The Car

Out with the old ...


... and in with the new!



Anyone interested in 1989 Honda with 182,000 miles on it??

The Bed

Today I learned that Doubletree Hotels sell their beds! Yes, it's true. I can have the best night sleep I've had in years in the comfort of my own bedroom for $1,250. I'm embarrassed to say when I bought my current bed. Let's just say I was married at the time ... Of course to truly replicate my Doubletree experience I'll have to also get the $80 mattress topper, the $205 feather bed and the $215 down comforter.

Photos from Milwaukee

The highs ...

... and the lows.

Dad and Mike WON'T be going to the Superbowl. Bummer.

The Big Game

The Packers lost yesterday. I don't know what to say. I am stunned.

Coming Home

Whenever I return home from a trip I realize how much I love San Francisco.


The sunset last night from the airplane was beautiful. I'm not sure this captures it.

The Boys

Is this not the cutest picture ever? Thanks to Dad for sending!

Commerce, Calif.

This city apparently has the dirtiest air in all of the U.S. It's just outside Los Angeles. However, the Doubletree Hotel has THE MOST COMFORTABLE BEDS ever. I had the best night's sleep I've had in weeks. I also got room service. My favorite part of staying in a hotel. And, shock of all shocks, the dinner was fantastic! I'm here all week for training aka indoctrination.

Gin

Last night, Gin fell down several stairs and couldn't get up again. As we sat on the floor of the lobby, I thought, "Oh no. I'm not ready for this."

She eventually got up, I gave her an aspirin and she rested. Today she seems fine.

She turns 13 on Jan. 31 _ that's allegedly 91 in human years. It's hard for me to think of her as an old lady.

My Top 10 Favorite Holiday Happenings

10. Showing my Iraq photos to friends and family.
9. Wearing my new red boots.
8. Eating my first real meal after a three-day train ride.
7. Taking Shaelin to the mall a few days before Christmas.
6. Mike's willingness to drive me back to Franklin at midnight after I lost a contact lens. (I found my spare pair!)
5. Making chocolate-chip cookies in Brian's so-called "kitchen."
4. Mom making vegetarian chili.
3. Watching Shaelin open Christmas presents. (He even got excited about the clothes!)
2. Brian and Mike dropping me off at the door instead of making me walk through snow and ice.
1. Dad letting Mom set the thermostat higher than 60 degrees and then not walking around the house in shorts and a t-shirt complaining about how hot it is.

The Storm

Yesterday a huge storm blew through SF. Torrential rains, 65 mph winds, the works. Trees were uprooted and fell on buildings, cars and each other. Today it looks like ... well, the day after a big storm.

New Year's Day

The weather has been spectacular since I've been back in town. I've realized I no longer have any desire to live where it's cold and snowy. A group of us celebrated the new year with a beautiful 5.5 mile hike in the East Bay. I'm back to using an old iBook, however, and I'm unable to post a photo. Please see Linda or Margaret's blog for a great group photo.