Jingle bells

It may seem odd to be talking about Christmas a full eight weeks (eight weeks!) before the Big Day, but things are a little different around here this year.  Our west coast family is growing.

For the Thompsons, there's Sue in Sechelt, and Penny, Chris, granddaughter Laura and great-grandson, Kohl, in Vancouver.

The Meaghers are foregoing Christmas in Hawaii this year, and Chuck and Jacquie's son, Chris, will be here from Minneapolis.  Kelsey, and grandson, Jake, already live in Victoria.

For the Rowleys, we have Allison and John and the Baby Grands, Hudson and Quinn, all celebrating their first Victorian Christmas.  Bryan and Megan have opted to avoid the mad Christmas airport rush and stay in Victoria.  However, Pat, Jim, and Emily have decided to experience that travel madness in their stead and join us from Ontario.

What great parties we'll have!  What great family pictures!

We've also decided to end our annual practice of sending Christmas cards and Christmas letters.  With so much access to social media, it's time.

So, if you want to hear about our Vancouver and Victoria Christmas parties, find me on Facebook or stay tuned to this space ...

What goes around ...

When I was a kid, I used to help my Dad fix the TV.  It entailed crouching in front of the box, holding a mirror, while Dad fiddled with the back of the TV and yelled instructions in my direction.

Today, I am a Dad.

Our 9-year old TV died today just as Tom turned on Power and Politics.  I high-tailed it up to London Drugs, planning to discuss various TV options before going to a real TV store across the street to ask the very same questions.  Forty minutes later, I left London Drugs with a new TV, a HD cable box, and an HDMI (?) connector.  An hour later, after emptying all the boxes, giving cursory glances at the instructions, having Shaw Cable boot, re-boot, re-re-boot and re-re-re-boot the cable box, we have TV!

My Dad would be proud.

Moss Rock Park

We laughed as we huffed and puffed our way up to Moss Rock Park.  "Let it all go!" she said, "Sacrifice everything to this moment!"  And when we reached the top, we knew it was worth the struggle.