Hey there Pop,

Should I tell you what I got you for Christmas? Or do you already know?

I had a whole list of stuff to get you, this year I really had a bunch of great stuff. I guess the good news is that I only bought the one thing - so it's not like I have to return a bunch of stuff or figure out the correct new recipient.

I did get you that one thing - the Indians baseball cap, right from the ballpark. It has great stitching on it, it's not one of the fitted ones, but it's a nice one. I would give it to Jerry, but I bought one for him while I was there. And I just can't give it to anyone. Somehow, even though I never gave it to you, it's yours and I'm not ready to just give it away.

I was going to finally get you a Michigan flag, I've been meaning to do it since we moved, but I just never got around to it.

Of course I found a book that you would have loved, it's called Traffic. It's about why we all do the dumb things we do in cars. I heard about it on the radio one day and thought that you'd really get a kick out of it. I'd get it for Uncle Jim, but I'm never really sure of his reading level since the stroke and I hate to make it hard on him.

Mostly I just wish that Christmas would be over already. The only one who even wants to celebrate is Mer and I think it's just because of the girls - none of us have our hearts in it. I didn't even decorate our house this year. Mom's not faring much better, she's behind and feels overwhelmed with all the day to day stuff that throwing Christmas in on top of it is too much.

Scott and I took the girls down to Prime Smoked Meats to get the ham - that was an adventure. I thought it was by the old Swan's market, but it wasn't. And when we got there they were out of just about all the different types of ham. We got a giant bone in ham, I hope it's right! But it's not like we had a ton of choice - I guess I should just be happy that they had some hams left.

We all went Union Square to see the menorah lighting, tonight was the first night of Hanukkah. The girls had a great time, there was a band and a craft booth. Did I mention that it was raining the whole time? It was, but everyone had a pretty good sense of humor about it.

I really wanted to go - somehow it seems really important to me that I get to celebrate Hanukkah this year, usually it's just something that Scott and I do. Maybe it's just that I really don't want to celebrate Christmas at all this year. I wouldn't even have flown home if I thought I could have gotten away with it (not like Mom would have let me, but...).

We're changing the whole time table of Christmas too. We're going to have everyone over around 1pm. No more Christmas morning. It had to happen some time, but now seems to be the best time for it. No one can bear the thought of you not being here to cook breakfast. And I can't stand the thought of you not sitting in the big chair falling asleep while we all open presents. So this way Uncle Jim and Aunt Cindy and Greg will arrive at the same time as Mer and Jerry and the girls - and we'll have more of an afternoon of it. Hopefully we'll have time to play games and other things without everything being too rushed. I think it will be good.

I'm really missing you a lot Pop, I'm just not sure how I'm going to make it through the next couple of days. I'm sure that I'll just keep at it the way I've been, but it's hard to be here without you.

Talk to you later Pop, I love you.

Hey there Pop,

I can't believe all the TV you're missing!

So now on CSI New York the girl who plays Montana (I'm sure you would remember her name, but I never can) is pretending to be pregnant. Was it last season that she really was pregnant and kept hiding it behind files and everything? So now they're writing it into the story line that she and Danny are dating again and now accidentally pregnant.

Then on Brothers and Sisters, most of the story line is ok - nothing earth shattering - but this last episode had a Keb' Mo' song. I don't know if he's gaining in popularity or if I'm just hearing him more. I have your CD, but it took me a bit to figure which song it was and it is one of the ones on the CD (even though I can't remember the name of it right now).

Grey's Anatomy isn't breaking any new ground. Though Denny is back, sort of, and they've been focusing a bit too much on the whole heart thing (which for obvious reasons I'm not a huge fan of). Hahn left, which is ok with me, since I never really liked her much. Anyway, I'm not so sure that I'm going to be asking for the DVD for Christmas (but then what else would she get me?). Sadly, Private Practice isn't that much better. They've started making Addison a better character again, but it's still not rocking my world. She was so great in Grey's, I just wish she was that good in Private Practice.

Oh yeah, and Grisom is about to leave CSI! Well, you know how Sara left (which was just fine by me) and now he's going too - thought I don't know if the two are going to be connected. They're bringing in Lawrence Fishburn, so that should be good. Though I did like that guy that they brought in for him last time, but since they killed off the character I suppose that he won't be coming back (then again I probably would have said that about Denny too).

I know that I told you I'm re-watching the West Wing. It really was such a great show, all the writing and the lighting - plus I love the walk and talk scenes, is there any other show that does that? We're up to the part where Ainsley Hayes has joined - and they had the Gilbert and Sullivan songs. Even Scott watches them every once and a while. Though last week was the episode where Josh got shot. I remembered the episode and the flash backs, but I didn't remember the part where his dad died of a Pulmonary Embolism. That I could have done without!

Alright, I've rambled on long enough.

Talk to you later Pop, I love you.

Hey there Pop, 

I think I've finally got the menu set for Thanksgiving.  I'll do the turkey (of course), the stuffing, and those braised leeks that everyone likes, and you favorite - the yams with sorghum butter.   Though I can't find sorghum out here.  I'm sure it's not just a California thing, they might have it at Nino's, but I'll just wing it with the molasses.  You will be pleased to note that I am going to forgo the peas with pearl onions this year, mostly because of the leeks - but also because I haven't been able to find a brand I like out here (somehow I doubt I'll be able to fly back with any next time I'm home).

I was going to make a real pie, but I think I'm going to punt and just do the one from the back of the can with a store bought crust.  I know I usually do the one from scratch and the apple, but it seems like so much for just the two of us. Maybe I'll splurge and do the vanilla sauce at least - that makes anything better.

Of course I'm going to do the cheap cranberry jelly - I know you always preferred the sauce, but I just think of that silly can shaped jelly as Thanksgiving.  Though I did hear a recipe for a cranberry sauce that called for horseradish - sounded just up your alley!  I almost called you to tell you about it.  Though it does have sour cream and apparently ends up pepto-bismal pink, so that part didn't sound too appetizing - but I knew that horseradish would get you interested.

Oh and the relish plate.  Scott thinks it's silly to have one just for us, but it's just not Thanksgiving without it - and on one of Grammy's old cut glass plates too.  Really it would be like Easter without the Greek Salad.

We wanted Mom to fly out, but she won't leave the girls.  Sadie's fine, but Sass is failing and so Mom feels like she can't leave them.  I know you guys had some pretty messed up Thanksgivings the last couple of years, so hopefully this one won't feel too different for her.   Well, besides the fact that you're gone.

We're just going to have dinner at home, we were invited down to John and Marcia's but I just don't think I want to go.  I'm not so sure I'm ready for someone else's family, or ours for that matter.  We'll probably toddle down later, since it's John-Jon's birthday - he's finally getting his Wii, so that will be fun to watch.  Maybe if we're there as part of a birthday celebration it won't be so bad.

I still have one more stop at the market - they were out of leeks the other day and I pretty much need those.  Also, if I'm going to do the vanilla sauce I'd better pick up some more cream.  Other than a few supplies to tied us over through the weekend that's all I have to do to be ready for the dinner!

Talk to you later Pop, love you.

Hey there Pop,

I heard a funny joke yesterday - I won't say good, because you know you never really liked good jokes :-)

A minister is visiting some of his parishioners, and he stops by to visit one lady that's 95 years old. They're talking while having tea, and he asks her "You know you're getting a bit older, have you spent much time thinking about the hereafter?".

And she replies "Oh sure, I do that all the time."

The minister said "Well, that is a good thing."

The little old lady said "Why just the other day, I walked down the stairs and and thought - 'now what am I here after?'"

I laughed till I cried, and then I cried. I miss you Pop, but I hope you liked the joke.

Talk to you later Pop, love you.

Hey there Pop, 

So it finally snowed last night - well really snowed.  It snowed a bit on Sunday, but nothing to write home about.  Up here it wasn't enough to even have any driving troubles - though it was a bit tougher down in Detroit, a friend of mine said there was a ton of ice and no salt trucks.

Last night they were forecasting 2 to 4 inches, it ended up being about an inch.  And then we've been under a 'Lake Effect Snow Watch', with a possible 5 to 8 inches - but that expired at 4pm. So it looks like the inch that we got is it for a while.  I think that they are talking about a little bit of snow off and on for the rest of the week, but I'm not holding my breath.  

Your car did well up the snowy driveway, the traction control engaged a couple of times, but it really went up like a little champ.  I was a bit worried about it, all for not as it turned out.  Also Scott said that you put mud/snow tires on the car - I'm not sure why, since you weren't really going to run into much of either in California, but we're grateful :-)

The bad news is that is has been cold enough for the snow to stay around.  It's been in the 30's since Sunday, with no end in site.  And then Mer and Mom call me up and tell me how warm and sunny it is at home (not that it's not sunny here, but it sure isn't warm) - grrr.  Oh well, I knew that would happen when I moved.

It was nice waking up this morning with the snow, the house is so much brighter with the snow reflecting the light.  I forget how much I love that from year to year.  It really is amazing how much brighter everything gets.  I even got to wear my sunglasses this morning.

Of course the kittens wanted out, but now that the snow is down they will be going out less and less - mostly I think they are ok with it, but the still like to go out during the day.  I know that they have fur coats and all, but I worry that they are getting too cold.  I mean, George would stay out all day in the snow if we let her.

Speaking of George, she was thrilled to see the snow this morning!  Man does that dog love snow.  I got an email from a blogging friend of hers that lives close by, an all black airedale, and we're going to go visit so that they can both play in the snow!  It should be fun, I'll make sure to post some pictures when we do it.

Oh and I found out a bit more about the Navy ship - it turns out there were some "mechanical issues"!  Here's more about it.

I guess that's if for now - I'll let you know if we get that 5 inches.

Talk to you later Pop, love you.

Hey there Pop,

Look at this ship I found today. It was so strange looking that I had to stop to get a better look at it. It's not like anything I've ever seen before, but I knew it was military - it just had that look. When I stopped I saw that it had the name "Freedom" on it, but sort of grayed out - not white. The whole lower part of the ship was sort of a standard gray and the upper parts of the ship were brighter, almost shiny. The top was very angular and it had a huge landing pad on the back - really different than anything I've seen.

I stopped to take a few pictures of it, since it was so strange. As I was getting out of the car and older gentleman pulled up and started talking to me about the ship. He said that it had just showed up yesterday morning, and that he thought it was the new Navy stealth destroyer. Turns out that he was right, I did a little research when I got back to the office and it's the USS Freedom. It was recently commissioned over in Wisconsin - how or why it's here I don't know, but it was cool to find.

The guy also knew about the freighter that I saw the other day. I only took the picture of the freighter because I liked that it was called the "American Integrity" and I saw it on that beautiful day after the election. But then I saw it again today as I was stopped at the Seaway Terminal (you know, where the tall ships were). He told me that it was a 1,000 foot freighter, that they carried coal back and forth to the St. Clair DTE plant and the best part, the guy lived on the St. Clair river and so he always came in close to shore near the terminal to wave to his wife - I thought that was nice.

I still want to find out what that ship is doing here in Port Huron, I'll let you know if I find out more.

Talk to you later Pop, love you.

Hey there Pop,

Did you realize that Keb' Mo' played on the last episode of West Wing? I've been re-watching the final season, they've been re-running them on Bravo. And the final episode was on Friday, and he was in the credits and then there he was...



I think they may be re-running the whole series - the pilot and second show taped today. I thought that they were just replaying the final season since it's so similar to the election (and it's result), but it looks like they're going to do more. So that's good - not that I really have the time to add two more hours of TV to my extended TV schedule. But I'm excited, it was a really good series, so I'm looking forward to it.

The strange thin is how similar the final season of the show was to the recent campaign and it's results. How could they have foretold that! A come from behind candidate that doesn't have the most experience, one that has young kids - oh yeah and the fact that he was Latino/African American. But they really did, interesting.

But anyway, it's interesting that way back then you probably liked it - and then you still managed to find him and like him. Life's funny that way.

Anyway, that's it for now - just thought you'd be interested.

Talk to you later Pop, love you.