Excuses, excuses

I didn't forget this place. See, there was Thanksgiving, during which I was sleeping most of the time because I was sick. So I didn't take any pictures. (But we both know I would have forgotten the camera anyway.)

Then it was time for the annual "Letters to Santa" special section at work. Seeing the letters of 300 kids who want a lot of stuff and then trying to make sure the picture each of them submitted gets published with the correct letter has a way making Christmas not quite as fun as it used to be. Grinchy and Scroogey are good ways to describe the effect.

There have been a lot of home basketball games this month. Bright spots, like last night's win against Indiana, are all the brighter because of losses to schools like VMI and Miami.

I've been Christmas shopping, although I really can't mention what I've purchased. There's nothing like choosing a great gift to put me in the spirit. Bud and I had hoped to finish up the last of our shopping yesterday, but the little elf who was supposed to give us some gift ideas for a few family members didn't meet her deadline.

Lance turned 1 yesterday, and while Bud and I weren't there for the cake-faced bash, we saw some photos. And we're hoping to deliver our gift soon.

Brian, Janie and Eliza are moving much closer to us, which actually is also very close to Janie's family. Brian got a new job that offers family health insurance.

My friend Victoria gave a home to another needy dog. This one, Jasper, seems to be turning out to be great company for Satch, the Lab she adopted a few months ago.

The daughter of my friend Mattie had surgery to remove a huge tumor from her abdomen. I haven't heard an update on her health, so I'm hoping no news is good news.

There's much more to tell you, I'm sure. But after a month of no posts, I don't remember what else I had to say.