How the Midwest enters 2010

In the Midwest, I prepared a nice log-cabin fire but covered it with a bag in case -- snow has been know to dampen things (literally). By the time to light it, everyone watched from inside, but by the time to sit at it, only Jack and I. A good fire, accompanied by firecrackers, with Wally wearing his flashing red-light collar to warn the squirrels and walkers in the park of impending danger. We poured a bottle of champagne inside, to include the warm women in the deal, then went outside for our own bottle from the snow-filled bucket. Just right. Chris and Jenny and pup Colin didn't get by -- we didn't expect they would. But the neighbors Tony and Lauren had a party, too, and as we sat at the fire some of Tony's buddies hopped the fence and joined us. A good tradition emerging! Happy New Year Colin!

How the West Coast enters 2010

All the family enjoys a New Year's Eve meal. Ben sent this: Barbara had headed to bed, he and Pook found a New Year's Eve celebration from London on the tellie in early evening, so they would stay awake together as long as Pook stayed awake. Here, she prolongs the evening in classic West Coast style by sweeping stuff off the tray-top directly into Luna's waiting mouth (Luna at the far left, rabbit in the middle, so you'll not be confused). Happy New Year, Pook!

New Year's Eve

The day began slow, and kept on. We planned a relaxed dinner, joined by Jack and Linda and Barbara, and enjoyed it until my Linda came down with some indigestion that ended her evening. Maybe it was our misbehavior earlier in the day -- for some reason, I'd decided I needed a McDonald's burger, and Linda joined in on a Big Mac with all the crap accompanying the meat, not a thing we normally eat. Well, that did it. So we had one hour of Linda, and the rest of us celebrated in her memory. Better tomorrow, I hope.

Pook rocks!

Snow makes a happy time

Pup prowled the park at a great distance, rolled on a flaccid tennis ball after locating it by smell, ate a stick, then settled into the snow. Taken with Pop's new binocular camera (Sharper Image, eh what?, a gift from a techie), there's only a hint of snow-on-the-nose, showing how snow makes a happy time. And it improved Pop's view of things, too.

December 27th

We did nothing. All day. It was good. OK, Linda took a walk. It was good. And I worked on the blog. You can see from this entry how much work I did. It was good. And Pook played at the playground on the fire truck. It was good.

Boxing day (but we didn't box anything)

Boxing Day was nice and bright, a pretty day to get out since Linda couldn't possible imagine boxing up Christmas the day after. So we decided to go shopping at Tiffany's and Sur la Table and Pottery Barn. We really went to get the trophy wife's ring cleaned, but I know better about Tiffany's. Then we found a chocolate cake Christmas tree ornament, and some cool cocktail napkins, 9 of them for the 8 reindeer and Rudolf, and some more icicles for the outside back window. And then off to Trader Joe's for some vermouth for the martinis. Oh, and we got pretty towels in red for the Christmas kitchen. So good and focused were we that we got out of Easton's traffic before the real shoppers even showed up. Home for some fish, and then we turned on Nutcracker (well, not really: we turned on Nutcracker after the kids left on Christmas Day, but I didn't remember to write it in, then). And ended the evening again in front of the fire, with Wally's new squeeky bone getting a good workout while accompanied by holiday music.