My sister didn’t remember it at first, but she recognized this photo. She kept saying “Who is that?” but couldn’t quite place where she recognized him from.
As I played the video, she started to remember bits and pieces. And it was hilarious, watching her remember all the various characters from this film.
This video by Charles Berthoud takes the “Increasing Difficulty” concept, and executes it perfectly. I was expecting some fancy bass playing, but I really wasn’t expecting the mind-numbing, two-handed, Stanley Jordan level sounds that came from this instrument.
Checking out how the family photos (and the silly one in particular) turned out.
A view of the chaos, from above.
I also got to sit in the recliner, which is the one spot Sandy is allowed to climb up on. So between Sandy and the blanket, I was extra warm. Best seat in the house, IMO.
It was a tough decision for us, but Liz and I decided to visit Valparaiso for a brief Christmas evening with Bob and Julie.
I’ve tried to do some of these in my spare time, outside of work. Sadly, I’m a bit behind and it’s been harder to keep motiviated the further behind I get. I also realize that my “outside of work” relaxation involves code for imaginary problems that don’t exist. It’s technically me “unwinding from work,” but kinda not?
Today and tomorrow are a bit weird, in that I’m staying out in Valparaiso, IN but commuting in to Chicago. I rode in with Bob early in the AM (he came in to work on our place while I was at work), but took the South Shore line back out to Valpo at the end of the day.
Bob got involved in the Facetime chat, asking Audrey some questions as she tried out the “lie detector machine” we got her as a gift. Apparently, it dings when you tell the truth but shocks you if you lie.
Liz and I got the idea to get Bob a cake as a Christmas gift. And since we were in Indy, we decided a stop at Heidelberg Hause – the place where my family got nearly every single birthday cake for me and my sister, as we were growing up.
Mid-morning today, I was down in the basement with Kirt helping to set up the Super Chexx machine. For all the time I’ve spent playing this game, this was my first time actually touching the puck (pretty cool).
Liz got some solar-powered Christmas lights over the weekend, and set up the front porch with them. It’s a pretty great approach, though we’ve had several overcast days… so I’m not sure how much light these, er, lights are actually getting.
I know this is someone looking to give away some Christmas decorations, but a part of me likes imagining someone creating a special shrine – as a way of invoking the season to remain, despite the days.
After over 10 days away (visiting three families in three different cities), we finally arrived back home. I thought it was funny that in the kitchen, we still had Christmas wrapping supplies on the table.
We were in the midst of preparing veggies and things when everyone arrived. So much of the time, we all just hung out in the kitchen – cooking, drinking wine, and visiting a bit.
