Well, we've just finished up with an extended Christmas celebration here at home. It started with a holiday from the office beginning on Thursday the 23rd and ended yesterday, Monday the 27th.
On Christmas eve, Lisa and Katie (Carolyn's sister and our niece) joined Carolyn, Wanda and me for an afternoon that started with a church service that found us in the overflow tent, followed by gift exchanges, talking and dinner served on Spode Christmas plates of prime beef, roasted potatoes, vegies, wine and dessert. I got a Seinfeld DVD from the first two seasons and Lisa and Katie got homemade knitted scarves from Carolyn. Lisa and Katie left in the evening while Wanda stayed over to share Christmas morning with us.
Christmas day was Southern California winter warm at around 70 and with no small children to start the process, we all slept in a little longer than our norm. But I had to have a shower and shave before starting with our stockings as I didn't want to scare Wanda with my "bed head". We found stockings stuffed with unique magazines, decadent chocolates, and small gifts like a new pocket knife for Carolyn. After fueling with coffee and homemade scones, we dug into the big stuff. I was gifted with several new shirts and slacks along with a new 70-210 telephoto for my old Olympus 1 and topsiders from Wanda for my future boat (the sailboat that my friend and I are talking about acquiring in the 25 to 27' range). Carolyn scored a pearl ring (she had found it on her shopping trip to the jewelry mart area of LA), several CDs, and a promise of a new drafting board and chair that are on their way from the mid-west for her art work. I enjoyed watching some of the Lakers-Heat game along with a little football as well. Then I drove Wanda home.
Sunday, we made it to church and this time were early enough to sit in the main sanctuary where we heard a good sermon on putting the past behind you - what benefit is there in worrying about the past? The admonition from Paul was to press on, to try to be more Christ-like. Good reminders for the upcoming new year! We then went home to ready our house for the return of Ashley and Bryce! We did manage a nap however.
John and Sally Hales stopped by in their Suburban on Sunday around 6 p.m. and the four of us headed up to John Wayne to pick up Ash and Bryce. They arrived timely at 7 and it was good to get/give hugs from/to them after nearly a year (for me, at least). After getting their bags, we drove directly to In N Out to satisfy Bryce's cravings, and he certainly seemed to enjoy it. Then back to our home where the elder Hales left us. Bryce managed to stay up to 9:30 or so before he collapsed in his own king-sized bed with a sigh of pleasure heard down the hall. Ashley managed to talk to us for another half hour before heading to bed herself. It is good to have them back for a little while.
Monday morning was Christmas No. 3 and we enjoyed gifting Ashley and Bryce. Their stockings were filled with socks, candy, magazines and gift certificates for In N Out, Chipotle and Starbucks so they can go out together or with friends. Then we gave them a couple of their gifts before the Hales family returned that afternoon. Bryce got a U2 Ipod (definitely a hit) and they finally got a DVD from their wedding. In the early afternoon, the Hales including Blake, Margaret (Bryce's grandmother), Lisa, and Wanda returned for more gifts exchanges and dinner. Ashley ended up with lots of new clothes, Bryce received the Ipod and some clothes, Carolyn had made scarves for everyone, the Hales had given Ash and Bryce the gift of the plane tickets home, and various other chocolates, bottles of wine, etc. were exchanged. Before and after, everyone huddled in our new kitchen eating appetizers and drinking champagne which was followed by dinner of pork loin, twice baked potatoes, green beans, cranberry molded salad and rolls along with a nice cab/merlot.
We finished up the evening with a Hales tradition of bingo played for white elephant type gifts that Sally and Carolyn had provided. We had a hilarious time as various participants had trouble reading the numbers off the balls or mis-hearing the numbers called. Meanwhile, I continued my poker luck by winning four or five or six times even after being handed cards by others who complained that their cards never won. For my success, I ended up with two rather tacky picture frames and a box of chocolates!
Everyone then left and Ashley and Bryce headed up to bed still trying to overcome the jet lag of their 18 hour journey home. Carolyn and I finished cleaning up and then hit the spa for a few minutes to sooth my aching back before heading off to bed ourselves. We had a great five day holiday break and look forward to more evenings and days with Ashley and Bryce in between their getting together with all their California friends and family!
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
Good Night at the Table
Our poker group met again last night for an evening of Texas Hold 'Em amidst bluffing, 'praying', eating and 'attaboys' after a particularly well played hand.
We started off with six players and added a seventh about two hours into our game. I was lucky and in the first hour and half or so I had about doubled my initial $20 buy-in and the losers in the group had bought some of my chips so for the rest of the evening I had that $20 tucked away in my pocket and was playing with other peoples money. I hovered around $15 to $25 up for most of the rest of the evening fueled by hands like my A-2-3-4-5 straight that no one saw coming (the A-2 were my hole cards). Then around 10:30 just before our 11:00 cut-off, I started getting some really nice hands again and some of the others led the way in raising pots that I was lucky enough to take. I ended up with a profit of $50.25, by far my best night with the boys!
I'm beginning to enjoy this monthly outing!
We started off with six players and added a seventh about two hours into our game. I was lucky and in the first hour and half or so I had about doubled my initial $20 buy-in and the losers in the group had bought some of my chips so for the rest of the evening I had that $20 tucked away in my pocket and was playing with other peoples money. I hovered around $15 to $25 up for most of the rest of the evening fueled by hands like my A-2-3-4-5 straight that no one saw coming (the A-2 were my hole cards). Then around 10:30 just before our 11:00 cut-off, I started getting some really nice hands again and some of the others led the way in raising pots that I was lucky enough to take. I ended up with a profit of $50.25, by far my best night with the boys!
I'm beginning to enjoy this monthly outing!
Monday, December 20, 2004
Holiday Weekend
I thought we were done with Christmas parties/events, but this last weekend proved that false.
Friday, Carolyn and Wanda rode the train up to LA (a little late after their 9:45 a.m. train derailed before reaching Irvine) to meet with Lisa and Katie for an afternoon of window shopping and conversation before Katie's choir performance at Crescenta Valley High. I then left work at 5 p.m. and drove over to Montrose and met them at Lisa's condo before we all drove over for the performance. I was utterly amazed that a public high school sang and played so many Christian hymns! They had a full orchestra and three separate choirs on the stage singing various Christmas themed music. For the finale, alumni including Lisa and Carolyn, were invited on stage to sing the Hallelujah Chorus with the retired choir director. I think Carolyn, standing in front of the young men, sang every part! But they both had a great time.
Then we drove through the holiday lighted Montrose and stopped at a BBQ place for a late dinner of pulled pork or brisket sandwiches. Then, after dropping Lisa and Katie off and picking up Wanda's new artificial "Charlie Brown" Christmas tree, we drove home and Wanda slept over.
Saturday was spent sweeping up the leaves in the yard that continue to fall - alas, when will the horror finally end? It was a beautiful weekend with temps in the high 70s and it called out to those of you living in colder climes. Then we readied ourselves for a evening at the Orange County Pops Symphony with front row tickets made available from Lewis Company.
Again, songs filled the air proclaiming the incarnation of the Savior with only a short section devoted to Hannukah and, thankfully, nothing to Kwanza. At one point, the conductor asked for volunteers and, of course, my bride was one of five invited to perform with the orchestra! She played the bells (like in sleigh bells) while Rockette-kicking, doe-see-doeing and generally hamming it up with the others on a stage with only three thousand or so in the audience looking on! So now Carolyn can honestly say that she has performed as a featured instrumentalist with the OC Orchestra!
Sunday, we drove down to pick up Wanda for Church, but found she was just too tired to make it. So we made our way down and enjoyed the sermon and Pastor Mike's teaching by ourselves. Then I dropped Carolyn off at the Hawley's for an afternoon baby shower while I drove home to do a few chores and watch some football. Carolyn got a lot of good ideas for 'future' baby showers. Our evening finished up with sharing a dinner from Biagios and catching a TV show or two before jumping into the spa for about two minutes (it was tooooooo hot) before calling it a weekend and a night.
Friday, Carolyn and Wanda rode the train up to LA (a little late after their 9:45 a.m. train derailed before reaching Irvine) to meet with Lisa and Katie for an afternoon of window shopping and conversation before Katie's choir performance at Crescenta Valley High. I then left work at 5 p.m. and drove over to Montrose and met them at Lisa's condo before we all drove over for the performance. I was utterly amazed that a public high school sang and played so many Christian hymns! They had a full orchestra and three separate choirs on the stage singing various Christmas themed music. For the finale, alumni including Lisa and Carolyn, were invited on stage to sing the Hallelujah Chorus with the retired choir director. I think Carolyn, standing in front of the young men, sang every part! But they both had a great time.
Then we drove through the holiday lighted Montrose and stopped at a BBQ place for a late dinner of pulled pork or brisket sandwiches. Then, after dropping Lisa and Katie off and picking up Wanda's new artificial "Charlie Brown" Christmas tree, we drove home and Wanda slept over.
Saturday was spent sweeping up the leaves in the yard that continue to fall - alas, when will the horror finally end? It was a beautiful weekend with temps in the high 70s and it called out to those of you living in colder climes. Then we readied ourselves for a evening at the Orange County Pops Symphony with front row tickets made available from Lewis Company.
Again, songs filled the air proclaiming the incarnation of the Savior with only a short section devoted to Hannukah and, thankfully, nothing to Kwanza. At one point, the conductor asked for volunteers and, of course, my bride was one of five invited to perform with the orchestra! She played the bells (like in sleigh bells) while Rockette-kicking, doe-see-doeing and generally hamming it up with the others on a stage with only three thousand or so in the audience looking on! So now Carolyn can honestly say that she has performed as a featured instrumentalist with the OC Orchestra!
Sunday, we drove down to pick up Wanda for Church, but found she was just too tired to make it. So we made our way down and enjoyed the sermon and Pastor Mike's teaching by ourselves. Then I dropped Carolyn off at the Hawley's for an afternoon baby shower while I drove home to do a few chores and watch some football. Carolyn got a lot of good ideas for 'future' baby showers. Our evening finished up with sharing a dinner from Biagios and catching a TV show or two before jumping into the spa for about two minutes (it was tooooooo hot) before calling it a weekend and a night.
Monday, December 13, 2004
Can I Rest Now?
Thursday, our Couples Bible study potluck. Friday, our Lake Forest I boat parade. Saturday, a drive up to Pomona for my company Christmas party after having put up Christmas lights, cleaned up the garden and started the long process of cleaning the garage. I acquired a five-year service award that makes either a handsome paper weight or a unique murder weapon. And, finally, Sunday picking up Wanda to go to our church, the service, returning to talk with Wanda for an hour or two, then some shopping, lunch, fixing the Christmas lights that were out, hanging some new ones, putting boxes back up in the attic, cleaning up around the computer, ironing, watching a little football (American), and then settling in for a three hour marathon of Survivor finale. Then we decided we had to watch another program we had recorded earlier so I got into bed around 11:45 and was up this morning at 5:30.
I need a nap!! I think most of our holiday events are over except, of course, Christmas itself, maybe a visit to watch the Newport Beach boat parade and the Boxing Day return of the younger Hales, Ashley and Bryce. I guess we'll have to clean-up 'their room' so they have a place to put their bags. And then there is always the Christmas shopping that I seem to postpone to the latter days of the shopping window! Wish me luck.
I need a nap!! I think most of our holiday events are over except, of course, Christmas itself, maybe a visit to watch the Newport Beach boat parade and the Boxing Day return of the younger Hales, Ashley and Bryce. I guess we'll have to clean-up 'their room' so they have a place to put their bags. And then there is always the Christmas shopping that I seem to postpone to the latter days of the shopping window! Wish me luck.
Friday, December 10, 2004
Holiday Party
Last night we had our Thursday night Bible study over for a Christmas 'potluck' if you could call it that with all the gourmet cooks in our group!
The six couples enjoyed an appetizer of cream cheese covered with a raspberry chipotle sauce and then after re-heating and prep work, all twelve of us went into the dining room for a dinner of spinach salad with warm bacon dressing, pot roast that just fell apart roasted with carrots and onions, pork loin, steamed vegetables, twice-stuffed potatoes and rolls. Some enjoyed a glass of fume blanc while a few others had a combo cabernet-merlot.
After clearing the table, we went into the living room which Carolyn had finished decorating with our Christmas candles and nativity scenes to sit down and have our white elephant exchange. Otherwise known as the "pass the junk" exchange. Some of the highlights included an absurdly decorated piggy bank, an angel with broken head, and a large smiley face yellow cup. We finished up with a decadent chocolate cake and coffee.
We had a great time and we enjoyed it all, but I am glad we have a two-drawer dishwasher because we had a LOT of dishes.
The six couples enjoyed an appetizer of cream cheese covered with a raspberry chipotle sauce and then after re-heating and prep work, all twelve of us went into the dining room for a dinner of spinach salad with warm bacon dressing, pot roast that just fell apart roasted with carrots and onions, pork loin, steamed vegetables, twice-stuffed potatoes and rolls. Some enjoyed a glass of fume blanc while a few others had a combo cabernet-merlot.
After clearing the table, we went into the living room which Carolyn had finished decorating with our Christmas candles and nativity scenes to sit down and have our white elephant exchange. Otherwise known as the "pass the junk" exchange. Some of the highlights included an absurdly decorated piggy bank, an angel with broken head, and a large smiley face yellow cup. We finished up with a decadent chocolate cake and coffee.
We had a great time and we enjoyed it all, but I am glad we have a two-drawer dishwasher because we had a LOT of dishes.
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
Birthday Celebration
Since we had been attending parties on both Saturday and Sunday nights, Carolyn and I hadn't had the opportunity to go out and celebrate her 12/05 birthday by ourselves.
Well, we were both so tired on Monday that we just stayed home, but we managed to go out last night. We went to BJ's Pizza which is in the former Gordon Biersch facility by the Laguna Hills Mall. Carolyn had been there for a lunch with some of the ladies from Community Bible Study within the last month so we tried it out for dinner.
They have opened up the interior which makes it feel a lot larger than Gordon's and they still serve micro-brews along with pizza, pasta, sandwiches, burgers, steaks and 'comfort food' like meatloaf or pot roast. I chose this huge frisco type burger with cheese and bacon while Carolyn, longing for the UK, had fish and chips. Both were delicious and well complimented with our medium dark brews.
Then, because I'd mentioned the birthday, our waiter brought us this heavenly dessert of warm chocolate, macadamia nut cookie covered with vanilla ice cream! It reminded us of Ashley's birthday 'cake' at age 8 in Crested Butte which was a large decorated cookie.
Certainly not on anyone's diet, but we came home full (maybe a little too full) and Carolyn's birthday had once again been extended for a few days. If she had her way, it would be a full week!
Well, we were both so tired on Monday that we just stayed home, but we managed to go out last night. We went to BJ's Pizza which is in the former Gordon Biersch facility by the Laguna Hills Mall. Carolyn had been there for a lunch with some of the ladies from Community Bible Study within the last month so we tried it out for dinner.
They have opened up the interior which makes it feel a lot larger than Gordon's and they still serve micro-brews along with pizza, pasta, sandwiches, burgers, steaks and 'comfort food' like meatloaf or pot roast. I chose this huge frisco type burger with cheese and bacon while Carolyn, longing for the UK, had fish and chips. Both were delicious and well complimented with our medium dark brews.
Then, because I'd mentioned the birthday, our waiter brought us this heavenly dessert of warm chocolate, macadamia nut cookie covered with vanilla ice cream! It reminded us of Ashley's birthday 'cake' at age 8 in Crested Butte which was a large decorated cookie.
Certainly not on anyone's diet, but we came home full (maybe a little too full) and Carolyn's birthday had once again been extended for a few days. If she had her way, it would be a full week!
Monday, December 06, 2004
Parties and Rain
It's almost winter around here with the wind blowing, the rain and temps in the high 40s at noon on Sunday.
Carolyn was baking an apple-pear pie on Friday when I got home from work that was to be our contribution on Saturday's get together and we sat in our kitchen enjoying wine, cheese and crackers while it finished baking. Darla then called and invited us over for a Christmas tour of the lake. A number of lakefront owners had already decorated the weekend of Thanksgiving so lights flickered off the lake and herds of "deer" stood amongst decks and potted plants.
Saturday, Carolyn went off with five of the 'queens' to the jewelry mart area of LA while I did laundry, cleaned up the house, and watched the USC-UCLA game which SC won by a measly five points when they had been expected to win by a margin of over twenty points. Carolyn called with her success at finding a birthday gift for herself from me and another for Christmas. That pretty much solved my shopping issues for the season!
The queens and their husbands met that evening down in Links Pointe and enjoyed conversation along with wine, shrimp, ham, appetizers and desserts. The ladies showed off their shopping prowess while the Oklahoma game played in the background.
Sunday, we finally made it to church after an absence of several weeks and Pastor Mike again effectively used his own life experience to illustrate the passage from Corinthians. Then we stopped by Wanda's for a brief visit and I hung a new watercolor for her that she had purchased at the community art show. Then it was home to start the process of decorating for Christmas by setting up the tree and getting all the boxes out of the attic.
Six o'clock found us at the next party of the weekend for Community Bible Study. We drove up to Villa Park in the rain and I met all the women leaders and their husbands who get together just this one-time a year. I didn't hide in the corner very often but made acquaintance with a number of guys when we found connections through our work, mutual friends, or sports centered on SMCHS.
After a full weekend, we drove home, cranked up the heat in the house, watched an NYPD Blue from last week that we had taped, then dove into bed after throwing on an extra blanket to make it all cozy. That's all folks!
Carolyn was baking an apple-pear pie on Friday when I got home from work that was to be our contribution on Saturday's get together and we sat in our kitchen enjoying wine, cheese and crackers while it finished baking. Darla then called and invited us over for a Christmas tour of the lake. A number of lakefront owners had already decorated the weekend of Thanksgiving so lights flickered off the lake and herds of "deer" stood amongst decks and potted plants.
Saturday, Carolyn went off with five of the 'queens' to the jewelry mart area of LA while I did laundry, cleaned up the house, and watched the USC-UCLA game which SC won by a measly five points when they had been expected to win by a margin of over twenty points. Carolyn called with her success at finding a birthday gift for herself from me and another for Christmas. That pretty much solved my shopping issues for the season!
The queens and their husbands met that evening down in Links Pointe and enjoyed conversation along with wine, shrimp, ham, appetizers and desserts. The ladies showed off their shopping prowess while the Oklahoma game played in the background.
Sunday, we finally made it to church after an absence of several weeks and Pastor Mike again effectively used his own life experience to illustrate the passage from Corinthians. Then we stopped by Wanda's for a brief visit and I hung a new watercolor for her that she had purchased at the community art show. Then it was home to start the process of decorating for Christmas by setting up the tree and getting all the boxes out of the attic.
Six o'clock found us at the next party of the weekend for Community Bible Study. We drove up to Villa Park in the rain and I met all the women leaders and their husbands who get together just this one-time a year. I didn't hide in the corner very often but made acquaintance with a number of guys when we found connections through our work, mutual friends, or sports centered on SMCHS.
After a full weekend, we drove home, cranked up the heat in the house, watched an NYPD Blue from last week that we had taped, then dove into bed after throwing on an extra blanket to make it all cozy. That's all folks!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)