Twas the Night Before Xmas 2018

Twas the night before x-mas

And we're in someone else's house

Watching a fat goat, a tiny pony,

And three dogs, but no mouse.

Our many "adopted" animals

Show us they care

With face licks and tail wags

And insure we're covered in their hair.

This house sits by a lake

So we paddled out the boat

The air is crisp and chilly

But I've got my muffies and coat.

The end of the year

Every time has me thinkin'

About how quickly time flies

While I'm just here blinkin'.

A year of such wonder

Full of great wins and great loss

Life shows it's spectrum

Like an almighty boss.

The good things around me

Are in numerous piles

Like my and Wren's family

And great friends who bring us smiles.

So much to be excited for

 In this 2019 year

Travel and adventure

Await us with good cheer.

It's time we settle down

for the evening together

Just me, Wren and the pooches

Like birds of an inter-species feather

Why sleep on the floor, they think

When they can join us in our bed

Surely there's room

For all these legs and heads?

Here's to a jolly good holiday

Full of love and light

May your days be warm and merry

And your future be sweet and bright.

<3

Twas the night before Christmas 2017

Wren and I are spending Christmas in Jamaica!
Here's a lil' holiday poem in celebration!

Twas the night before Christmas

and i feel like a grouch

the internet stinks

it only works from the couch

The owners are great

at our air b and b house

but the dogs are too chatty

and there's too cheeky a mouse

This morning we dined

on fresh fruit from the land

mango starfruit smoothies

tropics in the palm of my hand

We juggled for our hosts

and gave their dogs a snuggle

then ate some top ramen

and finished a crossword puzzle

Then off to adventure

an inexpensive one to boot

we swam and touched a waterfall

and the locals there were a hoot

A jaunt to Ocho Rios

in a van packed to the gills

an ex-race-car-driver i imagine

is careening us through winedy hills

We take just a peek in Margaritaville

but it was fast food we finally downed

then continued our favoirte pasttime

of finding local coins on the ground

Home again for our last night

after our warm dark evening stroll

tomorrow we're off to a new town

Negril is our destined goal

But for now we'll snuggle in and listen

to the crickets and distant raggae beats

while counting our Christmas blessings

and dreaming of Jamaican Jerk meats.

So here's to a joyful holiday

full of love, celebration, and cheer

All the best from us, Wren and Della

And a happy 2018 new year.

Tis the night before Xmas

 

Twas the night before Christmas

And we're in Dubai

Our hotel bed is jankey

So its on the floor we lie.

We two are obvious tourists

We both have silly hats

Take pictures of things like street signs 

And can't stop admiring the feral cats.

We visit Burj Khalifa

The worlds tallest building, they say

View the Burj Al Arab

And dip our toes along the way.

We've taxied and we've trammed,

And we've bused and we've train-ed

We've traveled countless miles

Without snow or a drop of rain.

Christmas across cultures

There's still holiday here

Jingle bells blends to the music

Of the Mosque's call to prayer.

 Tomorrow shall be Christmas

But all I need is here tonight

Wren and our adventure

Is my Christmas Eve delight.

Christmas in Port Townsend

This year my cousin Squeek came to our family Christmas... (it was so awesome having her there...she played Santa)

along with Wren,

my brother Duane,

sister Darcy,

Mom,

and Dad,

(Dad practicing selfies),

(and Louie, the almost 20-year old cat).

Christmas with my family is typically centered around food. For dinner, Dad cooked a ham, made mashed potatoes, served creamed corn and green beans, and dinner rolls. Breakfast the next morning was biscuits and bacon-gravy. Wren and I gave all homemade gifts... homemade jam, dog biscuits,

yarn (that Wren sheered, carded and spun), our 2015 calendar,

and dried fruit (all from dad's trees).

I got moustache swag,

an awesome old video of me playing racquetball, cash, and a tazer.

Wren got crossword swag, finger-less gloves (me too, and matching!),

and a remote-controlled car. Plus we both got candy, socks,

and other goodies. Squeek gave everyone a sourdough pancake mix starter (which we made into fun christmas-inspired shapes like this reindeer, obviously).

We drove around to see the Christmas lights, watched the movie Paul,

and helped/watched dad with his wood chopper. We went for a walk, saw Darcy's dog Maryah, and made a breakfast scramble for Mom and Dad. We took our Christmas photo (sweet, with a space for Thaddeus, and with sexy angry faces),

and our yearly Sibling Face Stack (with young version of 15yr old Thaddeus in the background).

Merry Christmas family! And special thanks to Mom and Dad!

I love you guys!

Merry Christmas to you!

Twas the Night Before Xmas...

Twas the night before Christmas,

in our Vegas Hooters hotel,

a full day of adventure,

make these dogs tired as hell.

We got a bunch of free stuff,

at a time-share presentation,

and almost purchased vacation houses,

in 61 various locations.

We saw Penn and Teller,

do their magic and funny,
for what we experienced,
we didn't pay much money (worst photo ever).

Shows were our mission,

we saw KA by Cirque du Soliel,

we admired the high production and performers' fitness,

then looked straight for a fatty buffet.

Mac King, he's my favorite,

with his comedy magic show,

Wren got picked to volunteer,

So awesome, right? I know!

We came late to Jeff Civilino,

so they let us in for free, no pay,

he's a street performer gone vegas,

doing comedy circus his way
(though really very similar,
to most solo male multi-circus skill acts,
and a K's Champ-style snippit,
including pie in the face if he drops the ax).

We watched the Bellagio fountain,

  gambled and even won a buck,

Saw Galifianakis with his baby,

And crushed a penny for good luck.

A romantic Vegas Christmas,

Has our eyes and stomachs fed,

We drift off into dreams together,

In our Hooters' king size bed (bed not pictured here).

Merry Christmas! We even got to see Claire and play Koob!

This was a total, Christmas bonus.

Christmas in Spokane

Wren and I had Christmas at the Shean-Schultz's in Spokane this year. It worked out that I got to ride with Margret. That was sweet, we listened to some hilarious stories from cd's she borrowed from the library. I got to hang out with the family for a day before Wren flew in from the Dominican Republic. The initial plan was for me to take the train and get there two days after Wren, but Margaret and I decided to make it a surprise. Cora and I made cookies to celebrate!

It was a great success. Cora, Margaret, and I pulled it off, Wren was totally surprised when I came from the backseat with cookies in hand.

Cutest trio!

Soren "booped" and fell down like this (I am showing him with my hand).

Soren's go-to hand position. This info should be included in the "Boop Goes Boop 2"!

Here's the family Christmas photo... brilliant.

Wren and I have been fortunate enough to have a friend sharing her travel perks with us. Wren has been getting her companion pass for almost 2 years now, and I have the perks of occasional buddie passes. This time, we paid for my ticket home from Spokane (to Vegas for Christmas!). We were gunna have to take 2 separate flights for a bunch of reasons, then found out we might be able to take the same early flight, but then couldn't because changing mine to an earlier one would have cost over 200 bucks, but the lady at the counter worked it out for us! What a gal!

See ya in Vegas!

Christmas at the Cabin

This year for Christmas, Wren and I decided to take photos in our hideous Christmas sweaters!

We both made comics (you can see his on his blog).

We fixed up the cabin nice (Wren's cabin he's been building at the quarry), MacGyver-ed up a Charlie Brown tree with random "ornaments", 

We made dinner together.

And we each wrote a Christmas poem. Here's mine. Ehem...

It's the Cabin for Christmas!

We decide with delight

A list is created

To make everything just right.

It's groceries and bedding

And two heaters for sure!

Lights and extension cords

Are a cabins Christmas cure.

We roll into the quarry

In the Echo packed real tight

Across a newly formed river

Increasing in its height.

But we make it to the cabin

With daylight yet to spare

We get to the unpackin'

And set up with excited care.

Wren's at the generator

Makin' us some heat

I'm  on sweep n' tidy

And soon all's nice and neat.

A tiny Charlie Brown tree

Will add some Christmas light

We decorate with randoms

And what a jolly wholesome sight.

The night is getting chilly

And our stone abode is not yet warm

So dinner's a can of hot soup

And we enjoy the rustic charm.

Tummies warm and full we're ready

Stocking caps still on our head

To watch Muppets Christmas Carol

As we snuggle into bed.

Sharing Christmas in the cabin

Is such a sweet delight

I'm thankful for just everything

'Cause everything is just right.