It is Monday once again. I come into the office at 7 a.m. mostly to avoid the traffic mess on the freeway. It's been almost eight years since I've worked in an office environment, having worked out of my house since January of 1996. The traffic outside my office window rattles along with each car on it's way to work or school. My office is located close to my alma mater, California State University, Sacramento. Darla and I came in to the office this weekend and decorated. I put up a picture of the third hole at the Makai course in Kauai that I bought and we had framed. I also put up a print of Thomas Kinkade, "The Forest Chapel", that my employees bought for me one Christmas at Republic Western. Finally, I put up the Golf Ball collection and clock combo that Dad gave me as a gift for being in his wedding. I have a large collection of balls of California courses at home, but this collection is of courses in Canada, Texas, Nevada, Arizona and Hawaii.

This weekend saw the end of the football season for the boy's. Daniel's team finished the year at 6-4 and just missed tying for first place in their league. David's team went 2-6-2 and lost the final game 28-0. There was a collection of excellent junior quarterbacks in the division this year. Unfortunately none of them played for Woodcreek. The junior q.b. for Del Oro, the team that they played on Friday, threw four touchdowns in the game and threw for 357 yards passing. Our quarterback fumbled twice, threw an interception and managed a paltry 57 yards passing. There is a good sophomore quarterback coming up from JV next year and we hope that the team is improved on offense next year. Both David and Daniel played well this year and we hope that David is given some consideration for All League at Free Safety. It's time to start getting some attention from college recruiters.

The boy's both start basketball practice this week and David's first pre-season game is Wednesday. The basketball program has been practicing for two weeks and they will be approaching the final cuts this Friday now that the football players are on board. Both Daniel and David should make the teams. The Varsity squad is the league defending champion and played in the California championship game last year at Arco Arena in Sacramento.

David's car is on the fritz. He has been having trouble with the automatic transmission and Darla and he are taking the car into the shop today to have it looked at. We are hoping that the transmission simply needs to be adjusted and the belts tightened. He had trouble shifting into reverse last week and the car is clunking from first to second when he accelerates. We are keeping our fingers crossed that it isn't something more ominous than that.

My golf game got rained out this past weekend and the game has been postponed until next Sunday. It is our annual Turkey Shoot tournament and Tournment of Champions. I was lucky enough to win three tournaments this year and will play for the trophy. Darla and I went out to dinner on Saturday night after stopping by my office. We ate at Scott's Seafood of San Francisco, although at the Sacramento branch of the restaurant chain. We both had a delectable filet mignon and prawns dish that was to die for. I said to Darla that I couldn't remember the last time I'd enjoyed a meal out so much. She pointed out several meals that we'd had the week before in Hawaii. I just smiled.

Church was a nice refuge on Sunday. The sermon was on Christmas and how to claim Christmas back from society. Americans spend over $15 billion dollars on Christmas gifts and over 60% of that is bought on credit. Darla and I have never gone overboard on Christmas and the message was How to have a GOOD christmas. GOOD = Get Out Of Debt. The pastor was presenting his sermon early to try to prevent his flock from overspending this Christmas. A message that was both timely and well received by us.

Jennifer just returned from a mission where she spent five days in South Carolina setting up a new Communications network for an Army National Guard unit that is training for a tour to Iraq. They caravanned from Augusta with about twenty Army vehicles including three Hum Vees from Fort Gordon. Jennifer drove one of the Hum Vees and said that she got some nice "thumbs up" from the civilians on her trip. She enjoyed the assignment and just got back yesterday. She was tired and hoped to have next Thursday and Friday off to make up for her weekend duty this weekend.

Have a great week. Ciao.