Boxing Day 2011

You can see the absolute excitement of Christmas Day in the picture of me fast asleep on the couch. We had the boys over in the morning and opened gifts. Darla fixed a nice quiche for us and the boys ate and said their goodbyes as they were off to a day with their Dad at his cousin's house. The basketball games came on and I found my spot on the couch and slowly my eyes grew tired and soon I was off to dreamland. The boys were over the night before and we watched "The Help" on dvd, the second time for Darla and I. If you haven't seen it, do. We also made it out to the Christmas Eve service at church which was very nice.

The weather here has been the same for weeks on end. Freezing temperatures overnight and then crisp, clear days with temperatures into the sixties. The forecast is changing this week with some clouds rolling in and the freeze moving out and perhaps even some rain by the end of the week. This has been the driest December on record for Sacramento with only a trace of rain for the whole month. I am off to Morgan Creek Country Club at noon today for a round of golf with Neil, Boyd and Pamas. I set the round up late in the day because Matt in my office wanted to join us, but would be in the Bay Area. I accommodated him and then he texted me last night that he wouldn't be able to make it. Neil filled in, but my concern is getting in 18 holes as we tee off at 12:48 PM. The pro said to get there early and he'd try to get us on the course before our tee time. We'll see. With the frost this morning, they probably won't start teeing off until 9:30 or so.

Darla just joined the land of the living and she is fixing me some left over quiche. Life is good.

You can see in the pictures above the sky over Vegas on Christmas day. Someone had a skywriter put up Lyon Heart in the sky. Jennifer got a picture of it and was tickled. I also have a picture of my hats in the master bathroom. Darla told me I either had to downsize on the hats or find a place to store them. I put up a set of racks above the belts and the mirror and problem solved. I did throw out a few hats, including a couple of Darla's and she was less than pleased.

It is a short week this week with Monday off. Originally, Friday was a holiday on the original work schedule, but because it is the last day of the month and the year, they changed it to a work day and gave everyone a floating holiday to use between December 1st and January 6th. I am taking the 6th of January off when Samantha and Jennifer join us. I am in the middle of both employee reviews and the 2012 budget at work and it should be quiet enough to get a lot of that accomplished this week. The budget is due on Friday and the reviews sometime in January. The employees are working on their self reviews now.

We were supposed to go over to Don and Alicia's on Saturday for prime rib. They went out and bought a $100 prime rib and then Lucas got sick with the flu on Saturday and passed it to both Alicia and Don. Don went ahead and cooked up the meat on Saturday and must have a refrigerator full of meat now. Darla had bought a prime rib as well and ended up cooking it Saturday night and the boys pretty well devoured it. We had bought two pies from Nations for the meal at Don's house that we are slowly eating.

The Dallas Cowboys remain alive for their division championship, almost unbelievably as the New York Giants gagged on their game with the Redskins. They will play in New York on Sunday with the winner moving on to the playoffs. I don't know what to expect as the team has played brilliantly and horribly at different times this year. At least it will make for some interesting football this weekend.

I got out to Serrano Country Club on Thursday and played golf with Gary, my agent who is a member there. Last time I shot 84 in winds of 45 MPH. This trip saw another 84, but in ideal conditions, playing wise. We got stuck behind the LPGA, three groups of women that were on a social outing. It took us two and a half hours to play 6 holes and we ended up skipping ahead to number 12, playing the back nine in a little over an hour and then coming back to play the five holes we missed. It was a bit of a cut up 18 holes of golf, but we made it through.

Darla has left for a scheduled visit with the natural parents of a couple of her foster kids that she supervises as a social worker. She will pick the kids up from the foster parents and meet the natural parents at a McDonald's for their hour visit. I will head out to golf and meet up with her later this afternoon.

Jennifer got moved into her new apartment this weekend and it will be just her and Samantha for the time being. I'm happy for her and I think this is something that she and Samantha need at this point. She has depended on others so much in her life for shelter and has always been at the mercy of her relationship. She needs to develop a solid home for Samantha and let her personal life play out separate from her relationship with Sam. Jennifer and John are getting along better which is great for Samantha. They were able to have dinner with Sam on her birthday and then open presents together at John's house on Christmas morning. I am very happy for Samantha.

Well, that is it for this week. The New Year beckons next weekend and I wish you all a happy and healthy 2012. Ciao.

Just a week until Christmas?

Just a week away from Christmas and only 3 days until Samantha hits the big 4 and just a year until I'm guessing she will start Kindergarten. Time is forever clicking away. The pictures above are from my staff Christmas Party on Friday afternoon. We had lunch at Rudy's Lobster house in Rancho Cordova and exchanged gifts and I bought gift card for each of the staff. We mixed it up a little this year and I bought $50 gift cards from various vendors and had the cards sitting out next to the gifts and whomever had the number would pick a gift and a gift card. The gifts could be stolen up to three times and the gift cards twice. It was pretty funny watching the group haggle over gifts and gift cards and at one point we had four of the kitchen staff lined up behind us watching the festivities. I ended up with a gift card to the Paragary Restaurant chain in downtown Sacramento and a portable speaker dock for my iPhone which will come in handy out by the pool this Summer. We were seated at the restaurant by 1:00 PM and out of there by 3:00 PM.

I have several more holiday lunches to work my way through this week, starting with a "lunch and learn" at the office tomorrow, where our Special Risk Department is putting on a presentation by web conferencing on cyber liability. Tuesday is a lunch in Woodland with one of my and Pete's biggest agents and Wednesday is lunch with Jeff and Linda along with Darla. I have had annual dinners with Jeff and Linda for years and Darla and I have visited their home and had dinner there as well. Thursday I hope to take the boys out to lunch. They have both been working with me for a week getting the insurance files scanned and ready to be shredded. They are working on the 2008 files now and we hope to have those completed this week. Daniel told me that he is willing to stay on past January 2nd if there is still work. He is essentially done at Cal Poly with just a credential test to pass to get his degree. David has just one semester left (or two quarters if you will) and he will be graduating.

David had his fourth surgery last week on his teeth to have posts installed and permanent replacements put in for his large rear molars. He had surgery over Thanksgiving to have bone material fused to his jaw and surgery last week to have the post implanted into his jaw. He will have the permanent tooth installed in the Spring. His mouth has been pretty sore and he has essentially been on a liquid diet since Tuesday. If he's up to it, I will take them both out to lunch on Thursday.

I look forward to celebrating Christmas with Samantha and Jennifer, a few weeks late, but in person as they will fly to Sacramento for three days starting on January 5th through the weekend. We had thought about flying out to Vegas again, but it is actually cheaper for us to fly them in and stay here. We also want Samantha to get to know Papa and Grandma's house. The plan is for them to spend a full week with us in Almanor this year in July.

The weather has been sensational here this December with highs in the 60's during the day and overnight lows below freezing. The problem with that is that we are encountering frost delays at the golf courses locally. I had an 8:36 tee time on Saturday at Cherry Island and true to form, there was a 90 minute frost delay. We finally got onto the course at 9:30 as several foursomes just bailed leaving us going off second. I struggled this week and shot a 44+44=88, actually picking up on three holes once I was over double bogey. Neil asked me why I didn't finish those holes and I told him that in my maturing age there are three things I do: One, I stop eating when I'm full. Two, I stop doing things I'm not enjoying (I won't sit through a bad movie or sporting event) and Three, I won't spend time with people I don't like socially (sometimes you have no choice when it is business or family). Boyd really struggled on the front nine with a 47, but true to his abilities came storming back on the back nine with a 37 for 84. Pamas shot 78 and Neil 94. I had a great time with the guys. This coming week is Christmas and although I have a tee time for Saturday, I hear that we are getting together with my in laws for Christmas at Don and Alicia's house on Saturday so that may be a dead end.

The Golf Club over at Diamond Oaks had their holiday sale last Thursday and I stopped by for some Rum and Eggnog, some meatballs and chicken wings and I also bought some new golf shoes, some ProV1 golf balls and a logo golf shirt. In the past they had you spin a wheel for your discount (20% off, 15%, free golf balls, a free round or golf, etc.) This year they gave us a free cart for spending $50, a free round for spending $100 and a free round with cart for spending over $150. My purchases worked out to $165 and I put away a certificate for a free round with cart to use next year. I was amazed to learn that I had $500 on the books at the clubhouse. I have done very well this year in winning my flight in the club championship ($110) as well as the hole in one ($50) and finishing in first place in three tournaments ($55 each) as well as in the money in many other tournaments, so the money just added up. I still have $335 on the books and really no need for new clubs or anything, so I'll have plenty of money for golf balls and range balls this coming year.

The Cowboys lost that game to the Giants last week and I figured it was over for them. The way that they lost was pretty emotionally crippling, but here one week later, the Giants lose to a 3-9 Redskin team and Dallas is back in sole possession of first place in their division. The game with the Giants looms on New Years Day,but if Dallas wins Saturday and the Giants lose, Dallas is the division champion. Even if Dallas loses Saturday, the game against the Giants will be the determining factor. What a wacky year in the NFL.

Darla has her monthly Silpada party at the house tomorrow night (right in the middle of Monday Night Football). It's okay, because some bonehead in my fantasy sports league scheduled a fantasy draft for the NBA league at 6:30 tomorrow night, so I won't see much of the Niner-Steeler clash.

Well, I hope all of your Christmas shopping is done and you can spend some quiet time reflecting on the reason for the season. The greatest gift you can ever receive was handed to us by Jesus when he died for us on the cross and resurrected into Glory. All that you have to do is accept it and ask him to become the Lord of your life. At that point, people who never had a concept of hope, learn what Christians already know. This life is temporary and but a blip on the radar. Our Heavenly Home is eternal. Merry Christmas to all of you, Happy Holy Days and Saviour's Greetings. Ciao.

Lazy Sunday

I just woke up after a 90 minute nap on the couch. The lack of compelling football on television and the combination of a good breakfast and a warm blanket had me out like a light. The house is warm and comfortable and I slept pretty soundlessly (At least from my perspective. Darla would likely argue that).

I had two heating and air companies out this last week to take a look at our system. We have a newer Amana 90,000 BTU heater that was installed 5 years ago. The company that installed it was owned by the husband of one of Darla's coworkers and he gave us an awesome deal on the system. It turns out that he cut some corners in getting us as good a deal as he did. The system is over sized for the duct system that was in place and we needed two plenums installed with two returns. The system was installed with a single plenum and return and the heater would actually lift up the electrostatic filter that we have and it would BANG back down when the system turned off. The first company that came out gave me a quote of $4200 to have all of the duct work replaced and the plenum and return installed. I called one of my insurance retailers that specializes in contractors and he referred me to a heating and air contractor in Roseville. I met with the contractor on Tuesday morning. He inspected the system and told me that the duct work was fine, that he could install the new plenum and return and reroute a couple of the ducts to the end of the heater to give those more airflow for $1,085. He came back on Thursday and installed the return with another electrostatic filter and actually replaced part of the duct work that was leaking. The system works much better and is tremendously quieter. One of the issues was an almost lack of heat in David's room and that now has a good flow of heat to the room. The room is still colder than the rest of the house, but it appears to be an issue of wall insulation that I will have to have looked at. The room is much warmer, but there is some residual coolness to the walls.

We are getting prepared for Christmas. We have some of the shopping done. We are finished with Darla, David, Samantha (both Christmas and birthday gifts), Lucas, and myself. I bought a new Lenovo 15.6" laptop that I am working on right now. Darla is almost done with her Christmas cards. She does our personal cards as well as cards for her business.

I had to install the handicap software on the laptop and will meet with Gary this week for additional training on the handicap system. I went to the last board meeting of the year for the golf club last week which is the annual "In and Out" meeting where the new board members attend as well as the outgoing board members. This year will be our golden anniversary with 50 years as a club and we have designed a new logo for the club to celebrate 50 years.

I did set up a golf game for Saturday up in Auburn at Auburn Valley Country Club. Boyd, Pamas and Neil joined me and we drove up at 9 AM for our 10:10 AM tee time. There have been frost delays all week in Sacramento with overnight lows down into the upper 20's. Auburn is at a higher elevation, but there was a still a slight delay and we were able to tee off about 10:30. The course is great and has fast greens with not too many flat lies on the green. We all struggled with putting, but I was able to put together a 42+42=84. Boyd and Pamas both shot 85 and Neil shot 93. I was lucky enough to win $15 from my buddies. We had a great time and the sun came out and warmed us up as we played.

Today is a little more cloudy as a weather system passes to the south. It looks like we might even get some rain in the area by Thursday, but should clear up for the weekend and another golf game.

It will be a busy week for me at work. I have several agency luncheons early in the week and then our office Christmas luncheon on Friday. We will return to Rudy's Hideaway, the lobster house in Rancho Cordova. This will be our last year there as we will finally move to Roseville likely in March or April. The last I heard, the lease has still not been signed, but they are arguing over minor terms now and this should be completed soon. We will do a gift exchange and I will buy each of the employees a $50 gift card.

Dallas plays the New York Giants tonight in a game that will likely decide the NFC East. Dallas leads the division now by a game, but if they lose this game, their psyche will be shattered. Hopefully they show up for the game and take care of business tonight.

Jennifer has found a new home and will be moving next weekend. She and Michael have reached a parting of ways and Jennifer is renting a one bedroom apartment in Vegas. She and Samantha will share a room and it will just be the two of them. I am happy for her. She has been a roommate in all of her homes except the small apartment she rented in Roseville. She will no longer be at the mercy of the person on the lease, because that will be her. Things are going well for her in both her professional life as well as her personal life. She is happy again and she and Samantha are both doing well.

We got the rest of the bill for Dad's birthday Bahamas cruise paid for this week and we look forward to seeing the family in Florida and on the cruise in February. I have arranged for a hotel in SF on Thursday night and long term parking for our car while we are gone. I haven't set up the hotel in Ft Lauderdale yet, but I'm leaning toward a Rodeway Inn in Dania Beach that will pick us up from the airport, take us to the port on Saturday morning and then pick us back up the following Saturday and give us a day room to use before our flight Saturday afternoon back to SF. Their cost of $179 is close to what we'd pay for just a night's stay most other places. Our flight back to SF isn't until 5 PM on Saturday.

Well, that is it for this week. Darla is off at a foster agency Christmas Party and will be home soon. I hope you are all well and getting prepared for the holidays. The boys are on their way home from Cal Poly and both will be working for me over the holidays. We are having quite a few of our policy files scanned into our system in order to save from having to store them after we move. The new office does not have a file room as we have been paperless since 2009. I have files in the office from 2005 and we will scan all of the 2007 and 2008 files. David and Daniel will be working on that project for me and both will be in tomorrow for training. Have a great week. Ciao.

Some pictures from our Golf Club's Christmas Party that was Saturday night at Sierra View Country Club in Roseville. This is the second year that we have been back to Sierra View and the food, the room and the decorations were much better this year. They fixed a New York Steak that was cut in slices and was incredible. The bar also ran out of house Gin and was pouring Beefeaters for well prices, so the evening took a very fortuitous bounce in my direction once they ran out of the London's Edge gin they were pouring. It was good to get together with all of our golf friends and I walked away with a wall plaque for my Club Championship win. Two of the guys at our table won runner up awards in the Club Championship and I referred to those as "participation awards". They were not overly amused. I also won a nice Samsonite trunk organizer for my golf balls, shoes, towels, etc. Darla and I had a very nice evening and were able to dance and enjoy each other as well as our friends. I'm adding a picture of Neil and Lilly for Dad and Darryl. You can see how skinny Lilly is getting now that she is retired and a married woman. I think Neil is holding her to two meals a day now that they are on a fixed income. That way he can continue to play as much golf as he wants. Just kidding, Neil.

I was at the golf course until almost 5:30 tonight working with the current handicapper to learn the systems and how to post the scores quickly and efficiently after the tournament. I also have to learn and work with an Excel program that tracks our year long eclectic scores, which are the best score on each hole during specified tournament. I was able to shave two strokes off of my gross 64 today and dropped my net down to 49. I was leading the net category in my flight going into today, so I'm pleased. I also took home $20 in skin money. My score in the tournament of a net 73 and a posted score of 85 will not win anything, but I'll take some money home in the year long tournament. We also closed out the tournament schedule today and my hole in one held up as the only hole in one for the year long closest to the pin award which pays $50, so overall, I had a good day. I was one under par after 5 holes, but came apart in the end and it was a pretty pedestrian round, but I did birdie both par threes on the front side.

My weekend started with poker on Friday night and I am pleased to say that I cleaned my friends out of about $60 and heartily ate the tri tip sandwiches that were barbecued by Steve. Darla called me about ten o'clock and she had just got home from one of her Silpada parties. She had taken out her "easy-Up" shade before she left and had moved the Yamalube (jet ski oil) in the process. She ran over the $28 jug and spilled the oil in the garage. The spill was about the size of an open patio umbrella. She called me in a panic and asked what to do. I told her to get the cheapest cat litter she could find and spread it over the spill and let it absorb and then sweep it up, She had to make two trips to the store to buy $1.99 cat litter, but it did the trick. The mess was cleaned up by the time I got home at shortly after midnight, although the garage smelled like the inside bays of a corner gas station.

Jennifer ran in the Rock and Roll Half Marathon in Vegas today with her Mom. I tried to call and see how she did, but she didn't answer. The run was from the Manadalay Bay along the strip to Fremont Street and back. She was looking forward to the music as they have bands at each of the water stations along the way and Jennifer planned to take her time and enjoy the music. If her Mom wanted to run faster, she could go ahead. I've included a picture of her from her trip to Dallas over Thanksgiving. it's good to see her hair back to blond, but I won't hold my breath. She and Sam are flying into Sacramento the weekend of January 5th and we will celebrate a late Christmas with the two of them.

I think I left my eyeglasses at the golf club this afternoon. When I sat down to work on the blog, I couldn't find my glasses and think I might have set them down after spending two hours with the current handicapper. I'm sure I set them down to rub my face. He is a little anal about the whole process.

We have a heating and air company coming out to look at our system tomorrow. The system is fairly new, but David's room is an ice box and I think the duct work venting into his room has a leak in it. I didn't want to climb in the attic and mess about, so I'll pay someone else to do it. I've done some research and it is claimed that up to 70% of all heating and air systems are not properly sealed and the efficiency of the system is compromised by hot and cold air blowing into the attic. I'm hoping this is an easy fix and that they can get the system running at peak efficiency and warming David's room. I have my eye on that room as the new office for the house. It looks out over the front yard and is isolated from the living areas. The lack of heat wasn't a problem when David was in there, but if I end up spending time in there we need to get the room properly climate controlled.

Well, this is relatively short, but it is almost eight o'clock and I have some couch time to do with my bride. I hope you are all well and have got your Christmas cards ready to go in the mail. Be well. Ciao.