Merry Christmas All!

All the presents are under the tree. My daughter is near bed, excited for what tomorrow will bring. I managed to visit with my old neighbors in Forest Hill and make it to church with AM and her family. My mom has arrived to visit and help with the morning preparations. My Dad and stepmom will arrive tomorrow morning for the gift exchange. I hope all of you have a wonderful time this holiday season, filled with love and blessings!

You ever have one of those weekends when something you were not sure would happen, suddenly happens, catching you a bit by surprise. It was something you wanted to know, something you thought might be possible one day... you have wondered, waited... kept a positive mental outlook. But then, when you aren't expecting it, you find out... what a wonderful feeling, the best of all surprises. I have been in a daze, reveling in the happiness this brings. I am a very lucky fellow!

What is the source of all this celebration?


Yes, you guessed it.. I am going to heaven! I found out how to do it from this web site! http://reserveaspotinheaven.com/

But just in case that turns out to be a fraud... I am comforted in knowing that I will be back as a Zebra in my next life - http://www.reincarnationstation.com/

Like I said, I am one lucky fellow! :-)

Was out Christmas shopping today and got a phone call from my dad. He got the results of his CT scan and there is no sign of a tumor anymore. Last year, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and soon after he went into the hospital with pneumonia and almost didn't come out. This year, the surgery, chemo and radiation treatments have done their job.. along with just getting back from two weeks in St. Maartens (that had to help!). Some gifts you just cannot put a bow on and set under the tree!

It has been foggy here the last few days. Not sure if it has to do with my childhood living in England, but I find the fog comforting. Things seem quieter, there is usually not much of a breeze, sounds seem muffled. I also like the play of contrast, shades of gray on gray, the way lights are transformed into shapes and auras.. I often tried (usually unsuccessfully, I got this one from Google images) to capture that in my earlier days of black and white photography, will have to try again with my new camera. Maybe it is the attenuation of color on days like this that make them so vibrant when the sun comes back. Probably a life metaphor in there somewhere, but I will leave those to AM. ;-)

So many movies have made fog seem "evil", so I am thankful I have not seen too many of those, but a dog howling stills brings to mind the "Hound of the Baskervilles" a movie that made for some restless nights when I was a wee lad. ;-)

How do you feel on foggy days?

Where does the time go! I guess watching 3 out of 4 performances of the Wizard of Oz can make a dent in your blogging time, but it was fun trying to see what changed from performance to performance. Some of the ad libs by the 4th performance were hilarious, and all the kids were having a good time. I also got to practice with my new camera.. finding it hard to hold that thing still in low light.

OK.. I am all done with my shopping and decorating... yeah right! I am making progress, but it always happens.. I can find presents everywhere for a few people, and cannot for the life of me figure out what to get the others. Think I should just go with gift cards and booze at this point? Or maybe make a little more effort? ;-)

The forecast tomorrow is for a chance of snow. I am sure all the kids are putting on their pajamas inside out, walking backwards to their beds, and leaving spoons on their window sills. Anyone have any other superstitions to get a snow day?

Hope everyone is enjoying the festive music at the malls, the energetic walks from the outskirts of the parking lots, and the patient conversations in the checkout lines. :-) Humm... back to amazon.com for now.