"A lot of people like snow. I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water." Carl Reiner

Apropos of nothing. I like the quote and couldn't think of a post title.

blast! Either I messed up my html, or emailing it in or something else did. too bad. must work. Try to figure it out.

I work in the State Resources Building which occupies the south half of the block. In the northwest corner is the Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=489.

This morning as I took a break and went out for a short walk and quick breath of fresh car fumes, bus exhaust, and cigarette smoke, I saw a family approaching the mansion. One kid said, "Is that from Scooby Do? It's scary."

Here it is New Year's Eve and I haven't written since before Christmas. You know the story, busy, busy, busy! And limited computer time. Blah, blah, blah.

Christmas was, as usual, delightful. Team Sacramento (my local – not loco, well, anyway kids and I) gathered at Ruth's house for the Christmas Eve Dinner of homemade bread, cheese and fruit. She invited the missionaries to join us.

We watched <a href=http://www.apple.com/trailers/newline/thenativitystory/>"The Nativity Story"</a> - except for skipping the very beginning and part of the end which shows Herod's soldiers going to Bethlehem. Esther and Jared were with us and just the thundering horses and music was scary. They didn't need the rest of that. It is a pretty good depiction. The kids think I am overly romantic to want to think that Mary and Joseph already knew and loved each other before the betrothal. Back then it could happen either way. In the movie, he chose her because she is virtuous, she had no say, but, of course, their feelings grow.

Christmas morning each household spent individually. The boys and I opened presents and watched <a href= http://disney.go.com/disneyvideos/animatedfilms/ratatouille/Ratatouille</a> (which Santa brought us.) Later we went to Ruth's and had pizza (we all brought toppings over the night before) and fruit pizza (I made with leftover fruit from Christmas Eve) and opened more presents. Glen came over later for cookies.

The surprise to me hit present of the day was the Rudolf ornament set that Miriam gave Debi. I knew she wanted them, but she was totally overcome with emotion! Speaking of Debi. Debi gave me a beautiful calendar of photographs of the family. She put pictures of the person on their birthday, too.

Ooh. Tough choice time. Break time is quite over. Post or wait and add more? Something is better than nothing. Hopefully, I will post again soon. (I am sure you wait breathlessly.) One of my "resolutions" is to actually take a break at work and to 1) walk a little and 2) use some time to post.