Merry Christmas to All!

Hello Everyone!

Merry Christmas! It's been an amazing year, and I feel so blessed to have been able to be a part of all of this excitement, growth, and improvement.

The new year is right around the corner, and I've got some resolutions, which hopefully I will update you with in the coming days.

I got some great gifts for christmas, including a sweet steel-string Yamaha acoustic guitar, but the greatest gift was probably seeing the joy and excitement in my dad's eyes when he opened the package containing the DVD transfer of the footage from his 1972 high-school TV production class.

I've never seen someone have so much joy at a gift. He'd not seen that footage in 32 years, and it made it 100% worth the effort and time we put into it. The memories it brought back, watching him grin from ear to ear like the chesire cat for the entire duration of the footage was a truly awesome experience.

Last night we went and saw the Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which was really really excellent, in spite of having to sit in the very very front row, craning our necks skyward. The cinematography, acting, story, and production design were all top notch, and I found myself teary-eyed at more than one occasion. I'd highly recommend it.

Take care, and until next time, keep your stick on the ice.

Christmas is Coming... (And I'm Not Getting Fat)

So far I've managed to keep it real and keep from over eating and getting too into the holiday spirit, (if you catch my drift!)

I have a lot of news that I probably should have been updating everyone about.

Firstly, I will be officially hired by my company in January! This means paid vacation and sick days, health insurance, direct deposit, and of course withholdings (no more estimated tax for me!) It's been a long time coming, but I obviously have made them very happy, and they want to lock me down! :)

Secondly, I received a Christmas bonus! 500 smack-a-roo's! In this troubled economic time, to receive that kind of fiscal reward for just doing one's job is an amazing thrill. I suppose it's because so many people don't do their jobs, so finding an employee who is diligent and hard working and smart like me, you wanna keep them happy. :)

Anyway, I've got all my Christmas shopping for my family done, though I've got to buy some presents for friends, but I have until New Years for them... :) Last night, I wrapped all the gifts, and put them all in a big box to have them ready to take to Utah Tuesday night. I'll be spending Christmas with Dad, David, Katie and Helen. Should be a good time, and it probably will be a white Christmas to boot!

This morning, Joe and I did our little christmas, since neither will be home to exchange gifts. He loved the 5.1 speaker system that Jon P. and I bought for him, and I liked the gifts Joe got for me, despite their inexpensive cost. Two puzzles featuring pretty New England scenes and a magazine/TP rack for the bathroom--nice. He's not got much extra money, so I am just pleased he got me anything. Jon P. got me a logitech webcam! So if you want to video chat, let me know, I'm now capable!

I was going to do laundry today, but I'm going to try and go without for the next two days and do Laundry at Dad's house for free! (I'm so cheap, I know) But it's part of the fun of going home for the holidays.

Anyway, hope everyone is well in their respective necks of the woods.

God bless us, everyone.