News from ‘Round Here

Worked the first two days of the week before heading out on vacation. Worked on Pilgrimage stuff, some details for Equip, and got the Rally for Life tickets winging their way out of the office. Then there was some publicity efforts and a newsletter to kick out before shutting down as well. Tuesday was frustrating at times (see… not every day is all peaches and cream.) but each of the tasks did get done and i got out for vacation.

Youngest daughter Meghan arrived Wednesday and son Clark also came back from quick family visit. The cribbage board broke out early, Meghan had an early victory but was skunked in the next game. Thursday, the kids went out shopping and Friday finished in with a family diner at Alewife and a night at the Hippodrome for the Lion King. I was reminded about how much I enjoy the songs Shadowlands and He Lives in You from the Act II.

Christmas Eve was the last home game of the regular season, so Clark and I completed a 2011 cycle of Oriole opening day and a Raven closing vs.the Browns. We were off in the evening to Mass at St. Anthony Shrine with the Conventual Franciscans.

and, then Christmas day… (this week’s Amazing Weekly Event: A.W.E.) The kids have developed a finely tuned sense of tradition… Last year, we were all in pajama pants, so it was worth repeating!  We  had a nice mixture of teasing in present choices as well as some great thoughtfulness.  Breakfast was cooked primarily by the guys with blueberry pancakes, eggs, and a potato confrontation between the traditional cheesy and an experimental mix. The morning moved towards afternoon with a six way Risk game… In which, Europe was used as a base to eliminate kid after kid until the father had world and family domination.

Youngest Meghan and I wrapped the evening up with Chinese take-out.   It seems that she has not found satisfactory Chinese food in the Tampa area. Vacation continues throughout the holidays! Merry Christmas, all!