We didn't go to LA as planned due to some unfinished child-raising work but we did get to Glenwood Springs for a good thorough soak. In the 50s down here - we encountered snowy roads coming out of Eisenhower Tunnel and snow flurries around Copper Mountain. Vail Pass was icy and snowpacked and Glenwood was cloudy and cold. No matter - the water was 90º and 104º.

What I love about this pool in cool weather is the air just above the water. Early today, Sugar couldn't find me for the thick gray fog hovering just above the surface. At times, when the air is right, little swirls of wind - little tornados - dance down the pool.

Lots of people there from other countries. We have a good international mix here, but we kept running into other languages and accents all over the place there.

Great little one tank trip.

Christmas Eve. I did all I could to get all the product out and now it's just a holiday.

60º outside.

Smokey is visiting us for a few days. Doing errands with 3 dogs was fun. Roxie enjoyed sitting under Smokey while he stood and looked out the window.

Honey and Sugar are working on the new wood trim for the front hall. Sweetie is hanging around enjoying the dogs and getting things together for snowboarding tomorrow.

Life is good today.

Swimming in the middle of winter is my new thing to do. I had talked myself into thinking that indoor pools were too cold, especially after the temperature drops below 60º outside. Somehow the rec center down the street worked it out so it's all fine. Once a week so far for the last month.

Christmas is more 'Xmas' this year than very holiday-y. Sugar and I are leaving for LA on the 27th to do more training. I'm already looking past the Christmas product, over the Valentine's Day stuff waiting in the back room, around the 25th which we'll spend at Eldora while the boys snowboard, and right though the 26th when I'll be scanning through all the leftovers for credits right to the Tuesday and getting on the train to LA.

Train rides still occur everyday, despite the notion that everyone flies. The last train trip was packed all the way there and all the way back. This one starts with a bus ride to Raton where the train waits for us to arrive (or we wait for the train). The big stop is in Albuquerque where were all get out while they clean the train - local sell us burritos and drinks and cheap jewelry and we call home. After dinner, the club car plays movies for those of us who can't entertain ourselves then lights go out around 9 or 10. This trip Sugar and I will be able to cuddle - something I wasn't able to do with the woman I was sitting next to last time. We wake up in eastern CA and arrive into LA around 8am. I miss the Desert Wind that went right from Denver through to LA.

Solstice Eve!

The day after the Solstice can't get here soon enough. Dim light and short days have a sweet appeal but nothing like high summer.

We went to volunteer with the Emergency Family Assistance Holiday giveaway. I thought we would be handing out food but we got there and found the Share-a-Gift program in progress. In the past, I took my (then) young boys to the Share-a-Gift warehouses to sort toys beforehand but never went to the giveaway day when people came in to get toys. I was surprised to find myself not really wanting to assist 'shoppers' at first so I just dove in with a lady who didn't speak English. The first couple of shoppers were fine but as the big piles of toys and stuffed animals diminished, the last few rounds were sort of depressing. The good news is that they all left with new toys for the kids at the end of the tour. Note: at toy giveaways, show up first because they run through the batch for that shift - then once everyone is gone, they replenish for the next shift. So the last shoppers of the first day had less to choose from than the first shoppers of the second day.

::Sigh::

All this wealth and still, people are struggling to provide the simple things for their kids. I took leftovers from last Valentine's Day sales to San Juan del Centro. They were so pleased and said that some kids didn't give Valentines because their parents couldn't afford to buy the packages. Yes, I know there is the homemade option, but I guess that doesn't fly these days. Even if just the leftovers were redistributed in some orderly fashion, people could have things that they don't have now.

How can the moon be 100% full two nights in a row?

It's as far north as it's going to go this year. After next week, the big switcheroo with the sun starts.

Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
Robert Frost

Sugar and I went swimming at the spiffy remodeled rec center down the street. The water wasn't too cold to enjoy! The warm water kiddie area has a tube slide but there are too many twists and turns for me. One corner forces an involuntary laugh out of the slider and you have to know to hold your nose at the end or else you'll get the water up it.

A new friend, Ginny, took me to Curves to try it out. It was ok. There is no aesthetic to it - just a big room with a bunch of equipment in it with canned music playing that includes prompts every 30 seconds to change to another piece of equipment. I worked out for free while Ginny got the free facial. That one is too far away for me so I dropped in to the north location. Not for me really but I need to do something after they weighed me and measured my body fat percentage. Luckily, I found a Chamber of Commerce discount for the lovely rec center that would equal the amount I would pay for the Curves membership.

The good news is that have directed my attention to being healthy and it's not even the new year yet.

Gettin my Christmas music fix from KOST in LA.

We just finished a meal at Storyville, a new resturant in Longmont that features creole food. Pretty good. I like the place - a long, narrow room with wooden floors and a long wooden bar, storefront windows, New Orleans jazz playing. I soon realized after I ordered that I had no idea how to eat soft shelled crabs. Maybe parts that shouldn't be eaten ended up in my belly, but it sure was good. The dirty rice was ok but the seasoned corn was great. The bourbon bread pudding was delicious but too much.
Pricey.
The waitress was great.
I may go back if I'm in Longmont for lunch sometime to try a muffuleta.
Turns out the owner's grandmother's first cousin was Louis Armstrong.

We discovered the joys of off leash time with the puppers. We took them out to the Rez on a windy afternoon last week and let them loose along the water's edge. What bliss! Hansel took off running faster and harder than I've ever seen him run leaving Roxie in the dust. Now I'm looking into dog parks. What Can I say? I would drive for a great afternoon with my dogs.

The newest loves of my life: