Another weekend is in the books and the march of time moves on inexorably. Darla and I went to a murder mystery dinner on Saturday night with her gang from work. It was an interesting diversion, but not really good for socializing as the group was spread out amongst three tables. We got to visit with the one other couple from the group at our table (we were at the kid's table from Holiday dinners) and kibbitz with a few of those behind us, but overall it was entertaining, but not at all condusive to visiting with anyone. The dinner started at 8:30 and was over at about 11:15 pm, whereat everyone decided to call it a night and head home. Nice.

We didn't even get a chance to socialize at the bar before dinner as David had the consolation game at a basketball tournament which ended at 8:00 PM and we hightailed it from Folsom to Old Sacramento and I tested the limits of the Mustang as we sped to the gig. David's team finished third out of the ten teams in the tournament, losing to the eventual champion. David had a rough go, getting an elbow to the face in the Friday night game that split his lip. We missed the game as Darla had a home show that she was doing that night and I was just exhausted. When the week ends, my ten to twelve hour days catch up to me and I'm ready for a soft spot on the couch. I actually wish that was true as I painted the laundry room after repairing the hole in the ceiling. The laundry room looks nice freshly painted, but there are some sanding issues with my repair that I may have Earl help me with when he comes by. There is a reason that I am not in the carpentry trade and if you're curious as to what those are, come by and I'll show you the ceiling in my laundry room.

David came by on Friday night and wanted to know if he should go and get stitches in his lip. The puncture actually is in his lip and it was swollen like he'd had a bad cologen injection. There is a half inch wide hole in his lip where his tooth punctured the surface. Saturday night he was again hit in the face by an elbow, this time by Ike, his teamate and he started bleeding again. I had to yell at the ref to get him out of the game as he had blood running down his mouth and onto his chin. He came out of the game for about five minutes and went right back in as soon as the bleeding stopped. We both assumed that the cut had reopened, but David told us yesterday that he now has two gashes in his lip. Again, the lip is swollen and distorted and I told him to ice it and stay away from salt.

The boys came by yesterday on their way to Sunday school to pick up David's basketball schedule. His youth minister wants to come and watch a couple of games. Darla had picked up Krispy Kremes and David didn't want one because he couldn't brush his teeth afterward. There are, after all, girls at his church class. The boys came by about one o'clock in the afternoon sniffing around for the Krispy Kremes and I gave them the box. There were no leftovers this morning, so I just finished my morning ritual of a cup of coffee and an English Muffin. This helps me keep in touch with my heritage. Yes, my Grandfather was from England, but the heritage is a bit of peanut butter and a pudgy waistline.

I played golf this weekend and as I wrote to my brother, who bragged about the Austin, Texas weather at 80 degrees and his 27 holes of golf in shorts, I wore my big boy long pants in deference to the 59 degree weather here in Sacramento. This was the Eclectic Final, the last tournament of the year. The Eclectic is a year long tournament whereby each golfer has his best scores from each hole on the course kept during the year on all medal tournaments. The final is a tournament in itself, but also the last qualifying tournament for the Eclectic. I ended up shooting a gross of 30-33= 63-12(handicap) = 51. I have yet to see the final results, but I think I finished first in my flight with the net of 51. One player in the flight had a 60 with a net of 50, but he will win the low gross and I'll get the low net. It is actually somewhat amazing that I'm even in the running after missing most of the early Summer tournaments with a bad back. I shot 41-45=86 for the tournament and finished out of the running. I had a good start and just fell apart on the back. I ended up tying Mel with 86, by finishing double-bogey, double-bogey, bogey and giving up a solid lead and the $10 stroke bet. I didn't lose money, but I had it in the bag, if I'd just held on at the end. Oh well, that's golf.

I will host the office Christmas party on Saturday night. We are actually having the event at my Executive Assistant's house in Carmichael. She has quite a party house and it is closer to everyone, so we decided to hold it there. I will buy two turkeys, a ham and all the fixins as well as pies, beer, wine, soft drinks and water. I will also have M&Ms and peanuts to munch on and we will do a gift exchange. I am buying each staff member a gift and will also present those at the dinner. It should be a fun night, but I've got a lot of pre-planning to do this week to be ready for the big dinner on Saturday. I also have several lunches this week with my best agents that Anthony and I will be hosting. On top of that, Harvey, our Vice President will be in tomorrow to go over results and planning with me. There isn't really time to take a breath, but isn't that the holiday season in a nutshell?

I haven't heard from Jennifer since she left for Germany and I think she has phone issues. I think she is at an airbase and doesn't have as easy access to the phones as she does at Camp Doha. She should be heading home next week and I should hear from her. I'm sure she is having a blast in Germany. I do look forward to talking to her before Christmas and getting caught up. Remember our brave soldiers this Christmas season that are away from friends and family. Say a prayer for them and give thanks that they are willing to put their comfort aside for the sake of all of us. Even if you live in the the land of the cowards up in Canada.

I saw the Primetime episode interviewing the AWOL soldiers in Canada who chose not to go to Iraq and fight for our country. I don't have a problem with the fact that they chose to not honor their oath to defend our country and skipped to Canada. I DO, however, have a problem if they ever want to come back to this country. I think they are in a perfect place up in the land of the world's ostriches. Folks, you are home. Please stay there. You aren't draft dodgers, you are soldiers with a wide yellow streak down your backs. You are criminals and a disgrace not only to the uniform, but to this country. My advice to them is learn to speak French and stay the hell out of the U. S. o f A. Are my politics coming through loud and clear? Can you hear me now? Good.

As I step off of my soap box, I wish you a great week and much love and good family times this Christmas season. Until next week...Ciao.