Happy Getting Ready for Christmas !

Now I just need some packages !

Happy Birthday To Me !

From what I understand, this snow and ice are the product of some weird " catalytic-mojo-juju-vibe " from George. Not sure quite how she channeled this extreme weather stuff, but it IS making for an interesting month so far. Last night's commute took me 4 hours ! The major Interstate ( I-405 ) was an absolute skating rink. I'm lucky to have made it home in one piece. As much as I think I'd like a new car, I have to say that my 1998 Honda is a godsend in times like these.

It's my birthday today and I'm celebrating by staying home ! I called into work and they are very understanding about my unwillingness to commute IN to work today. I am certainly not alone. It will be an interesting day at most P.O's. The trucks need to get IN before the mail can go out. That, in and of itself, will be a big challenge. The news cycles throughout the day will be filled with traffic and weather reports. As for me ... I'll be staying IN. I will get to decorate the house and tree today, get my Christmas stuff organized, and maybe even kick back and write a letter or two.

It's actually an ideal way to spend my birthday*

We will celebrate with my family on Saturday night, and Kelly and I have our Portland trip planned over HER birthday weekend.

* Brief update to the statement about my " very understanding " boss. The Station Manager called me just now and tried to " bully " me into coming in. Now THAT'S more like the P.O I know !

Pike Place Day

RAIN

I don't even want to go out and get the paper ! So there it sits ...

2831

Most of you may have seen the Blue Dog series of photos by George Rodrigue. This painting also has the Red Dog and I find the muse for this art fascinating. The Blue Dog is known as " the spirit wanderer " ... the Red Dog is " the primal energy that infuses both flesh and spirit " . These are wonderful paintings and the artist has many stories to tell about these wonderful spirits. I had been helping my aunt find frames for a series of Blue Dog paintings and yesterday she gifted me with this one. It will go great in my wildly purple art room !

Life is settling into some semblance of normalcy. There is still much going on but it seems a bit more manageable at least for the moment. Dad is recovering well, Gramps is doing his best with his broken wrist and everyone else in the family is holding their own.

It's been a long week for me. Lousy traffic, combined with lousy weather and a buttload of political mail have made for some very long days. The election is finally near ... Tuesday. The mailings and ugly TV ads will finally end, but the controversy is likely to be just beginning. My " prediction " is that the results will be suspect ( regardless of who wins ), and there will be months of fighting over it all. Politics and all the ugliness of it has sunk to a new low this year. Our Constitutional system of government is at stake. I only hope people are truly becoming enlightened as to the very dangerous possibilities of remaining on this current path.

It's time to start thinking about the holidays too. I wish there were better ways to " gift " people this time of year without buying into the commercial nightmare that it's become. Anyone have any good ideas for thoughtful gifts that people will actually appreciate ? (that DON'T involve a trip to the mall ) I know I could make things, but I'm not sure everyone would appreciate the effort. Is it wrong not to want to do it unless it's appreciated ? At any rate, I'm looking for unusual, non-traditional " gifts " this year. I'd appreciate any suggestions ...

Other than that, nothing too excting. We DO have a train trip planned down to Portland in December. It's just for an overnight downtown, with trips to Hawthorne Street and Mississippi Ave as well as Powell's Books. Should be fun to take the train ! I will document our trip in pictures ;)

That's all for now ...