Gritty

Went to True Grit today, excellent movie except for the last five minutes. Seemed like they didn't know how to end it. Shame since the rest was so good.

Headed To The New Year

Four days off for Christmas, now three days off for New Years. A full work week on Monday is going to be weird.

Back To The Grid

Finally went and saw Tron after greatly anticipating it's release. I kept my expectations in check, and rightly so. It was a good movie with solid acting and well worth seeing, but nothing astounding. Mostly pacing issues bring it down. Many scenes seem too rushed, some too drawn out.

December's September's

A cozy post-Christmas dinner at one of our favorite places in Hendersonville. (Not the best picture but I was trying to be sly. Didn't want to be flashing my camera around in a nice restaurant. Kind of tacky and all.)

Almost Christmas

It's not quite the same with just the two of us, even trying to hold onto the fun memories of Early Christmas. But still, not a bad day with Mari and the pups and the snow and a few little gifts held back for today.

Mission Accomplished

They said we were crazy to go out on Christmas Eve, but we went anyway. We knew they'd expect us to head to Kroger so we rerouted to Publix. There were casualties, and of course no bread, but we did it. Now if only we had W and an aircraft carrier.

Snowlon Holiday

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BESted

Might not look like much, but this is the end of a big project. Built a brand new Blackberry Enterprise Server (BES) from the ground up on a virtual host. Migrated all of our users over to it. Zero downtime for end users by via the process I used (admittedly using a tool provided by RIM). Victory is mine.

Deflated

Might be time to let the birthday balloon go.

Christmas Debris

Early Christmas. Opened. And it was good.

Start Them Young

Payton playing Mario.

Regifted

Certain of Payton's gifts ended up being played with more by the adults.

Happy Merry Birthdaymas

The kids come up from Atlanta for a combination Payton birthday / early Christmas.

Anti-motto

My simplify wall gets more complex.

More Phallic Symbols Than You Can Shake A Stick At

Another in the "Things Probably Only Interesting To Me" file. A graphic of all the various space-faring rocketry of the world. (It won't let me upload the high res version, if you care to see all the little rockets and their names let me know and I'll e-mail it to you.)

Dough Not

How can you tell when a winter storm is predicted in Nashville? Check the breadometric pressure.

Found Reminder

Found on the ground.

Domus

Home again, with puppies retrieved and a reminder in place.

A Wing And A Prayer

Checking out and hoping the weather lets us get home.

Starting The Fast Semi-Colonial Style

End of the last day enjoyed with a slow, several hour dinner (supper?) full of great food and discussion.

Singing In The Rain

Very good carolers braving a very cold and rainy day.

Museum Meanderings

After a lot of walking the past few days, today we take it easy with a slow wander through the museums. With my folks involved, this of course necessitated time spent in the quilt display.

Breaking The Fast Colonial Style

Having a late brunch. Or since lunch was dinner and dinner was supper back then...who knows what this was.

End At The Beginning

We finally made it to the Visitor Center, where we were supposed to start in the first place. Much like the Colonials we go our own way, we don't need no stinking guide.

Turret Syndrome

The capital building, with an unexpected bonus, a personal tour by Thomas Jefferson.

March

Drums and fife in real life.

TJ

A rousing oration by Thomas Jefferson.

Putting Up A Brick

The brick makers in action.

Uncle Mick

I really regret not finding an opportune time the whole evening to take a picture of my Uncle Mick and Aunt-in-Law Alexa, or their beautiful log cabin style house. But we met them at Outback for dinner, then went to their house. They live in the area and I hadn't seen them for over 10 years. Was great to see them again and get to introduce them to Mari.

Colonial Palace

The Governor's Palace. Called a palace by the appointed British governors. Later where Thomas Jefferson was elected as governor. Was cool to be in the same rooms one of my favorite historical figures roamed (that being the afore mentioned Jefferson.)

Approaching The Bench

From the Guardhouse to the Courthouse.

Batteries Included

The Magazine and Guardhouse.

Armed With Food

I wish I had taken a better picture. This is the King's Arms Tavern. Amazing food and period entertainment.

Inn History

Settling into the Williamsburg Lodge.

Big Ol' Jet Airliner

An early morning flight, on the way to met Mom and Dad.

In The Bag

All packed up and ready for the trip to Williamsburg.

More Kindle

A surprise find at Staples. The Kindle spreads! In stores now!

Tree Two Is Go

Decorating is done.

Life Finds A Way

This is bacteria stain GFAJ-1 of Halomonadaceae. And here is the reason it's pretty cool. If you don't want to read all that here's the short version but it's a gross generalization: All life we've ever known has been carbon based. They just found a life form that is arsenic based. This means two things: We have discovered a new form of life on Earth. That out there in space the potential for life just expanded hugely, because we now have definitive proof that organisms exist that can thrive in "unearthly" conditions.

WOTM

Wolf o' the Month, December Style.

Wishmaker

It's time to see who gets this year's wish.

UPDATE: In a never before seen result, the wishbone split perfectly in half and in equal length. It was therefore decided both wishes would be awarded this year.

On Like Donkey Kong*

The tree is up. I guess the Christmas season is officially official now.
*™ Nintendo.

Unboxing Day

And so the house begins it's yearly transformation.

12

Mari and I celebrate 12 years together, and each one keeps getting better.

Quick Time

The holiday rush begins with Mari going out of town next weekend, us going out of town the weekend after that, and the Atlanta Irelands coming for an early Christmas the week after that.

Tday For Two (Four)

A romantic little Thanksgiving. Even with a couple of vultures circling the table.

Día de Accíon de Gracias

Getting out of work at noon culminates in giving thanks for good friends and good food at La Ha. It didn't occur to me to take a picture while I was there so you get my receipt, handsomely displayed on a backdrop of the new Tron cover of Wired.

De Nile

This is a picture of Africa at night, from space. Can you spot the Nile?

Seasons Greetings

JIS would like to welcome you to the holiday season. This will be the entirety of our decoration. Return to work, that is all.

Alive!

After yesterday's post Mari pointed out that 99% of the pictures I have of dogs on here are of them asleep. So this is to prove that they do actually move around, and bark, and do stuff. Also that Mad is part robot.