End of the YEar

A thing of beauty is a joy forever:
Its loveliness increases; it will never
Pass into nothingness; but still will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.
~ John Keats ~

One of my favorite things about celebrating the arrival of a new year is all the lists of things from the previous year. Below is an item from an article of Strangest Police Blotter Reports, it occurred somewhere in California, the names of the people, oh I am not Joe Friday…

Western Nevada County, Ca.
At 12:15 p.m., a man called from the 800 block of
Old Tunnel Road to report his wallet was stolen. He said the wallet was missing
from his apartment and he would talk to people in his apartment complex about
it. He called back to say he would like to speak with an officer about the
issue. An officer arrived and the wallet was found under the bed.

There are all sorts of lists looking back at 2006, and predictions about 2007. As with each year there are high expectations about the year to come. I have always found this interesting, that with the passing of the last minutes from 2006 to 2007 that the world will automatically change.
In 2007 we will face the same struggles we are facing at the end of 2006. We will face them in the coming days hopefully with more fortitude, strength and determination. It is in time of struggle that one needs to remember that Christ will give us the strength that we need.

Perhaps it is simply then sense of accomplishment of completing another year that make’s New Year a fun celebration.

Tonight we had dinner with some friends because it sounded like a good idea, and they agreed. It was Jenn’s birthday so we obtained a cake, put candles on it and started singing Happy Birthday. Cap and Peyton had been playing and generally having a good time, when Cap heard the first part of the song, he exclaimed CAKE and ran for his chair at the table, thus proving Pavlov’s Theory once again.

Below is a picture of Cap, Go Texas! They already played their bowl game, it was the Alamo Bowl. They beat Iowa 26-24.


Here is a cartoon that was in the paper… You can draw your own conclusions.

Saturday Morning Update

The large headlines in the news is Saddam Hussein has been executed, by hanging. Gerald Ford’s services began yesterday, and will continue for 6 days taking his body from California to Washington DC to Michigan. Much is being made of Saddam’s life and death on the news outlets.

The weather outside is cold and raining the weatherman indicated that it would snow… …it has not snowed here yet. I would be nice to miss the forecast 70% of the time and still have a job. I listened to the short program below on my way home from work yesterday. It is really funny.

Last night Cap and I ate at my mom’s house, and it was “gooooood”, we had some chicken fried steak, potatoes, biscuits.

Merry Stressmas: It's That Time of the Year

Below are a couple of pictures from Christmas. That is right, I have the camera back.

Ezekiel 3:16-19

Ezekiel 3:16-19

After seven days the Lord gave me a message. He said, “Son of man, I have appointed you as a watchman for Israel. Whenever you receive a message from me, warn people immediately. If I warn the wicked, saying, ‘You are under the penalty of death,’ but you fail to deliver the warning, they will die in their sins. And I will hold you responsible for their deaths. If you warn them and they refuse to repent and keep on sinning, they will die in their sins. But you will have saved yourself because you obeyed me.

Many people, including myself in an earlier time when I was not mature in my faith, will say that the Old Testament is old, and time should be focused on the New Testament. After all, the New Testament has the Gospels, which are the account of Jesus’ ministry on earth, and if there is anything to learn it is in the Gospels. I have come to understand that line of thinking is dead, and one will not grow as far spiritually if you take that approach. The versus above in Ezekiel are an illustration of God’s desires for us. As Christians we take the place as a watchman, not just for Israel, but for the hole world. While we shall not go around condemning people, we should be vocal about our faith, and that salvation only comes from Jesus Christ. I think that to often we get bogged down in the mechanics of life, work and the church, and forget what our mission is.

We are the messengers, the light of the world as it is written in Matthew. If we do not study both the Old and New testament, our light will not be as bright as it should be.

Ford and more Christmas

President Gerald Ford died yesterday at his home in California. I have found that the media coverage of his death have all included the same quote and statement about his pardon of President Nixon. The news reports have all said that Ford had high rating until he pardon Nixon for his involvement in Watergate. Then every news source plays this quote, “My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over.” This sequence seems to imply that he siad those words when he pardoned Nixon. Rather, Ford said those words when he was innagurated. I have a hard time understanding how the country could vote Ford out, and replace him with Jimmy Carter, wow!

I found my camera; well actually my mother found it at her house, so I went and picked it up. Below is a picture of the family wearing the ever famous Christmas Pajamas. For any unmarried young male who might think the entire idea of coordinating PJs is silly, you can wait and see what life with the opposite sex entails.

Christmas, James Brown and The Blues Brothers

I do not know where my camera is at, I though it might be at my parents, but they would have found it and called. I guess that I will have to search the house more thoroughly then I did earlier.

Today is the day after Christmas, and I enjoyed it. I did not attack the malls in search of post Christmas savings, all though certain members of my extended family did. I did not spend the day traveling, and for that I am thankful. I saw many a family loading up and hitting the road today, a mini-van with the cargo rack full, or with a covered luggage carrier driving down the street. Parents that are tired, kids that are tired and want to play with their new stuff, as the vehicle hits the road. I like not having to travel!

I received several presents on Christmas day, including a new digital watch. I wanted one to use when I run to keep track of how long I have been going. We are going more scientific then just, tired, really tired, and exhausted as measurements for how long I have been running. I also got a copy of the movie "Wings", which is the first Academy Award winner for Best Picture. The interesting thing about the copy that I got, is that it has Japanese all over the back cover, and Japanese subtitles.

James Brown, who is dubbed the Godfather of Soul died on Christmas Day. He had a role in the SNL movie "The Blues Brothers", as a preacher in a soul filled church.

Below is a snippet of dialog from The Blues Brothers

Elwood: It's 106 miles to Chicago. We've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of
cigarettes, it's dark and we're wearing sunglasses.
Jake: Hit it.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve has always been a time when I have know the order of the families plan well in advance. It has not really changed much since Father introduced the Guessing Game about 20 years ago. The evening begins with a pizza supper, then off to church. We want to make sure we get their early to get the Pew, a concept my grandmother never embraced. (In all honesty, I do not care which pew I sit in, I like to sit close to the front and on the right side. Every time I have set on the left side of the sanctuary, it feels like I am on a ship that is listing to one side.) After church it is time for the guessing game, then to my parents to open presents. That has been the tradition for the last 20 years, this year there was no guessing game. Which certainly did not offend me, but it did throw a curve ball at what I am accustom to.

So on Christmas Eve, we did everything but the guessing game. On my birthday I received a large, really large suit case, and 2 of the 3 movies in the Star Wars Trilogy. On Christmas Eve, I received a normal sized suitcase, and the missing movie, it was like an extension of my birthday.

On a side note, I stumbled across a Wiki site that it completely devoted to Star Wars called Wookieepedia and it’s information. Which leads me to the conclusion that people or some people have to much time on their hands.

The evening was a lot of fun. Cap enjoyed unwrapping presents, although he was tired and easily distracted from the task at hand. Below are a few pictures.

It started with a lot of boxes with pretty wrapping paper, and of course, the three amigos.

Here a picture of the Captian investigating a covered box.

A picture of the aftermath…

My dad received a Special Award, which he was completely focused on the entire time. A picture is below.

It's a Wonderful Life

Friday morning I listened to a piece on families that celebrate Christian and Jewish Holiday Traditions. You can click HERE to read or listen to the piece. Of other note worthy news, we celebrated Christmas with Amy’s Family today. It was fun, I at some of the Pink stuff, and more of the green stuff, along with the traditional Turkey, Ham, dressing, potatoes, and the like. Cap received some wooded puzzles as his present, one is farm animals, one is the alphabet, and the last one is numbers. He and I played with the number puzzle after leftovers tonight before we left
.
On the way back I listened to part of It’s a Wonderful Life, it was originally recorded as a radio broadcast, so there were some differences from the movie. I have only seen the entire movie once, and that was in Angle Fire, New Mexico in the middle of the summer, go figure. It is a good movie, and I like Jimmy Stewart.

Clarence: Your brother, Harry Bailey, broke through the ice and was drowned at he age of nine.
George: That's a lie! Harry Bailey went to war! He got the Congressional medal of Honor! He saved the lives of every man on that transport.
Clarence: Every man on that transport died! Harry wasn't there to save them, because you weren't there to save Harry. You see, George, you really had a wonderful life. Don't you see what a mistake it would be to throw it away?

Christmas Vacation

Tomorrow is Friday, and that makes me smile. It has been a fast week, faster than I had expected. Now we sit poised to go into the weekend, thankful that we are not stuck in Denver Colorado because of the snow. Winter travel always is a bit more risky then summer travel. Especially though the treacherous mountains. I am off to watch Christmas Vacation, because I have not watched it this season, and I am looking for a cheap laugh!!!!

Movies

I get the feeling that Amy thinks that I have this addiction to movies, I would use the word neurosis, but I am not sure what it means, so I addition it is, because I will watch or listen to, or fall asleep watching the same movies over and over. She on the other hand might watch a movie she owns two to three times in a year. I find it interesting to as you watch movies again and again, because you pick up of some little things. A little line here, or a jester there, which makes the movie fit tighter better. I do have to say, that I enjoy the funny movies. Christmas Vacation is one of my favorite Christmas movies, and Amy does not like it. Below is a brief portion of dialog to the movie. What make it really funny to me, is I have several Santa Claus ties…

Clark: We're kicking off our fun old fashion family Christmas by heading out into the country in the old front-wheel drive sleigh to embrace the frosty majesty of the inter landscape and select that most important of Christmas symbols.
Audrey: We're not coming all the way out here just to get one of those stupid ties with Santa Clauses on it are we?
Clark: No, I have one of those at home.

At any rate it is late, and I am tired, but I do want to leave you with a photo
that I found on the Amarillo Globe-News website. Burr, those trees look
cold.

Ice, Ice Baby????

It was a cold and rainy day here. With ice everywhere, it rained off and on all day long, and the ice has slowly been accumulating. We lost power at the house sometime around 5:00. Click here to read the story. My parents still had power so we made plans to traverse the city, well it is really just one of the neighborhoods, and hang out. The power was restored about the time we started to load Cap in the car, at which point, we decided to go on over. We were treated to a nice meal of stew, and had a discussion about Christmas food. We determined that I like Sand Tarts, or Butterfingers as my mom calls them.

I find it interesting in a way that it is okay to fight in during a hockey game, it is okay to charge the pitching mound in baseball if the pitcher beans a person, and you can get rough with your opponents in soccer. If you get into a brawl at a t basketball game the media treats them as if it has never, ever happened at the warehouse. I do not condone fighting in basketball or any of the other sports; it just seems interesting that some sports it is socially acceptable to pummel your opponents, and others you are not. If anything, I think these players should be dealt with severely and punished accordingly. It does not set a good example for kids when they hear about this, and I am certain that most kids have heard a bout it.

Today I was waiting in a waiting room, that’s right, and the ABC show titled The View was on. These women are very political, and bashed the republican often during the hour long TV program. This goes to show that the executives at ABC are not interesting in presenting news or opinions from both political parties. They are focused on the democrats, and the left-winged liberal agenda. A few months ago, Rosie O’Donnell said the fundamentalist Christians were the same as the people that crashed planes in the to world trade center. ABC did nothing…

A few days ago, CBS aired an episode of Two and a Half Men, which contained an offensive wording ot a Christmas song. Click here to read the story. CBS, has done nothing…

Ice

My truck is like a large areodynamic box of ice, it is almost like an ice sculpture. I can deal with snow, but ice is hard, slick, and not forgiving.

Christams Quiz

While this is not the normal MO, below is a quiz and my answers to it. I like christmas, and though I would put it in the blog.

. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?Hot Chocolate.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?He leaves them in the middle of the living room.

2a Were your presents on Christmas morning from Santa or yourparents? Or a combination thereof?Santa

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?White on the house and Colored on the tree!
4. Do you hang mistletoe?No
5. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?Turkey and all the trimmings, and the pink stuff Amy’s Family makes.

6. What is the first thing you do Christmas morning?Wake Up!

7. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?Hey, it is true that Santa still comes and leaves presents for me at my parents house.
8. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?Yes, we opened presents from my grandfather on Christmas eve. It is actually a guessing game that he invented with I was 9 and we still play every year. The winner normally takes home an extra $20.

9. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?They year we bough a small tree that is still alive, and are going to forego the lights. Amy loves Christmas ornaments and buys each one of us a new one each year. This includes Maize the Wonder dog. This year we are going to hang the new ornaments on the tree.

10. Snow! Love it or Dread it?I love the snow!!!
11. Can you ice skate?Sort of….
12. Do you remember your favorite gift?hum….
13. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you?The fact that Christ was born and spending time with my family and friends.

14. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?Those little things my mom makes only at Christmas, and I cannot remember the name..

15. What is your favorite thing about winter?Snow Skiing, and Christmas.


16. What tops your tree?
N/A this year

17. Which do you prefer giving or receiving?Giving
.
18. What are your top 5 favorite Christmas Songs?- God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, we sang that this morning durning praise and worship.
-Joy to the World
-Silent Night
- Oh Little Town of Bethlehem
- Mary did you know
- I really like a lot of Christmas music, just ask Amy.

19. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum?they are red and white, what is not to like!

20. Favorite Christmas TV special? Charlie Brown Christmas

21. Favorite Christmas movie?Christmas Vacation

22. Name one impossible gift you would love to see
World Peace!!!


23. Say something about the person who sent this to you
The dude makes work fun!

Festivus

"Many Christmas ago, I went to buy a doll for my son. I reached for the last one they had, but so did another man. As I rained blows upon him, I realized there had to be another way . . . Out of that a new holiday was born . . . a Festivus for the rest of us!" ~ Jerry Stiller as "Frank Costanza" in Seinfeld

Today I was listening to the ABC News Shuffle Podcast, starting Jake Tapper and Hari Sreenivasan. They were discussing holiday traditions and as neither of them are Christian, they discussed Festivus. The famed holiday that appeared on Seinfeld, as a creation of GeorgeÂ’s dad. I though this was pretty random, considering they normally talk about politics and the like. Along the same lines Amy found the Hanukah station on XM Radio tonight. Evident they have a dedicated station for playing Hanukah holiday music. I honestly did not know that there were any songs related to the Jewish calibration. So we checked it out for a little while, and I found it to be somewhat interesting, however, I did not know the words to any of the songs. This fact alone made me change the station.

A fact that is even more disturbing is that you can actually purchase a Festivus Pole. The web site is: http://www.festivuspoles.com/pages/Festivuspoles.htm.

Today is my sisterÂ’s birthday, so we all went out to eat as a family. I remember the days of nice quite meals with only the 5 of us. Now it is a meal with 2 toddlers, one baby, and the headcount tonight was 11. Wow, that is some expansion and the more the merrier. The passing of my sisterÂ’s birthday means that it is only 7 days until Christmas. Last night I drove by a house that had both a blow up Santa, Christmas lights, and a plastic nativity scene set up in the yard. My question is, are they celebrating the birth of Christ, or the arrival of Santa. It seem to be like they yard was having an identity crisis. Are the wise men going to run the Santa and his reindeer otheirier turf?

Cap Reads Paper

Alas, it has been several days since I have done any blog action, activity, or whatever you wish to call it. Sometime in life your schedule is down, and life just clicks along, and other times in life your schedule, wait what schedule. There is a great golf movie called Tin Cup. In the movie the character Tin Cup is having problems with his golf game. As he and his caddy stand at the practice range the day before the US Open Tin Cup says, My swing feels like an unfolding lawn chair! The last few weekss my life or at least my normal routin has felt like an unfolding lawn chair. It seems like I cannot quite get everything back in the same routine. I have deduced that there are several factors to this, first and foremost, it got cold. The every evening walk has been cut down. Secondly, it is the holdiay season, and birthday season as well. Last week for example, I had activites every night except for Friday night. So on Friday night Cap and I hung out togther, we even read the paper togther.


Thursday night we had the EPIC christmas party, no it was not a party that will be written about 1,000 years from now (or at least that is what I think), but it was a jolly good time. It was real fun just to visit with everyone, with out a real plan of action. It is also the first time at an EPIC Christmas party that we have not played a game called Catch Pharase.

Today, Cap and I went to Honey’s and played with Breagan, and Whately. Well really we just had fun with Whately because he is still learning to crawl. I helped ice some sugar cookies, and I want to tell everyone that there is nothing sissy about that. Just like the christmas Pajamahs, there is nothing sissy about getting coordinating christmas pjs each year. This afternoon Bear and I put in another window at my house, which leaves one left for installation, I keep saying, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can…

Below is a picture of Cap, Mazie (the wonderdog) and myself under the bed.

Birthday Cake

“My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?” ~ Bob Hope

It was a very pretty day outside; the temperature was in the 60’s which is warm for the month of December. I had choir practice tonight, which was okay. I think that if we were to receive report cards for our behavior the men’s section would all get a “Talks to Much” and a “Disruptive” notation. We certainly enjoy ourselves even if other’s do not.

Last night we had my mothers’ birthday party. When it was time for cake the boys got back into their chairs, and I went to get a piece for Cap. Cap started asking for cake, and my grandfather said, “He you can have this” and slide over towards Cap an “Adult” size portion of cake. IT took a few minutes to get my grandfather to realize that we were not going to let Cap eat that much cake.

Monday night I had a meeting, last night I had a birthday party, and tonight I had choir and a meeting at the church. I am really ready to spend an evening at home sometime before the end of the year.

I work at a place that will normally give you some recognition for going above and beyond the normal call of duty. This can include a pat on the back, recognition in one of the management meetings, and perhaps a gift certificate. It never involves the death of an animal. Evidently in Turkey, when a job is well done, they will go ahead a sacrifice a camel, or at least at the airport they did. To read the full story click HERE. It did not sound too good for the supervisor who did or oversaw the sacrifice.

Christmas Tree

I really do not have much to report tonight. I did run across and article about a Rabi, Christmas Trees, and a menorah. The Christmas trees take a hit, the Rabi cries foul, and the menorah, well it is still unknown. That is the life of a Christmas tree living on the west coast. The thing I find most interesting about the American vs. Christians, is that anyone can say that Joe’s Ten Commandments in the yard are offensive. The City then says, “Joe you have to take that down.” However, when Joe says, “That music that has profanity and is degrading to women offends me, the city will say, “Oh that is free speech protected by the first amendment.

In the event that someone who does not like Christmas trees, or is offended by them reads my blog, there is a picture below that is sure to offend, and possibly send you into a mad fit about the tree.

Luke 2::8

My sister gave me a birthday card that was, cute. The outside said, You Know, I could have had a worse brother than you… On the inside the card simply says, Cain, for example, Happy Birthday. This Card made me laugh, and I would say it was a priceless moment, but the card cost $, well I am not sure because the American Greetings company does not list the price on the back of their cards.

Tonight I finished reading Cap How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The last few pages of the book are very deep and meaningful. After the Grinch ahs stolen all of the presents, food, trees, and other worldly items of Christmas he is befuddled when the Who’s sing their song. He though that Christmas was only about the presents. The Grinch realizes this, and returns the presents, while the book is not a Christian book it does have a theme that can be pulled from the book. That is the gentle reminder that Christmas is not about the things of this world, but it is about Jesus Christ, out lord and savior.

My Favorite part of Charlie Brown’s Christmas Special is when Linus says, “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

That is the good news of Christmas…

Jaded Media

The jaded media continues in its quest to misinform Americans. While they do not come straight out and lie, with the exception of maybe Dan Rather, they do twist facts, and give false titles to stories. The Associated Press put out a story titled, “Baldwin moderates power plant discussion”. After reading the article I find that title to be quite misleading. While it might have been a discussion, the Nuclear Energy Institute, was not even allowed to participate. This story can be found by clicking HERE. Another story that I reviewed, called the event an Activists' symposium. That story can be read by clicking HERE. A few comments on the entire situation, why does anyone care about what a TV start thinks about nuclear energy? I would be more interested in what a nuclear physicist has to say about the subject.

Another media event that occurred this week was the launching of the space shuttle. The launch went well, and the astronauts will spend 12 days in space, viewing out the window the plant earth. Below are two pictures of the night launch, it appears to be a spectacular event to view, even in still photos.

The Nutcracker

Last night Amy and I went to attend the Nutcracker Ballet. It was very good, as it always is, and I enjoyed it more then the last time I saw it. This is the third time I have seen it in the past 8 years. I am not sure why I enjoyed it more, perhaps I understood the story a little more this time. This version was slightly different the last time I watched. The differences were minor, and all tighter it was wonderful. The symphony did their usual excellent job playing the music. Amy really like the tumblers, and the Buffoons in Act 2. I prefer all of Act 1 to the second act; it has more of a storyline.

Today we concurred most of the Christmas shopping needs, which was okay. There were some funny parts, and not so funny parts. I think the traffic was the thing I disliked most. In addition I finally spent the two gift certificates I received for Christmas last year, I though it was time to use them. I purchased a new pair of work boots, and item that I have needed for a couple of years. My old work boots looked like a set of slick tires used for a NASCAR race.

On the lighter side, Stanley went skiing over this weekend; it is his second time to go. I told him to watch out for the trees, they are not the best breaks to use for stopping.
In an AP article (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061210/ap_on_go_co/congress_rdp) it was noted that, “Democrats also pointed out that the House met only 102 days this session, fewer than the 110 days of the maligned "do-nothing" Congress of the Truman presidency. “ If there are a total of 365 days in a year and the congress only met for 102 days, what exactly did they do the other 263 days of the year? Did they go play golf with Tom Delay? In the days of FRD it only took congress 100 days to radically change the welfare system, which effects the American people to this date. Yet, our congress, the 109th congress, did little, if nothing at all during the 102 days that they met during this entire year.

Pictures from a performance of the Nutcracker (Please note, this is not from thperformancece or Ballet CoThatat Amy and I saw).

Clarreceiveses the Nutcracker

The Spell #1

The Spell #2

The Battle

Pearl Harbor

We had EPIC tonight, which was good. The converstation was a little on the random side, because we had not met in a few weeks. I decided that if Amy would describe my life as a moive she would possibly use one of the following titiles:

Dazed and Confused – Because I live in my own little world
The Hunt for Red October – Because I am always looking for something

I have been relatively tired lately, I am not sure if it is the weather, or work or perhaps it is both. I have not really wanted to get out of bed in the mornings, because it is nice and cozy under the blankets.

Hugo Chavez... That Guy Can't Lose

It is with much regret that I announce that Hugo Chavez won his reelection campaign in the South American Country of Venezuela. (In case you do not know, South America is south of Texas, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama.) One has to wonder if it was an honest vote, since he runs his country like a dictator. If you have seen his picture, you will know that he does not look very friendly. His has the look of a dark and unfriendly William Shatner. How many world leaders would call Bush “Satin” at a UN meeting held in the United States?

In the event that anyone is worried that I might have a cup to much of Egg Nog and then get on the roof can rest easy… I do not like egg nog, and the general though of drinking it makes my stomach turn. I do appercite the concern and thoughfullness!!!

The house looks nice with the christmas lights on, I am ready to put some additional lights up. It is normally to late when I return in afterwork to do much, besides, I have been playing a lot with Cap. I really cannot think of anything else intersting to say, so I will leave you with the picture below.

December 4th, the day after...

Tonight we put Cap to bed, and it did not take him long to get up and start rattling on the door. I went in about 10 minutes after he quit rattling on the door, and put him under the covers. He as not happy when I left, but quite crying after a few minutes. I went in later to make sure he was in bed and tucked in under the covers. When I looked it, he was sitting in the corner of his room, playing with a finger puppet book. When he saw me, he got a look of, “Oh shoot, I have been busted.” He proceeded to run to the bed and try to get in as fast as possible.

Weekend Update

It has been a very pleasant weekend, which was nice. It was still cold, and oldly enough there is still snow on the ground. I put up some of my Christmas lights, but it was cold and the snow on the ground hampered the luminaries. I have to wait for it to dry so I can mow the grass and then the luminaries will go out into the yard. Normally, I do these activities over thanksgiving, but I was sick, and then I had to attend a wedding, so I am running behind. While I am not Clark Griswold in Family Vacation, I do like to put ou the lights. I am not sure how many lights I do have, but it is now where close to the 25,000 that he put on his house.
Today is my birthday, but we celebrated it yesterday. My parents, Braegan and Father all came over and had supper to celebrate. My mom made some cheese enchiladas, and some cheese dip. The cheese dip was great!!!! The party was a big success!!!!!
I got some nice presents, which included a brick with a picture of a new computer bad, and a fried pie with a picture of a watch. I also got a new suitcase, which is nice, with lots of room. The youth group sang happy birthday to me, and I got a big cookie from them, which we all ate.

Overall the weekend was EXCELLENT!!!