Snowy days

When you're in the middle of a snow globe, you might as well go out and enjoy it.

The Aftermath

The Christmas Eve pickle was found by C-man. Again. It's amazing how he finds it every year. The Christmas morning present opening was a frenzy of squeals and "Awww, cools!" Harry fell in love with his blue fluffy thing with 2 squeakers in it.And after all the shopping and baking and wrapping, the good news is that we haven't forgotten our trusty toy, the TV box. I guess it IS technically boxing day. Except we're not British. Or Australian. Or Canadian. But whatever, we're going with it, because it makes C-man happy.

So Happy Boxing Day to those who celebrate. And to those of us who don't, Happy Aftermath. I'm going to see if I can get a massage.

Merry Christmas from ours to yours

Winter Wonderland

All the stockings were hung by the chimney with care...

The presents are bought and wrapped. The pickle is hid on the tree. Gingerbread men are made. Crappy weather is on its way. And vacation has started. So now it's time for me to go "off the grid" for a bit to enjoy these most special moments in life.

May your final days of waiting be peaceful and happy, and with those who make you smile the brightest.

Zymurgy

Zymurgy the branch of applied chemistry dealing with fermentation, as in winemaking, brewing, the preparation of yeast, etc. Once upon a time, I said I'd get married when I found someone who gave me free Honey Weiss. Enter Beerman into my life. How could I refuse the freshly born, unlimited supply that showed up at my door? Then I started to get my masters degree. In an Instructional Design class, I got an A in because I learned how to make beer for, and then went on to teach others how to do it too. I got an A in the class I designed and then taught people how to make and properly taste wine. And then I went on to design and deliver the how to pair wines with food course. And those experiences gave me the contact who hooked me up with my current job that I really like. Zymurgy has paid for half of everything we do, and for that I'm grateful. Plus, it creates some pretty tasty stuff. Zymurgy. It's a good thing.

A Chi Falls Christmas

Yerba Buena

Mojitos have turned into the trendy little drink now, but it wasn't always that way. About 8 and a half years ago, right around the time I went on my honeymoon, for example. Beerman asked me what my first drink would be after we landed, and I said with certainty - a mojito. And it was. And it was fabulous. For years I tried to replicate it, and never quite got it. That is, until I found the right mint, yerba buena, from a Canadian grower. And now, I can make perfect Cuban mojitos, with a tiny splash of bitters just like the Cubans may or may not do. And everytime I take a sip, it sends me back to that honeymoon state of mine. And really, how could that ever be bad?

The dreaded X

X is for XX chromosomes. Something in really short supply in my life. Even my dog's a boy. So when I get a chance to do something with girls, I take it!

W is for Walking in the Woods

Walking through the woods, especially alone, is one of the most peaceful, centering things I can think of. This year, I was blessed enough to do it while spending a little time in Southern Germany. This shot was taken on my way down the mountain, with the sound of distant cowbells dingeling through the fog.

Are we done yet?

U is for Ultrascreen. The theater by our house upgraded to an ultrascreen with the really super-duper nice seats. And despite only getting to see things like Planet 51 or Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs in it, I really do love it. The fact that there's a great pizza joint attached to it doesn't hurt either. V is for Vacation. And this year I've had a couple of nice ones - to California wine country for a long weekend and to central Europe for a bit of a longer one. I love vacation, even if I'm doing nothing. I never understand people who don't take all of theirs in a year. Seriously? Work is that flipping important? I just don't get it.

Christmas Concert Recap

Last night was C-man's Christmas concert. On the first calendar we got and I promptly hung on the fridge, it was listed as December 11th. No problem, right? Wrong. All subsequent calendars had it as December 15th. Something I didn't realize until AFTER I'd booked a work trip to Virginia. The concert started at 6:30. My flight landed at 6:30, about 18 miles away from the school. But thankfully, it was a relatively empty plane, I didn't check any luggage, and there were no cops to catch me speeding, passing cars at a gazillion miles an hour up the interstate to make it just in the nick of time to see him walk in to sing the Joy to the World finale. This is my best shot of the concert. The church was PACKED, and everyone was jockeying for position to get a video or photo of their kid. Regardless, I was all teary, and it had nothing to do with the concrete corner of baptismal font I was precariously perched upon in order to see him. What a difference a year can make. Last year he was quite literally, rolling around on the stage. This year he stood and sang, as proud as can be, remembering nearly all of the words.

Triple Play

Today is a day for birthdays in our family. My eldest sister Terry. (just sounds better than old, doesn't it?) Her son, whom she gave up HER birthday in order to give him life. (FYI - haven't you learned from your brother that I ALWAYS have my camera and publish the best shots?) He's not a T-name, but he gets the thankful T-day by proxy. And my hubby-poo. Who, when he told me when his birthday was when we first met, I think I said, "Oh shit, for real?" And his name starts with a T, too. He already got his day during the B's, but for putting up with my crap, he deserves a second one. Especially since it's his birthday and all. Since it is the season, I'll let Frosty deliver the message...

More letters

You were wondering what I'd do for Q weren't you? Trust me, Q's way easier than X... That's because Q is for Quotes. Whenever something goes wrong, "Fall down seven, get up eight" goes through my head. And when it's really more like fall down four hundred, get up four hundred one, it still rings true and keeps me trying. Cheesy? Yes. Effective? Definitely. ****** R is for Rio de Janeiro. The first city outside the US I stepped foot in at age 10, it's the city I credit to opening my eyes in so many ways over the years. It's where I hang glided, saw horrifying brutality, sang Girl from Ipanema on Ipanema Beach, saw my first Brazilian soccer game in the world's largest stadium, saw Madonna perform in that same stadium, sipped coconut water in a thong bikini in the sun, and is one of the places in the world that really opened my eyes to what poverty really means. Rio is one of those places that reminds me how one thing can be perfect and horrible at all the same time. ****** S is for the Sprungli cafe in Zurich, Switzerland. This is a place of absolute perfection. It's filled with perfect macaroons of every flavor and color, gorgeous sandwiches of tasty perfection, and most importantly... the most amazing, delicious, mouth-watering hot chocolate anywhere on the planet. They sometimes say that heaven is where you spend your time with what your heart desires most. If that's the case, I'll be sitting on the sidewalk in front the Sprungli cafe with my family and dogs on a beautiful, sunny day in Zurich for eternity.