'll see you on Monday next week. >> Enjoy your Christmas. >> And um Julie and I will be back here tomorrow. >> Yes, we will. Enjoy your Monday. >> Merry Christmas. >> Merry Christmas.