Axis and Allies

Annual Axis and Allies Game

The annual recreation of WW2 is underway. We are playing the European Campaign this year. Round 1 is only about halfway done. At the rate we are playing: 2 hours per turn, we might be done at midnight.

Follow-up--after four rounds of heated conflict in Europe and with the U.S. managing to win the War of the Atlantic and to land troops in Vichy France--the Russians fell to the Germans and the game was over. The US and the UK were just barely unable to reinforce Moscow in advance of the German panzer armies push.

Learn German. Congrats to Patrick on a well played and hard fought victory.

Day After

The feast was fabulous.

Even the football was exciting. The anticipated blow-outs did not materialize and the games were close--well at least the first two.

The family was gathered around the table. The great-grandparents were seated. The five dogs (Jeff, Florence, Makayla, Ben and Chewie) were penned in the basement, Ethan and Jax were rested and involved, and the wine was perfect for the brine soaked turkey--which was moist and flavorful.

The prayer was given.

And as the eating began--the thanks though unspoken was evident. We were together again. Gathered around a table sharing a meal and thankful for family and the freedoms we had which include the ability to gather together without fear and with a table full of foods.

The pies were tasty--I sampled two--a pumpkin and an apple.

And then as we became bored with the NFL's Thanksgiving offerings, some of us slipped out for a movie--the latest Harry Potter offering.

Finally arriving home after 10pm--I knew it had been a great Thanksgiving once again. Not because of what I ate, or or what I did--but because of who I was with. And that was what I was most thankful for--the who's sitting around the table and the relationships we share.

Snowstorm in the Village

2010 Village Blizzard

So last Saturday was Snow Village day. Well, yesterday, the 5 year old grandson, Ethan, decided the scene was a bit too bucolic. So a snowstorm was needed to liven things up a bit.

Needless to say the designer initially was not amused. But in retrospect it demonstrated a creative genius. The snowstorm survived the night.

Happy Thanksgiving

Well--it arrived right on schedule.

The national day to give thanks.

I have said, on a couple of occasions, that Thanksgiving is the most religious of all of the national holidays (note: I wrote religious and not Christian). And I believe this to be true. While some may argue that Christmas is the most religious oriented--I maintain that Thanksgiving is the one one of the two which has remained closest its original purpose for a broader percent of the population--

I present the quick definition from Wikipedia:

Thanksgiving Day, known informally as "Turkey Day," is a harvest festival celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving was a holiday to express thankfulness, gratitude, and appreciation to God, family and friends for which all have been blessed of material possessions and relationships. Traditionally, it has been a time to give thanks for a bountiful harvest. This holiday has since moved away from its religious roots.

While the holiday has moved away from its religious roots--it still retains that sense of a holiday unspoiled by blatant commercialism and which is still designed to make us pause--and give thanks for all we have and the bountiful blessings bestowed upon us. Most of us, thank God. Because we know--it's not us!

And so this year, I am thankful for our military members on the front lines in far off places and the civilians who are there along beside them. I am thankful for family, for close friends who put up with my antics, my dog, and the blessings that God has poured out upon me. More than I can count or even appreciate.

May you and yours recognize the blessings you have and be thankful for them today, tomorrow, and into the future.

Left the Station

The train is a full throttle racing away from the station--only there is no track in front of it.


Sometimes life seems to be like this.

All speed and no vector.

The holidays seem like this sometimes more often than not.

There are so many schedules to juggle--so many things to do and not nearly enough time to get them all done.

Sanity--or preserving sanity during this season relies on finding balance. It also relies upon recognizing that choosing to participate in one thing may preclude doing another. For example--going shopping on a Saturday afternoon precludes raking the leaves. As long as I am good with that--life is OK. But if I become stressed because of both what I am doing and what I am not doing--nothing good will result.

It is a bit sad that a season of joy has become a season plagued by stress.

But--like the picture--even though it appears the tracks are not there--if we slow down, take a deep breath and smile, we can get through the drifts of the season which are competing for our time and attention. The tracks are there--but we must move at a reasonable pace not to get derailed.

The Race is On

You probably didn't even feel it when you woke up this morning--but the pace of life has just doubled. And it will stay on "fast forward" until January 3rd or so.


Yes--despite Thanksgiving being a couple days off--the rush of the holidays begins now.

There are dinners and desserts to plan. Wine lists to coordinate.

Activities to plan as well.

At work, today we are having a pig-in! Just to get things rolling along on the festivities. So it should be a week of eating and partying.

And it is a short work week too--Since I'm taking leave on Friday--it is a three-day week. I could get to like working like that.

So like I always say this time of year--Don't be a turkey, eat one!