Christmas 2008- The Odessey...

It would probably be cute and/or show off what I learned in college if I compared our Christmas Adventures to Homer's The Odyssey, but I never read it. Therefore, the title just refers to the fact that this is a long post. Don't worry, it is the "Great Illustrated Classics" version.

Unlike most Christmases in California- it was raining. It did let up enough to take our "traditional" (it's the second time in two years so for us, that makes it a tradition- whether mom likes it or not!) Christmas Walk on "The Road." I didn't take any pictures of the dogs having fun since it was raining a bit. Here, I will substitute some pictures from last year's walk!

As you can see, it was not raining last Christmas. Laura, Claire and The Army Man were here last Christmas.

Ok that is enough nostalgia for last year.



Before I go on, I must say "American Pie" just finished playing on the radio. I turned it up and sang along. There are some advantages to living alone, although Pie did not appear to appreciate my singing. Is that because I have a horrible voice, or because I was confusing her with saying her name but not looking at her? Probably both.

Back to Christmas 2008- The Odyssey. First, on Christmas Eve, we made some cookies. When I left on the Sunday morning after Christmas, they were almost all gone. I admit I contributed to that sad fact.

Mom stirs the icing so fast her hand is a blur. Go Mom, go!

Craig and I experience some holiday cheer while icing together.

One of my masterpieces. Yum. Note the icing is about 2 inches thick.

Concentration is key to yummy Christmas cookies. As is icing thick enough to induce a diabetic coma with one bite. What would a diabetic comma look like? Would you be in a semi-circle?

Another one of my masterpieces. Note the red bow and the sprinkles applied in groups. I ate it. It was truly a culinary vision of splendor and grace.

A picture of the cookies that are now just a delicious memory. I made the gingerbread man. Craig did the very nice bell. I couldn't get the color to represent correctly while taking the picture. The cookies had a much nicer hue in reality.

After (or maybe during) making the cookies I put the dogs out the back and Fancy stepped onto the first step of the pool to get a tennis ball and this is what happened to her.

This is later, after her legs had dried back to almost normal. The hat is not normal.

After icing the cookies and taking weird pictures of Fancy, we went to our traditional Christmas Eve dinner at Pizza Hut. This is truly a tradition and has been happening for at least 10 years.

Then it was off to almost Midnight Mass. Almost Midnight because it is at 10 o'clock. Read "Doomsday Book" by Connie Willis if you would like to know what Midnight Mass was like in the Middle Ages. However, be warned that it is a sad book. As you can see from our picture, we were not thinking of the sad book at this time.

For real excitement, here is a picture of me and the 3 Dogs and the coat/ jacket I wore to church. I think Mom said a coat is long and a jacket is short. Or maybe it is the other way. I didn't wear the hood at church.

Here are photos from Christmas morning. Lots and lots of presents! I got all kinds of good loot but I won't list it all here because I don't want to make anyone jealous. I hope no one gets stuck in the sap, but I will say my favorite Christmas present is the one no one has to give me- my family. However, the presents that come in boxes and with wrapping paper are nice too.

The dogs also got good loot. Pie loves her tough tug ring and her Christmas Light Bulb that she chomps and it squirts out of her mouth. Those nice presents were from Grandma. Pie and Fancy both got squeaky soft soccer balls from me. Bloom got dog cookies which he is nice enough to share with the other two.

Pie has hers open already.

Fancy likes to savor hers while still in the wrapper. What could it be?

Next we had the traditional Christmas Breakfast of bacon, eggs, toast and orange juice. As you can see there are lots of Christmas Traditions at our house. Can you possibly imagine that there was almost too much bacon? I had to make the ultimate sacrifice and eat extra pieces so no bacon went unwanted.

After breakfast came the walk. See the top of this post. We did get wet a bit at the end, but I thought it was worth it.

After the walk was dinner! Scrumptious turkey and all the other good stuff. Here is the turkey after Dad carved it.


And here is Kurt playing with my camera while waiting for dinner to be served.

Looks sort of like this picture he took while playing with my camera last Christmas.

My camera has a flip screen so don't be too impressed that he is able to take a picture of himself and get his whole face an not just a quarter of his ear.

I did not take any pictures of us actually eating dinner. I suppose I was too busy enjoying it.

After dinner Bloom experienced a Christmas Miracle and came alive enough to steal Molly's Christmas present. After the picture was taken he retreated back into Bloom Land...

After all that excitement we had on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day we extended the excitement by having a Day After Christmas Day Walk. Dad wants to know if it will become another tradition. I suppose we will have to wait and see! This is not "The Road" it is just a road. Maybe it is "the road by The Mine." My batteries gave out and I didn't get any good pictures so I will post some mediocre pictures. You can see it was a beautiful, clear day. A bit chilly, but nice and clear.

I like how Roscoe looks sort of surprised at finding himself in a photo. Too bad he is blurry.

According to the Sled Drivers (the pilots of the SR-71 Blackbirds) "on a clear day you could see forever..." We are not flying on the edge of space in the fastest air breathing manned jet ever built (and designed with a slide ruler) but it was still quite a nice view.

I hope this long blah (opps, "blog") post will sustain you for a few days because it will be a few days before my Internet is up and running at my new place. Until then, have a Happy and Safe New Year!!