I want you to notice the third photograph from the bottom and see how well Darla and I did in matching a scarf and gloves to Jennifer's new hair color. Jennifer has run out of places on her body to tattoo and has now got a tattoo on her hair. Just kidding, Jenn. It is a new hair color called peacock (for obvious reasons). Her friend Sara came over with Jennifer on December 26th and they were both sporting the new hair color, although Sara has the color weaved into her hair and it is underneath her natural black and is more of a highlight. Jennifer's is on the top of her hair and shows more dramatically. We had a great time with Samantha and Jennifer. They stayed the night on Friday night and Samantha was having so much fun with the boys that she stayed up until 10 PM plying "peek-a-boo" with her uncles. Buddy, who is in his last week with us, happened to go outside to pee and got hit by a skunk in our back yard and Darla had to spend the next hour washing him in the shower and then brushing and blow drying his hair. Jennifer was the first one to smell the skunk and when we opened the door and then Buddy came rushing in dragging his face across his blanket trying to get the foul odor out of his mouth and out of his eye. Buddy has gotten progressively worse and is now using the front room as his own urinal and we have to put him down. I'll try to get him in either this week or next. The smell of skunk stayed in the house until yesterday when it finally began to abate. The laundry room still has the smell and I can smell it in the bathroom where Darla bathed him. This is just another of the reasons that I don't want to feed the skunks.
Samantha had a great time opening her gifts and playing with her bank and helicopter with her uncles, who were quick to help her get them out of the boxes and ready to play with. Samantha has matured a bit since we saw her last and you can see how smart she is with the phone that we gave her. She opened it and put it right to her ear (I guess she's seen her Mom do it hundreds of times over the last year). She is still a bit fussy when she doesn't get her way. If she doesn't want to be held, she'll let you know right away and if she is tired or has the sniffles, she will likewise let you know that she doesn't want to be put down. She is toddling about, walking a bit like Foster Brooks for those who remember who he is. She walks and totters and falls on her bum and is right back up and going in a second flat. She is in to everything and we found out how un-child proofed our house was as we walked behind her picking up knick knacks and picture frames. She made a beeline to Buddy's water when she first got here and had a good wash before we could pick it up and move it. She was enthralled with the cats and stopped whatever she was doing when one of them walked in sight and she'd smile and try to pet them. She was an absolute delight and had her moments of crankiness (she does NOT like to have her diaper changed), but was so much fun and it was great to see Jennifer with her. She is a good Mom, but her cell phone is a bit of a distraction. Sam is a happy baby and is doing really well with all of the changes in her young life.
I had a chance to sit down with Jen when Sam took a nap and talk about all of the changes in her life. I told her that I was concerned that some of the decisions she has made didn't seem to put Samantha first, but she assured me that her number one priority is motherhood and being the best Mother she can for Samantha. She and John grew apart (or more correctly Jennifer grew apart from John) and she decided it was best for her and for Sam to be apart from John. They share custody and John is having a hard time with the implosion that has occurred to his hopes and dreams for his family and it has been a tough transition for him. Jennifer is moving into a house with a woman she works with and they have another younger roommate who moved in just before Jennifer. Her main roommate, Dina, is buying the house from a bank and Jennifer and Samantha are lucky enough to be able to move in and each have a room. Dina is an interesting character, she is a journeyman electrician doing high voltage work and drives a Harley motorcycle. Her other roommate, Brittney, works at the Hard Rock Cafe (I think) or some other casino. Jennifer enjoys her job and her life and is trying to make the best of her situation with John. Samantha will start swim lessons in the new year and Jennifer is allowing John to take her every Saturday morning for the lessons.
I did not play golf this week, but will play both Friday and Saturday of this coming week. I checked my handicap card online and have played 87 rounds of golf this year, so one weekend off won't kill me. I did manage to watch the Win and In game between Dallas and Philly today and was actually glad to see Dallas lose. They have gaping holes in their personnel that are not getting better and their coaching is horrendous. Jerry Jones has a $1 Billion stadium to pay for and won't stand pat while Dallas continues to struggle. He will be an active participant in the free agent market and will shore up his secondary and his offensive line and perhaps even spend some money on a fullback to block for his two stellar running backs. It was an embarrassment of epic proportions (44-6) and will likely be the catalyst to finally wedge Wade Phillips out the door and perhaps be a nice landing zone for Brian Billick or even Bill Cowher.
I added a nice Scotty Cameron putter to my arsenal last week by winning an EBay auction for a 2007 Scotty Cameron Newport Stainless Steel 34" putter. It is the best of the blade putters that Scotty manufactures for Titleist and the one that Tiger still uses on tour. I have my 2005 Odyssey White Hot XG up for auction on EBay as I write this and it ends on Friday. My next major golf purchase will be new irons in 2009. I'm looking for a new set of Callaway or Pings that are going for a steal on EBay. I have a set of 2005 Wilson Fat shafts that have helped me drop from a 16 down to an 8, but I need the miracle of equipment to keep me in the low single digits.
The boys left with their Dad late last night for a road trip to Montana and a cousin's wedding on January 1st. Becky, Daniel's girlfriend, joined them on the trip. They return home Saturday and are back on the road to Cal Poly Sunday as classes start up again on January 5th.
Jennifer and Samantha flew back home today and we had dinner with them along with Diane and Bob, her new husband, his son Brady and Sara last night in Folsom. We went to a trendy Chicago style pizzeria in Old Town and there was an hour wait. We met them there at 6:00 PM and luckily they were there at 5:30 to put our name on the list. Samantha was a bit cranky and Sara got her stroller out of the car and Samantha was thrilled to relax in her stroller and actually sit in it during dinner. We had a nice visit and it was tough to say goodbye. Jennifer has it much tougher in Vegas as a single Mom, but it is her choice. John has all of his family in the Vegas area.
Well, this is a tad short, but I have more pictures to add, so it will grow over time. Darla and I are gearing up for our trip to the Bahamas and the Atlantis casino. We leave on January 9th and get back on the 16th. We will be hitting the tanning parlor over the next two weeks, so we don't burn on our first day on the beach. We look forward to getting away. Happy New Year to everyone. Ciao.
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