Christmas With Jenna and Jean

Queen baker

Baker's assistant no. 3

Christmas Day carnage

Walking it off

***********************************************************

... And for those of you who didn't drive around and look at Christmas lights this year.

Ying and Yang

Here's a Good Way to Spend a Sunday Afternoon

I do really like putting up Christmas decorations. Craig, put something in my stocking dammit.

This is Where I Sit

This is my desk at work. I love the view and the fact that my office is 5 minutes away from home. I don't know too much about anyone who works there; but, Friday's holiday party (with 6 pm cocktail hour) should shed some light.

Lets Take a Moment ...

It's Monday evening. Craig took the day off. I'm unemployed for one more week. The chimney has just been swept; we're burning our first fire ever in this house. We've got rib-eye on the grill and potatoes and steamed carrots on the stove. So far, nobody has gotten burned.

Have You Heard?

Good news. I just accepted a job as a Business Development Coordinator with AECOM here in Charlotte. I start on December 1.

Here's a Good Read

Although I'm only half-way through The Glass Castle, I suspect that this might be one of the best books I've read this year. Craig's Mom recommended it to me a while back. So, I thought I'd toss it out. Here's the description on the back of the book:

The Glass Castle is a remarkable memoir of resilience and redemption, and a revelatory look into a family at once deeply dysfunctional and uniquely vibrant. When sober, Jeannette's brilliant and charismatic father captured his children's imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and how to embrace life fearlessly. But, when he drank, he was dishonest and destructive. Her mother was a free spirit who abhorred the idea of domesticity and didn't want the responsibility of raising a family.

The Walls children learned to take care of themselves. They fed, clothed, and protected one another, and eventually found their way to New York. Their parents followed them, choosing to be homeless even as their children prospered.

Wonder what I think?

Keep in mind, I'm only half way through, but so far I think that description is a nice way to put it. On the one hand, there is a lot of love in this family and the childhoods of these children are full of adventure, freedom, and creativity. But, the abuse (in all sorts of forms) is basically constant. I'm very interested to see what happens.

...............................................................................

In an effort to always provide a little extra, here's an interview with Jeannette Walls on the Diane Rehm show.

Rehabing Ceder's Palace, Part 1

Craig and I have been uber busy on the house. Here are some pictures of this month's progress.

I've bagged many leaves this month but the big dump has not yet occurred. I'm going to be sad when the leaves fall.

This is the biggest project that Craig and I are working on right now. This is a section under the deck where we've sunk a hot tub and built a storage bench. Craig is in the process of hanging drywall and will soon install recessed lighting and in-wall speakers. We should be open for business by winter.

This picture was taken near the storage bench out into the backyard.

Our inside project is the living room. We've replaced the baseboards, hung crown molding, bought a new couch, and painted the lower portions of the room. Next step is to borrow a 25 ft. ladder from our neighbor and attack the upper sections.

We also had the fireplace cleaned.

Obama's Our Man

I have been looking forward to today for 4 years. I am so excited. I hope you all go vote today, if you've not already done so. But, I'm begging, please do not vote for McCain. It's not really McCain that bothers me, it's Sarah Palin. I cannot believe that people actually think she is qualified to be President. The thought honestly floors me.

Speaking of Palin, have you heard the prank call that she got from a radio station in Canada?

Day Trippers

Craig and I met some old friends at the zoo in Ashboro, NC this weekend. From left to right, they are Hudson, Jeff, Maddie, and Nicki.

Best Movies Ever

Here's a list of my all-time favorite movies. What are yours?

The Dead Poets Society

My Cousin Vinny

The Princess Bride

ET

Schindler's List

The Godfather, Part 1

The Wizard of Oz

JB Says "Hi"

She's hungry though; and tired of rules.

Best of NPR, Part 1

Check out this interview with Anchorage Daily News columnist Michael Carey. He discusses the woman who promises to bring "a little bit of reality from Wasilla Main Street" to Washington, D.C. It was very interesting. You should also check out the commentary "For Candidates, An Accent on Authencity."

http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=13

So Now I Wait

In my continual quest for a four season garden, I've recently made several small investments to acquire and plant as many spring bulbs as I possibly can. So far I've planted approximately 250. Here's what I've planted.

Tulips in 3 different spots

Bearded Iris in 2 spots

Hyacinth in 2 spots

Muscari in 2 spots

Paper Whites in 4 different places

And Ranunculus in 2 places

Perennial Southern California Problem - Here We Go Again

I lived in San Diego during the fires in 2003. This picture was taken on the first morning of the fires, outside of our apartment, about 10 AM. The fires were probably 30 miles away. We were safe, but it was best to stay inside because of all of the ash in the air.

Close-up of the ash falling from the sky.

Here is a picture of the fires that surrounded San Diego in 2003. I knew someone who lost a house during these fires. I also know someone who lost a house last year. (The fires in 2007 were much worse than those in 2003.) Good luck to all of you in San Diego, Los Angeles, and Ventura Counties.

I Love My Friends

My friends, Craig, and I went car camping this weekend. From the ketchup to the left and around they are: Becca, Bitsy, Robin, Dan, Jon, Jen, Hilary, and Alicia. Hilary won the prize for the weekend as the "best packer." Hilary was very prepared.

Shots for everyone!

Hiking the next day

Sun salutation, of course

JB, the "good getter"