Until Next Year

And lo as the decorations are exploded, so must they be packed away.

Preds vs Wild

Mom's birthday gift to Dad (and us all really), tickets to tonight's Predators game. They've gotten so expensive it's really a treat to go see them live these days. Kind of a slow game through the first two periods, then the Preds came alive and ended up winning 3-0. You can see on the screen the pink ad for the free donuts you get when they manage a shutout.

Birthday Wars

As a part of Dad's birthday we went to see Star Wars: Last Jedi. I thought it was just OK, though not because it violated some sense of my Star Wars fanboy sensibilities. I understand it's the new chapter and some of the old ways must go. Although how they just kind of dismissed Admiral Ackbar with barely a mention was pretty lousy. Anywho I just thought it was too long and had too many weak or flawed plots. Still, it wasn't bad, just not great so I can see where the divide is.

Alert Canine

Finished Watch Dogs today. It's a fairly old game that got decidedly mixed reviews so I ended up skipping it. The sequel Watch Dogs 2 got very good reviews so I bought part 2 on a Steam sale recently. Well Ubisoft (who makes these games) puts free games up on their service now and then, and it so happened they put up Watch Dogs 1 for free. You can't beat the price so I figured I'd play it before I played part 2. I can see why it got mixed reviews, it certainly had flaws, but I enjoyed it so it was well worth the time put into the story.

Chicken Dinner

I won the family fantasy football league this year. Yay me.

Home Cooked Meal

After a nice visit with the Atlanta Irelands we drove home from Atlanta in the afternoon. We wanted to stay longer but also wanted a day of rest before going back to work. We were planning on just getting Chinese takeout, but my folks came down with all the leftovers from our original Christmas dinner and we did it up right! A nice way to end Christmas.

Atlantmass

The big day has arrived! Christmas morning in Atlanta.

Southern Sparkles II

The carnival was cold so we didn't stay long, but they had an amazing Santa even if Payton didn't want to meet him.They didn't allow pictures of him you didn't pay for though, I guess Santa has to finance his operation somehow.

Southern Sparkles

We capped the evening by driving through the Lake Lanier Lights, a seven mile stretch of light displays ending in a carnival with a Santa.

Good Justice

Justice League had gotten decidedly mixed reviews and I didn't think Superman vs Batman was all that good, so I wasn't sure what to expect. It turned out to be much better than I had anticipated, certainly had flaws but was very entertaining.

Cinematic Decadence

We started the day meeting Lonnie at Panera after he got off his night shift, then relaxed for a while before heading out to see a movie. We wanted Star Wars but it was sold out so we settled for Justice League. They took Mari and I to this amazing theater with full recliner seats and swing out trays where they serve you full meals, right at your seat while you watch. We have got to get one of these in Nashville, movies will never be the same.

Dashing All The Way

We headed down to Atlanta today to spend Christmas with Lonnie, Ashley, and Payton (and DiNozzo, Oreo, Roxy, Lion, Tiger, Bear, and Jethro.) It was great to see them and nice to meet Ashley's side of the family for a chili and gifts get-together.

Drawn In

For my Christmas gift Mari commissioned this wolf from Casie. Amazing! The white puck in the upper right is just a reflection by the way.

Beforemass II

Followed by an early gift exchange.

Beforemass

A very nice diner with the parents before heading down to Atlanta tomorrow, complete with a memorable wine.

Sailor's Delight

A beautiful sunset sky over Hendersonville tonight.

Eight

Today marks my eighth year working at JIS.

Zero

Another picture from my wanderings in the Bicentennial Mall, the Zero Milestone. The point from which all state highways are distanced.

A Bit Of Faith Restored

I was certain this would turn out the other way. DOUG JONES WINS! Shocked and delighted. Dump Ray Moore on the trash heap of history and move on to a better world.

Gingerly Working

We had the JIS holiday party today, along with a lunch we did Dirty Santa and split into teams to build gingerbread houses. My partner was my boss Lisa. We ran out of time so the sides aren't decorated.

Lighter House

I got the replacement lights installed from the ones that died and all is well.

Another Wang Adventure

Just finished Shadow Warrior 2. It was a general disappointment, though the main character Lo Wang and his interactions with the denizens of his world were still very entertaining. Unfortunately there were far too few of them, the story could have been good but was poorly told, the game play was solid but got very repetitive very quickly, and the ending was a total letdown. So, yeah not going to make my top ten list.

Exploded Maize

It must be Christmas because there's Garret Popcorn in the house! Just as good as ever, and soon Tara will have a new bowl stand.

WOTM

Arguably the best non-travel related month of the year.

Cheerful IV

So we're good when Santa drops by.

Cheerful III

...the decorating.

Cheerful II

...the rest of...

Cheerful

Meanwhile we finished...

Light House

We might not rival Cheekwood, but it's time for the lights to go up on the Lower Greer house! Well, mostly. Somehow despite being safely stored in a box, half of our net lights stopped working. We'll get the rest of the bushes shiny soon.

Light Limbs

Maybe not quite as good as last year since much of it was the same, but I think we'll probably still do it again.

Reflections

Several of the light installations are out on water and the reflections are cool.

True Colors II

And it was just as pretty as the first time.

A Light Walk II

...Cheekwood's Holiday LIGHTS, because we had such a good time last year. That's how they advertise it by the way, with the word lights in all caps so I figured I'd do the same. I imagine someone saying "Holiday" normal then screaming "LIGHTS" very dramatically every time I read it. Maybe that's just me.

Light Meal

Dinner at J. Alexander's (excellent as always), with a nice view of Centennial Park and it's lights dolled up for Christmas. A warm up to our second visit to...

More Stories

It's been a while since my last update on the jail construction. Here it is from a different angle.

Nashville Predator

I was taking my normal walk through the park and I noticed this huge, beautiful red-tailed hawk sitting on a branch right above the path. It's unusual to see one so low, I could have jumped up and touched it. At first I couldn't figure out why, but then I noticed it had snagged itself a mouse of some kind and was munching on it. As is so often the case the picture doesn't capture the size and details of the hawk, how amazing it was to see up so close. I think the sun behind it messed with camera as well.

Still The One

I married the love of my life 19 years ago today, hard to believe it's been that long. I'm a very lucky man! Our gift to each other was the trip to Europe so 20 is really going to have it's work cut out for it.

So, like Shania sang just for us back then:

You're still the one I run to
The on that I belong to
You're still the one I want for life
(You're still the one)
You're still the one I love
The only one I dream of
You're still the one I kiss good night

Now how about a few memories:

18th
17th
16th
15th
14th
13th
12th
11th
10th

Unboxing Day

As per house rules, Thanksgiving is over it's time for Christmas.

Fowl Play

I somehow managed to not get a picture of Thanksgiving, probably distracted by one of Mari's best turkeys ever and all the good company. With Lonnie and Ashley in town and Mom and Dad with us we came down to the Grand Ole Opry House to see Cirque Dreams Holidaze, a nouveau-circus act full of bright costumes, singing and feats of physical ability. It was really good, definitely worth the time to see.

Cutting Edge

The best looking cutting board around, a Dad creation.

Fireball

Pyre didn't look like my kind of game but it was the third outing of indy studio Supergiant Games, who made Bastion and Transistor, both of which I really enjoyed. I took a chance and it was a good one, I liked the sports style game play and the story was interesting. The soundtrack was excellent as always.

Succulent Successors

Having given them a week to scab, I have potted six cuttings. Here's hoping at least one turns out healthy.

Sandis Surgery

The only way to cure root rot is to pull the plant and cut out the area of the roots that are infected, then chop off any infected limbs about an inch below the last infected spot using a blade cleaned with alcohol (a dirty blade can spread the disease.) Unfortunately when I pulled Sandis out his entire root ball was mush. So I took all the good, clean limbs I could find and will do everything I can to make sure Sandis lives on. The cuttings need to dry for a few days so the cut part scabs over, then they will be dipped in root starter and planted. Time will tell, hopefully the rot didn't reach these bits.

Sick Sandis

Sandis has been falling apart lately, whittling down his once robust size to this. When we'd find a piece the inside was all black and mushy, leading us to the conclusion he's got root rot. It's a disease caused by water mould and can be fatal.

Silly Kicks

Finished Bayonetta this evening. This was a huge hit on the last generation Nintendo system, but I'd given up on consoles by then so never got to play it. They recently ported it to PC and it had gotten such hype I tried it out. I just couldn't get into it, the plot was just silly and poorly conveyed to me. Eventually I stopped trying to do everything and just plowed through to the end to finish it.

WOTM

Somehow I don't think this month will be as exiting as the last one. But you never know.

It's A Balloon

We spotted this heading out to work this morning. Some clever spookster tied a red balloon to the sewer grate outside our house.

In case you don't get It.

A Retaste Of Tuscany

While we were at the villa in Tuscany having dinner you could order some of their wines at a deep discount with cheap shipping. My folks did so, including the bubbly blue kind, and it arrived today. I'm sure we'll enjoy sampling them all.

8 Out Of 25

JIS turned 25 today. They served a nice breakfast from Monell's and then played a retrospective slide show. After that was a "how can we make JIS even better" discussion. This is the longest I've worked anywhere and I don't see me leaving anytime soon, but you never know what fate has in store.

WOTM

We now return you to your irregularly scheduled programming.