Our First Snowfall of the Winter

Our First Snowfall of the Winter

Jack and I woke up to a winter wonderland of snow and ice.

By late Tuesday afternoon it had all melted e

xcept for some very shaded areas of our yard.

Roman Catholic Version Of 12 Days Of Christmas

A Partridge in a Pear Tree : Jesus Christ

Two Turtle Doves : The Old and New Testaments

Three French Hens : The Theological Virtues of Faith, Hope, and Charity

Four Calling Birds :The Four Gospels and The Four Evangelists

Five Golden Rings : The First Five Books of the Old Testament

Six Geese A Laying : The Six Days of Creation

Seven Swans A Swimming : The Seven Sacraments

Eight Maids A Milking : The Eight Beatitudes

Nine Ladies Dancing : The Nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit

Ten Lords A Leaping : The Ten Commandments

Eleven Pipers Piping : The Eleven Faithful Apostles of Jesus

Twelve Drummers Drumming : The Twelve Catholic Points of Doctrine in the Prayer, The Apostles Creed

Did You Have A Good New Year's Eve and New Year's Day?

Did You Have A Good New Year's Eve

And New Year's Day?

Jack and I watched the ball drop in New York City.

We also watched 6000 ping pong balls drop in Old Town Alexandria.

We saluted 2012 with sparkling grape juice and were in bed by 12:15!

Look At This

Look At This!

Got These Narcissus For Christmas.

When They Came They Were Under Ground In The Pot.

In Less Than A Week They Were18 Inches Tall And In Bloom!

Memories of Christmas Day at Joann and Jack's House

Jennifer Made Dave Smith A Stocking For Our Family Stocking Layout.

Dave Smith Came Out For Christmas At Our House.

Daddy Read The Directions For The Car Raceway.

Barney Loved Opening Presents!

Stockings Up at Our Fireplace.

Jennifer Made Her Sister This Beautiful Quilt.

Where Did Jennifer Get Her Creative Handiwork Talents?

It Was Not From Momma Joann!

I Got A Miami University of Ohio Sweatshirt!

Go Redhawks!

Memories of Christmas Eve at Jenn's House

Memories of Christmas Eve at Jenn's House

We Were Delighted That Jeanine's Fiance Dave Smith Could Join Us For Dinner.

Jenn Set A Beautiful Table.

Here Is Our Hostess.

Stockings Were Up At The Fireplace.

The Tree Was Glowing In The Window.

Little Jack Had His Own Special Tree.

Grandpa Jack With Little Jack's Christmas Toy.

Grandma and Grandpa Got Sleepy.

Little Jack Loved Opening Christmas Presents.

Jeanine is Engaged

Our daughter Jeanine is now engaged to Dave Smith, a Prince William County police officer. They are planning a wedding for May 26 here in Virginia. This picture was taken at Jenn and Terry's house on Thanksgiving day. Unfortunately, Dave had to work that day, which is why he was in uniform. And, NO, he is not drinking alcohol in uniform. Our daughter on the other hand is having a glass of Chardonnay. Since Dave loves Jeanine and Barney, we know he is ok. Congratulations you two and best wishes for a long and happy marriage.

One Day Till Christmas--I Think We Are Ready

One Day Till Christmas--I Think We Are Ready

The Carolers are in the window.

The naughty nutcrackers are on the table.

The living room big tree rotates and has a train that runs around the tree.

The army of Christmas bears are guarding the stairs.

The poinsettias are in the kitchen window.

The Christmas cookies are baked.

The German creche is on the kitchen island.

While the blue and white creche is in the dining room.

Christmas Will Be Here Soon!

Christmas Will Be Here Soon!

Newsflash: If Christmas arrives on Christmas Eve that means we have just 8 days to get everything done. Wow! Time sure flies between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Hope all of you are getting your Christmas act together. We are now getting lots of Christmas cards which makes me very happy. And I love that most folks include a photo of themselves or their children or their pets.

Few More Pics Of Thanksgiving

Leukemia Update

Leukemia Update

Last week I did four days of chemo and on Wednesday I went to the Prince William Hospital outpatient center for blood transfusions and for platelet transfusion. To have the transfusions you need to go in the day before to register and have blood drawn for testing.

Now this is where things get interesting and strange. Jack and I arrived at the hospital around 4:00 P.M. last week and discovered at least four Manassas police cars and one canine unit at the front door. When we got out of our car a lady in the parking lot warned us not to go up to the door because there was a confrontation between a group of young Latino men and young African American men. Everyone was yelling and screaming. It sounded like about 25 people yelling but I counted only about 12 people including the police. Well, Jack and I had to get inside to register before closing time so we quietly and quickly circled around this group at the front entrance and went inside. Later when we came outside the young men were all gone but several police officers were still on the scene. Strange, strange, strange! I can see a confrontation taking place between two groups at a bar or a school or even a shopping center but not at the front door of a hospital. We never did find out what was going on, even when we returned on Wednesday.

So I guess this is a mini mystery.

This week I finished up my seven days of chemo on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Yesterday I spent resting on the couch. The chemo kinda wipes out your energy.

Oh No, Another Shooting At VA Tech

Oh No, Another Shooting At VA Tech

Another shooting at VA Tech! Part of the problem is that it is too easy to buy a gun in the state of Virginia. As in some other states it is easier to buy a gun than to vote. Seems to me it should be just the opposite. I also worry that some parents with students in high school will not want to send their kids to Va Tech now even though VA Tech is the college in Virginia to attend if you want to be any kind of engineer or veterinarian.

Yes, It Does Snow In Arizona

Newsflash: Yes, It Does Snow In Arizona

Jack got a message from his sister Barbara that Willcox, AZ right off interstate 10 between NM and Tucson got around six inches of snow this week.

Today Is The 70'th Anniversary Of Pearl Harbor Attack

Today Is The 70'th Anniversary Pearl Harbor Attack

I was able to visit the Pearl Harbor Memorial In 1969 while making my way home from teaching on Okinawa. At that time oil was still oozing to the surface from the sunken USS Missouri. I heard on TV this afternoon that this will be the last gathering of the men who survived the attack that killed over 2000 military folks. There are only about 150 survivors still alive. When Jeanine went to Hawaii last year she shook hands with some of the survivors who were there then. Most of these vets are in their late 80's or early 90's.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving

Hope everyone has a safe journey to their destinations for Thanksgiving on Thursday. Enjoy the weekend away from your jobs. This is the weekend that kicks off the Christmas season, so I eliminated all my regular songs on PLAYLIST and brought up the Christmas songs. I may add more Christmas songs later.