Favorite Pictures from the Blog - 2010

Below are my nominations for the best picture of the year from my Blog. These are all images that either I or my lovely wife, Chris, took on our cameras.  I will announce the winner on December 31st along with my best blog item of the year.

1. Jax is the coolest 2-year old on the planet. He has the world always under control. And for that matter he always has his parents and grandparents in the palm of his hand, too.  I love this picture because I really love this hat. I wish I could wear one with the confidence that Jax does! 

Jax--I love this Hat!

 

























Baby? Where's the Baby?



2. Jeremy after Lucas was born. I don't really remember what was going on, but this picture really captured the emotions of the time--the joy, the excitement and the terror.









Snowpocalypse through the crystal of the door

3. "Through the Crystal" as I have titled this image,  is shot out the front door of the house looking into the post 1st Snowpocalypse event in February. I thought about this shot and felt it would provide a cool memory of the event. Of course, at the time I had no idea that a second even larger storm was on the way. When we were done, some almost 60 inches of snow lay on the ground. We were trapped for four days--with over 40 inches of snow in the street. The driveway was clear--but the street was impassable.

















4. Makayla loves the snow. She was having more fun in the snow during the Snowpocalypse than should have been allowed. It was fun to watch her run through the snow and shake it all over herself. It was not fun, however, cleaning off her feet when she came in from playing.

Makayla Loves Snow

5. The roads were impassable. Chris and I and Makayla took a walk to check them out. The day was snowy and cold. Just the kind of weather Chris and Makayla like. I remember about the snow and cold for the entire walk. I was a true downer to be with since the snow spirit was so high in Chris.

Barely Passable

 6. I needed some color and we found it in California at a winery. These flowers just brightened up my whole day. And this image brightens my day every tome I look at it.

California Colors of April

7. As we walked through the Redwood forest during our Napa/Sonoma vacation, we spied this web glinting in the sunlight. Chris worked her magic--walking off the path and into a dry stream bed to snap this shot.

Spider Web in the Redwood Forest

8. This is one awesome looking dude! Getting ready for the wedding and looking his best--even with the half smile. Look at him--he is such a cool looking dude all decked out.

I'm the Man!

9.  At the wedding of the year. This image, I think, really captured the emotion of the day. Nuff said.

No Caption required

 10. On the beach in Jupiter, armed with her Kindle--reading and relaxed.  No--she did not take this image.

I'm Bored with Beaches


11. Sometimes an image just captures a scene exactly as I remember it. The hurricane was moving off shore. The surf was rough.  The sky and the clouds we vivid and to be remembered. The wind was strong and it reminds me of paintings I have seen of the sky and surf.

Like a Painting--Jupiter Beach

12. Before I managed to destroy my underwater camera, I had a great day of snorkeling and was able to capture this school of fish. I love the way the sunlight is playing with the shadows on the bottom and the sand is being channeled by the action of the waves. I felt like a member of the school as I was swimming with the fish the day. I enjoyed the snorkeling, but I would have loved to just be laying on the bottom in scuba gear--eve though ti was only 10 feet deep. I should have rented a tank.

I'd Love to be Sleeping with the Fishes

13. And off on the rocks--not 50 feet offshore one day and group of manatees came to sun themselves. They were awesome--not as awesome as the one that caught us by surprise a day later when Chris and I were snorkeling--but nearly so. In all of the years we have been coming to Jupiter, we had never seen manatees--but this past winter was especially rough on the manatee population, with some 10 percent dying due to the cold. So their patterns must have changed a bit. No problem--we thoroughly enjoyed seeing them.

Manatees! Right There!

14.  My favorite bird! I don't know why--it just is.

Real Birds Wear Pink!

15. We were out driving one evening after dinner and saw the perfect spot to snap an image of Jupiter Lighthouse. Chris took it--and I was sure it wouldn't come out--but look--it did.

Jupiter Light House

So I Can Find My Way Back

16. Lucas, asleep. 2010 is the year of Luke! What a great kid. What fun--and how he has so changed and developed. He is such a neat kid. One of the "Gang of Three."

Lucas

A New Definition of "Sleeping Like a Baby"

17. The first day of school. I can feel the anxiety in the image.  That would be his Mom's anxiety.

Every Mother's Nightmare

The First Day of School

18. No year in review would be complete without my favorite past time being included. This bunch of Cabernet Franc grapes was at Keswick Vineyards in early-October.  A beautiful Sunday morning.

Walking in the Vineyard

19. My Pair of Kees together. BFF.

A Pair of Kees

20. And to end the year--the Eclipse Equinox. Chris took it, but I got up to view it as well. A truly unique event almost 400 years in the making.

Equinox Eclipse

Christmas 2010: Twenty Pictures

And as a summary of Christmas with the family--here are twenty pictures to relive the memories.

Ornaments on the Tree

Reflecting the Beauty

 Jax totally toasted about 5PM--the day caught up with him.

Jax on Christmas 2010

 The family--chillin after the presents

Christmas Afternoon

Who Took My Present?

Ethan: Spy Hunter

I Love Coats!

Dad, When are they Leaving?

Nicole--Relaxed

Grandma? Who Gets the Next Gift?

What a Cute Butt!

Chewie chewing

Riordan under the Christmas Palm

Picture of the First Picture with the New Camera

Pop-pop and Lucas Digging In

Christmas Eve Brunch: And So it Begins

The Women in my Life

Shhh! Santa has been Here!

The Family 2010

The Youngest Fighting for Grandma's Love

Monday Musings - December 27, 2010

1. 363 days until Christmas 2011. Five days until 2011.  Who are you partying with?

2. Did you read about the 9 year old boy who is the youngest American ever to be classified as a chess master?  Read about Samuel Sevian.

3. I found it scary funny that North Korea was declaring a holy or a sacred war on South Korea. How does an atheistic country have anything holy? Isn't that an oxymoron?

4. I heard this at work and it is a funny way to end the season--Why does Santa have three gardens?  So that he can hoe, hoe, hoe.

5. I love sports--and I have watched some cricket when i have been on international travel--but there is something really weird when someone can score 498 runs in an inning. CNN International reported that the other day. Really? I remember one time, when I was at a British RAF base for the 4th of July, we played the base cricket team a game of softball. It doesn't transfer well, suffice it to say.

6. I love the CIA.  You have got to read this article about a new group they created--WTF.  It made me LOL.

7. The day after Christmas when the presents are all gone--the Christmas Tree looks so lonely and forlorn.

8. It snowed a bit today--and the entire region panicked.

9.  The saddest part about Christmas is that it ends and we so quickly forget everything and return to the way we were.

Day After Christmas

It's the day after Christmas and the skies are all gloom

2010 Family Christmas Family Picture

The toys and the stockings lay strewn round the room
The dog's still in hiding, the cat can't be found
And hordes of young children lie heaped in a mound
And Chris in her pj's, and I in my briefs
had just woke from sleeping off two pounds of beef

Well, you get the idea. Months of planning led to the successful execution of the game plan, and unlike the Cowboys last night who couldn't get an extra point when they needed it--the Christmas 2010 plan was a total success.


Eleven people gathered for dinner yesterday and enjoyed the spirit of the holiday, together. I do recall that on Christmas Eve, with the additional family of friends, we needed 16 seats in church--and miraculously we got them all in a row.

And so--although on the calendar Christmas was yesterday--we are still in the season of Christmas through January 6th--don't let all the planning that has been done during the past couple of months be lost so quickly.  Take a minute--thank God for your blessings and then take a deep breath and reflect on hopefully happy memories with friends and family.

Christmas Palm

A great Christmas gift for the beach guy in me.

Merry Christmas. God bless you everyone.

Christmas Prayer 2010

Father in Heaven

The world moves too fast and I let it rob me of time to spend with you. Help me to see the glory of your coming to earth as you promised to provide a way back to intimacy with you. Intimacy that I don't appreciate, for I use my time to do other things and to satisfy other pursuits. But I need to spend more time with you.

If I start by changing one heart, mine, perhaps another will change and then one-by-one the world will change. I don't appreciate your miracles anymore: that the sun rises each day and that after a night of sleep I wake up to a day filled with opportunities and hope and promise. I know in my head that I am blessed, but I really don't in my heart appreciate that I live in the the greatest country in the world, and in one of the richest counties in that great country. You have blessed me and my family beyond my expectations. And I fail to take time to say thank-you at the beginning and ending of each day. Forgive me for not giving the glory of my world to you.

Where would I rather be? I spend a lot of time thinking about that question. I would rather be right here doing the work that you have given to me to do. I must stop being so selfish and day dreaming about a beach somewhere with warm sand on my toes. You have put me here for a reason and I need to step up and do the tasks you have set before me--with joy in my heart rather than the sadness I pick up to carry when I get into one of those "o woe is me" times in my life. Forgive me for wanting to show everyone the cross I think I'm carrying.

Let me find the joy that You send into my life every day. Let me appreciate the sunrises and the sunsets. Let me give you thanks for every meal and the the heat in my house, the car that I drive, the clothes that I wear, and the family that loves me even when I am a grouch. Remind me that the sand on the beach, the water and the fishes in the ocean, the air I breathe, and the stars I long to travel among are all yours and that you graciously allow me to enjoy them.

Father--this Christmas, make me not ashamed at the tear that wants to roll down my cheek as I sing Hark the Herald Angels and allow my mind to pause for a moment and think about how great you are that you came to this planet and want to have a personal relationship with us, including me. And as the Gloria of Angels We Have Heard on High rolls off the tounge, make my heart joyous and imagine what it will be like someday to sing with the throngs of angels standing in the light of your presence.

Finally, Father, send your holy angels to protect the service men and women and civilians on duty around the world this night. The forces of evil are gathering and your guidance and protection is needed to guard and protect them. Be with the leaders of our country, may they turn to you for guidance and wisdom. Be with the homeless, that they may find shelter; the hungry, let them be fed; the grieving, that they may find peace; be with the children that they may have hope.

The magic of Christmas is that I pause and turn my thoughts to you. Restore the magic of your gift in my heart and help me to be giving to others during the year ahead.

Thank you for Christmas and reminding me that we need to reconnect. Forgive me for drifting away. Help me to do better.

Heard this morning while preparing breakfast for the family: "I've got to go downstairs and get the good plastic for breakfast."

Addendum to this Morning's Post

No, I really didn't forget the dog.  I could have though.

Heard this morning while preparing breakfast for the family when asked why she was headed downstairs to get silverware, which we don't keep there: "I've got to go downstairs and get the good plastic for breakfast."

Are We There Yet?

I was summarily handed a list the other morning--these are your tasks for this afternoon to prepare for the holiday.

Ugh! The more we do the more there seems to be to do. Maybe if we started later, there would be less that needs doing?

Vacuum? Really? Vacuuming is one of those things that always needs to be done--so skip it and wait until the last minute rather than doing it, redoing it, and then doing it for real. I don't need practice vacuuming!

Ah--but it is finally Christmas Eve. And i am the offensive line for my quarterback who is calling the plays.

Now the real fun begins. The weeks of preparation have wound down into this final push to the end zone. It is time for the "Two minute drill" right now.

Last gift? Is it wrapped? Where is the gift bag?

Stockings? Found, acocunted for and hung by the chimney with care, or nails, or tape whatever will hold them!

Carrots for the reindeer? Cookies for Santa? A glass of wine for me? (OK--2 glasses and then quit counting)

Dog groomed? (Where did I leave the dog?)  Chris, have you seen the dog?  OMG--she's at the groomers, overnight? Ugh!

And so mentally I slump into the chair exhausted--but it is only 6AM. I have a massive family breakfast (or brunch?) planned, followed by a nap, then church, then dinner, then dessert with friends and then maybe church again--just because it didn't take the first time.

And by then it will be tomorrow! Christmas.

O, I forgot to clean out the fireplace!

Christmas Eve Eve

I remember when I was a kid needing to name this day something. It was natural to call it the eve of Christmas Eve--hence, Christmas Eve Eve.

It is probably the toughest day of the year to be a kid. Or a parent!

It is like the middle innings of a ball game, or the middle of the third quarter of a football game.The end is in sight--but not yet close enough to be real.  It can still go either way.  There is a lot of playing time left. The excitement is building, but it is so easy to still crash and burn.

For myself--I'm going about my regular day. Racquetball at 5:30 AM, work, home, dinner, football on TV, conversation with the woman I cohabitate with, and then sleep. The wrapping is done--the decorations by now are all hung. Relaxation is in the air.

The big news this year is that Christmas Eve Eve is also a Friday.  I know, you are thinking, but wait, it is Thursday. Aha, you are right--but then so am I since Christmas Eve is the Federal Holiday Christmas Observed--and I don't have to work on Friday, then Thursday essentially becomes Friday!  AND (now here is the really crafty part) this week effectively has two Saturdays.

If that makes sense to you, then you are as wacky as I am.

Eclipse Picture

Lunar Eclipse on Winter Solstice
21 December 2010 about 0300 EST

As proof that at least one of us was awake for the eclipse on early Tuesday morning as the Winter Solstice was also occurring--an image. Chris took her trusty Sony and got the moon while it was eclipsing (is that a word?).

She remarked, "Do you know how hard it is to find the moon in a camera?"

Wednesday: When Hours Matter

There is a family on the street that connects to ours with one of those day, hours, minutes counters until Christmas in their front yard for everyone to see.  It sure hits home how close Christmas has come.

Today, though, it almost is better for it to go just to hours so people face the magnitude of the task in front of them.

Consider noon.  60 hours until Christmas!  By bedtime at 10 PM, only 50 hours remain.

So, how's your shopping and wrapping coming?

Stockings hung yet?

Did you clean out the fireplace so Santa won't track soot all over your newly cleaned for the holidays carpets?

There is so much to do and the time for procrastinating is long over.

I'd rather watch a movie.

And drink a glass of wine.

Maybe munch a cookie.

And stick my head in the sand. (Beach? Sun? Warmth? Sand?)

But you know what?  Christmas will arrive anyway--and I better get ready like a sports team preparing for a game. Have the game plan ready and the plays all lined up. I know who my quarterback is: Chris, and I've got to do a lot of blocking and protecting her so that she can get the plays run successfully. She better not get sacked!  Or I'm in trouble.

And the clock up the street just keeps ticking off the seconds!

It's Been Almost 400 Years!! Solstice Eclipse

Wow--I love it when rare things happen. Were you up early this morning to enjoy a rare, once in a lifetime event? (Actually, once in a lot of lifetimes?)

A Lunar Eclipse coinciding with the Winter Solstice--something that has not happened in 372 years.

Lunar Eclipse

I also learned a new word--selenelion. Look that one up!  According to a BBC News Article, a selenelion, occurs when the sun and the eclipsed moon can be seen at the same time.  Of course, you had to be in Ireland or the UK to see that this time--but I had never even thought about an eclipsed moon and the sun being visible at the same time, let alone there being a word for it. That happens a lot more frequently.  There is an interesting article: In Search of Selenelion, which provides a story of one person's search for this elusive occurrence.

But the eclipse with the winter solstice is even more fascinating.

In olden times, it might have been thought to one of those signs in the heavens. Probably not a good sign, either. Panic may have ensued as the populace feared for their lives when the moon turned blood red and disappeared. Although, after a short time, it reappeared.

Now, we rational and scientifically minded people sleep through it. It is a well understood event, barely worth noting. A cool coincidence. It was cold outside and in the "wee" hours of the morning when only the night workers are awake and the lonely soldiers are on duty guarding their positions. I'm sure there were clouds. Somewhere. But in my area it was clear and a million mile visibility. Fortunately, Chris woke me up and I went outside to view the blood red moon at about 3:00 AM.

There are three interesting Bible verses which mention the moon turning to the color of blood:

Joel 2:31:

The sunlight will be turned to darkness and the moon to the color of blood, before the day of the Lord comes – that great and terrible day!  -NET bible

Acts 2:20

The sun will be changed to darkness and the moon to blood before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes. --NET Bible

Revelations 6:12
Then I looked when the Lamb opened the sixth seal, and a huge earthquake took place; the sun became as black as sackcloth made of hair,  and the full moon became blood red; --NET Bible

I wonder what the prophets who wrote each of these saw in their mind as they wrote these words--was it an eclipse? What was God putting in their minds that they were trying to describe?

What will today bring as this Christmas Season continues towards its finale.  What does this sign in the heavens, similar to the star so many centuries ago, foretell? 

It is a sign. We should take note of this sign. It can be a sign of peace or war. It can be a sign of feast or famine. It is a sign--He is coming, quickly. Like A thief. And we celebrate his arrival for he first time this very week

(Look! I will come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays alert and does not lose his clothes so that he will not have to walk around naked and his shameful condition be seen.)  Revelations 16:15 --NET Bible

Monday Musings - December 20, 2010

1. The snow that fell on Thursday has remained pretty well in place since. It is cold out there. It makes going outside a very unpleasant experience.

2. Christmas in a word--Emmanuel.  Look it up!

3. Football is a fickle sport--sometimes the seemingly better team loses. It is always good when the home town team defeats the defending Super Bowl champs in a close game.

4. A quiet evening alone at home with Chris, a nice fire in the fireplace, a bottle of wine and soft lighting. A respite from the troubles of the day. The perfect ending to the week.

5. Let's be clear--this is the plan.  Those at least are the words associated with the events currently penciled in for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  At least we have the meat in the freezer.

6. Our church announced that all four services on Christmas Eve are completely full--what a great problem to have.

7. The weather for the past two weeks has been like February cold. I hope it is not even colder in February.

8. It is  funny how a little bit of snow makes every one's cars look so dirty.

9. I hope your shopping is done. There isn't much time left.

Christmas Dry Run

It must be that practice is required to enter a sleep deprived state and enjoy the day.

Ethan and Lucas

For some unexplained reason, I am up bright and early on a Sunday morning. Before the clock struck 6, I was up and at the side of my tortured wife who is feverishly trying to ensure everything is ready for the big event which is still some six days away.  In my sleepy, still groggy state I am trying to make decisions about menus for Christmas Eve--breakfast and dinner. Church is sandwiched in there somewhere and there remains the possibility of a midnight service as well.

But, trying to solidify menus before my first pot of coffee is just crazy. I can't even spell my name yet.

Something about french toast and pot roast, mimosas and wine. I sure hope I can keep the meals straight.

As the weekend approaches I am sure things will get a bit crazier on the home front. Let's all smile, because all too quickly it will be over.

Lists are everywhere--being checked twice and not just gift lists either. Menus and cleaning, banking and washing. Lists--life is a list this week it seems.

Oh well--it is said that Christmas is for children and it seems at least the grandsons know how to make the best of it. Lucas loves to be pushed in a laundry basket by Ethan. Nicole watched over the operation to ensure it was was safe.  That was last week's entertainment during football. No list required.  Just fun.

And so it begins. Stand by for the craziness to begin.

One Week to Go!

Well, if the panic level wasn't high enough already--it certainly gets ratcheted up today.

The Christmas Season is drawing to a crescendo! Excitement abounds. Traffic is excruciating. And every visit by the mail person, FEDEX, or UPS provides renewed excitement.  Riordin, our new cat, is especially interested in all of the packages arriving and being stowed around the house.  He seems to enjoy the taste of the wrapping paper.

I know for myself, I am looking forward to a four-day week next week. And then Christmas Eve--with brunch, and church, and most likely friends for the evening.

Chris and I are thinking about finding a mid-night service to attend, something we have not done in years (or actually since we stopped singing in the choir at church). It was just too tough to do it all and it made for a long evening. But now--I think we could pull it off.


My Florida Dream House



The snow on Thursday--aside from really snarling the drive home, provided a needed boost to the Christmas spirit. Although, I did send Tegan a quippy note (she's in Australia) in her Blog about checking out the beach for me.  I really think I would be good with Christmas on the beach somewhere sunny and warm.  Even hot!

 Wouldn't a cookout around the pool to celebrate Christmas be awesome?  I'm a huge fan of Christmas Palms.  I want to get one on closeout after the holidays and put it in the yard next year.

Actually, I'm told the guy who owned our house before us did that one year to the tune of a couple hundred dollars to open and heat the pool.

But that seems a bit excessive--and propane is not $3 per gallon and not the $.20 it used to be.  It would be $500 easy now with propane and opening and reclosing the pool.

But, I'm dreaming of a beach Christmas--just like when I was in college a long, long time ago.

It was especially more of a dream after I shoveled the driveway yesterday and nearly froze my hands putting washer fluid in Chris' car and flattening the boxes to place them in recycling. 

Let's agree on one important safety tip: 17 degrees is just too cold!

Next week--the post-Christmas clean up begins. But for the next week--be sure you wish everyone a Merry Christmas!  They really want to hear you say it!

Love

Every so often, the lyrics of a song really hit me and stop me for a moment to really let them turn over in my mind.

I have been hearing a song by JJ Heller lately titled "Love Me."  I have linked in the lyrics so that you can read them--but I also urge you to listen to the song.

The song presents three very different people struggling to find, accept, and receive love--unconditional love. The chorus is as follows:

Who will love me for me?
Not for what I have done or what I will become
Who will love me for me?
'Cause nobody has shown me what love, what love really means

The three people described in the song are a boy, who though it is not specifically stated I imagine is the victim of some kind of abuse; a woman whose husband has left her and her struggle to deal with her loss; and a death row murderer facing execution.  And they share this same cry--a cry to be loved unconditionally.

It is a hard love to find and a love we only experience from a very select few. The world tries to mimic this love, but the world only provides a transitory, "what have you done for me lately" kind of love. We see it demonstrated by corporations, sports teams, fans, and many others. It is not love--it is brief admiration masquerading as love.

The song ends with the bridge and the final chorus as follows:

Then he heard a voice somewhere deep inside
And it said
"I know you've murdered and I know you've lied
I have watched you suffer all of your life
And now that you'll listen, I'll tell you that I..."

I will love you for you
Not for what you have done or what you will become
I will love you for you
I will give you the love
The love that you never knew

God's promises!

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28-29

Intersections

I got thinking about how seemingly unconnected things come together at just the right time.

Sometimes the "just the right time" is good--sometimes it is bad.  But these things just happen--circumstance? I think not. I hope not. There are just too many of them and when you consider the astronomical odds--could they really happen that way even if we planned them?

I was thinking back a few years ago, when Patrick rolled his Honda into a tree on New Year's morning a couple of years ago. And there just happened to be a medical professional following him who saw the accident and was on the scene almost before Patrick could extricate himself from the car. The tree impacted just behind the driver in the passenger area--but for three feet, the car could have been crushed onto Patrick. I remember how many times I looked at where that car was crushed as it sat in my driveway for almost a year before being towed away, and I though how lucky Patrick had been.  But it was an intersection--the tree and the car and the medical person all together on the scene, and Patrick was OK and checked out.

And there are so many other intersections--I don't really see them all every day, but I suspect they are there.

Tuesday evening for instance. Traffic was awful as I was coming home from the gym. I-95 was snarled and the on ramp I usually use was backed up almost a mile.  Suffice it to say--it was ugly. So I chose to go the alternate route--US 1. I guess everyone forgot about US 1 because it was clear and 50 mph all the way home.  What was the intersection? As I had just lost an ugly racquetball match and felt crummy, the idea of sitting in traffic really didn't appeal to me--so the whole traffic back up forced me to an alternate route that significantly improved my mood because it was such a pleasant drive.

The intersection of the traffic, with racquetball, with US 1 completely changed my mood.

I had another one yesterday afternoon. I was planning to be with Ethan after school and I had a report at work that wasn't going to get out because my boss wasn't going to have time to review it before I had to leave. So I got an extension on the report. But then, Nicole called and Jax was sick so "E-day," as I call it, was cancelled. Because of the intersection of Jax being sick (a bad thing) and cancelling E-day with the report deadline--I didn't need the extension.

I know this seems a bit fuzzy--but I haven't been thinking about this for very long. I'm going to look hard at the intersections--where seemingly dissimilar paths cross to provide a result.

December's Snow

It was blowing across the parking lot yesterday morning as I arrived at the gym at 5:30 AM.
White and powdery I could just make out the fine snow as it glistened in the headlights of my truck
Blowing in the wind but not really accumulating, ensuring I was aware that the cold December wind
Was bringing the snow which was falling on my windshield as I navigated the mostly deserted car park.

I reflected for a moment on how it was kind of pretty, like dust, or sand on the beach
But then I remembered how cold it was outside my warm, fully heated vehicle, twenty-something anyway
And the wind was whipping across the open areas--I could feel it slam into the truck on the overpasses
As I made my way to my appointed racquetball time at the gym and to start the day.

It was dark outside, but the stars peaked through the broken clouds and cast their cold light on the scene
I thought for a moment of a couple traveling from Nazareth to Bethlehem some centuries ago
How cold it was, and how they huddled together for warmth and to protect their unborn child from the wind
I wondered if it snowed and if there was a warm fire outside their tent as they stopped for the night.

The wind whipped through my hair as I stepped out from the warmth and made my way to the building
I was shocked by how cold it was, this morning, but the stars in the sky were beaming down at me then
As they did on a night--so many years before, when the promise made to man by a loving God was fulfilled
When the birth of a small child, in a barn, off the beaten path of the world, changed everything for all time.

Wine Club Dinner: The 2010 Version is a Hit

The Wine Club which we belong to conducted its Sixth Annual Dinner on Saturday night. I was amazed that is was six years, but Chris and I have only attended the past three. This has become and annual event that we look forward to, and when our holiday and birthday party schedule cleared up so that we could attend this year's dinner, we were excited.  It is always a great night with good friends, great food and superior wines.

I am happy to report that the 2010 version met and exceeded all expectations.

The friends were awesome. The company, the discussion, the laughter, and the celebration. Good friends collecting together over dinner or drinks are always fun--but this evening is truly special. Gary and Pam provided a atmosphere that was perfect--in their wine cellar surrounded by bottles of wine and with the lighting absolutely perfect. Thanks guys. And the table decorations and arrangement by Gerri and Jennifer added to the special nature of the evening in a perfect way. I wish I had taken a picture--but alas, I was having so much fun that I totally forgot.

The food--well where to begin. When I looked at the menu and saw all of the talented cooks who were involved, I was sure that the food was going to be a scrumptious as it was. Everything was perfect. I particularly enjoyed the baked brie with cranberries--and many of you who know me, know that I never met a brie that I didn't like! The mixed lettuce, pear, and goat cheese salad was awesome. (Sorry Fran, I like goat cheese!)  The entree was perfect for the evening. Braised beef short ribs over garlic mashed potatoes, roasted carrots and parsnips with rosemary. The ribs were cooked to perfection and the flavors blended perfectly. And the dessert. Where to begin--except to say, Mark you can make a chocolate-raspberry torte for me anytime. What is not to like. It was melt in your mouth good.  So to all of the cooks: Pam, Gary, Steve, Gerri and Mark--awesome. You should consider opening a restaurant someday and I am already looking forward to the 2011 version of the Wine Club Dinner.

If the food was so good, how can there be any level above that--but the wine selections by Gary perfectly complimented the courses.

The highlight was the M. Chapoutier Banyuls Vin Doux Naturel 2007 and how it so perfectly complimented the torte. It was truly one of those pairings that brings out the best in both--the wine, followed by a piece of torte, and then some more wine. It makes me smile as I write this as to how food it was.

The sparkling wine with the appetizer was awesome as usual--especially with the ginger liqueur. It was the Domaine Chandon Extra Dry Riche from California. A beautiful finish which fully complimented the brie and cranberries.

One of my personal finds of the evening was the Roots Run Deep Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Educated Guess 2007 from Napa Valley. Although I do believe it could use another year in the bottle--it matched up well with the entree and I will definitely be seeking it out to add to my personal collection. This wine was not a fruit bomb and had good complexity and tannins to meet the meat right where it was at. I really enjoyed this wine.

And then there was the sherry. It was the Emilio Lustau Jerez-Xeres Sherry Capataz Andes Deluxe Cream Solera Reserva from Spain. So smooth and luscious. It was so good that many of the guests started doing shots of it--just for the pure fun and enjoyment of the after dinner sherry.

So to all of you who prepared and attended the dinner--thanks. It was a lot of work, but I think the results speak for themselves--a superior dinner and gathering of friends around the table to celebrate the victories of the year and to cement the friendships for the years ahead.

Monday Musings - December 13, 2010

1. Less than two weeks to go until Christmas and the panic is rising in the shoppers minds.

2. Holiday parties, friends, family, and new friends. We are very blessed to have so many people to enjoy the season with.

3. We saw our first snow flakes of the season on Friday, it seemed the entire region took a pause to both enjoy their light, fluffy beauty and to remember the hammering we took last winter. We have already been suffering through mid-February like temperatures.

4. Asked to provide one word to describe the holiday season, what would you say?

5. Here is something that bothers me--and I have not yet been able to confirm it--but our Congress is continuing to add pork to the budget bills while at the same time freezing the pay of Federal workers. Wouldn't it make sense to stop the pork as well to bring the deficit under control? One rumor indicated that Nancy Pelosi asked for $5 million for funding renovation of an old military facility for commercial use. If the American public is serious about reducing the deficit, why isn't Congress?

6. This season makes everyone a little more edgy--take a breath before you respond, it will make the conversation easier.

7. Promises. Christmas was the fulfillment of a promise made thousands of years before it happened.

8. With all of the emphasis on football, I wonder if anyone has noticed the Penguins (hockey) have a 12 game winning streak going and Sidney Crosby (their captain) has an 18 game point streak going on as well?

9. Have you looked at where the products you are using are made?  I think I may begin boycotting items "Made in China." But I worry that I won't be able to buy anything at all. (That may not be a bad thing)

Holiday Party Survivor

What a day it was.

A great day full of family and friends and wine.

We attended three holiday parties during the day, starting with Nicole's Birthday Breakfast at 8AM.  The mimosa's were flowing freely and the food was scrumptious. Nicole and her friends Pam and Michelle can really cook up a storm.. And as we all know, I can eat, too. The grandsons were great and even the dogs were well mannered.

From there we had a break before a holiday open house--where the wine flowed freely and the food was excellent. We met new friends and had a great time talking about wedding planning with a young and just engaged couple. We also, of course, were able to retell our story of the consensus blending last week a couple of times as well.

After a short break it was off o our wine club dinner hosted by Gary and Pam and attended by 11 of our closest friends. Wine pairings and good food and conversation highlighted a delightful evening. The hit of the evening was the sherry, I think, although the Cabernet Sauvignon was excellent as well. The conversation never lagged and the food and wine went down a bit too easy.

Was it a chore to attend three holiday functions in the same day? Not at all. It is the holiday season and connecting with friends and family is really what the season is all about. Strengthening ties and rekindling friendships makes each of us stronger and helps sustain us through the bleak midwinter.

I think I miss holiday parties during the summer. I love barbecues but there is something special about the holidays.

Next week is not nearly so hectic--and so I expect to be able to finish my shopping. But yesterday was a truly special day and one that I want to remember for a long time.

Merry Christmas everyone.  Thanks.

Birthday Morning Breakfast

Chris and Jax After Breakfast

We went to Nicole's to celebrate her birthday with a fabulous brunch this morning. The food and the friends who arrived were a lot of fun.

This is Chris and Jax relaxing after the festivities.

Boy in the Window

He was sitting there in the window of a store in downtown Ellicott City. Off the beaten path--but there he was: blond hair, 4 years old or so with a precocious grin on his face accompanied by his dog--a cute black and white border collie.

The building was old, painted white with green shutters and some gardens in front of it and so I was able to watch his antics from a short distance away. I surmised that his parent--probably mother, was inside shopping and he, like me, was bored with the entire shopping experience. I have no idea how long he had been shopping, but I had been on the expedition for only about 15 minutes and we were fortifying ourselves with coffee, but the entirety of the shopping "event" was yet in front of me.

I was with two of my grandsons, Ethan and Jax, but I could relate to the young boy in the window who was amusing himself lost in his own world of imagination oblivious to the passers-by who noticed him.

I was standing in a garden drinking my too-hot coffee while the rest of the group finished up inside. I was thinking I was gonna need a restroom in a couple minutes if I really drank all of the coffee. It was early autumn and the air was brisk, but not yet cold. The roses in the garden retained their full bloom--reds and yellows graced the walk in front of the buildings cast off to the side of the parking lot.

Then the boy saw me watching him. He hid his face, playfully and then peaked back to see if I was still observing his antics.

I stared unabashedly at him and smiled allowing him to see that I was not being judgemental nor disapproving of his activity. Recognizing this, he resumed his play and ignored me. Which was fine. I was losing myself in my own thoughts and he was the catalyst transporting my mind to another place and time.

Ethan strolled out of the coffee shop right at that moment and we began conversing about the day and the flowers and the cold. Ethan too, was already bored with the idea of hours of shopping ahead of us. I soon forgot about the boy and his dog--except--

I wished that it was me playing in the corner of a store window uncaring of the world around me and lost in my own imagination. And you know what? I remember doing almost that exact same thing in a downtown Ithaca, NY shoe store when I was four (without the dog). And for a moment, I could even smell again the strong odor of the stains used to color shoes coming from the back room of the store.

Flowers of Christmas

Technically, I guess it isn't a flowering plant at all--but we all consider the poinsettia to be one of those Christmas icons that homes are just not complete without.

This year we ran across an especially beautiful one and just has to have it. It has a variegated pink bracts.

And it is beautiful sitting on the table. It compliments our large traditional red poinsettia very well.

They are both beautiful, but like roses there is a small problem. Roses have thorns and I am allergic it seems to poinsettias. So I find out this year.

Too bad--I love the way they look and the color they add to the house during the bleak mid-winter is stunning. So I will suffer and remain drugged on antihistamines to function and enjoy the season. I'm also told that copious quantities of wine are good to make me forget my stuffy nose.

Mid-Week Saturday

What a great idea it turned out to be.

Chris and I took Wednesday off to have a medical procedure done and were able to spend the entire day together--almost alone at home after about mid-morning.

We napped, baked cookies, bought gifts on E-bay and other internet sites and generally just chilled recovering from the activity of the morning.

A big thank-you to Patrick for taking such great care of his parents--including getting here before 6:30 AM to drive us to the Medical Center.

In the end, it was like having a Saturday in the middle of the week. I got to spend time with my dog, too.

Mid-week Saturdays break the week into smaller two-day sections and really help make it all palatable. It has been a welcome break amid a hectic season--even though it was a medical related break. Who says all medical stuff is bad.

OK--it usually is bad.

This time it worked out.

A mid-week break amid a season of intense activity. I highly recommend it.

Christmas Morning Memories

I had a funny thought yesterday morning as I was making the bed.

The memory of being a boy age 10 or so on Christmas morning flashed through my head.

Standing at the top of the stairs in such excitement and anticipation that I could hardly bear the wait. My brother and sisters there with me--OK, maybe my brother wasn't since he would have been only about 21 months old and I think he got to sleep in the warmer area of the house.

We had attended the candlelight service at church the night before and then dutifully left cookies, milk and an obligatory carrot for the reindeer on a plate beside the Christmas Tree.

I had barely slept. Visions of sugar plums were definitely dancing--but not in my head. They were in my room keeping me up all night. I was awake with exhaustion and high on the drug of excitement.

It was dark outside--I do not even recall the time, but I'm sure it was no later than 6AM because we had been furtively sending messages to each other for a while while hoping to innocuously wake the parents to allow the day to officially begin.

But the excitement and the anticipation of that time was incredible--knowing that in moments Mom and Dad would open the stairwell door and we would be blinded by the "brighter than the sun" movie light us as we ran, fell or otherwise made our way down the stairs and into the room with the tree and the assembled gifts.

Fast forward a few decades and I remember Christmas mornings with my kids--and seeing that same excitement in them. The joy, the excitement and the inappropriate actions of children who just do not know how to deal with these intense emotions.

Our family has grown from our core five, to now eleven. And the sounds of Christmas and the kids and the dogs fills the house with the sweet cacophony of family.

Christmas has changed for us, even with the increase in our family size. We now sleep in late on Christmas morning. We enjoy breakfast and mimosas. We stare at the gift adorned tree while waiting for everyone to arrive in an attempt to recreate those many Christmases past.

I love spending time with Chris on Christmas morning in the quiet of our house surrounded by Makayla, Louis, and Riordin giving her that special gift that I spent at least 15 minutes on the Internet picking out.

But remembering how it used to be--in that time long, long ago and in a place far, far away; warms my memories and makes my heart long for those Christmases past. I know now that they were tough times, but thanks to loving parents I was totally oblivious to how tough they were and the miracle of Christmas was alive in my heart and unencumbered with the myriad details that now are part of making the celebration a success.

Consensus Blending - Fun at the Winery




The Barrel Room and the Consensus Blending

 What great fun. A day at our favorite winery with new friends.

There is an annual event at Keswick Vineyards called Consensus Blending where we get to spend a day sampling a set of wines and then, as a group, by table, developing the best blend possible. You can read last year's account at Consensus.

The event is conducted in the Barrel Room of the winery, where it tends to be a bit cool, as one might expect. But it provides us a day to get back to the winery and sample wines and make our best blend of wine from the wines provided.

But in now the second year of our experience, we have met the greatest people and had an incredible amount of fun. Everyone is a lot of fun to be with and we all share a passion: wine.



Assessing the Blend



As Stephen, the winemaker says, the trick is not to blend a wine that you will like--but it is to blend a wine that someone will want to buy.



This year we had four wines to consider for blending. A Cabernet-sauvignon, a touriga, a syrah, and a chambourcin. We were limited in that the final blend could not contain more than 25 percent of the touriga or the cabernet sauvignon. It could contain 25 percent of each--just not more than 25 percent of either. We could use as much of the chambourcin and the syrah as we felt necessary.


We Realized We Won



The first task was to assess the four wines. That is always the greatest fun because as soon as you taste one varietal I begin to think about what it would need to be a spectacular wine. And this is the chance I get to actually do this in practice.



Additionally, it is critical to assess the palette of the other people at the table. By their comments on the varietals, you can begin to determine whose palette is most like the majority of people and so that person becomes weather vane for the blends. I know that I am not a good person to build a wine to because I like a specific group red wines, but I think I can assess a wine that others will like. It is always good though to have a couple other people to provide confirmation.



Standings Board



Our table was blessed with six people who knew wines and understood that we needed to develop a complete wine--a nice nose, a good finish, a deep rich dark color and a well balanced taste: not too tannin in nature but not a fruit bomb either.

I won't go into all of the details about how we did it--because fundamentally, we were really lucky because we decided on our basic blend after our second blend and then it was just tweaking the blend from there. We eliminated the syrah after the fourth blend because it just didn't add anything that improved the blend. We were quite happy to work with just the chambourcin, touriga, and cabernet sauvignon.



The Winners
Chris & Shannon Andrews
Barbara & Bob Gitschier, Chris & Bob Doan,
and the winemaker
Stephen Barnard

Something I have learned over the past two years--one percent makes a big difference. I never thought it would be like that, but looking at the standings board, the top two wines are very similar and tasted very different. The scores are along the side and our wine was wine J. The two on the bottom were both 100 percent chambourcin and the winemaker added them into the judging as control wines.

And so last year our wine came in second place. This year, I really wanted to win. I don't know why, but I just felt we had a good wine last year and I knew I had learned so much more about wine this past year. And our table did win. It was a great team effort in which everyone participated.

What do the winners get? Our wine will be bottled and sold by the winery as the 2009 Consensus Blend.

And I will buy a few cases of it because I know it is good.



Monday Musings - December 6, 2010

1. Christmas shopping is an experience in controlled anarchy.

2. Are gift cards really gifts? Or are they just a cop-out because people really don't want to be bothered taking the time to shop for a meaningful, heartfelt gift?

3. Big football games bring communities together--too bad one team has to lose because the excitement leading up to the game is something to be savored. OK--so the Ravens lost to the Steelers, ugh!

4. Meeting new people, drinking wine, blending wine at the winery. Having the wine we blended with two other couples selected as the best was really cool and to have it be the three-day winner, even cooler. We are going to buy a couple cases when it is released next year.

5. Holiday weekends are busier than weekdays during the season.

6. During the Holiday Season, travel and frustration are synonyms.

7. The roads between Baltimore and Charlottesville are fairly empty on Sunday mornings. I guess everyone is sleeping off the night before or preparing to go to church.

8. Tina is a Craigslist warrior--she found a person selling off their Snow Village collection as really reasonable prices and we were able to get many great pieces for less than one new in the box piece. Oh, yeah, they were all in the box too, just not "new."

9. We have been watching Nicole's dogs over the weekend, and I have learned what a canine vacuum cleaner is. Jefferson, the beagle can suck down a bowl of food in the blink of an eye.

Playing Not to Lose

Ever watch a football team go into the prevent defense with 2 minutes left in the game clinging to a narrow lead--and lose?

All the time, right?

That is why it was so satisfying when the Ravens ran out the clock on Sunday and did not provide the Buccaneers the opportunity to test their offense against the Raven's prevent defense.

But even more--I am beginning to realize that in these situations something occurs in the mind. The team or player goes form being offensive and looking to score to being defensive and trying not to lose.

Anyone who knows me knows that I am playing some of the worst racquetball of my life right now. To say that I am frustrated by my play and some of the dumb things I do over and over again would be an understatement.

Understanding that racquetball games are to 15 points (unless it is a tiebreaker which is only to 11), I am struggling to figure out why I can be down in a game one day 4-14 and comeback to win 15-14; while on another day I can be ahead 10-4 and lose 12-15.

I am doing something, changing something, thinking differently, and playing differently. I only wish I knew what it was.

I think though (especially after blowing a lead Thursday morning) it has to do with a subtle shift in focus from playing to win to playing not to lose. I go defensive and I become so focused on not blowing the lead that I forget to focus on winning the point. And, like the NFL teams I have watched so many times, I blow the lead and lose.

At least that what I think is happening.

I have to be careful not to handle everything in my life using the playing not to lose thought process--or things will get really bad.

But on the other hand--I play racquetball for fitness and fun--so is it really all that bad? The sane side of me says, no. The competitor in me says yes--it really sucks.

Hey--today is a new day and who knows what fun I'm going to have in life today.

Christmas Shopping

People who know me, understand how much I love to go shopping during the Christmas season.

There is nothing better in the world than waiting for what seems like hours to get into the parking lot and then dueling like knights of old encased in armor on their steeds for a parking spot. And an especially fun game is stalking the other shoppers as the make their way to their cars burdened with all of the items they just purchased. Just remember--extra points are awarded for nudging their knees with your bumper but not causing them to fall down.

Once my car is parked, I love playing dodge the distracted drivers as I make my way to the store doors by acting like a combat soldier under fire. You never know where the mini Cooper with your name in its bumper is going to come from.

Of course--once in the store the free for all mentality just adds to the ambiance of the season. Truly the slower and weaker shoppers are at a disadvantage. The battles occurring at the sale bins are truly epic. To the victor goes the sale items.

Long lines at the registers after fighting through the throngs of shoppers to exfiltrate my desired purchases provide a much needed opportunity to catch up on my email on my iPhone. I mean, it is not like I have anywhere else I'd rather be, right?

At the register, the weary eyes of the totally burned out cashier barely acknowledge my existence as he calls out my total amount due, which rivals the national debt. "Thank goodness for American Express," Chris said as she smiled at me indicating that I was paying for this trip to Toys R Us.

And then back out into the darkness of the over loaded parking lot to secure safe passage to the car. Again risking life and limb by dodging distracted, confused, and frankly upset drivers who, like me a few hours ago, could not find suitable parking for their too large SUV.

Safely back home with the gifts parked, I realize that this was only step one. Next--wrapping, then transporting and opening and clean up. but that is still a few days away.

I love Christmas shopping.

Please sir, can I have some more?

Weird News

I read the following on a page in the Presidential Prayer Team website:

IN THE NEWS: A sedative commonly used to euthanize animals may be used on death row inmates in Oklahoma to substitute one of the three drugs in the state’s lethal injection formula. U.S. District Judge Stephen Friot rejected a motion by death row inmates who argued that the use of a drug called pentobarbital amounted to a “cruel and unusual punishment.” Friot said the drug did not pose a substantial risk of serious harm. There has been a nationwide shortage of sodium thiopental, a key component in the three-drug cocktail that causes unconsciousness. The decision could have a ripple effect across other states.


OK--I thought lethal injection was supposed to cause death? So wouldn't it seem that the drugs used to deprive a person of life should be dangerous?

That's the idea, right?

I'm confused.