Day 106 - Holiday Packages Arrive

Had to go to the post office to pick up two packages from my sister today.  We try to be as vague as possible on the customs forms so that there are some surprises on Christmas morning but it is a challenge. I was tempted to take a picture of the HUGE lineup of people but decided I'd better not. Those postal workers can be cranky and unpredictable.

Day 105 - Total Geek Gift

After seeing a salt lamp in the wacky scientist's office on the Periodic Table of Videos, I told my students they should get me one for Christmas.  Lo and behold, look what arrived in my class!  They must have had some great offer online (or the student clicked twice) because I got TWO!  They are really cool and all the other science and math nerds at my school want one.

Day 104 - A Night at the Emergency Room

My long time friend Paul called me tonight and asked "How soon can you get here to drive me to the UW Medical Center?"  I headed out the door and spent the next 4.5 hours with him as the staff tried to deal with the latest complications from his lymphoma treatment.  I'm really getting angry at the impact cancer is having on my friend's lives. 

Day 103 - Outside Kitty Returned!

After disappearing for over a week, Outside Kitty just appeared on Saturday morning.  No real signs of trauma but she was VERY hungry.  I suspect she got locked in somebody's garage.  She's right at home curled up on her Value Village sleeping bag inside the little house built by my neighbor.

Day 101 - Wreath Making

When I was a kid, one of my favorite things to do was helping my mother make the wreath for the door.  My dad made her a big plywood form which she wrapped with string to secure the boughs and ornaments.  Years later, a friend and neighbor in Seattle made me some plywood frames but it's harder to get boughs (legally, that is) so I just head to Lowe's or Home Depot and take the Christmas tree leftovers.

Day 100 - Gifts

These are the Christmas gifts for my sister and brother-in-law, Lee and John.  They live over 3,000 miles away in eastern Canada so I'm really cutting it close as far shipping deadlines go.  Happens every year.

Day 99 - Candle in the Wind

Today I lost an amazing friend named Paige Cahoon.  Try as I might to prepare myself for this day, the news filled me with a profound sadness.

"And even though we try

The truth brings us to tears

All our words cannot express

The joy you brought us through the years. . ."