Journal

Last seven days (including two travel days) were spent in San Diego at the American Society of Hematology Conference. Our main reason for being there was to man a booth in the exhibit hall but we also got to attend several sessions. I knew before I went that I didn't like doing booth duty and I once again confirmed my dislike for that kind of thing. Some of the meetings, however, were interesting. San Diego weather is lovely but I don't care that much for semi-tropical locales - give me the green rolling hills and the mountains with snow any day. We did have some excellent food but after six days of convivial meals I was ready to be back in the boonies. I didn't have the opportunity to go to the zoo or to Legoland - prime attractions of San Diego.

I got back to KC airport about 6:00 PM on Tuesday - it was raining hard and it was cold but everything seemed okay until I got about 4 miles from home. It was snowing and blowing hard and the highway was covered in snow. I don't like driving when you can't see the middle or side stripes! I crept home and was really glad to see our house and Pat's welcoming smile and dinner.

The flannel sheets are on the bed and they really feel warm and cozy when the weather is below freezing outside, which it has been for over a week. We have about 5 inches of snow on the ground from the two snowfalls. Pat attached the blade to the garden tractor so he can do some driveway clearing. I walked up to get the mail Friday and Saturday - as long as the wind is not blowing, it is pleasant.

The turkeys are back or at least we can see them again - don't know why we don't see them walking around in the spring, summer and fall. Anyone that wants a "real" Christmas turkey can have easy pickings - there are about 17 of them and they look like they're big fellows.

We left 35 degree weather in Kansas and arrived in Austin with 60 degree weather. Saturday we took in the 37th Street Christmas light display - a long time Austin folk art happening. Unfortunately pictures do not do it justice - one yard was an office Christmas party - it had a filing cabinet, water dispenser, computer desk with computer all decorated in lights; one house had strings of items like medicine bottles and yogurt containers strung all over the back yard and the piece de resistance is the house that has a little smoke apparatus (the volcano) on the roof that spews smoke every three minutes followed by strings of red lights going down that represent the lava.

It is nice and relaxing at Elizabeth and Dale's house. We got to see the latest pictures of little Susie/Sam today.

A very enjoyable Christmas Eve Day - Jonathan and I watched Toy Story 2 in the afternoon. In the evening, Christmas crackers and a Christmas Eve little gift. (The Churchetts open presents on Christmas morning).

Elizabeth fixed beef stew which was excellent and Dale had his first try at making Yorkshire pudding which turned out great - they may have started a Christmas Eve tradition!

We all had a round of showing how well we could play jacks on the table and then Elizabeth and I competed with jacks, playing on the floor as one should. Elizabeth won - I was on my sixes when she finished the tens.

What a great Christmas day! Hands down, Jonathan's favorite gift is a Buzz Lightyear that talks and sends lasers into the galaxy. Buzz has been by J's side since he was released from his wrapping paper. All of the rest also received lovely gifts. Traditional turkey and dressing dinner was very tasty and in the evening a movie.

Today, we get Jonathan all to ourselves while Elizabeth and Dale see "Return of the King".

There was no "lump" in our bed this morning when I got up. Every morning in Austin Jonathan would come to our bedroom, crawl into bed and burrow under the covers to the end of the bed. Then we were supposed to say "hello lump" and he would say "hello" back. The games of 4 year olds!!

It was a great visit - in addition to Christmas watched "Pirates of the Caribbean" - a lot of fun, "Bowling for Columbine" - very interesting, raises excellent questions about our society, "Seabiscuit" - okay but not near as interesting as reading the book, "The Two Towers" - we're a year behind since we're not big fantasy people but can appreciate the remarkable technology that allowed these pictures to be made.

We had great fun playing games with Jonathan and I had fun baking bread and rolls with him. P had fun playing poker and Crazy Eight with Jonathan on the computer. J's quite skilled at using the computer. We also enjoyed going to the park.

Everything was fine at the farm - it took the house awhile to warm up and Pat found three mice in the workshop and one in the garage but other than that...