Christmas Church Service

Attended Christmas eve church services this year at The Covenant Church in Cheboygan, MI.

The Covenant Church
3424 E. US Hwy. 23 Cheboygan, MI 49721
(231) 627-9889

A Christmas Eve Candlelight Service of Lessons & Carols

Songs and carols included O Come, All Ye Faithful; O Come, O Come Emmanuel; Emmanuel; Joy to the World; Heaven's Child; O Little Town of Bethlehem; It Came Upon a Midnight Clear; One Child; O Holy Night; Hark! The Herald Angels Sing; Angels We Have Heard On High; and Silent Night.

San Laurio Coffeehouse

Went to San Laurio Coffeehouse today with my parents. Caramel Machiatto. Pretty tasty.
s74 w16825 Janesville Rd. Muskego, WI. 414-422-0556.

Riesling

I'm sure the Riesling tasted better for having been consumed in the company of family, but the 2006 Leitz Dragonstone Riesling I tasted this Thanksgiving was very good.

I'd like to sell a vowel

Finally made my ItsYourTurn.com move. Too late to stay in my Jamble games with dad, unfortunately.

A Saturday Well Spent

Today I had a brie and turkey sandwich lunch at the Desert Botanical Gardens and again took some time to walk through the Childhood Dreams sculptures, explored the Hall of Flame fire museum, called relatives, bought too many books at Changing Hands, visited my favorite canine Brady and took him for a long run, borrowed a friend's cable television to catch the end of a Psych episode and all of a Burn Notice, and met up with friends to see Stardust.

A truly excellent day.

However, no day is perfect. Today I confirmed that grabbing onto a cactus, while the natural and reflexive thing to do, is not a good way to break one's fall. (No, this didn't happen at the DBG, so you need send no garden police after me.)

Hall of Flame reminded me of home, it having so many Wisconsin artifacts and roots.



Stardust Trailer

Flew back to MKE today

Flew back to Milwaukee today with my parents on Midwest. Nice to be able to fly with them, simplified the logistics a bit. Also, I like flying through Milwaukee and the Midwest airline cookies.

Beautiful day. The gardens at home are beautiful and my Vince Lombardi 5K spruce is looking healthy and has grown taller than me. I am glad I visited my hometown.

Went to the Verizon store to get a new cell phone for my dad. His new LG 8300 seems to work much better than the old phone. Was a rough patch there where Sunrocket bought the farm and neither of my parents' mobile phones were working all that well, leaving them largely phoneless.

Sister's Wedding

Attended sister's wedding today in Baltimore at the Rusty Scupper. She seems happy. Flowers were beautiful, lovely cake as well. Unlimited coca-cola was a treat, since largely I forgo soda these days. Very glad to to meet up with family, especially so soon after my week in northern Michigan.

National Aquarium Museum

Visited the National Aquarium Museum in Baltimore today. It was tremendous fun and my grandfather even joined in for a bit. Reminded me of visiting the aquarium in Boston.

Independence Day

A friend's generously included me in her family's Independence Day gathering. Several lovable canines, oodles of delicious food, interesting people to meet and a particular grandmother's stories to hear. It was a good time. Awesome swimming pool, too.

Amiccis

Dined at Amiccis this evening with my dad, sister, her fiance, and his parents. Tasty. Good to meet people.




Earlier today Dad and I toured the Torsk and touristed around the city with Elizabeth, with Morgan joining for part of it. Good times.

It was Privateer Day in the Fells Point neighborhood, with associated costumes and partying. I got a somewhat satisfying pirate bender to play with, reminiscent of the farmer and chicken benders I had when I was working at Technology & Planning. Office toys.

We took a break from the piracy at Cafe Latte'da enjoying tea and mexican hot chocolate. Cafe Latte'da is enough to make me wish I were in the neighborhood more often.

Yavapai Lodge

Yavapai Lodge at Grand Canyon with my parents and sister. Good times.

Flew to Detroit

Today I flew to Detroit in order to celebrate my grandfather's birthday.

Family Holiday Hockey Game and Ice Pageant

My extended family is big enough and my uncle generous enough that we rent some ice time each Christmas for the family hockey game and ice pageant. Some years we've plugged in to the ice rink sound system for our own game announcements and music. Good times. Most years someone gets at least a little bit hurt; I'm hoping for no injuries this year.

Thanksgiving Feast

I think my favorite is something we call "Grandma Clark's Salad", a cool-whip-and-Jello salad with celery and cherries. Very tasty. Sweet potatoes are a close second.

We missed Elizabeth this year. The first Thanksgiving where mom and dad and my sister and I were not together for the holiday.

After dinner we took a walk. Hales Corners hasn't changed much since last I was home. On our walk we met up briefly with a childhood friend of mine, Chris. He's married now and in graduate school and wow have I lost touch. I should do a better job of staying connected with people. Connections between real human beings are important.

This evening we played Word Thief, my parents and I. Lots of fun. I won both games, but my parents made them close games. I suspect if Elizabeth were home she'd have given me a run for my money.

Errands

Parents still in town today, being parents. Cereal on the porch reading the Sunday paper at breakfast. Joe's Real Barbeque for lunch. We went to CostCo to stock up on water, Fry's to stock up on foodstuffs, Ikea for a bookshelf for my stray books. It's been a great weekend, getting so much done. I have groceries!

Hummer tour of Sedona

My parents are visiting this weekend and we went up to Sedona. On a whim we took the Hummar tour. Fun! Adventure! Near-tipping death-defying Hummer tricks! They also have a program wherein you can rent and drive a Hummer on such trails. I'll have to try that sometime when the parents aren't around.

Sedona

Today dad and I drove to Sedona and hiked the Little Horse trail.

University Chorus and Rockefeller Bach Soloists: Handel's Messiah

At Rockefeller Memorial Chapel.