Christmas Miracle

Kim and I got most of our Christmas cards out in the mail this morning. If you get one, we had your address, if not, we didn't!

Merry Christmas to all. I hope you get everything you asked Santa for!

D

How 'bout them Cowboys?

Kimmie and I trekked to Dallas this past weekend for the final game in Texas Stadium. The atmoshpere was festive, the game sucked! The Cowboys played bad and lost. The entertainment for the evening was provided by two drunks in our section. I was sure one of them was going to fall over the railing, bust somehow he managed not to...

I saw a lot of the Cowboy greats, the Cheerleaders, and the hole in the roof. I think I like the atmosphere at college games better, but I'm glad I was there.

On the trip home I visited my grandparents' graves. I left silk poinsettas to brighten their holidays. Then I drove by my grandma's house. I sat in the parking lot across the street and the house looked different. Much smaller than I remember it. I found myself wondering how eighteen of us fit in their to celebrate Christmas. There was a lot of love in that house and I think that's why it looked different -- the love is gone. The new owner took down the basketball goal that JD played on. They took down the swings in the carport that were too close together for the girls to swing on. I hope they have a much fun and memories in that house as I did.

If I don't blog tomorrow... Merry Christmas.

D

My little cub scout...

Since JD is playing basketball and being a Music Man, I took Kay to the cub scout Christmas party last night. She had fun, decorated a cookie, played some games, drank home-made root beer, and sat on Santa's lap. JD showed up after Santa left, after the cookies were gone, but he did collect his pinewood derby car kit.

I had the privilege of shoveling snow this morning. Salina got about 4", even though the radio said it was too cold for much snow and we would get less than an inch. As late as 10:00 last night that was still the forecast. I was surprised this morning. But it was light and fluffy so it was easy to shovel.




D

JD and BB

Basketball season kicked off on Saturday. JD's team went 0-4 at the MAYB Winter Kick-off in Canton and Galva. They played well, except for the first game on Saturday. I think that was the only game they got beat by double digits -- 34-8. JD had half the points in that game. He scored 4, 10 in the second game, and 4 in the third game. He also grabbed several rebounds and had a few assists. Then he got a big head and had a goose egg for scoring on Sunday. But I was proud of him because I know he didn't get his mad basketball skills from his mother or me!

D

Over, but not done.

Pound Plunge Salina ended tonight. but I'm not stopping now. Primarily because I won a free month at the Salina YMCA with a personal trainer. I finished down over 34 pounds over the 12 week program. I am still aiming to get skinnier for my own health and for the cruise. I would like to get to 190 and hold, that will stave off diabetes for the near future and hopefully for years to come. Diabetes runs in my family -- my doctor has said it's not a matter of "if", but "when" -- and I would like to delay the inevitable inevitably. Kimmie did well, too.

Here's my final weigh-in chart.



Dee

Meaningless Trivia

The '62 Mets featured catcher Harry Chiti, who was acquired in a trade for a player to be named later. After Chiti posted a .195 average in 15 games, the Mets sent him back to the Indians, making him the first player traded for himself.

I've added a feature to the right that gives you meaningless facts. I found this one on SI this morning and thought it was entertaining. Usually you never hear about "The Player to Be Named Later" even though he is the most frequently traded athlete.

D

Dogs and Cats

What is a Cat?
1. Cats do what they want.
2. They rarely listen to you.
3. They’re totally unpredictable.
4. When you want to play, they want to be alone.
5. When you want to be alone, they want to play.
6. They expect you to cater to their every whim.
7. They’re moody.
8. They leave hair everywhere.

CONCLUSION: They’re tiny women in fur coats.

What is a Dog?
1. Dogs spend all day sprawled on the most comfortable piece of furniture in the house.
2. They can hear a package of food opening half a block away, but don’t hear you when you’re in the same room.
3. They can look dumb and lovable all at the same time.
4. They growl when they are not happy.
5. When you want to play, they want to play.
6. When you want to be alone, they want to play.
7. They leave their toys everywhere.
8. They do disgusting things with their mouths and then try to give you a kiss.
9. They go right for your crotch as soon as they meet you.

CONCLUSION: They’re tiny men in fur coats.

Almost done... Squared.

My Christmas shopping is almost done. I have my dad's gifts purchased, my mom's purchased (all on-line). I have Kim mostly done, all on-line. The kids will be finished this weekend. So far we have bought them a ______ and a _____. We also got them both a _____. JD got a really cool ______. And we bought K a _____.

Sorry kids... you didn't really think I would put what we got you did you?

I'm feeling better so I'm back on my bike. I went 15 miles in 50 minutes last night and 8.5 miles this morning in 30 minutes. Final weigh-in is Sunday. I hope to be down more than 30 pounds since the beginning. I think I will be. Kimmie is doing GREAT. She has lost almost as much as me. We're just wasting away at our house!

D

My weekend in pictures (explanation below).

Friday night, we put up the Christmas tree. I changed from chasing white lights to red LEDs this year. We found room on the tree for all of our Hallmark ornaments. We need a bigger house so we can have two trees...

At 10:00 Friday night, I started working on a clog in the line from our kitchen. About half way through the run, it picks up the ejection pump and right before it goes into the 4" main, the sump pump empties into it. At the point that those three join the 4" main, it was clogged. Which caused EVERYTHING to back up into the sump basin. I worked on it until midnight, but could not reach the clog so I let it drain into the sump and left it overnight -- it smelled really nice. At 7:30 the next morning, I was at Lowes to purchase a 2" PVC Wye and Cleanout. By 8:30, I had cut the pipe so I could get to the clog and installed the new cleanout and then let the sump pump go to work.

At 9:00 I took the kids to church to practice for the Christmas program. I headed to Lowes and bought a new storm door. Earlier in the week Kim said "It probably wouldn't be as cold in our house if we had a new storm door". My husband instincts quickly interpreted that to mean "It would be nice if you would put a new door on the house". So, I did. It's a full view glass door with a hide-a-way screen at the top. The nice thing is it has two closers on it so the kids can't leave it open!

After the door installation, I fixed JDs backboard. He broke the plexi on it a couple of weeks ago when it was cold. I bought a new piece of plexiglass and epoxied it over the old one. Not perfect, but he's not Micheal Jordon.

I then finished decorating in the living room... hanging ornaments over the doorways, covered the mantle with Christmas stuff and filled the picture window with more Christmas stuff.

When Kim got home we shopped for our angle tree purchases and delivered them to the mall. The kids were wired.

Sunday I watched Andrew sing. It was nice, but they sang some songs in Spanish and Latin (I think) -- I though Christmas hymns could only be sung in English or German... Hope I don't get a bad mark in the "Big Book" for that...

Last night I finally got all the boxes taken back down to the basement and set up Kim's Nana's nativity.

I had to come back to work to get some rest...

D

Your Loss is My Pain.

Tuesday, I was treated to a delightful concert by the combined 5th grade bands of Heusner, Stewart, Schilling, and Coronado grade schools. Kim, conveniently, could not attend due to previously scheduled class.

I, on the other hand, heard unique renditions of Mary Had a Little Lamb, Hot Cross Buns, Jingle Bells, Up on the Rooftop, and oh so many other wonderful tunes. JD played the trumpet in this pint size band. You could barely see him over his music stand. The entire ordeal lasted 20 minutes but we had to be there an hour before so I also got to hear them warm up! That was worth the price of admission right there! I have tried to download the digital video of the concert so you could share in my joy... but to no avail. My really cool, compact digital video camera doesn't seem to want to let go of this memory!

On the bright side, I did get JD to wear a tie.

D

Two fer

Merry early Christmas. You get two posts today for the price of one.

I put up my star and extra lights on my Nativity. Enjoy!

D

Wow, do I have some catching up...

Ah, Thanksgiving... at time for family and friends. Food and fun. Hunting and drinking -- but not at the same time! And more food.

I only gained a pound over the extended 4-day foodfest that we celebrate every year in November. Back to work last night trying to lose those extra pounds!

We had an enjoyable Holiday at Jane and Delmar's. My parents made the trip up for the day. I was glad, as they were planning to stay home... Grandma stole my Dallas Cowboys hat (see picture). She was proud of herself. Late in the afternoon JD and I slipped away to go hunting. He "helped" shoot a pheasant with his Red Rider BB gun.

The snow made it nice on Friday, except that I got soaked from the waist down. Friday night we trekked down to Paden's and hung out with the family and Jody. Wow -- is she a trip. I bet I felt better Saturday than she did and I didn't feel all that great! Saturday I witnessed history as Smith Center won their 5th straight state title and 67th game in a row. That is impressive.

More hunting on Sunday. I shot two total for the weekend, but I saw quite a few birds. It was just Harley and I, except for JD on Thursday.

I also spent a lot of time on my genealogy project over the long weekend. I traced another branch of my tree back to the 1600s. I am now officially of Scotish, Irish, English, French, and Native American Ancestory. Sorry Kohlses -- No German yet.

Now the pictures -- Harley enjoyed the snow... It's amazing how many kids fit around Nana's table... Grandma in my hat... And finally Paden's. The blurry group shots at Paden's are courtesy of Jody. I have no idea why she could not hold the camera still...