Christmas

2007's Tree. Used the big, non-blinking "Grampa" style lights this year.

For the first time since I started my "new" job at CollabNet 10 months ago I had some real time off. The company closed for the last week of December and reopened January 2nd. This was fortunate timing as my whole family descends on our little corner of NH for Christmas and some serious cleaning needed to be done to get ready for them.

The Dinner table at my in-laws side of the compound.

I only recently moved into my new office and my old office off the bedroom had turned from a once neat, if small workspace, into a Superfund site. It alone took a day to clean. Seriously, a 7'x4' nook took 10 hours to clean. I should have just rented a flamethrower. The Brides office/dumping ground was in an even worse state.

Mary, Lenny, Suzy, and Mom apparently about to get down to some serious drinking.

But eventually everything got cleaned to the Bride's satisfaction. I was particularly excited this year because my brother and I were planning to take my nephews skiing the day after Christmas. Unfortunately T was sick as a dog when he arrived the afternoon of the 25th and it was clear that he wasn't likely to rebound sufficiently to ski the next day.

How could this child get so dirty indoors while the evening is still young? I've seen cleaner sanitation engineers getting off a double shift. It doesn't matter. Look at that face. You just ain't going to get mad at him.

T did have enough energy to open gifts of course and we performed our usual gift exchange. I got the boys Star Wars Fatheads, Darth Vader and Yoda, which they loved...oh wait, they didn't. Because Fathead ships via DHL, which must stand for Delays in Handling Likely. I paid extra to have the Fatheads arrive the day before Christmas, but they shipped one to the wrong distribution center and the other was listed as "with courier for delivery" for the entire week. I'll stop before I enter rant mode, but DHL is a joke. How they stay in business is a mystery on par with the origin of life, how to beat the Patriots, and a proof for the Riemann Hypothesis.

These demonic elves have sat on this poor deer's head for Holiday the past 30 years (as if being shot and eaten was indignity enough). The Bride used to have bad dreams about them.


Over at our side of the house for the gift exhange.

This years meal was downright traditional compared with the Bride's normally adventurous menu. Her Dad had bagged two deer this year, so despite the Bride's normal prohibitions against terrestrial meat, a venison roast was served. Bruny, who essentially eats only meat from what I can tell, approved so much he dispensed with any utensils before ripping in. When told to use a fork, he said, "T-Rex doesn't use a fork!"

The Bride gives her new pan some love.


T musters the strength to hold his sickness at bay long enough to bellow, "Behold my magnificent Mars Mission Lego set. Bow down to its superior piece count and inappropriate age rating. Who among you is worthy enough to build it for me?"

The Bear falls asleep on his Dad after a very long day.

With skiing cancelled we did some sledding the the 26th and also broke out the Bride's almost 30 year old Yamaha Bravo snowmobile. This thing is a classic, a single cylinder 250cc air-cooled two-stroke it comes from the time before global warming. I never tire of blasting around the yard with it.

Boony works it to stay in the track.

T is just too heavy for me to pull up the hill any more. So he must climb on his own...

...and then call it a day after all that work.

Hey, that thing isn't a bench!

That's more like it.

The Bear does not turn down snowmobile rides. Ever.

Minime and me. It may not look it since I'm a bearded freak in this pic, but my nephew looks just like me. Handsome kid. He'll do well with the ladies ;-)

Dana shows off the latest in sledding haute couture.

Of course no Christmas would be complete without a driveway duel between Yoda and Darth Maul. If you are at least 30% geek (or 20% nerd) and don't yet own one of these, then shame on you.

Well that's all for now. Hopefully going to get back to posting more regularly. Part II of the Expansion is loooong overdue, Jabba wants Halloween pics, and I know the public is just clamoring for my shim method how-to for quieting Avid Juicy Seven squeal!

ptb

Spring?

Not the Easter Bunny.

Hey! It's April, time for flowers and the start of serious road riding and maybe some early mountain biking once the mud dries out. Hold that thought. Last Wednesday night saw only our second (hmmm, maybe third) significant snow storm of the year. It's half melted away now, but cool New England temps for the next several days mean a lot of it will hang around a while yet. Where was it when I wanted to ski? Bah! Well, we all know what Mark Twain said about the weather so I'll shut up.

Thursday Morning April 5, 2007 - I was icing my knees in there post-runs at this time last year...

We'd planned a trip to Jenness Beach State Park beach Saturday with J&J and the dogs. Despite a mildly sprained ankle from a trail run that morning, temps in the low 40's, and a general bad attitude on my part (yes I was whining) we went anyway and fun was had by all. Though I confess the beach was a real disappointment, littered with beer cans and trash. It did make my realize how much I like Saquish though...

Real Beaches: Duxbury beach, Saquish, Clark's Island, and Plymouth Beach.

Easter Bunny Scholar Jabba (a.k.a. Speed Racer, a.k.a. Lobster Clamp, a.k.a. Captain Question), Scorpion #1 (a.k.a. The Bride), and Scorpion #2 (a.k.a. Insane Québécoise) at Jenness. Danny and Billi show what they think of the photographer.

The unforgettable part of this trip (other than the filth level of a certain Mitsubishi) was the discussion Jabba Joe and I had regarding the Easter Bunny's powers. After a 90 minute round table we determined answers to the following questions:

Q: How far can the Easter Bunny jump?
A: At least 10,000 miles

Q: Do you want to be anywhere near him when he lands?
A: No.

Q: Does the Easter Bunny carry a flashlight to see in the dark?
A: What with his high carrot diet I say no, but Jabba insists that yes, he does. Further he claimed to see him several times near the end of our trip, carrying said flashlight, so I guess it's true.

Q: Is the 73' Dresden Theory (The Easter Bunny can phase through solid matter) true?
A: Probably not.

Q: Does the Easter Bunny posses super-hearing?
A: Yes, most definitely. With it, he can hear your heart and breathing and knows if you are only *pretending* to be asleep.

Q: What does the Eater Bunny wear?
A: A natty* monogrammed ("EB") vest and bow-tie. When not working he also wears a top-hat and carries a cane. The former tends to blow off during the super jumps and the latter is strictly for show so these are not part of his work attire.

Q: What about a monocle?
A: No, that would be Mr. Peanut

Q: Does the Easter Bunny Subcontract?
A: Yes, Santa and the Tooth Fairy, possessing similar breaking and entering skills, have both been known to assist.

Q: If Scorpion #1 had a child that asks as many questions as Jabba would she go insane?
A: Yes, in about 92.5 minutes. It was a close thing.

ptb

* Uh, Bride, I told you it was a real word.

Ghosts

View of Pack Monadnock from Temple Mountain Summit Lift House

Ghost town. Conjures up images of tumbleweeds blowing across dusty streets. Of saloon doors banging together under the influence of a hot dry wind. Of run-down buildings bleached soft gray under the relentless sun.

But what about rusting lift towers? Old sodium lamps that once illuminated night runs? A pile of old blue double chairs with hand painted numbers?

Forgotten mountains have their ghosts too.

ptb

No, It's Not Nice

I like to ski. And snowshoe. And go sledding. I also like to ride around my yard on my wife's ancient Yamaha Bravo snowmobile. Oh, having my nephews over to skate on our pond, I like that too. Unfortunately none of the above has been possible this year because winter in the large parts of the United States has been cancelled.

Why? Some blame global warming. Global warming? Please! If this winter's temperatures are the result of global warming then we are in deep trouble. Now don't misundertand, I think global warming is a real threat, but it was 70 degrees in NH...in January. If this keeps up it will be about 150 this August. No, it seems El Nino and a funky jetstream are to blame.
Regardless of the reason, I hate it.

Every work day I walk to lunch. For the past seven weeks, without fail, someone has commented to me on the "lovely" and "nice" weather we are having. I suppose it is nice, if you are looking for signs of the apacolypse. Seriously, isn't anyone the least bit worried that it's rather unnatural? But I've been able to maintain my temper, I always agree with them and go about my business.

But today I was well and truly tested. It was a more appropriate 26 degrees at lunch. As I entered the office, two women, smoking outside next to the "NO SMOKING" sign and shivering in their inappropriate clothing, sarcastically comment to me, "Don't you just love this weather?!?!" I stopped in my tracks, something deep inside me threatens to crack, my mind races, I feel myself starting to say the words, "Yes, yes I do love it! It's F%&#! January, what the hell do you expect? Maybe if you stopped smoking your circulation would improve and you'd feel warmer! Put on a damned hat and maybe a jacket! Didn't your mother teach you anything!"

Fortunately I was able to stop myself at the last moment. "At least it's natural", I commented as I quickly hurried inside to warm myself and check the ski conditions at Kicking Horse.

ptb